All independence will be wiped out if charter amended

[geriatrickid]

This country is slowly but steadily turning into a fascist state. Even the ruling party's name is a mis-nomer: "Pheua Thai" (For Thai) should be renamed into "Pheua Shinawatra", because that's what it's all about.

Really?

Many TVFers insist it is becoming commie.

Can you please confer with your fellow TVFers and come up with the appropriate label that satisfies the judgemental foreign guests of Thailand.

[MrSlatersParrot]

I like this line in the article:

"If senators do not have political independence, they might well end up putting people with political links in charge of independent agencies such as the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General."

As if some of them aren't already.

Actions speak louder than words.

[scorecard]

This country is slowly but steadily turning into a fascist state. Even the ruling party's name is a mis-nomer: "Pheua Thai" (For Thai) should be renamed into "Pheua Shinawatra", because that's what it's all about.

Really?

Many TVFers insist it is becoming commie.

Can you please confer with your fellow TVFers and come up with the appropriate label that satisfies the judgemental foreign guests of Thailand.

Really? Well your comment has little value, just a waste of web board space really.

[scorecard]

I like this line in the article:

"If senators do not have political independence, they might well end up putting people with political links in charge of independent agencies such as the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General."

As if some of them aren't already.

Actions speak louder than words.

Because they are already there is no reason to totally drop all controls / all checks and balances.

[Baerboxer]

This country is slowly but steadily turning into a fascist state. Even the ruling party's name is a mis-nomer: "Pheua Thai" (For Thai) should be renamed into "Pheua Shinawatra", because that's what it's all about.

Really?

Many TVFers insist it is becoming commie.

Can you please confer with your fellow TVFers and come up with the appropriate label that satisfies the judgemental foreign guests of Thailand.

Commie or fascist - both supress free speech, challenge, democracy and advocate a one party state often lead by a wanabee "lifetime" dictator and.or a family dynasty.

Hard to chose really.

[billd766]

How much more 'connected' can you get than having a senator who is married to a MP?

Unless it's their mia noi...!

Might be worth introducing a one MP or senator per family rule here. Can't do any harm that's for sure.

Think about it.

If you are independent from your brother and he was an MP, this means that you would be denied your personal right to be a senator.

This is wrong.

And if you are NOT independent from your brother, then what?

If your brother is a congenital idiot but still qualifies should he, his wife, his eight children, you, your wife and your six children ALL be allowed to become MPs and Senators?

That would be EIGHTEEN just from one family.

Now please remind me once again how many of Thaksin's family and in laws are current or former MPs?

[Greer]

How can independence be wiped out when it doesn't exist ? I can't think of anyone or anything in the way of official bodies, institutions and the like that are truly independent as everything here is a vested interest of one sort or another.

Exactly! Which is why this article is such a blatant attempt at smearing the proposed charter amendments without bringing anything new to the table at all.

Money for old rope, which is the best that Dem supporters like The Nation can hope for these days.

The point is that just because there is limited (if any) independence now, doesn't mean it's a good idea to just bend over and drop your pants completely. Thailand and the Thai people are being systematically raped by people in positions of power, but the education and media is constrained to such an extent that the common people, especially the rural poor, have no real idea about what is happening. There must at least be the possibility of maintaining, or improving, the independence of the senate - at least there needs to be a potential source of control over the megalomaniacs infesting the system as it is now.

I like this line in the article:

"If senators do not have political independence, they might well end up putting people with political links in charge of independent agencies such as the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General."

As if some of them aren't already.

Actions speak louder than words.

Because they are already there is no reason to totally drop all controls / all checks and balances.

Exactly!

[Ricardo]

I like this line in the article:

"If senators do not have political independence, they might well end up putting people with political links in charge of independent agencies such as the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General."

As if some of them aren't already.

Actions speak louder than words.

So you'd expect the government to propose strengthening the checks-and-balances, to reduce the likelihood of close-relatives or political-allies conniving together, rather than eliminating the inconvenient rules, wouldn't you ?

As you rightly say, "actions speak louder than words".

[Nickymaster]

How much more 'connected' can you get than having a senator who is married to a MP?

Unless it's their mia noi...!

Might be worth introducing a one MP or senator per family rule here. Can't do any harm that's for sure.

Think about it.

If you are independent from your brother and he was an MP, this means that you would be denied your personal right to be a senator.

This is wrong.

And if you are NOT independent from your brother, then what?

If your brother is a congenital idiot but still qualifies should he, his wife, his eight children, you, your wife and your six children ALL be allowed to become MPs and Senators?

That would be EIGHTEEN just from one family.

Now please remind me once again how many of Thaksin's family and in laws are current or former MPs?

The only thing gk does is promote Thaksin and his PT machine. I doubt he will answer your questions.

Where have I seen this before!? Have to go now my plane is leaving.

[siampolee]

this whole affair is a prime example of the puppet government driving force and habits. This inept bunch of self serving acolytes in the P.TP. are the political road hogs of Thailand. They are charging along the Thai political highway in their self enriching brand of juggernauts and happily forcing all the oncoming traffic and the traffic that impedes their progress off of the road in true Thai driving fashion.

The carnage as shown by the metaphorical carcasses of those who oppose them politically and the injuries inflicted is indeed horrifying. The pick ups known as freedom and democracy are indeed being pushed off the political highway to the political scrapyard as fast as possible. The town of democracy does not exist in Thaksins mind as his comments and action are proving even now as well as have been proved in the past many time over

Indeed these tactics are so like those of the hit and run criminal driver and to hell with those who are injured or killed, namely democracy and freedom.

Beware the rigging and manipulation of the senate are matters that pose a great danger to Thailand and its peoples, the road to nepotism and dictatorship has hypnotized Thaksin and his brown nosing acolytes but a click of the fingers by the still silent majority of Thai people will break that trance, then those political road hogs will be held accountable for their habits

Thaksin and his family their brown nosing acolytes and this current puppet government should look carefully around them, all actions have a consequence, and in time sooner or later the Thai people will react and such driving tactics will become accountable as will the drivers of these killers of democracy and freedom.

Interestingly though Cambodia's rubber stamp election commission have endorsed Hun Sens dubious election victory the opposition and indeed the Cambodian people are not happy with the situation. Beware Thaksin and cronies that if a political conflagration engulfs Cambodia, Thailand and the Thaksin clan along with their brown nosing acolytes and the Red Shirts could well be on the kindling pile.

Look carefully at your neighbours and their actions to see what may well happen to you in the future.

Edited September 9, 2013 by siampolee