Thai opposition seeks to annul election, disband ruling party

[fab4]

dont be so bitter..its not your country or mine..

"The Democrats claim the decree also sought to muzzle critical media and promote pro-government news outlets, breaching the constitution.

"This meant the election was not free and fair," Virat Kalayasiri told AFP late Tuesday."

Strange, I thought blue sky was transmitting bile 24 hours a day from the stages. Perhaps I imagined it?

Whats to be bitter about? Did Blue Sky broadcast anger and hate speeches from the stages by suthep, seri et al or not? Were they muzzled? No they weren't.

I stand by my statement.

[Crushdepth]

Where does the buck stop passing hands here? Does anyone know how 'clean' the Thai courts and judiciary are, given the widespread and various mis-uses of power alleged against all other institutions I hear? I don't seem to hear the same criticisms levelled at the courts. Are judgements considered neutral, trustworthy, and respected?

By most reasonable people, yes. By diehard supporters of corrupt politicians, no (except when a decision goes their way, then Justice Has Prevailed).

Political parties that tend to lose a lot of cases bleat about judicial activism, judicial coups and similar rubbish, when the real problem is their own behaviour (ie. breaking the law).

[Why ask]

Actually im suggesting lawyers and courts have got so used to manipulating and twisting any document or wording to suit themselves or pretend ambiguity when there never really was one.

I have no problem with say dissolving a party if its found to be breaking rules but to believe 3 on the trot from the same camp is a bit much this country has about as finer record dissolving parties as it does coups, when the country speaks sooner or later either the army or dems pop up and conspire to enact or engineer a coup by some means to regain power for a few years until forced to again let the people speak......

Therefore its not hard to conclude either the entire political class regardless of side must be flawed as its made up of dissolved party members that cannot read or understand the constitution or dosnt care, and the forces are political or the whole judicial and court system is about as stable and reliable as the rest of the country and just as corrupt along with the constitution not being fit for purpose.

Or of course all of the above.

"to believe 3 on the trot from the same camp is a bit much"

It's just a case of some never seem to learn. The common component could be the 'Thaksin thinks'

And this is where i step off the conspiracy wagon I do not subscribe to the "Thaksin thinks" rhetoric about everything ... cant be bothered to go into why yet again, its pure group think and collective blindness, im sure he would love it to be that way too but I do not give that much credit to anyone least of all Thaksin. Far too much evidence says otherwise and no im not going to bother going into it those that want to look past the façade and bs of both him and his opponents can do so those that dont can stay in ignorance.

The unfortunate part about '3 on the trot' is that Red Rum actually did it, against all odds. Scary, but enjoyable, when looking back. What's not unfortunate for Aintree is that Red Rum won honestly, through pure hard work and training in the right areas, along with good breeding. The latter is, unfortunately, not applicable to Thailand if PTP do actually get through Beeches for the third time, as PTP has none of those qualifications.

[Stone Inscription 1]

Yingluck will remain in a caretaker role with limited power over government She has been in that role the day the PTP came to power.

Respect for the law can really be a bitch. This is expected when an unelected criminal fugitive who's money came of the back of the 1992 coup is running things.

Look at the Shinawatra charge sheet. It reads like a crime novel. Time to add a new chapter.

So that next chapter will have a corrupt thug, Suthep, leading an unelected oligarchy?!? Great.

[Stone Inscription 1]

It is time for the opposition to stop acting like a special interest group and come up with some policies that appeal to the people, that is, the rural Thais, not just the Bangkok Chinese.

To be anti-Thaksin is not a policy. What are their policies to unite the country? Can anyone name one?

[rocky3]

the same law can be applied to the democrates as they went up on the anti government stage and supported the nut case Suthep in blocking polling stations. they can also blame themselves for the snap elections for resigning in mass. wouldn't this be great to have both political parties banned for five years. som nam nah

[englishoak]

It is time for the opposition to stop acting like a special interest group and come up with some policies that appeal to the people, that is, the rural Thais, not just the Bangkok Chinese.

