Yingluck and Suthep urged to nominate 10 mediators

[webfact]

POLITICS
Yingluck and Suthep urged to nominate 10 mediators
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Six independent organisations are calling on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to nominate 10 individuals each, who can mediate between both sides and help end the political impasse.

Leaders of the six agencies - the Election Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, National Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Auditor-General and National Economic and Social Advisory Council - hope to get a reply from the two sides within a week.

"The big question is which individuals will be acceptable to both?" Election Commission member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn asked, adding that the mass media should also encourage both sides to come up with names.

Somchai said putting differences on the table was the best way forward for the country and the six organisations would only facilitate the creation of a mediation team, comprised of at least five members who are acceptable to both sides and have no specific agenda set in advance.

"Obviously, there can be no negotiation if neither side is willing ... The country has suffered enough and will suffer even more if there are no talks. If they won't come up with nominees, then we can't go any further, which means there are no Thais who can act as mediators … So carry on with the war. We have created a bridge for both sides, but if they won't use it, it's their choice, though they will have to take responsibility if it causes more damage to the country," Somchai said, adding that the public also wanted mediators to be nominated.

The six bodies will send a joint letter to both Yingluck and Suthep today, chief ombudsman Panit Nitithanprapas said, adding that she believed both sides wanted to end the political impasse as the crisis had become "unprecedented" in its magnitude.

"[We're] concerned the damage may go beyond the point of remedy, we need to end the conflict and foster unity," said Panit, who met the press at a conference room at her office. She also cited a recent Dusit Poll that showed most people want both sides to start negotiating.

The group also said any demands found to be against the law or ones that affect the duty of any of the six agencies would not be accepted.

Opas Tepalakul, chairman of the National Economic and Social Advisory Board, said if negotiations were not possible, then a "special process" would be held to end the conflict. He did not elaborate. When asked what would happen if the initiative failed, National Human Rights Commission chairperson Amara Pongsapich said Thai people should have some hope. "We believe we can find [mediators] and will not have to look outside Thailand."

PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said the mediators were not as important as the "conditions" of the talks. If the conditions were against the constitution, it would be impossible.

Chulalongkorn political scientist Trakoon Meechai said the proposal to have mediators for talks was just a way to solve problems, but they must not be put under a rug.

Green Politics coordinator Suriyasai Katasila, a member of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, said the situation had gone too far for talks, and the government faced many legal issues. Independent agencies should go back, do their work and strictly observe the law.


-- The Nation 2014-03-18

[PepperMe]

Another waste of time.

YL and the PTP will never agree on 10 of Suthep's nominees, and vice versa.

Pointless waste of energy and these independent agencies need to get back to their real work.

Do your jobs and get this shambles out of power, you easily have enough ammunition and then some.

Stop attempting to get the job done by sweeping all the dubious crap under the carpet by trying to get this government out clean. The PDRC and the vast majority of 'the people' want justice.

Are you frightened of the reds and the UDD or what?

[Mango Bob]

Never going to happen.

[Robroona]

10people on each side. Every single one will be vetted by the other side, probably take about 2 years to set up.

They will meet for 15 minutes per month. After 2 years, they will appoint a committee who will report back in one year.

After one year, said committee will report back asking for new sub-committees to be set up as all these matters are very important.

Eventually, after about 10 years, an agreed solution is found.

Jatuporn and the Red Shirts won't agree, so the whole thing will be shelved

[tezzainoz]

PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said the mediators were not as important as the "conditions" of the talks. If the conditions were against the constitution, it would be impossible.

The problem here is that both sides have a different version of what the consitution means

Suthrep is a non elected person and runs the protest

Thaskin runs the government and is a non elected person

both sides can not agree whats is white or black

[chainarong]

This is about as help- full as a box of frogs, to arrive at any agreement with a selected band of red necks is just not going to work, the country has to much hate ,so much distrust, to arrive at any meaning full dialog, with either party is Alice in Wonderland stuff, it is a waste of time to mention this course of action.

[ianf]

Never going to happen.

I think we can find 10 people from the posters on Thai Visa. Moonmao for example would be there fighting Thaksin's line whilst there would be huge competition for the anti-gov lobby. Perhaps TV mods can offer our services? Free off course, I wouldn't want to compromise my retirement visa.

[Fryslan boppe]

"....to nominate 10 individuals each...""

