Thai Govt public forum on Sunday, protesters say 'No'

[webfact]

Govt public forum on Sunday, protesters say 'No'
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 13 – The caretaker government made an about-turn yesterday by announcing the opening of a public forum to find pathways to resolution of Thailand’s political stalemate.

Appearing on the state-operated Channel 11, Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government was ready to listen to public opinion or together discuss the best solutions for Thailand given several organisations’ attempts to hold a forum for peaceful dialogue and national reform in the future.

The discussion should be held in parallel with the general election, set for February 2 as stipulated in the royal decree on House dissolution, she said.

She said Thai people should find agreement in determining Thailand’s future and concrete reform after the general election.

Based on proposals from many quarters in Thai society, the government is pleased to facilitate such a forum and asked Tongthong Chandransu, permanent secretary for the Prime Minister’s Office, to invite representatives from different quarters, political parties, the private sector, the public sector, educational institutions, civil society and other public groups, organisations, lawyers, academics and the media to join in finding possible resolutions for the country, she said.

She said the forum will be held at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre this Sunday, starting at 9am.

Ms Yingluck said that open-minded discussion will create clear proposals as guiding principles for society in solving the problems.

She said she would not attend the forum but would leave it to civil servants to “moderate” to enable all factions to broadly air their opinions without a set timeframe.

Mr Tongthong will explain details of the forum tomorrow and the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is welcome to participate, said Ms Yingluck.

PDRC spokesman Ekanat Prompan promptly announced that the anti-government group would not attend the government-initiated forum, insisting that a political reform must take place before the February 2 general election.

Key PDRC leaders met today with representatives from seven private organisations and are scheduled to meet with the media tomorrow. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-13

[webfact]

POLITICS
Tussle over push for reforms
The Nation


Suthep Thaugsuban, third from left, secretary-general of the People

BANGKOK: -- Yingluck to proceed on leave after setting up a forum of experts; PDRC insists she must resign first

The government and protest leaders yesterday vied for support for their ideas of setting up a forum to reform the country.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in a national address in the afternoon, called for a forum with representatives from all walks of life to find "the best solution for Thailand" and to brainstorm reform ideas for the country in the future.

Her move came amid growing calls for an overhaul of the political system.

After the committee is formed, Yingluck would go on leave and allow one of her deputies, possibly Phongthep Thepkanjana, to take over as caretaker prime minister, a source said.

Later, Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the protesting People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), proposed a "people's council" with 400 members - 300 elected from various occupations and 100 selected by the PDRC.

According to the PDRC, this council would help with suggesting reform measures for the country before a new election would be held.

Yingluck later said she would not join her proposed forum. It would be left to permanent state officials and "people with neutrality", to allow free and open discussion.

The forum would do its work while preparations for the general election, scheduled for February 2, would be carried out as planned. No time frame has been set for the forum to complete its task, she added.

Tongthong Chandransu, secretary-general of the Prime Minister's Office, has been assigned to implement this forum. Yingluck expects further details about this forum to be revealed today.

"There is no problem if the PDRC wants to take part in the forum," she told reporters.

In her address, she urged people interested in joining the forum to gather at 9am on Sunday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. The event would be hosted by the PM's Office.

The Sunday forum is intended to lead to the formation of a "political reform committee" that would consist of 400-1,000 people, according to a government source.

After the dissolution of the House of Representatives on Monday, the PDRC demanded that Yingluck and her Cabinet members, who are now taking a caretaker role, resign en bloc to make way for the formation of a "people's council".

Suthep yesterday met with leaders of seven private-sector organisations at Bangkok's Sukosol Hotel to discuss his group's reform ideas. He said he would attempt to stop the election from taking place.

"And I can do it," he said.

He also urged the private sector to back his group's cause for political reform.

"If you share our goal, let's do it together so that we can end all this quickly," he said.

The seven private-sector organisations are set to hold a conference at the QSNCC today to propose their national reform plan.

The PDRC yesterday ignored the forum proposed by Yingluck.

"From what she said [in her statement], it is not the answer we need to hear. We need her to resign [from her caretaker post] to pave the way for national reform," its spokesman Akanat Promphan said.

