Thai Democrats resolve to boycott February 2 election

[AlphMichaels]

Saw this coming 50 days ago. Think the PTP realizes it's time to mobilize now. And so now it really begins. I fear for the people of Thailand who go about their business, day in and out, without political aspiration or purpose. They simply want to live their lives, raise their families and feel safe.

[fab4]

Who else is getting tired of hearing how when anything happens - like the Dems pulling out of the election - it's Thaksin's making?

You might be getting sick of hearing it, but it doesn't mean that it isn't true. The political problems in Thailand since late 2005 have mostly been Thaksin's making.

8 years of strife and all down to Thaksin. Not even a smidgeon of involvement by the rich and famous and the anonymous? Boy it must be great to have such a simple view on life.............though on second thoughts

Edited December 21, 2013 by fab4

[brit1984]

it's time to stop this childish bickering ("he started it", "it's her fault", "i'm cleverer than you"... etc) style of politics that currently prevails (and is completely incompatible with political stability / peace)

it's time for abhisit and korn (and any other anatomically modern homo sapiens within the "democrats") to break free from the neanderthals, and form a new / fresh party that embraces democracy (rather than circumventing it)

with a positive / fair / non-divisive guiding philosophy with a clearly defined (and clearly presented) aim to improve lives of all thai people (regardless of shirt colour) and the power of media (especially social media) they could quickly become the real party of the people

it's plausible pheu thai could likewise modernize (by cutting links to thaksin and fixing their silly economic policies) but i think abhisit and korn have more potential (and a lot less to lose!)

[whybother]

Does anyone know what is the legal situation regarding an opposition party refusing to participate in a general election? Does this nullify any result even if there is an overwhelming majority for the PTP?

The election can continue as normal. Where there is only one candidate in an electorate, that candidate has to get more than 20% of the vote. (Voters can vote "None of the above".)

Parliament can't be formed if less than 95% of the seats are filled.

In the 2006 election, because there weren't enough seats filled, they couldn't form parliament, which meant that the MPs couldn't elect a PM, and the PM couldn't form government.

[whybother]

Who else is getting tired of hearing how when anything happens - like the Dems pulling out of the election - it's Thaksin's making?

You might be getting sick of hearing it, but it doesn't mean that it isn't true. The political problems in Thailand since late 2005 have mostly been Thaksin's making.

8 years of strife and all down to Thaksin. Not even a smidgeon of involvement by the rich and famous and the anonymous? Boy it must be great to have such a simple view on life.............though on second thoughts

Reading problem? Not all. Mostly.

[scorecard]

2006 all over again! Coup time!

Bye bye Shinawatras!

Bye bye Shinawatras? How come they're still here then after the 2006 coup? Ghastly as it may seem to you lot ,coup or no coup, eventually there will have to be elections and PTP will be returned with a bigger majority than ever.

Could well be true, because given the events of the last few weeks the budget for winning is quite probably very big / close to unlimited.

[LuckyLew]

Good for the Dems

They know the election will be run on fear, fraud and vote buying

Showing some nards to stand back and let the cards fall where they may

Will be interesting to see what PTP/Thaksin does or says

Bet they still try to ram a Feb 2nd election down Thais throats, not as if they

have the best interests of the Thai people in mind

[spidermike007]

When was last time the democrats won a national election? They felt they had zero chances of victory, and this was their only option. They are making it out to be a nobel move, but in reality it is act of cowardice.

[Thailand]

Pathetic!

[ramrod711]

haha so funny

they want an election - they get one - now they don't want one - they says they are "democrats' but don't believe in democracy

PTP and Thaksin must be thanking Buddha there is no sensible opposition and counter manifesto and an inept opposition. A real leader would have exposed the issues and rallied the people all Abhisit can do is say

"I'm not playing and taking my Ball home - so there!!!"

A real Leader wouldn't be hiding on the run overseas either ......

we are not talking about Thaksin but the Leader of the Opposition! a completely different thing

just think about it? want's a dissolution - get's it want's an election - get's it want's a chance to expose the faults of the current government and PROVE he has the people on his side - get's it

discovers he may LOSE - so say's he won't play anymore and would rather Dear Leader run the country on behalf of the amart - it's a sad, sad day for democracy and Thailand and he will never be forgiven for being:

weak, weak, weak

When did Abhisit ask for dissolution? There wouldn't be an election looming if PTP hadn't rammed that bill home in the middle of the night. Abhisit has said that he would not sit as PM unless the party won an election. If PTP members get barred or jailed for passing that bill i would expect Abhisit to decline the PM job. If he doesn't, i'll condemn him as much as you. On the other hand you have Yingluck who is staying on because her brother told her to cling to power at all costs, and she's doing it.

