British Prime Minister Theresa May presses PM Prayut on free and open elections

[webfact]

May presses PM on free and open elections

By THE NATION

 

British Prime Minister Theresa May shakes hand with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha in front of No 10 Downing Street.

 

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Theresa May told Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to continue progress towards free and open elections in Thailand in line with international standards, including lifting restrictions on political parties at an early stage, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

 

Prayut met with May on Wednesday (yesterday Thailand) in London when the Thai junta chief arrived for a visit to cement ties and cooperation, notably on economic matters.

 

May said at the beginning of the meeting in front of cameras that she expected to see an election in Thailand in early 2019. 

 

Prayut said in reply that his government was moving towards democratisation. “I reaffirm that the election will take place early next year. We are now preparing many legal instruments [for the poll] and many of them have already been promulgated. In the meantime, we are also preparing for the coronation ceremony,” he said.

 

 

Prayut has made similar promises about holding elections to other foreign leaders like Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in early 2015, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon in late 2015 and US President Donald Trump last year.

 

The two premiers also discussed the importance of continuing to cooperate on a range of shared international security challenges, including working together to tackle human trafficking, and strengthen the ability of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to attribute chemical weapons attacks, according to May’s spokesperson. 

 

 

They also discussed the importance of the international community in continuing to come together to counter violent extremism and enhance cybersecurity, and to take forward efforts to tackle illegal wildlife trade.

 

Regarding trade, the two leaders agreed that as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, the bilateral trade and investment relationship would continue to go from strength to strength. 

 

May welcomed the work of the UK-Thai Business Leadership Council in identifying areas where bilateral trade could be further liberalised, according to the British spokesperson.

 

 

Prayut is leading a Thai delegation to UK and France until next week aimed not only at international recognition after the EU resumed political engagement with military-ruled Thailand at all levels, but also for business deals.

 

The Thai delegation includes economic tzar Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai as well as other economic ministers.

 

Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office secretary-general Kanit Sangsubhan yesterday joined a round table at Asia House in London to explain the government’s economic strategy and its pet EEC project with the hope of luring British investors. Some 20 business executives from leading companies such as ARUP, HSBC, KPMP, Shell, Prudential and Wood Plc attended the session. 

 

Thailand 4.0 and the EEC were designed to link with other regional strategies such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Japan’s Open and Free Indo-Pacific and India’s Act East, said Uttama. 

 

With such a platform, he said, Thailand could be a connecting point to other regional development schemes including Asean and countries in the Mekong basin – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Prayut’s visit was welcomed by pro-junta groups but encountered opposition from anti-junta movements resident in the UK and other European countries. International human rights defenders urged May and French President Emmanuel Macron to press Prayut on democratisation and human rights practices.

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30348326

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-22

[Somtamnication]

Come down from the clouds, Madame May.?

[Thaiwrath]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

May presses PM on free and open elections

[webfact]

PM receives strong support during UK visit

 

 

LONDON, 22 June 2018 (NNT) – During his first trip to the United Kingdom in four years, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha met British Prime Minister Theresa May, invited leading British entrepreneurs to invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and received strong support from Thais residing in London, who delivered flowers to his hotel. 

Thais residing in the UK gathered at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London to welcome Gen Prayut, voicing their support for his work. The PM thanked the gathering for their warm welcome and urged them to stay aware of happenings in Thailand and to protect it from ill-wishers. 

In his meeting with UK PM Theresa May, Gen Prayut emphasized Thailand’s readiness to trade with the European nation and received news that the UK government intends to increase credit lines for British SMEs interested in investing in the EEC. The Thai leader ended the meeting by assuring his counterpart that Thailand will hold a general election early next year. 

Deputy Spokesperson for the Thai Prime Minister’s Office, Lt Gen Weerachon Sukontapatipak, explained that Gen Prayut’s visits to the United Kingdom and France are crucial as Thailand is undergoing many changes, both in terms of reform and economic development, and must ensure international confidence. He indicated roadshows for the EEC are to be organized to promote Thailand’s development as an investment destination. 

Today, the Thai PM is leading Thai private businesses to take part in the Transforming Thailand event, showcasing the Kingdom’s business vision to the UK's private sector and will be taking part in signing ceremonies between Thai and British energy businesses later.

 

-- nnt 2018-06-22

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut has made similar promises about holding elections to other foreign leaders like Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in early 2015, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon in late 2015 and US President Donald Trump last year.

that is the bottom line: talk is cheap

[colinneil]

Theresa May presses Prayut for free and open elections, Prayut answered the election will be free and open as long as the peasants do as i tell them.

[coulson]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In the meantime, we are also preparing for the coronation ceremony

The date of which he neglected to mention is not set, but will precede any ballot.

 

After 4 years he really is learning how to bend like a true politician.

[Darcula]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut said in reply that his government was moving towards democratisation.

 

Just taking a small detour via China.

 

 

[champers]

There is nothing like building trust in a relationship and Prayut has repeatedly broken that trust with other influential leaders and potential investors. It is not a good prelude when visiting new countries asking for their money. May and Macron will be outwardly polite, but will be privately extremely wary. 

Ultimately it will be companies who will invest and the Government won't be handing over so much as a penny.

