Public can reply to Prayut’s 6 questions in person starting on Monday

[rooster59]

Public can reply to Prayut’s 6 questions in person starting on Monday

By THE NATION

 

File Photo: Prayut

 

FROM MONDAY on, people of Bangkok will be able to answer PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s six questions at Damrongdhamma centre at the Interior Ministry and 50 district offices across the province.

 

The structure of the questionnaire requires that respondents physically show up at the centres, verifying themselves with national identification cards, and then write down their answers on forms, said Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda yesterday.

 

The pattern would follow much of the earlier “four questions” also previously launched by Prayut in which he claimed he was seeking the public’s thoughts about politicians and elections in light of next year’s general election.

 

The questions, however, have been slammed for being inaccurate in reflecting public opinion due to their unscientific methodology, and for having an underlying agenda of self-justification for the junta.

 

Former deputy PM Chaturon Chaisang said that the questions could be interpreted as hinting that the ruling junta wants to stay in power past the next election, through giving their support to a political party that would form a junta-backed government.

 

“From charter drafting, [to] holding a referendum to curbing political powers, Prayut’s bloc has done them all to achieve their goal,” Chaturon said in his Facebook status on Thursday.

 

“The only reason why he would have to launch such questions would probably be to ensure that they will gain public supports to carry on their plan, given that their administration performance isn’t satisfactory and their popularity declines,” the Pheu Thai Party’s key figure wrote.

 

 One of the six questions asks if it the junta or the PM himself could support any party given that Prayut won’t compete in the election. Chaturon responded that this would be an abuse of power as state officers must remain politically neutral and not use their authority for their political benefit.

 

While the questions ask whether the election of “old-faced politicians” would be good for the country, the NCPO still maintains its political ban of five or more people, thus creating a barrier to new political faces emerging, he went on.

 

The questions also tend to justify the junta’s performance on combating corruption as well as following its draft national reform and strategy scheme.

 

“Any government will have to carry on [the reforms and strategies] by constitutional and legal mechanisms,” Chaturon said. “These functions should not be up to any specific group, without a check-and-balance system, like what the NCPO is now doing.”

 

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that he would next week discuss holding local elections with the Interior Ministry and the Constitution Drafting Commission next week.

 

However, as the NCPO order still hinders political activities, Wissanu said that the discussion would focus on amending related laws to support those elections.

 

“Voting in some local areas might need to be done after the general election,” the deputy said. “And to prevent conflicts, political bans may not be ‘unlocked’ in all areas simultaneously. We will have to see after the laws are amended.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30331344

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-11

[stephen tracy]

"The structure of the questionnaire requires that respondents physically show up at the centres, verifying themselves with national identification cards, and then write down their answers on forms"... right, so anyone that would respond in a way deemed negative by the regime will obviously not show up. Well done Prayut!  In short, we'll have a load of junta sycophants telling the man-child lunatic exactly what he wants to hear, which he can then go an boast about on Fridays, while playing down the fact the number of  respondents will be so comparatively few in terms of the population of Thailand that the whole thing is irrelevant. 

[Jip99]

The same dissenters with no balls would willingly show their faces at a group ‘gathering’ for 500 Baht.

[stephen tracy]

3 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

The same dissenters with no balls would willingly show their faces at a group ‘gathering’ for 500 Baht.

Giving a response deemed "bad" by Prayut does not make one a red-shirt.  No one who is opposed to these clowns would be dumb enough to show up with their IDs.

[Jip99]

5 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

Giving a response deemed "bad" by Prayut does not make one a red-shirt.  No one who is opposed to these clowns would be dumb enough to show up with their IDs.

 

 

Oh, I think they could clearly be dumb enough.

[Cadbury]

From the photo with the palm open and the solemn look I think he is saying.................trust me!

The body language of PM Prayut with his open palm of the hand communicates honesty, acceptance and openness. The message clearly is that people should hold no fear in coming forward to answer his questions and providing their ID.

 

Many well know leaders use this technique of the open palm to show they hold no weapons and can be trusted.

[rkidlad]

Best thing for the public to do is to write down “No more talking. We want elections as promised”.

 

Where is this all going? Even if the respondents answer with exactly what he wants to hear. Then what? 

 

 

[coulson]

The rubber farmers will be in town with their whistles, perfect timing.

[BigBadGeordie]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

“Voting in some local areas might need to be done after the general election,” the deputy said. “And to prevent conflicts, political bans may not be ‘unlocked’ in all areas simultaneously. We will have to see after the laws are amended.”

For me this is the most interesting point in the whole article.

It appears that instead of universal suffrage rights will be selectively applied.

The criteria for this and indeed the justifacation for this action would be based on what exactly? The realist in me, however, has a good idea as to what that would be.

[trainman34014]

Step this way Sir, kneel down and put your head on this block.  Here is a pen and paper, remove the basket you see in front of you and write your answers then replace the basket and remain in position until you hear someone tell you to stand up....or you don't hear anything at all !

[Eric Loh]

12 hours ago, Jip99 said:

The same dissenters with no balls would willingly show their faces at a group ‘gathering’ for 500 Baht.

For 500 baht, you have a choice of rubber farmer or a navy seal. 

[wakeupplease]

More twists and turns must have been studying his pet

[tracker1]

Great to see democratic and anonymous questionaire if only ! I suppose it is one way to get the result you want !

[gk10002000]

The questions really are loaded with slants or elements of fallacious reasoning.  The junta is following the playbook to the letter. He aint going anywhere, at least not functionally.  Still amazing to see things like this in such a connected world

[Oziex1]

So at the end of the day when no one shows up to question him,  it will be acknowledged the people agree with me and all is good.