backtonormal

Can't move on since the country hasn't learned from the past. Fast forward five years, and it's the same sh*t from the same *ssholes and the same old oligarchy trying to make their family a dynasty (the Shinawatra's). Until thailand removes this family from power once and for all, it'll keep going in the same cycles over and over again. I know most countries have a lot to work out, and progess is measured in slow steps. But altogether, it almost seems worse now than it was. Before, there was thaksin, a corrupt business man in power. He make mistakes due to corruption and trying to solve problems too fast (south thailand's budget cuts and the war on drugs). But now, there's a PM who just doesn't have a clue, and seemingly 3 PM's between her, the elder bro, and Chalerm. Hope future generations get more education and stop supporting this feudal style oligarchy ruled by the Shinawatras.

If you fast forward 5 years you will see a completely different Thailand but Thaksin will have much more power than he does now. Work it out for yourself

The point that so many who supported the coup or were ambivalent to it now recognize it is a disaster is telling. Maybe Thailand needed that to happen to move to a point where there is no longer support for more coups and recognition that things need to be solved through democracy.

Another point is that you do not solve the problems of democracy through non-democratic intervention. Democracy is a developing, messy and not perfect system and it sometimes takes years to solve problems or excesses and it can be very heated. However, all that needs to be worked through. The problem now is that the problems and excesses of the coup need to be resolved before the those of democracy itself can. Undoing all the wrongs of before and after the coup is not going to be easy

What are the problems and excesses of the coup that need to be resolved? There have already been two elections. The constitution has been changed, so there is nothing to stop it being changed further.

Do you mean Thaksin's convictions and other charges that awaiting his return? Just because a group was especially assigned the task of investigating Thaksin doesn't make the crimes any less valid.

The Thai people all knew of Thaksins misdemeanours yet 20,000,000 still voted him back into power. Thaksins crimes will pale into insignificance once we see the crimes of Abhisit and Suthep. Expect something soon from the police who are now investigating the events of last May. Please dont cry about the findings claiming they are biased. The Democrats had over 12 months and produced nothing. At the point of conviction we shall have an amnesty for all. The Dems will keep out of the Nick and Thaksin will come home. Everybody happy

What a one sided thread this will be. To truly oppose the use of coups to prop up certain peoples financial interests it may be that people will err on the wrong side of the law to fully explain their believes. Maybe an idea to close it to be fair to both sides, it can only be a one sided discussion that will appear to the unknowledgable that coups are a good thing for Thailand.

He started it. He questioned my dignity, not that I got much left. I stated a fact, if that fact is not the reason why we are not having a coup I apologise.

The 2006 coup was disgraceful and i don't mean because they got rid of Thaksin

Why was it disgraceful....? Pray explain... words are cheap..!

It was disgraceful and fuelled by the greed...not of Thaksin. Do you think that Thaksin is the most corrupt person in this country. Think again. Would love to see some other bank accounts, you know the ones that get spin offs from buying scrap planes and unsuitable bomb detectors and submarines that are no good for the gulf of Thailand and on and on and on its gone for maybe 60 years. And if those noggy pog Dems would have retained power we may have had a 3rd infantry in Isaan at a cost of 100,000,000,000baht over ten years. Spin offs have been quoted as high as 30% on Government contracts. Yes thats right thats another $1,000,000,000 in somebodys pocket. Thaksin likes his money but at least he may be swinging business decisions in his favour, by means of his position, the people I refer to are just low life thieves and take far more out of the coffers than Thaksin did

"Only he had a cleaner record" thats a matter of opinion. And the only opinion that matters is the DSI or "name and shame" committee. "more bloodshed" most of us have had enough bloodshed under the last military installed government. You really need to broaden the range of media that provides you with information, just the one is not healthy

The last military installed government was the one with PM Surayut. Don't really remember bloodshed at that time? you really have to broaden the range of media that provides you with information, methinks dear chap.

Let's now go back to normal and the OP: "Abhisit slams Thai Govt on issues about Thaksin"

Wrong again Rubi. The last military installed government was the Dems. Put together in an army base with "an offer they could not refuse". as for the OP all I can say is "Mr Abhisit slam the door on your way out"

Some people don't see k. Thaksin as a criminal, true. Some people see k. Thaksin as a fugitive criminal, also true. Both Bonny/Clyde and Robin Hood had their following, also true. Relevant for the laws of this country? A Dept. PM saying 'I will bring k. Thaksin back' and 'we can't do anything when he's in Cambodia'.

