Suthep outlines Thailand's political future to media

[webfact]

Suthep outlines Thailand's political future to media
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 13 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban stood firm today that Thailand’s next general election will not be held unless political reform takes place first.

The government dissolved the Lower House on Sunday and set a snap poll for February 2.

In his meeting with the media today, Mr Suthep said the door will be widely open for the Thai people to give their opinions on the selection of members for the people’s council after which the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will screen qualified members.

He said the PDRC will open a forum at Thammasat University tomorrow to listen to people’s points of view while 20 PDRC representatives will meet with the chiefs of the police and armed forces on the same day.

Mr Suthep is secretary general of the PDRC, an ad hoc anti-government grouping in which several factions have joined together with the same goal.

The protest leader insisted that the Yingluck Shinawatra government has been illegitimate since it issued a bill in the interest of a single person, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was sentenced to two years in jail on corruption charges.

He said the government has tried to use its majority votes in Parliament to silence opponents and ram through a charter amendment without listening to the people.

“Thailand has neither the House of Representatives nor a government. The people must stand up to reclaim their power in a peaceful and non-violent manner. We are entitled by the Constitution to do so,” he said.

He called on Ms Yingluck and the caretaker cabinet to relinquish their posts to pave the way for a political vacuum after which the Constitution will be strictly followed for a smooth transition.

If they refuse to do so, people will continue their attempt to seize power until they are successful and exercise their power to set up a people’s council, he said.

He said the council will amend the Election Law for justice and fairness, draft stronger legislation to counter corruption, to decentralise administrative power and restructure the police system.

Mr Suthep said the people’s council will work as quickly as possible, at least eight months or longer, and return the power to the people so that an election is held.

He said the people’s council will comprise people from all professions and selected scholars. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-13

[spirit47]

I think there is a vacuum already, the brain is in Dubai...

[newcomer71]

He said the people’s council will comprise people from all professions and selected scholars.

Selected scholars... Hmmm...

Selected among the ones who yesterday threaten to spray sewage on police, I guess.

Edited December 13, 2013 by newcomer71

[bkkfaranguy]

I thought HM passed a decree stating elections Feb 2 and Yingluck would remain as caretaker, why is this go showing so much disrespect?

[toybits]

Suthep seems to be his own worst enemy! Nobody needs to fight him to discredit him. He is doing a fine job all on his own. Many persons who used to be in his ranks have become disillusioned by his fascist stance.

[airconsult]

Has he got a suggestion box out? I'm tempted to put Thaksin's name in the box just to see if his head will explode....

Edited December 13, 2013 by airconsult

[Thai at Heart]

Why hasn't he been campaigning for this for years?

[NCFC]

So yesterday he was demanding the military come to meet him. They didn't. Tomorrow he will not go to meet them but send a deputation instead. Sounds like his balloon is slowly deflating.

[gerrythepoet]

Re-structure the Police.

Well that clearly show the Military aided the Yellows in 2010 and the Police support the Reds.

He would certainly need a split in the Police to start a coup.

Madman or clearly a Mad Dog needs to be locked up, perhaps he just has not figured where he should be interned.

There could be a split in the Army for some would like to restore peace in the South and others prefer no concessions and new toys for Christmas.

[arthurboy]

'...People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will screen qualified members...'

What constitutes 'qualified', and screen according to whose selected criteria?

'...He said the people’s council will comprise people from all professions and selected scholars.'

Not the man or woman in the street, not the farmers and labourers, not the market vendors, not the taxi drivers, not the shop staff, so not really a people's council, is it then, Khun Suthep?

[bkkfaranguy]

Suthep seems to be his own worst enemy! Nobody needs to fight him to discredit him. He is doing a fine job all on his own. Many persons who used to be in his ranks have become disillusioned by his fascist stance.

Agreed people are jumping ship, I am even seeing a swing of posters here as they fully start to understand what he is all about and what he represents!

[Gweiloman]

Suthep seems to be his own worst enemy! Nobody needs to fight him to discredit him. He is doing a fine job all on his own. Many persons who used to be in his ranks have become disillusioned by his fascist stance.

Agreed people are jumping ship, I am even seeing a swing of posters here as they fully start to understand what he is all about and what he represents!

Funny you should say that. This is the first time in years that I have seen a thread where the anti T posters have not bullied or intimidated out the rest of the more neutral posters.

[Gummigalgen]

I thought HM passed a decree stating elections Feb 2 and Yingluck would remain as caretaker, why is this go showing so much disrespect?

And again, promises promises promises promises.......he will reform Thailand. Yes sure. Next week he will say he wants his temple back.

[crazykopite]

Cadbury fruit and nutcase lock him up before he does to much damage to the good people of Thailand

HM has declared elections for 2 February 2014 and that the current PM remain as caretaker is this fruitcake now going against HMs wishes somebody do us a favor and throw him in the Bangkok Hilton.

