Who will vote for hypocrisy?

By The Nation

 

 

Prayut Chan-o-cha says he is building democracy, but what a frightening ‘democracy’ that must be

 

If political reform truly matters to the junta generals led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, they must end their hypocrisy and allow genuine public participation in the way the country is governed.

 

Prayut again exercised his “special powers” last week, this time to ease restrictions on political activities so that parties planning to contest the coming general election can begin preparing. 

 

While some doubt remains as to whether the election will in fact ever be allowed to take place, the parties can at least begin assembling members for meetings to choose their leaders, 

 

candidates and executive teams. What Prayut decided not to endorse, however, was a proposed primary-style voting system that would have given the broader party membership a louder voice in candidate selection.

 

And nor, for now at least, can the parties announce their campaign platforms.

 

All that the junta has done is to unscrew the lid a little, thus releasing some of the steam pressure mounting on it. Severe restrictions and draconian regulations remain in place to gag citizens wishing to express political opinions. This must be the case, the generals say, for the sake of peace, order and public security. That rationale might be credible if the junta wasn’t selectively applying the rules and blatantly suppressing potential electoral competitors.

 

On Monday members of the progressive new Future Forward Party were charged under the Computer Crimes Act for live-streaming a broadcast on Facebook in June critical of the junta. The same day, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission forced a television station to temporarily suspend two political commentators, reportedly because they talked too much about Thaksin Shinawatra. Both of these incidents occurred just as the secretary-general of the United Nations condemned Thailand in a report on rights abuses that counted the Kingdom among 38 “shameful” countries where activists were routinely intimidated.

 

If political rivals remain under the heels of Army boots, Prayut and his supporters, including politicians who have pledged to help him return as premier after the election, are enjoying privileged access to national funding. 

 

Prayut was in northeastern Loei province on Monday urging thousands of people to help him maintain peace and order so that the election can proceed and his government needn’t be accused of plotting a further postponement. That’s happened several times when perceived threats arose, stoking suspicions that they were contrived as justification for the military to cling to power.

 

Bafflingly, Prayut also asked local administrators to help his government “build democracy”. Sounding like Donald Trump, he said, “Don’t listen to distorted information.” 

 

“We are building a castle, a home for us all. We are building democracy and making it strong. Devotion and sacrifice from all of us will strengthen this castle of democracy and prevent it from collapsing.”

 

The remarks can be seen as nothing other than an insult to the intelligence of people around the world. The military-led government has engineered legal trickery to perpetuate its hold on power, restricted public freedoms and thrown critics in jail. Such actions don’t build democracy but destroy it.

 

If the election is to take place on February 24, the junta has roughly five months to change direction 180 degrees. Democracy demands a knowledgeable electorate able to choose among viable alternative candidates who are allowed to present their views freely. Nothing less is acceptable.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30354751

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-19

"...If political reform truly matters to the junta generals led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, they must end their hypocrisy and allow genuine public participation in the way the country is governed..."

 

Er... Ahem... Oh...

 

Political reform does NOT truly matter to the Junta generals led by Prayut. It matters NOT in the slightest.

 

Are you just realizing that now?

 

Doh!

 

The very worst outcome for an 'election' is that it is rigged yet somehow the Junta can claim legitimacy. Better no election than one which can be used as a propaganda exercise.

 

Given the blatant cheating that is occurring daily, the parties should be actively considering a boycott.

 

Better no election rather than one that gives false legitimacy.

 

The world's perception of Thailand is not helped by Myanmar & Cambodia. 

Most will think military rule and suppression of human rights is the norm in this corner of Asia.

Strong, direct, and pointed editorial piece. 

Considering from the source of origination. 

 

Perhaps, the tide is turning within these circles, as well. 

 

Would be much more valuable if such messages were repeated valiantly throughout the Thai-language mainstream broadsheets.

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

The world's perception of Thailand is not helped by Myanmar & Cambodia. 

Most will think military rule and suppression of human rights is the norm in this corner of Asia.

Quite true... Thailand can easily appear to be a shining beacon of democracy and good governance when compared to it's neighbours. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Who will vote for hypocrisy?

Too Many!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut Chan-o-cha says he is building democracy, but what a frightening ‘democracy’ that must be

the real leaders of today's thailand want to lock the country down

7 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

the real leaders of today's thailand want to lock the country down

....and yesterday's leaders.

