British foreign secretary urges Thailand to uphold democracy

[webfact]

British foreign secretary urges Thailand to uphold democracy

JAKARTA: -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Wednesday urged Thailand to uphold democracy as political violence escalated ahead of an election.

"It’s important that constitutional democracy is upheld," Hague said in Jakarta after talks with his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa.

"This is a matter for the people of Thailand, but I hope their political leaders will find a way forward," he said.

Opponents of Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have staged protests since early November to demand her resignation.

Ten people have been killed and more than 570 injured in politically related violence.

Protesters have occupied several key intersections in Bangkok since January 13 in an attempt to scuttle an election scheduled for Sunday.

The poll is expected to return the incumbent Pheu Thai Party to power.

Hague also expressed concerns about tensions between China, Japan and South Korea over disputed islands in the East China Sea.

"Recent tensions in North-East Asia are of course a concern," he said. "We discussed the importance of a rule-based approach to addressing the dispute."


-- The Nation 2014-01-29

[theslime]

Is this the same Country that supports the Democratic role model called Egypt, what a load of cobblers.

[rogerdee123]

Johnathan Head now has his leading headline for the day.

[55Jay]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

[Costas2008]

"This is a matter for the people of Thailand, but I hope their political leaders will find a way forward," he said.

Can't see anything wrong with what he said.

A good and sensible statement from the British foreign secretary.

May be he failed as opposition leader....but he is doing a good job now.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Costas2008

[Suriya4]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

[DocN]

What about "installing" democracy first?

[Costas2008]

I think the American administration should get a lesson of good diplomacy from W. Hague and not insist on elections, at whatever cost, with the excuse that is in the name of Democracy.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Costas2008

[Snig27]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

Got a supporting link for that? Because the polls seem to indicate that most Thais want an election - this one.

[darren84310]

"This is a matter for the people of Thailand, but I hope their political leaders will find a way forward," he said.

Can't see anything wrong with what he said.

A good and sensible statement from the British foreign secretary.

May be he failed as PM....but he is doing a good job now.

Agree he said nothing wrong. However, he was never PM. He was opposition leader when Tony Blair was practically unbeatable.

He would make a good PM now, pity Thailand don't have many politicians of his caliber.

[jonclark]

The devil is always in the detail.

Note the plural use: Leaders - clearly suggesting some form of dialogue between the representatives of all parts of Thai society is a fundamental part of the solution.

He didn't support the election as clearly as he supported democracy

[Snig27]

I think the American administration should get a lesson of good diplomacy from W. Hague and not insist on elections, at whatever cost, with the excuse that is in the name of Democracy.

You seem to have missed the first sentence in Hague's statement. That is calling for the electoral process to continue as per the constitution. Or did I miss the part where the election is contrary to the nation's constitution?

Or does Thailand's constitution require consultation with a minority street mob?

Edited January 29, 2014 by Snig27

[love1012]

"This is a matter for the people of Thailand, but I hope their political leaders will find a way forward," he said.

Can't see anything wrong with what he said.

A good and sensible statement from the British foreign secretary.

May be he failed as PM....but he is doing a good job now.

Agree he said nothing wrong. However, he was never PM. He was opposition leader when Tony Blair was practically unbeatable.

He would make a good PM now, pity Thailand don't have many politicians of his caliber.

Hahaha - Hague is a failed politician Governing with a party with a 27% mandate - learn about you own country PLEASE before instructing ours!

[citizen33]

Yes, as stated above by Snig27 the coded message is in the phrase 'constitutional democracy'. Not that that code would be hard to understand for most.

[plachon]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

The question could also be asked: "Do Thais understand Thais?"

At the moment, judging from the conflict on the streets and behind the scenes between the real power brokers, it could be argued that Thais are not being very understanding of their own, and it takes non-partisan outsiders to give a more balanced and fairer view of the picture. I know many Thais like to think they live in a state of exception, where "Thainess" can be made to define everything (e.g. "Thai-style democracy) and used to dismiss everyone with a slightly different take on things, but when things slide into the abyss (e.g. 1973, 1976, 1992, 2010, 2014?), then it may be just worth briefly considering the views of the odd voice from outside, who may not be Thai by birth, but does care about the state of affairs in Thailand.

And the assertion that "the majority of people want election after reform" is I am afraid, an opinion and nothing more.

Edited January 29, 2014 by plachon

[pipkins]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

Problem for Thais like you is that we do understand you.

Everybody understands you and we don't like what you do and we know you don't think or you would realise you just trying to give away your rights (don't care about your rights eh?) but more importantly you are trying to give away the rights of everybody in the country... and give them to one of the most horrible people ever to live in asia.

Oh yes we do understand fascism. It is Thai people like you with no education about history or sense of reasoning powers. If you knew anything about history, you would not support Suthep.

Reform yes. If you are all so intellegent, make a political party to compete with Thaksin. And don't cry like a baby about vote buying.

Dems did nothing in power for anybody other than the army (gave them massive budget rise) and chase after ghost of thakisn around the world. If you really are educated you have to show people you are and stop behaving like 13 year old teenagers with angst problems.

Majority of Thais do want elections, and many more will vote PT than for Suthep. It is not your right to use violence and block polling stations. In western country you would be arrested, tasered and if you invade White house like you try at Gov house and Police office... You would all be shot with real bullets until you went away.

You are very lucky that the big corruption in thailand is the Army and Elites. They are protecting you,, Suthep and his criminals. But, they can't do it for ever so you'll have to either stop, negotiate or the reds will come with more people than you can ever imagine and they will make you stop!!

