Opinion: Thailand is at a crossroads because of unelected, unaccountable bodies

[webfact]

We stand at a pivotal juncture in our political journey. The triumph of the Move Forward party, a manifestation of our collective will, finds itself precariously on the brink of being undone. It’s an audacious subversion by unelected bodies that seem to consider Thailand their personal chessboard.

 

Our Senate, our Election Commission, and our Constitutional Court have audaciously sought to stifle our democratic voice. These institutions, once meant to serve us, now contemptuously pull at the strings of our governance like unaccountable puppeteers.

 

We must remember the potent words of Orwell, “In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” So, let us acknowledge our truth and summon the courage to confront those who so blatantly flout the will of the people. It is high time we dismantle these unaccountable bodies and re-establish our claim over our land. If they will not play by the rules, perhaps it is time we stop trying to as well.

 

By Volthai

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/50202/opinion-thailand-is-at-a-crossroads-because-of-unelected-unaccountable-bodies/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2023-07-17

 

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[bamnutsak]

from the op-ed

 

Reform would only serve to placate. The hour calls for something more potent — an overhaul, a revolutionary revision. We need to dismantle the existing structures and establish a new, accountable governance model that echoes the true spirit of Thai democracy.

 

 

 

Strong stuff.

 

 

[bignok]

"Unelected Swill"

 

Keating

[h90]

27% is not the collective will.....

And a collective will is something scary anyway....There was done enough harm for the collective will from the right wing and the left wing in the past.

Some struggle and compromise might be less efficient but much safer

[bamnutsak]

Move Forward Party 38.01%

Pheu Thai Party 28.86%

 

Total of the two parties: 66.87%

 

 

[Pink Mist]

Troll post removed 

[Toolong]

Best little media opinion piece & nutshelling of the situation I've read so far. 

Somewhat naively idealistic in places but has, overall, an uncompromising tone that is refreshingly unequivocal. 

 

But as a foreigner based here who's long seen the dark goings-on here over the years but never himself - of course - been in a position to actually put his life or principles on the line in any way in support of those opposing those 'dark goings-on', I wonder grimly how many Thais will once again suffer death or injury or persecution in any likely fight-back against the ever-prevailing conservative fat-cats & big guns system. 

[bkk6060]

Although sad, nothing will basically change for normal day life whatever happens. 

As with prior Coups, the next day here people are back to work going about their business.   The same will happen in this situation.

[bamnutsak]

1 minute ago, Pouatchee said:

we is an inclusive pronoun that does not include foreigners in this country. should be rewritten and we replaced with 'thais'

I assume the author is Thai.

 

 

 

[sammieuk1]

A shadow government with no need for any charade elections manufactured and probably still administered by Prayut ????

[pegman]

1 hour ago, h90 said:

27% is not the collective will.....

And a collective will is something scary anyway....There was done enough harm for the collective will from the right wing and the left wing in the past.

Some struggle and compromise might be less efficient but much safer

You got that number backwards. 72% of voters selected  coalition party members

[tomacht8]

2 hours ago, h90 said:

27% is not the collective will.....

And a collective will is something scary anyway....There was done enough harm for the collective will from the right wing and the left wing in the past.

Some struggle and compromise might be less efficient but much safer

MF and PT have formed a joint coalition with others. These two parties alone form a 2/3 elected majority in Parliament and thus represent 2/3 of the population. This is how parliamentary democracy works. All those who did not vote (for whatever reason) cannot be interpreted as for or against a party. Non-voters automatically submit themselves to the election results by not participating. 

[Kevin Taylor]

Quite true I think. Its not just Thailand though, institutions have been captured worldwide 

[billd766]

4 hours ago, h90 said:

27% is not the collective will.....

And a collective will is something scary anyway....There was done enough harm for the collective will from the right wing and the left wing in the past.

Some struggle and compromise might be less efficient but much safer

Keep on your high horse, and keep believing that 250 people have more power than 27 million.

 

Simply more coup BS support from you.

 

You have no vote, and nobody cares what you think or want.

