No Thai Democrats at multi-party meeting on new election

[webfact]

No Democrats at multi-party meeting on new election
Praphan Jindalertudomdee
The Nation


The Phichit Election Commission prepares equipment that will be sent to ballot stations for the half-Senate election tomorrow.

BANGKOK: -- Some 53 political parties that ran in the February 2 election want a new poll to be held 45-60 days after the election's nullification was announced in the Royal Gazette, Pheu Thai Party legal expert Bhokin Bhalakula said yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting of representatives from the political parties, Bhokin said the Election Commission (EC) and the government should discuss who would issue an election decree, which would amend the House dissolution decree issued earlier.

The EC should meet with the parties in early April, he said.

Yesterday's meeting was held at the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Nakhon Pathom.

The Constitutional Court nullified the election on March 21. Bhokin said it had yet to be discussed who would be responsible for the cost of the election that has now been nullified and whether the parties that contested it must submit expense reports to the EC.

He said anyone who obstructed the election must face legal action.

Asked whether the parties still trusted the EC, Bhokin said: "We have to accept [the agency], anyway."

It has been revealed that some Pheu Thai MP candidates were gathering signatures in an attempt to impeach EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn.

While key members of the Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana and Phalang Chon parties attended the meeting, no representative from the Democrat Party was present.

Meeting coordinator Suratin Picharn, the leader of the New Democracy Party, said he invited all registered political parties and learnt that Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva had been in an accident. He had understood that a deputy party leader would come instead, but no one showed up.

Yesterday was the first day of the Democrat Party's two-day general assembly.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

"We insist that the election must go ahead. If the EC says it is not ready or it wants more time, we have yet to consider what to do with the EC," he said.

"Today, we think only that there must be an election. Therefore, we have no thought about a back-up prime minister or 'neutral PM', because that's the way of thinking of those who don't support elections."

Meanwhile, Suthep Thaugsuban, the top leader of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee, yesterday led PDRC supporters on a final warm-up march in Bangkok's Yaowarat area before a planned mass rally today to demand national and political reform ahead of the election.


-- The Nation 2014-03-29

[smedly]

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

Yes the majority of Thai people don't want an election they want reform first - I thought that was obvious from the last turn out and the massive no votes

[Fryslan boppe]

"He said anyone who obstructed the election must face legal action"

Including the anti-election Commission.

[cloghead]

Garbage bins! I love it

[Thailand]

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

Yes the majority of Thai people don't want an election they want reform first - I thought that was obvious from the last turn out and the massive no votes

So you consider the last fiasco a free and fair election that it is possible to make assumptions from?

[HonestQuietBob]

Another gutless boycott.

When are these fools going to change the name of their party?

[Bluespunk]

"He said anyone who obstructed the election must face legal action"

Including the anti-election Commission.

Nope.

[Bluespunk]

Another gutless boycott.

When are these fools going to change the name of their party?

Did you read the bit where it mentioned it was held on the same day as the Dems 2 day general assembly? Funny coincidence that, almost as if it was deliberately done by whoever organised this multiple party shindig.

[Bluespunk]

"Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

"We insist that the election must go ahead. If the EC says it is not ready or it wants more time, we have yet to consider what to do with the EC," he said."

Ah threats, PT's solution to anyone who will not bow to their will. The UDD's masters are trying to show the way to solve problems once more. Not so sure they have full control over their street thugs any more though, but enough of that, don't want to go off post.

Funny that the PT spokesperson was telling everyone what the conferences purpose was, shouldn't the party who organised it have done that?

[ramrod711]

The Constitutional Court nullified the election on March 21. Bhokin said it had yet to be discussed who would be responsible for the cost of the election that has now been nullified and whether the parties that contested it must submit expense reports to the EC.

The issue of election costs has been settled, of course PTP will not accept the ruling,......they never do.

[antimedia]

Another gutless boycott.

When are these fools going to change the name of their party?

Did you read the bit where it mentioned it was held on the same day as the Dems 2 day general assembly? Funny coincidence that, almost as if it was deliberately done by whoever organised this multiple party shindig.

Unfortunately the red sympathisers on here will not factor that into their pathetic biased comments. There are two types of posters on here; all red and nothing but red and the rest, with some of them having a leaning towards yellow but can entertain all sides of the argument.

