About politics

About politics

Watered down reform proposals do not mean press is out of the woods yet v Sub purchase could decide if Adm Luechai wins top post, or torpedoes his chances v Witthaya Kaewparadai comeback has some Democrats in spin over Suthep return

Media bill shenanigans?

When the going gets tough, the tough get together -- as was the case with the united front shown by Thai journalists recently in the face of a proposed media bill they see as insidiously harmful to the freedom of the press.

Many journalists and media outlets were dismayed to spot the ever-present danger of the authorities attempting to control the media built into the content of the bill, which was passed by the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) in a majority vote this week.

The media obviously resented being served up with a proposed law that would very likely, if enacted, see them twisted around the authorities' little finger. The most upsetting part was that the bill was wrapped in the cloak of media reform, one of the pillar changes the NRSA was entrusted with by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to initiate and follow through on, according to critics.

However, some commentators noted the media practitioners have allowed themselves to play into the hands of the assembly when it could have been on the offensive over how any moves to reform the media should be pursued in the first place.

Chirmsak Pinthong, a long-time current affairs broadcasting host, economist and former member of the now-defunct National Reform Council, said in a television interview that it was exhausting playing catch up with the assembly. The NRSA was writing the rules and the media could only try and bargain for what should be expurgated from the controversial bill.

He said the media's role is to balance state power while giving the public a stronger voice by keeping them informed of what is going on, in a bid to keep the government in check; as such, any reforms should be headed in this direction.

This encapsulates the essence of reform, he said. But the debates over whether reporters should be licensed, or if the proposed Media Professional Council should include representatives from state authorities, sounded trivial in comparison.

This is like not seeing the forest for the trees, said Mr Chirmsak, adding that discussions should stay on track and hew to the key concept rather than being derailed by side issues.

Observers said the critics and government have been arguing over what they deemed to be contentious points in the bill before it was even endorsed by the NRSA.

They focused on the proposed mandatory (but ill-defined) licensing of journalists, as well as the inclusion of two state officials in the proposed council.

Both of these issues were enough to raise the media's ire. The response was an immediate campaign, most visible on Facebook, joined mostly by those in the profession to fight off the "planned shackling" directed at them. Meanwhile, a counter move materialised online in support of the licensing idea.

Some supporters argued journalists must, to a certain extent, be subject to more regulation, as this would compel them to work responsibly (the bodies regulating media ethics currently stand accused of failing to determine accountability from the media).

Yet representatives of the local media have demanded that the NRSA drop the proposed bill immediately. Even though it has formally been put forward as a "guardian" of the media's rights and freedom, it has drawn heavy flak for attempting to exert the opposite role.

So the campaign against it mounted and more pressure was heaped on the assembly, which responded by watering down some of the more controversial content before endorsing it by a majority vote.

Instead of requiring an official licence from the authorities, journalists would -- under the revised version of the draft bill -- need to secure a certificate from the publisher or media company they are affiliated to.

Observers said this looked like the NRSA was throwing in the towel over the licensing proposal.

It also made a key concession regarding the two permanent secretaries who are due to sit on the media professional council. They would remain in their seats for five years during a transitional period and not return to the council after their single term expires.

However, critics warned that the media are not out of the woods yet as the proposed bill will next head to the Council of State, the cabinet and eventually the National Legislative Assembly.

As such, it's anyone's guess whether the controversial content will be reinstated or left out, or whether even more "sinister" clauses will be introduced during these later stages of legislative scrutiny.

Make or break navy deal

Better late than never and so the navy threw a press conference on Monday, almost two weeks after the cabinet endorsed the submarine procurement project, to disclose details about its much-criticised scheme upon Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon's order.

The briefing took place on HTMS Chakri Naruebet which was picked to host the event for the sake of convenience because dozens of reporters on the military beat would be there to cover the navy's annual drill. The aircraft carrier being the location for the press briefing did not signify anything, or was not for show as some might have suggested.

The press conference took almost three hours and the navy opened the session to reporters to ask plenty of questions.

However, details involving the capabilities of CM-708 missiles to be fitted to the Yuan-class S26T diesel-electric submarine were not disclosed.

The information about the operational range of the missiles -- about 290 kilometres or roughly the distance from Sattahip to Chumphon -- and specifications of the submarine were already made public prior to the press conference.

While the press briefing drew mixed responses from critics of the 13.5 billion baht submarine, it put the spotlight on navy chief-of-staff Adm Luechai Ruddit.

