PM leaves door open for military-backed party

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

 

Seeks more time to lift political ban but promises to extend preparation time for next election

 

PRIME MINISTER GENERAL Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday refused to rule out the formation of a political party by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ahead of the general election currently set for next November.

 

“I’m not thinking about [setting up a party] now but I’ll see how the situation is in the future. There is a year to think about it,” Prayut said after the weekly Cabinet meeting.

 

Speculation has arisen that the junta might retain power since Prayut clarified the timeline for an election and his Cabinet approaches its fourth shake-up, possibly to prepare for the political arena heating up during the election period.

 

However, the NCPO has maintained its ban against political gatherings of five or more people as well as political activities, which has hindered parties from carrying out authorised activity since the 2014 coup.

 

Politicians have criticised the relevant NCPO order No 57/2014, which prevents them from preparing for the election in line with the timeline stipulated by the new political party bill. Failing to do so could disqualify them from contesting the next election.

 

However, Prayut yesterday promised that he would use his “absolute power”, in reference to Article 44 of the interim Constitution, to extend the preparatory time for parties if necessary. 

 

Article 141 of the political party bill also allows parties to request extensions from the Election Commission registrar, which could grant permission on a case-by-case basis, according to an explanatory paper provided by the NCPO.

 

There were also other factors unrelated to the NCPO, Prayut said, which could affect the designated timeline for the election.

 

“The NCPO concluded this morning that the current situation was not yet settled. The country is still in a period when it should not go through a conflict of any kind,” the paper stated.

 

“The remaining two organic bills involving MP elections and the Senate selection, which are essential, have not yet gone to Parliament; the new Election Commissioners are still being sought and we don’t know when that will be settled. The registrar for political parties also has not yet been appointed.

 

“We ask that the political ‘unlocking’ be delayed longer,” the paper concluded. “But you don’t have to worry. We promised that the election will happen within 150 days after the essential laws are all enacted.”

 

The two bills being drafted by the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) are expected to be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly by the end of the month.

 

Meanwhile, Prayut brushed aside speculation that the NCPO had already organised a nominee party in cooperation with a retired Army major-general, who has set up a “volunteer movement” that is functioning similar to how political parties operate. 

 

Critics have expressed doubt that the movement could be developed as a political party to support Prayut to become the next prime minister and encourage defections by former MPs from other parties.

 

Prayut said he did not personally know Maj-General Songklod Theprat, a former member of the NCPO’s national reform working group, and had no knowledge of his activities.

 

He also said he was not thinking about stealing the political base of the previously dominant Pheu Thai Party. 

“All parties depend on people’s choices. They can choose whatever they want, as long as it does not cause a stir,” he said.

 

Regarding rampant speculation about a fourth Cabinet reshuffle, Prayut said there would not be quotas for the military or civilian officials. 

 

“But I don’t want anyone to be biased against military officers. Who did all the work when we didn’t have a post-coup Cabinet yet?” he asked rhetorically. “Why would you hate the military that much?”

 

Meanwhile, Meechai Ruchupan, head of the CDC and a member of the NCPO, said members of the so-called “five rivers of power” had the right to found a political party, but denied any knowledge that they would do so. The “five rivers” refers to the five dominant bodies in the current junta-led government.

 

Establishing a political party was a political right for everyone, he added. Members of the “rivers of power”, however, are barred from contesting elections unless they resigned from their post within 90 days after the recent charter went into effect, according to the Constitution.

 

Meechai said he did not know if anyone would attempt to pull the strings behind the scenes, but warned that such actions were unconstitutional and punishable by a political ban and the dissolution of a party. 

 

He added that he did not think it was necessary to found a party to keep the political balance after the coup regime steps down. 

 

Responding to speculation that a military-backed party could protect current government leaders from retaliation after the election, Meechai said such vengeful acts would be difficult unless the junta-backed government had actually committed wrongdoing.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30331072

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-07

So no gatherings of more than 5 people at all, but the NCPO meets weekly and is readying itself to be a political party. I'll guess there is somewhat more than 5 members of the NCPO.

