Thailand’s military, police on standby for protests if Pita’s PM bid blocked

[webfact]

Thailand’s military and police are preparing for mass protests if Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat is prevented from becoming prime minister.

 

The selection of Thailand’s next PM is due to take place mid-July and Nation Thailand reports that there are fears supporters of the Move Forward Party and its coalition partner Pheu Thai, could hold protests, potentially violent protests, if Pita is foiled in his attempt. The Move Forward party won the highest number of seats in the new parliament and has cobbled together an 8-party coalition which would give it a massive majority in the new parliament.

 

The 8-party coalition of 313 MPs needs the support of 63 senators or MPs in order for Pita to be elected as PM. However, a number of senators say they won’t vote for him.

 

By Peter Roche

PHOTO: Facebook/พรรคก้าวไกล - Move Forward Party

 

Full story: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/thailands-military-police-on-standby-for-protests-if-pitas-pm-bid-blocked/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-06-26

 

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[bob smith]

1 minute ago, webfact said:

The selection of Thailand’s next PM is due to take place mid-July and Nation Thailand reports that there are fears supporters of the Move Forward Party and its coalition partner Pheu Thai, could hold protests, potentially violent protests, if Pita is foiled in his attempt.

and rightly so too! 

 

they would be well within their rights to protest against a stolen vote (again). 

[hughrection]

Not forgetting the Future Forward won all the seats in Bangkok. This is the heart of the country where industry resides.

 

They wouldn't dare not allow him to be the PM - would they!

[h90]

46 minutes ago, bogs smith said:

and rightly so too! 

 

they would be well within their rights to protest against a stolen vote (again). 

yes but there are majorities without MF possible. It is possible to get >250 MPs without them.

[h90]

29 minutes ago, BenStark said:

I can think out of my head of 2 posters who gonna be here soon, to condemn the possible protests.

 

One of them will post pictures of a burning WTC, for the hundred time

If I am the second: I don't condemn peaceful protests.....violence I do condemn.

The right to protest is important and must be protected also for things I don't agree with.

[h90]

36 minutes ago, hughrection said:

Not forgetting the Future Forward won all the seats in Bangkok. This is the heart of the country where industry resides.

 

They wouldn't dare not allow him to be the PM - would they!

Will be interesting....

Wife says: no way he gets PM

I say: he'll be.....that this all is just theater

[TimeMachine]

Picnic time. Although , I will be amazed if violence doesn't become stronger than ever before. I hope the police and military realise it's time. Kill all the people then there will be no people to rule over. So might as well lay down weapons and join the people. But if there are good tik tok videos at the time there may not be enough people to demand enough.  

[ikke1959]

16 minutes ago, h90 said:

If I am the second: I don't condemn peaceful protests.....violence I do condemn.

The right to protest is important and must be protected also for things I don't agree with.

The police and military are not always fair in handling peaceful protests..We have seen it several times already, they challenge the protesters and that will make things worse...Let them break barriers as long as they don't fight or shoot control the mass but don't start with watercanons and chemicals, rubberbullits and that kind of ... because it will make things worse

[heybruce]

Simple solution--make Pita PM.

[Expat68]

1 hour ago, h90 said:

Will be interesting....

Wife says: no way he gets PM

I say: he'll be.....that this all is just theater

My wife and several Thai friends think the same way as your wife. 

[RocketDog]

1 hour ago, BenStark said:

I can think out of my head of 2 posters who gonna be here soon, to condemn the possible protests.

 

One of them will post pictures of a burning WTC, for the hundred time

Not being snarky, but... FYI: The idiom is "off the top of my head". (as with most idioms it doesn't make much sense).

 

But I take your point.

We'll see. This may be the most important election in Thai politics for many decades. We expats can't vote but we still have a stake in the Kingdom being more democratic.

[Bim Smith]

We know the plan. Let him be PM them do the coup. Stopping him now will cause chaos.

[Purdey]

We live in interesting times.

 

The army doesn't care if it has to shoot a few hundred pesky kids. They are not the whole country. Meanwhile, AN commentators will hunker down and wait for the blood to be washed from the streets and continue as before. 

[Cat Boy]

2 hours ago, bogs smith said:

and rightly so too! 

 

they would be well within their rights to protest against a stolen vote (again). 

Despite the fact that they themselves were never elected by any votes, stollen or legitimate, and owe their tenure in office as senators to the aberration of Democracy by military rule rather than an actual vote by a living, breathing electorate 

[Chongalulu]

2 hours ago, h90 said:

If I am the second: I don't condemn peaceful protests.....violence I do condemn.

The right to protest is important and must be protected also for things I don't agree with.

A government takeover by a  military junta is the quintessential " violence" . Someone holding a gun to your head doesn't have to pull the trigger for it to be violence.

[vivananahuahin]

Ask the horoscop, pluto is retrograde in capricorn from aquarius since this month until januari 2024, in the years 1780-1790 it was the same position, what happens, the french revolution, draw your conclusions and take your amulets, we are now in a revoution age.

[Dogmatix]

2 hours ago, hughrection said:

Not forgetting the Future Forward won all the seats in Bangkok. This is the heart of the country where industry resides.

