Srikcir

"dispatch special-task teams to crack down on human traffickers."

That should be easy enough for the military to perform. They're used to cracking down on humans.

During the PDRC anti-government protests and Junta overthrow of the government, the Thai economy lost as a direct result 2.5%-3% GDP growth in 2013-2014; possibly the same for 2015. That amounts to about Bt800 billion. Will the Thai treasury also be reimbursed for those losses as well? That amount can come personally out of the wealth of Abhisit, Suthep, Prayuth and the rest of the NCPO members. No different than charging Yingluck for the losses she caused.

But of course not. That would require a standard of equality and responsibility. Those are rare elements for the military.

The Chief is a realist.

The 2007 Constitution went to a public referendum, albeit under heavy voting restraints, and passed with only 51%. It was created much in the same restrictive way this 2015 Constitution was created using military appointees and very limited public participation. And according to the NCPO, it was a complete failure. Not surprising. I'd expect a draft constitution to pass by much larger margins, ie., 70%, if it was going be supported by an electoral mandate.

But I doubt the NCPO will allow a referendum. The military has shown itself unafraid to impose restrictive limits on the sovereignty of the Thai people. And time is against the Junta to return the nation to democracy (or whatever it might be called). I don't believe the Junta could tolerate a failed referendum anymore than it can tolerate the simplest of criticisms on its actions during Gen. Prayuth's tenure as PM.

If the Chief has high morals and ethics for a democractic constitution, he and the whole of CDC and NRC should resign if Gen. Prayuth refuses a referendum. But Gen. Prayuth will not allow for such an embarrassment and all will comply with HIS WISHES and COMMANDS.

Sometimes being a realist is also being a loser.

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Who is going to select the experts that select the experts that select the experts that will finally provide a "DEMOCRATIC" voice in the senate?

And a non elected PM! Who are these people drafting the new charter? I wonder who the experts were that chose them?

Isn't England's House of Lords non-elected? How is this different? I'll wait.

Why don't you research your question? For example from InfoPlease a couple of points:

- Effective power resides in the Commons, whose 650 members are elected from single-member constituencies. The executive—the cabinet of ministers headed by the prime minister, who is the head of government—is usually drawn from the party holding the most seats in the Commons

- The House of Lords may take a part in shaping legislation, but it cannot permanently block a bill passed by the Commons, and it has no authority over money bills. UK's House of Comons is essentially an elelected coalition government.

UK does not have the multitude (now10?) of independent unelected organizations called for by the CDC that can impede Commons legislation and proceedngs. It has no provision for an uneleted PM who can take offce at any time. In fact other than the short 1,000-year Magna Charter, UK has no specific constitution!

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While we are at it, how about making the rule that the PM must be truly elected, by an electorate and not by the party list. Then all candidates can be publicly scrutinised, which would be far better than getting some party hack, or a billionaire megalomaniac who buys his way to power.

All MP's are truly elected and therefore subject to scrutiny. This is the parliamentary system.

What the CDC/NRC is developing as a government WAS supposed to be based on Germany's Multi-Member Party syste. Then it WAS supposed to be based on Northern Ireland coalition system. Last week it WAS supposed to adopt the parliamentary systems of Canada and the UK.. When you look at the details of the new system it doesn't any democratic system of government, whether it be a republic or constitutional monarchy.

You have to look at the BIG PICTURE. With a very restrictive consitution that basically keeps the nation permanently under martial law, and several layers of unelected independent organizations, the new government system will not resemble a democratic parliamentary system. It may be more similar to a communist political system where government officials are elected as well.

"I believe other countries and international organisations can help us achieve our development goal in the deep South,"

In other words, the NCPO is willing to let nations interfere in its internal affairs to solve what is specifically a Thai-caused problem. Is the NCPO looking for an excuse for not meeting its goal of peace with the insurgents by end of 2015? In other words, if other countries fail to help, then the Junta's hands are tied. It seems the NCPO won't hold itself accountable if it fails on its promises. It will always be someone else''s responsibility. But when it comes to taking credit, no one can beat out the NCPO.

"they wanted the law to be amended first to ensure fairness and better benefits for Thailand"

The whole issue of legislating more options for sale of oil & gas concessions is a relatively minor matter and laws should have been amended after the very first concession sales. But unfortunately, some people have become radicalized over the issue by taking more nationalistic attitudes. Gen. Prayuth in turn is over reacting in a typical single mindless military manner that further exagerates the issue.

Much of the terms of concession sales is out of Thailand's control, no matter who is governing the counrty or what system of government is used. Global oil & gas companies are driven by technology for their costs and by the market for their profit margins, not by any government. They are driven by the needs of their shareholders. Companies could care less about the needs of any government - it's all about money. Companies have no concern about "thainess" or Gen. Prayuth's 12 values.

The government should be driven by the amount of risk it takes for the benefit it receives. When a government tries to force companies to take high risks with little or no profit margins, and take almost all revenues, there will be no sales. Marketing is a self-balancing process. Thailand is a net energy importer and the value of oil & gas is at all-time lows, so the delay has no negative impact on the economy. No matter what concession system is used, exploration and development of the reserves is born entirely by the companies. Again the delay has no negative impact on the economy.

Amendment of the law to include Production Sharing agreements may or may nor ensure fairness and better benefits. Why? Because it's in the "eye of the beholder" and that cannot really be legislated. The amendment only provides another sales option. It cannot create smart negotiators, precise legal language, nor appropriate cost and profit formulas.The amendment has no impact on the market price nor on the production technology. It cannot change the geology of oil formations.

"create disturbance in the country again."

It will be interesting to see Buddhist monks being taken to a military base for attitude adjustment visits. Prayuth misses no one when it comes to using his power as the nation's leader. Every Thai needs to know his or her place in Thai society and how to behave and think in that place. The government will take care of all problems. Citizens need not to think or act beyond the boundaries created by the elite. Thailand is becoming again a classical oligarchy with a small concession to democracy to please the average Thai people.The elite remain secure in their Rule.

Senator selection and appointments fairly much a lock on an elected government for the elite class. This is not like Canada or UK governments.

No surprises here and almost a certainty there will be no REFERENDUM on the constitution.

Maybe a NIDA or TRICHA poll of 1,500 people showing 90% favor the new constitution.

The NCPO has made an honest and sincere effort to destroy Thai sovereignty and it should be respected for that!

When Buddhists rise up, it isn't banners and signs - it's grenades and rifles. Look at the history of Burma.

It would be almost irony to see Junta militarily engage the very same Buddhists who carried out violent attacks against the Yingluck regime.

Or will Gen. Prayuth solve the conflict like he has everywhere - throw gifts and money for silence?

"number of export goods increased by 21.8%"

But the net of exports and imports last month came to a trade deficit of 457 million dollars.

Thailand would do better to stop foreign trade!

Does this bill then require the next military coup to notify the police least 24 hours in advance and gatherings between 6 pm and 6 am would be banned unless it got permission?

Now that would be revolutionary!

Thailand - the Hub of Business Resolution

There is seems to be a government propaganda program going on!

Amnuay says” rubber sheets will fetch between 65-75 baht per kilogramme and the prices will steadily improve afterward.”

Amnuay also says “China’s Hainan company had purchased 200,000 tons of top-grade Thai rubber at a price of 63 baht a kilogramme of which 20,000 tonnes have already been delivered with the rest to be delivered within 14 months.”

Look back just two months:

- Prayut separately said the government had no plan to buy rubber from farmers to boost the price but would try to ask the private sector to pay Bt60 per kilo

- “current price for smoked rubber sheet is now at 60.75 baht per kilogram.” [2015-01-05]

- agreement with the Chinese government to sell China 400,000 tons of rubber at Bt60 per kg. with delivery in 18 months. [2014-12-15]

- “production cost had climbed to Bt64.50 per kg” [2014-12-15]

- Prayut administration was “ready to listen to all parties in a bid to reverse the falling prices and stabilise the market price at Bt60 per kg.” [2014-12-15]

- Southern rubber farmers have threatened to stage mass protest after the New Year if their demands, “including the demand for rubber sheet price to be set at 80 baht/kg, are not met by the government.” [2014-12-19]

Farmers aren’t getting 65-75 baht/kg for rubber sheets. The government isn’t selling rubber at 63 baht/kg to China. The Prayuth regime seems to throw out whatever numbers fit the government’s propaganda program to promote its success in managing the nation’s economy.

