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Thai Politics Updates – July 2011

Foreign affairs

Comments on the Thai General Election This month‟s attention was entirely focused on the general election, held on the 3

rd of July.

During the lead-up to the election, calls for free and fair elections voiced by both

international and national actors were widely echoed in the media. When it comes to the

election outcomes, views and commentaries from foreign embassies and foreign media were

unanimously positive. On the Thai scene, except for the tiny minority supporting the no-vote

campaign, Pheua Thai‟s victory was accepted by all, including the losing Democrat Party and

its former coalition partner the Bhumjaithai party, creating the conditions for political

stability after a two-year period of daily street protests and yearly bloodsheds.

Whether or not this foreseen stability is going to last enough time to allow the government to

build national reconciliation remains unanswered.

International organizations like the UN or the European Union stressed the importance of the

elections and especially the acceptance of election outcomes vis a vis peace and

reconciliation in Thailand.

Prior to the election, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon had indeed called for the

election to be conducted peacefully and in a "fair, credible and transparent" and urged all

parties to refrain from violence before, during and after Sunday's the election and, especially

relevant to the Thai context, "to accept and respect the will of the people as expressed at the

ballot box". After the election, he welcomed its outcome, noting "the orderly conduct" of the

elections ". “The elections mark an important step towards genuine reconciliation, long-term

stability and consolidation of democratic norms in the country" Ban Ki-Moon said.

The European Union also welcomed the election process. " I wish to congratulate the Thai

people on the orderly way in which the elections on 3 July have been carried out. The EU

hopes that the outcome of these elections will provide a solid basis for all political interests to

unite in addressing the major political and social issues facing Thailand in the medium term.

This, in turn, will help advance Thailand's relations with the European Union and will

reinvigorate Thailand's key role in ASEAN and on the world stage " (Statement by EU High

Representative Catherine Ashton on the election in Thailand, 3/7/11, Brussels, A261/11)

The United States also congratulated Thai people for their "robust participation" in the July 3

election. "The choice of who will lead Thailand now rests with those representatives elected

by the Thai people. Washington looks forward to working with the next Thai government, the

opposition, and non-partisan civilians "to broaden and strengthen our alliance, which is based

on shared values and mutual respect" (Press Statement, Victoria Nuland, Department

Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson, Washington, DC, July 3, 2011).

Association of Southeast Asian Nations secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan issued a statement

on July 4 congratulating Ms Yingluck on her impressive victory. The overwhelming support

and clear mandate should help form a solid foundation for her leadership, Mr Surin said.

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The fact that the elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is the first woman in Thai

history in a world whose political scene is still dominated by men certainly accounts for a

broad acceptance of her mandate.

Thai-Cambodian relations As neighboring Burma did through female politician and peace activist Aug San Su Yii,

Cambodia warmly welcomed Thaksin Shinawatra‟s sister‟s victory in the general election. In

the Thai-Cambodian context, the election had an interpersonal dimension. Indeed, there

exists a reportedly very good relationship between former Thai prime minister Thaksin and

current Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, with Hun Sen calling him “an eternal friend”

(Bangkok Post, 05/07/11). Thaksin even served as an economic adviser to Cambodia while in

self-imposed exile last year. In the midst of the conflict around the border demarcation

around the Preah Vihear temple, the Shinawatra‟s victory brought about hopes of

reconciliation between the two countries. “It's obvious - we cannot hide that we are happy

with the Pheu Thai Party's victory. We hope that the new government that will emerge from

the Pheu Thai Party will resolve problems with Cambodia in a more positive and peaceful

way than the previous government " Foreign minister Hor Namhong declared. (Bangkok

Post, 05/07/11).

Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice on July 19 read its ruling on the disputed

temple case. It provides for the set-up of a provisional demilitarised zone around the Preah

Vihear temple and orders Thailand and Cambodia to immediately withdraw their troops from

it and cease all military activities. The ruling on the case, filed by Cambodia on April 28, did

not disappoint Abhisit-led soon-to-be-ex-government. Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya

expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the court did not comply with Cambodia's request

that Thailand unilaterally withdraw its military."The provisional demilitarised zone will not

put Thailand at a disadvantage. Neither does the court decision in any way prejudice its

further consideration of another request, the court's pending interpretation of the 1962

judgment on the Preah Vihear temple," he said (Bangkok post, 19/07/11). Cambodia‟s

foreign minister welcomed the decision.

