how did this happen?

time to roll over and play dead????

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

The fallout from this is going to be epic. When does the war start?

The day the results of the election are announced. The army will turn on its own people.

The time for the average Thai citizen to have democracy has (again) been closed! It seems, the ruling elite keep on ruling with the backing of the military.

LOS = Land of Sadness -  for those who had hoped for something better in this modern world. ???? 

Pockets of Feudalism (cronyism and corruption) still remain. 

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

The fallout from this is going to be epic. When does the war start?

let the games begin

Well, no surprises there. Was anyone seriously expecting the "election" to produce a dilution of the military dictatorship?

Edited May 15, 20197 yr by geoffrobbo

9 hours ago, unamazedloso said:

All future hopes of democracy and  a better future for Thailands now gone. A sad time indeed. The Thai people only have themselves to blame.

There is a saying,...."People have the governments they deserve" !!!

49 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

how can a government spend so much money and time,  go through a mock election just to make a mockery out of the all process not to mention mocking the people as well

Anything goes to stay in power !!!! Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac !!!!

A profane post and the replies have been removed. 

9 hours ago, ukrules said:

The fallout from this is going to be epic. When does the war start?

When the gloves come off in the "rivalry" between factions in the military. That will be a fight to the death 

13 minutes ago, JAG said:

When the gloves come off in the "rivalry" between factions in the military. That will be a fight to the death 

And IF (a big 'if') what you predict above, my friend, comes to pass, neither side of the army in internecine conflict will be fighting for the ordinary Thai people and for genuine democracy. 

You mark my words!

 

Edited May 15, 20197 yr by Eligius

5 hours ago, jesimps said:

Be nice to see what the junta fans on here have to say in response. The usual twaddle I should imagine.

As they sing on the football terraces: " it's all gone quiet over there, it's all gone quiet over there."

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Especially after the Army's recent $80 million purchase of 37 Stryker armored cars from the United States.

 

Hmm, one battalions worth? I wonder just where that battalion is based, and just where it's loyalties lie!

 

If you look at the recent purchases, they will equip a small but powerful force, enough to stand against a large, ill trained and poorly equiped ( Vietnam era) conscript army...

Edited May 15, 20197 yr by JAG

7 minutes ago, Eligius said:

And IF (a big 'if') what you predict above, my friend, comes to pass, neither side of the army in internecine conflict will be fighting for the ordinary Thai people and for genuine democracy. 

You mark my words!

 

Indeed, and the ordinary Thai people know it - that is why they are keeping out of the way!

4 hours ago, 30la said:

Ups, the Thai government and Senate are becoming more and more militarized (even the policemen are military), where does democracy remain ???

It's there floating in the currents of Baht & Satang but with a different face and name - "de-mock-acy".

1 hour ago, off road pat said:

There is a saying,...."People have the governments they deserve" !!!

Yes, I certainly heard that numerous times about America.

7 hours ago, Eligius said:

Totally agree with you, Enoon (above).

 

But what 'has to come' will not come yet. The Thais will need to hurt a lot, lot, LOT more first before they actually DO anything - in numbers that matter.

 

It's so very sad to see a beautiful and (generally) friendly people who have been so ground down and terrorised that they have actually (nearly all) lost their backbone ...

 

It’s illegal, like so many other things, to have a backbone. 

This is truly sad but not unexpected. Unfortunately the big P has the bigger pistola and he is prepared to use it. I can’t think of a single country that will have anything to say about this. Shame on them all. 

You didn't expect any different?? 

What makes me laugh is family members in the senate <deleted>. 

20 yrs of this no thx  its embarrassing how they truly believe there own bullshit 

As, mentioned the 1 % hiso elite will be very happy. 

But if  you talk to thai  friends about it they don't care. They have no voice and don't want to know. 

So Thailand 2019 run by a bunch of old corrupt criminals purely there to help themselves  and the social elite. 

 

Off topic trolling posts containing comments in violation of the following public notice have been removed:

 

 

if the pm really wanted to make Thailand happy he would not have corrupted the election. He lies every time he opens his mouth

12 hours ago, webfact said:

“Make the comparison. Look how many legislations they made in the past five years. It’s more than 500. Before that, how many did they do? It’s unparalleled.”

