Thailand’s opposition and last week’s election winner, Move Forward Party and seven other parties on Monday (May 22) signed an ambitious and sweeping agreement on a platform which they hope would lead to the formation of a solid coalition government in July. The 23-point agreement was about drafting a new constitution, ending monopolies and allowing same-sex marriage but did not mention the country’s lese majeste laws.&nbsp;

The agreement also comes days after the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenra&nbsp;said eight parties have agreed to form a coalition government with him as the prime minister. Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties dominated last week’s election defeating the military-backed rivals who have been in power for nearly a decade paving the way for a new era in Thai politics.

The pact was about “about shared values and commonalities and shared agenda and accountability,” said Pita. He also said that the negotiations were “fruitful, comprehensive, and a good start.” Notably, the signing took place a day prior to the news conference, exactly nine years after incumbent and then army chief Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power following a coup.

“I’m prime minister-elect and there are several roadblocks as you understand it, but we have a strong team to manage it, and hopefully, to be able to minimise risk and minimise the destabilising factors that have affected the economy,” said Pita. Furthermore, he also said that while all parties can propose their own policies they must not violate this agreement through ministries.&nbsp;

While the agreement addresses multiple issues, it failed to include one of the most contentious issues in Thailand, which is the amendment of a harsh law against criticising the monarchy. As some parties have not agreed to amend the lese-majeste law which punishes perceived insults of the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison. Critics say that this law has been used to stifle free speech and dissent.&nbsp;

The proposal to amend the law&nbsp;was one of the most significant platforms that Move Forward ran on. This comes as many young people in Thailand wish to see democratic reform in the country.&nbsp;

Addressing the failure of including the amendment to the lese-majeste law, Pita said that he does not think his party to push for reform of lese majeste laws will put off the upper house. “All parties agree that every mission that the government will do must not affect the country’s status as a unitary state, the country’s status as a democracy under a constitutional monarchy framework, and the inviolable status of the monarch,” the agreement noted.&nbsp;

Another core policy of Move Forward which was a part of the pact was calling for an end to mandatory conscription and reform of the armed forces as well as the justice system and civil service. The pact also aims to move Thailand from military conscription to voluntary enlistment “except when the country is at war.”

Notably, Thailand’s military has staged 13 coups since the end of absolute monarchy nearly a century ago. As of now, Pita’s alliance comprises 313 seats, but it needs backing from 376 legislators in the 500-member parliament to vote for him in order to become the prime minister. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Thailand’s opposition and last week’s election winner, Move Forward Party and seven other parties on Monday (May 22) signed an ambitious and sweeping agreement on a platform which they hope would lead to the formation of a solid coalition government in July.

Thailand’s opposition and last week’s election winner, Move Forward Party and seven other parties on Monday (May 22) signed an ambitious and sweeping agreement on a platform which they hope would lead to the formation of a solid coalition government in July. The 23-point agreement was about drafting a new constitution, ending monopolies and allowing same-sex marriage but did not mention the country’s lese majeste laws. The agreement also comes days after the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenra said eight parties have agreed to form a coalition government with him as the prime minister. Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties dominated last week’s election defeating the military-backed rivals who have been in power for nearly a decade paving the way for a new era in Thai politics. The pact was about “about shared values and commonalities and shared agenda and accountability,” said Pita. He also said that the negotiations were “fruitful, comprehensive, and a good start.” Notably, the signing took place a day prior to the news conference, exactly nine years after incumbent and then army chief Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power following a coup. “I’m prime minister-elect and there are several roadblocks as you understand it, but we have a strong team to manage it, and hopefully, to be able to minimise risk and minimise the destabilising factors that have affected the economy,” said Pita. Furthermore, he also said that while all parties can propose their own policies they must not violate this agreement through ministries. While the agreement addresses multiple issues, it failed to include one of the most contentious issues in Thailand, which is the amendment of a harsh law against criticising the monarchy. As some parties have not agreed to amend the lese-majeste law which punishes perceived insults of the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison. Critics say that this law has been used to stifle free speech and dissent. The proposal to amend the law was one of the most significant platforms that Move Forward ran on. This comes as many young people in Thailand wish to see democratic reform in the country. Addressing the failure of including the amendment to the lese-majeste law, Pita said that he does not think his party to push for reform of lese majeste laws will put off the upper house. “All parties agree that every mission that the government will do must not affect the country’s status as a unitary state, the country’s status as a democracy under a constitutional monarchy framework, and the inviolable status of the monarch,” the agreement noted. Another core policy of Move Forward which was a part of the pact was calling for an end to mandatory conscription and reform of the armed forces as well as the justice system and civil service. The pact also aims to move Thailand from military conscription to voluntary enlistment “except when the country is at war.” Notably, Thailand’s military has staged 13 coups since the end of absolute monarchy nearly a century ago. As of now, Pita’s alliance comprises 313 seats, but it needs backing from 376 legislators in the 500-member parliament to vote for him in order to become the prime minister. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Thailand's Move Forward Party, seven allies sign pact aimed at reforms

