Abhisit warns of worsening crisis unless Parliament okays charter change

By The Nation

 

 

Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned that the solution to Thailand’s political crisis will be blocked if Parliament votes no to charter change on November 17-18.

 

 

Abhisit criticised the junta-drafted 2017 Constitution for suppressing democracy and said more political unrest would follow unless it was rewritten.

 

“Resignation [of the prime minister] and dissolution [of Parliament] without changing the rules will bring back the same problems,” Abhisit told a seminar on the Constitution and Thailand’s future on Friday.

 

Escalating pro-democracy protests are demanding the prime minister quit, Parliament be dissolved and the Constitution be rewritten.

 

“Acceptance of the charter rewrite will show that people in power are listening to [opposition] demands and truly want to open avenues for discussion that will lead to changes in Parliament,” said Abhisit.

 

He expects MPs and senators to approve some of the seven charter-change drafts tabled next week but said this would not heal the political divide. However, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha could show he was sincere about resolving the crisis by prioritising the charter rewrite as the solution, he added.

 

The same seminar was organised by the Thai Journalists Association, Committee of Relatives of the Black May 1992 Heroes, the Campaign for Popular Democracy, and other civil society organisations.

 

Adul Khiewboriboon, chairman of the Black May relatives committee, said he had initially backed Prayut to solve the political unrest, but the PM had now become an obstacle to rewriting the charter and should resign.

 

Pichai Rattanadilok na Phuket, a political science lecturer, said unelected senators represented the interests of the elite, who were trying to preserve nepotism in Thai politics and blocking amendment of Section 256 to pave the way for a charter-rewriting assembly.

 

Their action only diminished their elite-given credibility as showed they were not listening to the people’s demands, he added.

 

Sudarat Keyuraphan, chairwoman of Institute for Thailand Transformation, said past political conflicts occurred during times of greater stability, but fragile current conditions were now threatening violence that would drag the country over a precipice.

 

Prayut was wrong to claim he had done nothing wrong, she added, since he placed himself at the centre of the conflict by seizing power with an organisation that cannot be scrutinised and violating the Constitution.

 

“The current Constitution deprives people of rights and concentrates power in one spot, stopping the country from thriving. The solution is for the premier to listen and solve the problems in good faith, not just focus on clinging on to power.”

 

She said the government had no sincerity in amending the charter and was using the Constitutional Court as legal tool to favour itself.

 

It could redeem itself by preparing MPs and senators to accept charter amendment and set a deadline of December for consideration of drafts, before organising a referendum to vote on a new Constitution, she added.

 

Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn told the seminar he accepted the amendment to curb the Senate’s power but said most senators did not.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30397921?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-14

 

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11 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn told the seminar he accepted the amendment to curb the Senate’s power but said most senators did not.

there is the hard stop; cling to power

That loud bang you just heard was Mr Abhisit slamming and bolting the stable door. He has now retired to the farmhouse kitchen to resume his reading on the fascinating new concept of democracy!

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by herfiehandbag

16 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Adul Khiewboriboon, chairman of the Black May relatives committee, said he had initially backed Prayut to solve the political unrest,

 

People with a mindset like this are part of the problem.

 

They failed to see, right from the get go that the political unrest was instigated by the military in cahoots with the Suthep and the PDRC.   This, in order to justify yet another coup to squash democracy and put all power back into the hands of the elite.

 

How could anyone expect the man behind the unrest to solve the unrest. Very naive .

He could have been great but he chose to be weak. His old party could have been democratic but instead chose to lick the Army boots. The only thing he ever ethically did was quit and so we don't need Mark to decide he wants to have input now - he had his chance and squandered it.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Prayut was wrong to claim he had done nothing wrong, she added, since he placed himself at the centre of the conflict by seizing power with an organisation that cannot be scrutinised and violating the Constitution.

 

"She said the government had no sincerity in amending the charter and was using the Constitutional Court as legal tool to favour itself"

 

If ever a truth was told... CC has caused havoc in Thailand

the moment thecharter is amended, they will lose their power grip.They were not voted in, vetoed.

What this Government is doing in my opinion is nothing different then their big brothers in China are now doing to Hong Kong.  This government needs to be removed from power or there will be lots more people incarcerated and made to disappear.

An inflammatory post has been removed

I can't see the 250 appointed Senators voting for Christmas. They would be voting themselves out of power and influence. The Charter rewrite will not happen particularly any watering down of the powers of the appointed Senators. 

1 hour ago, BobBKK said:

 

Love the thought behind it and admire them greatly. Not sure it's as good as their first which gained millions of likes but let's see.

Some very thinly veiled references to a crop top there, ballsy indeed.

33 minutes ago, n00dle said:

Some very thinly veiled references to a crop top there, ballsy indeed.

