Thai anti-graft body to probe Yingluck assets

BANGKOK, June 5 (agencies): Thailand's anti-graft body Thursday launched an assets probe into deposed premier Yingluck Shinawatra in relation to a bungled rice subsidy scheme that sparked widespread anger.
Yingluck was ousted in a controversial court ruling last month, two weeks before a May 22 military coup.
Her elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra-a divisive former premier-had $1.4 billion confiscated by a court in 2010.
In addition to Yingluck-who was a successful businesswoman before turning to politics-two former commerce ministers and their deputies also face investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
"The NACC has agreed to set up a sub-committee for an assets probe against ministers involved in the rice scheme subsidy under Yingluck Shinawatra's government," the body said in a statement.
If they are found to have profited from the scheme they could have their assets seized, an NACC official told AFP.
Meanwhile: Thailand's military is conducting a systematic reshuffle to blunt the power of officials seen as loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in what seems to be an effort to dismantle his support base and ensure he can never return to power.
Governors in 13 provinces have been transferred, mostly from the country's pro-Thaksin north and northeast, according to the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Meanwhile: China and Vietnam have expressed support for Thailand's new military government, an army spokesman said on Wednesday, as pro-army supporters held a small gathering at the Australian Embassy in protest against downgrading of relations after last month's
Several foreign governments have voiced disapproval of the coup, which saw General Prayuth Chan-ocha take power after months of political unrest that undermined the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.
"China's and Vietnam's ambassadors to Thailand met Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakorn yesterday and assured us that they still have a good relationship with Thailand and that they hope the situation will return to normal quickly," Yongyuth Mayalarp, a spokesman for the military's National Council for Peace and Order, told reporters.
The United States scrapped joint military programmes with Thailand days after the May 22 coup while the European Union has urged the military to free political detainees and end censorship.
Australia downgraded its ties with Thailand on Saturday, imposed a travel ban on junta leaders and cut defence cooperation, the toughest measures taken by a foreign government since the change of regime.
A handful of pro-military demonstrators gathered outside the Australian Embassy on Wednesday to protest against what they see as foreign meddling in Thailand's internal affairs. Some handed roses to police guarding the embassy.
The coup was the latest convulsion in a decade-long conflict between the Bangkok-based royalist establishment, dominated by the military, old-money families and the bureaucracy, and supporters of Yingluck and her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who are adored by the poor in the north and northeast.
However, the country in general has remained calm since the bloodless coup. There is little military presence on the streets and resistance to military rule has so far been peaceful.
In May, Thailand's consumer confidence index hit its highest level since January on hopes the military can bring the economy back from the brink of recession. The economy shrank 2.1 percent in the first quarter as political turmoil depressed demand.