Adm Luechai was assigned by navy commander Adm Na Areenij to address the press in his capacity as chairman of the navy's submarine procurement management panel.

According to navy staff observing the press conference, the navy's chief-of-staff not only handled the job well by giving clear and to-the-point answers, but also demonstrated leadership skills, according to some observers.

But when it came to questions about about the possibility of the submarine purchase scheme being cancelled by a new government, he decided to hold his tongue.

"That's about politics. If I say anything, I may lose my job," he was quoted as saying.

Even so, Adm Luechai admitted the deal could be cancelled but the new government would have to come up with a sound reason as to why the submarine procurement plan should be scrapped. By the time a new government is up and running, a down payment of 700 million baht for the purchase would have been paid.

"If a lack of transparency [in the procurement programme] is the case, a new government will also have to clarify which part of the procurement scheme isn't right," he was quoted as saying.

Adm Na was said to be satisfied with the handling of the press conference while Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reportedly complained that too many details were given. However, sources said the prime minister was not upset.

Following his outstanding performance, political observers are busy calculating the odds of Adm Luechai being named the next commander to succeed Adm Na who will retire at the end of September this year.

The navy's chief-of-staff will have to compete with assistant navy chief Adm Naris Prathumsuwan for the navy top job, according to navy sources.

Adm Naris, who is more senior and seniority is a widely observed tradition in the military, is due to retire next year.

Adm Luechai has three years to serve in the force before his mandatory retirement, but his early rise to the post means a few others who are in line for promotions will be affected.

It is heavily speculated that at the end of the day the submarine purchase scheme will decide who will be the next navy chief.

If decision-makers including Gen Prawit and Gen Prayut agree the submarine project needs a push, Adm Leuchai might be the man for the job.

On the flip side, his involvement in the scheme could make him more vulnerable to criticism.

Path clearing ploy chatter

Witthaya Kaewparadai, a key leader of the now-defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), looks set to make a political comeback after his recent resignation from the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA).

His resignation, seen as a move to prepare himself for the next general election, speculated to be held sometime in the middle of next year, came after the new constitution was promulgated, with several of its organic bills expected to become law soon.

NRSA members as well as members of the National Legislative Assembly who want to run in the election are required to resign from their posts within 90 days of the enactment of the new charter.

Mr Witthaya explained that his resignation would allow him to take part in a political party's activities once the military regime lifts restrictions on them. He is expected to return to his "second home", the Democrat Party.

Mr Witthaya, a former Democrat MP, is the right-hand man of Suthep Thaugsuban, the chairman of the Muan Maha Prachachon for Reform Foundation -- a reincarnation of the PDRC which spearheaded the anti-government demonstrations against the Yingluck Shinawatra administration in late 2013, culminating in the May 2014 military coup that toppled her government.

However, his path is sure to be filled with many challenges, considering he turned his back on the Democrat Party and joined the PDRC at the beginning of the mass street protests against the Yingluck administration. He had failed to take part in the party's activities for quite some time and it may be difficult for him to rejoin the party fold now.

However, observers note that Mr Witthaya's expressed intention to make a political comeback has sparked speculation over whether the move will be a prequel to Mr Suthep's return to politics under the banner of the Democrat Party.

A source in the Democrat Party said some factions within the party believed that this could well be the case.

Mr Suthep, a former Democrat secretary-general, is believed to remain influential in the party.

The source said a party faction based in the Central Plains region, which supports key Democrat heavyweight and former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij, has made a quiet move to prevent Mr Suthep's return, even though Mr Suthep has let it be known that he has quit politics and wants nothing to do with the party.

But in reality, Mr Suthep still has the respect of several party members and the bond between them is as strong as ever, the source said.

Still, Mr Suthep has been keeping himself busy with the affairs of the foundation whose social media outlets have been reporting regularly about its community and developmental projects, including a college it is helping to establish in Surat Thani which is calling for applications for students and teachers.

Unlike other vocational schools, the Phawana Phothikhun Vocational College -- named after the revered Phra Phawana Photikhun, the first abbot of the well-known Wat Suan Mok, also in Surat Thani -- will be the first vocational college to train students in vocational disciplines while intensively teaching them dhamma.

For now, Mr Suthep has not shown any interest in rejoining the Democrat Party and he has also expressed his support for the military regime and the Prayut Chan-o-cha government to stay on longer in office.

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