PM’s meeting with parties to discuss lifting of restrictions

By THE NATION

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam

 

CALLS BY POLITICAL parties for the junta to ease its order restricting their activities ahead of the election will be discussed when their representatives meet Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on yesterday.

 

However, no exact date has been scheduled for a meeting between the government and political parties and state agencies regarding preparations for the general election, Wissanu said. He added that the meeting would be scheduled only after the new electoral law is promulgated in the Royal Gazette.

 

On Wednesday, Prayut said he expected to meet with representatives from political parties in September to discuss preparations for the election. The PM said he would meet with the political parties after the laws on MP elections and the Senate structure get Royal endorsement.

 

Relax restrictions

 

It would be the junta leader’s first meeting with political parties. The first meeting between the government and most political parties took place on Monday and was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. Politicians from most registered parties and officials from relevant agencies attended, including Wissanu.

 

Pheu Thai and Future Forward parties did not attend the meeting. Political parties have asked Prayut, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to relax restrictions in NCPO Order 53/2017 so that parties could follow the requirements of the new electoral law, such as setting up party branches and recruiting enough members for the primary vote to select candidates.

 

The meeting on Monday did not discuss relaxing the NCPO order and no participants raised the issue, according to Wissanu, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs.

 

“This issue will likely be discussed at the second meeting with political parties, which will be presided over by General Prayut,” he said on Thursday.

 

Wissanu earlier had reported that at the meeting, political parties mainly asked for a new NCPO order to be issued to waive a legal requirement for primary voting in the next |election. He said yesterday that the NCPO would have the final say on the parties’ request after they had discussed the matter with all relevant bodies.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30348876

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-29

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

On Wednesday, Prayut said he expected to meet with representatives from political parties in September to discuss preparations for the election.

Why September? Why not now?

 

The answer is simply that the Junta is cynically trying to delay any and all preparations by the parties in order to have an unfair advantage when the time comes. But, everyone and their dog knows this.

 

The strategy of the Junta is clear and reminds me of a story that I read as a child; I cannot swear to the veracity as it was a long time ago, but I believe that it was from 'Ripley's Believe it or Not';

 

In ancient India there was a ruler who understood the value of propaganda. When he set his eyes on a group/town to conquer, he would send an elephant that was covered in jewels and fine cloths to the village/home town of the intended target. On top of the elephant, sitting on a bejeweled platform, was a single yellow shoe representing the King. The elephant would be sent so that it met the opposing commander/King as he was walking, and the difference between the two entities was clear; one was obviously superior and thus the target surrendered.

 

The Junta's propaganda is quite clear; with every pronouncement they try to elevate themselves above the parties and portray themselves as the unquestioned leaders of the 'childish' politicians. How do the politicians counter this? By questioning the legitimacy, the motives, the tactics, the honesty, the arrogance , etc of the Junta at every turn, noting that if the Junta were honest, Thailand would already have an elected government.

 

Political parties; you look like supplicants at the 'meeting' called by the Junta. If you want to be taken seriously as representatives of the people, you need to show some independence and some courage.

 

If you continually act like a supplicating toady, you will forever be a supplicating toady.

 

Grow a pair.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The meeting on Monday did not discuss relaxing the NCPO order and no participants raised the issue, according to Wissanu, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs

The first meeting was not attended by key opposition, therefore pointless as an effective forum.

 

September is a long way away in terms of the current so called roadmap. Plenty of time to find various issues of National security or otherwise, to palm off the ballot.

 

 

Edited June 29, 20188 yr by coulson
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Have meeting and make rule today.

Frog-Kisser want cheat.

I embarrass for Thailand.