Abhisit, academics criticise 'risky' new election delay

[webfact]

Abhisit, academics criticise 'risky' new election delay

By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN, 
WICHIT CHAITRONG 
THE NATION 

 

 

INCREASED UNCERTAINTY AFTER FURTHER POSTPONEMENT UNTIL 2019 SEEN AS HURTING ECONOMIC SENTIMENT, THREATENING STABILITY

 

A FORMER prime minister and academics have raised objections regarding the deferment of the promised election as a result of the complicated organic law legislative process, which they said could no longer be justified while warning the delay would not be good for anyone in the long run.

 

The response came after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s statement last week that the government might announce the promised election next year but it could be held in 2019. The junta head has promised an election date only for it to be delayed at least four times since he took power nearly four years ago.

 

Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister and leader of the Democrat Party, said citing legislation as the cause of the postponement might not be reasonable.

 

The process should be in the framework set by the Constitution, he said. In addition, the work should have been done smoothly because every legislator came from within the coup-backed circle, or so-called “five rivers of power”, which refers to five bodies controlling the current government, the former prime minister said.

 

“Now, please, do not send anymore signals to put off the vote or drag it out because this only leads to more issues and risks causing conflict in the future,” Abhisit said. “The ambiguity is not good for anyone.”

 

Abhisit also called for the current regime to stop creating conditions that would postpone the election, adding that he wished to see the government resolve problems facing people and ensure peace after the poll.

 

 

Political scientist Sirote Klampaiboon also said the postponement did not sound reasonable.

 

After the regime cited the legislation for the delay, Sirote said he believed a quicker process was possible, considering that not much revision was needed and there had not been a lot of work on research or gathering opinions.

 

Despite Prayut’s recent promise, Sirote said he believed the poll’s prospect were still rather slim.

 

“In reality, General Prayut has announced officially at least twice that an election would be held. Once when he visited Japan and met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the other time, he told Ban Ki-moon, a former United Nations secretary-general. The election was still postponed,” Sirote said.

 

Worse still, he said, what was being emphasised more clearly now were all the reasons why the election could not be held and had to be delayed.

 

He added that Prayut and other leaders in the regime did not even talk about the election clearly anymore, only saying when they would “announce” when it would occur.

 

Sirote also warned that not only would the uncertainty of the so-called “road map to democracy” and the election date hurt the economy as it drove investors away, but it would also undermine the regime.

 

“The junta will be put under pressure continuously due to apparent poor administration. Aside from that, because the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] never learned to share but only keeps power for itself, the number of its political enemies will also grow.”

 

Another political critic, Attasit Pankaew, a political scientist at Thammasat University, said that although the Constitution had laid out a timetable allowing the election to be delayed, public sentiment should also be a determining factor that should not be overlooked.

 

“If people do not feel like the poll should be deferred, maybe the junta should listen to them as well,” the political scientist said.

 

More importantly, Attasit said the road map, which dictates the major points of the junta’s plans including the election, was a key reference point of the regime. When it kept changing, it reflected political instability, which ultimately could affect everything from society to the economy, he said.

 

“It is a point of concern because it involves national stability,” the academic said. “All society, the economy and everything are based on politics. When there is uncertainty in politics, all other sectors cannot make plans and so the economy might not be able to develop.”

 

The road map should be clear and reliable, Attasit said, or the country would be filled with an atmosphere of mistrust and uncertainty.

 

Investment delays 

 

Stanley Kang, chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand, said the impact of the election delay would depend on future events and an explanation. 

 

Investors expected the election would take place by the end of this year, but a short delay would not negatively affect investor confidence, he said.

 

“An election a bit late would not have any affect, if the government has a good explanation and no trouble happens,” said Kang, a Taiwanese investor. 

 

He added that investors were looking for a bill related to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to pass the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). 

 

Should the NLA approve such a law, it would make investors more confident and spur investment, he said. 

 

Another issue was the availability of skilled workers working in EEC areas, as investors were worried about shortages of highly skilled labour in the long run, Kang said. 

 

Sakon Varanyuwatana, former dean of Thammasat University’s Economics Faculty, said the delay of the general election would impact investor confidence. Many expected elections next year and they wanted to see who would form the new government and carry out economic policy, especially regarding the EEC. 

 

“The delay of election will create uncertainty as investors wait for the new government,” Sakon said. 

 

The current government has tried to ensure that economic reforms will continue by setting up reform and strategy committees and demanding new governments follow its 20-year strategy.