[Eligius]

'They also discussed the importance of the international community in continuing to come together to counter violent extremism'

 

They of course included in that violent 'extremism' traitorous generals who used the implicit threat of bombs, tanks and guns to rob an entire nation of its freedom.

 

THERE IS NOTHING MORE VIOLENTLY EXTREME THAN THAT!

[baboon]

7 minutes ago, champers said:

May and Macron will be outwardly polite, but will be privately extremely wary. 

One whiff of money to be made, watch that wariness evaporate. Just look at our relations with Saudi.

Face it: May, Macron et al simply don't give a $hit. The Thais are on their own and the junta knows this.  

[grumbleweed]

At least they found some common ground: Neither of them has any balls

[sammieuk1]

Did we flog him a big much needed aircraft carrier ?

[FreddieRoyle]

The woman that ended the British right to free speech and free thinking, is lecturing Prayuth on democracy? Now don't get me wrong, Prayuth does need a talking to, but not from Teresa "the appeaser" May. Just how delusional are these people?

[Tradewind777]

One hand for shaking the other for reality activities like planning delays to elections. This guy is so predictable. May and other leaders should not be facilitating trade delegations for collaboration with depots like Prayut.

[George Bowman]

Well, at least they both have their eyes on the same path. Oh, wait a minute...

[harrycallahan]

May criticised Thailand for not throwing enough people in jail over naughty social media posts. Britain needs to fix their own backyard before they criticise others. 

[captspectre]

may should look to her own country which she has ruined! the once great britian is now a shadow of itself, overrun with muslims who WILL take over the country without firing a shot! look at london!

 

[baboon]

7 minutes ago, harrycallahan said:

May criticised Thailand for not throwing enough people in jail over naughty social media posts. Britain needs to fix their own backyard before they criticise others. 

I am British and don't have a backyard, so I reckon I am good to go under your conditions. The junta suck and should be turfed out.

[Kerryd]

Britain telling Thailand to hold "free and open elections" while at the same time they offer asylum to wanted criminals that used their wealth to buy elections in the past.

Uh huh.

[Juan B Tong]

Help me out guys.

 

I look at the photos here and I cant figure it out

 

Who is taller?

 

 

[kickstart]

49 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Did we flog him a big much needed aircraft carrier ?

No Spain designed and made it .

[shaurene]

1 hour ago, champers said:

There is nothing like building trust in a relationship and Prayut has repeatedly broken that trust with other influential leaders and potential investors. It is not a good prelude when visiting new countries asking for their money. May and Macron will be outwardly polite, but will be privately extremely wary. 

Ultimately it will be companies who will invest and the Government won't be handing over so much as a penny.

Asking for their money.!!!!! Thailand has more money in their Coffers than the UK and many other countries"

[baboon]

4 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

Britain telling Thailand to hold "free and open elections" while at the same time they offer asylum to wanted criminals that used their wealth to buy elections in the past.

Uh huh.

Fine. Vote them out, then. An option the Thais don't have.

Is it just me this morning or what...? I see better discourse in primary schools.

[BobBKK]

I assume it's time for the embassy and consulate staff outside holding up the 'we love Prayut' placards to go back to work?  

[Dukeleto]

I really don’t mean this to be condescending but the Thai people in general (exceptions do occur (rarely)) really do need to “own” this...but like everything in Thailand....lots of promises backed up by nothing but pure ectoplasm...and when confronted by the failure of the promise...the ubiquitous “mai pen rai”. With you simply left to suck it all up!

[Yann55]

'Free and open elections'.... such as... ? ... such as the ones we've been having in the West for decades, ie :

 

1/ where everyone quacks but only money acts ?

 

2/ where a candidate without the financial support of economic powers has no chance whatesoever ?

 

3/ where a person can legally become President of a major country even though he actually received less votes than his opponent ?

 

4/ where the only candidates who stand a chance to win are the ones who, once elected, will systematically kowtow to the higher powers, ie financial and economic ?

 

5/ where the most powerful country is so devoted to serving the rich that it doesn't even have a real left-wing party ?

 

6/ where 'little' people end up voting for hysterical extreme right parties that promote racism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of hatred, simply because they feel that these politicians are the only ones who speak the truth ?

 

7/ where sycophantic populism and hypocrisy have become so common in politics that they're regarded as normal ?

 

8/ where the media belong to immensely rich people who know exactly how to use them and for what purpose ?

 

Give us a break, Theresa, will ya ? And go sweep clean your own glass house before you tell others what is right and wrong in politics.

 

 

Edited June 22, 2018 by Yann55

[madmitch]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thais residing in the UK gathered at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London to welcome Gen Prayut, voicing their support for his work.

I suppose this comment was from the Government's own news agency. I wonder how many there were? And were they all supportive? No dissenters?

[LoongJohn]

'Free and open elections' - run along the same lines as all the lies told in the run-up to the Brexit vote, perhaps? And who was it who found millions to bribe the Irish so that she and her mob could hang on to power?

[NextStationBangkok]

Sounds like English bastardization of Thai government.

 

Kim will follow the suit.?

Edited June 22, 2018 by NextStationBangkok