House Dissolution Won't End Conflict : Anand

[webfact]

House dissolution won't end conflict : Anand

By THE NATION

Banharn: Closing PTV, clamping emergency may see more problems

BANGKOK: -- Former premier Anand Panyarachun said yesterday that immediate House dissolution would not resolve the current political conflict.

Prior to disbanding the House, it is necessary to prepare the groundwork so that the next election results will be acceptable to the majority of people, Anand said.

Anand is one of four former premiers invited by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to help resolve the current conflict.

Others include former premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who has already accepted the invitation, former premier Banharn Silapa-Archa and former premier Chuan Leekpai.

Anand said he still hoped |the conflict would end peacefully, but snap polls would not be |helpful because the conflict started even before the last election was held.

All Thai people, not just the government and protesters, have a stake in the conflict so there must be forums for people to speak out and settle differences before holding the next election.

Meanwhile, NHRC secretary-general Chuchai Suphawong said the road map to resolve the conflict as advised by former premier Chavalit had four points:

- The NHRC should continue its efforts to revive negotiations between the government and the red shirts. To achieve this, he suggested that the NHRC recruit a go-between who is acceptable to all sides. A suitable candidate for the role might be from academia.

- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva should pay urgent attention to resolving the political situation instead of focusing on the economic ramifications.

- He urged all sides to address the issue of injustice.

- He called on all sides to heed the demands of the red shirts.

Meanwhile, Chart Thai Pattana Party chief adviser Banharn Silapa-archa, another former prime minister, yesterday rejected the idea of shutting down the PTV station on the grounds it might be construed as a double standard because other satellite television stations of certain political leanings are still allowed to operate.

Banharn also said he was worried that the government might enforce the emergency decree in order to disperse the red shirts.

"Shutting down PTV and imposing the emergency might lead to more problems," he said.

He urged the government to implement its nine-month road map for dissolution of Parliament despite the rejection by the red shirts. If the government goes ahead to prepare for a snap election, the tension will likely ease, he said.

"I am very concerned and want to remind the government to take extra precautions on whatever it is planning to do," he said.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart yesterday floated his idea for brokering peace between the government and the red shirts by using Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as a go-between.

"I think Chavalit can be a middleman to bring about peace," he said.

Sanan said he was still optimistic about the resumption of negotiations between the government and the red shirts.

If the red shirts are reluctant to trust the Democrats in honouring the deal, then they can approach coalition partners, he said.

The timing for dissolution of Parliament is not important if |all sides are sincere to find a solution, he said, adding that |he deems it necessary to complete the charter rewrite before going |to the polls, otherwise the voting outcome might not be acceptable to all sides.

-- The Nation 2010-04-08

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[neverdie]

I believe part of what they say is true, this will NEVER go away, when side A is attempting to govern, side B is protesting and vica versa.

Its a very sad situation and serves no thai person well.

[ChiangMaiFun]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

[clockworkorange]

I believe part of what they say is true, this will NEVER go away, when side A is attempting to govern, side B is protesting and vica versa.

Its a very sad situation and serves no thai person well.

It is sad. Since 2006, mob rule has usurped what was once a good example of a developing democracy.

[anotherpeter]

Maybe the government should change one of the government channel to reporting red related news.

[anotherpeter]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

I thought 9 months was a compromise. Let's see where the elephant is then.

[ozzieman05]

I am from Undon so I guess I must be a red shirt, but 5 years ago I came to Bkk and got a job at 4,000 baht a month, I worked hard for a rich Bkk Family and send most of the money home to my family.

I never once made trouble for the family that paid me, I just worked hard, the harder I worked the more money I made and soon was making 8,000 baht a month

When I met my western husband he helped me decide to go out and open my own business, and slowly and with a lot of hard work it got better and better, now I own 2 shops and looking at opening a third.

The hours are long but I make good money and do not have to ask 1 baht from my western husband, now I employ 4 girls from my home town, so we send 4 times more money back home. I look after my family and put my younger brother through University.

