Section 44 to be enforced to ease political restrictions

supawadee wangsri

 

BANGKOK, 24 August 2018 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Wassanu Krea-ngam said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will use his executive power under Section 44 of the interim constitution to ease restrictions in order to allow political parties to partially carry out political activity. 

Political activities which will be permitted include the holding of general caucuses of political parties to recruit new memberships, express opinions on electoral constituencies, holding primary votes to select electoral candidates, forming selection panels to choose candidates and coordinating with party members, he said. 

He said that he did not foresee any issue with the premier exercising his power with Section 44. He noted that the executive order issued by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) banning political activity is equivalent to a law being amended by Section 44. 

However, he admitted that he had no idea when the prime minister would exercise his power under Section 44. 

He said the Constitution is not specific as to how the primary votes will be conducted. It merely states that opinions must be heard from party members. Mr Wissanu said he will propose a list of options for the premier to consider.

 

 

-- nnt 2018-08-25

What a joke! As if Section 44 is to be used to liberate the nation's political talk! Note that the creep quoted here does NOT say that now the political parties can FREELY discuss political issues relating to Thailand and the junta.

 

In other words - the gag order is still in place.

The interesting thing will be, after the election, which with the deck stacked as it is, he will get in, he won't be able to use section 44 anymore. 

 

It wont apply to an elected government. 

17 minutes ago, dyertribe said:

The interesting thing will be, after the election, which with the deck stacked as it is, he will get in, he won't be able to use section 44 anymore. 

 

It wont apply to an elected government. 

At the moment, yes.

57 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Section 44 to be enforced to ease political restrictions

And this political gobbledygook coming from a prospective political candidate for the Junta Party who has been electioneering all over the country while showing unbridled largesse to those who clap and cheer.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

However, he admitted that he had no idea when the prime minister would exercise his power under Section 44.

Ah that little caveat

1 hour ago, dyertribe said:

The interesting thing will be, after the election, which with the deck stacked as it is, he will get in, he won't be able to use section 44 anymore. 

 

It wont apply to an elected government. 

Don't put anything past them ...!

They will continue to do whatever they want and need to do (under whatever excuse, lie or pretext) to buttress the power of the tiny percentage of the Thai population that they serve.

44 should be called 69. Only serves their own needs.

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Deputy Prime Minister Wassanu Krea-ngam

Or better known as the man with no clue in charge of the office of I don't know.   He should just say nothing or just say the man absolute, unchecked authority has not made up his mind yet. 

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

He said the Constitution is not specific as to how the primary votes will be conducted.

That's the purpose of laws to clarify the spirit of the constitution.

Apparently no one in the Junta thought in its zeal to make it difficult for large political parties select candidates for office of how the primary would be conducted. I'd expect the EC who is charged with the conduct of the election to introduce the legislation. But it seems Prayut hasn't given that independent organization any direction.

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Mr Wissanu said he will propose a list of options for the premier to consider. 

So apparently the DPM for Legal Affairs will override EC's constitutional role on how the primary will be conducted. Rather than the NLA passing legislation, no doubt Prayut as NCPO Chief alone will make the decision. So much for developing democracy.

And who is this "premier?"

 

What a joke 

9 hours ago, Eligius said:

What a joke! As if Section 44 is to be used to liberate the nation's political talk! Note that the creep quoted here does NOT say that now the political parties can FREELY discuss political issues relating to Thailand and the junta.

 

In other words - the gag order is still in place.

......as it has been, indirectly and related, for decades. 

 

Nothing new.  

 

Yet, everyday, Thais sit around and discuss political affairs among themselves within their communities - it's the so call mainstream public attentive discourse that's always been under scrutiny and repressed. One can easily find an array of alternative news, counter-info, and the assorted dissident practice in the usual locales. Thais are free to live their everyday lives and business as they see fit - independent and self-sufficient.