Interesting views

You think the Gov should not bring Thaksin back ? You think Thaksin issue is not a priority ?

To hell with respect the rule of law. Stop threatening there will be bloodshed, chaos, coup. Let the dam_n things begins.

Bring back Thaksin, start a new trial or amnesty or whatever ! I dont want to hear single word about abusing power once again since when he's charged everyone seem to appreciate 'the rule of law' !!!!!

Now. If Thaksin gets free and there will be such protest.

Shoot anyone violate the law ! How about that. Snipe right at the center of the head may be a good start.

Peaceful protest ??? Throw some flamed bottles and let's roll !@!

The only way to deal with Thaksin haters is a full load hard suppression. They are so full of themself thinking they are better than anyoneelse and know how to run the country.

These people must have had lessons before this country can move on.

Let them know the consequence of their holy motto - 'Bring down Thaksin at all costs'

"The only way to deal with Thaksin haters is a full load hard suppression. They are so full of themself thinking they are better than anyoneelse and know how to run the country."

Freedom of speech, democracy at it's best.

Corruption or no corruption, drugs war or no drugs war Khun Thaksin is singularly the most influential and powerful person in the whole of South East Asia. Too many numpties on the forum trying to discredit his popularity. Please accept that within Thailand and internationally this person is widely accepted as the man to talk to if you want to do business in Thailand. "Old money" here in Thailand is going to be replaced over the course of the next decade.

Thaksins coming home, just accept it. The majority of Thais have excused him by electing him back to power. desperately vain attempts to link Thaksin to terrorism, burning Bangkok and financing bloodshed have failed miserably by the majority of the controlled press. Some on here, who I may suspect are Thais with excellent English skills decried the low red shirt numbers, when protesting in BKK, only 40,000 but if thats was all the troops he could rally how did he amass millions of votes on July 3rd. Thaksin will be running this country til the end of his days, he controls this country. Dont you just love him...millions do

Everytime Mr Abhisit open his mouth there must be a word 'Thaksin' in its context.

He better shut up about any Thaksin stuff.

At this point, the Gov can push amnesty for Thaksin and things can get ugly. May be start seeking a revenge ?

If the Gov holds majority in parliament, then it is legal to do so.

Sound familiar ? When you - Mr Abhisit - became a PM, you said so. Smell any self-serving double standards ????

sounds like Jatuporn or any other silly and crazy member of the red rouge. Abhisit is challenging them the way they challenged him. Only he had a cleaner record, had less corruption, and more experience. He's just pointing out all of the holes and flaws.

Inevitably, more bloodshed will erupt due to the public's dissatisfaction, and sooner or later the thaksin rouge will fall before they can become a north korean type of dynasty.

"Only he had a cleaner record" thats a matter of opinion. And the only opinion that matters is the DSI or "name and shame" committee. "more bloodshed" most of us have had enough bloodshed under the last military installed government. You really need to broaden the range of media that provides you with information, just the one is not healthy

He may even get to have a bunch more people shot on his carefully engineered PMship again too.

With regards, "He may even get to have a bunch more people shot", and the implied characterisation of Abhisit as being some sort of trigger-happy despot with no regard for human life, i find it sad to see a well-respected member of this forum speaking so flippantly and sarcastically about such a serious matter.

Almost as if someone has hacked into your account.

People were shot and as the leader of the country and the one in charge of the army (dont laugh) the buck stops with him. Personally I dont believe puppets order killings, puppet masters order killings. I wish the 'name and shame' committee would produce an interim report quickly so some of us can have a laugh at some tv members blustering out their excuses. Truth is Abhisit and his masters did not and were not going to produce a report with any conclusive findings, they could not even get the army to give evidence in 14 months.

On the other hand only last week the new C in C of the army publicly stated that the army officers would accept responsibility, if found guilty, it was not the fault of the foot soldiers(correct) it was the people who gave the orders. I did post a link previously but the post was deleted because I linked to the opposition (apologies). The fun has not yet begun for Mr Abhisit and I truly hope at the least he has many sleepless nights.

It will be interesting to see what kind of turnout they get.

