Jittery junta issues threat over plan to scrap charter

By THE NATION

 

 

PM PRAYUT AND DEPUTY WARN FUTURE FORWARD PARTY, SAY LAW MUST BE OBEYED WASAMON AUDJARINT

 

JUNTA leaders yesterday warned the Future Forward Party to think twice about its plan to scrap the 2017 Constitution and said there would be consequences if it disobeyed the law.

 

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said in his weekly press briefing that the government would monitor political parties to ensure they were all obeying the law.

 

“They should think twice about whatever they do. They shouldn’t consider laws as obstacles,” Prayut said. “Laws are there to create justice. It is not every party that comes out to complain.”

 

In a separate interview, Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said that the Election Commission should study the party’s statement and see whether it violated the law.

 

Prawit insisted, however, that he was unconcerned about the Future Forward Party, saying that it was up to the people to choose who to support while refusing to say whether the NCPO was closely monitoring the party or whether he felt it had a chance of winning the next election.

 

The junta top brass were responding to Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit’s vow during the party’s first official meeting on Sunday to propose a law amendment to scrap the junta-written 2017 charter as well as grant amnesty to political prisoners under the NCPO ruling.

 

Future Forward is a new party perceived as liberal-leaning and opposed to the coup-installed regime and its legacy.

 

Political observers and the party’s supporters have expressed concern that the Future Forward’s ideology would make it a target for the junta and that it might not survive long enough even to contest the election planned for next February.

 

 

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam added that Thanathorn’s vow was “harsh and could create problems”.

 

“[They] shouldn’t say anything that could spark conflicts – they should be responsible in what they say,” Wissanu said. “They have the right and freedom to say such things but whether they can act on them is another thing.”

 

Thanathorn has proposed that the NCPO-initiated meeting with parties next month should be broadcast live to ensure a transparent outcome, but Wissanu said that the NCPO “might have to think twice about it”.

 

“If they have so many conditions, we’ll have to rethink the whole idea of holding the meeting,” the deputy said.

 

The EC yesterday remained silent about the issue.

 

According to the Constitution, however, it has the power to scrutinise party’s policies to ensure they are not unrealistic, populist policies which could cause a financial burden to the country.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30346484

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-29

"the power to scrutinize party's policies to ensure they are not unrealistic populist policies.."

 

The iron law of oligarchy in full deployment mode.

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

JUNTA leaders yesterday warned the Future Forward Party to think twice about its plan to scrap the 2017 Constitution and said there would be consequences if it disobeyed the law.

There is some truth to the idea that people and parties must obey the law. However, concurrent with that is the idea that the law must be made in an open, legitimate fashion by duly constituted representatives of the people.

 

If the law in question was not made through an open and legitimate process, then obeyance of the law isn't always mandatory.

 

Further, the article mentions consequences.

 

The Election Commission could debar the party. However, the consequences of that would be that the entire election process was a sham, and thus the Junta gaining any legitimacy from would go out the window. In my view, the Junta can't function too much longer without a mandate; the Thai people are already getting restless and that will increase, not decrease.

 

What consequences did the Junta face for tossing out the previous constitution? Zip. Nil. Nada. It is hypocritical beyond belief to say that a constitution is sacrosanct when you and your colleagues have discarded one already. 

 

And yes, perhaps the Junta could use force to ensure the obeyance of the constitution, either before or after an election, but what would be the consequences of a third coup in twenty years? A plummeting of business confidence, and realization globally that Thailand's words meant nothing, and the country becoming an international laughing stock.

 

Are you prepared to pay that price, Thailand?

 

Edited May 28, 20188 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

buck banana didn't obey the law when he and his buddies set up protests then ousted a government with a law breaking coup .

Bored of this idiot, how much longer before a new reform :-D

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut said. “Laws are there to create justice.

whose justice ? laws that are defined so as to include everything such as 'Could create problems' ?

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

“They should think twice about whatever they do. They shouldn’t consider laws as obstacles,” Prayut said. “Laws are there to create justice. It is not every party that comes out to complain.”

 

Using previous precedent they could just pass new laws to give themselves amnesty.

 

Khun Prayut should demonstrate some international knowledge and look at what just happened in Malaysia.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They have the right and freedom to say such things

 

But if they do, and we think the masses like those things, we will just void their party registration.

We will not have any competition for the win, end of story...

1 hour ago, webfact said:

PM PRAYUT AND DEPUTY WARN FUTURE FORWARD PARTY, SAY LAW MUST BE OBEYED

 

How rich is that coming from the leader of an illegal coup.... an overthrow of an elected government.

Someday this one will fold like the cheap suit he is wearing

As soon as its suggested that the meeting should be broadcast live the junta gets cold feet. Speaks volumes about what the "meeting" was all about. It also is another kick in the teeth to the public in that they're saying the public has no right to be involved in the democratic process. Not that any of this is surprising or new.

1 hour ago, Chang_paarp said:

Using previous precedent they could just pass new laws to give themselves amnesty.

 

Khun Prayut should demonstrate some international knowledge and look at what just happened in Malaysia.

Thank you Chang_paarp I needed a laugh this morning "Khun Prayut should demonstrate some international knowledge" 555555 I'll bet he's even forgotten how to hold a rifle or his ####

Parties should definitely avoid making this sort of pronouncement. They can certainly plan to do it, but they should not give the junta an excuse to halt the election process.

