PM assures Japan of poll
Abe hopes for swift return to democracy, writes Pichai Chuensuksawadi in Tokyo
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday sent a clear message to the Japanese government, its business leaders and the media that elections would be held in Thailand at the end of this year or early next. This was a consistent theme laid out by Gen Prayut during his string of meetings, which ended with bilateral talks with his counterpart Shinzo Abe.
At the end of their 45-minute talks, the two leaders issued a joint statement covering politics and security, people-to-people exchanges and co-operation on regional and international issues. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Abe said he hoped reconciliation would occur and democracy would return to Thailand swiftly.
At the same press conference, Gen Prayut thanked Japan for its concern and re-iterated the same message he had given earlier to the Japanese business federation Keidanren — that elections would be held at the end of this year or early 2016.
“I promise that Thailand will return as a strong nation,” he said.
During their talks, Mr Abe praised Gen Prayut for his leadership, a government official attending the meeting told the Bangkok Post.
Earlier in the day, Japanese business leaders raised the issue of “a return to civilian leadership”.
Gen Prayut assured Mr Abe he had no intention of retaining power, even after elections.
He went into considerable detail about the process, as he had with Japanese business leaders earlier.
Once the charter is completed in September, it will take several months for organic laws to be passed and polls would be held at the end of the year or early in 2016.
All is going according to the roadmap, although martial law is still necessary to maintain order, Mr Abe was told.
Both leaders witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) on future cooperation in developing Thailand’s railways.
The MOI was inked earlier in the day between Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong and Akihiro Ohta, Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Although Japan has not officially agreed to fund development of the railway, it has agreed to research and study development of two rail links — Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Mae Sot-Mukdahan.
The development will either focus on the improvement of existing metre-gauge lines or the development of new standardgauge ones.
Both Thai and Japanese ministries will continue to explore possible technical cooperation, including technical transfers on the railway sector.
In order to improve rail connectivity with neighbouring countries in the Southern Economic Corridor from the East to West, both ministries would also cooperate on research and study on railway development of three routes — Kanchanaburi-Bangkok, Bangkok-Chachoengsao-Aranyaprathet and Bangkok-Chachoengsao-Laem Chabang.
The MOI also states that a “study on the feasibility of cooperation” on rail freight services in Thailand would be conducted.
Both ministries welcomed the “ongoing cooperation” on the development of the mass transit railway system in Bangkok — the Purple and Red lines.
A joint steering committee at the ministerial level will be set up to oversee the implementation of the MOI.
The existing Railway Working Group will support the new steering committee.
At the end of last month, Thailand and China agreed on the construction of the dual-track system on the Nong Khai-Map Ta Phut-Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi route, totalling 873 kilometres.
It is not clear how long the Japanese would take to conduct their study, but an informed source said that it is possible the government would allow the Japanese first pick of one of the routes before opening the others to bidding.
In their joint statement, Gen Prayut outlined Thailand’s initiative to establish the first of six Special Economic Zones along the borders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia as part of a national strategy to stimulate economic growth, attract foreign investment, foster development of border areas and support Asean integration. Mr Abe took note of the initiative. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of promoting the Dawei Special Economic Zone in Myanmar through trilateral consultations between Japan, Thailand and Myanmar. Japan will start procedures to meet the necessary conditions for equity investment in Special Purpose Vehicles, while Thailand said it looked forward to Japan’s input on the project’s master plan.
Both leaders expressed “resolute condemnation over the outrageous and impermissible murders of the two Japanese nationals by the Islamic State group”.
They agreed that the international community should remain united and not give in to terrorism.
Gen Prayut, in his talks with Mr Abe, praised Japan for its “proactive contributions” to peace in the region, while in the joint statement, expressed appreciation for Japan’s role in working towards peace and stability in the Middle East.
Mr Abe said he appreciated Thailand’s strong support for the permanent membership of Japan in the reformed United Nations Security Council.
Gen Prayut is scheduled to leave Tokyo today on the high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) for Osaka, where he intends to meet with regional business leaders before returning to Bangkok.
