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THAILAND-POLITICS-ROYALTY LEAD
Thai princess disqualified from list of candidates for PM
BANGKOK, Feb 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Thai Princess Ubolratana was on Monday
formally disqualified for running for prime minister, ending her brief and
ill-fated political union with a party allied to the powerful Shinawatra
clan, just days after a stern royal command rebuking her candidacy was issued
by her brother, the king.
Uncertainty and conjecture have coursed through Thailand since Friday when
the Thai Raksa Chart party made the explosive announcement of Princess
Ubolratana, King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s elder sister, as their candidate for
premier after the March 24 election.
Her tilt appeared to some to be a masterstroke of back-room dealings by
Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire self-exiled ex-premier, just weeks before
the poll.
But just hours later it fell apart.
A royal command from the king put a pin in her unprecedented political
aspirations, insisting the monarchy was above politics and describing his
sister’s candidacy as “highly inappropriate”.
Thailand’s incredibly wealthy and powerful monarchy is revered by Thais and
protected by a draconian lese majeste law. The king’s word is seen as final.
On Monday the Election Commission formally scratched her candidacy.
“The EC today has announced the name of candidates excluding Princess
Ubolratana proposed by the Thai Raksa Chart party,” it said in a statement,
explaining “all royal family members are above politics.”
Despite its brevity, the princess’s foray into politics has electrified the
political landscape of the country, as speculation over who wins and loses
from her tilt ricochets across the kingdom.
– Coups and plots –
Chatter of an impending coup against the ruling junta leader Prayut Chan-O-
Cha and a major change in army top brass has billowed out, with the hashtag
#coup trending in the top 10 on Thai Twitter.
On Monday junta chief Prayut on Monday was forced to dismiss rumours of an
impending coup as “fake news”.
“Rumours…? We’re investigating. Fake news,” he told reporters at
Government House.
The gruff former general, masterminded a putsch against the government of
Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, in 2014.
Meanwhile, a chastened Thai Raksa Chart, a key pillar in Thaksin’s election
strategy, agreed to comply with the royal command.
It may face censure by election authorities that could ultimately see it
dissolved, although it was not clear if any ban could be in place before the
election takes place.
Thailand’s generals have a penchant for coups, backroom plotting and
factional struggles.
They have grabbed power 12 times since the end of absolute monarchy in
1932, including against existing juntas seen to have over-stepped their mark.
Prayut has agreed to stand for premier after the election and is aided by an
army-scripted constitution.
But critics say he has personalised power and outstayed his welcome with a
public wearied by his finger-jabbing style.
The king appointed a new army chief, Apirat Kongsompong, last year from a
rival faction of the army to Prayut and his junta allies.
Recent days have seeded unease, with the first election in eight years now
seemingly dependent on behind-the-scenes power plays by the elite.
Meanwhile, the fate of Thai Raksa Chart hangs in the balance.
The party, a second to the Thaksin political powerhouse Pheu Thai, was
expected to help the Shinawatra machine secure a majority in the 350-seat
lower house.
But it is under intense pressure following its bid to bring in the
princess.
“I think the party leader and board should take a responsibility by
resigning,” said Srisuwan Janya of the Association for the Protection of the
Constitution, a royalist activist group, who submitted a petition to election
authorities Monday calling for the party’s censure.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1627 hrs