Stable countries usually have one or two constitutions in their history. The constitution is meaningless if each subsequent government just makes up their own to suit themselves.

The next one needs to be a good one, for all Thais.

If they get enough votes they can scrap the charter, Prayut should accept the voice of the people. There are no laws against changing the constitution if enough votes are there. Unfortunately they probably won't make it. 

No one respects him anymore. He made up laws then says "obey the law". He got away with it for 2 years now he's sliding FAST.

1 minute ago, robblok said:

If they get enough votes they can scrap the charter, Prayut should accept the voice of the people. There are no laws against changing the constitution if enough votes are there. Unfortunately they probably won't make it. 

Should - yes.

Will/would -- never. Someone from his military position is used to issuing orders, not listening to opinions.

 

in the UK there is parliamentary sovreignty

1 hour ago, meechai said:

 

How rich is that coming from the leader of an illegal coup.... an overthrow of an elected government.

Someday this one will fold like the cheap suit he is wearing

What comes around goes around .

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Laws are there to create justice

So, freedom from prosecution is there for ? 

Deputy PM Wissanu says: They have the right and freedom to say such things

Deputy PM Prawit says: The Election Commission should study the party’s statement and see whether it violated the law

 

Deputy klauskunkel says: the junta's finest minds at work, adorable

22 minutes ago, robblok said:

If they get enough votes they can scrap the charter, Prayut should accept the voice of the people. There are no laws against changing the constitution if enough votes are there. Unfortunately they probably won't make it. 

The voice of the people have rarely ever been heard here and never will. IMO.

 

Obvious all along the intention is to structure the new government and make the both the decision process and certain sitting members stacked in a way that make it very difficult to make big changes to the new charter.

 

But Thailand will certainly be the golden egg and hub of world politics if they can ban future governments from changing any of these new laws.

 

good luck with that even Hitler was not that good.

 

it sound like what is really is being said is..we will be watching over you with a big stick 

 

in that regard maybe things will never change which could be good in some ways

Junta change constitution.

Why not other people?

News for you Uncle, perhaps they'll just do what you did - write new laws.

 

I wonder what your cell will be like...?

28 minutes ago, tingtongtourist said:

But Thailand will certainly be the golden egg and hub of world politics if they can ban future governments from changing any of these new laws.

 

Made much more difficult by the fact that tomorrow, Prayuth and Mr Piggy will be yeasterday's news. Thais have a legendarily a short little span of attention. Tomorrow, nobody will care whether you live or die. The price of rice and sugar cane will be what they worry about, not whether some jumped-up army wallah is comfortable in his prison cell or not.

 

Beer? Yes please.. Life goes on and life will go on when you're long forgotten..

Edited May 29, 20188 yr by KiwiKiwi

47 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Deputy PM Wissanu says: They have the right and freedom to say such things

Deputy PM Prawit says: The Election Commission should study the party’s statement and see whether it violated the law

 

Deputy klauskunkel says: the junta's finest minds at work, adorable

I think they are worried and have no idea what to do next. The party cannot be allowed to continue with their threats of undoing the junta's handywork (and resonating with the people), but all of the options to silence them are lousy. It will be interesting to see what happens next...

Edited May 29, 20188 yr by baboon

PM PRAYUT AND DEPUTY WARN FUTURE FORWARD PARTY, SAY LAW MUST BE OBEYED

2 minutes ago, baboon said:

I think they are worried and have no idea what to do next. The party cannot be allowed to continue with their threats of undoing the junta's handywork (and resonating with the people), but all of their options to silence them are lousy. It will be interesting to see what happens next...

Yes it will, but increasingly it is becoming apparent that the wheel has now turned. Prayuth's time in the sun is coming to an end, and there is one great betrayal coming that he cannot survive.

Edited May 29, 20188 yr by KiwiKiwi

Here we go. As a number of us have predicted, the Future Forward Party under Thanathorn is already being blocked (essentially). This is just a verbal warning by the junta. Imagine what will happen if Thanathorn and his party started picking up real, mass support!

 

There is no way the Future Forward Party - if it is genuine and sincere in its stated aims - will be allowed to 'go forward'.

 Wish someone with his mindset would be in charge here:

 

      

3 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Here we go. As a number of us have predicted, the Future Forward Party under Thanathorn is already being blocked (essentially). This is just a verbal warning by the junta. Imagine what will happen if Thanathorn and his party started picking up real, mass support!

 

There is no way the Future Forward Party - if it is genuine and sincere in its stated aims - will be allowed to 'go forward'.

But any moves against them will result in shocking PR for the junta and remember, they too are hunting for votes 'next year'. Will we soon find out what happens when an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object...?

...

 

Edited May 29, 20188 yr by Jimbo in Thailand

2 minutes ago, baboon said:

But any moves against them will result in shocking PR for the junta and remember, they too are hunting for votes 'next year'. Will we soon find out what happens when an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object...?

Agree with you, Baboon. I hope HOPE that the Thais do indeed prove to be an unstoppable force. They are, after all, the true sovereignty holders in the land - so let that unstoppable force be manifested. Now is the time!