Elite cements its rule

[webfact]

Elite cements its rule

By The Nation

 

 

With the Senate selected, the junta’s main strategy for holding on to power is successfully completed

 

What was the point of this country spending Bt5.8 billion to hold a general election, plus Bt1.3 billion to select a Senate, if the result is that General Prayut Chan-o-cha continues in power?

 

We could add the Bt131.5 billion poured into so-called national reform. It too achieved nothing for the country, aside from cementing the vicious circle of authoritarian rule.

 

General Prayut and his troops staged a coup in May 2014 that toppled an elected civilian government and have since ruled the country via the power of the gun, suppressing all opposition, destroying political institutions and eradicating the rule of law principle.

 

The so-called reform agenda is nothing but a smokescreen erected by an authoritarian regime of the military, top bureaucrats, business conglomerates and a tiny civilian elite. The regime’s core aim is to maintain the status quo, ruled by a traditional and wealthy elite, that has ignored the “lower-class” majority.

 

But since political legitimacy requires people participation, the junta designed a crooked process to place its supporters in the legislative bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

 

The anti-democratic farce to select 250 senators was as opaque as it was costly. The junta-sponsored charter

 

 indicates that Senate candidates were picked by the selection committee, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order, as well as chiefs of security and the armed forces. No candidate list was made available for public scrutiny.

 

The selection committee proposed the names of 400 “good people” to the junta, which had its own quota of 50 Senate seats. The Defence ministry’s permanent secretary, chiefs of the supreme command, Army, Navy, Air Force and police were handed six more seats. 

 

The remainder were handpicked by Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan before his boss Prayut passed the list on for Royal endorsement yesterday. 

 

Among our new senators are some 100 serving and retiring military and police officers, making up 40 per cent of the upper house. Prawit also picked more than 50 members of the rubber-stamp National Legislative Assembly, and 15 Cabinet ministers.

 

The high-cost Senate has only two core functions: to install Prayut as the country’s next prime minister and to be guardian for the junta’s 20-year national strategy.

 

The first task could be tricky, as a simple majority of the two houses combined is required to install a prime minister. Assured of support from all 250 of his handpicked senators, Prayut needs the backing of only 126 elected MPs to retain his post, while his rivals will need 376 votes in the lower house to overcome Senate opposition.

 

Results of the nearly Bt6 billion general election held on March 24 are currently being twisted to ensure the pro-junta bloc forms the government under Prayut. The Election Commission, appointed by junta lawmakers, has chosen a calculation method for party-list MPs that tips the balance in favour of the pro-junta faction.

 

It now has 255 seats in its pocket, a slight majority in the lower house that will do little to enhance the new government’s stability. 

 

That government is currently being forged in the heat of frenzied horse trading as pro-junta parties seek to gain control of the most “valuable” (and lucrative) ministries. In order to leverage their bargaining power, political leaders are suggesting they might switch camps. This self-serving spectacle does nothing for political development or the hopes of voters they claim to represent.

 

Almost certain is that this country has spent huge amounts of money merely to legitimise the perpetuation in power of the junta leaders and their regime. Investing in this self-serving elite has been a huge waste of national resources.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30369412

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-15

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Chang_paarp]

An interesting summary and somewhat outspoken. Interesting that there is no by-line for the thought police to follow up on.

[canuckamuck]

If you think corruption was rampant before. Stay tuned.

[gk10002000]

32 minutes ago, Chang_paarp said:

An interesting summary and somewhat outspoken. Interesting that there is no by-line for the thought police to follow up on.

Yes it is a surprisingly critical article that I doubt the Junta would like

[donnacha]

This crudely orchestrated fix has condemned Thailand to at least a decade of kleptocracy, dumb decisions, economic catastrophe and the wholesale sell-off of the country to the only player willing to buy with no questions asked: China.

Since the election, the drop-off in spending by regular Thais has been clear. People are worried. Most had assumed that some measure of economic competence would be re-introduced now that the nation's happiness has been restored.

I predict, as the economy slumps, we will see some wildly populist policies launched for distraction purposes. The target could be alcohol, or the Internet, or Burmese immigrants, or it could very well be Westerners, especially the trashy ones who inexplicably fail to stay in five-star hotels for a week and then fly back to Farangland. They no good.

Strap in, it's going to get bumpy.

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Investing in this self-serving elite

self-serving elite investing in themselves, what a great gig...for them, at our expense

[KiChakayan]

Don't give a f...k anymore. It took me three years to understand that this country is acutely dysfunctional. We have to find our own workarounds..

[Thailand]

I wonder what they will call article 44 now? But they still have the democratic guns so I suppose that is enough.

[PatOngo]

That adds an interesting dimension to "Free and Fair Elections"! I guess something is lost in the translation.

