PM Prayut denounces ‘lack of order’ after protests against military

[webfact]

PM denounces ‘lack of order’ after protests against military

By The Nation

 

 

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that if a “lack of order”, such as the anti-military protest on Saturday, continued, there was no guarantee that the national election would be held peacefully, government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

 

“Despite the fact that the works implemented by the government and the junta have progressed more than before 2014 [when the junta took power], some groups have tried to create chaos and escalate their strategies if their demands are not met,” Sansern quoted the premier as saying.

 

On Saturday, activists gathered in front of Army headquarters in Bangkok, calling for the military to cease supporting the military-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and its role in politics as well as to allow an election this year.

 

The protesters also called on the military to return to the barracks and its job of protecting the country, not administering it.

 

Activists demanded that the military stop serving the coup-makers who “were taking away the rights and freedom of the people”.

 

If those demands were not met, the Army would be targeted along with the NCPO in future protests, activists warned.

 

“The prime minister believes that most of the public understands that the country is moving forward to have a national election according to the road map. The procedures and the election date have to be set according to the law,” Sansern said.

 

However, protesters on Saturday demanded that the election be held in November this year, not in February next year as Prayut has most recently promised. 

 

“If disorder like this continues, what is the guarantee that the national poll will be held in a peaceful atmosphere?” Prayut was quoted as asking.

 

Sansern also said Prayut had expressed concerns that the public was starting to worry that the former situation of chaos could return, so he had called on everyone to consider what should be done and what would not help the country move forward.

 

Meanwhile, Maj-General Piyapong Klinpan, an NCPO spokesperson, said the election date would be decided according to the law and road map to elections.

 

He added that the military could not be separated from the NCPO, because the two bodies were indivisible. The military and the people were “also one”, he added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30341718

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-26

[dahinni]

i'm don't think military and citizens in thailand are equal.

you see already how schools are divided or what it means to see kids in military school uniforms.

he looks stressed too, probably he need that>>> 

Edited March 25, 2018 by dahinni

[Odysseus123]

Here we go....

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that if a “lack of order”, such as the anti-military protest on Saturday, continued, there was no guarantee that the national election would be held peacefully, government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

I think comments like this were inevitable, but I also think that they are too late; you can't put the Genie back in the bottle.

 

The Junta is rapidly approaching the four year mark which is the traditional end to a regular government; Thais expect that there will be an election and expectations are powerful things. Further, an election has been promised (though delayed) and there is only so many times that you can promise something then take it away. Whether the Junta listens or not, the international community and perhaps more importantly intentional investors, have been promised a poll; breaking that promise leads to severe lack of credibility. Finally, look at the protests; they are a small bunch of brave people trying to assert their rights and they can't be considered a threat to the stability of Thailand, and the Thai people can see that with their own eyes. To sum up, the race has already started and achieved a life of its own; you can't just stop it, even if you are a military Junta.

 

We will certainly hear noise like this from now on, but I think the effectiveness of the threat diminishes each and every time they are uttered. Thailand will have an election soon(ish), and if the Junta tries to delay it much further, then there will be terrible repercussions.

 

I truly hope that the Junta doesn't let it get that far.

 

Edited March 25, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

[webfact]

PM is concerned with elements bent on inciting unrest: General Sansern

By Thai PBS

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed concern that as the government has been trying to restore normalcy, strengthening the economy and making preparations for the next election, there are some elements attempting to incite unrest in the country, said government spokesman Lt-Gen Sansern Kaewkumnerd on Sunday.

 

Nevertheless, he said the prime minister believed the majority of the people understood what the government had been doing and had been moving toward the election mode.

 

The prime minister, he added, would like to stress that the primary task for the National Council for Peace and Order and to ensure smooth transition to full democratic rule.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-concerned-elements-bent-inciting-unrest-general-sansern/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-03-26

[Eligius]

1 hour ago, Odysseus123 said:

Here we go....

Yes, it is all so predictable:

'There is not yet peace and order in the land', Prayut will surely claim (when he is the main cause of the unrest). 'We cannot hold elections in this climate. The Government must continue in office to protect Thailand from trouble-makers. Only when peace is complete can we have elections ...'

 

Of course, Prayut will ensure that 'peace' is never 'complete' and GENUINE elections will never come, unless the Thai people grow a pair   ....

 

 

 

Edited March 25, 2018 by Eligius

[George Bowman]

Like many new expats, I read the numerous books about Thailand being sold throughout Bangkok that were written by both Western and Thai authors. Unfortunately, even with this knowledge and after years of living in Thailand, I understand less now than I ever did.

 

I am not a red shirt, yellow shirt, white shirt or a whistle blower. But, I have been to their rallies.

 

This is my personal observation. The Army has been in charge of Thailand for decades and probably will be in the foreseeable future.

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Despite the fact that the works implemented by the government and the junta have progressed more than before 2014 [when the junta took power], some groups have tried to create chaos and escalate their strategies if their demands are not met,” Sansern quoted the premier as saying.

more threats based on paranoia and mysterious, perceived, trumped-up threats to our beloved country

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

attempting to incite unrest

trouble is he can define 'unrest' as anything he wants it to be

[coulson]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The military and the people were “also one”, he added

I smell another diamond fart in the making ....

[jonclark]

"Some groups try to create choas"

 

What utter twaddle - unless of course you see freedom of speech, the right to assembly, and the right to be heard as "chaos". 

 

Chaos is defined by the NCPO as anything that cannot be controlled or prescribed by them and that includes what and how people think. ...actually come to think of it from their perspective they may actually be right? 

 

[greenchair]

1 hour ago, missoura said:

Like many new expats, I read the numerous books about Thailand being sold throughout Bangkok that were written by both Western and Thai authors. Unfortunately, even with this knowledge and after years of living in Thailand, I understand less now than I ever did.