These so called Rich Bangkok people you are protesting against use my shops and pay me money which I send back to Udon both through myself and also my staff.

Hurt the Thai elite no way, I have like many others learnt to use them to help my family,

Imagine if all the red shirts who are causing all the problems got up and did what I and many of my friends have done how much money would be flowing back to Udon

Wake up my brothers and sisters of Udon you are being used, this is not about our people, this is about a select few who are using you for their own financial gain.

Protesting, violence, is not the way to a better Udon

The real way is to take the advantage the Bangkok gives us, work hard and educate our younger brothers and sisters, I can tell you now, no promise you now, our time will come when we will rule Thailand, but because we worked hard and deserve it.

What you are doing to day is setting a example for tomorrow, You are the creators of tomorows problems

I ask my and your Budha to open your eyes to the real truth

[ChiangMaiFun]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

I thought 9 months was a compromise. Let's see where the elephant is then.

well I don't think 9 months is much of a compromise when reds want 15 days is it? 15 days to 270 days? the Elephant is running wild at the moment and who knows what damage could be done - more will be achieved by giving it bamboo than hitting it with a stick!

[Siripon]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

I thought 9 months was a compromise. Let's see where the elephant is then.

well I don't think 9 months is much of a compromise when reds want 15 days is it? 15 days to 270 days? the Elephant is running wild at the moment and who knows what damage could be done - more will be achieved by giving it bamboo than hitting it with a stick!

The most recent nationwide poll said 42% of those polled didn't want house dissolution as opposed to 29% who did.

[ChiangMaiFun]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

I thought 9 months was a compromise. Let's see where the elephant is then.

well I don't think 9 months is much of a compromise when reds want 15 days is it? 15 days to 270 days? the Elephant is running wild at the moment and who knows what damage could be done - more will be achieved by giving it bamboo than hitting it with a stick!

The most recent nationwide poll said 42% of those polled didn't want house dissolution as opposed to 29% who did.

I haven't seen that one but would be very wary of any poles (either side) here - my view is an election is the only way out - monitored by an international panel maybe - and whoever wins - wins!

[Jerrytheyoung]

I do agree that a solution will probably emerged from the discussion between those four wise and experienced men.

Whatever smart he may appear, the boots seem too large for Abhisit: he has not understood the priorities and has not taken on time the correct decisions, which should have been, as underlined by general Chavalit, responding to the demand of people in order to reduce the social imbalance: economic development is not sustainable if it is at 2 speeds for the population.

Yes elections have to be done as obviously the legitimacy of the current goverment is disputed by a large part of opinion but the Elections must occur only after a set of measures has been implemented for making them credible and respected by everybody which means some Charter agreement. When? As Anand states, the date is not important, it is a consequence of the roadmap which has to be negotiated.

Abhisit should not have focused on the date but on the roadmap driving to election and on social measures for defusing the situation. Economical development should have be accompanied by social measures so that all Thais feel the benefit: failure of the present Government to understand that it was the priority to reduce the gap between the two main factions of the thai society.

Obviously we are at a turning point,... a political change has to be done and a new leader must emerge and be identified with this change...

Edited April 8, 2010 by Jerrytheyoung

[tb86]

Funny how Abisit must be responsible for fixing these problems that everyone demands,, remind me again why taksin or any of the other red shirt pms werent bothered with these issues? Not that he shouldnt fix them, just funny taksin and the following pms ignored these issues and no one piped up.

And to you guys from Chiang mai, i thought the little story was pretty good, regardless of the foriegn husband.... If

[quiksilva]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

Seriously, how is that compromise going to heal the rift in society?

What they need to be talking about is not elections per se (although that needs to be done too) rather this is the moment to be discussing the REAL issues that go to the root cause of this fractured society.

We'll have many more years of protests ahead of us, of one denomination or another, until the key issues that both sides have are put on the table discussed, debated and resolved.