He must be joking, the NLA was a rubber stamp parliament, there was no opposition at all. Meanwhile when it comes to economic development, and advancement, it is indeed unparalleled, despite all the legislation, Thailand went down, not up. Best evidence why democracy is preferred above dictatorship. 

 

Prayuth, you are so full of shit, it isn't even funny.

12 hours ago, unamazedloso said:

All future hopes of democracy and  a better future for Thailands now gone. A sad time indeed. The Thai people only have themselves to blame.

How is that, the bloke staged a coup. Nobody actually voted for him. The blame is on the coup mongers and no-one else. 

6 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Warned and warned again and again on this forum but ignored and shouted down by the usual Thaksin obsessives.

 

Hope they are thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

 

Never let them forget.

Yep, some of them even now won't shut up. Despite overwhelming evidence. 

You cannot make this stuff up !!

4 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

That's not totally true. The PP Junta and current PM supporting party received the largest number of votes of any party. 7-8 million voted for them. So you've been asking the one's who didn't.

 

Whether those who voted to support PP and the Junta fully understood all the implications of having a Junta party probably forming the next government, with a Junta appointed senate is debatable. They will soon understand now they've got what they voted for.

 

It seems a decision was taken to stop one faction ever gaining control again, stop the musical chairs and the alternating of power between factions. One group has come out on top and will do everything to stay there.

 

As for the 90% of the population who don't control the wealth - no one really cares what they think or want. Which sadly is in line with most countries these days.

Hmm, of course you conveniently forget that PTP was sabotaged and was only able to contest the elections in 250 out of 350 constituencies, and despite this fact STILL WON the election, where it won over half of the constituencies it actually did field candidates, considering this little tidbit, they added another conclusive election win. 

 

Futhermore, there is a clear majority for the anti junta block. And without the EC trying to cheat, the pro junta block cannot muster a normal majority in parliament. 

 

Of course the democrats might join the pro junta block, but since they campaigned to not do just that, it is very safe to say, that the vast majority of the Thai electorate has said NO to Prayuth. 

 

Of course, with all the cheating, he still stands a reasonable chance to become the next PM, but if the electorate had any say, he would have no chance at all. 

5 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

Hmm, of course you conveniently forget that PTP was sabotaged and was only able to contest the elections in 250 out of 350 constituencies, and despite this fact STILL WON the election, where it won over half of the constituencies it actually did field candidates, considering this little tidbit, they added another conclusive election win. 

 

Futhermore, there is a clear majority for the anti junta block. And without the EC trying to cheat, the pro junta block cannot muster a normal majority in parliament. 

 

Of course the democrats might join the pro junta block, but since they campaigned to not do just that, it is very safe to say, that the vast majority of the Thai electorate has said NO to Prayuth. 

 

Of course, with all the cheating, he still stands a reasonable chance to become the next PM, but if the electorate had any say, he would have no chance at all. 

22% voted for the Junta. 78% voted for others. Can't think anyone can say that they won the popular vote!!!????????????????

34 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

22% voted for the Junta. 78% voted for others. Can't think anyone can say that they won the popular vote!!!????????????????

Thailand does not have a popular vote system anymore. Getting the most votes, is absolutely meaningless, more so since the party list votes have been abandoned. Replaced by a formula that is anything but democratic and sees PTP with 8 million votes, no grabbing even a single Party list vote, and 11 parties that didn't even get enough votes for a single seat, now all been awarded a seat by the EC.

 

The cheating continues, yet still no majority for the pro junta party ????

Today both The Nation and the Bangkok Post have led with articles damning the Government, but; and this is key; not the current military Government but the upcoming Government of a new "democratic" era.

Are these English language newspapers testing the boundaries? Are Thai language papers also speaking out strongly?

How, or if, the new Government responds to criticism could be telling for the future press freedoms, and for those of the general public in Thailand.

16 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

Thailand does not have a popular vote system anymore. Getting the most votes, is absolutely meaningless, more so since the party list votes have been abandoned. Replaced by a formula that is anything but democratic and sees PTP with 8 million votes, no grabbing even a single Party list vote, and 11 parties that didn't even get enough votes for a single seat, now all been awarded a seat by the EC.

 

The cheating continues, yet still no majority for the pro junta party ????

you don't need a majority, just guns, lots of guns.

15 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

you don't need a majority, just guns, lots of guns.

And Armored cars, don't forget the Armored cars.......