'Mediator' plan falters: Thai politics

[webfact]

POLITICS
'Mediator' plan falters
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Panya Thiosangwan
The Nation


Prem

Prem lauds Rattha Bukkon group's intentions but offers no comment; Pheu Thai says plan seeks govt's overthrow

BANGKOK: -- A proposal to have Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda take on a mediator's role in order to resolve the political impasse may not get off the ground due to lukewarm support.

A close aide yesterday quoted General Prem as saying that the proposal to have him act as a mediator to resolve the political crisis was born of good intentions.

Lt Gen Pitsanu Phuttha-wong, chief of the Office of the General Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation, said Prem had learned about the proposal from the media, but did not make any specific comments on the issue. However, the aide said, the statesman believes that the group proposing the idea - like other groups - has good intentions and hopes to bring peace to the country.

A group of former senior bureaucrats called Rattha Bukkon or Man of the State, led by former supreme commander Saiyud Kerdphol, proposed that talks be brokered between leaders in all sectors to draft a covenant under Royal command on how the country should be ruled at times of crisis.

Saiyud stressed that the person playing the mediator's role could not exercise the King's power under the Constitution's Article 7.

Article 7 states: "Whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional practice in the democratic regime of the government with the King as Head of State."

The real intention of Saiyud's proposal is under doubt as it could be considered unconstitutional.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday rejected the proposal, saying it appeared to offer a shortcut for certain political groups that had joined hands with old "elitists" with the intention of toppling this government and setting up a new one without listening to the public majority.

"Their real intention is crystal clear. They are no different from the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee of Suthep Thaugsuban," Prompong said at a press conference.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, declined to comment on the proposal, saying he did not believe Article 7 could be applied until the country enters a political vacuum - in other words, it is not applicable for as long as a caretaker PM is in power.

Election talks

Abhisit said his party would definitely dispatch high-level representatives to discuss holding a new election with the Election Commission next Tuesday. The Democrats had earlier set conditions, saying they would only participate if the discussions were broadcast live and if Pheu Thai sent party leaders to attend.

Noppadon Pattama, a legal adviser to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said the Pheu Thai Party would have authorised officials attend the discussion and would set no conditions because it believes holding an election is the best solution for the country.

Meanwhile, Chanyuth Heng-trakul, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in the East, said his group was ready to offer caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra support by converging on the Constitutional Court the day it issues a verdict on the Thawil Pliensri case. In this case, Yingluck is accused of violating the Constitution in relation to the transfer of Thawil from his post as secretary-general of the National Security Council.

Yingluck has until Friday to submit her defence statement, but it is not certain if she will seek to extend the deadline.

Meanwhile, Chanyuth said his group would hold a peaceful and unarmed demonstration to protect democracy. "UDD members will pour in from across the country. Bangkok will come under siege because only 2 million protesters are needed to paralyse the capital," he said.

Pheu Thai legal specialist Ruangkrai Leekijwattana said the Constitutional Court could be accused of trying to establish itself as a "sovereign" court if it oversteps its authority by ruling that the caretaker Cabinet must be dismissed and Yingluck must step down if she is found guilty of acting unconstitutionally over Thawil's transfer.

"If the court rules [against Yingluck], how will the verdict be written? It is not easy. If the caretaker Cabinet is dismissed, what will come next? Will there be a political vacuum?" he said.

-- The Nation 2014-04-16

[chainarong]

This I will comment on , for a General who was affiliated with the hard line JUNTA, one would hope there is lukewarm response, the point is ,Thailand continues to look inward , stop regarding has been old hacks, as internal flame of life and the saviour of the many , get off you lazy butts and appoint someone with credibility and outstanding achievements and 21st century thinking, I haven't a clue where this person resides , but he sure doesn't live in Dubai.

[rickirs]

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This I will comment on , for a General who was affiliated with the hard line JUNTA, one would hope there is lukewarm response, the point is ,Thailand continues to look inward , stop regarding has been old hacks, as internal flame of life and the saviour of the many , get off you lazy butts and appoint someone with credibility and outstanding achievements and 21st century thinking, I haven't a clue where this person resides , but he sure doesn't live in Dubai. width=32 alt=coffee1.gif>

Unfortunately this person probably doesn't live in Thailand nor is a Thai.

