An Early Election Is No Answer To The Current Crisis: Thai Editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
An early election is no answer to the current crisis
The Nation

Dissolving Parliament before term is a democratic option, but it may not be workable or morally acceptable

BANGKOK: -- Despite denials from some senior Pheu Thai Party members, talk about an early election has lingered on. Many political observers believe House dissolution is Thaksin Shinawatra's Plan B if the current push for a political amnesty fails. Another reason for seeking a new mandate for Pheu Thai is that the present administration might be running out of steam sooner than expected.

House dissolution would be justified if for the latter reason - that the Yingluck government needs to renew its legitimacy in order to carry on its policies. It's a democratic strategy applied by politicians all over the world. When in doubt, seek a new mandate.

But if an early election is sought simply to whitewash one man, those involved in its promulgation must think again. Political crimes can be erased, but not by vowing to do so in order to win an election. This issue is far more sensitive and complicated than promising free computer tablets to students, a higher minimum wage or a debt moratorium for farmers.

When it comes to the so-called "amnesty", there are a few things to consider. First, this government can push an amnesty bill through Parliament with or without the opposition's support. It's about political courage, not parliamentary numbers. If the Pheu Thai camp is confident that its amnesty scheme will bring good things to Thailand, what is it afraid of?

Second, unlike computer tablets or massive welfare schemes, amnesty concerns the judiciary, one of the three pillars of democracy. People to benefit under the planned amnesty are those who have been punished, or stand to be punished, by the justice system. To flex parliamentary muscle in order to undo what the judiciary has done is questionable, to say the least.

Third, what guarantee will Pheu Thai have even if it wins a new election comfortably? Already, the ruling camp has a strong command of Parliament, and any national policy that has nothing to do with Thaksin Shinawatra has sailed through the normal democratic channels without fail. The difficulty of the amnesty plan does not lie in the parliamentary numbers, but in the highly controversial nature of the plan itself.

Fourth, Thais are confused already about what democracy can do and what it cannot do, so Pheu Thai should do them a favour by not compounding the confusion.

While politicians in trouble like to seek a new mandate, the truth is that House dissolution cannot solve every problem. Thaksin should know this better than anybody, since he tried it once when he was cornered by street protests triggered by tax controversies in his business empire. A lot of other controversies followed that dissolution, with critics saying it was wrong for a prime minister to hold Parliament accountable for his own personal issues.

The three pillars of democracy are supposed to check and balance one another. Some elements in the ongoing crisis have painted the judiciary as being a big part of a conspiracy against Thaksin. A closer look at his alleged wrongdoings - share concealment, the purchase of state property in violation of the law, and tax privileges enjoyed by his family members and business empire - show that the executive branch and legislature virtually ignored them. The judiciary, which attempted to tackle them, deserves better than being dubbed a tool used to victimise a popular politician.

Calling a new election when a key policy is opposed and thus causing deadlock a not necessarily a democratic solution. Thailand is in a peculiar situation. As long as Pheu Thai resists the temptation to retest its popularity in a new election, at least the already confused state of our democracy won't get any more complicated.

And even if we take moral principles out of the equation, political logic alone does not favour using numerical superiority in Parliament to force through divisive changes. After all, this is not a computer game, where hitting the "restart" button can bring about a fresh beginning. As far as the current crisis is concerned, House dissolution and an early election won't take us back even halfway.


-- The Nation 2013-06-01

[noitom]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

[Robby nz]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

[Thai at Heart]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

[chainarong]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The problem I know from a close relative in Journalism, you step to far out and you end up being drummed out of the system, no one will have you in the media, this good man pulled the rug from under a general in the last junta elections, disclosing the seedier side of the good general, the general withdrew from the race, the relative never worked after the 1997 recession, died at 41 in 2001, the powerful elite of Thailand closed ranks , he couldn't even get a job as a taxi driver in BKK, you speak out at your peril in Thailand.

[amore]

Another Non Story by the nation rag based on speculation that they provide. It works like this.

The Nation Hack: "Khun nameless PTP Senior Official who cannot be identified, Is there going to be an early election?"

Nameless PTP Senior Official who cannot be identified: "No."

The Nation Hack Editor to The Nation Hack "Write it up and I'll put my name to it. Oh, and make sure you mention Thaksin."

[OzMick]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

Perhaps if he had been a tad more discreet, he might have got away with some of his corrupt schemes. But that is not the Shin way.

BTW I assume you know that "forensic" means "ready for court". The evidence gathered qualified, and he was duly convicted, and will be again should he choose to face the charges pending.

[seajae]

they simply want an election before too much more ..

[Thai at Heart]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

Perhaps if he had been a tad more discreet, he might have got away with some of his corrupt schemes. But that is not the Shin way.

BTW I assume you know that "forensic" means "ready for court". The evidence gathered qualified, and he was duly convicted, and will be again should he choose to face the charges pending.

All true, but many many senior politicians and PMS in this country have had their share of scandals and not had much happen to them.

Thaksin wasn't very discrete, true.