Loyal to the cause that cemented the yellow-shirts during their 190-day siege of Government

House in 2008, the PAD demanded that the government rejects the ICJ ruling and refuses to

demilitarize the area.

However these calls did not resonate much in the Thai media and both countries promised to

follow the ruling. This move was welcomed by Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan. As

part of the judgment, the International Court of Justice also said that Thailand and Cambodia

should continue their cooperation within the Asean framework and, in particular, allow the

observers appointed by the regional grouping to have access to the provisional demilitarised

zone.

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Thai-German relations Discussion this month was fed by a minor diplomatic incident between Thailand and

Germany involving the seizure by a German company of a plane belonging to the Crown

Prince in the context of an investment conflict with Thai authorities. The investment conflict

between Thailand and Germany began when the Germans demanded that the Thai

government compensate construction firm Walter Bau 30 million euros (Bt1.28 billion) in

damages after a decision by an international arbitration tribunal in 2009 over the Don Muang

Tollway.

Domestic Politics

Election results

We have won, brothers ! (Yingluck Shinwatra, youngest sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, leader

of Pheua Thai Party and prime-minister elect)

Election turnout was high (75 percent), but not as high as the previous one (85.38 percent on

23 December 2007) and approximately the same as the one before (73 percent on 6 February

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2005). This figure shows how awaited this election was. In certain cases, people even traded

their freedom against the possibility to vote. Indeed, voters with criminal records turned out

to vote and were caught by the police. In total, it was reported that 240 people who were

wanted by the police for various offences were arrested at polling stations where they showed

up to vote in the election.

3 July 2011

Party-list system Constituency system

Voters 46,921,682 46,921,777

Voter

turnout

35,203,107 75.03% 35,119,885 74.85%

Invalid

ballots

1,726,051 4.9% 2,039,694 5.79%

No-votes 958,052 2.72% 1,419,088 4.03%

3 July 2011

Political

party

Party-list

(number of

votes)

Party-list

(number of

House seats)

Constituency

(number of

House seats)

Total

number of

House seats

Percentage

Pheua Thai

(N.1 Yingluck

Shinawatra)

15,744,190 61 204 265 53%

Democrat

Party

(N. 10 Abhisit

Vejjajiya)

11,433,762 44 115 159 31.8%

Bhumjaithai

(N.16 )

1,281,577 5 29 34 6.8%

Chat Thai 906,656 4 15 19 3.8%

5

Pattana

(N.21)

Chat Pattana

Pheua Pendin

(N.2)

494,894 2 5 7 1.4%

Palang Chon

(N.6)

178,110 1 6 7 1.4%

Rak Prathet

Thai

(N.5 Chuwit)

998,603 4 4 0.8%

Mathubhum

(N.26)

251,702 1 1 2 0.4%

Rak Santhi

(N.12)

284,772 1 1 0.2%

Mahachon 133,772 1 1 0.2%

New

Democracy

125,784 1 1 0.2%

Total 125 375 500 100%

Compared to last general election, held on

23 December 2007,

Political party Party leader Constituency Party-list Total Percentage

People Power‟s

Party (Thai Rak

Thai/Pheua Thai)

Samak

Sundaravej

199 34 233 48.54

Democrat Party Abhisit

Vejjajiya

132 33 165 34.37

Chart Thai Banharn

Silpa-acha

33 4 37 7.71

Pheua Pendin Suwit 17 7 24 5

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Khunkitti

Ruam Chai Thai

Chart Pattana

Chesatta

Tanacharo

8 1 9 1.88

Machatimathipathai Anongwan

Thepsuthin

7 0 7 1.46

Pracharath Sanoh

Thienthong

4 1 5 1.04

Total 400 80 480 100

With regards to geographical distribution of votes, the old same pattern dividing the country

between the north and northeast in favour of the Shinawatra‟s party and the south voting en

masse for the Democrats is still, and even more markedly, relevant in 2007, as shown below:

Source: Electoral Geography.com

Note: The People Power‟s Party was dissolved in 2008. It was reformed as the Pheua Thai.

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The red/blue line seems to roughly follow development fault lines (South more developed

than the North and Northeast) with the notable exception of border areas such as Mae Hong

Son and the three southernmost provinces. These areas are subject to severe security issues

involving drugs and arms trade.