He plans to visit Japan again in March to attend the Third United Nations Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and again in July for the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday urged Japanese businesses operating in Thailand to raise any trade and investment issues needing to be resolved this year while he remains in power. During his meeting with the powerful Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), comprising more than 1,300 companies, 122 industrial organisations and 47 regional organisations, he also promised to take care of Japanese businesses in Thailand.
Keidanren chairman Sadayuki Sakakibara and the chairman of its board of counsellors, Hiromichi Iwasa, both raised the issue of a return to civilian rule with Gen Prayut.
The prime minister spent a considerable amount of time explaining the reasons for the May 22 coup but reiterated a return to civilian rule would occur late this year or early next.
Gen Prayut said he and his delegation were happy to be in Japan, a country he said “did not abandon us”.
“I understand your concern about Thai democracy,” he said, adding that the government was running the country using normal mechanisms but admitted “special measures” were needed to ensure peace and stability was maintained in the country.
“We now have a government made up partly of military officers and civilians. We need special laws to maintain peace and forge reforms in 11 areas.
“If we do not administer the country in this way, no one can guarantee there will not be problems. This is the only way to run the country and ensure your investments are taken care of.”
The prime minister said Thailand was now in the second stage of the roadmap and that by September the new charter would be completed.
Once organic laws are drafted, elections can be expected towards year-end or in early 2016.
Gen Prayut said he was not opposed to democracy in other countries or Japan, but Japan did not face the same situation that Thailand experienced last year, when it was stuck in a situation in which laws could not be enforced and polls could not be held.
“That is why we had to step in to sort out the problems. We’re not in conflict with those who disagree with us, but I admit feeling disappointed,” he said, a reference to comments made by US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel during his recent visit to Thailand.
“If all elected [Thai] governments were like Japan’s, then there would be no problems, and we urge the Japanese to help Thai politicians have ethics. Thailand’s problems occurred due to politics, not because of me. Please be fair to me. My government does not want to stay in power long.
“Do not let the word ‘democracy’ stop progress in our ties. If it is used to obstruct progress, then nothing will move forward.”
Gen Prayut said he wanted to use his visit to Japan to “create history” in Thai-Japanese relations.
Earlier, Mr Sakakibara told Gen Prayut that Japanese businesses, of which there are about 4,000 operating in Thailand, were interested in cooperation in the areas of rail, port and infrastructure development, especially if it benefited the Mekong region.
In response, Gen Prayut said while he welcomed more Japanese investment in Thailand, he also wanted to see more balanced benefits for Thailand.
He urged Japanese companies to invest in the six planned special economic zones the government is setting up and voiced a readiness to support Japan’s policy of Thailand Plus One.
The prime minister also said he wanted to see the Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement fully utilised.
Thailand also seeks to expand collaboration on “new-generation industries” — scientific, high-technology and innovation education, green economy and renewable energy — as well as human resource development.
Thailand is a major recipient of Japanese investment, and therefore training Thailand’s workforce would not only increase the skills of Thai workers but also directly benefit Japanese investors.
Apart from meeting the Keidanren yesterday, Gen Prayut also met separately with top executives of Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Honda and Marubeni.
“The official visit of Prime Minister Prayut to Japan itself surely helps to strengthen bilateral economic ties, but Japanese firms would like to obtain reassurance of Thailand’s political stability to encourage Japanese investment and business,” Shin Sato, chairman of Mitsui HighTech (Thailand), told the Bangkok Post.
Mitsui has a broad range of business activities and experience in Thailand in such fields as energy, iron and steel products, chemicals, food, infrastructure, motor vehicles, machinery, IT and mobile technology.
“We expressed our intention that we would like to make a contribution to Thailand’s sustainable development with new investments and trading in various businesses such as energy, infrastructure, consumer service and foodstuffs,” Mr Sato said.
Asked how Japanese firms viewed the current political situation in Thailand, Mr Sato said: “Political instability has been a serious issue for a long time. Although the number of Japanese firms that have a negative feeling about investing in Thailand due to the instability is relatively small, they seriously hope the situation will stabilise as early as possible.”