Typical anti-Democratic and anti-electoral thinking......Trying to ignore the electoral majority/minority thing...... What is it, about 2-1 PTP majority in pre-election Parliament, and now they want to give each side equal representation. This is just an attempt to usurp the role of millions of voters, by a few ....Yeah right.

Like I said before, the brain-Farts of this 'gang of six' is not going anywhere. At their core, they are undemocratic, reflective of how removed these people are from an understanding of Electoral Democracy. It gives insight to their mindset however, and explains the decisions they render. They will dismiss the electoral majority and all their votes in a heartbeat.

The issue is that these agencies have demonstrated, time and again, double standards. They do this on an almost daily basis. The Election Commission has become the anti-election commission, the NHRC only trumpets the human rights of a few, the Constitutional Court makes decisions that defy the constitution, and so on. Their "compromise" is a group of "neutral people who will broker peace talks." That sounds a bit like "respected figures" coming together and deciding on a "Thai-style compromise." This is in total disregard of electoral realities and the expectations by the electoral majority, whose votes they would marginalize.

The government is unlikely to trust this group of biased agencies who work against them.

The anti-Democrats are also not on board, but for their own advantage. Suthep and his handlers seem to prefer that the courts and "independent" agencies just proceed with the judicial coup and then deal with the political fallout.

Edited March 18, 2014 by Fryslan boppe

[MGP]

"....to nominate 10 individuals each...""

Typical anti-Democratic and anti-electoral thinking......Trying to ignore the electoral majority/minority thing...... What is it, about 2-1 PTP majority in pre-election Parliament, and now they want to give each side equal representation. This is just an attempt to usurp the role of millions of voters, by a few ....Yeah right.

Like I said before, the brain-Farts of this 'gang of six' is not going anywhere. At their core, they are undemocratic, reflective of how removed these people are from an understanding of Electoral Democracy. It gives insight to their mindset however, and explains the decisions they render. They will dismiss the electoral majority and all their votes in a heartbeat.

The issue is that these agencies have demonstrated, time and again, double standards. They do this on an almost daily basis. The Election Commission has become the anti-election commission, the NHRC only trumpets the human rights of a few, the Constitutional Court makes decisions that defy the constitution, and so on. Their "compromise" is a group of "neutral people who will broker peace talks." That sounds a bit like "respected figures" coming together and deciding on a "Thai-style compromise." This is in total disregard of electoral realities and the expectations by the electoral majority, whose votes they would marginalize.

The government is unlikely to trust this group of biased agencies who work against them.

The anti-Democrats are also not on board, but for their own advantage. Suthep and his handlers seem to prefer that the courts and "independent" agencies just proceed with the judicial coup and then deal with the political fallout.

Fryslan,

Your precious statement looks like if it has been redacted by Robert Amsterdam himself. Have you ever considered the possibility that most of the government officials elected by the democratic majority could be lovers of corruption, abuse of power, and disrespect of law? Have you ever considered the possibility of a reform to prevent more ramping corruption and abuse under the democratic umbrela? MAybe not, because it seems like you are lobbying to protecting the powerful interests created under all those dirty business..

[NongKhaiKid]

10people on each side. Every single one will be vetted by the other side, probably take about 2 years to set up.

They will meet for 15 minutes per month. After 2 years, they will appoint a committee who will report back in one year.

After one year, said committee will report back asking for new sub-committees to be set up as all these matters are very important.

Eventually, after about 10 years, an agreed solution is found.

Jatuporn and the Red Shirts won't agree, so the whole thing will be shelved

Don't forget too that the committees and sub-committees will have to have generous budgets so they can perform their duty in the expected standard of luxury, sorry I mean efficiency.

[Jay Sata]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

And to give it a litle bit of international touch they can also include Hun Sen and Kim Jong-un.

[johnthompson]

What makes these people so important that they can pick their own trustees to decide the future of Thailand? One is a caretaker PM and the other one is just a regular dude.

[ikke]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

She should be able to include Thaksin, as he should be a free man as long Suthep is a free man.

Edited March 18, 2014 by ikke

[ikke]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

And to give it a litle bit of international touch they can also include Hun Sen and Kim Jong-un.

You know Kim Jong Un and Hun Sen are Yellow.....so Suthep can include them.

[fab4]

Somchai, don't you have an election to organise?