I suspect it won't be many, unlike the pre-election rallies when protesters were energized by the desire to get rid of the Dems, whose presence in the seat of power they considered to be the expression of the old establishment meddling in politics.

This may be the first time post-election we - and the PTP - get to see how much popular support the red shirts can mobilize now their old cause-celebre is defunct.

No doubt if the numbers are high, many on this forum will say Thaksin paid for it, if they are low they'll say Thaksin has deserted them. An anti-Thaksin explanation for all eventualities.

But as usual, this would be a diversion from the fact that the red shirts are a distinct group with their own ideology and the numbers they attract at rallies - particularly in Bangkok - are as much a reflection of the general sympathy people have with their cause as any other factor.

I think that is right and also that tactically it is good to be small as PTP are in power and there are lots of people sick of street protest and who just want it to go away. At some point an establishment organized lengthy protest against PTP is likely to hit the streets and PTP and the reds will want the "sick of it group" to turn on this.

I can agree with you to some degree but as everyday passes with PT being in office I find it less likely Sondhi and the geriactric clappers will appear. Fundings been cut and Sondhi's 'done one', look at ASTV now it resembles a shopping channel. The old money will not let go easy but geriactrics on the streets again, I think unlikely. They may have to create a situation (maybe fire grenades or assasinate someone) who knows but they are brazen enough not to care what the world thinks.

The plan is this...

Now the current GOV is IN...

and the attacks and contradictions and lies that they cannot deliver will start to become evident

The reds are brought back in - as the brainwashing and aggressive factor - to keep rallying while the gov is in - to prevent the gov from losing power... and to ensure that if there is a COUP - the reds will be stong enough to fight on the streets again, all in the name of a peaceful protest and democracy of course...

Its so blatently obvious... and not suprising anymore...

Taksin wants his finger in the pie again

And wants to ensure his sister doesnt get kicked out before...

Just wait until we see more demonstrations blocking the streets, reducing the business sector, and making a fuss about, well... certainly nothing that actually helps thailand.

I'll have whatever your drinking. Not one fact present just tripe

She expressed her wish to see as many supporters as possible, saying the event would aim to make a stance against coup d'états and to inform the world of their damages in political, economic and social aspects.

Nobel cause, but aren't there real issues which should be addressed? Social inequality? Decent salary levels? Healthy ecological environment? Flood prevention by planting lots of trees?

Rallying at Democracy Monument is fun and like party time, but apart from that ?

Social inequalities are caused solely by those people who order the coups because they want to keep those social inequalities

[

I have not forgotten the election, nor the violence in the lead up to it - or the fact that men in red shirts were the main perpetrators.

the fact that men in red shirts were the main perpetrators.

Really? that is a "fact" ...

However inconvenient to you, your wife's extended family and the red shirts.

Nothin proven under 14 months of DEms government. lets wait for the dsi with PT in charge and please dont call foul if the verdict points the finger at a certain prime minister or deputy.

A couple of sentences in this column really hit the mark "

"... the military and the old establishment together have further intensified the crisis. Violent confrontations have become normal events in Thailand."

" Throughout the past five years, the political stalemate that has shaken the nation - playing with the Thai people's emotions and deeply polarising our society - has unveiled so many dark secrets in politics. For one thing, it has revealed the anxiety on the part of the old establishment about a more open society. This has now clearly emerged as a threat to their power position. From this view, Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is. "

What people really want today is put these five years behind them. If you read Thai forums, what real Thai people talk about in the social forums, you will realize they have moved on.

It's true that for the past five years, violent confrontation was becoming an "acceptable" way of solving political dispute. But Thai people realized they didn't solve anything and they were left footing the bill. Now, all they want is peace and reconciliation.

One more time, a couple of TV posters show they are out of touch with the realities of the country. It's not good for foreigners in Thailand. How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ? As guests in a democratic country we are of course entitled to express freely our opinion but it should be done in a moderate and balanced way.

Are you saying that now PTP is in power, we should forget how they achieved it?

They were elected by popular mandate in a general election. You have obviously forgotten this.

I have not forgotten the election, nor the violence in the lead up to it - or the fact that men in red shirts were the main perpetrators.

Oz mick.. nothing proven who caused the mayhem. Lets wait for the name and shame committee to report back to government.

