Democrats threaten to boycott poll

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS
Democrats threaten to boycott poll
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Party will again stay out of election if Abhisit's reconciliation proposal rejected

The Democrat Party will not contest the next election if a reconciliation proposal to be unveiled by its leader Abhisit Vejjajiva today is rejected by the parties involved in the ongoing political conflict, according to the party's spokesman.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said yesterday that with the political conflict remaining unsolved and the country still in a state of deadlock, there was no point in the Democrats taking part in the election. "We will still be in the same spot, and we can't move forward because the conflict still exists. There will be disorder. The Pheu Thai Party will bring about a bloody election. For what will the Democrat Party have taken part?" he said.

The Democrat spokesman asked the ruling Pheu Thai Party and caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to make it clear how they would make sacrifices for the country's benefit. He criticised the premier for suggesting that Abhisit should not have set any conditions in regard to his reconciliation proposal.

The Democrat leader on Thursday had said that he would take a political break if his proposal aimed at finding a political solution were accepted by all the parties involved. Abhisit said this was to prove that he would not benefit from his own proposal.

Chavanond yesterday expressed suspicion that Yingluck might be attempting to protect the interests of herself, her family and her party.

He said turning down Abhisit's proposal would mean the politicians involved were failing to sacrifice their own benefit for the country's interest. "We will see who are politicians, and who are the election experts," he added.

The next election has been tentatively scheduled for July 20. The previous voting on February 2 was declared void by the Constitutional Court, as it was not held on the same day in the entire country, which was against the Constitution.

The Democrats had boycotted the February poll on the grounds that it was being held at a time when conflict still existed.

Meanwhile, Abhisit has met a number of top politicians and senior bureaucrats to gather their ideas as to how the Kingdom could be brought out of its destructive political crisis.

He has called a press conference at the Sukosol Hotel this morning to unveil details of his proposal.

The Democrat leader yesterday said the government was ignoring a way out of the crisis by insisting on going ahead with the July 20 poll.

Pheu Thai has belittled Abhisit's offer to take a political break if his proposal is accepted.

Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday that Abhisit had attached a condition to his pledge to take a political break simply to boost his image, although the former PM was aware he would have a qualification problem that would prevent him from becoming an election candidate.

He said Abhisit's retroactive dismissal as an Army personnel member would disqualify him from contesting an election.

Pheu Thai's former defence minister Sukampol Suwannathat approved the retroactive dismissal of Abhisit for allegedly using a falsified military draft document to apply for the post of lecturer at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, an allegation rejected by the Democrat leader.

Prompong also urged the Election Commission to issue no later than May 6 a Royal Decree calling the next election, and not by May 8 as has been planned by the agency.

Meanwhile, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan yesterday cancelled a gathering of government supporters in Nakhon Pathom, which had been scheduled to take place on Monday. He has called a mass rally of the red shirts on May 14, the same day that the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee plans to hold its own mass gathering.

-- The Nation 2014-05-03

[michaelscottfan]

Good riddance. What a useless bunch.

[binjalin]

we won't play... no we WON'T we really, really, really, WON'T

so there!!!

[chooka]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

[Mango Bob]

Repeat of same story posted here yesterday. So my statement still holds. Abhisit is like a little kid. It's my ball and if you don't by my rules, I will take my ball and go home. I have grown to hate this man I once liked.

[chotthee]

we won't play... no we WON'T we really, really, really, WON'T

so there!!!

Millions on the street, still he can't win.

[TimCM]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

When did they last win an election? The so called democrats idea is to get the military to put them in power as they have little support. I think the military have been warned that the powers to be will be personally targeted like the Russian sanctions, hence their refusal to appoint their mates this time.

So their leader who said he was just trying to help the country has shown his true colours now, nothing changes with these self important thugs.

As this would be their second refusal to participate in an election, should the party now be deregistered, or will the independent agencies protect their mates again

ps. GO HAWKS

[TimCM]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

Sorry duplicate

Edited May 3, 2014 by TimCM

[noitom]

Abhisit's democrats are now blackmailing the election.

