Thai junta says it will lift ban on politics, paving way for election

[webfact]

Thai junta says it will lift ban on politics, paving way for election

By Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha attends the opening session of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, November 13, 2017. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday he would use a special order that gives the military sweeping powers to lift a ban on political activity that has been in place since a 2014 coup, paving the way for a 2018 general election.

 

Major political parties had urged the government for months to lift the ban to allow parties to prepare for the vote and the announcement won some applause from government critics.

 

Prayuth, who is also head of the junta, has said that Thailand will hold an election in November 2018 - news that was largely welcomed by investors in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.

 

"The government will have to use Article 44 to solve this problem (political activity deadlock)," Prayuth told reporters, referring to a constitutional clause that grants the military absolute powers.

 

Prayuth did not say when the order would take effect.

 

According to the usual procedure, executive orders must be published in the Royal Gazette before they can become law.

 

Thanawut Wichaidit, spokesman for the red-shirt United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship which opposes military rule and has made statements critical of the junta, said the announcement was "the first step for elections and democracy".

 

"It's definitely a good thing," he said, adding that the junta should also lift a ban on public gatherings.

 

The military has been running Thailand since the May 2014 coup when it ousted the civilian government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, ending years of political turmoil, including pro- and anti-government street protests.

 

A coup in 2006 ousted Yingluck's brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose supporters have dominated the polls since 2001.

 

The 2014 coup saw some Western countries downgrade ties with Bangkok. Earlier this month, the European Union said it would resume political contact "at all levels" with Thailand after putting relations on hold.

 

That announcement came after Prayuth said in October that a general election would he held next November.

 

(Reporting by Aukkarapong Niyomyat; Additional reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Suphanida Thakral; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-19

[darksidedog]

I would have liked to see a date given, though when it does happen it will be most welcome news. I am still somewhat dubious that all will be allowed to be free, fair and a level playing field though.

[webfact]

PM to extend deadline for parties to update membership lists

By The Nation

 

 

The junta chief will exercise his absolute power under Article 44 to extend the deadline for political parties to proceed with their administrative work, including updating their party member lists, despite the fact that the ban on political activities remains.

 

The decision was made at the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) meeting chaired by its chief, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, on Tuesday.

 

The Act came into effect in early October and it set a deadline for political parties to update their lists of party members to the Election Commission within 90 days after promulgation – or January 5 next year.

 

But the parties have not been able to follow the law because of the junta’s order to ban any political activities has remained in force since 2014.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30334307

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-19

[Eric Loh]

A neat diversion needed from watchgate. Junta hoping this will take away the daily reporting of the scandal and more expensive watch and rings unraveled. 

[sammieuk1]

Sweeping powers lifting carpets problems gone everything spick and span. 

[DM07]

All talk- no substance!

[robblok]

10 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

A neat diversion needed from watchgate. Junta hoping this will take away the daily reporting of the scandal and more expensive watch and rings unraveled. 

Lets hope that is not the case, but we know in what country we live. I still need to know about Jentrop who killed those students with his car. Its been quiet about that too. The media here forgets things too fast.

[Jeremy50]

Well that's awfully nice of him, considering he forced his way in with a gun. Hopefully it's the last we will see of  military junta dictatorship  for a few years.

[stephen tracy]

"The government will have to use Article 44 to solve this problem"... isn't the "government" the reason for the "problem" in the first place? What a daft statement. However, I now expect nothing less from Prayuth than verbal excrement of the highest quality. 

[SABloke]

"The government will have to use Article 44 to solve this problem (political activity deadlock)"

 

Article 44 caused the problem in the first place you kunt.

Edited December 19, 2017 by SABloke

[Oziex1]

Sadly I see only subterfuge from these bullying numpties, to stay in power. 

 

Up 2 U Thai people.

[kotsak]

I'll believe it when I see it..

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, Jeremy50 said:

Well that's awfully nice of him, considering he forced his way in with a gun. Hopefully it's the last we will see of  military junta dictatorship  for a few years.

Yes, the next overthrow may not be the military, it might be for real - not a Clayton's event. 

[saakura]

2 hours ago, robblok said:

Lets hope that is not the case, but we know in what country we live. I still need to know about Jentrop who killed those students with his car. Its been quiet about that too. The media here forgets things too fast.

Maybe he was pardoned under 44 and reporting the problem was banned by 44 ?

[Emster23]

"... updating their party member lists, despite the fact that the ban on political activities remains."

I would assume that being a member of a political party would qualify as a political activity. Maybe I am just dense.

Hand in the list (hopefully with addresses) and make job easier for junta to round them all up for some of that re-education that was so popular.

Kudos to the junta in finally realizing elections can sometimes have a political aspect

[wow64]

Nice watch

 

[MaxLee]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai junta says it will lift ban on politics, paving way for election

 

Juuuuuuust kidding 

[spidermike007]

The little man is desperately clinging to power. Perhaps he realizes this is the last hurrah for the army. Since they no longer have the backing of someone with moral authority, this will probably be the last peaceful coup in Thai history. But really, why the need for elections? The great and benevolent leader has already insured happiness. He is lowering unemployment. He is growing the economy. He is increasing tourism revenue. He is increasing exports. He is abiding by all of the terms of the ASEAN charters he signed, and allowing the duty free importation of all beer throughout ASEAN. They are on all of the supermarket shelves as we speak. We are not longer subject to the very low quality local beers. He is making visa policy easy, simple and streamlined, and all tourists are very happy about that. He is improving traffic and public safety. Corruption is being eliminated, and innocent fall guys are no longer getting charged for murder, and being put to death. The taxi mafia on Samui and Phuket have been eliminated, and tourists can now get a taxi at a fair price. Life is better for all now that this great man is demonstrating his genius and vision on a daily basis. All he cares about is the welfare of his own people, and the happiness of both tourists and the ex-pat community. He contemplates this day and night. 

[Bob12345]

On 12/19/2017 at 3:59 PM, robblok said:

Lets hope that is not the case, but we know in what country we live. I still need to know about Jentrop who killed those students with his car. Its been quiet about that too. The media here forgets things too fast.

It would be interesting if one of the media outlets here in Thailand would dedicate a part of their website to cases like these and the follow up.

Just have a page with a description of what happened, some links to the newspaper articles covering it, and a big clock ticking how long it has been that judgement has been postponed.

 

And whenever the court comes to a verdict, add that to the bottom of the page with a small list of comparisons to other crimes of the normal people and the hi-so's.

[connda]

Well, until another 'cache of weapons' or and 'threat to Thai national security' is uncovered.  Then back to the excuses.

[chama]

There are always at lease two shoes...wait for the second one to drop before getting too comfortable with the date.

[johnarth]

let's not forget he promised Trump he was working to have elections, have to make some noise in that direction every now and again