Abhisit Vejjajiva ( (
Thai pronunciation), , ; born
Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in
Newcastle upon Tyne) is a
Thai politician who was the
27th Prime Minister of
Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the
Democrat Party. As leader of the second largest party in the
House of Representatives, he is also
Leader of the Opposition - a position he last held in December 2008.
Born in England, Abhisit attended Eton College and earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Oxford. He was elected to the Parliament of Thailand at age 27, and promoted to Democrat Party leader in 2005, after his predecessor resigned following the party's defeat in the 2005 general election.
Abhisit was appointed Prime Minister of Thailand on 17 December 2008, after the Constitutional Court of Thailand removed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from office. At age 44, he was the country's youngest prime minister in more than 60 years.
Abhisit became Premier at a time of global economic turmoil and rising domestic political tensions. As prime minister, he promoted a "People’s Agenda," which focused primarily on policies affecting the living conditions of Thailand's rural and working class citizens. He administered two economic stimulus packages: a $40 billion, three-year infrastructure improvement plan, and a more than $3 billion program of cash subsidies and handouts. By 2010, the stock market and the value of the baht had rebounded to their highest levels since the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Abhisit led strict enforcement of Thailand's lèse majesté laws, including censorship of Web sites, radio stations, and the arrest and silencing of many opposition leaders. Human Rights Watch called Abhisit "the most prolific censor in recent Thai history" and Freedom House downgraded Thailand's rating of media freedom to "not free."
Abhisit also advocated for stronger anti-corruption measures, although several members of his Cabinet resigned due to corruption scandals and parts of his economic stimulus packages were criticized for instances of alleged corruption.
Abhisit's government faced major protests in April 2009 and April–May 2010. The military's crackdowns on protesters left hundreds dead. Abhisit launched a reconciliation plan to investigate the crackdown, but the work of the investigation commission was hampered by military and government agencies. The Thai Army clashed with Cambodian troops numerous times from 2009 to 2010 in the bloodiest fighting in over 2 decades. The South Thailand insurgency escalated during Abhisit's government, and reports of torture and human rights violations increased.
Having resigned the party leadership after the defeat the Democrats suffered in the parliamentary elections of 2011, Abhisit was re-elected as leader at a party assembly.
Early life and family
Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva was born in
Wallsend,
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, attended
Eton College (where he was known as "Veggie" amongst his peers), and earned a
bachelor's degree in
philosophy, politics and economics (PPE), first class honors, and a master's degree in economics from
St John's College, Oxford. He also received a bachelor's degree in law from Thailand's
Ramkhamhaeng University, and taught at
Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He is fluent in both his
mother tongue and the English language, and has
dual Thai and
British citizenship.
His dual citizenship became a topic for the Thai parliamentary debates in early 2011. He is ethnically
Han Chinese of
Hakka origin.
Abhisit was preceded in public service by his father, Athasit (อรรถสิทธิ์) Vejjajiva, a former president of Mahidol University and the Royal Institute of Thailand and who is now director of Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thailand's largest agribusiness firm and part of the Charoen Pokphand Group, known throughout Thailand as CP.
Abhisit is married to Pimpen Sakuntabhai, his classmate at the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration elementary school, who was a former dentist and is now a lecturer at the Department of Mathematics at Chulalongkorn University. They have two children: Prang Vejjajiva (daughter) and Pannasit Vejjajiva (son). Abhisit has two sisters: child psychiatrist Alisa Wacharasindhu and author Ngarmpun Vejjajiva.
Background
Abhisit's ancestors were
Hakka Chinese, surnamed
Yuan (
袁), who moved from
Vietnam to Thailand. The family name Vejjajiva was granted by King
Rama VI to Abhisit's great-grandfather Dr. Long (หลง), together with Long's father
Nai Jinsang (นายจิ๊นแสง), grandfather Nai Pong (นายเป๋ง) and great-grandfather Nai Go (นายก่อ) while Dr. Long was serving as an
Army Medical Department sub-lieutenant ()
The Vejjajiva family came to prominence when Dr. Long, then
styled
Phra Bamrad Naradura, rose to
public health minister, and founded the Bamrad Naradura hospital in
Nonthaburi. The family name means "medical profession."
The National Peace Keeping Council seized power in a military coup in 1991 and appointed Abhisit's father Deputy Minister of Public Health.
Early political career
Entry into politics
Abhisit began his political career in the 1992 general elections that followed the coup, becoming a
Bangkok MP for the Democrat Party. He was re-elected to the same seat in the 1995 and 1996 general elections. In the elections of
2001 and
2005, he returned to parliament as a
Party List MP for the Democrat Party. He has served as Democrat Party spokesman, Government spokesman, Deputy-Secretary to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Chairman of the House Education Affairs Committee, and Minister to the Prime Minister's Office.
Democrat Party leader
Abhisit was first nominated for the position of Democrat Party leader in 2003, following the resignation of then-party leader and former-Prime Minister
Chuan Leekpai. However, he lost the bid in a close election with seasoned politician
Banyat Bantadtan. Two years later, Banyat led the Democrat Party to an overwhelming defeat in the
2005 general elections. Banyat resigned following the elections and Abhisit was named the new party leader.
2006 elections
In February 2006, then-Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved the House of Representatives and called for
new elections in April. In response, Abhisit announced that the Democrats and other opposition parties would boycott the elections. They claimed the elections lacked legitimacy, and were an attempt by Thaksin to divert public attention from his tax free sales of the
Shin Corporation to
Temasek Holdings.
Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party won an overwhelming majority in the virtually uncontested April 2006 election. However, the elections also left 38 seats vacant in the House of Representatives, because some Thai Rak Thai candidates were unable to garner the constitutionally required minimum of 20% of the vote to hold office. In the ensuing political crisis, Thaksin announced he would step down as Prime Minister, and the Constitutional Court ultimately invalidated the election results.
The Thai Rak Thai party charged the Democrats with bribing other small political parties into boycotting the April 2006 elections. An 11-member fact-finding panel headed by Deputy Attorney-General Chaikasem Nitisiri voted unanimously in June 2006 to recommend dissolving the Democrat Party, as well as Thai Rak Thai and three other parties, based on evidence that the Democrats bribed other opposition parties into boycotting the elections. In February 2007, candidates from the Progressive Democratic Party testified before the Constitution Tribunal that they were duped into registering for candidacy in the April elections. Three witnesses testified that Democrat leaders Thaworn Senniam, Wirat Kalayasiri, and Jua Ratchasi encouraged protesters to disrupt the registration of candidates during the by-elections after the April 2006 election. Prosecutors contended that the party tried to disqualify the election results and force continuous rounds of by-elections. The defense claimed that the witnesses were hired by the Thai Rak Thai party to discredit the Democrats. Ultimately, the Constitutional Court of Thailand acquitted Abhisit and the Democrats of bribery, and instead banned Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party for the same charges.
2006 military coup
On 19 September 2006, only weeks before the scheduled elections, the military seized power in the
2006 Thailand coup. Abhisit voiced his disapproval of the coup just hours before all political activities were banned:
Abhisit and the Democrats supported the military junta's 2007 draft constitution on the grounds that rejecting it would give more power to the junta. Abhisit said the Democrat Party considered the new constitution similar to the 1997 Constitution, but with improvements as well as faults. "If we wanted to please the Council for National Security we would reject the draft so it could pick a charter of its own choosing. If we reject the draft, it will be like handing out power to the Council. We have come up with this stand because we care about national interest and want democracy to be restored soon," he said.