The role of the establishment in causing problems rarely gets mentioned in the English language media (unlike Thai language which is a lot more balanced) who fixate only the Thaksin role. This is probably not surprising considering the ownership of the English language media and that it is aimed at a higher income English speaking Thai group. Interesting to see this change to a little more balanced opinion. This conference will be interesting for anyone with an open mind and who isnt fixated on the standard memes and viewpoints. Hopefully his invite to the establishment will be taken up.

An interesting point : who read the english language newspapers (I guess you're talking about the local ones). You said they aim at english speaking Thais. A lot of my Thai friends are fluent in english, none of them read the english local newspapers.

What do they try to achieve ? I really don't know. I just know if you watch the Thai TV and read the Thai newspapers (with the exception of Sondhi's hate media) , you get a completely different picture that the one you get from reading the english local press.

I have to add that I am disappointed by the position of Thai Visa, who instead of using its resources to give us a more broad view of the Thai press by translating the Thai press and Thai TV, stick by just reposting the very oriented and distorted view of the local english press and Sondhi's (TAN) media.

here here

a friend of mine offered to set up an irrigation system for his wife's family farm and teach them how to use it that way they didnt have to just "wait for raining" as they say. the only thing they had to do was pay him back over 5 years. they looked at him at thought he was crazy. "why work hard when we can send our daughters to the big city to fund our whiskey habit." people in issan are poor and have hard lives, but maybe if they weren't such lazy drunks they'd have better lives. im not saying all people in issan because i know some very hard workers from issan that came from nothing. but now they have something and it wasnt cuz they got drunk all day with their hand out for money.

Agree in part, it is not so much lazy as an acceptance of their lot in life. I see it in the school kids. Why work my gonads off I can never prosper I can only survive. These people need goals in life other than to feed themselves everyday

Abhisit positions himself as the (seen) leader of the prevent Thaksin from returning side.

Abhisit's criticism of the transfers wouldnt be as hollow if his government hadnt made many many times more to fill positions with their political mates.

Abhisit's call on the government to state they were not treating Thaksin specially would not ring so hollow if his government hadnt made Thaksin a special case with a foreign minister dedicated to houding the man around the globe while doing utterly nothing to bring home such notables as Kamnan Poh and Vattana who reportedly reside just over the border.

Two sides of the same coin with power reversed but this time by a decisive electoral decision. One would think that Abhisit would be concentrating on a different issue to that which saw his party thumped at the recent election if he were looking to future electoral success. Maybe he isnt looking at that route to power however

Abhisit is nothing more than a sore looser. He needs to be reminded that the people showed he didn't do anything while in office and they disapprove, not by a little, but a landslide. He acts like a child and therefore needs to be treated as such. Just pat him on the head when he speaks and tell him to be a good boy and sit down. He is part of the Bangkok elete born with a silver spoon in his mouth and wants to have a voice. He had a voice and blew it. He needs to go back to England where they put up with a$holes like him and get a real job. Something he has never had.

Maybe you weren't here when they had the election. 52% is not a landslide.

Pretty well speaks to your credibility. Perhaps you are a sore loser who Abhist would not give special favors to so you post negative as well as wrong information.

You may find that 52% was not the true figure and the persistent rumours of vote rigging in Bangkok will not go away. How could a certain, previously most accurate poll for election, get it so wrong in Bangkok and so right in every other part of the country. 7,000,000 extra ballot papers unecessarily printed will fuel this fire. The fact that PT still won has kept this theory very quiet but if there is any truth in the chatter it will be used to put another nail in the coffin of the floundering Dem party. Word in my area is that the rigging was done not to so much gain extra seats but purely to save face by still be able to say " at least the middle classes voted for us".

This rumour is on the back burner but It will not be reported in the popular press, do some research about the inaccuracy of the election exit polls in Bangkok.

Abhisit positions himself as the (seen) leader of the prevent Thaksin from returning side.

Abhisit's criticism of the transfers wouldnt be as hollow if his government hadnt made many many times more to fill positions with their political mates.

Abhisit's call on the government to state they were not treating Thaksin specially would not ring so hollow if his government hadnt made Thaksin a special case with a foreign minister dedicated to houding the man around the globe while doing utterly nothing to bring home such notables as Kamnan Poh and Vattana who reportedly reside just over the border.

