Yingluck Shinawatra and jail time

[S Landreth]

Pheu Thai Party questions govt rice auctions but denies connection to ex-PM

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...itics/30321231

[S Landreth]

Rice pledging scheme verdict draws near

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ric...ct-draws-near/

[S Landreth]

PM warns of possible unrest at Yingluck trial

The prime minister has issued a stern warning to supporters of former premier Yingluck Shinawatra who turn up at the Supreme Court Friday for the final round of defence witness hearings in the rice-pledging case not to stir up unrest.

"I always said so. But why you haven't quoted me as saying that? You only reported who would come to protest or rally and kept asking if the government would invoke any laws to deal with them. That will only create more conflicts," said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when asked if he had given any special orders to security officials to deal with Ms Yingluck's supporters at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

"You [the media], too, should tell them [Ms Yingluck's supporters] to refrain from coming to the court in person if they don't really have to, as they can still monitor media coverage of the hearings [elsewhere]," the prime minister said.

Ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra has had crowds of sympathisers at every hearing of her two-year trial at the Supreme Court, but the regime predicts there will be more than usual on Friday. (Bangkok Post file photo)

His deputy, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, who is also defence minister, said if the ex-premier's supporters want to go to the court they may do so but they should limit their numbers.

Ms Yingluck has been charged with dereliction of duty for failing to stop corruption and irregularities stemming from her government's rice-pledging scheme, which resulted in more than 500 billion baht in damages.

Reuters video reports that Thai farmers worry for their livelihood as the Yingluck trial winds down.

Watana Muangsook, a former commerce minister and a key figure in the Pheu Thai Party, said a huge number of people will gather at the court to offer Ms Yingluck moral support because she had been their elected prime minister.

He also criticised Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit, accusing them of restricting the rights and freedom of the people by warning them against turning up at the court.

"Not only did Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit show an attitude of not respecting the rights and freedom of members of the public, but they also expressed their lack of willingness to promote democracy. They still don't respect the constitution that they had drafted," he said.

In her latest move, Ms Yingluck on July 7 asked the court to rule whether the proceedings of her case based on the 1999 law on the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions contradict Section 235 of the 2017 charter.

Her petition seeking the ruling was lodged with the court division which reportedly accepted it for consideration and will make a ruling Friday.

Ms Yingluck's legal team has insisted that her petition seeking the Constitutional Court's intervention was not an attempt to stall legal proceedings in the rice case.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, in charge of the government's legal affairs, said Ms Yingluck has every right to petition the Supreme Court, but the decision on whether to approve her request rests entirely with the court.

If the court agrees to seek the Constitutional Court's interpretation, witness hearings will proceed and the Supreme Court will not be able to hand down any ruling in the rice case as it must wait for the charter court's opinions, he said.

Asked if that will stall the court proceedings, he said that was the way things were and since the purpose of allowing the defendant to submit the petition is to ensure her rights, no one should be blamed for causing any delays in the case.

Norawich Lalaeng, Ms Yingluck's lawyer, said the last eight defence witnesses who are scheduled to testify Friday are former civil servants and academics.

At this point, the legal team has no plan to ask for additional witness hearings and will decide after all witnesses have finished giving testimony if it is necessary to request more hearings, he said.

Army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad in his capacity as secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order was optimistic that not many people would turn up at the court.

"I believe in the maturity of those who show up to give moral support [to Ms Yingluck]", he said, adding that police have in place measures to ensure security and deal with the traffic.

He said he expected no more than 300 and 500 sympathisers will be at the court.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...yingluck-trial

[Mid]

Trial of Thailand's Yingluck fails to break Shinawatra machine
(Additional reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Bill Tarrant)
18 Jul 2017

As the trial of former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over an extravagant rice subsidy programme winds to a close, her rural supporters are resisting attempts by the ruling junta to silence her family's political machine.

BANGKOK/KHON KAEN: As the trial of former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over an extravagant rice subsidy programme winds to a close, her rural supporters are resisting attempts by the ruling junta to silence her family's political machine.

Yingluck and her Puea Thai Party say the trial is politically motivated, aimed at discrediting a populist movement that has won every election since 2001.

Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra first introduced the rice programmes before he himself was ousted in a 2006 coup. But Yingluck took it a step further by offering to buy rice from farmers at up to 50 per cent above market prices.

