Thailand election: No-vote is one of 3 options if poll goes ahead

[webfact]

'No-vote is one of 3 options if poll goes ahead'
Chanon Wongsatayanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- According to many protesters led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), there will be only three options left for them if there is an election on February 2: register a "no vote", spoil the ballot, or just don't turn up at the election at all.

Those who favour the "no vote" option reason that they must use their right to vote to show their disapproval of the Pheu Thai Party.

Others said they must use their right to vote in opposition to the government to stop the ruling party, which still enjoys support in the North and Northeast, from winning another mandate.

Professor Chainapa Lepajarn of Bundit Patanasilpa Institute said she would either register a "no vote" or legally make her ballot invalid because she was afraid that a vote she made in her name could be "stolen" by a political party. If she registered her option to vote for no parties, such a theft would be impossible.

Those who don't intend to vote at all said this would show their disapproval of the current election system. A "no vote" could be seen as supporting a system that they have been saying all along needs some sort of "reform". If there are no reforms now, nothing will change, they argue.

But Saravis Meenuch, from Samut Prakan, said he saw this as sacrificing one's basic rights in order to show disapproval.

When The Nation asked protesters whether they would come out on the streets of Bangkok again after New Year if PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban called for another rally, all said they definitely would.

"We can't leave the matter half-finished. I'll join this until the end," one person said.


-- The Nation 2013-12-31

[ggold]

I think the Professor Chianapa should be careful! A certain caretaker minister might accuse her of insurrection and interfering with the democratic vote, may even say she must be arrested!

[GazR]

Vote: Just say NO.

[englishoak]

Hmmm isnt intentionally spoiling the vote ballot an offence here ? is in most places with elections.

[LivinLOS]

A "no vote" could be seen as supporting a system that they have been saying all along needs some sort of "reform". If there are no reforms now, nothing will change, they argue.

And what precisely do they propose as 'some sort' of reform, when the majority of the population repeatedly vote for the party they dont like..

[blaze]

All this talk about reform- so vague- 'stamp out corruption'- which is part and parcel of Thai tradition "a gifting culture'-- ensure transparency- (yet not prepared to disclose who is funding the demos)-- simply erase the Thaksin DNA/ And that of who else?

Can nobody see the origins of Khmer Rouge in this?

Even the Shining Path had a clear (Maoist) agenda. This is change for change's sake-- more like the French Revolution- and history shows that the guillotine worked just as efficiently chopping heads off the revolution's most ardent participants- it ate- as this will- it's young-- and led to totalitarianism (Napoleon).

And to those foreign supporters who do not anticipate anti-foreigner street level sentiment after the fascist state has been condemned internationally, have fun while you can--

you will not be history's first useful idiots, expendable and perhaps detestable to a nutocracy.

And in the new order-= it is usually the useful idiots that are first for the chop- for the gulag-

Please try to understand that the world wide impetus to resolving conflicts through democracy, so inefficient, so vulnerable to corruption and manipulation, has not been driven by a utopian pipe dream- but by fear of every known alternative.

Edited December 31, 2013 by blaze

[Roadman]

All this talk about reform- so vague- 'stamp out corruption'- which is part and parcel of Thai tradition "a gifting culture'-- ensure transparency- (yet not prepared to disclose who is funding the demos)-- simply erase the Thaksin DNA/ And that of who else?

Can nobody see the origins of Khmer Rouge in this?

Even the Shining Path had a clear (Maoist) agenda. This is change for change's sake-- more like the French Revolution- and history shows that the guillotine worked just as efficiently chopping heads off the revolution's most ardent participants- it ate- as this will- it's young-- and led to totalitarianism (Napoleon).

And to those foreign supporters who do not anticipate anti-foreign street level sentiment after the fascist state has been condemned internationally, have fun while you can--

Simply erase the Thaksin DNA. No vagueness intended but where is anybody against Thaksin asking for the Thaksin clan extermination? A big stretch from asking for the peoples court fugitive convicted criminal, and for the most extreme Thaksin opponents, his equally undemocratic family to butt out as well, to get to the Khmer Rouge and Maoist traits that you are imaging. Maoist behavior is what is displayed most by the Red hinder land. Think Red Villages for solid Maoist behavior.

Most sensibility seems to be for Thaksin to p!ss off, reform the place and if Pheu Thai wins the election and governs in a democratic and constitutional manner then there will be no major politicial issues for anybody to protest about.

Edited December 31, 2013 by Roadman

[blaze]

I implied that this protest is NOT at all Maoist- because at least Maoism was a thought through and clear ideology.

THe closest that we have heard which seems visionary is the idea that government should be controlled by 'a few good men'. (In Europe of the 20s, these 'good men' would be almost mystical incarnations of the best of the nation- the soul of the folk).

I ask again- what specific laws, organic or otherwise and mechanisms for enforcing them will be enacted?

Each fan of this revolt has his own dream- some, like you want the system 'reformed' and quickly put on the path of a constitutional democracy.

Others want some kind of absolutism after the reforms are applied. Everyone agrees it will stop major corruption- but some hope it will result in more effective controls against cheating on income tax- against exercising ones ability to 'gift' in order to jump the queue- to avoid a court appearance over a traffic fine-- others say- 'now that's going TOO far!"

The Thaksin 'regime' may be expunged from the THai political arena- but the THaksin effect will not go away- no matter HOW the 'system'

is reformed- unless it is reformed in a way that denies popular vote.

You would welcome the Peua Thai back as a government (or at least permit them- that means Jatuporn, Nuttawat et al)- providing they govern in a 'democratic and constitutional way" (and who decides that?- the majority of the voters- or a minority?) But surely the heads of these protests are aware that if PT comes back it will mean massive court actions against them. you really think they are going to permit this?

To permit 'thaksinomics' to once again prevail? BUt with a different figure head at the helm? I don't think so.,

Edited December 31, 2013 by blaze

[londonthai]

so they boycott an election, but haven't got plan, what next step should be. The only option they see is further street protests.

if protests die before election day (which might be postponed due to technical problems with registering candidates or to outsmart protesters), than many will vote for any of those 50 parties, especially public celebrities rather than a political program. There are also parties with names similar to "democrat" which might mislead some. Former democrat party MP's, politicians and activists, who jumped out of control of leadership, joined other parties and became their candidates, will further divide yellows.

not too long an election campaign will take to the mass media and to the streets, with meeting, rallies, festivities etc overshadowing protests in bkk

[geriatrickid]

Hmmm isnt intentionally spoiling the vote ballot an offence here ? is in most places with elections.

no it is not.

in any case there is no way to determine responsibility as the ballot is supposed to be secret.

[englishoak]

Hmmm isnt intentionally spoiling the vote ballot an offence here ? is in most places with elections.

no it is not.

in any case there is no way to determine responsibility as the ballot is supposed to be secret.

Yea same as the uk is secret but its still illegal to intentionally deface a ballot, was just wondering if it were the same here because if so inciting and suggesting people to do so publicly would be an offence.

thx for clarification

[dhrobertson]

I implied that this protest is NOT at all Maoist- because at least Maoism was a thought through and clear ideology.

THe closest that we have heard which seems visionary is the idea that government should be controlled by 'a few good men'. (In Europe of the 20s, these 'good men' would be almost mystical incarnations of the best of the nation- the soul of the folk).

I ask again- what specific laws, organic or otherwise and mechanisms for enforcing them will be enacted?

Each fan of this revolt has his own dream- some, like you want the system 'reformed' and quickly put on the path of a constitutional democracy.

Others want some kind of absolutism after the reforms are applied. Everyone agrees it will stop major corruption- but some hope it will result in more effective controls against cheating on income tax- against exercising ones ability to 'gift' in order to jump the queue- to avoid a court appearance over a traffic fine-- others say- 'now that's going TOO far!"

The Thaksin 'regime' may be expunged from the THai political arena- but the THaksin effect will not go away- no matter HOW the 'system'

is reformed- unless it is reformed in a way that denies popular vote.

You would welcome the Peua Thai back as a government (or at least permit them- that means Jatuporn, Nuttawat et al)- providing they govern in a 'democratic and constitutional way" (and who decides that?- the majority of the voters- or a minority?) But surely the heads of these protests are aware that if PT comes back it will mean massive court actions against them. you really think they are going to permit this?

To permit 'thaksinomics' to once again prevail? BUt with a different figure head at the helm? I don't think so.,

Soundly argued!

I, for one, would like to see change.

But it must be change whilst retaining democracy.

As I keep saying, it's good governance that's required.

To get that, laws and written constitutions don't really work

A strong media committed to real investigative journalism is required. For that, unfair libel laws and arcane censorship must be scrapped.

Then we have education to sort out. Now that will take some time.....

In the meantime, the protestors need clearer goals than just Thaksin out

[Scamper]

In the coming days, this will undoubtedly be the very top topic of heated debate. Of the three options, registering a " no " vote will be the most effective tool of the reform movement, because the constitution dictates that any " no " vote that exceeds the vote total of the leading candidate nullifies the result. So even if all constituencies in the South are open - still very much in the air - a massive " no " vote will in essence nullify the results of the election, if the constituencies in question total more than 5 % of parliament, which would be a near certainty, thus making reform inevitable. The antipathy towards the Pheu Thai party is most virulent in the South, and it's very hard to imagine that they would vote for any party that could afterwards align with Pheu Thai. A prevailing " no " vote would scuttle the results completely, and cumulatively the election with it. Likely, at least some parts of Bangkok would similarly follow suit.

Edited December 31, 2013 by Scamper

[Bpuumike]

There is a Fourth and increasingly likely option but what path to take long term is a problem.

[DocN]

Yeah...vote "no"- that worked out so wonderful, last time!

[JRSoul]

Hmmm isnt intentionally spoiling the vote ballot an offence here ? is in most places with elections.

no it is not.

in any case there is no way to determine responsibility as the ballot is supposed to be secret.

You should tell that to the guy prosecuted for tearing up his ballot paper in the last election. It was the subject of a TVF thread.