[webfact]

Anti-govt group rejects proposed peace dialogue

By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Mar 18 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has ruled out the independent agencies’ move to mediate the political conflicts between the caretaker government and anti-government movement.

Mr Suthep, secretary general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), said he would not submit the names of 10 candidates for the mediation committee as proposed by the forum of six independent agencies.

The six constitutional organisations yesterday agreed to encourage dialogue between the government and the PDRC to resolve the months-long political unrest.

The agencies are the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, the Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor General.

The Office of the Attorney General withdrew from the forum.

According to the six agency forum plan, a non-partisan committee would be set up to collect proposals from both sides and adjust them until a conclusion is bilaterally reached.

The committee will consist of five members.

Mr Suthep said the PDRC will not propose any names as it would be impossible to find neutral persons to mediate the political conflicts.

He said caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her self-exiled brother Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to hold on to power, and it would be useless to contemplate any dialogue with them.

Abihsit Vejjajiva, Democrat leader and former prime minister, said the proposed negotiation would never be possible if the government refuses to step back and prefers confrontation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-03-18

[MGP]

Anti-govt group rejects proposed peace dialogue

By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Mar 18 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has ruled out the independent agencies’ move to mediate the political conflicts between the caretaker government and anti-government movement.

Mr Suthep, secretary general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), said he would not submit the names of 10 candidates for the mediation committee as proposed by the forum of six independent agencies.

The six constitutional organisations yesterday agreed to encourage dialogue between the government and the PDRC to resolve the months-long political unrest.

The agencies are the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, the Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor General.

The Office of the Attorney General withdrew from the forum.

According to the six agency forum plan, a non-partisan committee would be set up to collect proposals from both sides and adjust them until a conclusion is bilaterally reached.

The committee will consist of five members.

Mr Suthep said the PDRC will not propose any names as it would be impossible to find neutral persons to mediate the political conflicts.

He said caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her self-exiled brother Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to hold on to power, and it would be useless to contemplate any dialogue with them.

Abihsit Vejjajiva, Democrat leader and former prime minister, said the proposed negotiation would never be possible if the government refuses to step back and prefers confrontation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-03-18

555 So the conspiracy theory of Fryslan Boppe, who said that this idea of the mediation was setup by a group of biased agencies who work against the government, makes no sense at all.

[antimedia]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

And to give it a litle bit of international touch they can also include Hun Sen and Kim Jong-un.

You know Kim Jong Un and Hun Sen are Yellow.....so Suthep can include them.

Watch out, you will be accused of doing a Jeremy Clarke.

[Thaddeus]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

Louis Vuitton and Coco Chanel would probably be on her list too, could push out a couple of the others in fact.

[PepperMe]

This was a dead duck before it was even an egg.

[chooka]

Anti-govt group rejects proposed peace dialogue

By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Mar 18 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has ruled out the independent agencies’ move to mediate the political conflicts between the caretaker government and anti-government movement.

Mr Suthep, secretary general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), said he would not submit the names of 10 candidates for the mediation committee as proposed by the forum of six independent agencies.

The six constitutional organisations yesterday agreed to encourage dialogue between the government and the PDRC to resolve the months-long political unrest.

The agencies are the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, the Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor General.

The Office of the Attorney General withdrew from the forum.

According to the six agency forum plan, a non-partisan committee would be set up to collect proposals from both sides and adjust them until a conclusion is bilaterally reached.

The committee will consist of five members.

Mr Suthep said the PDRC will not propose any names as it would be impossible to find neutral persons to mediate the political conflicts.

He said caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her self-exiled brother Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to hold on to power, and it would be useless to contemplate any dialogue with them.

Abihsit Vejjajiva, Democrat leader and former prime minister, said the proposed negotiation would never be possible if the government refuses to step back and prefers confrontation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-03-18

Things are to be done 100% his way or nothing, god help Thailand if these people ever took power democracy will be thrown out the door.

[Scamper]

" Green Politics coordinator Suriyasai Katasila, a member of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, said the situation had gone too far for talks, and the government faced many legal issues. Independent agencies should go back, do their work and strictly observe the law. "

Of all the opinions aired in this article, this one rings the most true. How can you " negotiate " with a former administration that has lost its caretaker status, that has half an election under its belt with no path for completion, and is under a myriad of impeachment investigations ? This man is correct. The law is handling this. The constitution is handling this. Only the law can sort this out. Once the legal process plays itself out, the space for reform will have been formed. And when it is, it won't be a " negotiation " between two parties, but a " meeting of equals " where Thais from all walks of life will be able to participate, as they should.

