Thai Democrat MPs quit House, all 152 members to join rally; Yingluck willing to call election

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POLITICS
Democrat MPs quit House
The Nation



All 152 members to join today's rally; Yingluck willing to dissolve House, call election

BANGKOK: -- THE OPPOSITION Democrat Party yesterday unanimously resolved that all of its remaining 152 MPs would resign and join today's mass rally against the Yingluck Shinawatra government, which is to be held throughout Bangkok.

Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said at a party press conference yesterday: "We will fight as Thai citizens tomorrow".

Abhisit said the Opposition decided to quit as it wanted to help the country find a solution to the current political problems. He said the problems are spiralling towards a crisis, as antigovernment protesters are stepping up their campaign against what he described as an illegitimate government.

Explaining the reasons for the mass resignation, he said it was a gesture to demonstrate that the government had lost legitimacy when it rejected the Constitutional Court's ruling on charter-amendment legislation and issued illegal resolutions that ran against the public's feelings.

"Since the House and the government have lost legitimacy, it must return sovereignty to the people," he said.

He said the Democrat MPs had done their parliamentary duties as best as they could by checking the government, but it lacked a conscience and sense of responsibility.

There were originally 161 Democrat MPs, but nine earlier resigned to lead the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). The movement's secretary-general is former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban.

The Democrats' resignations from Parliament came ahead of today's planned mass anti-government march to Government House, which is intended to mark Suthep's "final day of battle". The resignations allow the MPs, including Abhisit and party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, to join the rally today without worrying about the legal consequences for the party. By resigning they protect the Democrat Party from the possibility of dissolution stemming from any protest actions they might take.

However, by resigning they also lose immunity from prosecution. On December 12, Abhisit and Suthep are scheduled to acknowledge an indictment over their handling of the crackdown on the 2010 red-shirt protests in Bangkok.

The decision came after a five-hour party meeting. A party source said the Democrats estimate more people will join in laying siege to Government House than responded to Suthep's call to a first "day of battle" on November 24.

The resignations are also aimed at putting pressure on the Yingluck government to step down. The resignations of the 152 Democrat MPs leave 339 MPs in Parliament.

The source said that if Yingluck called a House dissolution, the Democrats would run in the next election. They were aware that Suthep's demands would be difficult to realise, the source added. Suthep has called for the establishment of a People's Council and for an unelected prime minister.

"We hope the formula of the next coalition [following the election] would be different from the current one," the source said.

Protesters at the major anti-government rally site at Democracy Monument welcomed the news after a rally spokesman announced the decision on the stage. As instructed by the PDRC, the protesters will lay siege to Government House today.

Meanwhile, a senior Army officer, who asked not to be named, said yesterday he hoped there would not be any violence at today's major rally. "Everyone on every side must calm down and stay in their places and find a way to talk peacefully," he said. He said the Army would do its best for the country, adding that every non-partisan Thai should urge all sides to end their political conflict.

He said people should try not to sway the Army to take either Suthep or the government's side. "We are officers for the nation, the people and the monarchy," he said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday she was ready to dissolve the House and hold a national election within 60 days as stipulated under the law, to be held under fair rules, if that is what the majority of people wanted.

In a special televised programme, she insisted that the protesters' demands that a People's Council be set up and a royally appointed prime minister installed were not allowed under the Constitution, and that the proposals were still a source of debate among academics.

"The protest leaders' demand for a People's Council is unconstitutional. I cannot meet their demand. But I am willing to hold a referendum on a People's Council to see whether the majority of Thais agree with this proposal," she said.

"However if the protesters and the big political parties do not accept [my offers to step down or dissolve the House], or do not accept the results of the election, the political crisis will certainly be prolonged. This could be compared to the political situation in 2006, when a political party boycotted a national election, which resulted in a political vacuum and eventually a coup d'etat," Yingluck said.

The premier was apparently referring to the Democrat Party's boycott of national elections in that year.

She was speaking a day before a massive rally led by Suthep was due to be staged against her government in Bangkok.

The government proposed setting up a forum to discuss the protesters' demands, Yingluck said.