The measure helped her sweep to power in the 2011 general election. But government losses from the scheme - which also distorted global rice prices - helped fuel protests that led to her removal from power days before the 2014 coup.

If found guilty, Yingluck like her brother Thaksin, would be disqualified from becoming premier again.

Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile for 11 years to avoid serving a two-year sentence over a corrupt land deal.

That has left political circles guessing who would lead the party in the next election, scheduled for next year, and whether that leader could possibly be someone outside the Shinawatra clan that has dominated the movement until now.

UNCHALLENGED IN NORTHEAST

Farmers from the Shinawatra powerbase in the northeast told Reuters they would vote for the Puea Thai Party again in the next election.

"The Yingluck rice scheme made rice farmers prosperous from having a reliable income that came on time," said Paisan Pachanda, 59, a rice farmer and co-operative leader in Khon Kaen, a major commercial hub that lies on a plateau in the centre of the northeast region.

"If there's an election . . . people in the northeast will still vote for the Puea Thai Party, even if there is no Shinawatra in the party," he said.

Even the rival Democrat Party concedes Puea Thai remains unchallenged in the Northeast.

"Puea Thai Party's political base, its MPs and politicians, have developed strong networks in the northeast," said Ong-art Klampaiboon, deputy leader of the Democrat Party. "So even if the party changes its leadership it is unlikely that it will affect its strong bonds on the ground," he told Reuters.

Asked about Puea Thai's popularity, Lieutenant General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a spokesman for the government, said: "The people get to decide who they want to represent them."

RICE LEGACY

Yingluck, whose government was ousted in a 2014 military coup, faces up to 10 years in jail if found guilty of negligence over her role in the rice programme.

The last hearing in her 2-year long case will be at a Bangkok court on Friday. A verdict is expected after closing statements are delivered in a few weeks' time.

"The rice subsidy scheme was a state policy declared to parliament. Yet the charge has been brought against me alone in a criminal case," Yingluck told Reuters in a written reply to questions. "No other government has been charged over its public policies," she said.

Yingluck, though banned from politics, remains the unofficial face of the party and toured Thailand extensively last year, meeting with rural supporters.

Junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup, has made no secret of his disdain for the Shinawatras. In 2010, he favoured a heavy-handed approach to an army crackdown on red-shirted Shinawatra supporters that killed more than 90 people.

The junta's attempts to repress the Shinawatra clan and its movement, and even introduce its own farm subsidies for the politically-powerful farmers, are not working, many in the rice fields of the northeast say.

"The more the military pushes the Puea Thai Party the more sympathy the party gets," Rotcharin Waratsirisophon, 54, a party member told Reuters in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

"Puea Thai is even more popular now."

NEXT IN LINE

With Yingluck and her brother sidelined for next year's scheduled elections, other potential movement leaders have emerged.

One is another of Thaksin's sisters, Monthathip Kovitcharoenkul, 58, a businesswoman.

Yingluck has told reporters Monthathip has no interest in politics.

The other is veteran politician Sudarat Keyuraphan, 56, a former agriculture minister and a former deputy leader of Thaksin's now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.

Sources in the party said Sudarat was the favourite but some party members prefer a candidate from within the Shinawatra family.

Acting Puea Thai Party secretary-general, Phumtham Wechayachai, said it was too soon to talk about party nominations. "We have to wait until an election date has been confirmed. We can't do much at the moment," Phumtham told Reuters.

Politics has been put on hold in Thailand, partly out of respect for late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last October and whose cremation will take place in October.

The junta, which calls itself the National Council on Peace and Order, has also cracked down on dissent by tightening restrictions on the media and silencing activists through imposing the kingdom's strict lese-majeste and cybercrime laws.

Whatever new government comes in will still have to deal with the military. The new constitution the generals have implemented introduces a military-appointed senate and requires any future government to follow the junta's 20-year development plan.

channelnewsasia.com

[Norton]

The other is veteran politician Sudarat Keyuraphan, 56, a former agriculture minister and a former deputy leader of Thaksin's now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.

Think he would be best candidate by far. In spite of all attemps to get him out of the picture, when all is said and done Thaksin will remain the leader of PTP and will no doubt again be the major force in Thai politics even with the "new constitution" restrictions.

[S Landreth]

Yingluck attends final hearing of her trial

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived at court on Friday morning to attend the final hearing of defence witnesses in her trial for alleged malfeasance in administering her government's controversial rice-pledging scheme.

She faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Ms Yingluck was greeted by about 1,000 supporters and a number of Pheu Thai Party members waiting outside at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions in Bangkok.

Hundreds of police were deployed in the court compound. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned Yingluck's supporters not to create trouble during the hearing.

The court's ruling is expected in September.

Three defence witnesses were to testify at Friday's hearing. Yingluck's lawyers said they would also ask the court to allow her to deliver a verbal closing statement.

Under court procedures, both the defendant and the plaintiff can deliver the verbal statements within 30 days after the final hearing.

The court will take up to 14 days to issue its judgement.

Ms Yingluck was charged with negligence of duty in failing to prevent corruption in the rice-pledging scheme, her government's flagship policy. Farmers were paid inflated prices for their rice under the scheme, which is estimated to have resulted in 500 billion baht in losses for the state.

She also faces seizure of assets worth 35 billion baht for the scheme's losses.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...g-of-her-trial

[sabang]

Think he would be best candidate by far.

I rather like Chaturon Chaiseng- but not sure if he's got leadership aspirations.


I have to say, throughout this ordeal Yingluck has quite possibly emerged as the most heroic figure in modern Thailand.

[sabang]

Meanwhile, in totally unrelated news:-


Yellow shirt leaders spared

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...itics/30321337

[Norton]

I rather like Chaturon Chaiseng- but not sure if he's got leadership aspirations

Problem he would have is appealing to the North and Isaan base. Chachoengsao guy but agree he would be a good choice. Bright guy. He may not want to lead the party given the current political /constitutional situation. Gotta believe politicians of all parties know that even after the next election unless the constitution and organic laws are changed an election is simply a show leaving the "winner" with zero flexibility to govern.

[Norton]

Meanwhile, in totally unrelated news:-


Yellow shirt leaders spared

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...itics/30321337

Naturally. They be "good people" don't ya know.

[S Landreth]

Tearful Yingluck stands trial at final hearing in Supreme Court today

more pictures in the link so some of you can print out and hang on your wall/ceiling: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tea...e-court-today/

[S Landreth]

Huge crowd of supporters welcome Yingluck at court

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...itics/30321383

[S Landreth]

Yingluck verdict to be delivered August 25

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...gnews/30321407

[S Landreth]

Court to give ruling on Yingluck in 35 days

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...uck-in-35-days

picture from: http://www.thaipost.net/?q=node%2F32900

[S Landreth]

Thai court to deliver verdict on ex-PM on August 25

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Supreme Court has set Aug. 25 as the date for a verdict in the trial of the country's former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is accused of wasting billions of dollars on a rice subsidy scheme.

Yingluck, overthrown in a 2014 military coup, faces up to 10 years in jail if found guilty in the trial which has been going on for 18 months. Friday was the last day for witness hearings. Yingluck can make a closing statement on Aug. 1, the court said.

Yingluck and her Puea Thai Party say the trial is politically motivated, aimed at discrediting a populist movement that has helped the Shinawatra clan win every election since 2001. Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra first introduced the rice programme before he himself was ousted in a 2006 coup.

But Yingluck took it a step further by offering to buy rice from farmers at up to 50 percent above market prices. The measure helped her sweep to power in 2011, but government losses from the scheme - which also distorted global rice prices - fuelled protests that led to her removal.

Yingluck, however, remains popular among her supporters, particularly in the northeast, Thailand's poorest region.

Hundreds of supporters at the court cheered Yingluck at the court on Friday - defying junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha's request for her followers to stay away.

"I hope Yingluck will not be found guilty so she can become prime minister again and bring back the rice scheme," said Napa, a 56-year-old rice farmer from Ratchaburi province, west of Bangkok. She declined to give her full name.

Yingluck thanked her supporters, but gave no other comment.

The judges have dismissed a petition by Yingluck's legal team to have the case scrutinised by the Constitutional Court.

The trial started in January 2016 after Yingluck's impeachment by the military-appointed Legislative Assembly in 2015. It effectively banned her from politics for five years for the alleged mismanagement of the rice scheme.

If found guilty, Yingluck like her brother Thaksin, would be disqualified from becoming premier again. Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile for 11 years to avoid serving a two-year sentence over a corrupt land deal.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-chi...KBN1A60AS?il=0