[rickirs]

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Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

Yes the majority of Thai people don't want an election they want reform first - I thought that was obvious from the last turn out and the massive no votes

Strictly conjecture as to the last election results. They were to be announced on Feb. 23rd but to date I have not seen any election results, perhaps pending the court's decision to nullify the election. Now that the Court has nulllified the election I doubt there is any incentive to release the results because that would only create more anger.

[YourNemisis]

They say they are yet to decide what to do with the EC.

They don't have the power to do anything with the EC, that is for the courts to decide.

We all know that PTP are responsible for the election failure by rejecting the offer to postpone it by the highest court in the land, who has the ability to interpret the constitution if there is a state of emergency and situation not given provided for in its articles.

The PTP push this agenda of charging the EC with the costs will likely result in a ruling by the courts that will in fact turn it around and force the PTP to bear the costs, and NOT out of public funds either, out of their own funds and personal assets.

They want to be careful what they wish for, and I doubt they would dare to take the issue of the lost funds into a courtroom.

Edited March 29, 2014 by YourNemisis

[whybother]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

Yes the majority of Thai people don't want an election they want reform first - I thought that was obvious from the last turn out and the massive no votes

Strictly conjecture as to the last election results. They were to be announced on Feb. 23rd but to date I have not seen any election results, perhaps pending the court's decision to nullify the election. Now that the Court has nulllified the election I doubt there is any incentive to release the results because that would only create more anger.

There have been many details published about the 2014 election results regarding turnout, no votes, and spoiled votes. What hasn't been released has been the split of party votes.

Here are some details: http://asiancorrespondent.com/119339/ec-figures-show-turn-out-at-47-72/

[Robby nz]

Interesting to see the different approaches from PT along with their coalition parasite parties and the Dems at their meeting.

PT and Co have only one thing in mind, an election as quick as possible to get back into power.

While the Dems have concentrated on putting together reform ideas intended to clean up politics and drive the country forward before holding an election.

I think it is generally accepted even by the reds that reforms are needed.

Personally I would not trust any political party to put in place meaningful reforms once they were in power as there would then be huge vested interests.

That being the case it would seem to make sense to get the reform process at least well underway, starting with electoral reform, before an election.

If PT had accepted the need for reforms back when the house was dissolved then the process would be underway now, billion (and probably lives) would have been saved and an agreed election very close.

Of course those who trust politicians to do the right thing for the country and the people would want to see elections before reform.

[Thai at Heart]

Did the dimwit reporter bother to notice how many of these named political partied attended this meeting? Or was it only PTP and a few others present?

Edited March 29, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[Thai at Heart]

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

Yes the majority of Thai people don't want an election they want reform first - I thought that was obvious from the last turn out and the massive no votes

There is absolutely no way to draw the conclusion that a no show in the previous vote means support for reform.

[Scamper]

" It has been revealed that some Pheu Thai MP candidates were gathering signatures in an attempt to impeach EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn. "

It seems Pheu Thai have got off to a riotously good start in working with the Election Commission.

[djjamie]

Another gutless boycott.

When are these fools going to change the name of their party?

May I suggest the Pheu Terrorist Party.

At least they can keep the same acronym!!

[Baerboxer]

"Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the objective of yesterday's multi-party meeting was to gather information for the EC so it could learn from the mistakes of the February 2 election.

"We insist that the election must go ahead. If the EC says it is not ready or it wants more time, we have yet to consider what to do with the EC," he said."

Ah threats, PT's solution to anyone who will not bow to their will. The UDD's masters are trying to show the way to solve problems once more. Not so sure they have full control over their street thugs any more though, but enough of that, don't want to go off post.

Funny that the PT spokesperson was telling everyone what the conferences purpose was, shouldn't the party who organised it have done that?

Agree. They want what they want. Nothing else matters.

Of course dear YL can have as much time as she wants to answer any questions. Normally plumps for infinity. Ask the Ombudsman how long he's been waiting.

[Spalpeen]

Another gutless boycott.

When are these fools going to change the name of their party?

.

If they don't take part in a second consecutive election they won't need a name, because there won't be a party.

[noitom]

Isn't this cute the way Thais do this with multi-colored garbage pails and boxes, with white rollers sticking out of a few of them. They are all lined up neat and ready. Boy oh boy these Thais, they know how to set up and run an election.