"However, if the conflicts cannot be settled, I propose that a public referendum be held to allow all people to decide," she said. "All political parties and protesters would accept the results of the public referendum, so that all conflicts are solved."

Akanat Prompan, a PDRC spokesperson, later issued a four-point counter-statement in response to Yingluck, asking that she stop putting the blame on the people, and adding that her statement contained nothing new and was aimed at buying time for her government.

"Yingluck has not apologised to the public for her government's failures and all the problems it has caused," he said.

The Pheu Thai-led government and the Pheu Thai-dominated Parliament have no legitimacy or authority following the landmark Constitutional Court ruling dismissing charter-amendment legislation relating to candidates' qualifications in future senatorial elections, Akanat said. Yingluck's proposal for a public referendum on the PDRC-proposed establishment of the so-called People's Council was a result of the mass street protests against her government led by the PDRC, the spokesman said.

He insisted that the PDRC-led marches today would be peaceful and that all protesters would be unarmed, with the foreign and Thai media observing this.


-- The Nation 2013-12-09

[michaeljordan]

Because their leader told them to quit.

Good excuse for the coup.

The boss said they would all get their jobs back and some money.

Thinking about this makes it all the more funny.

So all the minority group has to do in Parliment to oust the majority ruling party in the UK is to simply resign?

No election needed is there for you in Thailand who wear yellow?

My oh my are those Republicans in America stupid then. They hate the President there and you say if they all simply resigned they could get a committee to run the nation and no election needed?

OH--that only works here you say.

OK--and the UN will not like it?

But you do not care as long as you are not hammered with trade sanctions like Myanmar was.

If that happens, you go to plan B and have an election and lose again.

If the Baht goes to 45, better for exports is it.

Besides, it is not as if you caould ever win an election with the current hate for your group is it.

Good plan BUT

What if the other side fights back or what if the PM refuses to leave office and simply calls for another election?

What?

You use the army again?

How old fashion of you.

Myanmar reborn to the east.

Edited December 8, 2013 by michaeljordan

[PaullyW]

Wow, what a great democracy Thailand has.

[Bender]

if Thailand really want to embrace democracy, and finish with this bourgeosie

well they have to do it like french revolution, there is no other choice!

For god sake, just put up 152 guillotines!

[virtualtraveller]

Because their leader told them to quit.

Good excuse for the coup.

The boss said they would all get their jobs back and some money.

Thinking about this makes it all the more funny.

So all the minority group has to do in Parliment to oust the majority ruling party in the UK is to simply resign?

No election needed is there for you in Thailand who wear yellow?

My oh my are those Republicans in America stupid then. They hate the President there and you say if they all simply resigned they could get a committee to run the nation and no election needed?

OH--that only works here you say.

OK--and the UN will not like it?

But you do not care as long as you are not hammered with trade sanctions like Myanmar was.

If that happens, you go to plan B and have an election and lose again.

If the Baht goes to 45, better for exports is it.

Besides, it is not as if you caould ever win an election with the current hate for your group is it.

Good plan BUT

What if the other side fights back or what if the PM refuses to leave office and simply calls for another election?

What?

You use the army again?

How old fashion of you.

Myanmar reborn to the east.

Good point, same applies to the Red Shirt tactic to oust the previous govt and force an election, BUT when a govt like this has lost all sense of legitimacy (read newspapers over last 2 years if you disagree) then it becomes understandable that the Dems quit en-mass, why be part of a farcical parliament in which it ultimately all depends on the dictating of one unelected individual.

[chooka]

What then after they have resigned, do they simply just give themselves their jobs back? Hardly makes any difference apart from collecting that nice little retirement package and give themselves their jobs back for another retirement package next time.

[michaeljordan]

OK you do not like this government. Fair enough.

But there are over 60 million people in America that voted against Obama and likely half of them dislike him with a passion.

Yet, he cannot be overthrown just because some clowns go into the streets. The Democrats hated Bush but NO effort was ever made to overthrow him because that is not how the constitution is written is it.

America has had mass rallies against presidents for as long as it has existed but NO Coup is allowed.

If you even attempt to march on the White House in mass the US army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines will defend who ever that President is.

If you call for the overthrow of a government without election and act upon it you would be tried for treason and convicted and jailed.

Agree?