[metisdead]

A troll post has been removed.

[Maestro]

Removed a post discussing the King in a political context and the replies to it.

[tragickingdom]

The not so democracy party likes it as in the senate where appointed senators are always on their side. Luckily for Thailand the Red Shirts will soon show how a million people on the street really looks like. if the Yellows call 150.000 people 5 million, they will probably think 50 million have been turned out if the majority takes to the street.

A split of the not so democrat party should be expected. The people with a brain will no longer see abhisit as a democrat leader but far more as a charlatan.

[backtonormal]

Suthep has played his hand.

The Dems don't want an election because they know they can't win it.

Therefore he wants chaos.

The people pulling his strings are willing to risk all (read my earlier posts) because the prize is so big.

A totalitarian state run paying lip service to monarchy, the establishment back in control.

Big business won't care, tourists don't care as long as there is some signs of stability.

But of course there are the people, who won't stand for this.

So we need to have a revolution and sort out these elites once and for all.

As I stated earlier, we are witnessing the death rattle of the establishment, who won't go down without a fight but it's too late, you can't put the genie back in the bottle.

The military needs to be careful, the USA won't accept any more coups which put these bastards back into power.

So just as the establishment yielded power to the people in most western democracies, so they will yield here too.

No, if there's a death rattle, it's the death rattle of a corrupt government that wants so much to continue stealing. The smart thing for them to do was to compromise and to work together with the opposition and impliment some reforms. Now, look at what has happened. It's going to be 2006 all over again. You think the USA cares if there's a coup. They'll do their usual doublespeak about supporting democracy blah blah blah then it's business as usual. 2006 is the perfect example. Any sanctions by the Americans or anyone else for that better?

Ah, Gerry, there you are.

before Thaksin there was no credible opposition.

The pigs spent 12 months a year at the trough and thought it could never change.

the bonanza of natural resources plus the booming tourism economy was all theirs, and rightfully theirs from family rights and blood ties to the ancient establishment.

this upstart, Thaksin, not even from Bangkok came along and played the game to his advantage, and ever since they've been crying foul.

Thaksin was smart, he unleased the power of the people.

The yellows are just Bangkok public servants and are all brainwashed, hence the significance of their yellow colour. Forelock tuggers every one.

They are absolutely snookered.

They know they can't win an election.

So the only choice left is to bring on another coup.

yes the USA does care, or didn't you listen to the US ambassadore's comments?

These greedy corrupt families who control the Democrats and have controlled Thailand for the past 200 years are just about to have it all taken away from them.

Of course, they'll fight to the death, and they have no concience about what damage they cause.

But, you can't stop the tide, and the tide has turned.

Watch and learn.

Every 5 years the Dem Party would find the village and say "vote for us it will be better next time" so the village people did and nothing changed. Off they went to Bangkok never to be seen for another 5 years. Along came Thaksin "Vote for me it will be different next time" so in 2001 they give the new guy a try. The guy delivered his 30 baht health care and ever since he has been the messiah of the millions. Its not that Thaksin gave them alot its just that the DEms gave them nothing for 60 years. The treatment by the so called elites of poor people in Thailand will never be forgotten and it is inconceivable to think that the fact they are totally unelectable will ever change.

These few people cannot just dismiss 15,000,000 voters like it was the 1950's. If they remove the government of choice there can be only bloodshed but if civil war is the way forward we cannot stop it. Only hope the right people cop the bullets and not the foot soldiers on both sides. A little bit of Nicolae Causcescu...round the back for certain individuals

[fab4]

2006 all over again! Coup time!

Bye bye Shinawatras!

Bye bye Shinawatras? How come they're still here then after the 2006 coup? Ghastly as it may seem to you lot ,coup or no coup, eventually there will have to be elections and PTP will be returned with a bigger majority than ever.

Does anyone know what is the legal situation regarding an opposition party refusing to participate in a general election? Does this nullify any result even if there is an overwhelming majority for the PTP?

