Thailand pledges commitment to democracy, despite without invite to U.S. democracy summit

[Jerno]

Same as other democratic countries?  Such other countries do not have military coups and fake constitutions, nor jail people for voicing opinions.  Bloody hypocrite!

[CartagenaWarlock]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

stressing that the Kingdom will remain committed to democratic values and human rights.

The first thing in democracy is to have a fair election and elect a PM elected by People. Thailand severely lacks basic understanding of what a democracy is.

[Gulfsailor]

49 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

The first thing in democracy is to have a fair election and elect a PM elected by People. Thailand severely lacks basic understanding of what a democracy is.

Uhm, I can’t come up with any country where the PM is elected by the people. As the head of government he/she is generally appointed by the (elected) legislature. You’re confused with a president who is head of the state and in democratic countries is elected by the people. Since Thailand is a monarchy this is not applicable as the king is head of state. 

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, Gulfsailor said:

Uhm, I can’t come up with any country where the PM is elected by the people. As the head of government he/she is generally appointed by the (elected) legislature. You’re confused with a president who is head of the state and in democratic countries is elected by the people. Since Thailand is a monarchy this is not applicable as the king is head of state. 

And most still miss the obvious of the basic mechanics here - everything goes through the King. 

That alone should tell you everything ya need to know.

[sirineou]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

The ministry has reassured that Thailand remains committed to the same level of democracy and human rights as other democratic countries.

Yes because every democratic country uses military coups to elect governments.  

Good article though, I could use a good laugh this morning 

[sirineou]

5 hours ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

The first thing in democracy is to have a fair election and elect a PM elected by People. Thailand severely lacks basic understanding of what a democracy is.

even before this military coup, Here in Issan I remember people were given money to go vote. Can you imagine if a political party back in the US  paid people to go vote? 

[zzaa09]

9 hours ago, Jerno said:

Same as other democratic countries?  Such other countries do not have military coups and fake constitutions, nor jail people for voicing opinions.  Bloody hypocrite!

Actually, they do [those other democratic countries].

[edwinchester]

When you have a rigged Parliament with 250 pro military Senators, the disbandment of Political Parties on trumped up charges, the jailing of people for just talking about Institutional reform and the disappearance and murder of Govt opponents abroad it is zero surprise that they weren't invited to a democracy conference.

[zzaa09]

4 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

When you have a rigged Parliament with 250 pro military Senators, the disbandment of Political Parties on trumped up charges, the jailing of people for just talking about Institutional reform and the disappearance and murder of Govt opponents abroad it is zero surprise that they weren't invited to a democracy conference.

Not to be too concerned.

They're not that hurt.

Actually, they don't give a rat's a_rse - as they have their own little world. 

[brianthainess]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

stressing that the Kingdom will remain committed to democratic values and human rights.

What a crock of BS should read 'Remain NOT committed ........blah blah blah. 

[AhFarangJa]

How can you be committed to something you do not have.

[spidermike007]

An Eskimo pledging to do without seal and whale meat would be far more sincere. 

 

An Asian pledging to not eat any rice for rest of their life, would have a better shot at honoring that promise. 

 

Sheer and utter nonsense. Transparency, and the freedom to protest and resist tyranny, are the last thing in the world these goons are willing to commit to. This is designed to convince the remaining highly deluded, 2% who are on the fence. 

[khunpa]

Thailand history has show several times that democracy does simply not work here.

 

As soon as you get to something that starts to resemble it, people will start fighting and you will see a new coup. Happens every time.

 

For obvious reasons the Elite does not want a democracy, but I would claim that even the common Thai person does really not want it or even understands what it actually involves.

 

Thai culture does basically not fit into our kind of understanding of what a democracy is or should be.
 

It’s a bit like marrying a Thai woman and expecting her to think and behave like a western woman. She will not! Or like thinking you can covert a place like Iraq or another similar country into a democracy. It just does not work.

 

Democracy is a “mindset” thing that needs to be implanted in each individual. It’s starts with education and thereby over time becomes a part of culture. Thailand is still far way from even being close to that. 
 

Best thing is to just leave them at their version of “democracy”. Because you can’t change everybody’s mindset overnight and this is what works for them.

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by khunpa

[Boomer6969]

Hmmmhhh?

 

Amnesty International

 

Yann Marchal

 

That's for today only, "democracy" indeed; "Thai style".

 

???? ????????

Edited November 28, 2021 by Boomer6969

[JimGant]

What a joke. Not invited is America's best ally in the region, Singapore. Why? Because it has a single party, "managed" democracy. Seems to work quite well, thank you very much (take note, Thailand -- Khunpa's comments, above, are germaine). And, why not -- a little management is required when every idiot, er uninformed/misinformed swinging d*ck has a vote. Even the original America restricted its vote to, hopefully, educated, informed folks, namely, white, male, land owners. Thus, the original "managed" democracy. Today? Well, you can read the political news from the US.