[bkkfaranguy]

Suthep seems to be his own worst enemy! Nobody needs to fight him to discredit him. He is doing a fine job all on his own. Many persons who used to be in his ranks have become disillusioned by his fascist stance.

Agreed people are jumping ship, I am even seeing a swing of posters here as they fully start to understand what he is all about and what he represents!

Funny you should say that. This is the first time in years that I have seen a thread where the anti T posters have not bullied or intimidated out the rest of the more neutral posters.

Agreed but give it time they can not handle the truth or the facts, they will be back!

[binjalin]

Will no one rid us of this turbulent Dear Leader??

[gerry123]

'...People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will screen qualified members...'

What constitutes 'qualified', and screen according to whose selected criteria?

'...He said the people’s council will comprise people from all professions and selected scholars.'

Not the man or woman in the street, not the farmers and labourers, not the market vendors, not the taxi drivers, not the shop staff, so not really a people's council, is it then, Khun Suthep?

hopefully not the taxi drivers

[Thailand]

All on his own Suthep is beginning to make Thaksin look like the ultimate poster boy of Thailand.

I don't think that was his intention. (-:

Like many others here I am really wondering how he is still getting away with his continued rambling and ever crazier demands & ultimatums.

[Spartakos]

Let's imagine a Thailand without Suthep and his demonstration:

1) Dr T is back and cleared of all wrongdoings

2) His confiscated money is returned to him with %

3) 2.2 trillion loan is ready and waiting for further instruction to which private account to transfer it.

4) senators are wifes and family members of lower house MPs which means that whatever party get's the majority of votes have no one to be accountable to.

5) Dr T can run for PM, or maybe since the constitution can be amended any way the goverment wants, for even more lucrative position.

Now if there were no protestors and no Suthep Thailand would be half way there as we speak. Does that sound democratic to you? Why are you pretending that there is a democracy in thailand and protestors are ruining it?

The system is broken and needs to be changed to ensure the voted in goverment abides by the rule of law. You might not like Suthep and his buddies i don't like him ether but is there anyone else offering change? Seriously, anyone?

And the staff he says about the police is just too good not to like .

[catmac]

......."and selected scholars". Now we know why so many top university dogs were so keen to jump on Mad Dog's bandwagon, talk about opportunism, cynicism and that ever-present greed and lust for power that seems to thrive amongst that class.

Imagine such a bunch of self-serving slime-balls running the country!

[FangFerang]

His outline had no details, plenty of room for opportunism, and was peppered with empty slogans. Kuhn Suthep had an opportunity to change the agenda to balance power and forge a way forward.

Instead he has made his intentions very clear.

Methinks western politicians are teaching the rest of the world some nasty tricks here, and those who hold power behind the scenes are really the ones using puppets to battle.

Henceforth, I will forever call Thai politics The Puppet Show.

[mca]

Why hasn't he been campaigning for this for years?

Well it's come at a convenient time for him to avoid going to court for the charges for murder hanging over his head. Oops bit of cynicism there. I'm not the biggest fan of Abhisit but at least he had the balls to turn up knowing they're out to get him.

Edited December 13, 2013 by mca

[AloisAmrein]

Suthep wants dictatorship, that's why he refuses new elections. His "people's council" will be a handful of his gang. He should go to jail, not outline Thailand's future. He is accused of treachery and multiple murder, Abisith too.

[tragickingdom]

Doesn't Suthep has a nephew? There is no political future for Suthep. Suthep will have to back down or he ends up like the man he ordered shot on the red shirt barricades. What Suthep wants is a guillotine to behead hundreds possibly thousands of people.

Suthep only gets to do this because the military wants to preside over the soon to come transition. Suthep risks a civil war. It is quite pathetic that people with dirty and bloody hands are considered "clean", another example that the Bangkok elite can get it's children in prestigious schools but not because they have the brains but the tea money.

Suthep is dirtier than the dirtiest politician in PT, scandals, bribe taking and manipulation is second nature. We have had Sondhi who robbed the Krung Thai bank blind and never paid his creditors and we can just go on forever. Even his cheerleaders have given up on him. The Nation claims he cannot speak for all Thais not even for most of the people working for the Democrat newsletter. Yesterday another article in the Post who claimed that Suthep is as clean and his policies as clear as the water of Klong Saen Saeb.

Suthep will be stopped, simply because the ghost will never get in to the bottle again in the North and North East. But in the South is his power base. Lets deport Suthep and the 150000 people that were on the streets (All Christians because they multiplied to 5 million on their funny TV channel). Bus or train them to the three most Southern Provinces put an electrical fence around it and they have their own country that they can call Chinese Thailand. They even have access to the sea on two sides. Good for them.

[Spartakos]

Doesn't Suthep has a nephew? There is no political future for Suthep. Suthep will have to back down or he ends up like the man he ordered shot on the red shirt barricades. What Suthep wants is a guillotine to behead hundreds possibly thousands of people.