[Lungstib]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

since ruled the country via the power of the gun, suppressing all opposition, destroying political institutions and eradicating the rule of law principle.

 

A perfect summation of the events that has taken 5 years to grow in the minds of the writers and is still not headlines in any news media. Thailand is still waiting for the 'good people' who are not blind to this countries problems of military influence to stand up and speak the truth. What prevails instead is a silence brought on by fear of long term arrest. If you are not brave enough to challenge it then you have to put up with what you get. Now is the time.

[Eligius]

Thailand needs radical political and societal revision from top to bottom, left to right, sideways, forwards and backwards (well, we've had more than enough of the backwards lurch recently, haven't we?!).

 

But I don't see such societal reform coming - not even in the next 20 years.

[Cadbury]

So the dirty deed has been done by a barefaced military with a shameless leader. Planned and executed for the benefit for the generals, their relatives and friends and the filthy rich 1%. 

The future for remaining Thais outside this clique looks bleak. 

[OneMoreFarang]

And why did the 2014 coup happen?

If Thaksin and his little sister would have worked for all Thais and Thailand that would not have happened.

Democratically elected? Yes. Criminals? Yes!

The courts should never have allowed Thaksin's "honest mistakes" then we would not have had two decades with this criminal and his minions.

The coups happened for a reason. People gave flowers to the soldiers for a reason. Decent people don't want to be ruled by criminal corrupt politicians. And if a coup if the only way to get rid of the criminals then that's it.

Don't confuse cause and effect!

[colinneil]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And why did the 2014 coup happen?

If Thaksin and his little sister would have worked for all Thais and Thailand that would not have happened.

Democratically elected? Yes. Criminals? Yes!

The courts should never have allowed Thaksin's "honest mistakes" then we would not have had two decades with this criminal and his minions.

The coups happened for a reason. People gave flowers to the soldiers for a reason. Decent people don't want to be ruled by criminal corrupt politicians. And if a coup if the only way to get rid of the criminals then that's it.

Don't confuse cause and effect!

So you are blaming the Shinawatra family for the coup.

Since 1932 when Thailand changed to a constitutional monarchy, how many coups have taken place?

18/19 I THINK, so Thaksins family have sod all to do with coups.

 

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, colinneil said:

So you are blaming the Shinawatra family for the coup.

Since 1932 when Thailand changed to a constitutional monarchy, how many coups have taken place?

18/19 I THINK, so Thaksins family have sod all to do with coups.

They were just the last two 'fall guys'.

[jerojero]

Did anyone actually expect a true democratic result? Military rule by another name hoping fir legitimacy because some citizens were allowed to be elected.

Elite cements its rule
By The Nation
 

 
With the Senate selected, the junta’s main strategy for holding on to power is successfully completed
 
What was the point of this country spending Bt5.8 billion to hold a general election, plus Bt1.3 billion to select a Senate, if the result is that General Prayut Chan-o-cha continues in power?
 
We could add the Bt131.5 billion poured into so-called national reform. It too achieved nothing for the country, aside from cementing the vicious circle of authoritarian rule.
 
General Prayut and his troops staged a coup in May 2014 that toppled an elected civilian government and have since ruled the country via the power of the gun, suppressing all opposition, destroying political institutions and eradicating the rule of law principle.
 
The so-called reform agenda is nothing but a smokescreen erected by an authoritarian regime of the military, top bureaucrats, business conglomerates and a tiny civilian elite. The regime’s core aim is to maintain the status quo, ruled by a traditional and wealthy elite, that has ignored the “lower-class” majority.
 
But since political legitimacy requires people participation, the junta designed a crooked process to place its supporters in the legislative bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
 
The anti-democratic farce to select 250 senators was as opaque as it was costly. The junta-sponsored charter
 
 indicates that Senate candidates were picked by the selection committee, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order, as well as chiefs of security and the armed forces. No candidate list was made available for public scrutiny.
 
The selection committee proposed the names of 400 “good people” to the junta, which had its own quota of 50 Senate seats. The Defence ministry’s permanent secretary, chiefs of the supreme command, Army, Navy, Air Force and police were handed six more seats. 
 
The remainder were handpicked by Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan before his boss Prayut passed the list on for Royal endorsement yesterday. 
 
Among our new senators are some 100 serving and retiring military and police officers, making up 40 per cent of the upper house. Prawit also picked more than 50 members of the rubber-stamp National Legislative Assembly, and 15 Cabinet ministers.
 
The high-cost Senate has only two core functions: to install Prayut as the country’s next prime minister and to be guardian for the junta’s 20-year national strategy.
 
The first task could be tricky, as a simple majority of the two houses combined is required to install a prime minister. Assured of support from all 250 of his handpicked senators, Prayut needs the backing of only 126 elected MPs to retain his post, while his rivals will need 376 votes in the lower house to overcome Senate opposition.
 
