Politics
Red shirts take protest to Bangkok Bank Headquarter
Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, said that the red shirts would hold their demonstration outside the bank’s head office in the Silom business area from noon to 6pm. He said the bank was one of Prem’s major financiers that also received benefits in return.
Bangkok Bank is one of the country’s largest commercial banks.
Natthawut accused the chief privy councillor of “spending his life like a politician” – getting support from financiers and paying back favours in return.
The red shirts will protest outside Bangkok Bank headquarter in Silom for what they claim to be its shady ties with Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda.
The red-shirt leader yesterday vowed to continue his crusade to expose suspicious funds involving the chief royal adviser. Natthawut said he was not satisfied with a simple explanation that the money conveyed through Prem was earmarked for charities.
via Red shirts take protest to Bangkok Bank HQ.
Politics
Thailand falls to 73rd position in Economist’s Democracy Index
Within Southeast Asia, Thailand’s score regressed in 2020, falling to 73rd from 68th, including those related to the treatment of the opposition and to curbs on freedom of expression.
Democracy in sickness and in health? is the title of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest Democracy Index report, which looks at the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on freedom and democracy around the world.
Myanmar
Military coup in Myanmar threatens economic recovery
The coup follows rising tension between the government and the military over claims by the military that the NDL’s landslide win during the November election was marred by fraud.
After a decade of democracy, the Myanmar military has staged a coup ousting the newly re-elected NDL party. So far, the coup has been peaceful and we do not expect it to lead to any major social unrest or large protests amid public concerns about Covid-19.
Politics
Thai generals want more control on foreign businesses
Thailand’s military government is planning to amend the FBA (Foreign Business Act) to prevent foreign directors from controlling joint venture firms that are majority-owned by Thai shareholders.
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