Two sides of the same coin with power reversed but this time by a decisive electoral decision. One would think that Abhisit would be concentrating on a different issue to that which saw his party thumped at the recent election if he were looking to future electoral success. Maybe he isnt looking at that route to power however

In posting the above drivel it shows that you misunderstand Abhisit and the true nature of democracy.

Your comment is worse than drivel. "true nature of democracy". Let me see coalition bought and paid for, on command from the invisible one, done deal in an army camp. Mass murder of its own citizens(which will be proved by that 'name and shame committee') Army chief abusing his power and using popular tv to tell the electorate to vote for good people. Do me a favour - clock off

Abhisit positions himself as the (seen) leader of the prevent Thaksin from returning side.

Abhisit's criticism of the transfers wouldnt be as hollow if his government hadnt made many many times more to fill positions with their political mates.

Abhisit's call on the government to state they were not treating Thaksin specially would not ring so hollow if his government hadnt made Thaksin a special case with a foreign minister dedicated to houding the man around the globe while doing utterly nothing to bring home such notables as Kamnan Poh and Vattana who reportedly reside just over the border.

Two sides of the same coin with power reversed but this time by a decisive electoral decision. One would think that Abhisit would be concentrating on a different issue to that which saw his party thumped at the recent election if he were looking to future electoral success. Maybe he isnt looking at that route to power however

Double standards at their worst. Poor deluded leader of the opposition is thinking he will get back into power by his normal route. Somebody give him a nudge and let him know coups are out this season and any other season. Judging by his performance and that of his party who never won an election for 20 years I truly believe the Dems are finished without that dirty c word coming to their rescue. 20/20 vision was a little modest from the PT. 20/40 was more realistic.

It would appear that if you keep the head pig fed, the little piglets can carry on doing what they do best, breaking the law.

They are nothing more than a corrupt mafia-style organisation that thrives on extortion and other criminal activity.

Unfortunately, they are just a by-product of Thai society and culture, so it will never change.

My wifes best friends cousin recently copped (no pun intended) some lead in the front lobe in his house and the police said it was suicide. problem was they put the gun in the wrong hand (partially paralyzed). Reason was he was selling ya ba for one of the top coppers in an Isaan province. When Peua Thai won election said bobby cleared up the loose ends because he knew this government would remove him for one of their own..How <deleted> sad

those that despise are probably less in number than those who despise Abhisit at this point in time.

Just to pick you up on one point in isolation, i believe you are completely wrong on this statement above. It's clear, and not only from this post, that you feel Abhisit has been completely poisoned in the minds of much of the electorate, due to what happened in Bangkok last year. I have to say, i just don't see that. General public reaction that i am familiar with, and this even from some with mild red sympathies, is that the reds largely got, sadly, what was coming to them. Over weeks and weeks of taunting towards the military, and with Bangkok at a stand still, with no end in sight, some "flexing of muscle" was absolutely inevitable, just as it would have been had the airport stand-off dragged on weeks and weeks. The military didn't rush in guns blazing after a couple of days. It came after weeks and weeks, for which there was not a day that went by without the government pleading people to go home because it was not safe.

So, besides the red shirts themselves, i truly believe the rest of the nation accepts that the action that Abhisit and the military took was pretty unavoidable, and that the red shirts who were injured or worse, killed, have to take a lot of the responsibility for that themselves.

Despising Abhisit? More people despising Abhisit than Thaksin? Nah. The emotion i see invoked more than any, concerning Abhisit, is if anything, indifference. A nice guy who struggled to achieve much. A nice guy who had his hands tied.

You know, I don't think even red shirts would describe Thaksin as being a nice guy. There's the difference.

You appear to have a mish mash of whats right and wrong and at what point does the army justify using excessive force. Closing the airport for a 10 day concert amounts to terrorism and should have been dealt with in the first 2 hours but not likely as army and pad have the same puppet master. Abhisit is the most despised figure in Thai politics, not as a human being but as the leader of a government who condoned, or gave instruction to, or lost control of its armed forces during the killing of 91? of its own nationals. Nobody informed him that the buck stops with him regardless of who pulled the trigger. If Thaksin gets his royal pardon Mr Abhisit better watch out because now the head of the DSI is firmly onside and its a fair call to say that Abhisit and the little fat fellow will have their roles in last years events fully explained because Thaksin does not need to trade.