 

Pipat Luangnaruemitchai, assistant managing director at Phatra Securities, said the delay |of the election would not have |much impact on investor confidence in the economy. He added that no one expected the political situation to deteriorate and lead to turmoil. 

 

Some investors might wait until the new government forms as European countries would not officially deal with the current junta government, he added. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30328782

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-09

[Thaiwrath]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

INCREASED UNCERTAINTY AFTER FURTHER POSTPONEMENT UNTIL 2019 SEEN AS HURTING ECONOMIC SENTIMENT, THREATENING STABILITY

Wait until they announce a 2020 election at the earliest ! 

[greenchair]

When is Abhisit going to realise that, the current government doesn't give 2 hoots what he or anyone else  has to say. 

[Samui Bodoh]

All those people who wouldn't support the election three years ago need to have a good, long look in the mirror; this is what you caused.

 

How long will Thailand be smothered by an increasingly entrenched military government? How long will there be "20 year plans"? How many more rights will be curtailed? How long until people can speak freely again?

 

Who knows?

 

[ChrisY1]

It's time all old politicians and their hangers-on, move on and leave the political arena.

Get a new job......the military don't like the current lot...and many of the people seem to dislike them also......but on earth where will new blood come from, 'cos there are very few people up to the job?....

Politics in Thailand is a mugs game!

[Xonax]

Thailand is not ready for Democracy.  Sadly Politicians only care about filling their own pockets.  And to become a rich politician, you will just have to seduce the poor people to vote for you.

Edited October 9, 2017 by Xonax

[mark01]

He ain't goin' anywhere.

He likes being the big man.

Don't think he's ready to launch his singing career.

[Ricardo]

20 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

It's time all old politicians and their hangers-on, move on and leave the political arena.

Get a new job......the military don't like the current lot...and many of the people seem to dislike them also......but on earth where will new blood come from, 'cos there are very few people up to the job?....

Politics in Thailand is a mugs game!

"Politics in Thailand is a mugs game!"

 

Or perhaps a 'crooks game', rather than a mugs' game, it's one way to riches for the unscrupulous ? 

[steven100]

2024 would be a maybe ....  but who knows

[MichaelJohn]

Just like Myanmar; in 50 years time we'll be celebrating a free democratic election where the Junta still retain 25% of the government.

In the meantime get used to it, it's here to stay.

[Jeremy50]

'Five rivers of power'  Dystopian  and scary.  These people have the guns, and they ain't going nowhere.

[Bob12345]

34 minutes ago, Xonax said:

Thailand is not ready for Democracy.  Sadly Politicians only care about filling their own pockets.  And to become a rich politician, you will just have to seduce the poor people to vote for you.

And what is the alternative?

 

Someone with power ( & money) taking the country by force and doing whatever he wants...

Doesn't sound better to me, at least in a democracy the poor are seduced instead of oppressed.

[greenchair]

35 minutes ago, Xonax said:

Thailand is not ready for Democracy.  Sadly Politicians only care about filling their own pockets.  And to become a rich politician, you will just have to seduce the poor people to vote for you.

 

Yes, this democracy thing is quite the problem with having to improve the lives of those pesky citizens in order to get elected. And people are always doing investigations that makes it harder and harder to pilfer the coffers. 

Why not bypass all that and become a rich politician with no rules to follow. 

[Scott]

A post critical of the gov't has been removed.   Please chose your word carefully.  

[RichardColeman]

Sorry boys, you sadly have no guns, tanks and submarines to back you up and a population of sheep. Case closed.

Edited October 9, 2017 by RichardColeman

[BuaBS]

Abhisit getting low on money ?

[Zack61]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

2024 would be a maybe ....  but who knows

Will depend on how long it takes to set up and fill up their Swiss bank accounts. Then it will depend on how greedy they are. Will a couple of billion be enough or will they need more?

[Eric Loh]

Why he even bother about election. He boycotted 2 elections and lost all elections that he participated. 

[steven100]

5 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

Will depend on how long it takes to set up and fill up their Swiss bank accounts. Then it will depend on how greedy they are. Will a couple of billion be enough or will they need more?

are you getting confused with the shins  ... 

[mania]

Wake up Thai citizens

They took your your country, your liberty, your right to self govern

 

They have no intention of giving it back till it is bled dry with ever more phony military purchases

& contracts with tons of cream skimmed off.

 

It is up to you...take it back or watch it burn

The Junta does not have 70million rounds nor the soldiers they think they have to fire them

as the soldiers are "your" sons & daughters not the elites who who are bleeding you dry

 

Wake up

[WhisperingJack]

1 hour ago, Xonax said:

Thailand is not ready for Democracy.  Sadly Politicians only care about filling their own pockets.  And to become a rich politician, you will just have to seduce the poor people to vote for you.