2007 elections
The Democrat Party remained in the opposition after the
December 2007 parliamentary election. In a parliamentary vote to select a new prime minister on 28 January 2008,
Samak Sundaravej of the
People's Power Party defeated Abhisit by a vote of 310 to 163. On 9 September 2008, Mr. Samak was removed from the post by the Constitutional Court for receiving payment as the host of a TV cooking program.
In the crisis that followed, some Democrat Party members became leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which organized a six-month-long demonstration and seized Government House, Don Muang Airport, and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Abhisit voiced displeasure at the sieges, but did not stop his deputies from their leadership of the PAD. The sieges ended after the Constitutional Court banned the People's Power Party. Army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, General Anupong Paochinda, allegedly coerced several PPP MPs from the Friends of Newin Group to defect to the Democrat Party, allowing Abhisit to be elected Prime Minister.
Upon becoming Premiere, Abhisit promised to enforce the rule of law and prosecute the 21 Peoples Alliance for Democracy leaders who were responsible for seizing Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi Airports. As of February 2010, arrest warrants still had not been issued for the airport seizures. On 24 February 2010, government prosecutors deferred a decision for the eighth time to decide whether to indict the nine leaders of the PAD over the 7-month long seizure of Government House. However, as the PAD leaders did not come testify voluntarily, the judge could not make the decision and the process was thereby delayed.
Rise to Premiership
When Thaksin called for new elections in April 2006, Abhisit said he was "prepared to become a prime minister who adheres to the principles of good governance and ethics, not authoritarianism." On 29 April Abhisit announced his candidacy for Prime Minister at the Democrat Party annual convention. He promised a "People’s Agenda," with education as the main focus. He used the campaign slogan "Putting People First." He also vowed not to privatize basic utilities such as water and electricity, and to nationalize state enterprises that Thaksin had privatized. Regarding core elements of the so-called "Thaksinomics", Abhisit promised "the benefits from certain populist policies, such as the 30-Baht healthcare scheme, the Village Fund and the SML (Small Medium Large) scheme, will not be revoked but instead improved." He later urged that Thaksin's popular 30-Baht health care scheme should be replaced with a system where access to medical services was totally free. Abhisit stated that all future Democrat MPs would have to declare their assets and any involvement in private companies. (By law, only members of the cabinet needed to declare their assets.)
Abhisit raised more than Bt200 million at the Democrat Party's 60th Anniversary dinner. He outlined several energy policies, including increasing dividend payments from state-owned oil company PTT and using the funds to repay Oil Fund debts, and having state-owned electric utility EGAT absorb part of the rising fuel prices. Abhisit later outlined plans to reduce retail petrol prices by eliminating the 2.50 baht/litre tax used to maintain the government's Oil Fund.
On 13 July 2006, Abhisit promised to deal with escalating violence in the South by making the problems in the Southern provinces a public agenda.
Abhisit also promised many populist policies including providing free education, textbooks, milk, and supplemental foods for nursery school students and increasing the minimum wage.
Following the Constitutional Court of Thailand's removal of prime minister Samak Sundaravej in 2008 for vested interests by taking a salary from a cooking show while in the seat of PM, Abhisit lost the National Assembly vote for Prime Minister by 163 votes to 298 for Somchai Wongsawat, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's brother in law. On 2 December 2008, the Constitutional Court banned the three government parties for election fraud, including the PPP, thus dissolving the governing coalition and paving the way for a Democrat-led government. The Court also removed Somchai from office and banned him from politics for five years for his involvement in the scandal as one of PPP's executive board members. He was succeeded by a deputy.
After Somchai was removed and the PPP dissolved, the MPs of the parties which had been in coalition with the PPP forged a new coalition with the Democrat Party, which had been in opposition until then. Most of the defectors were MPs from the Friends of Newin faction of the PPP, as well as the Bhumjaithai Party, the Puea Pandin Party, the Chartthaipattana Party, and the Rum Chart Pattana Party. The defection of the powerful Friends of Newin Group came about due to the alleged coercion by Army Commander General Anupong Paochinda, a move that Senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn called an "Anupong-style coup." The Democrat-led coalition was able to endorse Abhisit as Prime Minister. Abhisit became Prime Minister after winning a vote in parliament on 15 December 2008.
Prime Minister of Thailand
Abhisit was formally endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej as Prime Minister on 17 December 2008. Abhisit ascended to power amid a
global economic crisis.
Key appointments in Abhisit's government included PAD leader Kasit Piromya as Foreign Minister, construction tycoon Chaovarat Chanweerakul as Interior Minister, and investment banker and former Abhisit classmate Korn Chatikavanij as Finance Minister. Massage parlor tycoon Pornthiva Nakasai was appointed Deputy Commerce Minister.
Abhisit's first act as Prime Minister was to send SMS texts to tens of millions of Thai mobile phone users. The message, signed "Your PM," asked people to help him solve the country's crisis. Interested phone users were asked to send back their postal codes, at a cost of three baht. Abhisit was criticized for violating privacy regulations in the mass SMS. The National Telecommunication Commission says that mobile phone service providers may not exploit client information, including phone numbers, without their consent. However, it did not seek actions against Abhisit.
According to a survey by Assumption University's Abac Poll in May 2009, Abhisit received a 70 percent approval rating, the highest within the Cabinet. The government's overall approval rating was 59 percent "rather much or much" satisfied and 9.4 percent "very much" satisfied. Overall the government was rated 6.5 out of 10 by a majority of respondents. In a nationwide survey conducted 24–25 December 2010, by Bangkok University, the government's two years in power were rated 4.61 out of 10, with the PM's performance at 5.17.
Domestic policy
Government debt
Abhisit borrowed heavily to finance his various populist policies and stimulus packages. The government borrowed a record-breaking 1.49 trillion baht from 2009 to early 2011, compared to the previous 26 Prime Ministers who had combined borrowings of only 870 billion baht. Thailand’s national debt at the end of February 2011 was 3.59 trillion baht, or 40% of GDP. By April 2011, the Governor of the
Bank of Thailand, Thailand's central bank, warned that implementing Abhisit's populist policies might cause
public debt to surge past the legal debt ceiling of no more than 50% of GDP. The government countered the BoT's warning by claiming it was just expression of opinion in a technical manner. Abhisit noted that several countries had experienced debt crises – but not Thailand.
Economic recession and stimulus
The global economic crisis had a major impact on Thailand, with unemployment increasing by 63 percent—to 880,000 people nationwide—between December 2008 and January 2009, and analysts predicting the country's economy could contract by as much as 5% on the year.
Abhisit responded to the crisis with two economic stimulus packages. The government announced the first, 117-billion-baht stimulus package in January 2009. The package included a one-time issuance of 2,000 Baht (approximately 75 USD) checks to people making less than 15,000 Baht (approximately $500) a month. A training program, dubbed "Ton Kla A-cheep" was initiated for up to 500,000 new graduates and unemployed people. Free government education was expanded to up to 15 years, as written in the constitution, saving approximately 2,000 baht per term per student. A pension of 500 baht a month was provided to those aged 60 and above. Price guarantees were instituted to subsidize rice, corn, and tapioca farmers. The government provided funds to villages nationwide to carry out projects based on King Bhumibol's sufficiency economy philosophy.