Suthep only gets to do this because the military wants to preside over the soon to come transition. Suthep risks a civil war. It is quite pathetic that people with dirty and bloody hands are considered "clean", another example that the Bangkok elite can get it's children in prestigious schools but not because they have the brains but the tea money.

Suthep is dirtier than the dirtiest politician in PT, scandals, bribe taking and manipulation is second nature. We have had Sondhi who robbed the Krung Thai bank blind and never paid his creditors and we can just go on forever. Even his cheerleaders have given up on him. The Nation claims he cannot speak for all Thais not even for most of the people working for the Democrat newsletter. Yesterday another article in the Post who claimed that Suthep is as clean and his policies as clear as the water of Klong Saen Saeb.

Suthep will be stopped, simply because the ghost will never get in to the bottle again in the North and North East. But in the South is his power base. Lets deport Suthep and the 150000 people that were on the streets (All Christians because they multiplied to 5 million on their funny TV channel). Bus or train them to the three most Southern Provinces put an electrical fence around it and they have their own country that they can call Chinese Thailand. They even have access to the sea on two sides. Good for them.

Dr T. is that you?

[Zolt]

Let's imagine a Thailand without Suthep and his demonstration:

1) Dr T is back and cleared of all wrongdoings

>> Not. Senate (50% appointed) rejected the Amnesty bill.

2) His confiscated money is returned to him with %

>> Not: The top appeals court ruled to seize 2/3rds of his frozen assets.

3) 2.2 trillion loan is ready and waiting for further instruction to which private account to transfer it.

>> Not: Constitutional court is reviewing it first.

4) senators are wifes and family members of lower house MPs which means that whatever party get's the majority of votes have no one to be accountable to.

>> Not: Unless a charter amendment passes (Constitutional court blocks it), Senat is still 50% appointed.

>> Government is still accountable to: Constitutional court, NACC, Supreme Administrative Court, HM the King, and of course the general public, as per the next election.

5) Dr T can run for PM, or maybe since the constitution can be amended any way the goverment wants, for even more lucrative position.

>> Not: Again, amnesty bill as above.

None of what you say is true. (Additions in red mine)

The 2007 constitution implemented several institutions, outside of the control of the elected government, to limit the power of a single-party majority. And so far, they have done exactly that, maybe even a little too well.

Suthep's antics have achieved exactly nothing.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Zolt

[HerbalEd]

Cadbury fruit and nutcase lock him up before he does to much damage to the good people of Thailand

HM has declared elections for 2 February 2014 and that the current PM remain as caretaker is this fruitcake now going against HMs wishes somebody do us a favor and throw him in the Bangkok Hilton.

No, leave him be. He's doing plenty of self damage himself.

[Spartakos]

Let's imagine a Thailand without Suthep and his demonstration:

1) Dr T is back and cleared of all wrongdoings

>> Not. Senate (50% appointed) rejected the Amnesty bill.

2) His confiscated money is returned to him with %

>> Not: The top appeals court ruled to seize 2/3rds of his frozen assets.

3) 2.2 trillion loan is ready and waiting for further instruction to which private account to transfer it.

>> Not: Constitutional court is reviewing it first.

4) senators are wifes and family members of lower house MPs which means that whatever party get's the majority of votes have no one to be accountable to.

>> Not: Unless a charter amendment passes (Constitutional court blocks it), Senat is still 50% appointed.

5) Dr T can run for PM, or maybe since the constitution can be amended any way the goverment wants, for even more lucrative position.

>> Not: Again, amnesty bill as above.

None of what you say is true.

The 2007 constitution implemented several institutions, outside of the control of the elected government, to limit to power of a single-party majority. And so far, they have done exactly that, maybe even a little too well.

Suthep's antics have achieved exactly nothing.

The only reason that it is not true or rather not happened is because of strong opposition from the protestors.

1) would have been rammed through if the PTP had 100% elected senate or there would be no strong opposition to it on the streets and that would make number 2 and 5 possible and 100% legal as well (although Dr T. promised not to claim his money back and not to return to politics i very doubt it still would not happen.)

Number 3-4 were only slowed down due to the constitutional court intervention which they had to step out of their normal jurisdiction to do. And still the goverment refused to abide by their rulings and tried to impeach-threaten-manipulate-restructure the last institution that stand in the way of dictatorship by majority.

And what several institutions are you talking about except the constitutional court? ACC? obdusman that going around asking questions and keeps being told to come back in 90 days? Police lol? Attorney general which is appointed by ruling party? DSI?

Edited December 13, 2013 by Spartakos

[DGIE]

Mr Suthep said the people’s council will work as quickly as possible, at least eight months or longer, and return the power to the peopleso that an election is held.

So, the February election is postponed and in that time, he is OK of having an election.

The King who set the February election may listen to Suthep.

[RickBradford]

Suthep is whistling, but the dog's out of range...