Unfortunately it seems that neither side wants to take the first steps, but at least the government has demonstrated its willingness to talk which is more than what can be said about the Reds who it seems are forsaking their own cause for the well being of a single wealthy fugitive.

[ChiangMaiFun]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

Seriously, how is that compromise going to heal the rift in society?

What they need to be talking about is not elections per se (although that needs to be done too) rather this is the moment to be discussing the REAL issues that go to the root cause of this fractured society.

We'll have many more years of protests ahead of us, of one denomination or another, until the key issues that both sides have are put on the table discussed, debated and resolved.

Unfortunately it seems that neither side wants to take the first steps, but at least the government has demonstrated its willingness to talk which is more than what can be said about the Reds who it seems are forsaking their own cause for the well being of a single wealthy fugitive.

yup - back on topic - I got lured into another issue - sorry

I think it would difuse the situation - they are fighting for dissolution - well here it is! here's the roadmap! here's the timeframe! surely pack up and go home and prepare for the elections???

[brahmburgers]

The most recent nationwide poll said 42% of those polled didn't want house dissolution as opposed to 29% who did.

I haven't seen that one but would be very wary of any poles (either side) here - my view is an election is the only way out - monitored by an international panel maybe - and whoever wins - wins!

Unfortunately, Thailand is such a fledgling democracy that the 'whoever wins - wins' concept won't stick. In reality, whichever group doesn't win will take to the streets and make noise until they get their way. Thais have to grasp the concept that 'whoever wins' ....will take the reins of gov't, until the next election cycle, and the opposition group will have to try make the best of it. They don't grasp that yet.

The reason the Red movement has kept such momentum is mainly because of the one very rich man who's willing to spend lots of money to keep the wheels turning. He's spending lots of money because he worships money and is looking at losing a billion dollars worth of the stuff. Perhaps the little people on the street are getting a few hundred or a few thousand baht per day, but you can bet the Red leaders are getting large amounts - and promises of riches if they're able to get Thaksin back in power - or at least enable T to get his hands back on the big amount of money which is being taken away.

It would be very interesting to be able to listen in on clandestine phone conversations between T and the Red leaders.

[Wolfie]

Ok guys, lets leave the attacks out of the discussion - thanks!

Thaivisa.com is an English language forum for and about Thailand, Thai people and the events of Thailand, all are welcome to post here providing they stay within the boundaries of the forum rules. Any poster (Thai or Farang) who attacks any other poster (Thai or Farang) will be dealt with accordingly.

So lets keep the thread on topic and civil please. Thanks!

/Edit: I have removed the derogatory and off topic posts from this thread

[Jerrytheyoung]

Funny how Abisit must be responsible for fixing these problems that everyone demands,, remind me again why taksin or any of the other red shirt pms werent bothered with these issues? Not that he shouldnt fix them, just funny taksin and the following pms ignored these issues and no one piped up.

And to you guys from Chiang mai, i thought the little story was pretty good, regardless of the foriegn husband.... If

When you decide to make a political career, you have to take the situation as it is and to manage it, because it become your responsability to make it better. What have done your predecessors is no more important: your action is going to change ....

Abhisit, as underlined, has focused on Economy without listening to the social environment.... He is not a bad guy, but it is the first time he exerts those PM functions, he is in a learning process and the best for him is to move away for few times and to come back: the next time he will be a better and experienced PM, he will avoid to repeat some mistakes

Maybe also, he has not enough freedom to implement what he want due to his coalition: in such a case, again, time is coming to move away for some times in order not to wear responsability for unwanted policies.

[anotherpeter]

I do agree that a solution will probably emerged from the discussion between those four wise and experienced men.

Whatever smart he may appear, the boots seem too large for Abhisit: he has not understood the priorities and has not taken on time the correct decisions, which should have been, as underlined by general Chavalit, responding to the demand of people in order to reduce the social imbalance: economic development is not sustainable if it is at 2 speeds for the population.