 

They wouldn't dare not allow him to be the PM - would they!

Yes.  He is perceived as a serious threat to the established order involving politicians, bureaucrats and military being allowed to steal systematically from the taxpayer and commit various other crimes with impunity. 

 

The problem seems to be that they risk digging themselves into a deeper hole. The rise of Pita and the momentum of MFP at the ballot box was a direct result of the earlier moves to ban Thanathorn and dissolve FF.  This also generated angry protests that created an atmosphere where people dared to talk about reform of 112 and the military.  The movement seems to have proved it can regenerate itself in adversity and come back stronger.  Probably wouldn't have done so well if Thanathorn had been allowed to continue as leader with his rather chaotic and dictatorial billionaire style. Pita, who is a far greater threat than Thanathorn, due to his more organised style with coherent policies for every issue under the sun, would never have made to party leader. Remove that head and another one will appear. 

 

Better for the establishment to let inexperienced, young MFP ministers get power and mess up which would probably erode their popularity for the next election. But that is not their style and wasn't their approach with Thaksin who is now trying to pose as a pro-establishment politician just to come home. Ha ha. 

[h90]

23 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

A government takeover by a  military junta is the quintessential " violence" . Someone holding a gun to your head doesn't have to pull the trigger for it to be violence.

How many died?

[h90]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The police and military are not always fair in handling peaceful protests..We have seen it several times already, they challenge the protesters and that will make things worse...Let them break barriers as long as they don't fight or shoot control the mass but don't start with watercanons and chemicals, rubberbullits and that kind of ... because it will make things worse

We know a guy who lost his leg, thanks to the explosive tear gas grenades.
But what is odd: in Thailand they are first far less violent than in Europe, but than it can escalate more.

[JackGats]

1 hour ago, RocketDog said:

Not being snarky, but... FYI: The idiom is "off the top of my head". (as with most idioms it doesn't make much sense).

 

But I take your point.

We'll see. This may be the most important election in Thai politics for many decades. We expats can't vote but we still have a stake in the Kingdom being more democratic.

Do we have a stake? More democratic, ie weed  back into the narcotic list? Misandric anti-sex laws? There isn't much "damacracy" has done for me up to now anywhere, except criminalising my fun.

[Caldera]

The people shouldn't allow the election to be stolen from them yet again, and I think they won't.

 

What's different this time is that the majority of Bangkok's voters voted for Move Forward, so unlike the Red Shirts, their supporters won't need to be bussed to Bangkok from upcountry.

[mfd101]

My b/f told me back in 2011-2012 period - when he was doing his conscription service - that, when ORDERED by the officers to vote Yellow in whatever national election it was, "We poor Isaan boys knew what was what and we all voted Red".

 

A lesson there on preparatory work to be done by MF & other progressives if mass protests are likely ...

[Burma Bill]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

The army doesn't care if it has to shoot a few hundred pesky kids.

A disgraceful statement.

These are not "pesky kids" but people of voting age who will be angry (and quite rightly so) if their democratic vote is not recognised by the "dinosaur"  anti-democracy establishment.

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, hughrection said:

Not forgetting the Future Forward won all the seats in Bangkok. This is the heart of the country where industry resides.

 

They wouldn't dare not allow him to be the PM - would they!

You mean the Senators?? Why wouldn't they dare? Are they not the ones most connected to the unelected caretaker PM? Then there's the soldiers, tanks and guns.

 

[h90]

10 minutes ago, Caldera said:

The people shouldn't allow the election to be stolen from them yet again, and I think they won't.

 

What's different this time is that the majority of Bangkok's voters voted for Move Forward, so unlike the Red Shirts, their supporters won't need to be bussed to Bangkok from upcountry.

If they find another majority without MF than it is not stohlen....They got 38% so other coalitions are possible

[h90]

9 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

My b/f told me back in 2011-2012 period - when he was doing his conscription service - that, when ORDERED by the officers to vote Yellow in whatever national election it was, "We poor Isaan boys knew what was what and we all voted Red".

 

A lesson there on preparatory work to be done by MF & other progressives if mass protests are likely ...

What is vote Yellow? There was never any "yellow" party. Could mean to vote for the Democrats but they aren't yellow.

[geisha]

17 minutes ago, h90 said:

How many died?

Easy to see who’s side you are on! Democracy is obviously not up your alley .

[geisha]

15 minutes ago, JackGats said:

Do we have a stake? More democratic, ie weed  back into the narcotic list? Misandric anti-sex laws? There isn't much "damacracy" has done for me up to now anywhere, except criminalising my fun.

It’s not all about you and your psychedelic sex life , it’s for Democracy for the Thai people.

[Artisi]

3 hours ago, hughrection said:

Not forgetting the Future Forward won all the seats in Bangkok. This is the heart of the country where industry resides.

 

They wouldn't dare not allow him to be the PM - would they!

Unfortunately yes they would dare, self interest over rules any legitimate / moral considerations. 

[h90]

7 minutes ago, geisha said:

Easy to see who’s side you are on! Democracy is obviously not up your alley .

Fact is the coup against an illegal government (remember it was a caretaker government that was expired) was NOT violent. There was no resistance.