[BlueNoseCodger]

Oh please, we might be afraid to say it, but we can think it. Suthep is calling a person which told him not to attend election meetings, has advised him on this coup all the way through and coordinated with the independent agencies to defeat elections.

The sort of person who thinks democracy is not for Thailand. Perhaps someone with a long history of hatred for red politics and a view close to the feudal system.

A man maybe with links to the Navy Seals and Army Special Warfare units and black-ops perhaps, and familiar with false-flag warfare used to drag the military into wars against the people.

This man might stay in the shadows of these coups, to only come out and mediate if the coup fails perhaps.

So nobody will point the finger and say who this man is, but instead refer to vague 'third hand' involvement.

So here we are waiting for this *mystery* third hand man to pop forward. I wonder why their plan is failing???

Edited April 16, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[Artisi]

Oh please, we might be afraid to say it, but we can think it. Suthep is calling a person which told him not to attend election meetings, has advised him on this coup all the way through and coordinated with the independent agencies to defeat elections.

The sort of person who thinks democracy is not for Thailand. Perhaps someone with a long history of hatred for red politics and a view close to the feudal system.

A man maybe with links to the Navy Seals and Army Special Warfare units and black-ops perhaps, and familiar with false-flag warfare used to drag the military into wars against the people.

This man might stay in the shadows of these coups, to only come out and mediate if the coup fails perhaps.

So nobody will point the finger and say who this man is, but instead refer to vague 'third hand' involvement.

So here we are waiting for this *mystery* third hand man to pop forward. I wonder why their plan is failing???

You keep saying and inferring male - are you sure?

[bigbamboo]

And Prem seemed to have such a bright future ahead of him in Thai politics too.

[Robby nz]

It would seem there is no one in PT who is looking at things with a positive attitude and trying to do some constructive thinking on what can be done if and when Yingluck and Co is ousted by the courts.

It is no good keeping on about 'must have elections' and issuing threats to courts and the NACC and this and that is against the constitution

The need is for planning as to how things can be managed in every situation so there is something to move forward with, other than just bringing out the reds.

But then I forget we are still in a "Thaksin thinks PT acts" situation so constructive thought would not be encouraged.

[BlueNoseCodger]

It would seem there is no one in PT who is looking at things with a positive attitude and trying to do some constructive thinking on what can be done if and when Yingluck and Co is ousted by the courts.

It is no good keeping on about 'must have elections' and issuing threats to courts and the NACC and this and that is against the constitution

The need is for planning as to how things can be managed in every situation so there is something to move forward with, other than just bringing out the reds.

But then I forget we are still in a "Thaksin thinks PT acts" situation so constructive thought would not be encouraged.

The only way forward is elections and democracy. This person interferes in democracy because that's how he gets his boys in power.

You make no argument as to anything other than democracy is the future, and only spout a Thaksin talking point. We get it, you're hoping for a judicial coup, followed by a quick election with Democrats winning as the only main option, some sort of sham democracy.

Your third hand knows the consequences of this, but they don't have children or a future and they don't care. Everyone else does, which is why he is finding this coup far more difficult than usual.

Nobody is really fooled by it.

Edited April 16, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[Scamper]

" Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday rejected the proposal, saying it appeared to offer a shortcut for certain political groups that had joined hands with old "elitists" with the intention of toppling this government and setting up a new one without listening to the public majority. "

Then if that's the case, how did Prompong manage to jump from the alarming world of " elitists " to actually arranging a Pheu Thai party discussion to discuss Article 7 slated for tomorrow ? Isn't this something of a disconnect ?

" Pheu Thai legal specialist Ruangkrai Leekijwattana said the Constitutional Court could be accused of trying to establish itself as a "sovereign" court if it oversteps its authority by ruling that the caretaker Cabinet must be dismissed and Yingluck must step down if she is found guilty of acting unconstitutionally over Thawil's transfer. "

These statements by Pheu Thai are truly outrageous. They presume to tell the Constitutional Court what they can or cannot do. People are sick of these statements. These statements show they are in lockstep with the UDD. Yingluck should show up on Friday as scheduled at the Constitutional Court. She should also make a public address that the Constitutional Court's ruling - whatever it is - will be accepted and adhered to. Period.

[ggt]

This would be a great time for the police and military to become proactive as the leadership has suggested...do a complete sweep of the region...root out insurgents...their hideouts...their weapons...and repeat this over and over...until the will of the terrorist has been damaged...if not broken...the people living in the southern region have suffered way too much...