NCPO should lift ban on political activities, new survey shows

[rooster59]

NCPO should lift ban on political activities, new survey shows

By THE SUNDAY NATION

 

Bangkok Poll

 

THE National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) should lift its ban on political activities and allow parties to resume working, most respondents said in a Bangkok Poll survey.

 

The poll, conducted on 1,194 people from across the country and released yesterday, found that 61.2 per cent of the respondents would like the junta to ease the ban on political gatherings.

 

Less than one-third of respondents, or around 29 per cent, thought that the strict ban should remain, even though the organic law on political parties has already been enacted, and 9 per cent said they were not sure.

 

Although the majority thought that the political suppression should end, more than half of the respondents – 53 per cent – still thought there was very little chance that politics would be better after that. The rest were more optimistic and thought there was a high chance that politics would improve.

 

Some concerns over political turmoil also remain. Almost 55 per cent of the people surveyed said they were afraid political conflict could recur.

 

Just over 52 per cent were concerned about political division and 40.5 per cent were worried about street demonstrations and political unrest.

 

The surveyed people also had concerns for democracy and about the postponement of the election.

 

Almost two-thirds, or 63.5 per cent, said that unless the political ban was lifted, the country would never return to democracy, while 39.3 per cent anticipated that the promised election would be delayed.

 

One-fifth, or 20.4 per cent, were worried for the political parties, saying that they may not have enough time to prepare for the election while the ban remained.

 

And almost 10 per cent said they were afraid some of the major parties would be dissolved.

 

Asked what they thought would happen if the political restrictions persisted, 42.8 per cent said maybe there would be new faces in politics as well as new parties, while 29.3 per cent said the election should be held off until everyone was ready.

 

More than one fifth, or 21.8 per cent, said the NCPO should stay on and run the country, while 6.1 per cent said the political parties should be reset to square one.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30330829

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-05

[Samui Bodoh]

11 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Although the majority thought that the political suppression should end, more than half of the respondents – 53 per cent – still thought there was very little chance that politics would be better after that.

I very much doubt the accuracy of any poll in Thailand, but the idea represented is probably correct.

 

Will Thai politics be any better after the Junta? Doubtful.

 

What exactly has the Junta done to improve the political climate? Have they cleaned up the procurement process? Have they cleaned up matters of corruption? Have they introduced new norms for political discourse? Have they instilled new respect for Thai law? Have they cleaned up a notorious police force? Have they overhauled the bureaucracy? Have they enhanced respect for politics? Have they promoted any dialogue? Have they done anything useful and/or lasting?

 

Nothing. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. etc.

 

Why would anyone expect things to be different?

 

What specifically has changed?

[Ossy]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I very much doubt the accuracy of any poll in Thailand, but the idea represented is probably correct.

 

Will Thai politics be any better after the Junta? Doubtful.

 

What exactly has the Junta done to improve the political climate? Have they cleaned up the procurement process? Have they cleaned up matters of corruption? Have they introduced new norms for political discourse? Have they instilled new respect for Thai law? Have they cleaned up a notorious police force? Have they overhauled the bureaucracy? Have they enhanced respect for politics? Have they promoted any dialogue? Have they done anything useful and/or lasting?

 

Nothing. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. etc.

 

Why would anyone expect things to be different?

 

What specifically has changed?

Nice one, SB, and a searching question, too. Although begging the answer, 'nothing', it gets a little more than that from me. What I'm sure has changed is the FACT that the Shins are now on the outside of the Thai political landscape and, whilst acknowledging that their 'disappearance' leaves the nation divided between the 'glads' and the 'sads', I still feel - as I posted over a fortnight ago - that this new and very different playing field, created by the Junta's much discredited performance over nearly 4 wasted years, will present an intriguing challenge, one year from now, if the latest election promises are kept. As I said then, the establishment/ elite/ democratic/ yellow-backed military take-over will present the elected party with the perfect opportunity to enact the old adage:

"Tha's med tha bed . . . now tha'd best sleep in it."

[Samui Bodoh]

37 minutes ago, Ossy said:

Nice one, SB, and a searching question, too. Although begging the answer, 'nothing', it gets a little more than that from me. What I'm sure has changed is the FACT that the Shins are now on the outside of the Thai political landscape and, whilst acknowledging that their 'disappearance' leaves the nation divided between the 'glads' and the 'sads', I still feel - as I posted over a fortnight ago - that this new and very different playing field, created by the Junta's much discredited performance over nearly 4 wasted years, will present an intriguing challenge, one year from now, if the latest election promises are kept. As I said then, the establishment/ elite/ democratic/ yellow-backed military take-over will present the elected party with the perfect opportunity to enact the old adage:

C

Good post, but let me quibble a bit as I don't think we are arguing; I think we generally agree.