To be anti-Thaksin is not a policy. What are their policies to unite the country? Can anyone name one?

And this is the problem, they don't.

[wave]

This is just similar BS from the Dems as they pulled back in 2006, it will no doubt be followed by similar repetitions of events that have led us to where we are today.

The issue isn't abuse of power or corruption by PTP. It's that the Democrats are unable to form a Parliamentary majority through the electoral process.

Their only response has been to resign and then use the courts to dismiss the ruling party.

There will be no resolution to this until the democratic process is left to run it's natural course.

What makes anyone think that the people who voted for the PTP government will roll over and accept further intervention be it by the courts or by the military.

We already witnessed in 2010 the rejection of the judicial process that brought the Democrats in to power, why would these people accept another dissolution.

Until the Democrats can accept that they have to come up with policies that appeal to a majority it would appear that Thailand doomed to repeat it's self ad infinitum.

If find it amazing that the Democrats have no other game plan other than to return to the courts, have they learnt nothing in the last 8 years?

They really need to man up and take a long hard look at their own failings before they push the button that throws the country into a deeper conflict.

[GazR]

Some posts claiming that Thaksin isn't the real PM contradict not only a mountain of readily available evidence but also various statements made by Thaksin himself confirming that little sister and nominal PM works for big brother - just like she always has.

[Lite Beer]

Constitution Court asked to nullify Feb 2 election

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat party has lodged a petition with the Constitution Court this afternoon (Tuesday) asking the court to nullify the February 2 election.

Mr Virat Kalayasiri, a lawyer of the Democrat party, explained in the petition to the charter court that the February 2 election was against the Article 30 of Constitution which clearly specifies that a general election must be held on the same day across the country.

Also, he noted in the petition that the EC’s requirement that ballot papers for advance voting must arrive at polling units before the start of ballot counting at 3 pm would render invalid some two million ballots to be casted by advance voters in fresh election to be staged later on.

In the same petition, the Democrats also asked the court to dissolve the Pheu Thai party and forfeit the right to contest the elections of all the party’s executives for the government’s decision to invoke Emergency Decree which has given the ruling party an edge over the other parties in the election.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/constitution-court-asked-nullify-feb-2-election/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=constitution-court-asked-nullify-feb-2-election

-- Thai PBS 2014-02-04

[h90]

How can they claim to be the opposition party when they didn't even run in the election.

you can be an opposition party even you are not in parliament. I think (at least in my language maybe it is different in Thai).

[pookiki]

After coming up with one of the most idiotic legal arguments I have ever heard, I will sleep better tonight know that the 'boys' who boycotted the polls and were complicit in derailing the election is keeping Thailand safe from corruption. Please send the PDRC to the police stations that were contracted for but never finished. Easy to take over.

[gentaro]

I guess many of the members of this forum might need to reconsider their support of the government after seeing more and more evidence that the government is "laundering" votes. This and other pictures circulate showing clearly police officer supervising ladies handling ballots while the election is ongoing. It seems yhat ballots are created and the beneficiary is certainly noy the Democrat Psrty and I doubt that No Vote ballots were created. This hovernment is trying EVERYTHING to keep power and money wiyhin the Shinawatra clan, only totally misled or blindfolded farants can argue here.... Or does anyone belie e that these pictures are collages?

I am getting sick of the red shirt farants, you guys should leave thecountry and support corrupt regimes elsewhere, maybe Africa would be the tight place.

[angsta]

Hang on, there is an opposition? When did that happen? I thought they had taken their ball home because they kept losing. Bad news 'opposition,' you will always lose at the election box. Ban all the politicians you want, you've tried this before...how did that work out? Unless you want to become North Korea or be the new Burma of ASEAN. I thought one of these lot had been to Oxford? I assumed it was the University...

[whybother]

Funny and Ironic, the democrats path to power and method is to use the courts and not an election, this isnt the first time. All very sad and pathetic and just serves to destroy all faith in the election process and indeed courts and judicial system.