The cabinet approved the second, 1.4-trillion-baht package in May. The plan was called "Strong Thailand" (Thai Khem Khaeg), with the majority of the money dedicated to infrastructure improvements. In addition, a program was initiated to provide resolve land-title issues for squatters living on state land. The government attempted to transfer private loans from loan sharks to state-owned banks, protecting debtors from unreasonably high interest rate demanded by the loan sharks and helping them finance their families again.
By the end of 2009, Thailand's economy had only contracted by 2.3% – buoyed by 5.8% economic growth in the fourth quarter of the year.
Public health
Abhisit continued the
Surayud junta's policy of
compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals, saying that it complied with the
World Trade Organisation's agreement on intellectual property. As of March 2009, he warned that there would be societal pressure to expand compulsory licensing if the U.S. downgraded Thailand's trade status.
Despite opposition, Abhisit continued to support public health protection and refused to drop the Medical Malpractice Victim Protection Bill in the on-going legislative process. Furthermore, he set up a national-level committee to improve the draft before sending the final copy to the parliament. "We need to push ahead with the legislation. For some contentious points in this bill, all sides just need to talk and cooperate," Abhisit said after a meeting with representatives from the Network for People's Medical Protection and the Federation of Medical Workers, where both sides sought to have a national committee set-up to improve the bill.
In 2009, Abhisit said that it was his government's goal to reduce the number of new HIV cases in the country by 50% by 2011. He noted that new cases among married women increased by 30% to 40% and promised to be involved in a campaign to promote fidelity among married couples. In 2010, he became a presenter in his government's "honest husband" campaign and vowed to become a role model of fidelity for all married men.
Energy
The Abhisit government subsidized the price of
diesel,
LPG cooking gas, and household electricity. He maintained a retail price of diesel of no more than 30 baht/liter by reducing fuel taxes and spending from the government's Oil Fund. 8.5 billion baht per month in government tax revenue was forgone due to the cuts in excise tax. By mid-April, the Oil Fund had 34 billion baht in cash and 29 billion baht in debt, leaving it with 4.5 billion baht in net funds. The Fund was expected to be completely depleted by the end of April. Abhisit extended temporary government subsidies which provided free electricity to about 30 million Thai households that used less than 90 units a month. In April 2011, he made the free-electricity policy permanent, although industrial and commercial electricity users (rather than the government) were now burdened with paying for the 12 billion baht per year subsidy.
Transportation
Bus and train subsidies
The Abhisit government repeatedly extended temporary subsidies that provided free bus and train rides. Abhisit also proposed making the free rides permanent.
BTS
Under the guidance of Abhisit's administration, the BTS sky train, which is a rail-based mass transit system in Bangkok, launched a new 2.2-kilometre extension linking the Saphan Taksin Bridge Station to Krung Thonburi Station and Wong Wian Yai Station on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. The new service linked Sathorn Road, one of Bangkok’s prime business districts, to Thonburi on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Under the "Thai Khem Khang Project", BTS is in the process of constructing the 6.7-kilometre extension from Onnuj station to Sukhumvit 107. This is expected to be ready within two years. Another section of 12.8-km to connect to Bang Pu district in Samut Prakan province has also been planned for a later stage. Additionally, a 4.5-kilometre route from Taksin Bridge to Nong Khaem district is also expected to begin service within two years.
High-Speed Train Route
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva emphasized his government's plans for new logistical and infrastructure projects that the high-speed trains will not only facilitate the rapid movement of goods and people, but will provide even more benefits to Thailand once ASEAN becomes a single market and Thailand becomes a stronger production base for the Economic Community. As Asian economies look more towards regional rather than Western trade for future growth, it's a forward-looking plan with the potential to position Thailand as a highly efficient regional hub connecting China to Southeast Asia.
The project will have two phases: from Nong Khai in the Northeast to Bangkok, from Bangkok to Rayong and from Bangkok to Padang Besar, on the border with Malaysia. The transnational line will start from Kunming in China's southwestern Yunnan province and run south to Thailand through Laos and Vietnam.
The entire project, from Nong Khai to Bangkok and Rayong, and from Bangkok to Padang Besar, will cost almost Bt350 billion. The railway tracks will be built in parallel with existing tracks, but with a wider gauge of 1.4 metres, instead of the current gauge of 1 metre. The Nong Khai-Bangkok route says it will cover a total distance of 615 kilometres. The track will run through a tunnel of about 10 km and will be elevated over a distance of 59 km. The high-speed train will travel at no less than 200 kilometres per hour. It will be electrically powered, and studies have shown that existing power supplies will be sufficient.
Once this project has been completed, travelling by train from Bangkok to Kunming will take around 5 hours, 3 hours from Bangkok to Vientiane, and less than 5 hours from Bangkok to Padang Basar.
Airport Link
Abhisit's administration completed the Air Port Link project that was delayed by the previous government due to several factors. Suvarnabhumi Airport's Link, which connects downtown Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi airport, began commercial services on 23 August 2010. The Airport Link's City Line will run every 15 minutes and the Express Line every 30 minutes. Both lines operate from 6 am to midnight. The trains have a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour. The City Line will make eight stops across the capital, starting at Phaya Thai, before heading to the airport. The trains take 30 minutes from Phaya Thai to Suvarnabhumi.
Information and communications technology
Abhisit's information and communications technology (ICT) policy included censorship of Internet sites the government considered offensive to the monarchy. Abhisit's ICT minister, Ranongruk Suwunchwee, met with officials of TOT and CAT (both state-owned telecommunications firms) in 2009 to inform them of the policy. Ranongruk said 45 million baht was spent on a war room where government staff worked around the clock to block access to certain Web sites in Thailand. By September 2009, more than 17,000 "offensive" Web sites were blocked.
An auction for 3G 2.1 gigahertz spectrum licenses organized by the National Telecommunications Commission was cancelled after state-owned firms CAT Telecom and TOT successfully filed an injunction which claimed that the NTC lacked the authority to organize the auction. They also argued that the auction would cause the state agencies to lose revenue. The regulator originally planned to hold the auctions prior to the 2006 military coup. Five days after the injunction, the government approved a 19.9 billion budget for TOT to expand its existing 3G network.
Within mass communication, it is difficult to delineate between objective and biased information. On one hand, the media can be used to provide useful information; on the other hand, it can be used to increase the popularity of the government. And this is why there arises the debate about whether the government is justified to use mass communication, and to what extent.
Defense
Abhisit's government approved military budgets of 170 billion baht in 2011 and 154 billion baht in 2010. In the 2011 appropriation, 19.5 billion baht was allocated for the purchase of six
JAS 39 Gripen fighter planes, in addition to the six aircraft purchased by the military junta of
Surayud Chulanont. Army Commander Anupong noted that the military's budget would be increased to 2% of GDP, from about 1% of GDP prior to the 2006 coup.
South Thailand insurrection
Rising levels of violence
In July 2009, Abhisit claimed that
violence in Southern Thailand decreased since his government took over, thanks to a focus on economic development. His claim was contradicted by
Deep South Watch, an academic think-tank at the
Prince of Songkhla University in
Pattani province, which showed that violence actually increased since the beginning of the 2009.
In February 2010, the government said that it was capable of eliminating insurgency violence by the end of the year. Foreign Minister Kasit claimed a "sense of optimism" in the region. By the end of 2010, insurgency-related violence had increased, confounding the government's optimism.