 

And Malaysia on the list.....! Try having in Malaysia an anti-gov't demonstration similar to what we've seen in Bangkok. You'd be thrown in jail instantly, as Malaysia's sedition laws are far tougher than anything Thailand has.

 

And the Philippines? Their record on human rights is a joke under Duterte. Thailand is a bastion of fairness in comparison.

 

No, Biden's democracy party is a joke. Thailand should feel honored to be in the company of Singapore. What the world needs more of are altruistic, smart, Oxford educated benevolent dictators. Unfortunately, they're hard to find -- and once in power, tend to go astray. Thus democracy, with all its warts, at least allows for a recycle of leaders, in the hopes that the latest iteration will get it right.

Edited November 28, 2021 by JimGant

[CartagenaWarlock]

17 hours ago, Gulfsailor said:

As the head of government he/she is generally appointed by the (elected) legislature.

The PM is elected in a constituency as an MP by the people

[MrJ2U]

Those pledges aren't worth anything.

 

 

[zzaa09]

9 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

Hmmmhhh?

 

Amnesty International

 

Yann Marchal

 

That's for today only, "democracy" indeed; "Thai style".

 

???? ????????

He should've never left. 

More than likely, nothing would've of come of it. 

[dinsdale]

Capatilism with Chinese characteristics. Deng Xioping. Democracy with Thai characteristics. Leader of a military coup over a democratically elected government. No name is needed but I'll say starts with w and ends with r. 

Edited November 28, 2021 by dinsdale

[garyk]

Just saying whatever it takes to keep aid coming in from the US nothing more. When China gets back on its feet game over guaranteed.

[edwinchester]

19 hours ago, khunpa said:

Thailand history has show several times that democracy does simply not work here.

 

As soon as you get to something that starts to resemble it, people will start fighting and you will see a new coup. Happens every time.

 

For obvious reasons the Elite does not want a democracy, but I would claim that even the common Thai person does really not want it or even understands what it actually involves.

 

Thai culture does basically not fit into our kind of understanding of what a democracy is or should be.
 

It’s a bit like marrying a Thai woman and expecting her to think and behave like a western woman. She will not! Or like thinking you can covert a place like Iraq or another similar country into a democracy. It just does not work.

 

Democracy is a “mindset” thing that needs to be implanted in each individual. It’s starts with education and thereby over time becomes a part of culture. Thailand is still far way from even being close to that. 
 

Best thing is to just leave them at their version of “democracy”. Because you can’t change everybody’s mindset overnight and this is what works for them.

 

Absolute rubbish. It's the 1% denying the vast majority democracy by unleashing another coup when things don't go their way and nothing else.

[bbko]

On 11/27/2021 at 11:04 AM, webfact said:

adding that in some cases, not being invited is more beneficial.

HAhahaha, yeah right.

[zzaa09]

28 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Absolute rubbish. It's the 1% denying the vast majority democracy by unleashing another coup when things don't go their way and nothing else.

Yeah. Been of this nature forever. Most certainly of contemporary times as well as distant contemporary times. 

[arithai12]

On 11/28/2021 at 2:17 AM, Gulfsailor said:

...

Uhm, I can’t come up with any country where the PM is elected by the people.

...

Iran, Afghanistan, Zambia and a few smaller countries... but you are right, they are the exceptions.

 

Regardless, "democracy" is a very vague word and when you look at the details it can mean very different things.

[khunpa]

On 11/29/2021 at 6:58 AM, edwinchester said:

Absolute rubbish. It's the 1% denying the vast majority democracy by unleashing another coup when things don't go their way and nothing else.

The 99% could make a lot of change, if they really wanted to. The reality is however that the majority always just accepts the situation, not matter what it is. That is how the 1% manage to keep control.

 

They need millions on the streets to make a real change, not thousands.

 

 

[edwinchester]

3 hours ago, khunpa said:

The 99% could make a lot of change, if they really wanted to. The reality is however that the majority always just accepts the situation, not matter what it is. That is how the 1% manage to keep control.

 

They need millions on the streets to make a real change, not thousands.

 

 

Agree that millions need to take to the streets to effect any change but whenever anything remotely resembling that has happened the military have stamped down on them very heavily so I can understand their unwillingness.

[daejung]

This post si closed to any comment. I wonder why.

I am very sad for this guy, his wife and children are thai.

I do not know personally and who is more thai than the junta itself

Check all what he posted on youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/YanMarchal/videos

 

Edited December 1, 2021 by daejung