When it comes to Bangkok, results are very similar to those of the last election.

In December 2007, out of 36 seats allocated for Bangkok, the Democrats won 27 seats (75%)

and the Pheua Thai predecessor 9 seats (25 %), in the framework of a multi-member

constituency election design.

In February 2005, out of 37 seats allocated for Bangkok, the Democrats won 4 seats (10.8 %)

and the Pheua Thai predecessor 32 seats (86.5%) and the Chat Thai won one seat (2.7%), in

the framework of the 1997 constitution and a single-member election design.

For this election, under the revised 2007 Constitution, out of 33 seats allocated for Bangkok,

the Democrats won 23 seats (69.7%) and the Pheua Thai 10 seats (30.3%).

Source: The Nation, 4 July 2011

Its north and northeast is roughly red while its south and southwest is roughly blue. The

south of Bangkok is the new center of the capital, a businesses center, home to rich Thai

families looking for a modern lifestyle as well as expatriates, especially in Sathorn –

constituency 2- and Sukhumvit – constituency 4 - (for instance, Abhisit lived in Sukhumvit).

The West is the historical city centre, relatively untouched by exponential economic

development, that is to say still free of skyscrapers and pedestrian paths, the tourist centre

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with the most famous temples areas and home to the most famous as well as the infamous

Khao San Road, - constituency 1- while the north and northeast (11 to 20) is less developed.

For the July 3 election, there were 33 constituencies in Bangkok:

1 Pra nakhon, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Samphanthawong

Democrat

2 Pathumwan, Bangrak and Sathorn Democrat 3 Bang Kho Laem and Yannawa Democrat 4 Khlong Toey and Wattana Democrat 5 Dusit and Ratchathewi Pheua Thai 6 Din Daeng and Phaya Thai Democrat 7 Huay Khwang and a part of Wangthonglang Democrat 8 Lat Prao and a part of Wangthonglang Democrat 9 Chatuchak Democrat 10 Bang Sue Democrat 11 Laksi and Don Muang (airport) Pheua Thai 12 Don Muang (except the airport) Pheua Thai 13 Sai Mai Pheua Thai 14 Bang Khen Pheua Thai 15 Bangkapi Democrat 16 Bangkhun and Khannawao (Ramintra) Pheua Thai 17 Minburi and Khannawao Pheua Thai 18 Khlong Samwa Pheua Thai 19 Nong Choke Pheua Thai 20 Lat Krabang Pheua Thai 21 Saphan Sung and Krawet Democrat 22 Suan Luang and Prawet Democrat 23 Phra Khanong and Bang Na Democrat 24 Thonburi and Khlong San Democrat 25 Chom Thong and Thonburi (Dao Khanong) Democrat 26 Ratburana and Thungkhru Democrat 27 Bangkhunthien Democrat 28 Bang bon and Nong Khaem Democrat 29 Tawiwattana and Nong Khaem Democrat 30 Phasee Charoen and Bangkok Yay Democrat 31 Bang Kae Democrat 32 Talling Chan and Bangkok Noi Democrat 33 Bang Plat and Bangkok Noi Democrat TOTAL DEMOCRATS 23 (69.7%)

TOTAL PHEUA THAI 10 (30.3%)

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BANGKOK NUMBER OF SEATS 33 NATIONWIDE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENCY SEATS 375

The fact that the Democrats still largely beat the Pheua Thai in the capital city (by 23 to 10

seats) and especially in its so-called “high-so” constituencies also seems to validate the more

developed/less developed divide hypothesis.

To conclude, Thailand has entered a strong bi-partisan political system since the foundation

of the Thai Rak Thai Party by Thaksin Shinawatra in 1998. The bipolarization of Thai

politics has very much intensified since the 2006 coup.

Electoral violence The elections were peacefully conducted. Reported violence included the death of a polling

staff member on the election day and the one of Songwut Noppakhun, a member of the Surat

Thani provincial administrative organization (PAO), on July 18. In the latter case, Songwut

was a younger brother of election candidate Charnyuth, who contested the July polls in Surat

Thani's Constituency 2 for the Pheu Thai Party. During the incident, a gunfight broke out and

a five-year-old girl was killed. Later in the month, it was reported that the shooting had no

political motives. As to the former incident, a polling staff member was shot dead in a drive-

by shooting in Surat Thani's Khiri Ratthanikhom district on the 3rd

. Also, a car carrying

ballot papers was attacked on July 3 in Narathiwat, injuring two election officials. Other

incidents had occurred the month before in other parts of the country.

