This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/08/thai-princess-to-run-for-prime-minister-against-ruling-military-junta
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| 'Political earthquake' as Thai princess runs for PM against military junta | 'Political earthquake' as Thai princess runs for PM against military junta |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The sister of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has entered the race to become prime minister in next month’s elections in an unprecedented move that redraws the country’s political landscape. | The sister of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has entered the race to become prime minister in next month’s elections in an unprecedented move that redraws the country’s political landscape. |
| Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi said she was exercising her rights as a citizen in accepting an offer to represent the Thai Raksa Chart party. She is the first member of the royal family to run for the office of PM, and will face the coup leader and head of Thailand’s military junta, Prayut Chan-o-cha, who said on Friday he was running to “maintain peace and order”. | Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi said she was exercising her rights as a citizen in accepting an offer to represent the Thai Raksa Chart party. She is the first member of the royal family to run for the office of PM, and will face the coup leader and head of Thailand’s military junta, Prayut Chan-o-cha, who said on Friday he was running to “maintain peace and order”. |
| The Thai monarchy, a revered institution shielded from criticism by strict lese-majesty laws, is traditionally seen as above the political fray, although royals have intervened in moments of political crisis. | |
| Thailand's princess Ubolratana: social media star and anti-drug campaigner | Thailand's princess Ubolratana: social media star and anti-drug campaigner |
| Thai Raksa Chart is allied to the former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, but has led the party from exile. The party was created by Thaksin’s Pheu Thai party after the military junta threatened to dissolve it. Ubolratana has openly maintained close ties with Thaksin. | Thai Raksa Chart is allied to the former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, but has led the party from exile. The party was created by Thaksin’s Pheu Thai party after the military junta threatened to dissolve it. Ubolratana has openly maintained close ties with Thaksin. |
| The princess is the older sister of King Vajiralongkorn and eldest child of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. She gave up her official royal title when she married Peter Ladd Jensen, a US citizen and fellow Massachusetts Institute of Technology student, in 1972, but is still considered part of the royal family. | |
| “I have relinquished my royal titles and lived as a commoner,” Ubolratana, 67, said in an Instagram post. “I have accepted the Thai Raksa Chart party nomination for prime minister to show my rights and freedom without any privileges above other fellow Thai citizens under the constitution.” | “I have relinquished my royal titles and lived as a commoner,” Ubolratana, 67, said in an Instagram post. “I have accepted the Thai Raksa Chart party nomination for prime minister to show my rights and freedom without any privileges above other fellow Thai citizens under the constitution.” |
| The announcement was a profound and unprecedented development that had created a political earthquake, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University. | The announcement was a profound and unprecedented development that had created a political earthquake, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University. |
| Prior to Ubolratana’s intervention, the election had been viewed as a battle between Thaksin’s populists and their allies, and the royalist-military establishment. | Prior to Ubolratana’s intervention, the election had been viewed as a battle between Thaksin’s populists and their allies, and the royalist-military establishment. |
| Strict lese-majesty laws make it a crime to criticise, defame or insult members of Thailand's royal family. | Strict lese-majesty laws make it a crime to criticise, defame or insult members of Thailand's royal family. |
| In practice, this means open discussion or critical reporting about the royal family is considered illegal. | In practice, this means open discussion or critical reporting about the royal family is considered illegal. |
| The military junta, which seized power in 2014, has been criticised for using the law – which can see people jailed for up to 15 years on each count – to stifle opposition. | The military junta, which seized power in 2014, has been criticised for using the law – which can see people jailed for up to 15 years on each count – to stifle opposition. |
| In 2015, a man was jailed for 30 years over six Facebook posts and the local printer of the New York Times refused to publish an edition with a story on the king. | In 2015, a man was jailed for 30 years over six Facebook posts and the local printer of the New York Times refused to publish an edition with a story on the king. |
| Thitinan said the move had catapulted the previously small Thai Raksa Chart into the spotlight. “It is the leading contender for the election now,” he said. | Thitinan said the move had catapulted the previously small Thai Raksa Chart into the spotlight. “It is the leading contender for the election now,” he said. |
| The Thai Raksa Chart party said it was deeply honoured that Ubolratana had accepted its nomination. “She is concerned and wishes to take part in lifting Thais out of poverty,” her statement said, according to a translation by local news outlet Khaosod. | The Thai Raksa Chart party said it was deeply honoured that Ubolratana had accepted its nomination. “She is concerned and wishes to take part in lifting Thais out of poverty,” her statement said, according to a translation by local news outlet Khaosod. |
| The party’s leader, Preechapol Pongpanich, said the princess was “knowledgeable and highly suitable”. | The party’s leader, Preechapol Pongpanich, said the princess was “knowledgeable and highly suitable”. |
| “I believe there will be no legal problems in terms of her qualification, but we have to wait for the election commission to endorse her candidacy.” | “I believe there will be no legal problems in terms of her qualification, but we have to wait for the election commission to endorse her candidacy.” |
| It was unclear at this point, Thitinan said, whether her candidacy would create more division in Thai politics, or the opposite. He said the princess could help bridge a divide in Thai politics as an outsider, but there was a risk of even more polarisation with the royal family on the one side and the military on the other. | It was unclear at this point, Thitinan said, whether her candidacy would create more division in Thai politics, or the opposite. He said the princess could help bridge a divide in Thai politics as an outsider, but there was a risk of even more polarisation with the royal family on the one side and the military on the other. |
| “Whether it leads to a more reconcilable political environment, we will have to see whether the other main political players are included in the government,” he said in a phone interview. | “Whether it leads to a more reconcilable political environment, we will have to see whether the other main political players are included in the government,” he said in a phone interview. |
| Paul Chambers, a lecturer at the college of Asean community studies at Thailand’s Naresuan University, said that although Ubolratana did not fall under lese-majesty, which prohibits criticism of the royal family, open disapproval of her and her policies would become difficult. “Who would dare campaign against the king’s sister?” he said in an email. | Paul Chambers, a lecturer at the college of Asean community studies at Thailand’s Naresuan University, said that although Ubolratana did not fall under lese-majesty, which prohibits criticism of the royal family, open disapproval of her and her policies would become difficult. “Who would dare campaign against the king’s sister?” he said in an email. |
| “She is a definite threat for Prayut because she holds much more legitimacy to Thais than does a coup leader.” | “She is a definite threat for Prayut because she holds much more legitimacy to Thais than does a coup leader.” |
| Thailand | Thailand |
| Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |