webfact Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Thai government wants controversial election to go aheadBANGKOK, January 28, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's government wants a controversial general election to go ahead this weekend, a deputy prime minister said, despite threats by opposition protesters to disrupt the polls."We insist that the election on February 2 must be held because the majority of people want the election," Surapong Tovichakchaikul told reporters, speaking ahead of a meeting between the prime minister and the Election Commission, which wants to delay the vote.Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has faced nearly three months of mass street demonstrations demanding her elected government step down to make way for an unelected "people's council" that would oversee reforms aimed at curbing the dominance of her billionaire family.The opposition Democrats are boycotting the February polls, saying reforms are needed to ensure the election is truly democratic and to prevent abuse of power by the next government.Advance voting on Sunday was marred by widespread disruption by opposition protesters, who besieged polling stations and stopped hundreds of thousands from casting ballots.Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has threatened to "close every route" to polling stations again for the February 2 general election, raising fears of further violence.Ten people have been killed and hundreds injured in grenade attacks, drive-by shootings and street clashes since the protests began at the end of October.Yingluck is due to meet election authorities Tuesday to discuss a possible delay to the election, after the Constitutional Court ruled that the polls could legally be pushed back because of the civil strife.But the comments by her deputy, made after a cabinet meeting, indicated little enthusiasm for a delay, which the government fears would only prolong the political deadlock.The government notes that under the constitution an election should normally be held no more than 60 days after the dissolution of parliament, which happened in early December.The kingdom has been bitterly divided since Yingluck's older brother, the then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was overthrown by royalist generals in a coup more than seven years ago.Critics accuse the billionaire tycoon-turned-politician of controlling his sister's government from Dubai, where he lives to avoid prison for a corruption conviction. -- ©Copyright AFP 2014-01-28 | AFP News SponsorPublished with written approval from AFP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gemini81 Posted January 28, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Well sure, afraid of the consequences for their bad deeds, should they not be in office-that everything will come back to haunt them when they have less power. It will anyway, hopefully sooner than later. Edited January 28, 2014 by gemini81 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaipod Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Well, we all know the answer already . If it does go ahead there will be more clashes, more deaths. This goverment will do anything it can to hold power. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbamboo Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Shouldn't that be politician turned billionaire tycoon seeing as the man in Dubai only became a billionaire after he was already DPM at the time of baht devaluation in 97? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerdee123 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Is anyone surprised? Has this Govt ever done anything right? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sjaak327 Posted January 28, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Well, we all know the answer already . If it does go ahead there will be more clashes, more deaths. This goverment will do anything it can to hold power. If the government really would do anything to hold on to power, they wouldn't have dissolved the house and hence wouldn't be a caretaker government. Yet they did dissolve the house, so that the Thai electorate can decide who it wants to run the next government. Not sure about the controversial aspect of these elections, as they are mandated by the constitution and confirmed by the head of state. That a very small minority doesn't want elections but an appointed council doesn't make the elections controversial, it just paints that minority in a certain light. Edited January 28, 2014 by sjaak327 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker69 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Yingluck a few weeks back, "we don´t want power we want peace". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waza Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 She may recant later today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scamper Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby nz Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 So they are going into a meeting with the EC to discuss if the election should be postponed with a completely closed mind. Anything the EC says therefore will be rejected........the election must go ahead. Then when they came out of the meeting they will say that if there are any problems with the election it will be the fault of the EC. If this happens and the EC are intimidated and threatened in this way then surely they have little choice but resign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjaak327 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Oh boy, this remark takes the cake. The reason it is only filled 78% is because people were denied their constitutional right to vote. It's not PT that is to blame here, the protestors are breaking the law, which is quite ironic considering their main criticism was the government's alleged breaking of the law. Apparently that law only applies to PT and not to them. Keep dreaming. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabruce Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Oh boy, this remark takes the cake. The reason it is only filled 78% is because people were denied their constitutional right to vote. It's not PT that is to blame here, the protestors are breaking the law, which is quite ironic considering their main criticism was the government's alleged breaking of the law. Apparently that law only applies to PT and not to them. Keep dreaming. Actually you are a bit ahead of yourself. The election hasn't happened yet. So they haven't yet been denied their "right to vote". Definitely many advance voters didn't vote, either because the polling station was closed or because they didn't bother (thought the poll would be closed or thought it wasn't safe or ...?), or because they want the election postponed. Don't know the reasons. Even if the advance voting was unobstructed and only the advance voting was counted, there still wouldn't be the mandated 95%. If the election goes ahead on Feb 2 and lot's of polls are closed, then your remark may be closer to the mark. Parliament won't open after the election even if unobstructed - unless the rules change - because there aren't enough consituencies with a candidate (and the ones with a single candidate aren't guaranteed to get the minimum 20% of the eligible electorate). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosha Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 All 50 election directors in Bangkok have resigned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man River Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 This is a link to ANFREL's (pollwatch) report on Sunday's advanced voting. Note, these are Thai volunteers who risk their lives at Thai elections. Get to know them. Talk to them. Read their reports. You will learn a lot if you are interested in elections in Thailand. You might not hear what you expect. http://anfrel.org/anfrel-expresses-grave-concern-about-violence-the-blocking-of-polling-centers-in-thailand/ Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay49 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Great!!! Thailand VOTE, don't allow anarchists to take over! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tingtongteesood Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 The anarchists already took over in 2010, they are caretrakers now. Hope they leave very soon !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tezzainoz Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Well, we all know the answer already . If it does go ahead there will be more clashes, more deaths. This goverment will do anything it can to hold power. If the government really would do anything to hold on to power, they wouldn't have dissolved the house and hence wouldn't be a caretaker government. Yet they did dissolve the house, so that the Thai electorate can decide who it wants to run the next government. Not sure about the controversial aspect of these elections, as they are mandated by the constitution and confirmed by the head of state. That a very small minority doesn't want elections but an appointed council doesn't make the elections controversial, it just paints that minority in a certain light. they disolved the house because the believed it was a 95% win in the next election Many things have gone wrong since then and their own Red shirt farmers are turning against them My daughter was told this in her 1 year class at school Sorry my friend the times they are a changing, Education is the last thing Taskin wants So he has no time to loose, before he looses totally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tezzainoz Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Do you really believe Taskin has not found away around that law already The law only has any meaning when it is good for the Shinawat Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tezzainoz Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Oh boy, this remark takes the cake. The reason it is only filled 78% is because people were denied their constitutional right to vote. It's not PT that is to blame here, the protestors are breaking the law, which is quite ironic considering their main criticism was the government's alleged breaking of the law. Apparently that law only applies to PT and not to them. Keep dreaming. did you read my post and reverse it to suit your opinion ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tezzainoz Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Oh boy, this remark takes the cake. The reason it is only filled 78% is because people were denied their constitutional right to vote. It's not PT that is to blame here, the protestors are breaking the law, which is quite ironic considering their main criticism was the government's alleged breaking of the law. Apparently that law only applies to PT and not to them. Keep dreaming. Actually you are a bit ahead of yourself. The election hasn't happened yet. So they haven't yet been denied their "right to vote". Definitely many advance voters didn't vote, either because the polling station was closed or because they didn't bother (thought the poll would be closed or thought it wasn't safe or ...?), or because they want the election postponed. Don't know the reasons. Even if