Torture allegations
The Abhisit government was condemned by several international human rights groups for the routine and systematic torture of suspected insurgents. In just a two month period in 2010,
Amnesty International received eight reports of torture. "The security forces continue to use torture even though senior commanders claim to have prohibited it," found Brussels-based
International Crisis Group. Common methods of torture allegedly used by the Army, many of which occurred at the Ingkhayutthabariharn Reconciliation Promotion Center, included severe beatings,
suffocation with plastic bags,
electric shocks,
forced nudity, exposure to extreme cold or heat, needles inserted into open wounds, and holding detainees' family members hostage – including, in one case, a 6-year-old boy.
Abhisit personally denied the torture allegations and questioned the accuracy of Amnesty International's claims.
The army repeatedly denied the allegations. "We have never committed torture," said regional commander Lieut. General Udomchai Thamsarorat.
Human Rights Watch criticized the government for failing to curb torture and abuses by security forces in the South. It noted that no member of the security forces had ever been prosecuted for human rights abuses in the region. It found that insurgents used these state-sponsored abuses and to recruit new insurgents and justify their campaign of violence.
Immigration
Abhisit enacted measures that required approximately 1.5 million migrants to register with the government under a new, time-consuming system that involved verifying the migrants' identities with their home governments, or be arrested and deported. The deadline for compliance, initially 28 February 2010, was extended to 2 March after several hundred thousand migrants failed to appear. Although migrant labor from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and elsewhere make up 5%–10% of Thailand's work force, migrants are critical in keeping Thailand's wages competitive with China. Human-rights groups noted that migrants have plenty of reasons to fear declaring themselves, including a history of past mistreatment, including bribery, rape, and arbitrary arrest, by Thai authorities. Other migrant workers worry that information about their activities will be shared with their home governments, exposing them or their families to harassment.
''Lèse majesté''
In 2009, the Abhisit administration established a special task-force to step up lèse majesté enforcement, and set up a Web site where individuals could report violations to the Thai authorities. The same year, Abhisit acknowledged that the country's lese majeste laws had been abused in the past, and said he would attempt to address the problem. He established an advisory committee on the fair application of lese majeste laws in January 2010.
In 2010, Privy councilor Air Chief Marshal Kamthon Sindhavananda said the Abhisit government had been slow to respond to perceived threats against the monarchy. In response, Abhisit said protecting the monarchy was the government's top priority, and pledged to "improve mechanisms to safeguard the royal institution."
During Abhisit's tenure, the arrest of Prachatai editor Chiranuch Premchaiporn also became a cause celebre. Chiranuch was charged under the Computer Crimes Act for not quickly deleting online comments posted to her news Web site that were allegedly insulting to the monarchy. Chiranuch faced up to 50 years in prison on the initial charges. She was arrested again on separate charges after attending "Internet at Liberty 2010," an international conference on media freedom. Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Reporters Without Borders all criticized the arrest.
Thaksin Shinawatra
Abhisit was highly critical of Thaksin throughout his time in power. Through his spokesperson, Panithan Wattanayakorn, he accused Thaksin of funding the red-shirt UDD movement from abroad. When UDD leaders and Thaksin denied the accusation and demanded proof for the government's accusations, Deputy Premier Suthep noted that it still did not have any confirmation as to any transfers.
Abhisit has also denied the legitimacy of Thaksin’s leadership of the UDD and has refused to deal directly with Thaksin. Abhisit argued that Thaksin’s wealth and corrupt background were at odds with the UDD’s largely agrarian and working-class membership and ideologies, and that this hypocrisy undermined the red shirts’ demands for fairer politics led by a less elite government.
In the days before the verdict of the Supreme Court's seizure of Thaksin's assets was announced, Abhisit announced that he would possibly forgive Thaksin if Thaksin showed remorse.
On 11 November 2009, Sivarak Chutipong was arrested by Cambodian police for passing the confidential flight plans of Thaksin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to Kamrob Palawatwichai, First Secretary of the Royal Thai Embassy in Cambodia. Sivarak was sentenced to seven years in jail, but later pardoned after Thaksin made a personal appeal on his behalf to the Cambodian government. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban later accused Sivarak of staging his own arrest in order to discredit the Abhisit government.
2010 Floods
From 10 October to 19 November 2010, major floods hit North and Northeast, Central, and then Southern Thailand. More than 230 people were killed and more than 7 million people in 25,00 villages were affected by the flooding. Abhisit faced criticism early on for failing to respond promptly to help flood victims in the North and Northeast and for insufficient coordination of relief efforts, but was praised for flying promptly down to
Hat Yai to tour the newly flooded city. Abhisit initially assigned flood management primary responsibility to former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, although Suthep later resigned to take part in a by-election campaign. Then on 24 October, Abhisit appointed PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey and advisor Apirak Kosayothin to lead a committee to deal with the floods. Rice farmers in flooded areas were offered hand-outs of up to 55% of their production cost. Starting 2 November, the government handed out 5,000 baht in cash to some 632,000 households. Recipients had to live in a house that flooded for more than 7 days. Further housing, education and public health assistance was expected to be implemented in 3 months, with expedited assistance for districts where the flooding had ceased. The Stock Exchange of Thailand was unaffected, but prices of rice and rubber saw their largest gains in two decades.
Foreign relations
Myanmar
Abhisit officially visited
Myanmar in October 2010 to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Abhisit met with
Senior-General Than Shwe to promote cordial ties and bilateral development between the neighboring countries. The meeting covered subjects on rule of law, stability and development in the two countries' border areas, economy and technology cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, promoting tourism sector and building a deep-sea port in Dawei, Myanmar workers in Thailand and internal affairs of both countries.
Traders said that adding new boarder trade zones since 2009 has encouraged cross-boarder trade and maintain boarder stability. The opening of new boarders will lower illegal trade and boost tourism.
In addition, Abhisit hopes that the Myawaddy-Mae Sot will reopen soon after the Myanmar had closed the checkpoint due to internal security problems.
Deep Sea Port
After a bilateral meeting between Abhisit and Prime Minister Thein Sein, the two premiers agreed to jointly develop a deep-sea port at Dawei, Myanmar's Andaman Sea coast. Abhisit said the port will be linked to a new economic zone in the region.
Experts said the port will remove trade barriers and significantly shorten the distance that ships from Europe, the Middle East and Africa have to travel to reach China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Ships now travel up to an additional 2,316 kilometers in the region because they have to pass through Singapore.
The agreement signed during Abhisit’s visit to Myanmar also includes the construction of 100 miles (approximately 160 kilometers) of road and rail between Kanchanaburi province in Thailand and the Dawei port in Myanmar.
Italian-Thai Development Pcl Ltd is expected to sign a contract to construct the port with the Myanmar Port Authority by the end of November. The construction is estimated to cost 400 billion baht (approximately $13 billion), which includes a railway, roads, industrial estates, a refinery and a steel mill.
Japan
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada affirmed strong ties between Japan and Thailand, showing that he still had confidence in the Thai economy. The meeting covered the exchange of ideas on different matters, including relationships in trade and investment between the two countries.
China
Hu Jintao, Chinese leader praised Abhisit’s ability in maintain strong relationship that has been established for 35 years. After the first official visit of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to China, President Hu declared that both of the of governments would support each other in diplomatic relation in the region and economics especially international trading and investment. Abhisit also noted that the transportation system that links the northern part of Thailand and China would be developed within a few years in order to strengthen relationship between Thai and Chinese.
