Thai politics: Hopeful signs, but many devils lie in the details

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Hopeful signs, but many devils lie in the details
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- Judging from the signs from different parties, it appears the political gloom that has continued for more than six months is likely to come to an end soon.

Capital from foreign countries has returned to Thailand. Both sides involved in the lingering conflict have been more open to talks. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has campaigned for a peaceful solution to the political crisis. Moreover, the "judgement day" is nearing for caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra involving cases against her being dealt with by the Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The court and the NACC have become less strict against the prime minister by allowing her more time to defend herself. This has led political observers to believe that political negotiations are going well.

Although Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee, has been firm against negotiating with politicians in power, that could be just a role he has to play. With a large number of people joining his anti-government rally, Suthep still has maintained his negotiating power.

The government also is using the same tactic, its red-shirt supporters calling for a pro-government rally on May 6.

A big question is: How will the ongoing political crisis end? Both sides agree on the need for an election and reform but they differ in the details. The caretaker government and the Pheu Thai Party want a clear date for an election.

Pheu Thai politicians expect the worst for the prime minister in the cases against her, in connection with the rice price-pledging scheme and the removal of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri. And they are attempting to remain in power by arguing that the Cabinet still can retain its caretaker status even if the prime minister was to be removed from office. For them, if or when the prime minister has to leave office, a new election would be the best solution to guaranteeing a return to power.

The Democrat Party also wants to contest the next election. The country has been without a fully-functional administration for too long already. If the conflict is allowed to continue with no end in sight, the country will head to disaster. The party's financial supporters are aware of this and the Democrats will be viewed in a negative light if they boycott the election again.

It is true that an election is not the end-all of democracy, but there is no democracy without an election.

Pheu Thai has complained that the July 20 date for the next election scheduled by the Election Commission is too far, but they are not strongly against it. This is a sign that an election will certainly take place.

The remaining problem to solve involves how to carry out reform. What should be reformed during the period from today until election day? Or should there be a social contract that the government to be formed after the next election should serve as a transitory administration, with the main duty of carrying out reforms and with the requirement to serve for a limited period of time?

The conflicting sides may still need to discuss in detail as to whether a public referendum should be held on what areas should be reformed, and whether certain politicians involved in the conflict should stay on the sidelines for a period of time (for example during the tenure of the provisional government).

Agreement should be reached in the case of one side making some unacceptable demand (such as being exempted from any legal action for past wrongdoing) or another side wanting a "total defeat" against the other.

If the leaders of both sides do not want to compromise and remain firm on their original standpoints, violent clashes between their supporters fuelled by hatred will be inevitable. If that is the case, the outlook will be even worse for the country.


-- The Nation 2014-05-01

[Tatsujin]

One of the reforms that needs to be urgently made is something to deal with the "protests" which always get way out of hand. No protest (from any side) should be allowed to take over any part of Bangkok.

They should be for 1 day (only), in designated areas (only), with a wall of Police surrounding them (outnumbering the protestors). Same as they do in the UK or other countries. Can't be that hard to implement and actually enforce some new laws to cover this as prevention is way better than letting them get entrenched in an area.

[chainarong]

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

One of the reforms that needs to be urgently made is something to deal with the "protests" which always get way out of hand. No protest (from any side) should be allowed to take over any part of Bangkok.

They should be for 1 day (only), in designated areas (only), with a wall of Police surrounding them (outnumbering the protestors). Same as they do in the UK or other countries. Can't be that hard to implement and actually enforce some new laws to cover this as prevention is way better than letting them get entrenched in an area.

All things being equal in the perfect world ,you use the voting box, however all things are not equal in Thailand , we know that people of influence before elections are bribing , intimidating, bashing monks and even disappearing people even setting up vote buying schemes, there in lies the problem

[PREM-R]

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

One of the reforms that needs to be urgently made is something to deal with the "protests" which always get way out of hand. No protest (from any side) should be allowed to take over any part of Bangkok.

They should be for 1 day (only), in designated areas (only), with a wall of Police surrounding them (outnumbering the protestors). Same as they do in the UK or other countries. Can't be that hard to implement and actually enforce some new laws to cover this as prevention is way better than letting them get entrenched in an area.

All things being equal in the perfect world ,you use the voting box, however all things are not equal in Thailand , we know that people of influence before elections are bribing , intimidating, bashing monks and even disappearing people even setting up vote buying schemes, there in lies the problem

"we know that people of influence before elections are bribing , intimidating, bashing monks and even disappearing people even setting up vote buying schemes, there in lies the problem"

Yes and even PTP are not completely without blame in this respect either.

[chainarong]

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

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

One of the reforms that needs to be urgently made is something to deal with the "protests" which always get way out of hand. No protest (from any side) should be allowed to take over any part of Bangkok.

They should be for 1 day (only), in designated areas (only), with a wall of Police surrounding them (outnumbering the protestors). Same as they do in the UK or other countries. Can't be that hard to implement and actually enforce some new laws to cover this as prevention is way better than letting them get entrenched in an area.

All things being equal in the perfect world ,you use the voting box, however all things are not equal in Thailand , we know that people of influence before elections are bribing , intimidating, bashing monks and even disappearing people even setting up vote buying schemes, there in lies the problem

"we know that people of influence before elections are bribing , intimidating, bashing monks and even disappearing people even setting up vote buying schemes, there in lies the problem"

Yes and even PTP are not completely without blame in this respect either.

I was referring in- directly to only the PTP, no other party has carried out of late these sort of tactic's, have they.

[Scamper]

When Abhisit reveals in a few days the proposal that emerges from whatever consensus he was able to reach in his discussions with party leaders - it will be a very key moment. Abhisit has already put his own political career on the line. Without knowing the contents of the eventual proposal - that in itself lends a large clue as to what it could be - that the proposal's success might be determinate on both Abhisit's and Thaksin's withdrawal. It would make international coverage, to be sure, and unquestionably put Thaksin in an uncomfortable and isolated position. It would be a brilliant proposal, and Abhisit offering to step down in kind would lend it great weight. But Thaksin has not been anything if not consistent, and it is very difficult to imagine he would agree to that. But whatever his reaction, it would frame the political debate more succinctly than it has ever been framed before. And that in itself may be just too uncomfortable a spotlight for Pheu Thai - especially as they have always denied Thaksin's involvement in anything.

[louse1953]

One of the reforms that needs to be urgently made is something to deal with the "protests" which always get way out of hand. No protest (from any side) should be allowed to take over any part of Bangkok.

They should be for 1 day (only), in designated areas (only), with a wall of Police surrounding them (outnumbering the protestors). Same as they do in the UK or other countries. Can't be that hard to implement and actually enforce some new laws to cover this as prevention is way better than letting them get entrenched in an area.

Outnumbering protesters eh,what were thing about 500,000 cops.Doesnt matter they still would do anything.