[aussieinthailand]

Rather than saying AGIAN we won't play, why not try being a profesional politicion and put out polercies to win govwernment?

OOpp's This is Mark and the Dem's, my bad

[chainarong]

This is not a good look from the democrats, they should take a good look at where they are heading, they will become a spent force in Thai politics if they keep this game up , people will only stand for so much , Uncle chainarong will try and guide the party without any payment, what about fielding a full set of candidates then asking the supporters to stay away from the elections as it is too dangerous and their safety cannot be guaranteed , fixes the election process.

[h90]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

yes and half of them owned by Thaksin.....Lets recall the vote in Nakhon Si Thammerat where the opposition candidate (which is needed to go around the 20 % limit) didn't even vote for himself....

[BlueNoseCodger]

5 days left.

Well yesterday when this story was posted, there was about 6 days left for Democrat MPs to switch to a different opposition party, so they can run for elections and represent their voters in those easy South seats.

Today we're down to 5.

Abhisit is supposed to reveal his plans this week, he was expected to reveal it on Friday, today is definitely the last day of the week, even including weekend days, so what is the betting he will stall today?

His plan is to demand Yingluk not run at elections and in exchange he promises not to stand. If she does that he'll disrupt elections anyway and then claim she isn't interim PM because she wasn't standing for elections. He's not going to run for elections, Democrat MPs you need to jump ship. 5 days and counting.

[darren84310]

I understand the game is to threaten in order to get what you want, but at the end of the day, they really need to contest the next election, for the sake of Thailand.

[h90]

This is not a good look from the democrats, they should take a good look at where they are heading, they will become a spent force in Thai politics if they keep this game up , people will only stand for so much , Uncle chainarong will try and guide the party without any payment, what about fielding a full set of candidates then asking the supporters to stay away from the elections as it is too dangerous and their safety cannot be guaranteed , fixes the election process.

If they field candidates, half their supporters would boycott the elections, so they would complete loose while the PTP would claim it that it is a normal election they won with a landslide victory and would change the constitution as planed.

[wilcopops]

It would be nice if the people for Thailand rather than listening to a bunch of self-serving megalomaniacs (both parties) decided to form their OWN party and voted for a democracy. ........ Current ruling factions (or wannabes) excluded!

[FangFerang]

Translation from Abhisit: "If you do not redistrict the country so Bangkok votes count for two votes per voter, we are not going to play a game we know we cannot win."

[expat888]

If Abhisit would change his political position maybe he could get enough votes to actually win but instead he keeps the same tired rhetoric.

In or out, the results are the same.

[gabruce]

5 days left.

Well yesterday when this story was posted, there was about 6 days left for Democrat MPs to switch to a different opposition party, so they can run for elections and represent their voters in those easy South seats.

Today we're down to 5.

Abhisit is supposed to reveal his plans this week, he was expected to reveal it on Friday, today is definitely the last day of the week, even including weekend days, so what is the betting he will stall today?

His plan is to demand Yingluk not run at elections and in exchange he promises not to stand. If she does that he'll disrupt elections anyway and then claim she isn't interim PM because she wasn't standing for elections. He's not going to run for elections, Democrat MPs you need to jump ship. 5 days and counting.

Are you making this up? Or have you gotten a sneak peak at Abhisit's proposal? Or did you meet with him personally?

[h90]

5 days left.

Well yesterday when this story was posted, there was about 6 days left for Democrat MPs to switch to a different opposition party, so they can run for elections and represent their voters in those easy South seats.

Today we're down to 5.

Abhisit is supposed to reveal his plans this week, he was expected to reveal it on Friday, today is definitely the last day of the week, even including weekend days, so what is the betting he will stall today?

His plan is to demand Yingluk not run at elections and in exchange he promises not to stand. If she does that he'll disrupt elections anyway and then claim she isn't interim PM because she wasn't standing for elections. He's not going to run for elections, Democrat MPs you need to jump ship. 5 days and counting.

Southern people wouldn't vote for someone who left the democrats to get easily MP. All the south is extreme angry with the government.

