Thai junta briefly detains two opposition leaders
US says supports Thailand’s ties with China
BANGKOK: Thailand’s army yesterday detained two leaders of an opposition group who were planning to visit a public park dedicated to the monarchy that has been at the center of a corruption scandal involving the military government.
The two were later released, said Colonel Thammanoon Withee, head of the 1st Army Command Operations Unit, and escorted back to their homes. The allegations relating to the financing of the Rachabhakti Park, built on army property in the seaside town of Hua Hin, are threatening to damage an anti-graft drive by the junta, which seized power last year.
Nattawut Saikua and Jatuporn Prompan, leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the “red shirt” group, were taken away by the army before they could set off for the park. “They wanted to see how the park was operating and to see the place where the military allegedly abused funds, but also to pay respects to past kings,” Thanawut Wichaidit, a spokesman for the UDD, said.
“This is a violation of our right to pay respects.” Colonel Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the junta, or National Council for Peace and Order, confirmed the men’s detention and said their actions were a “clear example of a political movement”.
The junta has banned political gatherings of more than five people and has summoned hundreds of activists for questioning since taking power. Many, including politicians and journalists, have been forced to attend attitude adjustment sessions at military facilities. Winthai urged the public to follow news about the park graft investigation through official channels. The accusations of kickbacks, levelled by some Thai media and opposition groups, have transfixed a country anxious over the declining health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 87.
US relations
The US Ambassador to Thailand said yesterday that the United States supports Thailand’s relationship with China, countering suggestions that Thailand has turned to Beijing amid a chill in ties between Bangkok and Washington. Ambassador Glyn Davies’s comments follow those by the Thai junta last week that it was not distancing itself from the United States despite blossoming military and political ties between Bangkok and Beijing since a 2014 coup.
Last week, Thailand’s air force joined military exercises with China’s air force at a military base northeast of Bangkok aimed at increasing “mutual trust and friendship”. China has said it is supportive of Thailand’s military rulers and, since the coup, Thailand’s military generals have sought to counterbalance the country’s ties with Washington and launched a charm offensive towards China. Recent deals between China and Thailand include an ambitious project to build rail links from southern China to Thailand and plans by the Thai navy to buy submarines worth $1 billion from China.
“I don’t worry about Thailand’s relationship with Beijing. I think it’s a good thing for Thailand to have a relationship with China,” Davies told reporters in Bangkok on Monday.
“We try to have a good relationship with China too.” Thailand has been one of Washington’s staunchest allies in Southeast Asia but following the coup, Washington downgraded joint military exercises and training with Thailand saying they would be restored once a general election is held. “The relationship with the United States and Thailand is a very deep, broad relationship,” Davies said. “...It’s across the board. We work together in law enforcement, security, environment, refugees, trafficking, all of these things we work with Thailand and for us its a very beneficial relationship.” China has rattled nerves in Southeast Asia with its increasingly bold assertion of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have competing claims. — Reuters