There are more parties than the democrat party around - 40 parties contested the last elections. There are 500 seats up for grabs. If all of the dems boycott there will be 120 ish seats to share out. The next big party is the BJP with 34 seats and then Chart Thai with 19 seats. Nothing to stop them forming a coalition and if not beat the PTP (who are bound to lose a few seats since the last election) at least form an opposition.

There also more involved reasons why a boycott like 2006 will not result in the same outcome. Not least of which is due to the Junta Constitution and a 2011 ammendment under Abhisits government, ironically enough about the 20% rule...........

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117295/democrats-boycott-problem/

[pedro01]

Suthep has played his hand.

The Dems don't want an election because they know they can't win it.

Therefore he wants chaos.

The people pulling his strings are willing to risk all (read my earlier posts) because the prize is so big.

A totalitarian state run paying lip service to monarchy, the establishment back in control.

Big business won't care, tourists don't care as long as there is some signs of stability.

But of course there are the people, who won't stand for this.

So we need to have a revolution and sort out these elites once and for all.

As I stated earlier, we are witnessing the death rattle of the establishment, who won't go down without a fight but it's too late, you can't put the genie back in the bottle.

The military needs to be careful, the USA won't accept any more coups which put these bastards back into power.

So just as the establishment yielded power to the people in most western democracies, so they will yield here too.

No, if there's a death rattle, it's the death rattle of a corrupt government that wants so much to continue stealing. The smart thing for them to do was to compromise and to work together with the opposition and impliment some reforms. Now, look at what has happened. It's going to be 2006 all over again. You think the USA cares if there's a coup. They'll do their usual doublespeak about supporting democracy blah blah blah then it's business as usual. 2006 is the perfect example. Any sanctions by the Americans or anyone else for that better?

Ah, Gerry, there you are.

before Thaksin there was no credible opposition.

The pigs spent 12 months a year at the trough and thought it could never change.

the bonanza of natural resources plus the booming tourism economy was all theirs, and rightfully theirs from family rights and blood ties to the ancient establishment.

this upstart, Thaksin, not even from Bangkok came along and played the game to his advantage, and ever since they've been crying foul.

Thaksin was smart, he unleased the power of the people.

The yellows are just Bangkok public servants and are all brainwashed, hence the significance of their yellow colour. Forelock tuggers every one.

They are absolutely snookered.

They know they can't win an election.

So the only choice left is to bring on another coup.

yes the USA does care, or didn't you listen to the US ambassadore's comments?

These greedy corrupt families who control the Democrats and have controlled Thailand for the past 200 years are just about to have it all taken away from them.

Of course, they'll fight to the death, and they have no concience about what damage they cause.

But, you can't stop the tide, and the tide has turned.

Watch and learn.

Ooooh 'they' the mysterious amart, the Bangkok elite that somehow mystically syphon money from Thailand without actually being i power. A mysterious set of unnamed people that are the cause of all Isaan ills.

Do you know who these people are?

I have an office on Silom, have been there since 2001. We get a taste of all colors of protests there. There really is no big difference between the people on the pro and anti govt crowds.

Your anti amart rhetoric is nothing more than regurgitating hate speech. Hate speech that is designed to have people hate the other side so

Much that they will overlook many sins that their own side are guilty of.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Spartakos]

Suthep has played his hand.

The Dems don't want an election because they know they can't win it.

Therefore he wants chaos.

The people pulling his strings are willing to risk all (read my earlier posts) because the prize is so big.

A totalitarian state run paying lip service to monarchy, the establishment back in control.

Big business won't care, tourists don't care as long as there is some signs of stability.

But of course there are the people, who won't stand for this.

So we need to have a revolution and sort out these elites once and for all.

As I stated earlier, we are witnessing the death rattle of the establishment, who won't go down without a fight but it's too late, you can't put the genie back in the bottle.

The military needs to be careful, the USA won't accept any more coups which put these bastards back into power.

So just as the establishment yielded power to the people in most western democracies, so they will yield here too.

Are you from USA? Honestly.

[backtonormal]

Lets not believe that the Democrats stand down carries 11,000,000 votes with it. They basically stand with rent a mob, people who want to give up their votes (its true) maybe 250,000, retired military brass and the backers of this charade. How can these few people demand reform against millions. Remove this government at your peril. I really want to see 10,000,000 on the streets

[whybother]

Every 5 years the Dem Party would find the village and say "vote for us it will be better next time" so the village people did and nothing changed. Off they went to Bangkok never to be seen for another 5 years. Along came Thaksin "Vote for me it will be different next time" so in 2001 they give the new guy a try. The guy delivered his 30 baht health care and ever since he has been the messiah of the millions. Its not that Thaksin gave them alot its just that the DEms gave them nothing for 60 years. The treatment by the so called elites of poor people in Thailand will never be forgotten and it is inconceivable to think that the fact they are totally unelectable will ever change.

