More signs of ‘mission creep’ from junta

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

More signs of ‘mission creep’ from junta

By The Nation

 

A move ostensibly to help political parties get organised is more likely to drive their members into the military’s arms

 

The discouraging truth, clear enough now to all, is that the “road map” touted by the ruling junta, the National Council for Peace and Order, does not offer directions towards democracy. There will be an election, almost certainly, but it’s not going to resurrect the form of politics with which Thailand had become acquainted and which it deserves.

 

The junta has in the three years since the 2014 coup focused on consolidating its hold on power, in the process weakening institutions such as political parties that were established to conduct democratic governance.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last week issued an order to amend the Political Party Act, ostensibly to extend deadlines that the parties must heed as they prepare for the coming election. It is a law rubber-stamped by the National Legislative Assembly and sets out a timeline and conditions for the parties in accordance with the junta’s calculations.

 

With the royal transition now completed, the junta no longer has a rationale for clinging to power. But it insists that the ideological fault line remains insecure, so it either ignores or sternly addresses the political parties’ pleas to be allowed to organise for the promised election. We have had a string of confusing and contradictory messages attempting to justify the military’s continued control of the helm.

 

Now, Prayut has decided to extend specific deadlines rather than exercise his absolute power to end the ban on political activities so that politicians and the voting public can get ready. It is a covert way of giving his own supporters time to organise a party structure that will support him if needed in the Lower House in the future. Evidently there is fear that the junta’s 250 handpicked senators enshrined in the charter it promulgated might not be quite enough.

 

Prayut said his latest order was designed to facilitate the parties. It requires members of existing parties to formally submit membership verification. The process will be no different than resetting all of the parties’ memberships. The order says members should be subject to no stipulations regarding disqualification, as per the Political Party Act. This means a hefty amount of verification paperwork, a complicated and difficult procedure that will have many members casting their eyes instead to other parties to escape the requirement. What Prayut is in effect doing is encouraging politicians to flock to his camp.

 

Senior politicians have said the move weakens existing parties in other regards. They will not, for example, have enough time to formulate policy before the election. Since Prayut’s own political platform is unpopular, he doesn’t want rivals challenging him.

 

Meanwhile, extending deadlines automatically delays the election, which was expected next November. It is now unlikely to occur before 2019. That raises a further complication, since Thailand is that year due to take its turn chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which will command much of the government’s attention throughout the year. Trading places with another member-country would be unprecedented, so Prayut will have another excuse to remain as premier  in the difficult change of Asean helm.

 

Apart from democratic rights being kept on ice, the main problem with the junta’s perpetuation of its rule is that the generals are professionally unqualified to run the country and causing us long-term damage. We must end this rule now, and also reject Prayut’s vision of a military-backed authoritarian regime in any form.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30334804

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-26

[canuckamuck]

Clear and concise, good article.

[Rhys]

All the best in 2018

 

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Now, Prayut has decided to extend specific deadlines rather than exercise his absolute power to end the ban on political activities so that politicians and the voting public can get ready. It is a covert way of giving his own supporters time to organise a party structure that will support him if needed in the Lower House in the future. Evidently there is fear that the junta’s 250 handpicked senators enshrined in the charter it promulgated might not be quite enough.

Kudos to the Nation for another good editorial.

 

In my view, the issue on the table is legitimacy. Or rather, Legitimacy.

 

The Junta, for reasons of respect and 'face', desperately want to achieve some kind of legitimacy for their rule; should they not receive some kind of legitimization, they will always be simply coup-makers and therefore not respectable. The ironic thing is the only people who can give them a legitimate legitimacy are the political parties through their participation in an electoral process.

 

NB: there are members who will say, quite correctly, that the Junta can retain power through the support of the appointed Senate. This is true in a legal sense, but fails the 'legitimacy' test (in my view).

 

The political parties (most or all of them) need to deny the Junta any kind of legitimization if they are serious about Thailand attaining the status of a Democratic country one day. The Junta may retain power, but without legitimacy it doesn't matter in the long run.

 

I believe that the next few weeks are going to be vital and precedent-setting in Thai politics for a long time to come. If the parties are serious about striving for a 'democratic' future (in whatever form), then they need to make clear to most/all of the Thai population that they will not condone a 'rigged' election.

 

If they acquiesce and go along with the Junta's ever-changing rule-book, they will lose whatever moral basis they have and the fight is over before it begins. The battle is now; if the parties allow the Junta to alter/change the rules at whim and go along with it, they are toast.

 

It is decision time for the parties.

 

Interesting times...

 

[AGareth2]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

We must end this rule now, and also reject Prayut’s vision of a military-backed authoritarian regime in any form

sedition

[JAG]

Interesting point, which I hadn't known about: if the election cannot be completed by November, then Thailand will be chairing ASEAN in 2019. Then of course there can be no change of government in 2019...

 

How frightfully inconvenient!

 

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

[12DrinkMore]

If the "creep" continues, how much longer before articles like that are banned?

