Thailand on Track to End Military Rule in November 2018 Election

By Natnicha Chuwiruch and Sunil Jagtiani

 

-- Top minister says curbs on political parties to be eased soon

-- Some analysts predict return to democracy could be delayed

 

Thailand said it remains on course for elections next year and that curbs on political parties will soon be eased, as pressure mounts on the military government to roll back restrictions on campaigning.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said last month a vote will be held in November 2018, though analysts are concerned the military will seek to retain power. Suvit Maesincee, the minister attached to Prayuth’s office, said the groundwork is being undertaken to stick to the timeline.

 

"Democracy or democratization is the next step for Thailand," Suvit, 56, said in an interview in Bangkok on Nov. 10 . "They’re still working on supporting election laws, but I think everything is on track for November."

 

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-15/thailand-on-track-for-november-2018-election-top-minister-says

 

-- Bloomberg 2017-11-15

If Thailand's past record is anything to go by then, we will have elections in 2019 and the next coup should be due sometime in the following five years. That seems to have been the cycle since 1932 anyway, and Thailand doesn't seem to embrace change easily.

After the so-called "elections" are over, you're still going to have a military run government, with the Senate stacked with a military majority, and an "un-elected P.M." clause, which will bring in the same so-called "PM" they have now.  And he will stay until the next coup in 3-5 years.  

Wash, rinse, repeat. 

 

Thailand on track to end military rule in november 2018

Please stop with headlines like this, i almost spilled my coffee on my computer, because i could not stop laughing.

Meanwhile Minister Pinocchio's nose got stuck in a 800 m deep drill hole and touched the bottom.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand on Track to End Military Rule in November 2018 Election

another juuuuuuust kidding incoming   

But if you don't vote how they want it they will coup in December.

If there is any such election in November 2018 it will be a manipulated event where Prayut Chan-o-Cha legitimises himself as a "democratically" elected leader. The Thai populace will just have to suck it up.

59 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

If there is any such election in November 2018 it will be a manipulated event where Prayut Chan-o-Cha legitimises himself as a "democratically" elected leader. The Thai populace will just have to suck it up.

The democratic soldier that carried out the coup. 

 

If they do not lift the band on debate, they are not on track for anything that resembles a representative government. Just a lot of flapping of the gums. 

7 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

After the so-called "elections" are over, you're still going to have a military run government, with the Senate stacked with a military majority, and an "un-elected P.M." clause, which will bring in the same so-called "PM" they have now.  And he will stay until the next coup in 3-5 years.  

Wash, rinse, repeat. 

 

Yep, half of the Senate isn't even elected, appointed by their peers, W T F ever  that means  in a Democracy , and if Prayut doesn't like the out come there's always that old faithfull , section 44.

Thailand on track to end military rule in November 2018 and start the P dynasty on December the 1st 2018

Sounds more like it

Looking forward to seeing what they can come up with. Hopefully some sort of partial democratic representation so that the will of the people can be reflected in some way, but without the chance of complete takeover by corrupt business men who want to sell Thailand off to the highest bidder or fund their election by bankrupting the economy.

 

People expect too much too fast. You can't have democracy before you have a country that is compatible with democracy. All that brings is Thaksin style rule and politicians entering office as millionaires and leaving as billionaires. You can't just keep giving money out to buy votes indefinately. Need to prevent Rice Scheme 2.0.

Edited November 15, 20178 yr by BangkokReady

.......with a caretaker military government 

47 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Looking forward to seeing what they can come up with. Hopefully some sort of partial democratic representation so that the will of the people can be reflected in some way, but without the chance of complete takeover by corrupt business men who want to sell Thailand off to the highest bidder or fund their election by bankrupting the economy.

 

People expect too much too fast. You can't have democracy before you have a country that is compatible with democracy. All that brings is Thaksin style rule and politicians entering office as millionaires and leaving as billionaires. You can't just keep giving money out to buy votes indefinately. Need to prevent Rice Scheme 2.0.

...and how do you move towards democracy when the military just barges in and takes over any time it fancies?

Edited November 15, 20178 yr by baboon

1 hour ago, baboon said:

...and how do you move towards democracy when the military just barges in and takes over any time it fancies?

The military has Thailand by the short and curlies. No other way to describe it. They are cleverly programming the way to achieve "military democracy". Sadly the people will have to live with it unless they energise themselves to oppose which I can't see. Asians are genetically designed to be compliant with the system they live within.

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand on Track to End Military Rule in November 2018 Election

This headline is sadly false in the most narrow sense.

Whether that's deliberate by the authors or just ignorance, I expected more accuracy from anything published under the Bloomberg banner.

 

Fact: The NCPO (aka "the military") remains in power under the 2017 Constitution until the elected government is "installed," ie., royally endorsed. As a minimum that would be a month after the Election Commission certifies election results - another month (?

Until then Chief of the NCPO Prayut wields absolute power, ie., to arrest and confine anyone without a warrant, has the right to reject any Cabinet nominees, and the constitutional right (by my interpretation) to defer election results indefinitely if he has a perception of potential "national conflict."

 

As others have pointed out, since 1932 the military has never been out of power - only on occasion just out of plain sight.