Election monitoring and complaints The elections were monitored by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) as well as

29 representatives from eight countries, including Australia, Bhutan, India, Malaysia and the

Maldives. On the third of July, they observed ballot counting procedures at EC headquarters.

Japan, the European Union, and the US also sent representatives to observe the election.

The Election Commission‟s handling of the elections (especially advance voting) was highly

criticized during the ballot count, (which took four days) although criticism was soon-to-be-

forgotten when election results were finally announced. The ballot count lasted until

Wednesday 6th

July with Mae Hong Son, Ranong and Tak being the last provinces to

announce final results.

Several complaints were echoed in the press, especially the People's Alliance for Democracy

(PAD) „s claim that the EC mishandled it.

1. Political issues: Involvement of banned politicians/people charged with terrorism

1) Five parties were criticized for violating election law by promising voters free goods

in exchange for votes. (cf table below)

2) Some complainants said any red shirts who had been charged with terrorism offences

related to last year's unrest should be deprived of their right to run in the election.

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3) Some complainants have asked the EC to dissolve certain parties, charging that

politicians who were banned from politics were still actively involved in helping the

parties to woo voters (Thaksin Shinawatra, Banharn Silpa-acha, and Newin Chidchob)

2. Technical issues: “2 million people unable to vote”

4) Advance voting : There was a lot of confusion in relation to advance voting

registration. Indeed, voters who had registered to cast their votes in advance at a

certain polling station in 2007 were not removed from the list of advance voters in the

next election unless they informed the EC they wanted to make a change;

consequently, some voters went to their constituency polling station only to find they

were not registered there, but rather somewhere else, where they have previously done

advance voting in a previous election..

5) NGOs stressed the very high number of invalid votes due to many reasons including

the design of the ballot coupon leading to people ticking the wrong box i.e. the box

carrying the party logo or name, the fact that some voters might have believed that

leaving the ballot blank would be counted as a no-vote while it was considered an

invalid ballot

6) Both NGOs and citizen denounced the lack of clarity of the mixed electoral system

design and the odd linkage between party-lists and constituency MPs. Indeed, if a

party did not present any candidate in a constituency, a voter from this constituency

technically could vote for that party in both the constituency and party-list ballots but

his vote on the party-list would be lost, being counted as an invalid ballot. This

affected many people.

In response to these various complaints, the EC acknowledged its relative lack of preparation

leading to mishandling of the election, especially in relation to the high number of invalid

ballots cast for constituency candidates. The counts showed that the total number of invalid

ballots cast for constituency candidates accounted for 5.74% of all ballots cast. Invalid

constituency ballots outnumbered invalid ballots cast for party-list candidates, which stood at

4.88%. In the 23 December 2007 election, invalid ballots cast for constituency candidates

were 5.56%, while invalid ballots for party-list candidates accounted for 2.56%.

According to an election commissioner quoted in the Bangkok Post, three factors accounted

for the high number of invalid ballots.

1- Several parties had fielded only party-list candidates, but people voted for them in

both party-list and constituency systems therefore their constituency vote was lost

2- Voters marked a cross in the wrong boxes

3- The last factor was that some voters in the deep South who could not read Thai

wrongly marked ballots

On July 21, a group of supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) submitted a

petition seeking the removal from office of all five members of the Election Commission

(EC) for poor organization. First, more than two million people to lose their right to vote,

second, people under a political ban directed the electoral campaign activities, and finally,

red-shirts wanted on charges of terrorism were elected, according to the petition.

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As a proof of this affecting organization, the group points at the significant difference in the

voter turnout between the constituency and party-list systems. (1,726,051 versus 2,039,694

cf. above)

The Election Commission, under high pressure throughout the month, finally managed to

endorse enough MPs within the timeframe required by the law (475 MPs within 30 months)

so that the House could convene its first meeting to elect its speaker and start the new

parliamentary session.

The biggest debate question was about whether or not to endorse the red-shirts and especially

Jatuporn Prompan who was in jail during the election and could not vote.