Same is true in most all other democracies in the world.

Thailand is pretending to be a Democracy but in the end, the ruling class does not respect the will of the majority nor does it respect and constitution. I mean it is not as if the Constitution in Thailand allows for overthrow of a government with a coup is it.

Proof that Thailand is NOT as yet a functioning Constitution is watching the military sit by and allow a coup or even help do the coup.

The rich pay the generals and the generals do the dirty work. Likely there is a little fear these days that if mass killings were to occur by their order they could be put under international arrest warrant from the Hague but so far--that has not happened.

[Roadman]

OK you do not like this government. Fair enough.

But there are over 60 million people in America that voted against Obama and likely half of them dislike him with a passion.

Yet, he cannot be overthrown just because some clowns go into the streets. The Democrats hated Bush but NO effort was ever made to overthrow him because that is not how the constitution is written is it.

America has had mass rallies against presidents for as long as it has existed but NO Coup is allowed.

If you even attempt to march on the White House in mass the US army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines will defend who ever that President is.

If you call for the overthrow of a government without election and act upon it you would be tried for treason and convicted and jailed.

Agree?

Same is true in most all other democracies in the world.

Thailand is pretending to be a Democracy but in the end, the ruling class does not respect the will of the majority nor does it respect and constitution. I mean it is not as if the Constitution in Thailand allows for overthrow of a government with a coup is it.

Proof that Thailand is NOT as yet a functioning Constitution is watching the military sit by and allow a coup or even help do the coup.

The rich pay the generals and the generals do the dirty work. Likely there is a little fear these days that if mass killings were to occur by their order they could be put under international arrest warrant from the Hague but so far--that has not happened.

Wow. Comparing Thailand to a mature democracy, which it has never been and yet to be and then a pretty average one at that. Jeez and wasn't America in some politicial crap just a month or to ago over people who did not like Obama.

And tried for treason, conviction and jailed? You should really do some homework on Thailand instead of spouting irrelevant crap.

[waza]

The line has well and truly been drawn and the Dems are standing shoulder to shoulder with the people, this will gain traction with the international media and visually show who supports the criminal Thaksin and who opposes him and his corrupt government. Its time to get off the fence and show where you stand in the fight against corruption, nepotism and deceit. Judging by the numbers that attended the Suthep's rally for the king this should be a landslide of support.

Edited December 9, 2013 by waza

[englishoak]

The line has well and truly been drawn and the Dems are standing shoulder to shoulder with the people, this will gain traction with the international media and visually show who supports the criminal Thaksin and who opposes him and his corrupt government. Its time to get off the fence and show where you stand in the fight against corruption, nepotism and deceit. Judging by the numbers that attended the Suthep's rally for the king this should be a landslide of support.

Oh please spare us the dramatics and holy crusade by a bunch just as corrupt, last thing people here need to do on TV is get involved in this catfight, Judging by the way things have been going there will be an E for Extra day followed by a F for Fail day all the way to Z for bored to death lets go to sleep day......

[toybits]

The Democrats surely took their time to quit. They should have raised this point soon after Yingluck was made PM. Their silence during the months Yingluck has been sitting as PM is tacit acceptance of her legitimacy in that post. The Democrats' recent resignation is nothing more than grandstanding.

[diehard60]

Does this mean that they do not get paid? And doesn't this mean that those seats are vacant and need to be filled by an election? To me that was a pretty stupid thing to do. This shows you and I mean everyone out there that they do not want an ELECTED government. They do not want a DEMOCRATIC form of government like their name says.

[ianf]

Because their leader told them to quit.

Good excuse for the coup.

The boss said they would all get their jobs back and some money.

Thinking about this makes it all the more funny.

So all the minority group has to do in Parliment to oust the majority ruling party in the UK is to simply resign?

No election needed is there for you in Thailand who wear yellow?

My oh my are those Republicans in America stupid then. They hate the President there and you say if they all simply resigned they could get a committee to run the nation and no election needed?

OH--that only works here you say.

OK--and the UN will not like it?

But you do not care as long as you are not hammered with trade sanctions like Myanmar was.

If that happens, you go to plan B and have an election and lose again.

If the Baht goes to 45, better for exports is it.