Yes elections have to be done as obviously the legitimacy of the current goverment is disputed by a large part of opinion but the Elections must occur only after a set of measures has been implemented for making them credible and respected by everybody which means some Charter agreement. When? As Anand states, the date is not important, it is a consequence of the roadmap which has to be negotiated.

Abhisit should not have focused on the date but on the roadmap driving to election and on social measures for defusing the situation. Economical development should have be accompanied by social measures so that all Thais feel the benefit: failure of the present Government to understand that it was the priority to reduce the gap between the two main factions of the thai society.

Obviously we are at a turning point,... a political change has to be done and a new leader must emerge and be identified with this change...

Abhisit did explain the road map during the negotiations. It's just that everyone here is focussing on the date - 9 months or 15 days.

[jdinasia]

They should go for a compromise - elections within three months - it's the Elephant in da room

I thought 9 months was a compromise. Let's see where the elephant is then.

Thaksin is the elephant in the room. The reds drop Thaksin and gain credibility. Of course they will also have to drop jatuporn, arisman, weng, sae daeng, and even sadly veera. The ones that have spoken out for violence and war.

Then it is only a matter of really looking for effective ways to help the rural poor of the entire country. Take a look at the country and note that the 14 southern provinces also have a large disenfranchised population that is poor, then ask yourself why they are not "red". That should point everyone in a direction of real progress in dealing with poverty and education in Thailand.

[landofthefree]

I am from Undon so I guess I must be a red shirt, but 5 years ago I came to Bkk and got a job at 4,000 baht a month, I worked hard for a rich Bkk Family and send most of the money home to my family.

I never once made trouble for the family that paid me, I just worked hard, the harder I worked the more money I made and soon was making 8,000 baht a month

When I met my western husband he helped me decide to go out and open my own business, and slowly and with a lot of hard work it got better and better, now I own 2 shops and looking at opening a third.

The hours are long but I make good money and do not have to ask 1 baht from my western husband, now I employ 4 girls from my home town, so we send 4 times more money back home. I look after my family and put my younger brother through University.

These so called Rich Bangkok people you are protesting against use my shops and pay me money which I send back to Udon both through myself and also my staff.

Hurt the Thai elite no way, I have like many others learnt to use them to help my family,

Imagine if all the red shirts who are causing all the problems got up and did what I and many of my friends have done how much money would be flowing back to Udon

Wake up my brothers and sisters of Udon you are being used, this is not about our people, this is about a select few who are using you for their own financial gain.

Protesting, violence, is not the way to a better Udon

The real way is to take the advantage the Bangkok gives us, work hard and educate our younger brothers and sisters, I can tell you now, no promise you now, our time will come when we will rule Thailand, but because we worked hard and deserve it.

What you are doing to day is setting a example for tomorrow, You are the creators of tomorows problems

I ask my and your Budha to open your eyes to the real truth

[dominique355]

Dissolution of the Parliament and new elections won't solve the problem, unfortunately.

What Thailand is suffering about is not a lack of democracy but an thorough understanding what democracy is about.

If the pro-Thaksin and Red Shirts win the elections, we will see the Yellow Shirts out again and protest ad infinitum

and if the Democrats win the election, the Red Shirts and Thaksin will come back and cry foul.

If the Red Shirts truly wanted democracy, they would form their own political party and run in local and provincial elections and then on the national level. But that's not want they want and not what they are able to do, because they know that on a national level they don't stand a chance.

So, what should Thailand do? I believe that a de-centralization is the only way to go. Give the provinces and regions more autonomy and the possibility to decide what's good for them. That would reduce the abyss between "rich"Bangkok and "poor" North-East, or between Muslim South and Buddhist Center and North.

[MellowYellow]

The only way to solve the crisis is to bow down to the wishes of the ruling class.

Everybody go home.

Stop protesting.

Abhisit, Sondhi, the generals, they all have your best interests at heart.

Nothing to see here. It was all a big misunderstanding.

