PM says advance polling must go ahead

[Fat Haggis]

Yep, we do indeed, again thanks for your concern, but our relationship is just fine thanks, and if I wanted advice about relationships, I'd have asked Dr. Ruth

[Emptyset]

Where does she get that idea of "majority"? They tried to do a "respect my vote" parade, in Chiang Dao and all the got was six adults an a small parade of school children, who obviously were told, by their teacher, they had to participate. This is in a normally predominately red town of over 30000 people, just North of Chiang Mai.

It was a joke!

Most people are so sick and tired, of both sides and many people are talking about the rice scam, up here. Holding a carrot in front of people and then pulling it back, just doesn't work.

Not being a Red supporter, it's amusing, watching them up here, trying to get some momentum going. Even paying them to demonstrate, they can only get six adults??? that's pathetic

Well, I've seen many pictures of well attended respect my vote events during the past couple days from all over the country, so not sure you can take the example of one town and generalize from that. Polls also suggest a majority wants to vote: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/01/24/poll-most-thais-want-feb-2-election-proceed

One picture I just saw from Chiang Rai last night:

[Emptyset]

I just asked my girlfriend where we live in a small village outside Korat, if she was going to vote, I've never asked her political views and don't really care, and she asked me what I vote for, and I said, you know?? The big election on number 2, and she said what happen on number 2? and I said you not see many big problem in Bangkok on TV, and she said yes look little bit, but nobody in village bother because nobody in Bangkok care about small village in Issan.

I tried to get her to say more, amid the claims of vote buying, etc, and she genuinely seemed clueless about what was going on in the Capital. I'm wondering how many other small villages atre oblivious to the Shenanigans of recent weeks?

I said maybe you not get into Bangkok on number 31 if farmers block road, and she asked why they do that? and I tell her, not get money for rice, and her family own rice farms, and she said I never hear about this... she's either dumb as <deleted>, or they're in the Thai version of Brigadoon!!

Jonathan Head went to interview some rice farmers in Udon last month. They'd all been paid and were satisfied with the scheme, though they'd heard about those that hadn't been paid. Perhaps your gf doesn't know because her family are amongst the lucky ones?

Edited January 25, 2014 by Emptyset

[Fat Haggis]

That's indeed very possible, but to be honest, I'd rather not get involved in Thai Politics I'd rather do a 1000 page thesis on Quantum Physics in Latin, as it's probably easier to understand !!!

I'm home on Thursday, so I'll maybe ask a lot more, but as I said, I'd rather not get invloved !!

[smedly]

I propose a new poll

keep it simple 2x boxes

Who is sick to the teeth of this thieving lying Corrupt government

Yes

No

PS Sounds like there is some sort of function/rally going on 2nd road near soi 6 Pattaya, I can hear someone shouting in a Mic

[Spalpeen]

In this band of merry men and one woman, Pheu Thai continues to ambitiously accomplish what few can aspire to - in just one day. Today, Yingluck offered to postpone the election for three months. Then another spokesman of the administration said the EC could make up its own mind - regardless of that - whether it wants to hold advance polling tomorrow. Then Yingluck turned around and said advance polling " must " take place tomorrow. Then Yingluck went back on what she said this morning, and says the election should go ahead on February 2. Exhausted ? Take a deep breath - there's more. Not content with the complexity of players and differences in opinion - especially the ones she disagrees with or doesn't understand - Yingluck is now following the " legal advisors " of Pheu Thai ( misnomer alert ! ), as well as a body under the authority of the prime minister - the Thai Council of State. The Thai Council of State gave Pheu Thai an enormous gift yesterday. They authorized the administration to actually purchase loans to pay the farmers before the election - against the express wishes of the EC, the NACC, and the banks themselves, and despite all the court challenges attendant to the scandal and the administration of it. They also issued an opinion that the election cannot be delayed, clearly contradicting the ruling of the Constitution Court, just yesterday. From Earth to Pheu Thai - that issue was settled yesterday by the Constitution Court ! No matter. The EC will - on Tuesday ( ! ) - hear of the Council's opinion in any event - so they can - again - rehash the whole controversy of the EC versus the administration - all over again - five days before an election, and two days after advance polling has already taken place.