Besides, it is not as if you caould ever win an election with the current hate for your group is it.

Good plan BUT

What if the other side fights back or what if the PM refuses to leave office and simply calls for another election?

What?

You use the army again?

How old fashion of you.

Myanmar reborn to the east.

What utter and complete nonsense written by a poster who has no understanding whatsoever of Thai politics or indeed of the power of the Thaksin fascist dictatorship.

[jayboy]

Because their leader told them to quit.

Good excuse for the coup.

The boss said they would all get their jobs back and some money.

Thinking about this makes it all the more funny.

So all the minority group has to do in Parliment to oust the majority ruling party in the UK is to simply resign?

No election needed is there for you in Thailand who wear yellow?

My oh my are those Republicans in America stupid then. They hate the President there and you say if they all simply resigned they could get a committee to run the nation and no election needed?

OH--that only works here you say.

OK--and the UN will not like it?

But you do not care as long as you are not hammered with trade sanctions like Myanmar was.

If that happens, you go to plan B and have an election and lose again.

If the Baht goes to 45, better for exports is it.

Besides, it is not as if you caould ever win an election with the current hate for your group is it.

Good plan BUT

What if the other side fights back or what if the PM refuses to leave office and simply calls for another election?

What?

You use the army again?

How old fashion of you.

Myanmar reborn to the east.

What utter and complete nonsense written by a poster who has no understanding whatsoever of Thai politics or indeed of the power of the Thaksin fascist dictatorship.

I thought much of his post very much to the point.But let's see how events pan out.

[JRSoul]

What then after they have resigned, do they simply just give themselves their jobs back? Hardly makes any difference apart from collecting that nice little retirement package and give themselves their jobs back for another retirement package next time.

No, that was Thaksin who resigned as caretaker PM and gave himself back the job, without consulting the head of state, and then went to the UN purporting to be PM.

MPs who resigned will have to be re-elected. Most countries have provision to handle MPs with broken service so that their is not a double take on retirement benefits; whether that applies here is another matter.

[JRSoul]

The Democrats surely took their time to quit. They should have raised this point soon after Yingluck was made PM. Their silence during the months Yingluck has been sitting as PM is tacit acceptance of her legitimacy in that post. The Democrats' recent resignation is nothing more than grandstanding.

Just because they accepted the results of the election, doesn't mean they have to accept the subsequent corruption and pandering to her brother.

You might compare to the red shirts who decided to complain about the coup 3 PMs later.

[MILT]

OK you do not like this government. Fair enough.

But there are over 60 million people in America that voted against Obama and likely half of them dislike him with a passion.

Yet, he cannot be overthrown just because some clowns go into the streets. The Democrats hated Bush but NO effort was ever made to overthrow him because that is not how the constitution is written is it.

America has had mass rallies against presidents for as long as it has existed but NO Coup is allowed.

If you even attempt to march on the White House in mass the US army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines will defend who ever that President is.

If you call for the overthrow of a government without election and act upon it you would be tried for treason and convicted and jailed.

Agree?

Same is true in most all other democracies in the world.

Thailand is pretending to be a Democracy but in the end, the ruling class does not respect the will of the majority nor does it respect and constitution. I mean it is not as if the Constitution in Thailand allows for overthrow of a government with a coup is it.

Proof that Thailand is NOT as yet a functioning Constitution is watching the military sit by and allow a coup or even help do the coup.

The rich pay the generals and the generals do the dirty work. Likely there is a little fear these days that if mass killings were to occur by their order they could be put under international arrest warrant from the Hague but so far--that has not happened.

...........And then you woke up and found that you were still dreaming.

[englishoak]

Yingluck seeks House dissolution

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday sought royal approval for House dissolution.

She said in a press conference at 8.42 that the dissolution is a democratic way.

​Annnd reset, thats a whole lot of waiting these protesters are gonna have, like 60 days or so, hope they brought plenty of mama

[JRSoul]

if Thailand really want to embrace democracy, and finish with this bourgeosie

well they have to do it like french revolution, there is no other choice!

For god sake, just put up 152 guillotines!

Your grasp of the French Revolution is somewhat lacking. It was the protesters executing those in power - not such a bad idea though.