An election cannot lead to reform - the demonstrators need reform before going to the polls, he said.

The meeting with the private sector was the PDRC's first with organisations that have not joined its protest. Suthep on Wednesday had sought meetings with other organisations including security forces.

The seven private-sector organisations were the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Thai Bankers' Association, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Thai Listed Companies Association.

The PDRC will today meet with media representatives to explain its national reform agenda at the Royal Turf Club at Nang Lerng. Tomorrow the PDRC is scheduled to hold an open assembly at Thammasat University from 9am-4pm with the public invited.

People's Council

The PDRC's proposed 400-member "People's Council"

_ 300 members selected from various occupations.

_ 100 members selected by the PDRC.

_ No members or executives of any political party allowed.

_ Members must refrain from accepting any political position for at least five years.


-- The Nation 2013-12-13

[noikrit]

Yingluck proposes it and then says She said she would not attend ...... Spoken like a true leader .....

Edited December 12, 2013 by noikrit

[waza]

Yingluck proposes it and then says She said she would not attend ...... Spoken like a true leader .....

The whole public forum is a joke and another media sideshow with no substance, its true purpose is to appease media and protestors designed to give the PTP breathing space for their election road show. As the PTP control the forum leadership makeup they can limit the terms of reference and agenda. Any recommendation adverse to the Thaksin agenda will be duly ignored, sidelined or amended to suit. It certainly isn't important enough to warrant the puppet caretaker PM's valuable shopping time.

Edited December 12, 2013 by waza

[Chupup]

Getting her shopping in while she can ? what a waste of space, but then this is exactly how we expect her to behave

[Rob8891]

You turn if you want to. This lady's turned into a knot...(to turn a quote!)

[Zolt]

Oh for <deleted>'s sake it's not an "about turn"! The government has proposed a forum many times since the start of the constitutional debate. Democrats have always refused to attend!

[DocN]

Did I just read, what I think, I was reading???

"Suthep Thaugsuban, third from left, secretary-general of the People" ??????

What the....??!!

[tingtongteesood]

The only solution is for the fugitive puppet master and all his puppets to leave ! There, now we don't have to waste time on some silly forum. Just more time wasting holding out for 'amnesty day mark 2'. We can't let it happen.

[HerbalEd]

I'm no fan of Yingluck but I think this is a great idea. Too bad so many immediately reject it as some kind of conspiracy but thus is politics ... i.e., never ever agree that your opponent has a good idea. No wonder the world ... not only Thailand ... is so f___ed up.

[pianoman]

When are people going to realize that this "PDRC" has no legal standing and is being run by an Idiot with no concept of the Rule of Law or how a true Democracy works, and the Democrat's need to realize that if they want to continue using the name "Democrats" that they should actually understand what that title means and stands for...

I am not really a supporter of the PTP, but for better or worse they are the democratically elected government, and to effectively and legally change that the opposing groups need to beat them in an election...

Pianoman

[tominbkk]

Velly Good Mr. Secretary General of the People...remember...Wax on....Wax off....Wax on....Wax off....

[Just1Voice]

When are people going to realize that this "PDRC" has no legal standing and is being run by an Idiot with no concept of the Rule of Law or how a true Democracy works, and the Democrat's need to realize that if they want to continue using the name "Democrats" that they should actually understand what that title means and stands for...

I am not really a supporter of the PTP, but for better or worse they are the democratically elected government, and to effectively and legally change that the opposing groups need to beat them in an election...

Pianoman

"...beat them in an election"

And therein lies the problem. All they can do is shout anti-Thaksin slogans, instead of having the brains, and determination to forget about the Thaksin mantra and fine REAL solutions and ideas, and then express them to the whole country. Until they can do that, they will never beat them at the polls.

[mca]

Did I just read, what I think, I was reading???

"Suthep Thaugsuban, third from left, secretary-general of the People" ??????

What the....??!!

The Nation covering their <deleted> should Suthep get his way.

Although of more concern is their way of counting third from left.

A more accurate description would be "bloke seated next to Master Po."