 

Some of the Shins are outside of the country, and thus outside of the political landscape, but not all. I think it is possible that they get another member of the family to run. That said, I really, really hope that they don't; it would be great for Thailand if the 'Reds' put up a non-Shin candidate for Leader/PM.

 

The second point I would raise is that political landscapes are both physical and ephemeral. Yes, the current leaders of the Shins/Reds are both outside the physical landscape, however they are both VERY much in the ephemeral. No matter what happens in the next couple of years, there will be large numbers of people who look at a problem/issue and say "Thaksin and/or Yingluck would have handled that better" and there won't be any means to dispute that. Politically, it is a nice place to be.

 

Finally, I think we both agree that the 'Reds' should not try to form a government IF the Junta actually keeps its word and allows an election next year. You say, "Tha's med tha bed . . . now tha'd best sleep in it.". I would say "take some G.D. responsibility for your actions, you pack of *******!".

 

Best to sit on the sidelines and complain for a while; the Junta screwed things up, let them fix it. The underlying reasons why the 'Reds' win all the elections are still there, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

 

 

[robblok]

There have been new corruption laws made a new courts about corruption opened. So yes there is a change for sure. Do I think things will really change.. no because its still not strict enough and its hard to prove corruption. Even though for instance its quite clear that by not canceling the fake G2G rice deals friends of Thaksin (and probably Thaksin himself) won money it could not be proven that YL or her family (that includes her brother) benefited from it.  So if you can't even prove something that is clear as day how are you going to prove other corruption cases.

 

Now take for instance those new speed meters for the cops, what should be done is making public what is being purchased so people could see what the price somewhere else is. When things for instanced are being bought like that it should be real clear so pockets can be filled. These things are easy to check its harder to check construction projects. So even something as easy as those police speedmeters (not a done deal now) could be much clearer and better checked and it was not done.

 

I still remember clocks for the government that were hugely overpriced, those kind of things should be checked much better. 

 

As long as there is so much money to be made in government there will always be political fighting and the paws (red and yellow) will be sacrificed to fight each-other for the leaders to get in power again and make money. When its hard to be corrupt and hard to make money they have less interest in being there there will be less unrest. 

 

All government purchases should be open to the public to view (descriptions of what is being bought at what price). That would make a real dent in corruption. It will still exist but the amounts would be much lower.

[rkidlad]

The junta has achieved nothing for the people. It will be more of the same again after any elections. If you wanna make people’s lives better, you actually have to care. 

 

Thai culture very much is; ‘it’s not what you do it’s what you say’.Time for the country to grow up. 

[Ossy]

44 minutes ago, robblok said:

 

As long as there is so much money to be made in government there will always be political fighting and the paws (red and yellow) will be sacrificed to fight each-other for the leaders to get in power again and make money. When its hard to be corrupt and hard to make money they have less interest in being there there will be less unrest. 

All government purchases should be open to the public to view (descriptions of what is being bought at what price). That would make a real dent in corruption. It will still exist but the amounts would be much lower.

Sad but very true, Robblok, according to what I've learned, since coming to LOS in 2012. I never dreamed for a moment that such a 'happy-smiley' country could be so politically bereft that its 'leaders' had sunk to being corruption-prone money-men. As for 'All government purchases should be open to the public to view' ; yes, WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE!

 

And, on that subject, do 'we' know what is happening to the much publicised radar gun purchase? Last I heard was that, instead of the treasury-approval being reviewed, the unit price of the guns increased from 760,000 to 900,000 bahts, almost as if the gungho generals are holding a finger up to anyone who should be so rude as to question their X 30 overspend and barefacedly 'upgrade' it to a X 36 extravaganza.

 

And, as for my pretty picture of Thailand being so completely smashed to pieces, within my first 18mths, I am now resigned to just sitting back and watching what happens . . . and putting anti-Junta posts on here from time to time, 'cos I still can't stand the arrogant twerp who still sees himself as worthy of the big chair.

[robblok]

12 minutes ago, Ossy said:

Sad but very true, Robblok, according to what I've learned, since coming to LOS in 2012. I never dreamed for a moment that such a 'happy-smiley' country could be so politically bereft that its 'leaders' had been sunk to being corruption-prone money-men. As for 'All government purchases should be open to the public to view' ; yes, WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE!

 

And, on that subject, do 'we' know what is happening to the much publicised radar gun purchase? Last I heard was that, instead of the treasury-approval being reviewed, the unit price of the guns increased from 760,000 to 900,000 bahts, almost as if the gungho generals are holding a finger up to anyone who should be so rude as to question their X 30 overspend and barefacedly 'upgrade' it to a X 36 extravaganza.