[Thai at Heart]

I am from Undon so I guess I must be a red shirt, but 5 years ago I came to Bkk and got a job at 4,000 baht a month, I worked hard for a rich Bkk Family and send most of the money home to my family.

I never once made trouble for the family that paid me, I just worked hard, the harder I worked the more money I made and soon was making 8,000 baht a month

When I met my western husband he helped me decide to go out and open my own business, and slowly and with a lot of hard work it got better and better, now I own 2 shops and looking at opening a third.

The hours are long but I make good money and do not have to ask 1 baht from my western husband, now I employ 4 girls from my home town, so we send 4 times more money back home. I look after my family and put my younger brother through University.

These so called Rich Bangkok people you are protesting against use my shops and pay me money which I send back to Udon both through myself and also my staff.

Hurt the Thai elite no way, I have like many others learnt to use them to help my family,

Imagine if all the red shirts who are causing all the problems got up and did what I and many of my friends have done how much money would be flowing back to Udon

Wake up my brothers and sisters of Udon you are being used, this is not about our people, this is about a select few who are using you for their own financial gain.

Protesting, violence, is not the way to a better Udon

The real way is to take the advantage the Bangkok gives us, work hard and educate our younger brothers and sisters, I can tell you now, no promise you now, our time will come when we will rule Thailand, but because we worked hard and deserve it.

What you are doing to day is setting a example for tomorrow, You are the creators of tomorows problems

I ask my and your Budha to open your eyes to the real truth

I ceased to believe it when her salary so rapidly went from 4000 to 8000 baht per month working for a wealthy Bangkok family.

Sorry to be cynical, but does anyone else have any anecdotal evidence of such increases in essentially minimum wage earnings?

[ChiangMaiFun]

I am from Undon so I guess I must be a red shirt, but 5 years ago I came to Bkk and got a job at 4,000 baht a month, I worked hard for a rich Bkk Family and send most of the money home to my family.

I never once made trouble for the family that paid me, I just worked hard, the harder I worked the more money I made and soon was making 8,000 baht a month

When I met my western husband he helped me decide to go out and open my own business, and slowly and with a lot of hard work it got better and better, now I own 2 shops and looking at opening a third.

The hours are long but I make good money and do not have to ask 1 baht from my western husband, now I employ 4 girls from my home town, so we send 4 times more money back home. I look after my family and put my younger brother through University.

These so called Rich Bangkok people you are protesting against use my shops and pay me money which I send back to Udon both through myself and also my staff.

Hurt the Thai elite no way, I have like many others learnt to use them to help my family,

Imagine if all the red shirts who are causing all the problems got up and did what I and many of my friends have done how much money would be flowing back to Udon

Wake up my brothers and sisters of Udon you are being used, this is not about our people, this is about a select few who are using you for their own financial gain.

Protesting, violence, is not the way to a better Udon

The real way is to take the advantage the Bangkok gives us, work hard and educate our younger brothers and sisters, I can tell you now, no promise you now, our time will come when we will rule Thailand, but because we worked hard and deserve it.

What you are doing to day is setting a example for tomorrow, You are the creators of tomorows problems

I ask my and your Budha to open your eyes to the real truth

I ceased to believe it when her salary so rapidly went from 4000 to 8000 baht per month working for a wealthy Bangkok family.

Sorry to be cynical, but does anyone else have any anecdotal evidence of such increases in essentially minimum wage earnings?

forget - not worth pursuing - she got lucky - let's get back on topic or we will be told off again

[Jerrytheyoung]

I do agree that a solution will probably emerged from the discussion between those four wise and experienced men.

Whatever smart he may appear, the boots seem too large for Abhisit: he has not understood the priorities and has not taken on time the correct decisions, which should have been, as underlined by general Chavalit, responding to the demand of people in order to reduce the social imbalance: economic development is not sustainable if it is at 2 speeds for the population.