Basketball sized balls. 
Social media is out of control this morning. People are not afraid anymore. Safety in numbers. 

If he who you are referring to doesn’t cut Uncle loose soon, it will be the end of him also. He doesn’t command 1% of the respect that his predecessor did.
 

Blood will be spilt, some big changes coming to LOS. I can’t see this ending any other way. 
The tide has changed. And there is a  very strong rip. It has been coming for a while, covid just delayed it.

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Pichai Rattanadilok na Phuket, a political science lecturer, said unelected senators represented the interests of the elite, who were trying to preserve nepotism in Thai politics and blocking amendment of Section 256 to pave the way for a charter-rewriting assembly.

 

“The current Constitution deprives people of rights and concentrates power in one spot, stopping the country from thriving. The solution is for the premier to listen and solve the problems in good faith, not just focus on clinging on to power.”

 

Spot on !!

I don't see anything wrong with the rich and army or ex-army in charge of Thailand.

I believe reading the history democracy don't work in Thailand. 

I see it as the Extremely rich,  the very rich and the rich run Thailand. 

21 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

I don't see anything wrong with the rich and army or ex-army in charge of Thailand.

I believe reading the history democracy don't work in Thailand. 

I see it as the Extremely rich,  the very rich and the rich run Thailand. 

Why would anybody be confused or sad.? 

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by Kwasaki

14 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

I see it as the Extremely rich,  the very rich and the rich run Thailand. 

I understand, Those that have the money make the rules in order to obtain more money and leave the poor on the outside looking in. But the Peasants will brink their pitchfork's and scythe's to wit a war will be conducted at the hands of the Government. 

3 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

I understand, Those that have the money make the rules in order to obtain more money and leave the poor on the outside looking in. But the Peasants will brink their pitchfork's and scythe's to wit a war will be conducted at the hands of the Government. 

Well If that happens I'll stay behind the line of the ones who have the big guns then. 

 

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by Kwasaki

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Abhisit warns of worsening crisis unless Parliament okays charter change

Hats off to the youth of Thailand.  Without them, no change would come.  cha cha is a dinosaur that is protecting the worst flaws of Thailand.

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Hats off to the youth of Thailand.  Without them, no change would come.  cha cha is a dinosaur that is protecting the worst flaws of Thailand.

What so good about the young Thais unless there from rich families nothing will change.

For Thais to want democracy after looking at the way the west carries they must be dumb. 

The toxic and super corrupt senators are not going to vote themselves out of power. 

 

But, they will lose their power at some point. Hopefully soon. Just like the dinosaurs did not see their own extinction coming, the army dinosaurs will be extinct soon enough. They are despised like never before. And nearly useless. At least to the masses. 

Let the revolution Begin.

 

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

more political unrest would follow unless it was rewritten.

 

Good Bye tourism - for a very long time??????

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

What so good about the young Thais unless there from rich families nothing will change.

For Thais to want democracy after looking at the way the west carries they must be dumb. 

Try Taiwan.   The west is faltering where Taiwan is thriving.   

1 minute ago, yellowboat said:

Try Taiwan.   The west is faltering where Taiwan is thriving.   

So what is happening in the Chinese controlled place Taiwan.

7 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

I don't see anything wrong with the rich and army or ex-army in charge of Thailand.

I believe reading the history democracy don't work in Thailand. 

I see it as the Extremely rich,  the very rich and the rich run Thailand. 

 

The "history" is not one of Democracy.

 

It is one of attempts at Democracy.

 

The attempts always manipulated, undermined, truncated or thwarted by that faction that has never wanted it.

 

There is only one way to deal with a situation like that in order for Democracy to finally prevail.

 

Quite likely the growing, newer generations of people who want it have not yet grasped what really has to be done........but they will.

 

They will quite likely be reluctant to do it, but, once "baptised"......... they will.

 

There is no civil solution.......there rarely has been in similar such "historic" circumstances.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by Enoon

22 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“Acceptance of the charter rewrite will show that people in power are listening to [opposition] demands and truly want to open avenues for discussion that will lead to changes in Parliament,” said Abhisit.

Everything the Prayut led government want to keep the same as it is now.

12 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Good Bye tourism - for a very long time??????

 

Why? Hasn't been in the past and unlikely to be in the future unless prolonged extreme actions occur.

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by Salerno

16 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Well If that happens I'll stay behind the line of the ones who have the big guns then. 

 

Reading suggestion..... David-Goliath.......   

11 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

So what is happening in the Chinese controlled place Taiwan.

Chinese controlled place ?    Ha ha..... I'm in Taiwan at the moment..... China's just been told, one more Jet over Taiwan and we'll shoot it down !      Chinese controlled ?