[mca]

Velly Good Mr. Secretary General of the People...remember...Wax on....Wax off....Wax on....Wax off....

Or " Surrender to the police to face charges of insurrection............not surrender to police to face charges of insurrection.........surrender to police etc. "

Actually I just slightly shit myself as one of the TVF google ads just said " You're being spied on"

Paranoid? Moi?

Edited December 13, 2013 by mca

[ratcatcher]

When are people going to realize that this "PDRC" has no legal standing and is being run by an Idiot with no concept of the Rule of Law or how a true Democracy works, and the Democrat's need to realize that if they want to continue using the name "Democrats" that they should actually understand what that title means and stands for...

I am not really a supporter of the PTP, but for better or worse they are the democratically elected government, and to effectively and legally change that the opposing groups need to beat them in an election...

Pianoman

In principle, you are quite correct, but to call Suthep an idiot is demeaning to real idiots.

Suthep, in most people's eyes is a dangerous man, but to others he has managed to galvanize the largest number of people on to the streets of Bangkok and to a lesser degree the country, to manage to close certain government offices, occupy other government areas, all without being arrested and with minimal casualties.

I am not saying this is good or bad merely that he seems to have the charisma and associated arrogance to achieve many of his aims, to the degree that the Supreme Commander and his cohorts have, after previous denials, agreed to sit at a table and hear his ideas and plans. He even managed to get P.M. Yingluck to dissolve the parliament and call elections, something which a month ago was unthinkable.

This is no idiot. Cunning, sly, devious, manipulative. All of these, but an idiot, certainly not.

[khunsiam]

When are people going to realize that this "PDRC" has no legal standing and is being run by an Idiot with no concept of the Rule of Law or how a true Democracy works, and the Democrat's need to realize that if they want to continue using the name "Democrats" that they should actually understand what that title means and stands for...

I am not really a supporter of the PTP, but for better or worse they are the democratically elected government, and to effectively and legally change that the opposing groups need to beat them in an election...

Pianoman

In principle, you are quite correct, but to call Suthep an idiot is demeaning to real idiots.

Suthep, in most people's eyes is a dangerous man, but to others he has managed to galvanize the largest number of people on to the streets of Bangkok and to a lesser degree the country, to manage to close certain government offices, occupy other government areas, all without being arrested and with minimal casualties.

I am not saying this is good or bad merely that he seems to have the charisma and associated arrogance to achieve many of his aims, to the degree that the Supreme Commander and his cohorts have, after previous denials, agreed to sit at a table and hear his ideas and plans. He even managed to get P.M. Yingluck to dissolve the parliament and call elections, something which a month ago was unthinkable.

This is no idiot. Cunning, sly, devious, manipulative. All of these, but an idiot, certainly not.

It's the (ex-)PAD affiliates sitting there and Suthep is their puppet. Suthep's ideas and plans LOL.

[waza]

When are people going to realize that this "PDRC" has no legal standing and is being run by an Idiot with no concept of the Rule of Law or how a true Democracy works, and the Democrat's need to realize that if they want to continue using the name "Democrats" that they should actually understand what that title means and stands for...

I am not really a supporter of the PTP, but for better or worse they are the democratically elected government, and to effectively and legally change that the opposing groups need to beat them in an election...

Pianoman

"...beat them in an election"

And therein lies the problem. All they can do is shout anti-Thaksin slogans, instead of having the brains, and determination to forget about the Thaksin mantra and fine REAL solutions and ideas, and then express them to the whole country. Until they can do that, they will never beat them at the polls.

Brilliant idea, lets say the Dems go in with policies like, free medical care, free education, a fiscally responsible program to slowly reduce Thailands debt and rebalance the budget. Promises to enact policies that give teeth to the judicial system to fight corruption and another truth and reconciliation commission to punish the politically guilty.

Then the PTP say our policies are higher wages, everyone will be rich in 6 months and everyone in Issan will have their debts forgiven, amnesty for the redshirts and the rice scam will continue.

Who do you think will get in?

Edited December 13, 2013 by waza

[Ulic]

Don't worry Suthep will tell you what reforms are necessary. Just ask him he has the answer.