As for the constitution ? well clearly its a load of rubbish if everyone needs clarification of the courts every 5 mins.

Given that last time they got into power it was through an parliamentary election, they're not going to do to well getting into power this time if they're not in parliament.

[whybother]

This is just similar BS from the Dems as they pulled back in 2006, it will no doubt be followed by similar repetitions of events that have led us to where we are today.

The issue isn't abuse of power or corruption by PTP. It's that the Democrats are unable to form a Parliamentary majority through the electoral process.

Their only response has been to resign and then use the courts to dismiss the ruling party.

There will be no resolution to this until the democratic process is left to run it's natural course.

What makes anyone think that the people who voted for the PTP government will roll over and accept further intervention be it by the courts or by the military.

We already witnessed in 2010 the rejection of the judicial process that brought the Democrats in to power, why would these people accept another dissolution.

Until the Democrats can accept that they have to come up with policies that appeal to a majority it would appear that Thailand doomed to repeat it's self ad infinitum.

If find it amazing that the Democrats have no other game plan other than to return to the courts, have they learnt nothing in the last 8 years?

They really need to man up and take a long hard look at their own failings before they push the button that throws the country into a deeper conflict.

"Until the Democrats can accept that they have to come up with policies that appeal to a majority"

A blind survey was done in the N/NE prior to the 2011 election, and a majority preferred the Democrat's policies. It's going to take more than policies for the people in the N/NE to vote for the Democrats.

[Timwin]

If they managed to annul the elections and ban Puea Thai, it would mean Bangkok burning. 2010 was bad enough, this time the casualties would be in the thousands.

Isaan people and other northerners have just tasted a bit of a better life and sure as hell they will not go back the feudal lord days. They will fight back by any means necessary, they got nothing to lose. When a man sees his hopes crushed one too many times, he turns into a vicious animal. A violent uprising or a revolution usually happen when things get a bit better for majority but then old elite tries to reinstall their power by force.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Timwin

[whybother]

If they managed to annul the elections and ban Puea Thai, it would mean Bangkok burning. 2010 was bad enough, this time the casualties would be in the thousands.

Isaan people and other northerners have just tasted a bit of a better life and sure as hell they will not go back the feudal lord days. They will fight back by any means necessary, they got nothing to lose. When a man sees his hopes crushed one too many times, he turns into a vicious animal. A violent uprising or a revolution usually happen when things get a bit better for majority but then old elite tries to reinstall their power by force.

Go BACK to the feudal lord days? They're still there. The people that they elected on the weekend are the same ones that they've been electing for decades.

[JAG]

I guess many of the members of this forum might need to reconsider their support of the government after seeing more and more evidence that the government is "laundering" votes. This and other pictures circulate showing clearly police officer supervising ladies handling ballots while the election is ongoing. It seems yhat ballots are created and the beneficiary is certainly noy the Democrat Psrty and I doubt that No Vote ballots were created. This hovernment is trying EVERYTHING to keep power and money wiyhin the Shinawatra clan, only totally misled or blindfolded farants can argue here.... Or does anyone belie e that these pictures are collages?

I am getting sick of the red shirt farants, you guys should leave thecountry and support corrupt regimes elsewhere, maybe Africa would be the tight place.

Looks like a count to me.

Hey ho, I suppose it is Africa for me!

By the way, what exactly is a "hovernment", or a "farant" for that matter?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited February 4, 2014 by JAG

[wave]

This is just similar BS from the Dems as they pulled back in 2006, it will no doubt be followed by similar repetitions of events that have led us to where we are today.

The issue isn't abuse of power or corruption by PTP. It's that the Democrats are unable to form a Parliamentary majority through the electoral process.

Their only response has been to resign and then use the courts to dismiss the ruling party.

There will be no resolution to this until the democratic process is left to run it's natural course.

