EDITORIAL

Democracy grows more distant

By The Nation

 

The prime minister’s latest ‘promise’ on the election’s timing seems more ethereal than ever

 

After repeated postponements due to varying reasons, the prime minister has yet again set a general target date for the election. He’s pledged this time it will be held “no later than” early February 2019.

 

But General Prayut Chan-o-cha added a caveat to the assurance given on Tuesday, warning that even this vague timing would depend on social conditions at the time and whether an election could proceed without problem. 

 

Hopefully, there will be no more excuses resulting in still more postponements. We have heard nearly four years’ worth of excuses, the first coming soon after General Prayut staged his coup in May 2014, when he was still Army commander-in-chief.

 

The promise at that time was that an election would be called within 15 months of the coup, as part of a “road map to democracy”. That would have seen voters returning to the polls in late summer 2015. How naïve we were to believe him. As prime minister, Prayut has continually pushed the timeline backwards. His latest vow on Tuesday came amid mounting pressure from critics and the international community.

 

For many citizens, the last straw was a vote by the National Legislative Assembly last month to postpone by 90 days enforcement of a law governing the election of members of Parliament. The consequence was a delay in the election from November – when Prayut promised US President Donald Trump and others it would be held – into next year. Pro-democracy activists took to the streets demanding an election this year. They were already unwilling to tolerate any more excuses and delays.

 

Street rallies by the group People Who Want to Vote have so far gained no significant support from the public. But recent opinion surveys found that most citizens do “want to vote” to select a civilian government and see no good reason for delaying the election further.

 

There are of course many other citizens – a sizeable minority – who don’t care about an election. They would prefer the military to remain in charge, reasoning that the junta with its dictatorial powers can accomplish more for the country than could an elected government that’s restrained by constitutional law. They do not see democracy as being necessary, believing instead that anyone deprived of fundamental rights must deserve it.

 

If Prayut were at the helm of an elected civilian government, its four-year mandate would end this coming August. By February 2019, his military-backed administration will have been in power at least seven months  longer than any elected predecessor. Prayut’s government was formed in August 2014, three months after the coup. 

 

Consider, too, that this regime will retain a caretaker role for several months even after the election, until a new Cabinet is formed.

 

In any event, doubt is widespread over the premier’s latest assurances about an election being held by next February. The pressure building against him and his government is unlikely to ease until we have more than hollow words. To convince the public that this bizarrely evasive election will not be postponed yet again, General Prayut has to put his words into action. He should start by issuing a formal decree that clearly sets out the election date.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30339919

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-01

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

But General Prayut Chan-o-cha added a caveat to the assurance given on Tuesday, warning that even this vague timing would depend on social conditions at the time and whether an election could proceed without problem. 

we are screwed

Lies,lies and more terminalogical inexactitudes.

Yes, once again Prayut and his cronies have been... less than honest.

 

But, does anyone think that the protesters are going to stop? Does anyone believe the Thai people are going to think "hmm... perhaps we don't need an election"? Does anyone think the international community is going to shut up about elections (regardless of their lack of influence)? Does anyone think foreign business is going to keep quiet if there are street demos? Does anyone think that no Thais (especially ones in uniform) are going to be thinking "how do we get rid of these people"?

 

When the Junta postpones the election, it is a sign of weakness; if they thought that they could get a legitimate mandate, we would have an election tomorrow. But, they do not think that and they know that they can't get a legitimate mandate.

 

Each delay, each broken promise is another nail in their credibility and their support; how many new people are going to be flocking to support a regime that lies repeatedly? Anyone think that the Junta's support has gone up since the Funeral? Nope, support for the Junta is on a one way track and it isn't up.

 

Cheer up all! Yes, there is a delay, but that delay (in my view) also increases the likelihood that we will see the end of the Junta when the time comes.

 

And, good riddance.

 

It has become quite obvious his fall will not come from a jump but a push. But whether Thailand has ever been close to democracy is another subject.