Prayut tours the nation like he is on a presidential campaign and gets to address the nation on tv every Friday in what now seems like a party political broadcast. 

Forget any notion that whenever there is an election that it will be free and fair.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Responding to speculation that a military-backed party could protect current government leaders from retaliation after the election, Meechai said such vengeful acts would be difficult unless the junta-backed government had actually committed wrongdoing.

 

Er...Ahem... Aren't military coups illegal? Don't they constitute "wrongdoing"?

 

Just askin'

Love the way he repeatedly states people have choice so long as I agree that it's OK. 

It's a done deal. 

 

The new boss is going to be the same as the old boss

Hail the Boss

Is anyone really surprised at this development?  It should be obvious by now that narcissistic Little P has never had any plans to release his iron grip on the former Land of Smiles and the glory of being Fearless Leader.  It's merely smoke and mirrors to appease foreign anti-junta governments.  Little P ain't goin' nowhere folks.  Better get used to it.

They and he do not know what they are doing from one minute to the next.  If he allows political debate, his junta will be part of it, and he does not hand criticism well. 

This was well expected... He will never leave the power, except if forced to do it. Little man with huge ego who loves the taste of power and money, enjoy it until will be tired of you.

50 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Is anyone really surprised at this development?  It should be obvious by now that narcissistic Little P has never had any plans to release his iron grip on the former Land of Smiles and the glory of being Fearless Leader.  It's merely smoke and mirrors to appease foreign anti-junta governments.  Little P ain't goin' nowhere folks.  Better get used to it.

The best place for him to go is straight to Hell.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“The NCPO concluded this morning that the current situation was not yet settled. The country is still in a period when it should not go through a conflict of any kind,” the paper stated.

Good news .....  sounds like the Junta will rule for some years yet. 

57 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Is anyone really surprised at this development?  It should be obvious by now that narcissistic Little P has never had any plans to release his iron grip on the former Land of Smiles and the glory of being Fearless Leader.  It's merely smoke and mirrors to appease foreign anti-junta governments.  Little P ain't goin' nowhere folks.  Better get used to it.

Lets hope so .....  

Maybe a good time for the nayers to consider a move !!  just sayin ...    Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos ..  ???

 

i LOVE THAILAND

Be so funny if he formed a party that was then overthrown in a coup 

The spontaneous coup to protect the nation was in the planning stage for some months befotre it actually came to fruition.

 

If there are odds being offered on a "military" party with you know who continuing in power then they are likely to be well odds on. With the continued denials rest assured the planning is well under way, but nothing less than most had anticipated. Expect an official announcement just after limited political campaigning is given the green light.

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Lets hope so .....  

Hello again Prayut!  It must be you, Little P, as no other farang in LOS is pro-junta.  You better stop drinking the junta Kool Aid pal as people are going to think you're a freakin' idiot... and no expats would argue that point.

5 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Hello again Prayut!  It must be you, Little P, as no other farang in LOS is pro-junta.  You better stop drinking the junta Kool Aid pal as people are going to think you're a freakin' idiot... and no expats would argue that point.

It's way better than it was 4 years ago ....

Edited November 8, 20178 yr by steven100

Can he win an election. I don't so. Every time he opens his mouth he loses another voter.

Give political parties time to run a campaign and all they do is mess up. It is now more important to rubbish the opposition rather than tell the country what your ideas and plans are.

This has proven for the last 10 years to no longer work.

So he is doing other parties a favour by limiting the amount of  time they can campaign for, also he wont allow them to criticise him. So its a double whammy.

He doesn't stand a chance.

 

 

1." The people can choose whoever they want as long as it doesn't cause a stir. "

 

He decides what constitutes a stir, and he decides who deals with it.

