Four ministers from Thailand's military government launch new party ahead of polls

 

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha gestures during his visit at Thai Union company in Samut Sakhon, Thailand, March 5, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Four ministers from Thailand's military government launched a new political party on Saturday, amid speculation they will back Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to remain in power beyond a general election promised by May. 

 

May next year is the most recent deadline Prayuth's junta has set for a vote its critics hope will return Thailand to civilian rule after more than four years of military government, although it has repeatedly extended the timeline.

 

The Palang Pracharat party, whose name is an echo of the military government's economic and social development policy, will be led by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, who vowed to help Thailand overcome its political divide. 

 

"We have wasted enough time and opportunity to develop our country," Uttama told reporters and party members at the launch, referring to decade-long political conflicts between supporters of ousted premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra and the pro-military royalist establishment. 

 

The announcement came days after Prayuth said he was "interested in politics." The four ministers are the first of Prayuth's cabinet members to form a political party, possibly to support his role in the next election. Like Prayuth, the ministers said they would not resign from their current posts. 

 

Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, the party's secretary-general, said Palang Pracharat was not about prolonging military rule as it was "not affiliated with the military" and had "no military members."  

 

Asked whether the party would support Prayuth to stay on as prime minister, Sontirat said: "We still don't know how he will decide and which party he will join ... We'll have to wait to hear more from him."

 

"We'll choose the best person for the country," he added.

 

The party's other founders include Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee and Kobsak Pootrakool, minister attached to the prime minister's office. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-30

3 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Four ministers from Thailand's military government launched a new political party on Saturday, amid speculation they will back Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to remain in power

course they will, it is thew only way they can keep their jobs

"...Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, the party's secretary-general, said Palang Pracharat was not about prolonging military rule as it was "not affiliated with the military" and had "no military members."  

 

Asked whether the party would support Prayuth to stay on as prime minister, Sontirat said: "We still don't know how he will decide and which party he will join ... We'll have to wait to hear more from him..."

 

 

I was going to comment that I am tired of having my intelligence insulted, but this is sooooooo stupid that I assume that Sontirat's comments were meant as a joke and Reuters did not get it.

 

On the other hand, this is soooooooo insulting to the intelligence of everyone who has a modicum of intelligence that it may well be true; it is not like the Junta has any respect for anyone or anything, do they?

 

Sad, sad times for beloved Thailand...

 

^{This is a totally contrived, manipulated, pre-ordained, FAKE, futile, election-in-name-only election with a predetermined outcome, to be held sometime in the future, currently under "month-itis", having graduated from "year-itis" (under pressure).}

“Be fruitful and multiply”
Biblical or mathematical concept?

And the regime digs in more.

58 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Four ministers from Thailand's military government launch new party ahead of polls

 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

military government launch new party ahead of polls

Given that a lot of people expect to see it as an accident waiting to happen, perhaps the spelling should be: "military government launch new party ahead of poles"

 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

"We still don't know how he will decide and which party he will join ... We'll have to wait to hear more from him."

In other words, we haven't a clue who we are going to appear to be loyal to . . . it'll all depend on the brownies, of course.

I'm more optimistic than others. This regime is highly unpopular and they will unable to manufacture a win because the the vote against them will a landslide

1 minute ago, Dave67 said:

I'm more optimistic than others. This regime is highly unpopular and they will unable to manufacture a win because the the vote against them will a landslide

 

Love your optimism. You're definitely a glass half full kind of guy.

Can only hope you are right.

 

Oh no, out come the guns and tanks again!

Just now, neeray said:

 

Love your optimism. You're definitely a glass half full kind of guy.

Can only hope you are right.

 

Oh no, out come the guns and tanks again!

I am going by the example of the Malaysian Election in May. Everyone thought the current party/ PM would win because otherwise many of them would end up in jail so a manufactured win was expected. The loss was so heavy the PM had to concede defeat . He and many others have been arrested and facing trial and ultimately jail

59 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

I am going by the example of the Malaysian Election in May. Everyone thought the current party/ PM would win because otherwise many of them would end up in jail so a manufactured win was expected. The loss was so heavy the PM had to concede defeat . He and many others have been arrested and facing trial and ultimately jail

I am in your optimism camp and think he is in for a setback. He is a liability to any party he wish to align and the sad fact is he doesn’t know just how unpopular and unelectable he is. Most Thais don’t have respect for him and see him as a non charismatic, temperamental, non visionary, unintelligent and lacking congeniality to be PM. He has yet to achieve any thing and all his policies are copied from Thaksin’s former FM Somkid. As in the past, military aligned parties fared badly in election post coups and this coming election will be no different. All these negativities will not stop him from seeking outside methods to be in power. Power has intoxicated him. 

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"We'll choose the best person for the country," he added.

Great . . . so that rules out the cardboard commandant.

4 minutes ago, Ossy said:

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"We'll choose the best person for the country," he added.

Great . . . so that rules out the cardboard commandant.

Hmm, I'd expected you to have said the cardboard version of the two had more personality.

 

Thailand's military does not need a new party.

 

It already has one of its own. The armed forces. They don't need electoral votes as they have democratic bullets that put them in power.

 

Democracy is dead in Thailand and the next election will underline this fact.

 

All those morons who supported the coup either by action or opinion are the ones who made this happen. They have no reason to make any negative comments about the current situation since it is all their fault.

