Parties in limbo as NCPO ban persists

[webfact]

Parties in limbo as NCPO ban persists

By THE NATION

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam

 

Political activity prohibited as deadlines approach, raising fears of election ineligibility under new law.

 

POLITICAL PARTIES are being left to their own devices as the clock ticks ahead of deadlines for them to rearrange their internal workings as required by a new organic law, as the junta has kept its strict ban on political activities in place. 

 

The Election Commission (EC) made it clear yesterday the agency did not have the authority to give extra time to political parties to make arrangements to fit the new regulations, despite the junta’s refusal to lift the ban.

 

Political parties could only petition the EC registrar for additional time if they could not meet the schedule, said commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn.

 

Somchai added that political parties must file petitions individually for extra time, while it would be up to authorities to determine whether to allow the petitions and by how much the period would be extended. 

 

If the registrar turned down the request, parties could then submit the matter the entire EC to decide, Somchai said. 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had already discussed lifting the political ban and laid out a schedule, but he refused to disclose details and said the NCPO had the sole authority to do so. 

 

Although politicians’ activities were technically frozen since the ban on political gatherings, Wissanu said there was not a problem and the “road map to democracy” would remain unaffected.

 

“We are well aware what political parties have to do and how. Although now they are not allowed [to gather], there will not be a problem,” he said. “The law stipulates that the Election Commission can consider case by case and decide to extend the timeframe.”

 

After the coup-installed government took power in 2014, it issued an order banning political gatherings of five or more people. The order prohibits political activists from campaigning against the junta while also disallowing political parties from holding meetings to make decisions related to their parties’ structure. 

 

After more than three years in a stifled environment, concerns over the political ban have heightened because the organic law governing political parties has already been enacted. 

 

Political parties need to hold internal meetings in order to restructure in line with the new law, which entails a number of new rules and regulations. For example, parties have to report changes to their registration records to the EC registrar within 90 days. Also, they have to collect annual membership fees from party members within 180 days.

 

As the law was enacted early last month, those deadlines are already approaching, but the junta kept the ban on political activities in place before and during the Royal Cremation Ceremony.

 

As the official mourning period ended on Monday, politicians have urged the NCPO to loosen its grip so parties can get to work, but so far authorities have rejected the proposal, citing the need to keep the peace and ensure order. 

 

If political parties fail to meet the deadlines set by the new law, they potentially could lose the opportunity to contest the next election.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30330602

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-02

[ChrisY1]

A lot more subtle than the methods used by Hun Sen.....but the end result will be the same....no viable political party to contest (in Thailand' case), the military!

[yellowboat]

There are more holes in this story than in my sock drawer.  Time is needed to organize and campaign.  The yellows of little chance of winning with enough time, let alone, with time wasted by the junta. 

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“We are well aware what political parties have to do and how. Although now they are not allowed [to gather], there will not be a problem,” he said.

i see; we make the rules but do not allow them to follow them; might as well just admit they do not want political parties, period; particularly red-shirt ones

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

A lot more subtle than the methods used by Hun Sen.....but the end result will be the same....no viable political party to contest (in Thailand' case), the military!

 

Clever though - you must re-organize in accordance with the new rules; you are not allowed to meet for "political activities" including meetings to re-organize.

 

Talk about Catch 22! Some posters mock them but they are cunningly clever at times.

[Eric Loh]

29 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Clever though - you must re-organize in accordance with the new rules; you are not allowed to meet for "political activities" including meetings to re-organize.

 

Talk about Catch 22! Some posters mock them but they are cunningly clever at times.

Cunning or disorganize. Also need to toe the line of their puppet master.

[Morch]

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

If the registrar turned down the request, parties could then submit the matter the entire EC to decide,

What EC? What "registrar?

Didn't all current EC members lose their positions as of Oct. 1st (the beginning of FY2018) and a Selection Committee is currently waiting for potential candidates to apply? So far no one has applied!

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1351427/ec-selection-panel-has-power-to-recruit

This issue further stalls the election process.

Which is probably not a coincidence. Maybe Prayut will have to use Article 44 to appoint some generals as temporary EC members.

 

 

[TKDfella]

Yep, the parties lose either way. If they continue to criticize then the ban won't be lifted because of the PM's former words about people's bad conduct. If the parties wait they might lose out due to time restraints.

[heybruce]

Transparent BS.  Clearly the junta has no plans to relinquish power, but we already knew that.

[steven100]

8 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Transparent BS.  Clearly the junta has no plans to relinquish power, but we already knew that.

we can only hope ....

[baboon]

1 hour ago, TKDfella said:

Yep, the parties lose either way. If they continue to criticize then the ban won't be lifted because of the PM's former words about people's bad conduct. If the parties wait they might lose out due to time restraints.

If they had any sense they would put their differences to the side, form a united front and tell the junta 'Right. We've had enough of you and your nonsense. Sod off'.

Until then why would the junta not think that if they will settle for nothing now, they will settle for nothing later? 

[jesimps]

Anyone even slightly shocked by this story?

Thought not.

[heybruce]

45 minutes ago, steven100 said:

we can only hope ....

No, you hope.  The majority of Thais don't want military rule.  The military knows this, which is why elections were pushed back from 2015, 2016, 2017....

[PhuketSarah]

Not just national candidates are in permanent office, my local mayor, who would have been ousted years ago in an election enjoys his tenure..Now that US has changed stance on promoting democracies, Prayuth has no pressure.  

Only one person can stop this. I hope he does.

[sjaak327]

6 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Clever though - you must re-organize in accordance with the new rules; you are not allowed to meet for "political activities" including meetings to re-organize.

 

Talk about Catch 22! Some posters mock them but they are cunningly clever at times.

That is not being clever of course, it simply adds more credence to the notion that Thailand is not returning to democracy, and that this was never the goal. 

[Baerboxer]

Just now, sjaak327 said:

That is not being clever of course, it simply adds more credence to the notion that Thailand is not returning to democracy, and that this was never the goal. 

 

I appreciate that English isn't your fist language. Often only native language speakers understanding irony, satire and figures of speech.

 

You obviously never saw the excellent film "Catch 22" either.

[sjaak327]

Just now, Baerboxer said:

 

I appreciate that English isn't your fist language. Often only native language speakers understanding irony, satire and figures of speech.

 

You obviously never saw the excellent film "Catch 22" either.

Never saw the movie, do know the phrase 'catch 22' and can recognize sarcasm. Could not resist nevertheless...

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, baboon said:

If they had any sense they would put their differences to the side, form a united front and tell the junta 'Right. We've had enough of you and your nonsense. Sod off'.

Until then why would the junta not think that if they will settle for nothing now, they will settle for nothing later? 

 

They might if they could. But they ain't "real" political parties following ideology as we understand it are they. They represent their patron's interests as instructed. And the patrons don't ever seem like burying the proverbial hatchet.

[TKDfella]

5 hours ago, baboon said:

If they had any sense they would put their differences to the side, form a united front and tell the junta 'Right. We've had enough of you and your nonsense. Sod off'.

Until then why would the junta not think that if they will settle for nothing now, they will settle for nothing later? 

See your point but will it happen? We see Thai men killing their spouse/family, road rage galore, if only they channeled that anger and got their politicians to do something. Don't see it happening.