Thailand-China high-speed train
Thailand and China have agreed to proceed with rail connections that will connect the two countries through neighboring Laos. The plan also calls for high-speed routes connecting Nong Khai to Bangkok and then eastwards to the industrially driven Thai Eastern Seaboard, with a third line linking the capital to the country's southern region near the Malaysian border at Padang Basar. The planned links aim to enhance rising trade flows sparked by the new China-Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) free-trade agreement and facilitate with modern infrastructure the region’s move towards a common ASEAN market.
On China's part, it will build a standard railway from Kunming to Vientiane, covering a distance of 420 km. This line will then link with Thailand across the mekong River to Nong Khai before continuing to Bangkok and Rayong. China says it is willing to provide support in manpower, training and technology transfer to the State Railway of Thailand.
China has said it would promote Thailand as a tourist destination among Chinese. It will as well consider buying more rice from Thailand, while adding the rail link development will provide convenience of people in the region to travel and enhance a better logistics and transport system.
Cambodia
Preah Vihear and border conflict
On 8 July 2008, the UN World Heritage Committee added Prasat Preah Vihear to the World Heritage Site list. The People's Alliance for Democracy claimed that this gave Cambodia ''de facto'' sovereignty over the disputed temple, and used this claim to launch large nationalist protests against the government of Somchai Wongsawat.
After Abhisit rose to power, he appointed Kasit Piromya as Foreign Minister. Prior to his appointment, the former diplomat led the PAD's anti-Cambodia protests. During the PAD's siege and occupation of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Kasit reportedly said "I will use Hun Sen‘s blood to wash my feet," recalling the historic incident where King Naresuan of Siam did the same to King Lovek of Cambodia. In a 2008 television interview, he called Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen "crazy", a "slave", and a "nak leng" (commonly translated as "gangster"). After his appointment, he later wrote to Hun Sen, saying it was all a misunderstanding, and that "nak leng" actually meant "a person who is lionhearted, a courageous and magnanimous gentleman."
In April 2009, large-scale fighting erupted between Thai and Cambodian troops near Preah Vihear. At least two Thai soldiers and two Cambodian soldiers were killed. The Cambodian government claimed its army had killed at least four Thai soldiers and captured 10 more, but the Thai government denied that any Thai soldiers were killed or injured. Both armies blamed the other for firing first and denied entering the other's territory.
Fighting escalated in early February 2011, when Thai forces allegedly used banned cluster munitions against Cambodian villages. Three Thais and eight Cambodians were killed and dozens of people wounded in the bloodiest border fighting in nearly two decades. As part of a ASEAN-brokered ceasefire deal, Thailand and Cambodia agreed on 22 February to allow unarmed military observers from Indonesia to be posted along their border. The Thai government later reneged on the agreement, refusing to allow foreigners into border areas. "There's a [bilateral] mechanism in place, so there's no need to run crying to ASEAN or the international community," Foreign Minister Kasit proclaimed.
Fighting further escalated in 22 April 2011, leaving at least five dead near Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, about 150 kilometers southwest of Preah Vihear. Both sides claimed the other side fired first. Cambodia accused the Thai military of again firing cluster munitions into villages, this time up to 20 kilometers inside the Cambodian border. Cambodia also accused the Thais of using chemical weapons. The accusations were rejected by the Thai military. Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat claimed that Thai artillery landed more than 20 kilometers inside Cambodian territory. Over 25,000 Thais and over 23,000 Cambodians were evacuated. Fighting continued and by 26 April had expanded into the area around Preah Vihear temple. Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha revealed that Cabinet discussions were underway on whether to declare war with Cambodia. Plans for ministerial-level talks on 27 April were cancelled by Thailand on the evening of the 26th.
On 25 June, Thailand withdrew from the World Heritage Convention. Suwit Khunkitti, head of the Thai delegation to UNESCO, claimed that following the withdrawal, the World Heritage Committee could no longer force Thailand to compile to its decisions. The withdrawal occurred after five days of negotiations between Thailand, Cambodia, and the World Heritage Committee, during which the Thai delegation staged a walkout. After the walkout, the Committee reaffirmed the need to ensure the protection and conservation of the temple site from any damage and further encouraged Thailand and Cambodia to use the Convention as a tool to support conservation, sustainable development and dialogue. Thailand's withdrawal occurred immediately afterwards.
Recall of ambassadors
In November 2009, Cambodia announced that Thaksin Shinawatra had been appointed a special advisor to the Cambodian government and to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Thaksin had been residing in exile in
Dubai, and continued to live there after the appointment. On 5 November 2009, Abhisit recalled Thailand's ambassador from Cambodia in protest. Abhisit said Cambodia was interfering in Thailand's internal affairs and as a result all bi-lateral co-operation agreements would be reviewed. In retaliation, Cambodia announced it was withdrawing its ambassador from Thailand.
Sok An, a member of the
Council of Ministers and Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, said Thaksin's appointment is a decision internal to Cambodia. "We are looking forward to learning from Thaksin's great economic experience and we are convinced that his experience will contribute to our country's economic development," said a Cambodia government spokesman. The mutual withdrawal of ambassadors was the most severe diplomatic action to have occurred between the two countries since the
Franco-Thai war of 1940–41 during which Thailand regained Preah Vihear.
The increase in tensions between Cambodia and Thailand caused Abhisit's popularity to skyrocket, with support tripling according to one poll after diplomatic ties were downgraded. However, his rise in popularity was short-lived, and soon fell dramatically. When the crisis flared up again in February 2011, The People's Alliance for Democracy demanded for Abhisit to step down.
In August 2010, Thaksin resigned as an economic advisor to the Cambodian government. Abhisit normalized relations with Cambodia. Both countries sent back their ambassadors.
Use of cluster munitions
In February border clashes with Cambodian security forces, the Thai army was accused by the
Cluster Munition Coalition of firing
cluster munitions into a Cambodian village. According to the Coalition, this was the first confirmed use of cluster munitions anywhere in the world since the
Convention on Cluster Munitions banning the weapons became international law. The government later admitted to using
Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM), but denied that they were actually cluster munitions. However, the CMC claimed that DPICMs were a classic example of cluster munitions under the Convention. Abhisit's government repeatedly denied that the military had cluster munitions in its arsenals, although it admitted that it had weapons with similar features to cluster munitions. Abhisit's spokesman claimed that the Thai government had the right to categorise weapons differently from militaries in other countries. The CMC's investigation found that a Thai cluster bomb had killed two Cambodian policemen during the February clashes and warned that thousands of people remained at risk from unexploded bomblets in several villages along the border.
The governments of Norway and the UK condemned the Thai government for its use of cluster munitions. "We condemn in the strongest terms the use of cluster munitions that causes unacceptable harm to the civilian population," said the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in a statement. "These weapons kill and maim civilians and have unacceptable humanitarian consequences long after they are used," said Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre.
Vietnam
Abhisit and the
Prime Minister of Vietnam met on 10 July 2009, to discuss how to address the global economic crisis. Abhisit arrived in
Hanoi for a one-day visit with his Vietnamese counterpart
Nguyễn Tấn Dũng. The two reviewed an honor guard before heading for an hour-and-half talks behind closed doors. "Your visit will contribute to expanding and deepening the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between
Vietnam and Thailand," Dung told his guest during the five-minute photo opportunity.
