Thai Network opposes coup, backs election and reform

[webfact]

Network opposes coup, backs election and reform
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation


Key members of the newly formed Network of Two Yes-es and Two Nos, which is against violence or a military coup and backs an election as well as reform, attend a press conference at Thammasat University yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Sixty prominent academics, intellectuals and activists across the political divide came together for the first time yesterday to create a network against violence or military coup, as well as to support fair elections and reform.

Their press conference yesterday at Thammasat University comes just a couple of days before the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) shuts Bangkok down on Monday and amid rampant speculation about an impending military putsch.

The new group, calling itself the "Network of Two Yes-es and Two Nos", said they feared that the risk of widespread violence was real and hoped that Thais on both sides would learn how to co-exist peacefully.

Somkiat Tangkitvanich, president of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), who has been highly critical of many policies of the current Yingluck Shinawatra administration, said that both sides should acknowledge the need to be empathetic.

"There's a need to understand those on the opposite side, to understand the discontent of the red shirts and for the red shirts to understand Bangkokians and others who have come out to protest and are worried about the majority voice taking matters into their own hands," he said.

Seksan Prasertkul, a noted political scientist and charismatic former student leader and ex-communist rebel who is usually reclusive, was also at the table expressing concern. He too urged everybody to accept the reality of Thailand as a pluralistic society.

"This society has developed to a point where there exists diversity in terms of interests and thinking," he said, adding that there a single group cannot claim to be speaking on behalf of all Thais, because Thai society was no longer homogenous. He also warned that there were some who wished for a military coup as well.

"We can't use means outside the democratic framework because it will not bring about a consensus. Even if it is done out of good intentions, what is gained won't be worth the loss," he warned, adding that sustainable change was needed and that Thais would have to rely on reasoning and wisdom to go through the immediate future without bloodshed.

The group also said that a coup "would be the starting point of violence between the coup makers, the people and among the [different groups of] people".

At the same time, it called for the caretaker government to respect people's right to peaceful assembly and only use force to maintain law and order when necessary and ensure it is in accordance with international standards.

Chaiwat Satha-Anand, Thammasat University political scientist and expert on non-violence, urged Thais not to give up on peaceful means to resolve the current cri?sis.

The network also said it supports the election, adding that it is "a political right of all Thais which no person or group can violate".

The group also called for the creation of a Civic Reform Forum in order to enable a truly open reform process that's not dominated by any one party. The network said it would try and present more detailed proposals in subsequent meetings.

Thammasat University political scientist Kasian Tejapira also called on PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban to stop blowing his whistle and start listening to others. He urged Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha to stop talking about a coup and asked Yingluck and her fugitive older brother Thaksin to pay heed to others, especially those who think differently.

A source from the network, who asked not to be named, said the group had assigned members to work on a national reform proposal along five aspects and release it at a forum on January 26. For instance, the TDRI has been tasked to come up with an anti-corruption proposal, while the Assembly for the Defence of Democracy has been told to look into promoting direct democracy.

The forum will be held at a university in Bangkok, but the exact venue is yet to be announced.

The source said that even though the network had declared they disagreed with the PDRC's methods, most members agree that the February 2 election will not resolve Thailand's division. However, they did not mention the issue in order to avoid confusion.

'Network of 2 Yes-es and 2 Nos'

Who they are

The 'Network of Two Yes-es and Two Nos' is made up of prominent academics, intellectuals and activists from both sides of the political divide. The network was launched yesterday.

Network's members

There are 60 people listed. Those critical of the government include Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) president Somkiat Tangkitvanich, former TDRI head and noted economist Ammar Siamwalla, and consumer rights activist Saree Aongsomwang. On the pro-government side are noted historian Nidhi Eoseewong and Red Sunday group leader Sombat Boonngam-anong. Well-known Buddhist monk Phra Paisal Visalo and former student leader Seksan Prasertkul are also members of the network.

Their standpoints

No violence by all sides and the government must only use force to maintain law and order if necessary and use it in accordance with international standards.

No military coup; the network said a coup would only deepen the conflict and lead to more violence and bloodshed.

Yes to an election; they say electoral right is an inviolable political right.

Yes to national reform; but the process must be all inclusive, participatory and legitimate, involving all parties in dialogue.


-- The Nation 2014-01-11

[moonao]

Their standpoints

No violence by all sides and the government must only use force to maintain law and order if necessary and use it in accordance with international standards.

No military coup; the network said a coup would only deepen the conflict and lead to more violence and bloodshed.

Yes to an election; they say electoral right is an inviolable political right.

Yes to national reform; but the process must be all inclusive, participatory and legitimate, involving all parties in dialogue.

Excellent advice, all yellow shirts need to get their brain out of their high revving first gear, and digest this advice.

[Nowhereman60]

Nothing like waiting to the last minute to do things like this.