Of course the longer he delays the election the more civic unrest will increase thus giving him an excuse to delay even well beyond 2019. There is only one way all this will end if he and his henchmen continue on this way and the country will be another Syria.

Election now!

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Consider, too, that this regime will retain a caretaker role for several months even after the election, until a new Cabinet is formed.

That's a sad understatement.

Prayut's "caretaker" role comes with absolute power through Article 44 of the 2014 Interim Charter and any government formed requires Prayut's approval before it can be installed. Only after a new government is installed does the NCPO (junta) dissolve so Prayut as NCPO Chief can exercise military and police action as he deems fit beyond the election date.

Such a powerful caretaker role is unconstitutional according to the 2017 Constitution for a caretaker government. But no constitution has ever restrained or stymied Thai military juntas.

11 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Yes, once again Prayut and his cronies have been... less than honest.

 

But, does anyone think that the protesters are going to stop? Does anyone believe the Thai people are going to think "hmm... perhaps we don't need an election"? Does anyone think the international community is going to shut up about elections (regardless of their lack of influence)? Does anyone think foreign business is going to keep quiet if there are street demos? Does anyone think that no Thais (especially ones in uniform) are going to be thinking "how do we get rid of these people"?

 

When the Junta postpones the election, it is a sign of weakness; if they thought that they could get a legitimate mandate, we would have an election tomorrow. But, they do not think that and they know that they can't get a legitimate mandate.

 

Each delay, each broken promise is another nail in their credibility and their support; how many new people are going to be flocking to support a regime that lies repeatedly? Anyone think that the Junta's support has gone up since the Funeral? Nope, support for the Junta is on a one way track and it isn't up.

 

Cheer up all! Yes, there is a delay, but that delay (in my view) also increases the likelihood that we will see the end of the Junta when the time comes.

 

And, good riddance.

 

 

Maybe the times come for a coup.....

 

Thailand is not ready for democracy anyway.

3 minutes ago, natway09 said:

Thailand is not ready for democracy anyway.

Yes, they need to be colonized first. I wonder how much Mr.P is asking for the country?

It's now reached the stage where it looks like the junta are almost begging, pleading, DEMANDING bloodshed. They are doing EVERYTHING now to bring that about.

 

The poor Thai people are in an invidious position: if the Thais remain peaceful, then the junta will go on for as long as most of our lives here will last; if a few hundred thousand Thais rise up in fury at the loss of their liberty,  they will be bloodily and ruthlessly cut down.

 

But one needs to remember that the population of Thailand is close to 70 million.

 

Even a well-armed junta could not kill everyone (not, of course, that they would ever wish to try ...).

31 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Yes, they need to be colonized first. I wonder how much Mr.P is asking for the country?

A couple of subs and a railway or two is the price I believe, oh and hordes on package tours.

 

Done deal.

13 hours ago, webfact said:

They would prefer the military to remain in charge, reasoning that the junta with its dictatorial powers can accomplish more for the country than could an elected government that’s restrained by constitutional law.

What have they done in the last 4 years then?

13 hours ago, webfact said:

The promise at that time was that an election would be called within 15 months of the coup, as part of a “road map to democracy”. That would have seen voters returning to the polls in late summer 2015. How naïve we were to believe him

Who are you including in this 'we'.

Journalists working for 'The Nation'?

53 minutes ago, Eligius said:

It's now reached the stage where it looks like the junta are almost begging, pleading, DEMANDING bloodshed. They are doing EVERYTHING now to bring that about.

 

The poor Thai people are in an invidious position: if the Thais remain peaceful, then the junta will go on for as long as most of our lives here will last; if a few hundred thousand Thais rise up in fury at the loss of their liberty,  they will be bloodily and ruthlessly cut down.

 

But one needs to remember that the population of Thailand is close to 70 million.

 

Even a well-armed junta could not kill everyone (not, of course, that they would ever wish to try ...).

Given it's the forever groundhog day in Thailand, you're probably right: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thammasat_University_massacre