 

[12DrinkMore]

7 minutes ago, JAG said:

Interesting point, which I hadn't known about: if the election cannot be completed by November, then Thailand will be chairing ASEAN in 2019. Then of course there can be no change of government in 2019...
 

 

The man, "who had power unwillingly thrust upon him" will be looking forward to that high profile job.

 

No elections until earliest late 2020 or 2021.

[JAG]

 
The man, "who had power unwillingly thrust upon him" will be looking forward to that high profile job.
 
No elections until earliest late 2020 or 2021.

One can't help but empathise.

There he is, making sterling efforts to return happiness to the people, as only a democratic soldier can, and events continually conspire to thwart him...

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Juan B Tong]

The Shogun will not relinquish power.

[greenchair]

I just don't why they keep talking about all these not laws. 

The law said they had until January 5 to register their parties and start to prepare for elections. 

Now that has changed to some parties can register in march and some can register in April. Before any rule of law can be upheld or any meaningful  discussion about elections and election law can even be considered, the one law that continues to invalidate all laws must go. 

Section 44.

 

[nong38]

25 minutes ago, JAG said:

Interesting point, which I hadn't known about: if the election cannot be completed by November, then Thailand will be chairing ASEAN in 2019. Then of course there can be no change of government in 2019...

 

How frightfully inconvenient!

 

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

I hope the ASEAN members understand Thai because I doubt the good General has much English understanding and I think English in the chosen language of ASEAN.

 

The article is a good and brave one and highlights the on going problems that this country has with defining democracy. The PM should put his feet up and retire and after that the military should be confined to barracks, but with this wonderful "44" always in the background things will be very difficult on the political front for anyone who seeks power but is not yet in it.

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Clear and concise, good article.

Yeah but it is far too late.  You and every other TV poster has already said this over and over again years before.  It was fait accompli years ago.

[Eric Loh]

A good honest article but I differ on few assumptions. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A move ostensibly to help political parties get organised is more likely to drive their members into the military’s arms

The party that fear the most from likely exodus of members into other parties that are friendly to the military is the Dem Party. By virtue of their large membership of 2.8 million, some disgruntled members who are frustrated with their party inability to mount a serious challenge legitimately in previous elections will be disillusioned and their loyalty can't be assured. Then you have the members from Surat Thani and Nakorn Si-Thammarat which are more loyal to the Thausuban's clan and will join them in a new party. 

 

The south party members may also be questionable in their loyalty. They have voted against the charter and have suffered economic hardship and may felt hard done by their heavy involvement in setting the scene for the coup. They will be up for grabs; not necessary pro-military parties but even PTP. 

 

Meanwhile, PTP seem more secured with much lesser members and a fierce resentment of the military after all the bashing and extra judiciary detention of their leaders. Even Bhumjaithai Party may be cautious to be pro-military as they may hit by a backlash like in previous election. Chartthaipattana is more a provincial and members have been loyal to Silpa-archa's clan and not likely to change loyalty. 

 

Sweet karma to see the Dem Party who turned their back on democracy twice and make the fatal decision to work with the military now faces their toughest challenge to stay party intact. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, extending deadlines automatically delays the election, which was expected next November. It is now unlikely to occur before 2019. That raises a further complication, since Thailand is that year due to take its turn chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which will command much of the government’s attention throughout the year. Trading places with another member-country would be unprecedented, so Prayut will have another excuse to remain as premier  in the difficult change of Asean helm.

ASEAN has always adopted a none interference policy of domestic politics and they will work with any government at the transition period whether elected or otherwise. Don't see that as a problem nor should not be an excuse.

[Ulic]

The only question I have is, are any of these parties even remotely honest. Are any of

the political parties any more honest than the others or just same, same, and same.

I don't really think it matters. May as well leave the status quo as there has been no

fighting and rioting the past few years. 

[Eric Loh]

5 minutes ago, Ulic said:

The only question I have is, are any of these parties even remotely honest. Are any of

the political parties any more honest than the others or just same, same, and same.

I don't really think it matters. May as well leave the status quo as there has been no

fighting and rioting the past few years. 

There will be fighting and rioting if the current status quo is keep too long. 

[Enoon]

9 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 The ironic thing is the only people who can give them a legitimate legitimacy are the political parties through their participation in an electoral process.

 

 

 

 

The Military do not derive, or seek, their legitimacy from political parties.

 

Do you seriously not know from where it, such as it is, comes from?

 

 

 

[Enoon]

5 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

There will be fighting and rioting if the current status quo is keep too long. 

 

Quite right Eric.

 

But they have a taste for absolute power now. 

 

They are drunk with it.

 

They are incapable of making the decision to give it up.

 

 

[nong38]

In the UK there is a political party based in Newton Abbot called "Monster Raving Looney Party" it has some rather bizarre policies and right rum ideas, it was formed by 1960's musician called Screaming Lord Such and puts up candidates in the elections with like Oink a Lot, Von Thunderclap, Howling Lord Hope and the like. Its a joke party, they dont expect to win, but, they put up their deposit to stand and if they dont get 10% of the vote they lose their deposit.