 

3 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Strong, direct, and pointed editorial piece. 

Considering from the source of origination. 

 

Perhaps, the tide is turning within these circles, as well. 

 

Would be much more valuable if such messages were repeated valiantly throughout the Thai-language mainstream broadsheets.

I assume the editor already has a hawker cart and boxes of Mama noodles in the garage to be prepared for his/her future.

                                                       "Junta critics taken off Voice TV" 

I'm quite surprised the writer and the newspaper had the gonads to print that. 

After the election there will be more greedy fingers in the pie of Thailand GDP. to the detriment of Thailand's poor who are easily bribed to part with their votes for petty cash .

I never comment on the politics of another country for obvious reasons.

All I will relate is something told to me by a friend years ago during an election.

His staff got the day off to vote and the next day he was talking to his office manageress and asked  who did you vote for?

She answered so he asked why did you vote for him.

Answer   Because he is very rich.

He never asked anyone else, just smiled and said  OK. ?

On a subject such as this the word "ineptocrat" immediately springs to mind. Can't understand why!

Definition:

"A member of government least capable to lead and least capable of producing. A member of government least likely to inconvenience himself/herself or to understand the nature of a constitutionally elected democracy, a free economy and the consequences of implementing and maintaining a welfare state. A member of government mistakenly convinced of his/her superiority, infallibility and indispensability". 

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

I used quotes around "Western democracies" because of course they are not democracies at all. Their democracy has been corrupted by campaign financing and Western governments role not is merely to service the needs of business even at the expense of their citizens

Democracy is not perfect so does all the rest of the political system be it socialist or communist and none can prevent corruption. What democracy provide is the freedom of speech and media which exposes corruption to the people who can decide their voting decision. 

17 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...If political reform truly matters to the junta generals led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, they must end their hypocrisy and allow genuine public participation in the way the country is governed..."

 

Er... Ahem... Oh...

 

Political reform does NOT truly matter to the Junta generals led by Prayut. It matters NOT in the slightest.

 

Are you just realizing that now?

 

Doh! 

Would you prefer it if The Nation didn't write anything about the current situation?

 

At least they are trying to take a stand against what's going on.

17 hours ago, Thailand said:

The world's perception of Thailand is not helped by Myanmar & Cambodia. 

Most will think military rule and suppression of human rights is the norm in this corner of Asia.

It is

 You forgot to add Vietnam and Laos

17 hours ago, webfact said:

That rationale might be credible if the junta wasn’t selectively applying the rules and blatantly suppressing potential electoral competitors.

Anyone surprised ?  At least we will not have to listen to the Shinawatras haters moan about vote buying.  Of course, the Shinawatras did not have to stoop at all.  They campaigned to a large block ignored by most of the Bangkok dandies, fops wrapped in yellow.

17 hours ago, webfact said:

If political rivals remain under the heels of Army boots, Prayut and his supporters, including politicians who have pledged to help him return as premier after the election, are enjoying privileged access to national funding

It seems like the man on the white horse, the savior of modern day Thailand, is committing far worse nefarious acts than Thaksin was ever charged with.   Sort of like A44 vote buying.   

I'm not sure that the so called democracy we have in the west is better than what Thais have now.

Lucky there wasn't more than 5 people supporting the Hypocrisy Party; could face goal.

Strong, direct, and pointed editorial piece. 
Considering from the source of origination. 
 
Perhaps, the tide is turning within these circles, as well. 
 
Would be much more valuable if such messages were repeated valiantly throughout the Thai-language mainstream broadsheets.

It's a good start.

Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

On 9/19/2018 at 4:58 AM, webfact said:

Who will vote for hypocrisy?

In Thailand, apparently, many, if handed 2-3 of the below...

 

Edited September 20, 20187 yr by StayinThailand2much

On 9/19/2018 at 5:28 AM, Thailand said:

The world's perception of Thailand is not helped by Myanmar & Cambodia. 

Most will think military rule and suppression of human rights is the norm in this corner of Asia.

Sounds like a reasonable perception. 

How many Thais have a clue at all what they are voting for. The last charter being a prime example.

7 hours ago, DrTuner said:

How many Thais have a clue at all what they are voting for. The last charter being a prime example.

Better chance that there are a greater percentage of Thais that are clued-in and connected than many give them kudos for.