At this rate, Pheu Thai seems to be on on a fast track to settling the whole matter of whether or not to hold on election on February 2

... sometime in March.

I have been meaning to say this for quite a while. It's exhausting trying to read your posts (which is why I have mainly not bothered).

Maybe google paragraphs?

.

"Brevity is the soul of wit", (Shakespeare). Never much wit to be found in long rambling posts.

[smedly]

In this band of merry men and one woman, Pheu Thai continues to ambitiously accomplish what few can aspire to - in just one day. Today, Yingluck offered to postpone the election for three months. Then another spokesman of the administration said the EC could make up its own mind - regardless of that - whether it wants to hold advance polling tomorrow. Then Yingluck turned around and said advance polling " must " take place tomorrow. Then Yingluck went back on what she said this morning, and says the election should go ahead on February 2. Exhausted ? Take a deep breath - there's more. Not content with the complexity of players and differences in opinion - especially the ones she disagrees with or doesn't understand - Yingluck is now following the " legal advisors " of Pheu Thai ( misnomer alert ! ), as well as a body under the authority of the prime minister - the Thai Council of State. The Thai Council of State gave Pheu Thai an enormous gift yesterday. They authorized the administration to actually purchase loans to pay the farmers before the election - against the express wishes of the EC, the NACC, and the banks themselves, and despite all the court challenges attendant to the scandal and the administration of it. They also issued an opinion that the election cannot be delayed, clearly contradicting the ruling of the Constitution Court, just yesterday. From Earth to Pheu Thai - that issue was settled yesterday by the Constitution Court ! No matter. The EC will - on Tuesday ( ! ) - hear of the Council's opinion in any event - so they can - again - rehash the whole controversy of the EC versus the administration - all over again - five days before an election, and two days after advance polling has already taken place.

At this rate, Pheu Thai seems to be on on a fast track to settling the whole matter of whether or not to hold on election on February 2

... sometime in March.

I have been meaning to say this for quite a while. It's exhausting trying to read your posts (which is why I have mainly not bothered).

Maybe google paragraphs?

.

"Brevity is the soul of wit", (Shakespeare). Never much wit to be found in long rambling posts.

scamper - the content of your post is extremely accurate, I could share one word that would also have the same meaning but not as detailed or as effective

It just reinforces the reason why this government has to go - it's quite an embarrassment to Thailand on the world stage - seems to be only one thing they are good at - deception and lies -

I would guess that what is going on is - you have some senior members/advisors telling YS what to say then her brother get on the phone and tells her to say something else - the result of having a government being run by a criminal on the run living in another country

[tangcoral]

come someone explain what the main purpose of advanced voting?

[icare999]

Hahahaha. Everything is coming to pass as expected. She has played her hand beautifully. I would love her to be my bridge / poker partner.

i for one would love to play against you two...lambs to the slaughter..

He'd throw in 3 3s in a hand of brag. 555+

Not understanding is his element of strength.

-mel.

We shall see

now you make me laugh as well what an idiot yingluk would not know her arse from her elbow if her brother did not tell her which was which and her brother probable has way overplayed his hand this time. Maybe you and she should go play with farmers

[aimbc]

He said the prime minister had been lenient with protesters and respected the voice of the minority.

She asked that protesters should also respect the voice of the majority too, he said.

Is she crazy, being lenient? About what? The problem is that she is not listening to why people are upset. I doubt she respects the voice of the minority. Another reason why she does not understand what her responsibilities are. Only respecting the majority. No, my dear caretaker PM, is not democratic.

[FangFerang]

Advance voting to go ahead, Feb 2 poll unlikely: EC

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Advance voting will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday but the general election is expected to be postponed from February 2, the Election Commission announced on Saturday.

The EC resolved Saturday to hold the advance voting as scheduled on ground that the February 2 election has not been postponed yet, EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong and EC Teerawat Thirajojwit told a press conference.