These few people cannot just dismiss 15,000,000 voters like it was the 1950's. If they remove the government of choice there can be only bloodshed but if civil war is the way forward we cannot stop it. Only hope the right people cop the bullets and not the foot soldiers on both sides. A little bit of Nicolae Causcescu...round the back for certain individuals

Nice little red shirt bed time story. Do you realise that the Democrats have only been in power for 9 years in total?

[Tedhead]

It's the only card Suthep has to play. Boycott the elections, give a reason/cover story for the army and/or judiciary to declare democracy defunct and go for his 'People's Assembly'. Why, we even have a Thai general calling for such a thing now. There's a shocker.

Just a quick word about the Democrat party and corruption. When people talk about vote buying, they should be aware that vote buying started (and continued) under the Democrats in places such as Hat Yai and Trang province. Remember also that one of the last times a Democrat government was democratically elected in the nineteen-eighties (no calls for People's Assemblies then), it collapsed after a scandal involving the Democrat government doling out prime sites of land on the island of Phuket to its supporters. The Democrats are the fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers of political corruption in Thailand. Thaksin didn't pick it up off the street.

Note also that the last time the Electoral Commission looked into the Democrat Party for corrupt practices, it recommended the party's dissolution. Yet, unlike the various red shirt parties, the recommended dissolution never happened. Funny how that works.

Even if both sides were as clean as snow ethically, the Pheu Thai Party would still win the elections as their policies (cheap healthcare, micro-loans, rural investment) favour a larger proportion of the population. After two decades of losing elections and power, and two decades of finding various excuses to usurp government and election results, the Bangkok elite is running out of excuses and options.

So the Democrat party recommends the doing-away-with of democracy itself. As they say, only in Thailand.

[fab4]

2006 all over again! Coup time!

Bye bye Shinawatras!

Bye bye Shinawatras? How come they're still here then after the 2006 coup? Ghastly as it may seem to you lot ,coup or no coup, eventually there will have to be elections and PTP will be returned with a bigger majority than ever.

Does anyone know what is the legal situation regarding an opposition party refusing to participate in a general election? Does this nullify any result even if there is an overwhelming majority for the PTP?

There are more parties than the democrat party around - 40 parties contested the last elections. There are 500 seats up for grabs. If all of the dems boycott there will be 120 ish seats to share out. The next big party is the BJP with 34 seats and then Chart Thai with 19 seats. Nothing to stop them forming a coalition and if not beat the PTP (who are bound to lose a few seats since the last election) at least form an opposition.

There also more involved reasons why a boycott like 2006 will not result in the same outcome. Not least of which is due to the Junta Constitution and a 2011 amendment under Abhisits government about the 20% rule...........

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117295/democrats-boycott-problem/

Oh the delicious irony of it all............

[Larry001]

Of course they do not want an election because they know they cannot WIN

[kirk0233]

Why should anyone be surprised. A banana and rice republic/monarchy that cannot even provide clean tap water to the subjects of the crown. How could they possibly be civilized enough to play fair in politics if they cannot even provide the basic human needs of clean water and sanitation.

Edited December 21, 2013 by kirk0233

[SNGLIFE]

In the USA, we frequently have uncontested elections. It doesn't even make the news; and life goes on.

I say move forward with the elections and WHEN the PTP win by an unassailable majority, anyway, they will still be seen as a legitimate albeit uncontested government. PTP's job now is to get turnout so high that it legitimizes the results. Ergo, even if contested, the yellows (how appropriate) would not have won, anyway.

[pianoman]

"unless their is political reform first" - by which of course they mean that the party, the majority will vote for, is crippled in such a way as to make it unelectable - sure that is democracy.

A country where the highly educated minority wield power over the majority - sure that is democracy

A(nother) country where the interests of big business outweigh the good of the majority - sure that is democracy

Instead of boycotting and protesting why don't the opposition mount a campaign to gain popularity in rural areas- it may take them longer to gain power but they will have done so legitimately instead of relying on an army to put them in power. Changing government through violence and disorder is just another manifestation of corruption.

the biggest point in political reforms is to stop the vote buying.....PTP every time again is doing a full scale vote buying, no campaign can do anything against that if you aren't super rich to pay more.

