Fears of election delay amid law amendment proposals

[webfact]

Fears of election delay amid law amendment proposals

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION 

 

File photo : PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha casts vote in the referendum on the then-charter draft in August last year

 

CRITICS QUESTION WHETHER HIDDEN AGENDA BEHIND NEW PUSH BY REGIME SUPPORTERS

 

DESPITE the junta’s renewed political ties with the European Union, political figures have proposed amendments to the political party law that could affect the election timetable. 

 

As a result, political observers are concerned that the proposed amendment could affect the date of the election, which is set to take place in November next year in line with the junta’s “road map to democracy”.

 

Existing parties are expected to submit their updated membership rosters to an election registrar before January 5. However, several observers have expressed worry that they will not be able to make the deadline as it involves a large number of members, possibly more than a million.

 

The junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people has also prevented parties from holding other activities. 

 

Recently, some political figures had proposed amendments to the law. 

 

Paiboon Nititawan

 

Former junta-appointed reformer Paiboon Nititawan proposed on Monday that the NLA should amend the bill to require parties to re-register all of their members to “create a fair field for all old and new parties”.

 

While new members would have to pay registration fees to parties as required by the bill, existing members that were signed up before the bill’s enactment could maintain their memberships without paying, Paiboon suggested.

 

Paiboon has been involved in setting up a political party with a clear agenda to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to maintain the premiership after the election.

 

Suthep Thaugsuban

 

Suthep Thaugsuban of the now defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) – who initiated demonstrations in late 2013-2014 before the coup – has submitted a letter to the NLA, also proposing amendments to the bill.

 

The letter said the bill should be fixed “in accordance with the country’s situation” and “to bring about fairness and equality for all parties, no matter old or new”. The proposal also supported the continuation of the political ban.

 

Suthep signed the letter as “Secretary-General to the PDRC”. 

 

Political parties, such as Chart Thai Pattana Party and Phalang Chon Party, also voiced concerns that parties could not comply with requirements in time but suggested that registrars or the Election Commission should use their special authority instead of amending the bill.

 

Democrat Party and Chart Thai Pattana Party figures yesterday questioned the agenda behind proposals to amend the bill. 

 

While Democrat deputy leader Sathit Pitudecha urged the junta’s “five rivers of power” to be consistent in legislative and practical actions, Chart Thai Pattana Party adviser Somsak Prissanananthakul called on the junta to be accountable if it fails to follow the promised “road map to democracy”.

 

Sukhum Nuansakul, Ramkham-haeng University’s former rector, said an amendment would only turn the junta into a political target once again for its apparent tendency to postpone the election. “It will ultimately depend on their integrity to hold the election, after all,” he said.

 

Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, a political lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said that an amendment would be acceptable if it is not used as a reason to postpone the election further.

 

“The remaining two organic laws essential for the election are still to be deliberated by the NLA next month. It’s not that they won’t have sufficient time to amend the bill,” Siripan said.

 

She said the amendment should be open to public participation to look into electoral mechanisms, such as the so-called primary voting system, that might obstruct the political party system.

 

NLA member Somchai Sawangkarn said the NLA had taken all proposals into consideration but hinted that the bill amendment could be time consuming. 

 

“But it can’t be said that it will affect the timeline of the election. Everything still follows the road map,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30333985

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-15

[Thechook]

Ho hum, another delay.

[edwinchester]

A road map with just one route that appears to be a dead end.

[newatthis]

"

Suthep Thaugsuban of the now defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) – who initiated demonstrations in late 2013-2014 before the coup – has submitted a letter to the NLA, also proposing amendments to the bill.

 

The letter said the bill should be fixed “in accordance with the country’s situation” and “to bring about fairness and equality for all parties, no matter old or new”. The proposal also supported the continuation of the political ban.

 

Suthep signed the letter as “Secretary-General to the PDRC”. "

 

And I honestly believed that he was going to stay out of politics.

[BigBadGeordie]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

CRITICS QUESTION WHETHER HIDDEN AGENDA BEHIND NEW PUSH BY REGIME SUPPORTERS

Hidden agenda, I believe the intention and agenda is clearly visible.

[AhFarangJa]

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Existing parties are expected to submit their updated membership rosters to an election registrar before January 5.

That's a firm deadline as per the new bills/laws.

To begin now to amend recently new organic laws delegitimizes the legislative process to implement the NCPO roadmap. Prayut can invoke Article 44 to override these laws but gives the same perception. 

To heed Suthep's recommendation to fix the law “in accordance with the country’s situation” and “to bring about fairness and equality for all parties, no matter old or new” is an admission that the NLA and NCPO were negligent not to adequately address such vital political and security aspects.

 

Prayut is trapped by his own political (mis?) maneuvering:

“It will ultimately depend on their integrity to hold the election, after all,” - Sukhum

Somsak is incorrect that the junta will be held accountable if it fails to follow the promised “road map to democracy" because of junta immunity, but an independent pro-military political party or coalition will be held accountable in the elections through votes (assuming open and free elections).

 

Prayut must adhere to the January 5th deadline.

He (or the new EC?) can provide public "clarifications" to maintain the road map; amendments are not necessary. Prayut: "I do not know how to lie. The government must not lie; nobody should lie, irrespective of which side they are on." http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2015/06/transcript-prayuth-chan-ocha-150619102230894.html