What makes anyone think that the people who voted for the PTP government will roll over and accept further intervention be it by the courts or by the military.

We already witnessed in 2010 the rejection of the judicial process that brought the Democrats in to power, why would these people accept another dissolution.

Until the Democrats can accept that they have to come up with policies that appeal to a majority it would appear that Thailand doomed to repeat it's self ad infinitum.

If find it amazing that the Democrats have no other game plan other than to return to the courts, have they learnt nothing in the last 8 years?

They really need to man up and take a long hard look at their own failings before they push the button that throws the country into a deeper conflict.

"Until the Democrats can accept that they have to come up with policies that appeal to a majority"

A blind survey was done in the N/NE prior to the 2011 election, and a majority preferred the Democrat's policies. It's going to take more than policies for the people in the N/NE to vote for the Democrats.

I agree, it does take more than policies. So why are they still unable to win an electoral majority?.

I would say that you need to win the trust and respect of the majority of the electorate, this plays an equally important role.

When you look at the Democrats tacit support of Suthep's PDRC and the boycotting of the Election it appears that they have done little to rectify that.

Then, to add insult to injury, they return to the courts to ask for the electorates votes to be dismissed.

Why are they so intent on scuppering any chance electoral success by repeating the failings of their past?

When will the Democrats learn that legitimacy can only be achieved at the ballot box.

[Roychua]

How can they claim to be the opposition party when they didn't even run in the election.

Since the election is not over yet

PTP is the caretaker Gov't

Dems are the caretaker opposition

I thought all the dem had resign from parliment before the house disolution?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Mrgk]

By most reasonable people, yes. By diehard supporters of corrupt politicians, no (except when a decision goes their way, then Justice Has Prevailed).

Political parties that tend to lose a lot of cases bleat about judicial activism, judicial coups and similar rubbish, when the real problem is their own behaviour (ie. breaking the law).

Let me guess, all of Thailand is a sea of corruption, except, of course, for the courts, that are clean as freshly washed linen?

In practice, the judiciary is probably the most corrupt branch of government after the military. The easiest way to judge for yourself is to read, say, the procedure for amending the constitution as it is written in the actual constitution, and then comparing it to the constitutional court´s judgement that attempting to amend the constitution is contrary to the constitution. (In order to make the post-coup senate a fully elected body, a terrible crime against Democracy, of course...)

[3NUMBAS]

yingluck needs to stay put otherwise all hell will break lose if they do anull the election ,the disaffected who have been shat on too many times will rumble ...things will turn very nasty indeed

[JRSoul]

yingluck needs to stay put otherwise all hell will break lose if they do anull the election ,the disaffected who have been shat on too many times will rumble ...things will turn very nasty indeed

Do what we want or we turn violent - how very democratic. IMHO it was only the apprehension of violence that stopped the CC from disbanding PTP after the last election, as they had clearly broken electoral law (again) by use of a banned politician in their advertising campaign.

[whybother]

I guess many of the members of this forum might need to reconsider their support of the government after seeing more and more evidence that the government is "laundering" votes. This and other pictures circulate showing clearly police officer supervising ladies handling ballots while the election is ongoing. It seems yhat ballots are created and the beneficiary is certainly noy the Democrat Psrty and I doubt that No Vote ballots were created. This hovernment is trying EVERYTHING to keep power and money wiyhin the Shinawatra clan, only totally misled or blindfolded farants can argue here.... Or does anyone belie e that these pictures are collages?

I am getting sick of the red shirt farants, you guys should leave thecountry and support corrupt regimes elsewhere, maybe Africa would be the tight place.

Looks like a count to me.

Hey ho, I suppose it is Africa for me!

By the way, what exactly is a "hovernment", or a "farant" for that matter?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Election counts are done at the polling booth in front of everyone.

Sent from my phone ...

[lostinsurin]

It's the beginning of the end for the Shinawatras. Keep their private jet ready to fly, Ms. Poo!

Your statements get more desperate and tiresome as time goes on!!!