[MILT]

The line has well and truly been drawn and the Dems are standing shoulder to shoulder with the people, this will gain traction with the international media and visually show who supports the criminal Thaksin and who opposes him and his corrupt government. Its time to get off the fence and show where you stand in the fight against corruption, nepotism and deceit. Judging by the numbers that attended the Suthep's rally for the king this should be a landslide of support.

I'm a Red, hate Suthep with a vengeance, so, let's have a fight. Outside... NOW!

Colors eh? I'm a rainbow and I hate Haters with a side of hate. Let's thumb wrestle.....NOW!

[alanferdi]

The sista government run by the brewdar!

Brewder T orders sista to step back, letta world know we no fight! Invitation to all the diplomats ( journalists) let them see how we handle rioters and protesters.....calmly slaughter them or convert them to wearing red shirts..... Magic!!!! Thaksin the great... Phantom of the rally!

[Thailand]

Can this get any dafter than it already is.

All sides in this conflict have made this country a laughing stock yet again.And as for a party called the Dems not actually wanting democracy- classic!

[newermonkey]

Can we please bring back General Prem Tinsulanonda, just prop him up in a chair, blow off the cobwebs, dust him down, a bit of lick and polish. Play some old Jazz music on all tv and radio stations, broken only by some army broadcast to stay calm.

Can we please get the Thai people to forget about "playing" politics, please, its not going to work.

Please just let the experts run the country, it worked before it'll work again.

http://en.wikipedia....em_Tinsulanonda

[Spare]

if Thailand really want to embrace democracy, and finish with this bourgeosie

well they have to do it like french revolution, there is no other choice!

For god sake, just put up 152 guillotines!

Your grasp of the French Revolution is somewhat lacking. It was the protesters executing those in power - not such a bad idea though.

French revolution must NOT be mentioned in Thailand. You want to go to jail?

[Bender]

if Thailand really want to embrace democracy, and finish with this bourgeosie

well they have to do it like french revolution, there is no other choice!

For god sake, just put up 152 guillotines!

Your grasp of the French Revolution is somewhat lacking. It was the protesters executing those in power - not such a bad idea though.

please, please dont tell me that you are also a expert in french revolution...

2011, the red shirt did remove from power the yellow thugs by the election

Strategic error, in fact they should have do it like the french with a guillotine ... its never too late, you have 152 bourgeoisie in the street.

[JRSoul]

Can this get any dafter than it already is.

All sides in this conflict have made this country a laughing stock yet again.And as for a party called the Dems not actually wanting democracy- classic!

Only one side tried to control the world rice market, and that was bloody hilarious, if you're not Thai. And as for a party owned by Thaksin actually wanting to STOP CORRUPTION - classic!

[JRSoul]

if Thailand really want to embrace democracy, and finish with this bourgeosie

well they have to do it like french revolution, there is no other choice!

For god sake, just put up 152 guillotines!

Your grasp of the French Revolution is somewhat lacking. It was the protesters executing those in power - not such a bad idea though.

please, please dont tell me that you are also a expert in french revolution...

2011, the red shirt did remove from power the yellow thugs by the election

Strategic error, in fact they should have do it like the french with a guillotine ... its never too late, you have 152 bourgeoisie in the street.

So the reds should have had a revolution in 2011 instead of participating in an election? To what end, President Thaksin?

[jackrich]

It seems the Democrats have just committed political suicide. They resigned from the party, which means they will - all of them - not be allowed to stand in the next elections, which are to be held in 60 days or less. That means the Democrats have to find over 500 new candidates and prepare them, all in less than 60 days.

[Thailand]

It seems the Democrats have just committed political suicide. They resigned from the party, which means they will - all of them - not be allowed to stand in the next elections, which are to be held in 60 days or less. That means the Democrats have to find over 500 new candidates and prepare them, all in less than 60 days.

I don't think that would be the case or they would not have been stupid enough to do it- would they.

What they have done is piss off the independents who might have formed a coalition. My guess is the PTP having called an election have already sown up deals with those that may well be the deciding factor.

[belg]

do those people also get paid out golden parachutes & bonus for stopping prematurely as they do in western countries?