 

The Thai voters have said who they voted for and what THEY want, and if it is not what you want, that is called democracy.

 

It is their country and not yours, therefore what THEY want is paramount.

[spidermike007]

The Thai people need to develop a sense of conviction, and moral outrage. They seem to be very competent at the netizen outrage thing. Where is the action now? Why don't we see 7 million people in the streets? Why don't we see government offices being boycotted? What will it take before these people say ENOUGH!

 

An election  appears to have been stolen by hooligans and thieves. The moral rot and degradation is astonishing. Yet, the people accept it? huh?

[madmitch]

43 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The Thai people need to develop a sense of conviction, and moral outrage. They seem to be very competent at the netizen outrage thing. Where is the action now? Why don't we see 7 million people in the streets? Why don't we see government offices being boycotted? What will it take before these people say ENOUGH!

 

An election  appears to have been stolen by hooligans and thieves. The moral rot and degradation is astonishing. Yet, the people accept it? huh?

Early days yet. 

 

I anticipate relative calm if the coalition gets the PM job, even with a PM who isn'f from MFP.

 

I expect angry, violent protets if Prawit or similar get the job, which will be escalated further if Pita is disqualified and/or MFP dissolved.

 

Watch this space.

[h90]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Keep on your high horse, and keep believing that 250 people have more power than 27 million.

 

Simply more coup BS support from you.

 

You have no vote, and nobody cares what you think or want.

 

The Thai voters have said who they voted for and what THEY want, and if it is not what you want, that is called democracy.

 

It is their country and not yours, therefore what THEY want is paramount.

I am sure there will be a democratic elected PM...just not Pita

[thaibeachlovers]

Anything that makes LOS more like the west, which many of us escaped from with relish, is not welcomed by myself, and I'm sure other farangs.

If being run by unelected-unaccountable-bodies is the price to be paid, so be it, in MY opinion.

[h90]

3 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

MF and PT have formed a joint coalition with others. These two parties alone form a 2/3 elected majority in Parliament and thus represent 2/3 of the population. This is how parliamentary democracy works. All those who did not vote (for whatever reason) cannot be interpreted as for or against a party. Non-voters automatically submit themselves to the election results by not participating. 

No voter can not be included in the collective will....They showed that they have no will in this....

With the 2/3 elected majority you are right....But if they nominate a PTP candidate it is the same 2/3. If they drop MFP and make a coaliton with Democrats and BJ it is also 1/2 of the population.

I agree that this Senate thing is wrong and bad. Should not happen that way. But that everyone want Pita is also not correct. Often a president would not accept a prime minister or a minister. But that president is elected himself, which we don't have with the senate..

It is a sloppy low IQ constitution.....but it was accepted in general referendum....would be good to change the constitution by someone who is accepted by everyone.

[h90]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Anything that makes LOS more like the west, which many of us escaped from with relish, is not welcomed by myself, and I'm sure other farangs.

If being run by unelected-unaccountable-bodies is the price to be paid, so be it, in MY opinion.

I agree on that.....It should be run better than the west.....

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The Thai people need to develop a sense of conviction, and moral outrage. They seem to be very competent at the netizen outrage thing. Where is the action now? Why don't we see 7 million people in the streets? Why don't we see government offices being boycotted? What will it take before these people say ENOUGH!

 

An election  appears to have been stolen by hooligans and thieves. The moral rot and degradation is astonishing. Yet, the people accept it? huh?

In case you didn't notice, most of the Thai population are too busy trying to make a living to demonstrate in the streets ( IMO ). It's not like the west where the government steals takes other people's money to support the idle dole bludgers with plenty of time to cause trouble.

[tomacht8]

4 minutes ago, h90 said:

No voter can not be included in the collective will....They showed that they have no will in this....

With the 2/3 elected majority you are right....But if they nominate a PTP candidate it is the same 2/3. If they drop MFP and make a coaliton with Democrats and BJ it is also 1/2 of the population.

I agree that this Senate thing is wrong and bad. Should not happen that way. But that everyone want Pita is also not correct. Often a president would not accept a prime minister or a minister. But that president is elected himself, which we don't have with the senate..