Always, the end is near!!! the end is near!!!

[rubl]

"The Democrats claim the decree also sought to muzzle critical media and promote pro-government news outlets, breaching the constitution.

"This meant the election was not free and fair," Virat Kalayasiri told AFP late Tuesday."

Strange, I thought blue sky was transmitting bile 24 hours a day from the stages. Perhaps I imagined it?

'bile'?

Anyway BlueSky is private owned, just like the red-shirt channel. What is meant is a mis-use of public broadcasting channels for 'pro-government' news and promotion.

Furthermore an ever-smiling caretaker PM one various inspection tours, telling governors what to do and showing decisiveness and statewomenship worthy of re-election (as party list candidate). Furthermore a constant harassing by the DSI, Pheu Thai MPs and spokespersons, etc., etc., etc.

BTW I'm still waiting for a possible answer on why the Pheu Thai led government deemed an extended period covering the first two Yingluck years necessary for their undemocratic blanket amnesty bill. Also why this no longer caretaking government continues with an extended election. What are they hiding or planning?

Bile = anger or hatred http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bile

Would you like to give examples of the government owned outlets promoting pro-government news?

Your second paragraph is laughable, your third off topic.

Last night I watched some NBT (nbttv.prd.gov.com), free TV. You just need an aireal on your TV, in Thailand that is, or maybe in Bangkok, but that's the only important place anyway, isn't it?

Focus, 2010 army running amok, peaceful protesters seeking for shelter, nicely dressed gentleman before Department of Justice emblem. Don't worry, not a single mention of 'blanket amnesty bills'.

Lots of clips from the clashes a few days ago. Somehow only of one or two armed protesters and a police officer downed. Must be the journalists who missed how it started, but were present in time to film the retaliation.

Also friendly smiling white Tshirt dressed people, with "respect my vote". The normal obligatory shots of prominent politicians voting missing, not even the charming Ms. Yingluck to be seen.

As for the third paragraph, well that's how things started way back in October, isn't it? To be buried deep by some. Rumour has it that 'under the carpet' is out as at BoT there's still a corridor where you must walk around the 1.14 trillion from the 1997 NPLs under their carpet moved away from public view to give the Pheu Thai government more financial breath to borrow it was said.

Edited February 5, 2014 by rubl

[rubl]

Yingluck will remain in a caretaker role with limited power over government She has been in that role the day the PTP came to power.

Respect for the law can really be a bitch. This is expected when an unelected criminal fugitive who's money came of the back of the 1992 coup is running things.

Look at the Shinawatra charge sheet. It reads like a crime novel. Time to add a new chapter.

So that next chapter will have a corrupt thug, Suthep, leading an unelected oligarchy?!? Great.

Well, Suthep has said to step back once the shinawatraa are out and PDRC has established a temporary forum. He said it so many times that he will have to.

[tingtongteesood]

Funny and Ironic, the democrats path to power and method is to use the courts and not an election, this isnt the first time. All very sad and pathetic and just serves to destroy all faith in the election process and indeed courts and judicial system.

As for the constitution ? well clearly its a load of rubbish if everyone needs clarification of the courts every 5 mins.

Well i'm sure if the PTP wasn't so corrupt and breaking laws at every given opportunity, the court route would not be employed...

Or are you suggesting the opposition party (Democrats) shouldn't file cases with the courts when they find wrong-doings... because they haven't won an election recently? And only elected ruling parties can file cases with the court.

They already think as an elected government they can break any laws they like and selectively impose laws when dealing with their own and/or any opposition

ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON SIR !

[tingtongteesood]

"The Democrats claim the decree also sought to muzzle critical media and promote pro-government news outlets, breaching the constitution.

"This meant the election was not free and fair," Virat Kalayasiri told AFP late Tuesday."

Strange, I thought blue sky was transmitting bile 24 hours a day from the stages. Perhaps I imagined it?

Your becoming very boring.

Becoming ? Became at least 2 months ago...