But officials and volunteers manning the polling stations have been advised to stop the voting process and evacuate themselves if protesters besiege the venues during Sunday's advance voting.

Puchong said staff at the election units would be authorised to closely monitor and evaluate the situation.

Teerawat said provincial EC officials can postpone the advance voting for seven days or more depending on the situation.

He said the EC expected that the advance voting in 15 southern provinces and in Bangkok would meet strong protests.

Teerawat said the EC resolved to invite caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to a discussion on Tuesday after the Constitutional Court ruled that the February 2 election could be postponed.

He said the meeting would take place at 2 pm at a place selected by the prime minister at her convenience. The entire EC would meet the prime minister to discuss the election postponement.

Teerawat said he was sorry that the EC did not have the authority to postpone the election on its own but he was confident that the February 2 election would not take place.

He said the EC would hold another meeting Monday to discuss measures on how to prevent conflicts over the election and discuss whether the EC should play the role of mediator trying to mediate the national reform.

-- The Nation 2014-01-25

The EC getting high on the power they are holding at the moment??

They were ordered by the CC to negotiate with the caretaker PM, and despite the fact that they could not find time in their busy schedule (afterall it is only the future of the country on stake) to meet her before Tuesday, they have already held two pressconfences. Where the have hinted the result of "negotiations" taking place in 3 days!!

Not a fan of the Shins, but the socalled unpolitical institutions in this country are a disgrace!!

Actually, I think it is the caretaker govt who could not find time before Tuesday, not the EC. I think the EC has played all their aces, only to find that the govt had one more hidden up their sleeves. Note how they said, a venue at HER convenience.

On another note, if the EC fears strong protests, these would be protests from the PDRC no? Can any posters justify disrupting a legally convened election? If so, on what legal grounds?

How dare you bring facts to an argument. This is not a debate. Debates have rules. This is an argument.

[thesetat2013]

She bases the majority on a college survey of a thousand people which was probably done in a PTP controlled region

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JRSoul]

Hahahaha. Everything is coming to pass as expected. She has played her hand beautifully. I would love her to be my bridge / poker partner.

Bridge is like sex, if you haven't got a good partner, you better have a good hand.

[Baerboxer]

Advance voting to go ahead, Feb 2 poll unlikely: EC

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Advance voting will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday but the general election is expected to be postponed from February 2, the Election Commission announced on Saturday.

The EC resolved Saturday to hold the advance voting as scheduled on ground that the February 2 election has not been postponed yet, EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong and EC Teerawat Thirajojwit told a press conference.

But officials and volunteers manning the polling stations have been advised to stop the voting process and evacuate themselves if protesters besiege the venues during Sunday's advance voting.

Puchong said staff at the election units would be authorised to closely monitor and evaluate the situation.

Teerawat said provincial EC officials can postpone the advance voting for seven days or more depending on the situation.

He said the EC expected that the advance voting in 15 southern provinces and in Bangkok would meet strong protests.

Teerawat said the EC resolved to invite caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to a discussion on Tuesday after the Constitutional Court ruled that the February 2 election could be postponed.

He said the meeting would take place at 2 pm at a place selected by the prime minister at her convenience. The entire EC would meet the prime minister to discuss the election postponement.

Teerawat said he was sorry that the EC did not have the authority to postpone the election on its own but he was confident that the February 2 election would not take place.

He said the EC would hold another meeting Monday to discuss measures on how to prevent conflicts over the election and discuss whether the EC should play the role of mediator trying to mediate the national reform.

-- The Nation 2014-01-25

The EC getting high on the power they are holding at the moment??

They were ordered by the CC to negotiate with the caretaker PM, and despite the fact that they could not find time in their busy schedule (afterall it is only the future of the country on stake) to meet her before Tuesday, they have already held two pressconfences. Where the have hinted the result of "negotiations" taking place in 3 days!!

Not a fan of the Shins, but the socalled unpolitical institutions in this country are a disgrace!!