Here‟s an account of various issues considered by the EC for MP‟s endorsement decisions

PHEUA THAI

Allegation: Based on the 2007 Constitution, the political party law, and the election law, memberships of

the Pheu Thai Party ended when they were jailed on terrorism charges, raising questions

about whether they have the necessary qualifications to become an MP.

- Jatuporn Prompan (party list)

- Nattawut Saikua (party list)

- Weng Tojirakarn (party list)

- Col Apiwan Wiriyachai (party list)

- Wichean Khaokham (party list)

- Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai (party list)

- Phayap Panket (party list)

- Korkaew Pikulthong (party list)

- Karun Hosakul (constituency)

Allegation: Failed to serve out a five-year break from politics, as required by law, after his

release from jail for a contempt of court conviction in 2008.

- Pichit Chuenban (party list)

Allegation: Declared bankrupt

- Phadermchai Sasomsap (constituency)

- Kosol Pattama (constituency)

Allegation: Asked a banned politician to help their campaign

- Yingluck Shinawatra (party list)

- Chinnicha Wongsawat (constituency)

Allegation: Used photo of a banned politician (Thaksin Shinawatra) during the campaign

- Somying Buabutr (constituency)

DEMOCRAT

Allegation: Vote-buying, by providing "Blue Flag" goods for sale.

- Abhisit Vejjajiva

Allegation: Making promises to voters - Siriwan Prasjaksattru

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Allegation: Abuse of power, for ordering a state run television channel to broadcast the

party's campaign messages

- Ong-art Klampaibul

BHUMJAITHAI

Allegation: Hosting free meals to influence voters

- Chai Chidchob

Source: Bangkok Post, 14/07/11

All red-shirts were later endorsed.

Yet the EC yellow-carded two MPs. The two yellow-carded politicians, Pheu Thai's Somkid

Banthaisong of Nong Khai and Bhumjaithai Party's Chakkrawan Chaiwiratnukul of

Sukhothai, were yellow-carded for vote-buying, resulting in two by-elections (in which

Somkit and Chakkrawan were allowed to run again), in Nong Khai's Constituency 2 and in

Sukhothai Constituency 3. They were held on July 31. The by-election however confirmed

their victory. Besides the mechanism of yellow-carding by the EC, any candidate could

contest the election result and ask for a recount, like in Yala‟s constituency 2, where the

initial apparent winner‟s victory was verified.

Government formation – coalition talks Coalition talks had started as early as when the house dissolution was announced. During the

countdown, Yingluck started forming her government. Sanan Kachornprasart was seen on

TV as playing an important role in bringing all coalition parties together.

In the end, Pheua Thai was able to gather 300 MPs from 6 parties including the New

Democrat Party (1 party-list MP), the Chartthaipattana (19 MPs), the Chart Pattana Puea

Pandin (9 MPs) , the Palang Chon (7 MPs), Mahachon (2 MPs) and itself (265 MPs).

The second-winning party (Democrat Party with 159 seats) and the third-winning party

(Bhumjaithai with 34 seats) were not approached to form a coalition given irreconcilable

differences and rivalries among them.

With regards to the army, it accepted Pheua Thai‟s victory and promised not to interfere in

political developments. Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, outgoing Defence minister said "Let the

elected politicians work. We cannot chase them away. They haven't done anything wrong,"

(Bangkok Post, 4/7/11).

New government’s policies On the night where unofficial results made her the prime minister-elect, Yingluck unveiled

her main policy priorities at a press conference. She listed priorities as follow

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1- National reconciliation through the work of Dr. Kanit Na-Nakorn‟s Truth and

Reconciliation Commission

2- Preparation for the King‟s birthday celebrations on the 5th

of December

3- Economy and improvement of the cost of living

Most observers and media reports acknowledged that the new government will now be

confronted to the difficult task of implementing its policies and keeping its electoral

promises, and among the “policy package”, four special measures can be identified as

particularly difficult to implement, namely

1) Minimum daily wage rise to 300 THB

2) Free Tablet PCs

3) Monthly wage rise to 15,000 THB for Bachelor degree holders

4) Special administrative zone for the three southern provinces

Meanwhile, Yingluck said she had no plan to address two very sensitive issues namely the

amendment of the constitution and the revision of article 112 of the Criminal Code dealing

with lèse majesté provisions. About the latter, she declared “I have no opinions about the

matter”. (quoted in the Bangkok Post, 08/07/11) Nevertheless, several Pheu Thai party

figures signaled preparations to undertake constitution change, with ideas including

amendment of the 2007 constitution or reinstatement of the 1997 constitution.

