Pheu Thai Pushes Bold Anti-Coup Legislation in Thailand

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party is spearheading a campaign to introduce anti-coup legislation aimed at curbing military power in the political sphere.

 

This move comes as part of a broader strategy to safeguard the nation's democracy by preventing any future military coups, which have historically disrupted Thailand’s political landscape.

 

The party, guided by its influential leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was himself ousted in the 2006 coup, is determined to ensure such events do not recur.

 

This legislative push also serves as a response to the 2014 coup that saw Thaksin’s sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, removed from office.

 

The proposed legislation is set to amend the Ministry of Defence's Bureaucratic Act, thus enabling military personnel, irrespective of their rank, to lawfully refuse orders that could lead to a coup.

This would shield soldiers from potential disciplinary or criminal charges, thereby reducing the influence of rogue military commanders.

 

Another significant component of the draft legislation involves transferring key military appointment powers to the civilian government.

 

The existing system allows the Defence Ministry, currently under the leadership of Phumtham Wechayachai, a close ally of Thaksin, to oversee promotions and appointments of army generals, navy admirals, and air marshals.

 

Moving forward, the aim is to allow the cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter, greater control over these decisions.

 

By shifting these responsibilities, the government hopes to eliminate the personal biases and nepotism that have historically played a role in the military's decision-making processes. Critics argue that the absence of such checks has often facilitated conditions ripe for military coups.

 

Public sentiment appears largely favourable towards these reforms. In recent public hearings organised by Pheu Thai, a substantial 89% of 11,230 participants supported the legislative measures, underscoring strong public backing for curbing military intervention in politics.

 

The anti-coup bill is expected to be tabled in the parliament soon, reflecting Pheu Thai's commitment to reinforcing democratic governance in Thailand.

 

However, it is sure to face intense scrutiny and debate, not only from legislators with military affiliations but also from opposition parties, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

-- 2024-12-07

 

 

 

 

 

[Artisi]

What a load of BS, a coup is a coup irrespective of what laws are in place. 

Just more noise from a very suspect "government" pretending to be all righteous when they are really just endeavouring to cover their own ar&e in the near future. 

[ozz1]

It won't happen they have the guns  famous last words there won't be a  coup

[daveAustin]

Careful careful, you’ve only been in for 5m. I smell a coup 😋. While a step in the right direction, unless you take away their guns and fear/loyalty from the soldiers, it would not stop a few disgruntled ‘generals’ from taking action. Stifling corruption and wholesale change of mindset is required for democracy to work.  

[WHansen]

555 the military will do as it pleases and will change the law back once it takes power by force.

[Paul52]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

 

Didn’t the current government come to power by a coup of sorts?  As I have no vote and no say, it really doesn’t bother me whether they have or don’t haves coups.  As somebody remarked after the last one, “not my circus, not my monkeys”.  I’m just here for the all year round sunshine ☀️ 

[klauskunkel]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

reducing the influence of rogue military commanders

These coup leaders are not "rogue". When a coup is deemed necessary by special interests to safeguard the status quo, the appropriate royalist generals, having been groomed and promoted for the possibility, are activated. Nothing "rogue" about that, on the contrary, it's a well-planned out scenario that has made Thailand the world record holder in successful coups. 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party is spearheading a campaign to introduce anti-coup legislation aimed at curbing military power in the political sphere.

Long overdue, and the military have a longer history with the Shin clan

[watchcat]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Long overdue, and the military have a longer history with the Shin clan

 

Perhaps, but a snap of the fingers  from the leader can make it it change

[jcmj]

I think that they are more worried about their future rather than Thailand’s future. 

[koolkarl]

They are sweating.. a lot.  No wonder, they have done what they like, not what Thai people want,for decades.  Democracy is a word in the dictionary only.

[BarBoy]

....I'm sure I just heard the sound of a tank rolling past my window.

[Ben Zioner]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

 

This move comes as part of a broader strategy to safeguard the nation's democracy by preventing any future military coups,

How about a win by another party such as Move Forward?

[Skeptic7]

One would think coups run in this family and party.🤣

[Dcheech]

17 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

One would think coups run in this family and party

Got that backa--wards

Two military coups and two judicial coups against that party. Then the recent judicial coup against the Move Forward party. Two decades down a rat hole, no matter how you feel about the Shins

[Will B Good]

 

 

Well how naive am I?.......I always had it in mind coups were illegal ......it is in the very nature of a coup that laws are totally ignored....so how would legislation prevent them?......or does the legislation just threaten an extended stay in a hospital....Bumrungrad?....before being pardoned?

[impulse]

In the history of the entire world, has there ever been a coup prevented because it was illegal?

 

That's why they call it a coup.

 

[khunPer]

I honestly don't think the military cares much about law, when they find a coup necessary...

[Purdey]

It won't matter. When there is a coup they tear up the constitution and absolve themselves of all crime. 

Next they will have to tear up a few laws. 

Those with the guns can do anything.

[mfd101]

Worth a try.

 

What might make a real difference would be appropriate education & training for conscripts and junior soldiers (Corporals, Sergeants, Lieutenants) ie the cannon fodder required for a coup to be effective.

 

I remember my b/f saying that, when he was a conscript a few years ago (c2010), the officers came around telling the conscripts how to vote in a national election "but we Isaan boys weren't fools, we all voted for Thaksin."

[john donson]

one way... slim down army, useless anyway...  not that you can convert them into RTP

[Caldera]

Quite ridiculous, when you consider that the coup generals' first act is to abrogate the constitution. Any laws that don't suit them will simply be nullified right away. 

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

I remember my b/f saying that, when he was a conscript a few years ago (c2010), the officers came around telling the conscripts how to vote in a national election "but we Isaan boys weren't fools, we all voted for Thaksin."

 

That's hilarious, they weren't fooled by their commanding officers only to end up being fooled by Thaksin.

[mfd101]

1 minute ago, Caldera said:

 

That's hilarious, they weren't fooled by their commanding officers only to end up being fooled by Thaksin.

Given the choices available at the time, the Isaan boys - from poverty-stricken backgrounds - made a perfectly sensible choice.

[candide]

8 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

These coup leaders are not "rogue". When a coup is deemed necessary by special interests to safeguard the status quo, the appropriate royalist generals, having been groomed and promoted for the possibility, are activated. Nothing "rogue" about that, on the contrary, it's a well-planned out scenario that has made Thailand the world record holder in successful coups. 

Exactly. And the 2014 coup was no exception to this recurring pattern.

[kimamey]

Good to see they want to stop nepotism. Wouldn't want that would we?

[billd766]

On 12/7/2024 at 7:55 AM, daveAustin said:

Careful careful, you’ve only been in for 5m. I smell a coup 😋. While a step in the right direction, unless you take away their guns and fear/loyalty from the soldiers, it would not stop a few disgruntled ‘generals’ from taking action. Stifling corruption and wholesale change of mindset is required for democracy to work.  

What may be an incentive is to publicly execute ALL officers down to the rank of major who are actively involved in any military coup.

[John Drake]

This is how Xi consolidated power in China.

[Hunz Kittisak]

22 minutes ago, John Drake said:

This is how Xi consolidated power in China.

That’s an entirely different kettle of fish 

[HaoleBoy]

On 12/7/2024 at 4:21 PM, impulse said:

In the history of the entire world, has there ever been a coup prevented because it was illegal?

 

That's why they call it a coup.

 

The Brasilian people stopped their coups back in 80's with judicial and military signing on to it.  I can't find what the judicial changes were yet.

 

Brasil is much like Thailand (except for the royal family here) with many many poor people (like Issan Thai's).