the advance voting was unobstructed and only the advance voting was counted, there still wouldn't be the mandated 95%. If the election goes ahead on Feb 2 and lot's of polls are closed, then your remark may be closer to the mark. Parliament won't open after the election even if unobstructed - unless the rules change - because there aren't enough consituencies with a candidate (and the ones with a single candidate aren't guaranteed to get the minimum 20% of the eligible electorate). Again I say writing the truth here will make you not friends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tezzainoz Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Oh boy, this remark takes the cake. The reason it is only filled 78% is because people were denied their constitutional right to vote. It's not PT that is to blame here, the protestors are breaking the law, which is quite ironic considering their main criticism was the government's alleged breaking of the law. Apparently that law only applies to PT and not to them. Keep dreaming. Actually you are a bit ahead of yourself. The election hasn't happened yet. So they haven't yet been denied their "right to vote". Definitely many advance voters didn't vote, either because the polling station was closed or because they didn't bother (thought the poll would be closed or thought it wasn't safe or ...?), or because they want the election postponed. Don't know the reasons. Even if the advance voting was unobstructed and only the advance voting was counted, there still wouldn't be the mandated 95%. If the election goes ahead on Feb 2 and lot's of polls are closed, then your remark may be closer to the mark. Parliament won't open after the election even if unobstructed - unless the rules change - because there aren't enough consituencies with a candidate (and the ones with a single candidate aren't guaranteed to get the minimum 20% of the eligible electorate). Again I say writing the truth here will make you not friends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx22cb Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 This is a link to ANFREL's (pollwatch) report on Sunday's advanced voting. Note, these are Thai volunteers who risk their lives at Thai elections. Get to know them. Talk to them. Read their reports. You will learn a lot if you are interested in elections in Thailand. You might not hear what you expect. http://anfrel.org/anfrel-expresses-grave-concern-about-violence-the-blocking-of-polling-centers-in-thailand/ Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Interesting that ANFREL point their fingers at the Election Commission's inept preparation and performance. Seems that the EC, in football parlance, took a dive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baerboxer Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Interesting. 2 Ministers speak out just before YL meets with the EC. One says PTP wants election go ahead, the other threatens violence is postponed. Nice to set the tone for a cordial meeting. Or are they making sure YL understood the boss's instructions. What a complete waste of time talking to, listening to or believing anything this regime say. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipkins Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 This is a link to ANFREL's (pollwatch) report on Sunday's advanced voting. Note, these are Thai volunteers who risk their lives at Thai elections. Get to know them. Talk to them. Read their reports. You will learn a lot if you are interested in elections in Thailand. You might not hear what you expect. http://anfrel.org/anfrel-expresses-grave-concern-about-violence-the-blocking-of-polling-centers-in-thailand/ Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Interesting that ANFREL point their fingers at the Election Commission's inept preparation and performance. Seems that the EC, in football parlance, took a dive. Everybody saw them take it as well. Smug idiots like Somchai get their jobs because of their connections and the ease with which they can be manipulated to help out with the Coup Plot. The real Human Rights Watch are also commenting on this, as were Reuters and AP. All in all, as the violence has not happend, there is much more to see and report on of the corruption behind the Judicial Coup. When PT win this sunday they won't have the 95%. So they will quite rightly get the courts to rule it can operate with more. The spot light very brightly then goes back onto the courts and their compliance again with the wishes of the Coup backers is there for all to see.... again. All of this strengthens PT as they are quite clearly the victim here and it is easier for the media to get behind here because she is a strong willed elected woman fighting off the challange of a deranged set of sexist corrupt fascists. All power to Yingluk again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjaak327 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Oh boy, this remark takes the cake. The reason it is only filled 78% is because people were denied their constitutional right to vote. It's not PT that is to blame here, the protestors are breaking the law, which is quite ironic considering their main criticism was the government's alleged breaking of the law. Apparently that law only applies to PT and not to them. Keep dreaming. Actually you are a bit ahead of yourself. The election hasn't happened yet. So they haven't yet been denied their "right to vote". Definitely many advance voters didn't vote, either because the polling station was closed or because they didn't bother (thought the poll would be closed or thought it wasn't safe or ...?), or because