[Thailand]

Academics etc saying this!

A big kick in the balls for Suthep. Maybe now a few more of the educated mini masses will express their real concern and get something done about the looney!

[jaltsc]

"Sixty prominent academics, intellectuals and activists across the political divide came together for the first time yesterday to create a network against violence or military coup..."

Unfortunately, waving their Ph.D. degrees at oncoming tanks won't have much effect. Thailand has a long history of coups and violence and very little history as being a center for intelligent political solutions.

[Loptr]

Academics etc saying this!

A big kick in the balls for Suthep. Maybe now a few more of the educated mini masses will express their real concern and get something done about the looney!

Someone needs to pull Suthep aside and have a conversation with him. You know, make him an offer he can't refuse.

[edwinchester]

Academics etc saying this!

A big kick in the balls for Suthep. Maybe now a few more of the educated mini masses will express their real concern and get something done about the looney!

Someone needs to pull Suthep aside and have a conversation with him. You know, make him an offer he can't refuse.

I would think that the people who have the power to actually make that offer have already made it clear that what he is doing has their approval.

[Costas2008]

Loptr, on 11 Jan 2014 - 07:28, said:

Thailand, on 11 Jan 2014 - 07:14, said:

Academics etc saying this!

A big kick in the balls for Suthep. Maybe now a few more of the educated mini masses will express their real concern and get something done about the looney!

Someone needs to pull Suthep aside and have a conversation with him. You know, make him an offer he can't refuse.

I presume if you offer Yingluck a range of Prada products she would be glad even to resign......but Suthep......what can you offer him?..........may be a brain transplant? ...........Just a thought......

[Siripon]

Excellent proposals by the academics, common sense really, if we sum up by saying the anti government supporters want more transparency whilst the red shits want more participation, then these are 2 inseparable parts of democracy which go hand in hand.

But 2 important things need to happen to reconcile the 2 sides. The Bangkokians must learn to accept upcountry people as equals- there are still many idiotic lao khao ( white whisky) folk lurching around the villages but things have changed. The young people are mobile, they have more information, the education is still weak but it can't be denied that access to all kinds of information is there. When I was a child going to Ban Pai, 12 kilometres away, was a big event, the dirt roads meant a rutted dusty path for the bicycles in the summer and a quagmire in the winter.Going to Bangkok? out of the question- now people can leave Bangkok and be in Ban Pai in 5 hours!

Secondly, and just as important and as difficult- the grass roots must find their own leaders who are willing to serve their interests in Parliament without the nepotism of the old or more modern clans like the Shinawats.

But the red shirt leaders tell their supporters-' The southerners and Bangkokians have seized Bangkok, it's us, Issan and the north against them'

And Suthep pushes his followers all the way, for to retreat with the Shinawats still in power will be a total loss for him.

He's playing a game of brinkmanship- if the situation is resolved peacefully with reforms implemented he will go down in history as a hero but if it ends in bloodshed his name will be dirt.

But let us not forget none of this urgent talk about reform would have happened without Suthep

He treads a fine line and I wish him well.

[chrisrazz]

Excellent proposals by the academics, common sense really, if we sum up by saying the anti government supporters want more transparency whilst the red shits want more participation, then these are 2 inseparable parts of democracy which go hand in hand.

But 2 important things need to happen to reconcile the 2 sides. The Bangkokians must learn to accept upcountry people as equals- there are still many idiotic lao khao ( white whisky) folk lurching around the villages but things have changed. The young people are mobile, they have more information, the education is still weak but it can't be denied that access to all kinds of information is there. When I was a child going to Ban Pai, 12 kilometres away, was a big event, the dirt roads meant a rutted dusty path for the bicycles in the summer and a quagmire in the winter.Going to Bangkok? out of the question- now people can leave Bangkok and be in Ban Pai in 5 hours!

Secondly, and just as important and as difficult- the grass roots must find their own leaders who are willing to serve their interests in Parliament without the nepotism of the old or more modern clans like the Shinawats.

But the red shirt leaders tell their supporters-' The southerners and Bangkokians have seized Bangkok, it's us, Issan and the north against them'

And Suthep pushes his followers all the way, for to retreat with the Shinawats still in power will be a total loss for him.

He's playing a game of brinkmanship- if the situation is resolved peacefully with reforms implemented he will go down in history as a hero but if it ends in bloodshed his name will be dirt.

But let us not forget none of this urgent talk about reform would have happened without Suthep

He treads a fine line and I wish him well.

I agree, and would like to add that none of this would have happened without the Shins. Without one the other would carry on regardless of the people. Thailand can get out of this mess and be all smiles again.

[Baerboxer]

Academics etc saying this!

