The
ongoing controversy over alleged corruption at a military-sponsored park and
other events to honor Thailand’s monarchy is becoming a big headache for the
military government, as it struggles to uphold its own pledge of a ”clean” rule
and instead cracks down on criticism.
IT was
supposed to be a monument to honor the past: seven giant bronze statutes of
seven past Thai kings – from the Sukhothai period (1238 – 1583) to the current
ruling Chakri dynasty (since 1782) – were erected in a newly built park
near the royal resort town of Hua Hin.
Rajabhakti
Park is a project sponsored by the Thai military in another very public display
of its loyalty to Thailand’s monarchy, of which it regards itself to
be its ultimate protector amid growing concerns over the health of
long-reigning King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turned 88 years old earlier this
month.
But
one year after the project’s initial announcement and with the construction of
the park pretty much completed, the Thai military junta is being besieged by
allegations of corruption and has so far not been able to convincingly
refute them.
The
first rumors surfaced in early November as irregularities in the financing of
the tall bronze statues were called into question. Specifically the high
costs of reportedly 43 to 45.5 million Baht($1.19 to $1.26 million) each,
with payouts to middlemen, including an army colonel and several amulet
traders, of roughly 10 percent “commission”called into question.
Right
from the beginning of the case, the military government has denied any
irregularities or involvement of any army officers, while deputy prime
minister, defense minister and former army chief General Prawit Wongsuwan
repeatedly insisted that
this is ”not a government matter, it’s the army’s” – suddenly distinguishing
the junta and the military as two separate, independent entities.
The
royal park project was initiated and supervised by General Udomdej Sitabutr,
army chief from October 2014 to September 2015 – exactly the same time it took
for the completion of the park. An internal investigation in late November, led
by his successor and current army chief General Teerachai Nakwanich (reportedly a
protege of Gen. Prawit), declared ”there
is no corruption” in the case and ”everything was transparent”, while not
giving any details about the inquiry itself and at the same time telling off the media from
further digging into the matter.
Just
days after the military declared the case closed, Gen. Prawit announced the
launch of a new investigation led
by defense permanent-secretary General Preecha Chan-ocha – who also
happens to be the brother of junta leader, prime minister and also former army
chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha. The probe is expected
to be completed by the end of the year.
Another
investigation by the Office of the Auditor General, the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of Public Sector
Anti-Corruption Commission found
out that 63 million Baht ($1.7 million) of state budget was used in
the project, contradicting
an earlier statementby Gen. Prawit that the money came entirely from
donations. Coincidentally, the chairman of the NACC was removed two weeks later
by order of the military junta and replaced by Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, a
police general who
happened to be secretary-general to Gen. Prawit shortly after the
coup.
The
Rajabhakti Park case is just one part of a wider purge
in recent months, in which several high-ranking officials face lèse majesté
charges for allegedly enriching themselves with either false claims to the
royal family or abusing their connections to it. Some cases are tied to mass
bike rallies to honor Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol in August and December,
respectively.
Two
of the suspects, a police major and a prominent soothsayer, died
in military custody on October 23 and November
6, respectively. Their bodies were hastily cremated within a day (not
in accordance with Buddhist week-long funeral rituals), but authorities have ruled
out foul play in both cases. The whereabouts of several other
targeted officers is unknown. Some are rumored to have fled the country.
Whatever
the inquiries will unearth (or not), the Thai military government is already
practicing the worst kind of damage control by cracking down on its critics. Pro-democracy
student activists andtwo
red shirt leaders (a group supporting the toppled government of former
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra), respectively, have attempted to visit the
park, only to be intercepted and detained by authorities on the way there.
Thai
officials have also arrested two men for sharing (not creating)
infographics on the Rajabhakti Park corruption case on Facebook: a 25-year-old
man taken into custody at
a hospital while he was awaiting surgery, and a
27-year old factory worker, who has reportedly
confessed. Both men, currently in military detention, are being charged for
violating the
Computer Crimes Act and for sedition, the latter carrying a sentence
of 7 years.
The
27-year-old suspect is being additionally charged with lèse majesté, which
alone can carry a maximum prison sentence of 15 years per offense. It was revealed later
that one of the offenses was sharing (again, not creating)
contents on Facebook that
mocked the king’s dog. That in itself marks an even wider
interpretation of Article
112 of the Criminal Code – which only mentions “the king, queen,
heir-apparent, or regent” – after previous
rulings have expanded the law to past kings and even “attempted”
insults. Punishments under the notorious lèse majesté law have been
particularly heavy-handed since the military coup: In August, two suspects have
been given record
sentences of 30 and 28 years in jail, respectively.
Thai
authorities have also announced its intentions to charge ”hundreds” of Facebook
users with lèse majesté as well as for ‘liking’ offending
content. Meanwhile, Gen.
Prawit told reporters last week not to ask too much about the scandal,
as “there’s no point” to further press coverage of issue. He added, “Please
stop mentioning this already. It damages confidence a lot. You’re Thais, why do
this? The government is working for the country. Therefore, the media must help
us out.”
The
ongoing controversy over Rajabhakti Park could slowly become
the biggest problem for the military junta so far, which has been
only able to respond to criticism by stifling it. Not only does
it face the tainting of its biggest showcase of loyalty to the
monarchy – a nigh-endless source of pride for the army – but
this is also a slap in the face to junta leader and Prime
Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has pledged to crack down on
corruption. An opaque investigation and more furious backlashes against
critics could further undermine a government that is desperately seeking
legitimacy that is looking increasingly elusive.
Photos:
1
- The statues of seven past Thai kings in Rajabhakti Park, a military-sponsored
project embroiled in corruption allegations. (Photo: Khaosod English)
2
- Thai deputy junta leader, deputy prime minister and defense
minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan. Pic: AP.
Asian
Correspondent
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