It is a sloppy low IQ constitution.....but it was accepted in general referendum....would be good to change the constitution by someone who is accepted by everyone.

You drill holes in thick boards that don't exist. The entire coalition has voted in favor of Pita as the new PM, representing a clear 2/3 majority in Parliament. It can't be that difficult to understand.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The Thai people need to develop a sense of conviction, and moral outrage. They seem to be very competent at the netizen outrage thing. Where is the action now? Why don't we see 7 million people in the streets? Why don't we see government offices being boycotted? What will it take before these people say ENOUGH!

 

An election  appears to have been stolen by hooligans and thieves. The moral rot and degradation is astonishing. Yet, the people accept it? huh?

Western and Asia-Pacific democratic regimes have sold out support for a vigorous democratic Thailand since the 2014 coup with indifference and business as usual. Many have recently formalized trade agreements (MOU's and FTA's). Even the UN puts a militarized Thailand on a pedestal as a successful democracy.

The Thai people have become aliens in their own nation.

[pub2022]

Well, it's not only Thailand that is in the hands of unelected people.

We all are. The sooner we realize it the better.

Did we ever vote for the UN, WHO, WEF, EU, World Bank etc etc?

These are the supranational organizations that determine the course of our lives.

Unelected and unaccountable technocrats telling our Governments what must be done.

[pub2022]

12 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Anything that makes LOS more like the west, which many of us escaped from with relish, is not welcomed by myself, and I'm sure other farangs.

If being run by unelected-unaccountable-bodies is the price to be paid, so be it, in MY opinion.

I agree.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, pub2022 said:

Well, it's not only Thailand that is in the hands of unelected people.

We all are. The sooner we realize it the better.

Did we ever vote for the UN, WHO, WEF, EU, World Bank etc etc?

These are the supranational organizations that determine the course of our lives.

Unelected and unaccountable technocrats telling our Governments what must be done.

I realised that many decades ago, which is part of the reason for my extreme cynicism.

I no longer vote for anyone. I vote in hopes of getting rid of someone.

[h90]

5 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

You drill holes in thick boards that don't exist. The entire coalition has voted in favor of Pita as the new PM, representing a clear 2/3 majority in Parliament. It can't be that difficult to understand.

yes....and it is not that the senate somehow installed someone without support.

What is if next a PTP candidate comes and the senate vote for him as well...than you have the exact same 2/3 majority.

My point is Pita is not the only possible candidate with majority

[h90]

5 minutes ago, pub2022 said:

Well, it's not only Thailand that is in the hands of unelected people.

We all are. The sooner we realize it the better.

Did we ever vote for the UN, WHO, WEF, EU, World Bank etc etc?

These are the supranational organizations that determine the course of our lives.

Unelected and unaccountable technocrats telling our Governments what must be done.

or even be in every government...you remember "we penetrated the governments" from WEF leader

[thaibeachlovers]

11 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Western and Asia-Pacific democratic regimes have sold out support for a vigorous democratic Thailand since the 2014 coup with indifference and business as usual. Many have recently formalized trade agreements (MOU's and FTA's). Even the UN puts a militarized Thailand on a pedestal as a successful democracy.

The Thai people have become aliens in their own nation.

 

 

As for their relationship with LOS, it's none of their business how Thailand is run. Would they like Thailand telling them how to run their countries?

 

With mass immigration I think most of us have become aliens in the countries we used to call ours.

[tomacht8]

9 minutes ago, h90 said:

yes....and it is not that the senate somehow installed someone without support.

What is if next a PTP candidate comes and the senate vote for him as well...than you have the exact same 2/3 majority.

My point is Pita is not the only possible candidate with majority

Yes. This can/will happen after the unelected Senate blocked Pita's candidacy. That means translated: The 2/3 majority of the parliamentarians elected by the people want Pita as a prospective PM. Now that's going to be blocked by the Senate, isn't it? That means who determines who gets the go as a PM in such a situation? The people who voted democratically or the 232 unelected senators?