In a regular press conference on 9 July, Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung told reporters that the two prime ministers were expected to discuss how each is dealing with the financial crisis, discuss the rice trade, tourism, transport links and protection of the Mekong River. Thailand is the world's leading exporter of the grain while Vietnam is ranked second. Thailand and Vietnam are important trading partners, and their bilateral trade reached $6.5 billion in 2008. Thailand also ranked ninth among foreign investors in Vietnam, having poured nearly $6 billion into the country. Vietnam, which has recorded average economic growth of 7 percent over the past decade, saw its economy expand only 3.9 percent in the first half of 2009.
Saudi Arabia
In August 2008, the Department of Special Investigation announced that it had found a suspect for the murder of several Saudi Arabian diplomats. The "sensitive" case, which had been stalled for 20 years due to concerns that some powerful Thais would be implicated in a public investigation, had caused a severe strain on Thai-Saudi relations. "Abu Ali" (meaning "Father of Ali"), which might or might not be the suspect's real name, was described as an Arab. His whereabouts are unknown. An arrest warrant was issued and the DSI sought the aid of
Interpol in apprehending the suspect. The DSI also claimed that it had no evidence that the "blue diamond" ever existed in the first place. The blue diamond was at the center of the gems theft case that is presumed to have caused the murders.
In August 2010, Abhisit promoted Lieutenant-General Somkid Boonthanom from chief of the Chiang Mai region to assistant national police chief. Somkid had earlier been indicted for the murder of Mohammad al-Ruwaili, a Saudi assigned to investigate the blue diamond theft. The Saudi embassy said in a statement:
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he would send a letter to the Saudis which would clarify the matter. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met Saudi chargé d'affaires Nabil Ashri and announced he had explained everything and no letter was necessary. Abhisit then said the Foreign Ministry would provide a written explanation that but that the letter had to be painstakingly translated to prevent any misinterpretation. However, Abhisit then met with the chargé d'affaires Ashri and gave an interview to the press calling the Saudis misinformed. In an official statement, the Saudi's blasted Abhisit's rhetoric:
Somkid then announced that he would not accept Abhisit's promotion. Suthep praised Somkid for his sacrifice and said that “His decision will make it easy to solve the problem between Thailand and Saudi Arabia.”
Political protests
During Abhisit’s tenure as Prime Minister, the
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), a group formed to protest the 2006 military coup, staged several protests calling for Abhisit to dissolve the government and hold new elections. The largest gatherings occurred in
April 2009 and from
March to May 2010 – ultimately escalating into violent clashes between protestors and the military that left 91 people dead and more than 2,000 injured.
April 2009 protests
In early April, the UDD staged a mass protest in Bangkok after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said via video broadcast that members of the Privy council masterminded the 2006 military coup, and conspired with the military to ensure that Abhisit became Prime Minister. As the week-long Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday began, protests escalated in Bangkok. Fighting erupted between anti-government protesters, government supporters, and the general population. Abhisit declared a state of emergency for Bangkok and surrounding areas due to heightened escalation of tension and denounced the anti-government protesters as "national enemies." Abhisit also issued a decree that empowered the government to censor television broadcasts. A television journalist reported that he was ordered not to show images damaging to the military or government. Thaksin appeared on a D-Station television broadcast to appeal to the King Bhumibol to intervene and end the violence. Legislation authorizing the use of emergency decrees was originally pushed through Parliament in 2005 by the Thaksin government, provoking charges of authoritarianism at the time by the Democrat Party. Under the state of emergency, gatherings of more than five people were prohibited and the press was not permitted to present news which could incite worry.
On 12 April, protesters surrounded Abhisit's limousine at the Interior Ministry in Bangkok and hurling objects at his windows. Abhisit made it out safely while one of his deputies was wounded by the protesters. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said that Abhisit's inner circle viewed the attack as a well-coordinated assassination attempt, claiming that security footage of the incident showed men with masks and guns were positioned on the perimeter of the attack, apparently waiting for protesters to break through the car's bulletproof windows.
In the pre-dawn of Monday 13 April, Army soldiers cleared protesters blocking the main roads from the Din Daeng intersection near Victory Monument in central Bangkok. At least 70 people were injured.
The same day, the government ordered the blocking of D Station, satellite news station that was broadcasting the clashes, claiming that the station was calling for protesters to gather in Bangkok. Several community radio stations were shut down and searched upon suspicion of supporting the UDD. Violent clashes at numerous locations in Bangkok continued while arrest warrants were issued for Thaksin and 13 protest leaders. Some protest leaders voluntarily gave themselves in to police on 14 April 2009. Afterward, the Thai government revoked Thaksin's ordinary passport.
According to government figures, more than 120 people were injured in the unrest, most of them UDD demonstrators although some military personnel, pro-government supporters, and members of the general public were also injured. At least one UDD protester died from gunshot wounds sustained during the military's attack in Din Daeng, although the Army claimed the wound was not caused by their standard firearm. The UDD later claimed that at least six demonstrators were killed in the unrest and their bodies hauled away by the military; however, they had no evidence for their claim. The dead bodies of two UDD protesters were found floating in the Chao Phraya river, their hands tied behind their backs and their bodies badly beaten, although police had yet to conclude whether their murders were politically motivated. Abhisit aide Satit Wongnontaey claimed that two government supporters were shot dead by red shirted protesters in clashes in Din Daeng, although he had no evidence for his claim. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration estimated that it had incurred 10 million Baht (approximately 300,000 USD) in property damages, including 31 damaged and burned buses. Standard & Poor's lowered Thailand's local currency rating to "A-" from "A", although Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij claimed this would increase the government's borrowing cost minimally.
March–May 2010 protests
Background
In February, the UDD announced plans to hold protests calling for elections. In early February, Abhisit established 38 security centers with over 20,000 security personnel in the North and Northeast to prevent the protests. Abhisit also escalated efforts to monitor and censor
community radio stations, which were often used by rural residents to voice their discontent and by activists to organize protests.
On 7 February 2010, Abhisit's spokesperson compared UDD leaders to "dogs" and vowed to use the National Telecommunications Commission to crack down on red shirt community radio stations. He noted that if the current law for the NTC cannot enforce the crackdown, the government would try to pass a special law that would make such a crackdown. The NTC acting Secretary-General was also a member of the government-appointed Situation Monitoring Committee in the run up to Thaksin's February court verdict. The government claimed to foreign diplomats and foreign chambers of commerce that the UDD would "spark violence" and "intensify its agitation and step up protests in Bangkok and around the country in order to disrupt the work of the government and the judiciary." The UDD announced that it would rally against the government on 14 March.
Abhisit informed the Democrat Party-led Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that he had intelligence of planned bomb attacks in at least two locations and grenade attacks in 30–40 locations in Bangkok. When questioned about the matter, Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the Army had no such intelligence.
On 9 March, Abhisit imposed the Internal Security Act from 11–23 March and relocated his Cabinet to an Army base. A 50,000-strong security force was deployed on Bangkok.
The 14 March protests were the largest in Thai history, and were peaceful. However, Thailand's free-to-air TV channels, all controlled by the government or military, claimed that there were only 25,000 protesters. The protesters remained at the Rajadamnoen protest site and later started a satellite site at Rajaprasong intersection. There were dozens of bombings in Bangkok over the weeks, far from the protest areas, with nobody claiming responsibility and no arrests made. A Porsche was rammed into protester motorcycles at Rajprasong intersection, injuring several. In a separate incident, a woman rammed her car into a crowd of protesters, but drove away before she could be arrested.
Negotiations between the protesters and the government failed to result in an election date. Abhisit declared a state of emergency on the evening of 8 April.