Thailand is not ready for Democracy - correct as you need and educated society for Democracy to work

[thairookie]

Does anyone know what is Abhisit day job ?  That fellow doesn't seem to hold a job at all, especially after being stripped off from his PM post after a democratic election.

[Srikcir]

Poor Abhisit got the government he wanted.

And now regrets there's no place for him in the new power structure.

Funny thing about crocodiles. They don't care about the color of chickens that they eat.

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Winston Churchill

Abhisit seems to be losing that hope.

 

[biplanebluey]

33 minutes ago, mania said:

Wake up Thai citizens

They took your your country, your liberty, your right to self govern

 

They have no intention of giving it back till it is bled dry with ever more phony military purchases

& contracts with tons of cream skimmed off.

 

It is up to you...take it back or watch it burn

The Junta does not have 70million rounds nor the soldiers they think they have to fire them

as the soldiers are "your" sons & daughters not the elites who who are bleeding you dry

 

Wake up

What you are suggesting is a civil war !!!! I agree the people should raise objections and not just take things lying down,but a general message of discontent with mass turnouts causing disruption in the cities could send a clear message.I do agree that this sort of disturbance could wake the govt up and make them think hard about the way we are going.At the moment nobody seems to care what they do ,or where the money is going.

[mania]

26 minutes ago, biplanebluey said:

What you are suggesting is a civil war !!!! I agree the people should raise objections and not just take things lying down,but a general message of discontent with mass turnouts causing disruption in the cities could send a clear message.I do agree that this sort of disturbance could wake the govt up and make them think hard about the way we are going.At the moment nobody seems to care what they do ,or where the money is going.

 

No re-read my post I never suggested civil war.

What I had in mind was basically as you stated a mass turnout

 

I was also pointing out the Junta would never fire on them for obvious reasons

 

The Junta would never use real force for if they did they would quickly see how little

countries like the USA actually tolerate a military turning on it's citizenry

 

I also believe the Junta would quickly see how little control of their actual soldiers they have

when it comes to enforcing their will on the Thai people. Just look at the recent crack down on that one temple of that one monk.

The police nor the soldiers will actually fully turn on the citizenry

 

Edited October 9, 2017 by mania

[tigermoth]

2 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

And what is the alternative?

 

Someone with power ( & money) taking the country by force and doing whatever he wants...

Doesn't sound better to me, at least in a democracy the poor are seduced instead of oppressed.

The population here is opressed. You don't have to wait for extremes to occur before you recognise that peoples rights have already disappeared, the most important which ultimately leads to civil unrest, freedom of speech, the press and public gatherings. The Junta having a military spending spree is also not looked on favourably by the general population,

[JAG]

2 hours ago, Xonax said:

Thailand is not ready for Democracy.  Sadly Politicians only care about filling their own pockets.  And to become a rich politician, you will just have to seduce the poor people to vote for you.

 

Incidentally "Xonax", do you have democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and all the rest of them where you come from? Good enough for you is it? And if you do, who decided that you are ready for it?

[realenglish1]

When will everyone realize that there is not going to be an election .

 

Its like the two worst lies in the world The check is in the mail and I promise I will not +++++++++++++++ Well we all know what it is

 

[robblok]

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

All those people who wouldn't support the election three years ago need to have a good, long look in the mirror; this is what you caused.

 

How long will Thailand be smothered by an increasingly entrenched military government? How long will there be "20 year plans"? How many more rights will be curtailed? How long until people can speak freely again?

 

Who knows?

 

No this is what Thaksins amnesty caused.. don't forget that is what brought the people out and made it easy for the army.. Blame those who are to blame the Shins for their selfishness. 

[MickGC]

1 hour ago, mania said:

 

No re-read my post I never suggested civil war.

What I had in mind was basically as you stated a mass turnout

 

I was also pointing out the Junta would never fire on them for obvious reasons

 

The Junta would never use real force for if they did they would quickly see how little

countries like the USA actually tolerate a military turning on it's citizenry

 

I also believe the Junta would quickly see how little control of their actual soldiers they have

when it comes to enforcing their will on the Thai people. Just look at the recent crack down on that one temple of that one monk.

The police nor the soldiers will actually fully turn on the citizenry

 

"The police nor the soldiers will actually fully turn on the citizenry"

It's already happened a couple of times here in recent history.