Gen Prayut dismisses calls for poll this year

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

General Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

WARNINGS ISSUED AS ACTIVISTS PLAN TO PRESS FOR JUNTA TO GET OUT OF POLITICS.

 

THE PRIME minister yesterday played down rallies by pro-democracy activists planned for this month to press the ruling junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to hold the long-delayed election this year.

 

General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday insisted that the election would have to be held next year following a conclusion by the junta-appointed legislative assembly to delay the implementation of the MP election law.

 

“I have told the international arena about this and no one objected to me,” he said at Government House.“I never wished to delay the election, but the law changes make it unavoidable.”

 

He also hinted that the activists might have political agendas.

 

“Just see if they are old or new people. Do they talk in line with politicians? I wish people would take lessons from escalations in the past,” Prayut said.

 

General Wallop Raksanor, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), added that protesters should not plan to be violent and should not break any laws.

 

The pro-election activists, led by the Democracy Restoration Group, plan to launch major assemblies this month, when the NCPO will reach its fourth anniversary in power. They will not only call for an election but also demand that the junta not remain in power after the election.

 

Their demands are linked to fears that the current junta-written constitution may allow the NCPO to mobilise its power via the parliamentary system, with wholly handpicked senators and the possibility of an outsider prime minister.

 

Additionally, the junta-written, 20-year national strategy plan provides for punishments for civilian governments if they fail to follow it.

 

Since the start of the assemblies in January, dozens of activists, students and journalist have faced charges for allegedly breaking the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people, the public assembly law, and land traffic laws.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30344402

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-02

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

“I never wished to delay the election, but the law changes make it unavoidable.”

This guy should sell second hand cars.

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

.“I never wished to delay the election, but the law changes make it unavoidable.”

You see, no believes this or you.

 

That is why there is so much suspicion.

 

BTW, is this reconciliation? Or have you abandoned that idea as well?

 

"And no one objected to me" prepare to hear that statement repeated by this man for a long long long time to come. I pity the people of Thailand they deserve much better but there inbred acceptance of everything that befalls them is the main indicator of why things will never change.

The election will have to be held next year, as we are busy scraping the trough.

4 minutes ago, colinneil said:

The election will have to be held next year, as we are busy scraping the trough.

 

I think they are too busy ensuring no-one else can challenge them in an election...

No need to be scraping the trough, as they will have their fat little snouts in there for a few years to come !!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

I have told the international arena about this and no one objected to me

 

No one was listening.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“I have told the international arena about this and no one objected to me,” he said at Government House

The International arena was told from the white house that November 2018 would be an election.

Rightly so, if the fix is not fully in place then it is only just that any form of "election" is delayed until the required outcome is nailed on.

46 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

I think they are too busy ensuring no-one else can challenge them in an election...

No need to be scraping the trough, as they will have their fat little snouts in there for a few years to come !!

The Soo-Wee party.  Grunt, grunt, grunt.

Can Tha Visa please repost this article for the next few years !

Opposition your move, 

Was talking to some young Thais last night.  They do not believe there will be an election this year or next year or the year after that or the year after that.  Until it actually happens, few will believe it.  Government assurances mean nothing to many people.

6 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Was talking to some young Thais last night.  They do not believe there will be an election this year or next year or the year after that or the year after that.  Until it actually happens, few will believe it.  Government assurances mean nothing to many people.

I think they are wrong.

No reason not to have a junta style "election" if all the dice are stacked and that certainly seems be the scenario we will see next year, with you know who as the "new" pm.

Does this man really believe what he hear himself say, or is he blessed with the condition of deafness?

Gen Prayut dismisses calls for poll this year

Yet more set backs, no surprise. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He just not honest man.

I feel so bad for Thailand.

4 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

This guy should sell second hand cars.

only dodgy ones.  

I wonder the reminder note in his pocket with the statement: "No election this year,- maybe next year" did not get lost in the laundry over all the years.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He also hinted that the activists might have political agendas.

Protesters calling for a general election might have political agendas? No getting anything past him, eh?

Weaken degrade jail all opposition go for the jugular then hope he will end up with a Theresa May with a bedroom full of DUP ladyboys.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

I wish people would take lessons from escalations in the past,” Prayut said.

Is this a serious physical threat from the junta-leader?

Prayut's soldiers killed at least 98 people and injured more than 2,000 demonstrators during the Democrat Abhisit's government’s crackdown on the “Red Shirt” protest in 2010.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/08/23/thailand-army-chief-interfering-investigations

Has then Prayut decided that now he is once again a soldier and not a politician? Surely that would make him unqualified for PM.

It's getting more Hun Senish every day. 

1 hour ago, Anak Nakal said:

He just not honest man.

I feel so bad for Thailand.

Why? It is their own doing!

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“I have told the international arena about this and no one objected to me,”

Since when has Thailand cared about what the international arena thought. Since when does their opinion change when something as big as election happens. I thought Thailand was for Thais and no one else should ever get involved. Here we have a perfect opportunity to have elections and let Thais decide their own future. 

 

The hypocrisy is nauseating. 

Just now, webfact said:

“I never wished to delay the election, but the law changes make it unavoidable.”

 

 

What he neglects to mention is that the draft bill was drafted by the same people who then rejected it.   It's the NLA that votes 190+ to zero on almost everything - and they're just voting the way Big P wants.

6 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

This guy should sell second hand cars.

Nah, nobody would buy from him.

Still called the General then as well as PM, more badges needed.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

I wish people would take lessons from escalations in the past,” Prayut said.

Translation : There's another Junta just around the corner.