Crackdown at Rajadamnoen
On 10 April, government troops unsuccessfully tried to take back control of Phan Fah Bridge near Rajadamnoen, killing 24 protesters, including one Japanese journalist. More than 800 people were injured. The military noted that uniformed soldiers died from
cerebral edema (a swelling of the brain) after being hit on the head by a rock.
On 16 April, security forces raided a hotel attempting to arrest protest leaders who Suthep Thaugsuban called "terrorists." The protest leaders escaped before they could be captured. That same day, Abhisit relieved Suthep from his security responsibilities and replaced him with the Commander of the Royal Thai Army General Anupong Paochinda. Tensions continued to grow, as pro-government rallies started to appear alongside the anti-government ones. On 22 April, a series of explosions in Bangkok killed at least one person and injured more than 85 others, including four foreigners. At least some of the explosions were caused by grenades, which the government claimed were fired from the Red Shirt encampment.
Crackdown at Rajaprasong
The main protest area at Ratchaprasong intersection was surrounded with armoured vehicles and snipers in early May. The protest site was declared a "live-fire zones" and troops were ordered to
shoot to kill. From 13 to 18 May, 41 civilians were killed, including one Italian journalist, and over 2,100 were injured. One military death occurred due to accidental friendly fire. Abhisit claimed that all civilians killed were either armed terrorists or civilians shot by terrorists, and noted that some civilians were shot by terrorists disguised in Army uniforms. Protest leaders handed themselves in to police and were jailed without bail. Red Shirt media was censored and dozens of prominent Red Shirts were arrested for lese majeste.
Official government investigations into the crackdowns exonerated the military and blamed the protesters and "Black Shirts" for the killings. Not a single Black Shirt was identified or charged.
Relationship with PAD and UDD
On 21 April 2009, Abhisit's government launched a media war to dispute claims made by the UDD during the April protests. He also announced the public distribution of millions of
VCDs documenting the government's views on the unrest. At the time, the government's emergency and censorship decrees were still in place.
Abhisit was accused of applying disparate standards in the treatment of UDD and PAD protestors. For instance, the government was quick to issue warrants for UDD members after the outbreak of violence, even though they had yet to issue warrants for PAD protestors involved in the airport seizures that took place months earlier. In an interview with the Financial Times, Abhisit said "I can understand [the UDD] feeling the cases against PAD have been slow. The problem is that PAD action didn't take place during my administration and the process that began to investigate." When the interviewer noted that the airport sieges ended just two weeks before Abhisit came to power, he claimed that "I have summoned the police chief and expressed my concern that the case is ruling slowly and they have made some progress."
Abhisit was Democrat Party leader during the PAD protests. After Samak Sundaravej was replaced by Somchai Wongsawat, the People’s Alliance for Democracy refused to stop their protests, claiming that Somchai was a proxy for Thaksin Shinawatra.
After he was named Prime Minister, Abhisit proposed five-point roadmap to national reconciliation.
When Abhisit was voted by House of Parliament 235 to 198 after Somchai Wongsawat was relieved from premiership for buying votes. Abhisit said his priority was the people, focusing mainly on the interests of the people and lower class citizens through the “People’s Agenda” policy platform, and saying the government must be “honest and truly democratic government” without any conflict of interest.
Leading to PAD’s development of new political party “Thien Hang Dhama” which is later changed to “New Political Party” to drive their new “ideology” overlapping each other's political base. Claiming that Democrat party only protects their own interest and ineffectively solving the country’s problem.
Elections
By-elections and local elections
In the first round of by-elections after Abhisit Vejjajiva appointment as the Prime Minister, the Democrat-led coalition won 20 seats out of 29 contested seats. June by-elections in
Sakon Nakhon were expected to be a shoo-in for the government-member Bhum Jai Thai Party due to its control over the powerful Ministry of Interior. However, Bhum Jai Thai was roundly defeated by the Thaksin-affiliated Puea Thai Party.
Elections were held for Councillors and District Councillors in August 2010 for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, a jurisdiction where the Democrat Party traditionally dominated. The Democrat Party won receiving 45 seats for Bangkok Metropolitan Councillors, followed by Puea Thai Party with 15 Seats, and Independent Party with 1 seat. For District Councillors, Democrat Party won 210 seats, followed by Puea Thai Party with 39 Seats and Independent Party with 7 seats.
3 July general election
On 6 May 2011, after months of speculation, Abhisit submitted royal
decree to King
Bhumibol to dissolve Parliament.
Election for the
House of Representatives was set for 3 July. Election-related violence began immediately after the election date was set. Pracha Prasopdee, ex-MP for
Samut Prakan Province who had won all five of the previous elections, was shot in the back on the night of 10 May. Bail was immediately revoked for
opposition leaders
Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai for allegedly violating national security and insulting King Bhumibol after they were released from jail. The opposition leaders were originally jailed for months as part of the
2010 Thai military crackdown on protesters and had been released on bail. They lost their
parliamentary immunity after Parliament was dissolved.
Abhisit unveiled a slate of candidates highlighted by 30 celebrities and heirs of political families, including Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, heiress of the Singha Beer fortune and former staff member of Abhisit's secretariat office. Abhisit promised to increase the minimum wage by 25% if the Democrat Party won the election.
Nearly all polls conducted in the months prior to the election showed that the Democrat Party would gain fewer parliamentary seats than the Pheu Thai Party, and even Democrat Party Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij admitted that, "we're doing terribly in the polls" and that, "it was obvious from the beginning" that they would not win a majority. Newin Chidchob, de-facto leader of coalition partner Bhum Jai Thai Party, predicted that the Democrat Party would win only 160 out of 500 seats. Abhisit dismissed the polls, and days before the election exuded confidence that the Democrat Party would certainly win the election and form the next government. He promised to "evaluate his own performance" if the Democrat Party won fewer than 170 seats.
In his last campaign rally, Abhisit claimed that the Democrat Party was the only way that Thais would live, "under the same sky" and that a victory for Puea Thai would result in "mob rule." Abhisit positioned the election as a referendum on Thaksin. "If you want the country get rid of the poison that is Thaksin, then you should vote for us and vote for us to get more than 250 seats!”
The Democrats were defeated in the elections, winning only 159 seats compared to the 265 seats won by the Pheu Thai Party led by political novice Yingluck Shinawatra. Abhisit conceded the defeat and, on 4 July, resigned as the leader of the Democrat Party. However, on 6 August, he was re-elected as the leader of the Democrat Party with the support of 96% of those eligible to vote at the party's assembly - some 330 people including local branch leaders and MPs. Abhisit insisted that when he announced his resignation he had no plans to return to the party leadership, but pressure and support from within the party convinced him otherwise. He has also said he wants to "expand the party" and hopes to win 88 more seats at the next election.
Scandals and criticisms
Corruption
The Abhisit government was charged in several cases of corruption, particularly related to spending under the Thai Khem Khaeng economic stimulus program. After much public pressure, Abhisit appointed Banlu Siripanich head of an investigative committee to investigate allegations within the Ministry of Public Health. Banlu's committee's findings included: bribery by a supplier of ambulances; irregularities in the purchase of UV fans; overspending on construction of building; inflated prices for machines and equipment. Public Health Minister and Democrat MP
Witthaya Kaewparadai, Deputy Minister from Bhumjaithai Party
Manit Nop-amornbodi (who was in charge of the projects) resigned due to the scandal.