 

Suck it up , you got what you deserve. A military government totally unaccountable and beyond the law.

 

 

..... they did this without a meeting of 5 or more people??

 

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"We have wasted enough time and opportunity to develop our country,"

 

How true. Over four years to be exact.

8 hours ago, Dave67 said:

I'm more optimistic than others. This regime is highly unpopular and they will unable to manufacture a win because the the vote against them will a landslide

Don't the rules of this election give them some time (I'm sure I read 60 days somewhere) to announce the result?

 

Plenty of time for some "creative accounting".

I hope that there is a resounding 'thumbs down' from the Thai people at the election (if it happens) towards the junta as it will send a very clear and needed message. I also hope that the Future Forward Party does really well as it is the only one that represents younger people and the future. Surely/Hopefully, the same old dinosaurs have had their day. Yes, maybe dreaming as the election will probably be fixed or it won't happen...but can still hope.

8 hours ago, Dave67 said:

I'm more optimistic than others. This regime is highly unpopular and they will unable to manufacture a win because the the vote against them will a landslide

 

Really...

20 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

I hope that there is a resounding 'thumbs down' from the Thai people at the election (if it happens) towards the junta as it will send a very clear and needed message. I also hope that the Future Forward Party does really well as it is the only one that represents younger people and the future. Surely/Hopefully, the same old dinosaurs have had their day. Yes, maybe dreaming as the election will probably be fixed or it won't happen...but can still hope.

PROBABLY be fixed? It already is now...

A troll post containing a disallowed reference to the PM has been removed. 

10 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, the party's secretary-general, said Palang Pracharat was not about prolonging military rule as it was "not affiliated with the military" and had "no military members."  

 

Asked whether the party would support Prayuth to stay on as prime minister, Sontirat said: "We still don't know how he will decide and which party he will join ... We'll have to wait to hear more from him..."

 

 

I was going to comment that I am tired of having my intelligence insulted, but this is sooooooo stupid that I assume that Sontirat's comments were meant as a joke and Reuters did not get it.

 

On the other hand, this is soooooooo insulting to the intelligence of everyone who has a modicum of intelligence that it may well be true; it is not like the Junta has any respect for anyone or anything, do they?

 

Sad, sad times for beloved Thailand...

 

....and a rich irony that is more amusing for those who have understood the long working of Thai politics, historically. 

Don't really require a surface Military Political Party, as Thailand has been dominated by the under tones of the military, in all facets, for ages. The fact that a military political presence has always been overwhelmingly represented by the all encompassing influential ones and then attempt to pass themselves off as something they're not - for decades......adds to the harbouring irony that is Thailand.

1 hour ago, Sir Dude said:

I hope that there is a resounding 'thumbs down' from the Thai people at the election (if it happens) towards the junta as it will send a very clear and needed message. I also hope that the Future Forward Party does really well as it is the only one that represents younger people and the future. Surely/Hopefully, the same old dinosaurs have had their day. Yes, maybe dreaming as the election will probably be fixed or it won't happen...but can still hope.

Yet, any hypothetical opposition that takes the majority is still in danger of being overthrown [again] by the ever-manipulated military coups - simply because they'll always be around even under so call civilian governments. 

11 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

• this is soooooooo insulting to the intelligence

 

8 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Most Thais don’t have respect for him and see him as a non charismatic, temperamental, non visionary, unintelligent and lacking congeniality to be PM. He has yet to achieve any thing and all his policies are copied from Thaksin’s former FM Somkid. As in the past, military aligned parties fared badly in election post coups and this coming election will be no different.

But that is the worry.  All these stupid people with guns in uniforms.  If their posteriors do get handed to them,  they will not handle it well.  Hope it happens.  Hope Shinawertas, PTP and the Future Forward Party tear the junta apart verbally.  Just get feeling it will be very ugly no matter what happens.  

4 hours ago, Denim said:

Thailand's military does not need a new party.

 

It already has one of its own. The armed forces. They don't need electoral votes as they have democratic bullets that put them in power.

 

Democracy is dead in Thailand and the next election will underline this fact.

 

All those morons who supported the coup either by action or opinion are the ones who made this happen. They have no reason to make any negative comments about the current situation since it is all their fault.

 

Suck it up , you got what you deserve. A military government totally unaccountable and beyond the law.

 

 

What laws might you be referencing?

20 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

 

But that is the worry.  All these stupid people with guns in uniforms.  If their posteriors do get handed to them,  they will not handle it well.  Hope it happens.  Hope Shinawertas, PTP and the Future Forward Party tear the junta apart verbally.  Just get feeling it will be very ugly no matter what happens.  

We shall be awaiting the revolution.

.....which will not be televised. 

 

????

50 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

 

But that is the worry.  All these stupid people with guns in uniforms.  If their posteriors do get handed to them,  they will not handle it well.  Hope it happens.  Hope Shinawertas, PTP and the Future Forward Party tear the junta apart verbally.  Just get feeling it will be very ugly no matter what happens.  

It is a new dawn that may see the military as a power threat more than a revolution. Political parties may have tapped into this power already and have been bold in their verbal attack. 

12 hours ago, JAG said:

Don't the rules of this election give them some time (I'm sure I read 60 days somewhere) to announce the result?

 

Plenty of time for some "creative accounting".

I sincerely hope that is not the case. 2 months of wheeling and dealing to get the right result for the PM