Thailand's Opposition Opts for Parliamentary Path Despite Protest Calls

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand’s main opposition party, the People’s Party (PP), has chosen to stay away from upcoming anti-government protests pushed by Sondhi Limthongkul, a former protest leader. Instead, PP aims to address issues within the Parliamentary system.

 

Party spokesperson Parit Wacharasindhu emphasized on November 27 that they plan to tackle governmental concerns through established legislative means. They intend to focus on pressing issues like justice administration, the Khao Kradong land controversy, and the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint development in the Gulf of Thailand with Cambodia.

 

Parit highlighted the party's dedication to proposing reforms through bills and legal changes, many of which have received Parliamentary approval. This statement came after Nattawut Saikuar, an adviser to the prime minister, suggested that PP supporters might join the protests. Parit called these comments baseless and reaffirmed that the party advocates for free expression only when it aligns with democratic principles.

 

"We plan to work within the system to ensure government accountability and push for change," Parit stated clearly, distancing the party from external political movements.

 

 

Concerns over Potential Protests

 

Sondhi Limthongkul plans to carry out regular activities next year, raising concerns that they might evolve into widespread protests against the Pheu Thai-led government. Such unrest in the past, against Thai Rak Thai-led and Pheu Thai administrations, led to the 2006 and 2014 coups, according to Nattawut.

 

Chousak Sirinil from the PM’s Office urged the public to consider the negative impacts of past protests and coups, which hindered Thailand's progress. He stressed no current conditions justify mass protests and that no negotiations on the 2001 MoU are ongoing, needing parliamentary approval for any outcomes.

 

Chousak dismissed claims that the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration would face an early end, while Paiboon Nititawan of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) advised careful handling of sensitive issues such as charter amendments and the referendum bill.

 

The House recently favored a simple majority vote to pass a charter amendment referendum, shortening the waiting period to ten days if deemed a finance bill. Paiboon insisted the government follows House regulations, warning of potential challenges for the Paetongtarn administration to sustain its governance for the coming year.

 

-- 2024-11-28

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Sondhi Limthongkul plans to carry out regular activities next year, raising concerns that they might evolve into widespread protests against the Pheu Thai-led government. Such unrest in the past, against Thai Rak Thai-led and Pheu Thai administrations, led to the 2006 and 2014 coups, according to Nattawut.

 

And that says it all.

Another coup on the way.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

And that says it all.

Another coup on the way.

If Thaksin pushes his luck too far... and Yinkluk returns to freedom, possibly the military will say enough is enough.

[Srikcir]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand’s main opposition party, the People’s Party (PP), has chosen to stay away from upcoming anti-government protests pushed by Sondhi Limthongkul, a former protest leader. Instead, PP aims to address issues within the Parliamentary system.

This is the correct approach that will avoid a constitutional 'trap'.

From the academic paper "Constitutional Court Decision No. 19/2564: A Threat to Democracy? Forfeiture of Fundamental Rights and the Judicialization of Politics by the Thai Constitutional Court in 2021," by Siravich Teevakul,  Thai Legal Studies (2022) Vol. 2 No. 2 | 178–204 -  https://doi.org/10.54157/tls.261266

(partial direct and my paraphrasing)

The Thai Constitutional Court in Decision No. 19/2564 interpreted Section 49 of the 2017 Constitution as “Thai-style militant democracy,” which suppresses the fundamental rights of the citizen and reflects the characteristics “judicialization of politics” and “politicization of the judiciary” applied by the Court.

"In Decision No. 19/2564, the Court ruled to suppress the activists’ freedom of expression on the ground that they exercised their rights with the intention to “overthrow” the rule by democracy with the King as the

head of state."

As Thailand is allegedly a constitutional monarchy, unhindered discussions of changes in the constitution in a legislative forum by party representatives of the electorate is legally appropriate.

 

 

 

Court applied its reasoning to the mechanism of

“militant democracy” to defend the regime’s structure.