Edited March 18, 2014 by Scamper

[fab4]

"Abihsit Vejjajiva, Democrat leader and former prime minister, said the proposed negotiation would never be possible if the government refuses to step back and prefers confrontation"

well abhisit vejjavija, democrat party leader, former prime minister, former mp, to give you your full title, it's disingenuous to blame your nemesis for any fault in the proposed negotiation when your old comrade in arms refuses to come to the table.

You may want to reflect on that in your dotage in the political wilderness and consider how you and your partys' negative approach resulted in your respective political failures.

Edited March 18, 2014 by fab4

[fab4]

" Green Politics coordinator Suriyasai Katasila, a member of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, said the situation had gone too far for talks, and the government faced many legal issues. Independent agencies should go back, do their work and strictly observe the law. "

Of all the opinions aired in this article, this one rings the most true. How can you " negotiate " with a former administration that has lost its caretaker status, that has half an election under its belt with no path for completion, and is under a myriad of impeachment investigations ? This man is correct. The law is handling this. The constitution is handling this. Only the law can sort this out. Once the legal process plays itself out, the space for reform will have been formed. And when it is, it won't be a " negotiation " between two parties, but a " meeting of equals " where Thais from all walks of life will be able to participate, as they should.

Ahem, scamper, sorry to keep on disappointing you but your continual delusions about the caretaker governments status are just that, delusional.

This so called "former" administration you refer to, is very much of the present.

[Baerboxer]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

She should be able to include Thaksin, as he should be a free man as long Suthep is a free man.

Difference - Suthep isn't a convicted criminal who fled and became a fugitive.

Thaksin has 15 outstanding criminal charges. He should have been extradited and made to serve his sentence and face the other more serious charges.

Suthep should be made to attend court and if convicted then appropriately sentenced.

There is no logical legal, or sensible, argument to quash Thaksin's prison sentence just because Suthep has not been arrested.

[focus27]

There was an article some time back from a UN mediator whose suggestions seem to have been lifted from a game theory textbook.

10 people is way too optimistic and will just be chaos. Each side picks one person to be their representative. Their job is not to negotiate but to form a 'negotiation committee' that is acceptable to both sides. The easiest way is that each side nominates a person to represent their opposite side. I'd say 3 from each side for a total of 6 people. Any statement made must be acceptable to a majority of the six.

Anyway, all far too sensible as the two parties are still playing a different game. Tit-for-tat is a perfectly good strategy but it can lead to escalation until talks are the only way of avoiding further bloodshed.

[billd766]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

Don't forget Surapong and Kittirat!!

[Fryslan boppe]

There was an article some time back from a UN mediator whose suggestions seem to have been lifted from a game theory textbook.

10 people is way too optimistic and will just be chaos. Each side picks one person to be their representative. Their job is not to negotiate but to form a 'negotiation committee' that is acceptable to both sides. The easiest way is that each side nominates a person to represent their opposite side. I'd say 3 from each side for a total of 6 people. Any statement made must be acceptable to a majority of the six.

Anyway, all far too sensible as the two parties are still playing a different game. Tit-for-tat is a perfectly good strategy but it can lead to escalation until talks are the only way of avoiding further bloodshed.

A very tortured intellectual exercise, trying to get around a representational Parliament.

Only a Parliament comprised of representatives of the population, has the validity to do what this 'gang of six agencies' suggests.

To suggest that a few select people sideline all of Thailand's voters, and make decisions regarding issues of governance for all those voters is preposterous.

They are true to form however. They have done everything in their power to enable the Opposition minority to avoid Parliament. Positioning themselves as proxies for conducting Parliamentary opposition to the Govt.

So true to their 'illusions of grandeur', they now embark on this nonsense, attempting to ride roughshod over electoral and Parliamentary Democratic practices.

But for anti-democrats, this is not nonsense. They see this as perfectly reasonable.

[billd766]

Yingluck could include Thaksin, Chalerm and Jatuporn!

She should be able to include Thaksin, as he should be a free man as long Suthep is a free man.

Why? He IS a convicted criminal and had an opportunity to appeal as long as he stayed in Thailand.

But he fled like the common criminal that he is.

Suthep has not been to court yet but HE is still in Thailand.