Abhisit's Social Development and Human Security Minister also resigned due to a corruption scandal. In addition, Apirak Kosayodhin, the Democrat Party Governor of Bangkok, were indicted by the National Counter Corruption Commission on 11 November 2008 for corruption in the purchase of 6.6 billion baht in fire-fighting equipment. Apirak resigned from his office on 13 November.
Flood victims in Phatthalung province became nauseous after eating canned fish products which were donated through the Social Development and Human Security Ministry. Opposition party spokesman, Prompong Nopparit accused Democrat Minister Vitoon Nambutr of corruption in the procurement of the fish. Democrat Minister Vitoon Nambutr insisted there was no irregularities and that the ministry did not procure them for distribution. However, he later resigned to take responsibility for this situation.
Abhisit's government came under accusations that the 26 billion baht Sufficiency Economy Community project was tainted with corruption. Abhisit replied to the accusations by suggesting that the "alleged malpractice might have originated during the period when the office was in charge of managing small, medium, and large (SML) enterprises…. The SML project was created by the Thaksin Shinawatra government."
TPI illegal donation scandal
In early 2009, the Democrat Party was accused by the Opposition of receiving 258 million baht in illegal donations from businessman-turned-politician Prachai Leophairatana. Prachai was the founder of failed petrochemical firm
TPI Polene (which was under rehabilitation under the Financial Institutions Development Fund) as well as advertising shell companies Messiah Business and Creation. In the lead-up to the 2005 general election, while Abhisit was Deputy Party Leader, TPI Polene allegedly transferred the funds to Messiah Business and Creation, which then transferred the funds to senior Democrat Party leaders and their relatives in batches of less than 2 million baht each to over 70 separate bank accounts (2 million baht is the maximum that banks can transfer without reporting to the Anti-
Money Laundering Office). The opposition claimed that the Democrats never reported the donation, which was far in excess to legal limits, to the Election Commission. Abhisit denied the allegations, claiming that his party's accounts had been checked by auditors. Other Democrat Party leaders claimed that "the alleged donation never took place" and that the "party never obtained it." Receiving and using an unlawful donation could result in the dissolution of the Democrat Party and the banning of its executives from political office for violating the Political Party Act.
The Opposition raised the issue in a debate of no-confidence, and accused Abhisit of approving false account reports for 2004 and 2005 to the EC and filing false information. The government won the vote, despite the ''Bangkok Post'' calling the evidence against the Democrats "overwhelming" and even the pro-Democrat ''Nation'' called the Opposition's presentation "clear-cut." However, the scandal was subsequently investigated by the Department of Special Investigation. The DSI prepared a 7,000 page report which it submitted to the Election Commission in early 2010. The EC claimed that the DSI report contained many holes.
Rohingya refugees
In January 2009,
CNN investigations revealed that up to 1,000
Rohingya refugees from
Myanmar had been captured by the Thai Navy, beaten, then towed out to sea without engines or navigational aids and with little food and water. Abhisit's initial response was to claim that the media reports were "exaggerated" and that the refugees would "sail on boats without engines or sink their ships so that authorities help them to get onshore." Army Commander Anupong Paojinda denied the reports of abuse.
On 20 January, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) requested that the Thai government provide them access to the 126 surviving boat people in their custody. Abhisit said he was "glad to work with international organisations" but that such organizations would have to work on a cooperative basis with proper Thai government procedures. The military said it had "no clear information" about refugees in its custody.
Further media investigations revealed that refugees had very recently been cleared from a detention center but were nowhere to be found. A Thai Navy officer
was interviewed, saying that "We have to take the engines off the boats or they will come back. The wind will carry them to India or somewhere." Abhisit then promised a thorough military-led investigation. The investigation was led by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), the same unit in charge of refugee arrivals.
The ISOC investigation cleared all the government officials involved. Consequently, ISOC continued to be in charge of refugee arrivals.
Abhisit's deputy, Suthep Thaugsuban, suggested the entire situation was cooked up to besmirch Thailand's image. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that the CNN reports were incorrect and called for people not to "believe what the world says about Rohingya."
UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie criticised the Thai government of ignoring the plight of Rohinyas and suggested that Thai government should take better care of the Burmese ethnics. The Foreign Ministry reprimanded the UNHCR, noting that the UNHCR had "no mandate" and saying that the matter should not be mentioned by it and its "guests." Abhisit was criticized by both Thai and international commentators for defending the military at the expense of protecting the human rights of the refugees. "We are not going to see the Abhisit government going after the military because it was instrumental in his assumption of office," said political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak.
Popularity
At a parliamentary session of the House of Representatives, Abhisit claimed that he embraced and continuously promoted the sufficiency economy principle of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and that he had a higher
approval rating than his popular predecessor and ideological opponent Thaksin Shinawatra.
Royal decorations
80px Silver Jubilee Medal of B.E. 2514 ''(AD 1971)''
80px Commemorative Medal of HRH Prince Vajiralongkorn's Investiture as Crown Prince
80px Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the Elevation of HRH Princess Sirindhorn to the title of "Princess Maha Chakri"
80px Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the 72nd Birthday Anniversary of HM Queen Sirikit
80px Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej
See also
Democrat Party (Thailand)
References
External links
http://www.pm.go.th – The Official Website of The Prime Minister of Thailand
http://www.abhisit.org – The Personal Website of Abhisit Vejjajiva – (in Thai only)
In-depth interview from the BBC
"Abhisit's Fame Taken in Vain," ''The Nation'' (Bangkok), 7 October 2005
Abhisit Vejjajiva short bio
Category:1964 births
Category:Alumni of St John's College, Oxford
Category:Democrat Party (Thailand) politicians
Category:Hakka people
Category:Knights Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
Category:Knights Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant
Category:Living people
Category:Old Etonians
Category:People from Newcastle upon Tyne
Category:Politicians of Chinese descent
Category:Prime Ministers of Thailand
Category:Recipients of the Silver Jubilee Medal
Category:Thai economists
Category:Thai Hakka people
Category:Thai people of Chinese descent
ar:ابهيسيت فيجاجيفا
ca:Abhisit Vejjajiva
cs:Apchisit Vedžadžíva
da:Abhisit Vejjajiva
de:Abhisit Vejjajiva
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el:Αμπχισίτ Βετζάτζιβα
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eo:Abhisit Vejjajiva
fa:آبهیسیت وجاجیوا
fr:Abhisit Vejjajiva
ga:Abhisit Vejjajiva
gl:Abhisit Vejjajiva
gan:阿披實
ko:아피싯 웨차치와
io:Abhisit Vejjajiva
id:Abhisit Vejjajiva
it:Abhisit Vejjajiva
he:אבהיסיט וג'ג'יווה
jv:Abhisit Vejjajiva
lv:Abhisits Vedžadživa
mr:अभिसित वेज्जाजीवा
ms:Abhisit Vejjajiva
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oc:Abhisit Vejjajiva
km:អភិសិទ្ធិ វេជ្ជាជីវៈ
pl:Abhisit Vejjajiva
qu:Abhisit Vejjajiva
ru:Ветчачива, Апхисит
simple:Abhisit Vejjajiva
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sv:Abhisit Vejjajiva
tl:Abhisit Vejjajiva
th:อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ
tr:Abhisit Vejjajiva
uk:Апхісіт Ветчачива
vi:Abhisit Vejjajiva
wuu:阿披实
yo:Abhisit Vejjajiva
zh-yue:亞比昔
zh:阿披实·威差奇瓦