Democrat Party’s overhaul Following Democrat Party‟s defeat and according to the promise he had made to step down if

his party did not as good as in the 2007 election, Abhisit resigned his post of party leader.

The party got 159 seats, losing 5 seats compared to 2007. "I've decided to resign because I

could not lead my party to victory in the election " (quoted in the Bangkok Post, 04/07/11).

Consequently, all 18 members of the executive committee also lost their positions, including

party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban (former deputy prime minister); Suthep declared

he did not want to return to the secretary-general post. As provided by the law, the executive

committee has to select a new leader within 90 days. Former Bangkok governor Apirak

Kosayothin as well as former finance minister Korn Chonkavittj were tipped as possible

successors although Abhisit retained the highest level of confidence from party members.

Apirak Kosayothin declared he was ready to become next Democrat Party‟s leader, but his

involvement in a corruption scandal heavily impeded his chances to get the top job. He is one

of the suspects being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission in connection

with City Hall's purchase of fire trucks and boats at a cost of 6.8 billion baht in 2004. The

lawsuit states that the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) procured 315 fire trucks and

30 fire boats at an inflated price.

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Court cases: Red-shirts This month, court cases developments in connection with last year‟s political violence were

not as numerous as they have usually been over the last month; however, a very interesting

case unfolded throughout July. Testimony from defense witnesses was heard in a lawsuit

against four men for the arson of Central World on May 19 last year. The four defendants,

Saichon Paebua, 29, Pinit Jannarong, 27, Padsakorn Chaisrithao, 18, and Attapol Wanto, 18,

were arrested for the arson attack on the shopping complex. The two teenage defendants are

being tried separately in the Central Juvenile Court while the two adults are tried in the

Bangkok Southern Criminal Court.

All have pleaded not guilty in the case.

Meanwhile a date was set for opening the high-profile and political trial of 19 UDD leaders

for their involvement in last year‟s April-May riots. The Criminal Court set June 1 next year

for the start of the terrorism trial involving the following high-profile UDD : Veerakarn

Musikhapong, Jatuporn Prompan, Natthawut Saikua, Karun Hosakul, Weng Tojirakarn,

Korkaew Pikulthong, Kwanchai Sarakham, Yoswaris Chuklom, Nisit Sinthuprai,

Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, Phumkitti Sujindathong, Suksek Poltue, Charan Loypoon,

Amnart Inthachote, Chayut Laicharoen, Sombat Makthong, Surachai Thewarat, Rachata

Wongyod and Yongyuth Thuanmee.

On July 21, the period for applications to the Rights and Liberties Protection Department for

compensation by victims of military operations on violent redshirt protests ended. 173 out of

243 cases were reportedly accepted and 8.8 million baht paid.

Human rights : Environment An environmental activist, Thongnak Sawekjinda, was shot dead on July 28 in Samut Sakhon

province. He was a witness in a case opposing villagers to a local coal operator.

Thailand‟s nine regional Administrative Courts and the Supreme Administrative Court are

opening new environmental cases divisions that will handle cases involving environmental

issues. Over 1,300 cases reported await the new divisions. He was later released on royal

pardon.

Southernmost provinces On the 13

th of July, the emergency decree was renewed for another two months. Violence still

remained unabated in July with numerous fatal incidents in the three southernmost provinces

of Thailand, namely Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Economy and Society

Awards (peace activist) On July 23, Mr Sulak was awarded a Japanese peace prize, the 28th Niwano Peace Prize, for

''his contribution to a new understanding of peace, democracy and development, and to

environmental preservation based on the core principles of his Buddhist faith''. According to

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Thai media accounts, Mr Sulak has helped shape a civic movement that integrated the

concepts of social welfare, community development, cultural diversity, and environmental

responsibility. His controversial book Unmasking Thai Society landed him in court on a

charge of lese majeste in 1984.

Funerals Princess Bejaratana passed away on Wednesday 27 July at the age of 85.