they want the election postponed. Don't know the reasons. Even if the advance voting was unobstructed and only the advance voting was counted, there still wouldn't be the mandated 95%. If the election goes ahead on Feb 2 and lot's of polls are closed, then your remark may be closer to the mark. Parliament won't open after the election even if unobstructed - unless the rules change - because there aren't enough consituencies with a candidate (and the ones with a single candidate aren't guaranteed to get the minimum 20% of the eligible electorate). Actually there was advance voting last Sunday, and according to BKK post and various other media sources over 400.000 people were unable to cast their votes. We have seen plenty of cases where people were physically prevented from reaching the voting station to cast their votes. So yes, people were denied their right to vote, (note no quotes, as they would be misplaced). Regarding the 95%, that was brought up by the one I responded to, of course this would never be reached by advance voting alone. Fact is that in 89 constituenties people were unable to vote, etiher because they were physically blocked by protestors or because protestors were able to "force"or "negotiate" their closure. Regarding not having enough constituentites with a candidate, (28 I believe), this is a direct result of the protestors denying people the right to run for office, which again is a constitutional right. But we get it, only the governement isn't allowed to allegedly violate this constitution, protestors apparently can do whatever they please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kikoman Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 All 50 election directors in Bangkok have resigned. Good, now is the chance to appoint more qualified people to those positions, and not just do the bidding of their masters. Needed are people that will work for all the people of Thailand, and not just the rich. Maybe the Crud on the EC will follow suit, so some qualified people, with moral values and backbone will fill those seats! Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjaak327 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 If the advance voting was the election itself, parliament would be 78 % filled, as opposed to the 95 % that is mandated. It is hard to see what hope Pheu Thai has in it, outside of the fact that there is no where for them to go. Oh boy, this remark takes the cake. The reason it is only filled 78% is because people were denied their constitutional right to vote. It's not PT that is to blame here, the protestors are breaking the law, which is quite ironic considering their main criticism was the government's alleged breaking of the law. Apparently that law only applies to PT and not to them. Keep dreaming. did you read my post and reverse it to suit your opinion ?? Considering I am responding to a post made by scamper, I am not sure what you are on about, unless of course you have two handles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icommunity Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Well, we all know the answer already . If it does go ahead there will be more clashes, more deaths. This goverment will do anything it can to hold power.This 2 Feb election is not just the wish of this PTP led government. It has returned power to the people for their mandate. On receiving the letter from EC to discuss the postponement, the government invited all political parties to discuss openly their view on this matter. The decision of these parties was supporting 2 Feb election.Send from my Mobile 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man River Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 This is a link to ANFREL's (pollwatch) report on Sunday's advanced voting. Note, these are Thai volunteers who risk their lives at Thai elections. Get to know them. Talk to them. Read their reports. You will learn a lot if you are interested in elections in Thailand. You might not hear what you expect. http://anfrel.org/anfrel-expresses-grave-concern-about-violence-the-blocking-of-polling-centers-in-thailand/ Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Interesting that ANFREL point their fingers at the Election Commission's inept preparation and performance.Seems that the EC, in football parlance, took a dive. Cowboys or Texans? Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipkins Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 the Government have the backing of more of the Country than Suthep. All these people did not just go away and join the Democrats. They are waiting in the wings should the Army come in. Government is therefore right to get the elecdtion out of the way. With 80-90 of the quorum filled, that is a very solid block of votes who have denied Suthep. It stops Suthep blocking the election once it is out of the way then the pressure is on the law makers to let parliament run with what it has. Nobody going to argue around the world if the quorum is short 5% as the law was written like this to ensure Dems and other spoilers could destabalise a Governmant that the elites don't like Numbers game? Reds have it every time and the lack of them on the streets is the Government ploy to avoid the Coup... which they have done very well. 3 killed again today under army martial law controlled Pattani, so no good asking them to help Suthep as they are as inept as everybody else. These people and the 16 million who voted PT are still here... probably 2 - 3 million in Bangkok... and they won't wear Coup 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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