As expected, opposition parties have crashed the incumbent military-bunked government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha by a huge margin with opposition parties securing the wind.

Thailand Election Results 2023 | Will military allow opposition to form government

They may not be the most advanced pieces of kit in Thailand&#39;s military arsenal, but &quot;buffalo soldiers&quot; are being deployed to help autistic children come out of their shells.

Under sweltering skies in central Thailand&#39;s Lopburi province this week, some two dozen children took rides on the backs of buffaloes.

The gentle bovines are owned by the Thai military, an organisation better known for coups than cuddles.

But this animal therapy is part of the military&#39;s softer side, one of hundreds of projects up and down the country the army is using to build support among civilians.

Recent research has shown that some autistic children, &nbsp;who often struggle with human interactions, respond well to animals, helping them learn key skills like being more patient and sharing.

Pimporn Thongmee said she had seen a major improvement since her five-year-old autistic grandson, &nbsp;nicknamed Shogun, enrolled in the military&#39;s three-month animal therapy course which sees children interact with buffaloes twice a week.

&quot;My grandson never stayed still, never concentrated, and screamed but now he can socialise,&quot; she told AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;He used to be afraid of the doctor but now he runs to him and leaves his grandma behind instead,&quot; she added.Those with disabilities or behavioural problems often find themselves stigmatised in Thailand where the concept of karma -- that good or bad deeds will be rewarded and punished in the next life -- is central.

Karma makes Thailand a famously generous country, with one of the highest charitable donation rates per household in the world.&nbsp;

But many Thais also believe those who suffer are being punished for sins in past lives, a view which can result in a sympathy deficit for the unfortunate and vulnerable.

Manit Kaewmanee said her 11-year-old son Captain was often bullied as he struggled to settle in schools, eventually forcing him to leave education.&nbsp;

&quot;Many people said it was our past karma,&quot; she said. &quot;They said he was crazy, couldn&#39;t speak, so how could he be in society, that it was shameful for him.&quot;

The buffalo therapy, she said, helped him conquer tasks he once had trouble with.&nbsp;

&quot;Now he can cook instant noodles,&nbsp;and ride a bicycle very well,&quot; she said.

Sergeant Major Kajohnsak Junpeng, the lead trainer, explained that the gentle and slow nature of buffaloes made them ideal animals to work with autistic children.

&quot;If children grab their tails, they won&#39;t kick like horses so there won&#39;t be an accident,&quot; he said.

Training animals and dealing with autistic children was not a job he imagined a soldier having to do, adding that it was often quite emotionally draining.&nbsp;

&quot;But when I see the children progress I am proud of myself and the tiredness is gone,&quot; he said.

(AFP)