 

And, as for my pretty picture of Thailand being so completely smashed to pieces, within my first 18mths, I am now resigned to just sitting back and watching what happens . . . and putting anti-Junta posts on here from time to time, 'cos I still can't stand the arrogant twerp who still sees himself as worthy of the big chair.

I put anti goverment post here.. whoever is in power is arrogant, YL with her rice program and no corruption threatening democrats with jail for having stolen rotten rice. Now this general with his speedmeter (and no I don't know what is happening).

 

I am probably anti shin because like you I got fed up with the arrogance displayed by those in power I came here during the shin years 10 yeas ago or so. So i saw them being arrogant first and now i see the same from the junta. Had I come when the junta came to power I would probably been anti junta. But the fact is I am anti corruption and whoever is in power because they are all so arrogant and corrupt. 

 

Yes making goverment purchases open to public view would help a lot, we still don't know anything about the speedguns. Such a damm shame because if we know the make and model we know the going rate. (sure it can be higher here because of taxes on imports  but at least we could get a clearer view)

[Ossy]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

I put anti goverment post here.. whoever is in power is arrogant, YL with her rice program and no corruption threatening democrats with jail for having stolen rotten rice. Now this general with his speedmeter (and no I don't know what is happening).

 

I am probably anti shin because like you I got fed up with the arrogance displayed by those in power I came here during the shin years 10 yeas ago or so. So i saw them being arrogant first and now i see the same from the junta. Had I come when the junta came to power I would probably been anti junta. But the fact is I am anti corruption and whoever is in power because they are all so arrogant and corrupt. 

 

Yes making goverment purchases open to public view would help a lot, we still don't know anything about the speedguns. Such a damm shame because if we know the make and model we know the going rate. (sure it can be higher here because of taxes on imports  but at least we could get a clearer view)

Re the speed-guns, with an indicated spend - it seemed more like a boasted, one-finger raised, spend, when the spokesman responded to the earlier overspend allegations - of 860 x 900,000 = 774M B; the traffic-grade unit - via a US online supplier - that I googled, as link below, when this issue first surfaced cost 26,000 B and represents the high end of the range, so as to get a fair comparison with whatever the Interior Ministry had up its sleeve.

Break this down into a reasonable 'should spend' figure, i.e. 860 x 26,000 = 22.26M B and you're left wondering where the remaining 751.74M bahts are going . . . that's 3/4 of a flaming billion bahhhhts. Surely there must be some watchdog, be it The Nation or the Bangkok Times, that can ask pretty pointed Q's as to where this cash is going . . . or, more relevantly, into whose pockets is it going. And I'll bet that P1 and P2 have fat enough fingers in this little pie to not want it removed from the oven. It stinks.

 

https://www.radargunsales.com/product/traffic-enforcement-police-radar-guns/phantom-hand-held-radar-gun-2/

 

[robblok]

29 minutes ago, Ossy said:

Re the speed-guns, with an indicated spend - it seemed more like a boasted, one-finger raised, spend, when the spokesman responded to the earlier overspend allegations - of 860 x 900,000 = 774M B; the traffic-grade unit - via a US online supplier - that I googled, as link below, when this issue first surfaced cost 26,000 B and represents the high end of the range, so as to get a fair comparison with whatever the Interior Ministry had up its sleeve.

Break this down into a reasonable 'should spend' figure, i.e. 860 x 26,000 = 22.26M B and you're left wondering where the remaining 751.74M bahts are going . . . that's 3/4 of a flaming billion bahhhhts. Surely there must be some watchdog, be it The Nation or the Bangkok Times, that can ask pretty pointed Q's as to where this cash is going . . . or, more relevantly, into whose pockets is it going. And I'll bet that P1 and P2 have fat enough fingers in this little pie to not want it removed from the oven. It stinks.

 

https://www.radargunsales.com/product/traffic-enforcement-police-radar-guns/phantom-hand-held-radar-gun-2/

 

Sorry but those radar guns from the US don't look like much. Without knowing exactly what they are buying (seen on other websites complete with the ability to take pictures) we wont know for sure. Also we have to factor in tax (could be 100%). 

 

I think that guy who said the going price is 136K would know more then we do and he is a known anti corruption crusader so i take his word for it. But it would have been nice to know more details. I am sure this guy has more details then we do. 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, robblok said:

Now this general with his

.... Article 44 used to (a quick list of examples) ignore organic elections laws, bypass purchasing laws and regulations, bypass environmental laws and regulations, remove government personnel and elected officials without due process of law. This isn't leadership conducive to inroads against corruption.