[55Jay]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

You are correct. This farang doesn't understand how your response was, in any way, relevant to mine.

[55Jay]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

You are correct. This farang doesn't understand how your response was, in any way, relevant to my comment.

[wave]

The devil is always in the detail.

Note the plural use: Leaders - clearly suggesting some form of dialogue between the representatives of all parts of Thai society is a fundamental part of the solution.

He didn't support the election as clearly as he supported democracy

Yes and without elections a Democracy does not exist.

It's completely disingenuous to imply that supporting Democracy somehow precludes not supporting elections.

Maybe we need to get Mr Hague or Mr Obama or closer to home Ms Aung San Suu Kyi opinion on obstructing peoples right to vote.

How about putting "Democracy on hold" while unelected good people draft a new constitution on behalf of the electorate, would they call that Democratic?

The fact is most democratic countries are asking Thailand to uphold Democratic principles and the very cornerstone of these principles is an electoral vote,

[Centrum]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

Problem for Thais like you is that we do understand you.

Everybody understands you and we don't like what you do and we know you don't think or you would realise you just trying to give away your rights (don't care about your rights eh?) but more importantly you are trying to give away the rights of everybody in the country... and give them to one of the most horrible people ever to live in asia.

Oh yes we do understand fascism. It is Thai people like you with no education about history or sense of reasoning powers. If you knew anything about history, you would not support Suthep.

Reform yes. If you are all so intellegent, make a political party to compete with Thaksin. And don't cry like a baby about vote buying.

Dems did nothing in power for anybody other than the army (gave them massive budget rise) and chase after ghost of thakisn around the world. If you really are educated you have to show people you are and stop behaving like 13 year old teenagers with angst problems.

Majority of Thais do want elections, and many more will vote PT than for Suthep. It is not your right to use violence and block polling stations. In western country you would be arrested, tasered and if you invade White house like you try at Gov house and Police office... You would all be shot with real bullets until you went away.

You are very lucky that the big corruption in thailand is the Army and Elites. They are protecting you,, Suthep and his criminals. But, they can't do it for ever so you'll have to either stop, negotiate or the reds will come with more people than you can ever imagine and they will make you stop!!

Oh yes, the BIG corruption is the Army and the elites, it's never Thaksin is it?

Thailand wouldn't be in the shape it is in now if Thaksin had governed the country with honesty as he was mandated to do.

It was his abuse of power that gave the Democrats ammunition to build a substantial opposition to the abuses.

If you were so intelligent, you would know this and if you were the least bit honest, you would acknowledge it as well!

[ginjag]

If W Hague can urge Thailand to uphold democracy then he wants to do the same in UK. Not give the pensioners 1000 lashes, by not giving increment increases to THEIR hard earned pensions.

He has spoken about Thailands human rights record before, so what about our rights regarding the hardship put upon many U.K. pensioners who wish to spend time out of the Kingdom.

I will say although a weak yes sir no sir type he is a stable person and a decent overseas diplomat. But he definitely does NOT want Dick Heads opinion or he will be biased.

[falangadang]

British foreign secretary urges Thailand to uphold democracy

What "Democracy"???

...and the Poms can talk about Democracy when they are under a fascist government that poses as a democracy but actually hasn't been one for decades (if ever!).

[moonseeker]

I wonder if the diplomats in their consulates & embassies have a clue about the "Real Thailand". To call this a democracy is a bit far fetched. Looks more like a circus to me. MS>

[Why ask]

Johnathan Head now has his leading headline for the day.

And here was li'tle me thinking he was a Richard Head.

[mrtoad]

People like Hague should stick to sorting out the mess that they have created in their own country as opposed to poking their nose into other countries business. Of course Hague comes from a party with a long tradition of supporting dictators and is currently a ruling party that has no real clear mandate to govern, if we were to listen to the arguments of our Red Shirt sympathizers on here, who overthrew a democratically elected coalition preciously.

Just for recollection purposes

[firestar]

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

Where is the video "You Farang you no understand.. you Farang...Obama..spits on the floor.."

Last time Junta/Dems "reformed" they gave half the senate to non elected senators who in turn choose the judges who seat on various commissions ruling Thailand

And since Suthep won't talk, we can only go by PAD's idea of a nine man committee that would make the lower house part non elected too. Hardly the kind of reform the "majority" wants

[DirtFarmer]

Facepalm... there will not be any elections in any of our lifetimes if we have to wait for reform...and no one has delineated what/which reform must in fact be implemented first... corruption...gonna take a lot of time... and money>? we'll never see another election here then.. Game over..everybody go home

[tullynagardy]

Hague is a failed politician Governing with a party with a 27% mandate

Remarkably similar to Abhisit then (in fact they even studied the same course at the same Uni!) Yet Hague is part of a blossoming governemnt leading the world in economic recovery whilst Abhisit has resorted to street violence to get back into power.

Edited January 29, 2014 by tullynagardy

[Gummigalgen]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

Elections After reform sounds to me like going lot of steps back and who decides when the Reforms are done? The lawless who occupy the streets now and give Thailand the worst global imago in decades? I wouldn't bet on Suthep to take care of your democratic values for which Thai people have fought for.

[kamahele]

Want to see if we get the same "mind your own business, solve your own problems at home" comments.

Farang don't quite understand Thais.

It is not that Thais do not want election.

The majority people want election after reform.

But don't you think that the people should have a say in those reforms? Having a dictatorship make reforms for all the people of Thailand does not seem to be very democratic.