Results of the nearly Bt6 billion general election held on March 24 are currently being twisted to ensure the pro-junta bloc forms the government under Prayut. The Election Commission, appointed by junta lawmakers, has chosen a calculation method for party-list MPs that tips the balance in favour of the pro-junta faction.
 
It now has 255 seats in its pocket, a slight majority in the lower house that will do little to enhance the new government’s stability. 
 
That government is currently being forged in the heat of frenzied horse trading as pro-junta parties seek to gain control of the most “valuable” (and lucrative) ministries. In order to leverage their bargaining power, political leaders are suggesting they might switch camps. This self-serving spectacle does nothing for political development or the hopes of voters they claim to represent.
 
Almost certain is that this country has spent huge amounts of money merely to legitimise the perpetuation in power of the junta leaders and their regime. Investing in this self-serving elite has been a huge waste of national resources.
 
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30369412
 

-- [emoji2398] Copyright The Nation 2019-05-15 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[tominbkk]

The real winner here is the elite of the elite, if you know what I mean.

[Denim]

26 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

People gave flowers to the soldiers for a reason. Decent people don't want to be ruled by criminal corrupt politicians. And if a coup if the only way to get rid of the criminals then that's it.

People gave flowers to the soldiers because they were gullible and stupid. ( great selfie opportunity too )

If people do not want to be ruled by corrupt politicians you would think that they would probably not want to be ruled by an even more corrupt military.

A coup was not the only way to remove the elected government . The correct way is to persuade the populace to vote for someone else.

But for this to work opposition parties need to take in the needs of all the people not just city dwellers.

 

Still , its water under the bridge now and we can only hope the gullible idiots that supported the coup are satisfied to be ruled by a corrupt , criminal and unaccountable government dominated by a hand picked bunch of lackeys totally unqualified for the positions they have been given.

 

 

 

[KiChakayan]

28 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

So the dirty deed has been done by a barefaced military with a shameless leader. Planned and executed for the benefit for the generals, their relatives and friends and the filthy rich 1%. 

The future for remaining Thais outside this clique looks bleak. 

Indeed.

[yellowboat]

Great article but too late and not enough of them.  Most on this forum saw it coming years ago. 

[baboon]

2 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

An interesting summary and somewhat outspoken. Interesting that there is no by-line for the thought police to follow up on.

But much too little too late. This was all blindingly obvious from the moment the sham constitution was announced. Not much use in objecting when you went along with it in the first place.

[LongTang]

The only thing that really amazes me is that the offices of "The Nation" haven't been raided yet.

 

But i guess its only a matter of time..

[KiChakayan]

2 minutes ago, LongTang said:

The only thing that really amazes me is that the offices of "The Nation" haven't been raided yet.

 

But i guess its only a matter of time..

Naahhh, we have a democracy now...

[Denim]

16 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Great article but too late and not enough of them.  Most on this forum saw it coming years ago. 

 

That's the Nation for you. Supported the coup and now having second thoughts. Baffoons.

[Mainhattencitizen]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And why did the 2014 coup happen?

If Thaksin and his little sister would have worked for all Thais and Thailand that would not have happened.

Democratically elected? Yes. Criminals? Yes!

The courts should never have allowed Thaksin's "honest mistakes" then we would not have had two decades with this criminal and his minions.

The coups happened for a reason. People gave flowers to the soldiers for a reason. Decent people don't want to be ruled by criminal corrupt politicians. And if a coup if the only way to get rid of the criminals then that's it.

Don't confuse cause and effect!

I think you are the one that is confused. Corruption from Thaksin is not different from the corruption from the junta

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And why did the 2014 coup happen?

Because it was planned in 2009 right after Yingluck won the election. Only the imbeciles are still asking for the cause.

[mok199]

This is the end of school uniforms , replace by Military issue Camouflage.... left right left right left...same same but different..

[Captain_Bob]

[MaxLee]

It was Coup in advance

[CMNightRider]

Since the Junta and all their cronies have taken over Thailand, look for Thai Immigration to implement more idiotic requirements for western retirees to qualify for a one year visa extension.  You can bet the 90 day checkin requirement isn't going anyplace, unless immigration goes with a 60 day checkin. 

 

Look for serious fines regarding late filing for TM forms.  Mandatory health insurance is going to be implemented soon.  Think about all the retirees in their seventies and eighties and how that will affect them.  Don't be surprised if immigration raises the financial requirements too.  The Thai bankers are licking their chops thinking about all that free money coming their way.    

 

I believe the western retirees who will be most effected are those with Thai families.  Many of those people are already being forced to leave their Thai families monthly as their visa extensions come due.  The slogan "Land of Smiles" is slowly fading away into the sunset.