The bovines are owned by the Thai military

They may not be the most advanced pieces of kit in Thailand's military arsenal, but "buffalo soldiers" are being deployed to help autistic children come out of their shells. Under sweltering skies in central Thailand's Lopburi province this week, some two dozen children took rides on the backs of buffaloes. The gentle bovines are owned by the Thai military, an organisation better known for coups than cuddles. But this animal therapy is part of the military's softer side, one of hundreds of projects up and down the country the army is using to build support among civilians. Recent research has shown that some autistic children, who often struggle with human interactions, respond well to animals, helping them learn key skills like being more patient and sharing. Pimporn Thongmee said she had seen a major improvement since her five-year-old autistic grandson, nicknamed Shogun, enrolled in the military's three-month animal therapy course which sees children interact with buffaloes twice a week. "My grandson never stayed still, never concentrated, and screamed but now he can socialise," she told AFP. "He used to be afraid of the doctor but now he runs to him and leaves his grandma behind instead," she added.Those with disabilities or behavioural problems often find themselves stigmatised in Thailand where the concept of karma -- that good or bad deeds will be rewarded and punished in the next life -- is central. Karma makes Thailand a famously generous country, with one of the highest charitable donation rates per household in the world. But many Thais also believe those who suffer are being punished for sins in past lives, a view which can result in a sympathy deficit for the unfortunate and vulnerable. Manit Kaewmanee said her 11-year-old son Captain was often bullied as he struggled to settle in schools, eventually forcing him to leave education. "Many people said it was our past karma," she said. "They said he was crazy, couldn't speak, so how could he be in society, that it was shameful for him." The buffalo therapy, she said, helped him conquer tasks he once had trouble with. "Now he can cook instant noodles, and ride a bicycle very well," she said. Sergeant Major Kajohnsak Junpeng, the lead trainer, explained that the gentle and slow nature of buffaloes made them ideal animals to work with autistic children. "If children grab their tails, they won't kick like horses so there won't be an accident," he said. Training animals and dealing with autistic children was not a job he imagined a soldier having to do, adding that it was often quite emotionally draining. "But when I see the children progress I am proud of myself and the tiredness is gone," he said. (AFP)

In Thailand, 'buffalo soldiers' help kids combat autism

Thailand&#39;s military government on Wednesday barred human rights group Amnesty International (AI) from holding a news conference about&nbsp;the release of a report&nbsp;alleging&nbsp;that&nbsp;Thai soldiers and police committed&nbsp;torture.

The group said it had documented 74 cases of&nbsp;torture perpetrated by&nbsp;Thailand&#39;s military government. Two of the organisation&#39;s staff were scheduled to speak at the launch of the report in Bangkok today, but were denied on legal grounds,&nbsp;AI spokesman Omar Waraich told AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;The authorities said to us that...if any representatives from Amnesty International spoke at the event, they would be in violation of Thailand&#39;s labour laws,&quot; he said. &quot;They did not specify further,&quot; he added.

Amnesty International has accused the junta, which took power in the Southeast Asian country in a coup in 2014, of carrying out a &quot;culture of torture&quot;.

The government bars people from holding political rallies and protests and has detained dozens for criticising the regime. Since the coup, soldiers and police have been dispatched in large numbers to clamp down on free speech&nbsp;at events featuring political debates and human rights issues.&nbsp;

&quot;Torture is taking place, it&#39;s taking place by the army, by the police, and that&#39;s what the report documented,&quot; Waracih told AFP, adding that finding ways to prevent the oppressive climate from flourishing was &quot;difficult&quot;.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, the authorities slapped defamation charges&nbsp;on three rights activists for publishing a report on torture in Thailand&#39;s insurgency-hit south.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The human rights group was supposed to release a report on 74 cases of torture committed by Thai soldiers and police today

Thailand's military government on Wednesday barred human rights group Amnesty International (AI) from holding a news conference about the release of a report alleging that Thai soldiers and police committed torture. The group said it had documented 74 cases of torture perpetrated by Thailand's military government. Two of the organisation's staff were scheduled to speak at the launch of the report in Bangkok today, but were denied on legal grounds, AI spokesman Omar Waraich told AFP. "The authorities said to us that...if any representatives from Amnesty International spoke at the event, they would be in violation of Thailand's labour laws," he said. "They did not specify further," he added. Amnesty International has accused the junta, which took power in the Southeast Asian country in a coup in 2014, of carrying out a "culture of torture". The government bars people from holding political rallies and protests and has detained dozens for criticising the regime. Since the coup, soldiers and police have been dispatched in large numbers to clamp down on free speech at events featuring political debates and human rights issues. "Torture is taking place, it's taking place by the army, by the police, and that's what the report documented," Waracih told AFP, adding that finding ways to prevent the oppressive climate from flourishing was "difficult". Earlier this year, the authorities slapped defamation charges on three rights activists for publishing a report on torture in Thailand's insurgency-hit south. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Thailand's military government bans Amnesty International talk alleging torture