 

2. I am sure that in most similar sized countries (UK, France) all the serving and recently retired Generals know each other. Mind you we don't have several thousand of them!

[emoji4]

 

3. Who did all the work when there was no cabinet "post coup"?

 

Umh, there was no cabinet "post coup" to do any work because you staged a coup and kicked them out...

 

4. What was the point of Meechai and all his committees, deliberations, the referendum, organic laws and so on if he can just use Article 44 to change the rules to suit?

 

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

43 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Good news .....  sounds like the Junta will rule for some years yet. 

How is the blindingly obvious "news"? Nobody seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it, so it has always just been an issue of which guise these grotty little people would continue under.

"promises to extend preparation time for next election" ....The only way to extend preparation time would be if the election date was postponed. What a surprise.  

57 minutes ago, berybert said:

Can he win an election. I don't so. Every time he opens his mouth he loses another voter.

Give political parties time to run a campaign and all they do is mess up. It is now more important to rubbish the opposition rather than tell the country what your ideas and plans are.

This has proven for the last 10 years to no longer work.

So he is doing other parties a favour by limiting the amount of  time they can campaign for, also he wont allow them to criticise him. So its a double whammy.

He doesn't stand a chance.

You are assuming it will be a fair election???

 

I wouldnt be rushing to the bookies to bet against the military regime!!

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

Maybe a good time for the nayers to consider a move !!  just sayin ...    Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos ..  ???

 

i LOVE THAILAND

Steven, Steven, Steven. I thought we agreed you should desist from suggesting that people who detest your little junta should just move. Do you remember why, Steven? Do you?

Let me remind you;

When I asked you why you didn't move during the Shin administrations you said that was because of your significant investments in Thailand. When I suggested to you the earth shattering idea that you're not alone in this situation you promptly went quiet so I naively enough thought you got it. Apparently not.

So let me spell it out to you my slow, little friend;

Many people have invested heavily in Thailand and a move would be extremely difficult and costly. Besides, we know that the present bunch of low lives in the junta won't be here forever so better times they are coming - it's just a matter of time.

 

Now, was that clear enough for you, Steven? If you need further clarification do not hesitate to let me know!

Edited November 8, 20178 yr by Becker

Off course he does.

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

It's way better than it was 4 years ago ....

Come and live in our village, or any village for that matter, the local economy is in it's knees and lives are slowly but surely being destroyed.

Heil Prayut...... He obviously wants to stick around and accomplish his 20 year plan to transform Thailand....

 

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

“All parties depend on people’s choices. They can choose whatever they want, as long as it does not cause a stir,”

Love it

Good luck with that. If the current crop of cabinetees are anything to go by, the military-backed party will be more akin to a military-sponsored junket.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Regarding rampant speculation about a fourth Cabinet reshuffle, Prayut said there would not be quotas for the military or civilian officials. 

“But I don’t want anyone to be biased against military officers. Who did all the work when we didn’t have a post-coup Cabinet yet?” he asked rhetorically. “Why would you hate the military that much?”

No quotas . . . that's for sure. We know that the military will get first nod. The way that this twerp can lie to a reporter's face just makes me want to throw-up and further proves the farang view that Thais, large or small, simply don't understand the ethic of telling the truth. And, as for his 'joke' about post-coup performance, maybe that'll come back to bite him on the bum before long . . . when he's forced into a fifth cabinet reshuffle on realising the difference between brawn and brains.

5 hours ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Is anyone really surprised at this development?  It should be obvious by now that narcissistic Little P has never had any plans to release his iron grip on the former Land of Smiles and the glory of being Fearless Leader.  It's merely smoke and mirrors to appease foreign anti-junta governments.  Little P ain't goin' nowhere folks.  Better get used to it.

 

I don't disagree with your sentiments. But "iron grip" - they can't even control the price of lottery tickets, make taxi drivers follow the law and pick up all passengers, and sort the deck chairs out on the beaches.

 

Hardly gotta grip!