Are you sure it's the EC who are too busy? Thought they wanted to meet earlier, suggesting Monday, but Madame Caretaker PM/DM wants Tuesday so her legal eagles time to check the CC's decision.

Are there any good sales on at the moment - that might explain her reticence to meet earlier. Got to keep her priorities in order.

[Baerboxer]

I just asked my girlfriend where we live in a small village outside Korat, if she was going to vote, I've never asked her political views and don't really care, and she asked me what I vote for, and I said, you know?? The big election on number 2, and she said what happen on number 2? and I said you not see many big problem in Bangkok on TV, and she said yes look little bit, but nobody in village bother because nobody in Bangkok care about small village in Issan.

I tried to get her to say more, amid the claims of vote buying, etc, and she genuinely seemed clueless about what was going on in the Capital. I'm wondering how many other small villages atre oblivious to the Shenanigans of recent weeks?

I said maybe you not get into Bangkok on number 31 if farmers block road, and she asked why they do that? and I tell her, not get money for rice, and her family own rice farms, and she said I never hear about this... she's either dumb as <deleted>, or they're in the Thai version of Brigadoon!!

Jonathan Head went to interview some rice farmers in Udon last month. They'd all been paid and were satisfied with the scheme, though they'd heard about those that hadn't been paid. Perhaps your gf doesn't know because her family are amongst the lucky ones?

Jonathan always seems so lucky in finding the farmers who've been paid, the people whose lives have been transformed for the better by the various Thaksin proxy party incarnations and who usually have his picture adorning all their walls.

Great to see a BBC reporter rooting out the "needle in the haystack" so the reports can be balanced and unbiased

Heard him on the BBC World News this morning. Consistent as ever.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Baerboxer

[smedly]

villages often rely on village heads telling them what to do - you buy a village head and you've got the whole village in your pocket

[Baerboxer]

Where does she get that idea of "majority"? They tried to do a "respect my vote" parade, in Chiang Dao and all the got was six adults an a small parade of school children, who obviously were told, by their teacher, they had to participate. This is in a normally predominately red town of over 30000 people, just North of Chiang Mai.

It was a joke!

Most people are so sick and tired, of both sides and many people are talking about the rice scam, up here. Holding a carrot in front of people and then pulling it back, just doesn't work.

Not being a Red supporter, it's amusing, watching them up here, trying to get some momentum going. Even paying them to demonstrate, they can only get six adults??? that's pathetic

Well, I've seen many pictures of well attended respect my vote events during the past couple days from all over the country, so not sure you can take the example of one town and generalize from that. Polls also suggest a majority wants to vote: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/01/24/poll-most-thais-want-feb-2-election-proceed

One picture I just saw from Chiang Rai last night:

"Polls" - how many? The article refers to one poll. BU is a good university, and not biased, AFAIK. But without seeing the actual questions, then its difficult to know if the poll was "pointing" people a certain way. Is it valid to use the results of one poll to generalize on the opinions of the whole country?

[slapout]

The caretaker PM's decree that 'advance voting must go on', seems to be having the same luck as her past record of organizing project/programs. The lady appears to be batting 000 when it comes to leadership and running a government.

Those who are promoting this PM/government for a additional chance may want to review what a complete individual/group failure has been displayed by the vast majority involved in same.

[Baerboxer]

Yep, we do indeed, again thanks for your concern, but our relationship is just fine thanks, and if I wanted advice about relationships, I'd have asked Dr. Ruth

Yep - Dr. Ruth would be much better than someone from Essex

[jackandjim]

come someone explain what the main purpose of advanced voting?

lolif you dont understand you think a thai knows whats goin on????

[BlueNoseCodger]

come someone explain what the main purpose of advanced voting?

Advanced voting is so that the Election Commission can see what the vote is likely to be. Thus is can put a stop to any embassasing democracy before it happens on the actual day!

[cloghead]

Thanks for the explanation re advanced voting

I thought it was sort of like premature ejaculation...

[edwinchester]

villages often rely on village heads telling them what to do - you buy a village head and you've got the whole village in your pocket

I live in a Thai village and that is far removed from reality.