I like your logic ! As the first people killed were members of the military (including their commander) when attacked by Thaksin's mercenary red shirt thugs, and "the buck stops with him regardless of who pulled the trigger" then there is no argument that Thaksin should not be charged with terrorism.

When the 'name and shame committee' have finished their investigation then we can decide who killed who, up to that point we dont know who did it. It is likely that another army unit tossed in the flash grenade to get the army bullets popping. Your argument is somewhat emotional but thats all it is. The fact that the director of Interpol did never issue an arrest warrant due to the belief at Interpol that the charge of terrorism against Thaksin was purely politically motivated. Add this to 'The World Justice Report' ,under the Abhisit Government, was classed as 'politically interfered with'.

Its what we called a fit up.

those that despise are probably less in number than those who despise Abhisit at this point in time.

Just to pick you up on one point in isolation, i believe you are completely wrong on this statement above. It's clear, and not only from this post, that you feel Abhisit has been completely poisoned in the minds of much of the electorate, due to what happened in Bangkok last year. I have to say, i just don't see that. General public reaction that i am familiar with, and this even from some with mild red sympathies, is that the reds largely got, sadly, what was coming to them. Over weeks and weeks of taunting towards the military, and with Bangkok at a stand still, with no end in sight, some "flexing of muscle" was absolutely inevitable, just as it would have been had the airport stand-off dragged on weeks and weeks. The military didn't rush in guns blazing after a couple of days. It came after weeks and weeks, for which there was not a day that went by without the government pleading people to go home because it was not safe.

So, besides the red shirts themselves, i truly believe the rest of the nation accepts that the action that Abhisit and the military took was pretty unavoidable, and that the red shirts who were injured or worse, killed, have to take a lot of the responsibility for that themselves.

Despising Abhisit? More people despising Abhisit than Thaksin? Nah. The emotion i see invoked more than any, concerning Abhisit, is if anything, indifference. A nice guy who struggled to achieve much. A nice guy who had his hands tied.

You know, I don't think even red shirts would describe Thaksin as being a nice guy. There's the difference.

You appear to have a mish mash of whats right and wrong and at what point does the army justify using excessive force. Closing the airport for a 10 day concert amounts to terrorism and should have been dealt with in the first 2 hours but not likely as army and pad have the same puppet master. Abhisit is the most despised figure in Thai politics, not as a human being but as the leader of a government who condoned, or gave instruction to, or lost control of its armed forces during the killing of 91? of its own nationals. Nobody informed him that the buck stops with him regardless of who pulled the trigger. If Thaksin gets his royal pardon Mr Abhisit better watch out because now the head of the DSI is firmly onside and its a fair call to say that Abhisit and the little fat fellow will have their roles in last years events fully explained because Thaksin does not need to trade.

I wonder if they got 2 million names so as to slip Thaksin's name somewhere in the middle and hopefully go unnoticed. The gall of this new government is just unreal and shameless. It looks to me like they are setting themselves up to have absolute control above and beyond any laws.

Not if but when Thaksin gets a pardon it will mean that all this protestation will have to stop. Not going to criticise the pardon decision are we boys. The sooner he comes home the better bored with all this criticising. Starting to sound like the one track Dems Foreign Policy.

who r you

This is not surprising, Jaruman was a big enemy of Thaksin. He went to great efforts to try to get her out of her office. She had a reputation for uncompromising honesty.

I don't know the details of this case, but it sounds more like a case of revenge more than justice.

At least here it's transparent, unlike in so-called democracy preaching places which keep you tuned in to fox news, reading the new york times or the guardian newspapers.

Not saying its right or wrong the situation here but long gone are the days when the press worldwide was free from outside influences - be they politcal, religeous or economic.

Anyways, I seem to recall seeing both red and pad tv stations broadcasting 'their' views pretty openly on satellite on a recent trip to pattaya?

"at least here its transparent" depends how you look at it. This commission was set up by the senate whose members where not voted in by the populace, they were hand picked at a meetings, some that alledgedly received its orders by phone " from the invisible one". The senate does not appear to serve the people only its own interest thats why you hve 5 military brass on the committee.

A giant rethink of how the Senate is formed will take place at the start of PT's second term in office, The senate needs to have more members elected by the electorate and not hand picked to keep the status quo of the previous decades.

Start a committee whose only mandate is "an army in a true democracy should not......" then stop them doing whatever does not fit into those guidelines