A big kick in the balls for Suthep. Maybe now a few more of the educated mini masses will express their real concern and get something done about the looney!

and a big kick in the balls too to all those supporting a Shiniwatra despotic dynastic dictatorship being slowly applied by the various Thaksin regimes.

Fair free elections, strong checks and balances, strong anti-corruption measures, and the establishment of the rule of law, applied fairly to all, would be great starts.

The big questions - who they gonna get to lead this and govern? Suthep. the Shin family - don't be silly.

[NanLaew]

What's with these ridiculously unmanageable party names?

We have Suthep's constantly morphing "The People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State" which is still called PCAD although appearing to be hiding behind the throne does have a certain cache and guaranteed to sucker the suckers. Similar to Sonthi's adoption of yellow a few years ago. Totally disingenuous.

And now we have the academics (?) selecting the totally improbable "Network of Two Yes's and Two No's."

I am going to stay with PTP... easier to remember. And red is, well.... red.

[canopus1969]

Sixty prominent academics, intellectuals and they come up with a name like this : Network of Two Yes-es and Two Nos

[NoshowJones]

Loptr, on 11 Jan 2014 - 07:28, said:

Thailand, on 11 Jan 2014 - 07:14, said:

Academics etc saying this!

A big kick in the balls for Suthep. Maybe now a few more of the educated mini masses will express their real concern and get something done about the looney!

Someone needs to pull Suthep aside and have a conversation with him. You know, make him an offer he can't refuse.

I presume if you offer Yingluck a range of Prada products she would be glad even to resign......but Suthep......what can you offer him?..........may be a brain transplant? ...........Just a thought......

He would need to have a brain in the first place.

[Ulic]

Maybe this is the group that can steer Thai politics in the right direction and be a beacon of common sense

for both sides.

[bigbamboo]

Yet another think tank but at least their thinking is on the right lines, if a little obvious.

Now they just have persuade Sooty to have elections, Tacky to accept reform and if those two things happen there won't be any need for a coup.

Edited January 11, 2014 by bigbamboo

[vadimbz]

Their standpoints:

Yes to rainbows, unicorns, tom yum kung, nice weather, and reading a good book in your own private garden in the middle of cool season.

No to... well... you know, all the bad stuff, like akne, and fake whisky.

What a load of buffalo crap...

[DrTuner]

Their standpoints:

Yes to rainbows, unicorns, tom yum kung, nice weather, and reading a good book in your own private garden in the middle of cool season.

No to... well... you know, all the bad stuff, like akne, and fake whisky.

What a load of buffalo crap...

These are academics. Not a group renowned for being down to earth realistic.

[Smokemachine]

And the white group who come out asking for election. RESPECT MY VOTE, in the name of true democracy or in the name of TS?

Looks like the lady in the video has no idea who are they actually supporting? HAHA...

RESPECT MY VOTE= more likely RESPECT MY TS.

[Thai at Heart]

How the hell does "two yes, two no" translate in Thai.

Isn't there one marketing prof in this bunch.

What a slogan....

[Jim walker]

If they want the Thai people to take their educated intellectual and very good advice then they must get out on to the streets with whistles and tell them, get to the ballot box and vote for the honest non corrupt party.

[Jingthing]

Pick a new shirt color, Profs. You're in Thailand. This isn't Hollywood Squares.

Seriously how does that weird name they've got resonate in Thai language?

Because in English, it comes off as a total fail.

Edited January 11, 2014 by Jingthing

[englishoak]

What I want to know is why these lot are not on Suthep peoples council list ? Oh yea thats right because he dosnt have a list extending past his own paymasters and chosen lackys ...

About time others started speaking up here like the light a candle protests and respect my vote the voices are building.... more of this please.

[tomacht8]

Good to read that people with different viewpoints are able to talk to each other and to bring a result that is not marked by division.

“A source from the network, who asked not to be named, said the group had assigned members to work on a national reform proposal along five aspects and release it at a forum on January 26. For instance, the TDRI has been tasked to come up with an anti-corruption proposal, while the Assembly for the Defence of Democracy has been told to look into promoting direct democracy.”

Am looking forward to the results (think this is the easier part)

“The source said that even though the network had declared they disagreed with the PDRC's methods, most members agree that the February 2 election will not resolve Thailand's division. However, they did not mention the issue in order to avoid confusion.”

I also look forward to the 'common' compromise, or on their solution.

(think that's the hard part)

Edited January 12, 2014 by tomacht8

[moonao]

The name is a little odd but its effective in that it points directly to the formula.

No violence by all sides and the government must only use force to maintain law and order if necessary and use it in accordance with international standards.

No military coup; the network said a coup would only deepen the conflict and lead to more violence and bloodshed.

Yes to an election; they say electoral right is an inviolable political right.

Yes to national reform; but the process must be all inclusive, participatory and legitimate, involving all parties in dialogue.

[metisdead]

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