Once again I can't beleive how stupid some people are... In my 11+ years of living in Thailand I have been in the villages for many elections, and for elections "All Parties" have their supporters who are giving out Baht, Gifts or both to encourage people to Vote for their party... And the supposedly unintelligent, uneducated villagers just take the Baht / Gifts and then vote for whomever they prefer regardless of who paid what... In my view that makes them the smarter ones, they vote their choice and still get baht / gifts for all...

In my opionon The loyalty / support for the PTP comes from the fact that they are the only party who has effectively passed anything to help the poor people of Thailand... The Democrates and others have for years lined their pockets / bank accounts from their political postions and offered nothing in return... And now they can't imagine why they can't just continue doing so...

Pianoman

[fab4]

2006 all over again! Coup time!

Bye bye Shinawatras!

Bye bye Shinawatras? How come they're still here then after the 2006 coup? Ghastly as it may seem to you lot ,coup or no coup, eventually there will have to be elections and PTP will be returned with a bigger majority than ever.

Does anyone know what is the legal situation regarding an opposition party refusing to participate in a general election? Does this nullify any result even if there is an overwhelming majority for the PTP?

There are more parties than the democrat party around - 40 parties contested the last elections. There are 500 seats up for grabs. If all of the dems boycott there will be 120 ish seats to share out. The next big party is the BJP with 34 seats and then Chart Thai with 19 seats. Nothing to stop them forming a coalition and if not beat the PTP (who are bound to lose a few seats since the last election) at least form an opposition.

There also more involved reasons why a boycott like 2006 will not result in the same outcome. Not least of which is due to the Junta Constitution and a 2011 amendment under Abhisits government about the 20% rule...........

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117295/democrats-boycott-problem/

Oh the delicious irony of it all............

[Spartakos]

The not so democracy party likes it as in the senate where appointed senators are always on their side. Luckily for Thailand the Red Shirts will soon show how a million people on the street really looks like. if the Yellows call 150.000 people 5 million, they will probably think 50 million have been turned out if the majority takes to the street.

A split of the not so democrat party should be expected. The people with a brain will no longer see abhisit as a democrat leader but far more as a charlatan.

Pls do tell me whatever it is you are drinking, I wand some of that. There are not enough reds left to fill a stadium (yes, i have been there and seen it) and they swept the whole countryside to gather them. No matter how badly educated the reds are they still could see the PTP for what it is.

[MaiChai]

Everyone rattles on here about the Democrats not upholding democracy and the law in Thailand. Do most people here believe Thailand is a democracy, and if so do the current government work in a democratic way? Its a Shinawatra dictatorship, who now have also bought some of the military. The ordinary people of Thailand deserve a better government who work for the people. Something needs to be done.

[backtonormal]

Every 5 years the Dem Party would find the village and say "vote for us it will be better next time" so the village people did and nothing changed. Off they went to Bangkok never to be seen for another 5 years. Along came Thaksin "Vote for me it will be different next time" so in 2001 they give the new guy a try. The guy delivered his 30 baht health care and ever since he has been the messiah of the millions. Its not that Thaksin gave them alot its just that the DEms gave them nothing for 60 years. The treatment by the so called elites of poor people in Thailand will never be forgotten and it is inconceivable to think that the fact they are totally unelectable will ever change.

These few people cannot just dismiss 15,000,000 voters like it was the 1950's. If they remove the government of choice there can be only bloodshed but if civil war is the way forward we cannot stop it. Only hope the right people cop the bullets and not the foot soldiers on both sides. A little bit of Nicolae Causcescu...round the back for certain individuals

Nice little red shirt bed time story. Do you realise that the Democrats have only been in power for 9 years in total?

For some its not a story its a nightmare

[cbluck58]

Since they will only get 25% of the vote anyway , who cares if they boycott it or not.

Suthep is not interested in Democracy or the electorate, only in his own personal gain.

Il Duce of Bangkok - he makes less sense that Oswald Mosely did back in the 40s, rants and gesticulates more than Mussolini and makes as much sense as a chocolate ashtray.

The other side are no better but at least Yingluck is easy on the eye...........