[thaicbr]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

And why was that..Possibly because he was the only one that started taking to much in a loud and boastful way eg: The AIS shares etc

[thaicbr]

Another Non Story by the nation rag based on speculation that they provide. It works like this.

The Nation Hack: "Khun nameless PTP Senior Official who cannot be identified, Is there going to be an early election?"

Nameless PTP Senior Official who cannot be identified: "No."

The Nation Hack Editor to The Nation Hack "Write it up and I'll put my name to it. Oh, and make sure you mention Thaksin."

Are there many other newspapers that actually do it differently?

Given post5. I can't really blame many of the reporters who actually live and work here in Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

And why was that..Possibly because he was the only one that started taking to much in a loud and boastful way eg: The AIS shares etc

Maybe. I think it has a hell of a lot to do with changing the seats at the trough for business.

[Chrisswe]

What crisis !!?? Democratic party Coup makers and its cronys is in a deep Crisis! Don't care, let Yinluck and here's Government continued try to develope Thailand !!

[thaicbr]

What crisis !!?? Democratic party Coup makers and its cronys is in a deep Crisis! Don't care, let Yinluck and here's Government continued try to develope Thailand !!

They are ALL in a constant state of crises.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[lungmi]

What crisis !!?? Democratic party Coup makers and its cronys is in a deep Crisis! Don't care, let Yinluck and here's Government continued try to develope Thailand !!

Chrisswe is the chrissis.

[Robby nz]

Robby nz, on 01 Jun 2013 - 09:03, said:

Quote

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

And you think he should not have been?

He should have been allowed to carry on robbing the country?

[OzMick]

Robby nz, on 01 Jun 2013 - 09:03, said:

Quote

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

And you think he should not have been?

He should have been allowed to carry on robbing the country?

That Sir, is the $64,000 question. Certainly there are quite a few Thais, and a far lesser number of farang, who believe that he should have been allowed to continue his thieving ways because he was doing such "great things". That is over and above the gullible who believed the self-promoted crap that he was too rich to bother stealing.

Those a little more discerning soon worked out that most of the "great things" were a hollow facade - some never will.

[bigbamboo]

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The problem I know from a close relative in Journalism, you step to far out and you end up being drummed out of the system, no one will have you in the media, this good man pulled the rug from under a general in the last junta elections, disclosing the seedier side of the good general, the general withdrew from the race, the relative never worked after the 1997 recession, died at 41 in 2001, the powerful elite of Thailand closed ranks , he couldn't even get a job as a taxi driver in BKK, you speak out at your peril in Thailand.

Quite right.

I also remember that young journalist who had the temerity to suggest the Thai PM at the time MAY have benefitted financially from his time as leader of the nation and was subsequently sued for one billion baht. In this instance the world of journalism came to her rescue and saved her from the bullying by this member of the Thai elite.

[hellodolly]

That Sir, is the $64,000 question. Certainly there are quite a few Thais, and a far lesser number of farang, who believe that he should have been allowed to continue his thieving ways because he was doing such "great things". That is over and above the gullible who believed the self-promoted crap that he was too rich to bother stealing.

Robby nz, on 01 Jun 2013 - 09:03, said:

Quote

Share concealment, purchase of state property, and tax abuse. It's a certainty that Thaksin is the only Thai Mr. Big to be guilty of these charges. Common, Mr. Newspaper, let's start doing some real investigative journalism and end the denial and hypocrisy rampant in corrupt mysterious opaque Thailand.

The point Noitom is that he is the only Prime Minister who did it.

I think the issue is that he maybe the only one quite so forensically investigated.

Those a little more discerning soon worked out that most of the "great things" were a hollow facade - some never will.

The only thing he did was ride a world wide boom time. The world is not in a boom time now and Thailand is sinking into debt. Didn't it shove off a huge part of the dept it inherited from 1997 on to the BOT or some other place to make more room to borrow money? It has lost it's #1 exporter of rice status and run up the National debt.

They have come up with a scam for 2.2 trillion baht to get them out of a hole but the rest of the world is not buying into it and they will have to do some thing else.

That being said I am not sure if they would not consider an election. They know they would lose some of there support but it would allow them to retire Yingluck and let her sister in to the PM job. The dynasty would continue. The only end to it will be a heart attack or some other kind of attack. I am not talking about an attack of conchiance. Sorry about the spelling.

[Robby nz]

What an early election would do, should PT win would allow them to say they now have a mandate to change the law to bring Thaksin back free as that is no longer a hidden policy.

Chalerm's bill and his promise {empty like the head) to have his head cut off if he cant bring Thaksin back before the end of the year proves that.

It would also give them an extra 2 years to carry on as they are.

Just what would happen after that is any ones guess.

Should the Dems win they would have huge problems.

Rice is only the tip of the mountain with PT borrowing from themselves via the Agg Bank.

Korn has the problem of whether he should open the books and show the real state of the economy.

There would without a doubt be challenges as per the BKK mayoral election and the reds would be there to cause as much trouble as possible, another riot even organized by the coward in Dubai for he would, for want of a better term, not be happy.

Then there are the small parasite parties who will suck up to whoever gives them the most.

Not a great situation, with the country even deeper in the poo whichever way it went.