Show me the money - that's where the truth is!

The 2007 Constitution draft created by the previous military Junta was put to the Thai electorate in a referendum, passing by only 51%. In other words 48% of voters rejected it. Was it then no surprise that subsequent elected officials attempted to amend the constitution, albeit in conformance to the due process of law defined by that constitution?

Now Gen. Prauth has stated there will be no referendum this time. His excuse has been that the electorate has had the opportunity to drop him a note about any suggestions during the draft process. That's enough participatory democracy for him! When one is trying to create a new kind of oligarchy that keeps the masses at arm's-length from the elite, you can't be sensitive to their rights and liberties.

A grumpy man people can laugh at. A grumpy man with tanks people can only listen.

It matters not what the NCPO clones do in a draft constitution, how they define terms, how they create independent organizations, how they decide the make-up of government, the overriding element is the NCPO agenda. And that agenda IS NOT ONE FROM THE THAI PEOPLE.

As every previous coup-driven constitution has failed, so too will the 2015 Constitution fail. And the price paid by Thais will again be higher than just the lost of rights and liberties!

"We expect some of the capital to enter the economic system in the second half of this year,"

NOT ENOUGH and TOO LATE !!

Thai business sectors have cried for massive government financial stimulus beginning the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 to create economic growth and to date it has not:

"The military has promised to unleash billions of dollars on much-needed infrastructure projects. But the money is yet to kick into the economy....The main impediment to growth at present is the slow pace of fiscal spending, which is also delaying investment and consumption decisions." 2015-02-11

The Junta's best effort to date was to borrow from the Chinese for the Thai dual rail project; that doesn't put Thai capital to work. Now the Junta will borrow more from foreign sources.

There will be no improvement in GDP growth for 2015 with the Junta at the helm of the Good Ship Lollipop.

Is then Thailand the Hub of Human Trafficking?

Yet another independent organization. What is the count now - 10?

Why not go further and make each cabinet minister an independent organization, appointed by still another independent organization. Then the Prime Minister is selected by again another independent organization. In order to assure no conflict between all the various independent organizations, there should be a single political party to oversee the entire structure - Welcome to North Korea.

The only part of the government that won't be part of an independent organization will be the Thai Peoples!!

The Junta has an interesting set of priorities.

The buffalo and chickens will have greater civil rights than Thais. But then the former can be guaranteed not to be political.

"bring the country closer to becoming an advanced democracy, such as the United Kingdom or Canada, who have a similar framework for the upper house of parliament."

So why is the CDC going to Germany to witness their electoral process which has already been dismissed by the CDC as allowing too much power in the Head of State. Is the CDC now going to visit Canada or the UK elections?

If one wants to dwell on integrity, CDC should be honest and admit that Thailand cannot adopt any existing democratic system of governance found in the world because Thailand has its own unique political needs. Instead it should just focus on becoming the world's most advanced oligarchy and quit trying to be something it cannot allow - a democracy.

"politicians will find it more difficult to gain political power and to exercise that power. "

Pretty much sums this whole devisive reform - No elected official shall ever do more than serve the State as formulated by the Junta. That is a "don't" but no doubt a special exemption.

The Chinese will have more democarcy than Thailand by the day this reform is completed.

It is up to the Thais Peoples for what form of government they want for their nation. To that end Obama will respect the will of the People. If Thais are complacent or uninterested about the current state of affairs in the new formation of government and constitution, Obama will respect that. If Thais accept as a society having repressive and nondemocratic governance, Obama will respect that. USA's relationship with Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia are good examples.

The US maintains a complex set of relationships with most every nation whether it be for trade, humantarian aide, military security, or combination of purposes. To that end keeping a pragmatic view of the world as it relates to American culture is Obama's main priority in foreign affairs.

But remember that the POTUS is only one part of the USA government and while he sets policy as Head of State and Government, he must also attend the will of the American peoples through their elected officials as well. So while he expresses support for Thailand as a partner and ally, such diplomatic viewpoint may not be shared by members of Congress. As the new congressional Republican majority deals with more domestic issues, they will begin to assert themselve on foreign issues in a less than pragmatic manner.

Time is not on the side of the Junta to delay the will of Thais.