Yes elections have to be done as obviously the legitimacy of the current goverment is disputed by a large part of opinion but the Elections must occur only after a set of measures has been implemented for making them credible and respected by everybody which means some Charter agreement. When? As Anand states, the date is not important, it is a consequence of the roadmap which has to be negotiated.

Abhisit should not have focused on the date but on the roadmap driving to election and on social measures for defusing the situation. Economical development should have be accompanied by social measures so that all Thais feel the benefit: failure of the present Government to understand that it was the priority to reduce the gap between the two main factions of the thai society.

Obviously we are at a turning point,... a political change has to be done and a new leader must emerge and be identified with this change...

Abhisit did explain the road map during the negotiations. It's just that everyone here is focussing on the date - 9 months or 15 days.

The Road map is not only amendment to Charter, content must be negotiated and not imposed and may comprise for example: immediate social measures within an emergency Budget, main decisions concerning infrastructure investment postponed after Elections (Main Budget frozen), decentralisation organisation (elected Governors, Regional decision making assemblies, regional budget),....

[shawndoc]

If the Red Shirts truly wanted democracy, they would form their own political party and run in local and provincial elections and then on the national level. But that's not want they want and not what they are able to do, because they know that on a national level they don't stand a chance.

They already have their own party. I think you'll find many of the red shirt leaders are current or formers members of the PPP/PTP.

[anotherpeter]

I ceased to believe it when her salary so rapidly went from 4000 to 8000 baht per month working for a wealthy Bangkok family.

Sorry to be cynical, but does anyone else have any anecdotal evidence of such increases in essentially minimum wage earnings?

Maybe she worked extra hours. It could be that she started just cleaning, and moved on to cooking, and then to nannying.

Rather than just disbelieving anything that doesn't suit your opinion, why don't you ask for more information?

[animatic]

...Meanwhile, NHRC secretary-general Chuchai Suphawong

said the road map to resolve the conflict as advised by former premier Chavalit had four points: ...

- He called on all sides to heed the demands of the red shirts....

So Chavalit seems to think being a mediator means telling one side to give in to the other.

Not sure how anyone can think that Chairman of PTP can be considered

an unbiased mediator between redshirts and government...?

Certainly he can go and discuss issues with the other 3 old PMs in a open meeting.

heed –verb

1. to give careful attention to:

2. to give attention; have regard. –noun

3. careful attention; notice; observation (usually with give or take).

—Synonyms

1. note, observe, consider, mark.

3. consideration, care; caution, vigilance, watchfulness.

—Antonyms 1. disregard, ignore.

Well meeting with them and discussing the situation was heeding their views.

Lets just say there was very limited heeding given in return.

[Calib]

Imagine if all the red shirts who are causing all the problems got up and did what I and many of my friends have done how much money would be flowing back to Udon

Wake up my brothers and sisters of Udon you are being used, this is not about our people, this is about a select few who are using you for their own financial gain.

Protesting, violence, is not the way to a better Udon

Ozzieman, I respect your attempt at authorship, but its' fabrication and fictionality is very obvious

Nice try!

[Thai at Heart]

I ceased to believe it when her salary so rapidly went from 4000 to 8000 baht per month working for a wealthy Bangkok family.

Sorry to be cynical, but does anyone else have any anecdotal evidence of such increases in essentially minimum wage earnings?

Maybe she worked extra hours. It could be that she started just cleaning, and moved on to cooking, and then to nannying.

Rather than just disbelieving anything that doesn't suit your opinion, why don't you ask for more information?

I did ask if anyone else had any evidence.

I have worked for several companies that employ thousands, in factories and I cannot remember seeing salaries rise that fast. I have a very close family friend who started work for a Big 4 accountancy firm in Bangkok having graduated overseas and her starting was 16k. Her raise this year was 500 baht per month, and they don't recognise out of hours strictly for overtime at all.

With overtime, feasibleish, although to get that high starting from minimum, would probably mean that her benevolent Bangkok family were breaking the monthly hour limits.