 

I am not a red shirt, yellow shirt, white shirt or a whistle blower. But, I have been to their rallies.

 

This is my personal observation. The Army has been in charge of Thailand for decades and probably will be in the foreseeable future.

You are right.

And there lies the problem. 

[DoctorG]

The PM would only be happy if everyone obeyed orders and marched in lockstep, just like his beloved military. He has the typical military mind that has difficulty with anything that does not fit his ordered pattern.

[yellowboat]

The lack of order comes form military rule.  He and his junta has failed and we see now is evidence of failure.  Threatening a postponement of elections is just another example to pathetic cling to power that has been predicted since 2014. 

[LazySlipper]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

there was no guarantee that the national election would be held peacefully

 

Should read:

"There is no guarantee that the national election will be held at all"

[tukkytuktuk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

However, protesters on Saturday demanded that the election be held in November this year, not in February next year as Prayut has most recently promised. 

 

“If disorder like this continues, what is the guarantee that the national poll will be held in a peaceful atmosphere?” Prayut was quoted as asking.

People with good intentions make promises. People with good character keep them.

[MaxLee]

31 minutes ago, tukkytuktuk said:

People with good intentions make promises. People with good character keep them.

 

How about never-ever-dever

[robertthesculptor]

When you are down in public openion yes the best thing to do is threaten, and not listen to the people... Not learning from history much?

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

trouble is he can define 'unrest' as anything he wants it to be

He can also manufacture "unrest". 

[Katipo]

With increasing frequency we are seeing bullies with a tenuous grip on power claiming those who simply have a different opinion of being are evil doers. Then persecuting them, dividing society, and and using them to legitimize dictatorships.

[Scott]

Post and replies removed.   Stalking is not permitted.   Cease with personal remarks.  

[Hayduke]

The whole idea of an election sounds good…but it really is much more wishful thinking than reality.

 

The junta will never agree to a genuine, proper election. Never. What we…may…see is a highly choreographed sort of stage-crafted ‘event’ that will only be used to further continue and entrench military repression.

 

Sadly, it appears that the only way the junta will ever exit is by the same door with which it entered.

 

[JAG]

3 hours ago, missoura said:

Like many new expats, I read the numerous books about Thailand being sold throughout Bangkok that were written by both Western and Thai authors. Unfortunately, even with this knowledge and after years of living in Thailand, I understand less now than I ever did.

 

I am not a red shirt, yellow shirt, white shirt or a whistle blower. But, I have been to their rallies.

 

This is my personal observation. The Army has been in charge of Thailand for decades and probably will be in the foreseeable future.

The Army has effectively been in charge for decades, although for a period at the beginning of the century it looked like the power may have been prized from their grip.

One of the main features, and causes of their hegemony has been their almost total control of the media, and their invariable presence on the boards and committees which control various governmental and semi governmental agencies and commercial enterprises.

The first is becoming much less important, the influence it yielded simply evaporating with the emergence of new, decentralised media and channels of communication which they cannot control. Concurrent with that, and fueled by it, it is becoming more and more apparent that much of the governmental and commercial activities of which they maintain control, do little or nothing to benefit vast swathes of the population.

I think change is inevitable, the pace at which it is coming will increase inexorably and some form of popular power will emerge, driven /enabled by this new technology and medias. The question is will it be peaceful or bloody. That is in the hands of the army. I hope for the former I expect the latter.

 

There is no doubt that this evaporating influence and power worries the junta, even if they cannot understand how to counter it. Pronouncements about "lack of order", as well as revealing a total lack of understanding of the situation are also symptoms of that worry. They should be very very worried!

Edited March 26, 2018 by JAG

[toybits]

The last paragraph was the most profound.. IMHO...

[JOC]

I miss her....

She had her flaws, but at least she was human.....

[Lupatria]

Tell him there is an abnormality in parts of the human population: Civilians,- usually they don't take orders from guys in uniform or period costumes, unless threatened by weapons. And in case the military is going against it's commonality it does it, in its only field of experience. 

[FunkyDunky58]

So this 'leader' suppresses free speech, bans political gatherings, imprisons dissenters, fails to deal with corruption in his own ranks, constantly lies about the timing of the election, introduces a constitution that is far from democratic and protects his own political aspirations, and then blames the people who are sick of him and his government and want a return to proper elected leadership. Pathetic.

[webfact]

PM expresses concern over current situation

 

BANGKOK, 26th March 2018 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has given his personal affirmation that the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) wish to see the nation transition to democratic government, asking Thai society do what is needed towards achieving the goal. 

Prime Minister’s Office Spokesman, Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd revealed today that Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha is concerned about the national situation and while acknowledging the progress that has been made since 2014 is worried about certain groups that have begun to make moves against the wishes of the state and that could also cause unrest. 

He said the PM believes most citizens accept that the country is moving towards a general election in accordance with its Road Map and has reiterated that the NCPO and the government’s agenda has always been to transition the nation into a true democracy. 

Meanwhile, the PM has expressed concern for citizens who themselves have become wary due to the reappearance of past scenarios, asking that all interests consider what is most appropriate for the nation’s progress. He assured the public that his administration and the NCPO will work to maintain the utmost stability and not allow the country to return to the old vicious cycle. He has asked the authorities to use their discretion and stringently maintain the law in all circumstances.

 

-- nnt 2018-03-26

[TKDfella]

6 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Here we go....

Yep, just another excuse to delay elections further.

[Eligius]

'... maintain the utmost stability and not allow the country to return to the old vicious cycle', says Prayut.

  And there we have it: enforced 'stability' (junta rule) and no return to the cycle of democratic elections.

 

I think we've heard enough by now ...