There are some similarities with the political scene here, although the difference here is that they are, have been or expect to be in power in the future!

 

The Official Raving Looney Party have a few members but they rely on convincing voters to vote for them, they dont have to register or compile members lists, they just hand the deposit over to the local returning officer and they on the ballot paper, it would be nice if it were as simple as that here dont you think?

[Eric Loh]

16 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

Quite right Eric.

 

But they have a taste for absolute power now. 

 

They are drunk with it.

 

They are incapable of making the decision to give it up.

 

 

I think the NCPO knows that the latent heat of tension is building up and the pressure of holding an election growing internally and externally. They and the traditional elites would like a limited democracy that allows them to overrule the masses and would have to figure out a legitimate way to do it. Judging from the efforts to made life difficult for the old political parties, seem that they are trying to form a political party coalition of new and middle size parties to back them up and hopefully to maintain legitimate power. We can expect more efforts to have an uneven playing field for established political parties. Will they succeed. IMHO, no. The junta misread and miscalculate their popularity and we will them brutally savaged on election day. Post coup election always bring out more voters who just want to punish the military in way they know best. Party foes may also band together and ensure the pro-military parties will be decimated.  

[tryasimight]

1 hour ago, nong38 said:

In the UK there is a political party based in Newton Abbot called "Monster Raving Looney Party" it has some rather bizarre policies and right rum ideas, it was formed by 1960's musician called Screaming Lord Such and puts up candidates in the elections with like Oink a Lot, Von Thunderclap, Howling Lord Hope and the like. Its a joke party, they dont expect to win, but, they put up their deposit to stand and if they dont get 10% of the vote they lose their deposit.

There are some similarities with the political scene here, although the difference here is that they are, have been or expect to be in power in the future!

 

The Official Raving Looney Party have a few members but they rely on convincing voters to vote for them, they dont have to register or compile members lists, they just hand the deposit over to the local returning officer and they on the ballot paper, it would be nice if it were as simple as that here dont you think?

It was actually created after A Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch.

 

Wiki reinventing history.

[Rhys]

Clop clop clop... is that an african swallon or European swallon...

 

[tryasimight]

15 minutes ago, Rhys said:

Clop clop clop... is that an african swallon or European swallon...

 

The Norwegian Blue?

[SABloke]

11 hours ago, JAG said:

Interesting point, which I hadn't known about: if the election cannot be completed by November, then Thailand will be chairing ASEAN in 2019. Then of course there can be no change of government in 2019...

 

How frightfully inconvenient!

 

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

Am I remembering incorrectly, or were there tons of Thailand 2020 ads back in 2014?

[saakura]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

EDITORIAL

More signs of ‘mission creep’ from junta

By The Nation

 

A move ostensibly to help political parties get organised is more likely to drive their members into the military’s arms

 

The discouraging truth, clear enough now to all, is that the “road map” touted by the ruling junta, the National Council for Peace and Order, does not offer directions towards democracy. There will be an election, almost certainly, but it’s not going to resurrect the form of politics with which Thailand had become acquainted and which it deserves.

Quite rich, coming from The Nation which was at the forefront whipping up the fervour and egging on Suthep and his cohorts who were in turn backed by very powerful interests to get the army to usurp power from a democratically elected government. Now they are trying to put the genie back into the bottle.

[YetAnother]

people here have been predicting this for 3+ years;

the country is lost;

sure for our lifetimes

[baboon]

6 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

people here have been predicting this for 3+ years;

the country is lost;

sure for our lifetimes

There is always hope that the fat lady won't sing even though she may be clearing her throat...

[CantSpell]

On 12/26/2017 at 11:26 AM, Ulic said:

May as well leave the status quo as there has been no

fighting and rioting the past few years. 

Frankly, even though many Thai (mainly BKK) would agree with you, as of today, no one has time to even think about fighting..

 

They are just put in jail before starting to have any thought and some just go out feet first or just disappear...

 

Don't think one is better than the other...

[yellowboat]

On 12/26/2017 at 12:26 PM, Ulic said:

The only question I have is, are any of these parties even remotely honest. Are any of

the political parties any more honest than the others or just same, same, and same.

I don't really think it matters. May as well leave the status quo as there has been no

fighting and rioting the past few years. 

It matters to the Thais.  Why should they be denied access to government ?  Who they elect is their business.  Politics is ugly, but a participatory government needs to be protected not molested every time the entitled get miffed.  Is there one reason why Thais cannot enjoy the same sort of government that the Japanese, South Koreans or Taiwanese do ?  

 

Ponder this : Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty. Thomas Jefferson

 

Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty. Thomas Jefferson
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/thomas_jefferson

[Blackheart1916]

Mission creep. I suppose that is what happens with a military dictatorship, you can creep all you want.Good article, especially the part about being unqualified to run the country. There is enormous damage being done to the country's economy, reputation and standing. Stand by for new record tourist numbers, record exports, number one spot on all sorts of desirable top tens, etc.