[Scamper]

Interesting press conference from Prompong. Apparently, he now claims that Abhisit cannot be a candidate - ever - because a former Pheu Thai former defense minister has now dismissed him as an army personnel based on an allegation ( surprise, surprise ). The unilateral actions of Pheu Thai simply take one's breath away. Move over Chalerm and CAPO. Prompong has become a Jatuporn on steroids. Never a dull moment with that man.

Back to Earth, Ahnisit's proposal will be revealed this morning, and we will see what it is and how people react to it. But if the Democratic party will not contest if it is not accepted, then that makes perfect sense, because Pheu Thai are simply expecting the election to be contested when absolutely nothing has changed since the last boycott. Why in the world would the Democratic party enable a quorum for an administration such as this - an administration that is being directed by the prime minister's brother through skype, that serves his interests, that fashions his own amnesty bill, and that has attracted a sea of criminal investigations. ? Why would they ? It would make no sense to contest the election if the reasons were just as applicable now as they were on December 21 when the Democratic party boycotted the last election. Actually, Pheu Thai was privately delighted at their withdrawal from the election - as they are likely now. Problem is, sweeping up every constituency in the country didn't quite pan out as they envisaged.

[marko kok prong]

Really can not see the point of an election as Suthep has said it will be disrupted the same as the last time,the proposal to hold the voting in army barracks is no solution,as for instance were we live the nearest is 98 k away,so what really is the point,all we have now is this stalemate.

[Melyn]

I see the red mist brigade thinks that you should stop protesting if nothing changes. Not really that smart.

The same people have no idea what Abhisit's proposals are but demean and criticise them. Not really that smart.

The Dems have been constantly attacked and injured with at least one dead and have asked for free and fair elections to which PTP has not responded. The red mist brigade thinks that elections with violence are acceptable. Not that smart.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Morch]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

"Plenty of other parties to partake in the election if you don't" - how many voters do these parties represent? Pheu Thai and Democrat supporters make over 75% of the popular vote.

I'm not trying to say that what the Democrat Party does is commendable, just that if one accepts that they do represent a large segment of the voters, ignoring them wouldn't solve the Thailand's political mess. Same holds true for the Democrat Party in relation to the wishes of the other side. A working democracy is supposed to be inclusive and comprehensive.

Of course, it can be argued that no party in Thailand really represents the voters, but the interests of its leaders.

[Baerboxer]

Translation from Abhisit: "If you do not redistrict the country so Bangkok votes count for two votes per voter, we are not going to play a game we know we cannot win."

Translation from Pheu Thai - "We want elections - you can come and campaign in the North, if you want too"

One side threatens to boycott and disrupt the elections whilst the other threatens and carries out violent intimidation of anyone who doesn't bow to their will.

What a wonderful choice at election time.

The whole election and political governance constructs need reform, as does the justice and legal systems. Thailand cannot prosper in ASEAN as is and will regress as the other countries progress.

Too many powerful elites refusing to change and give up their very wealthy comfortable lifestyles in which they seem even above the law.

[Morch]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

When did they last win an election? The so called democrats idea is to get the military to put them in power as they have little support. I think the military have been warned that the powers to be will be personally targeted like the Russian sanctions, hence their refusal to appoint their mates this time.

So their leader who said he was just trying to help the country has shown his true colours now, nothing changes with these self important thugs.

As this would be their second refusal to participate in an election, should the party now be deregistered, or will the independent agencies protect their mates again

ps. GO HAWKS

35% of the popular vote last elections. Not a majority, not the largest party - but also not "little" support.

Regarding party dissolution - as far as I understand, not partaking in two elections may lead to this. But do the annulled February elections count as strike one? No idea. Would appreciate if someone can shed light on this.

[BlueNoseCodger]

Read BP till the Nation does a story,

Abhisit has asked the government to resign

To be replaced by a neutral PM

They'll then decide on what reforms to make

And a referendum will be held on those reforms,

and they will then permit an election after the reforms have been approved

He's set up some new group "neutral people for reforms and referrendums instead of elections" (OK I don't quite remember the name), which will campaign alongside PDRC to ensure there are no elections. (As if they were any different).

Pity, he didn't use the words "for the good of the people", so I lost my bet. But otherwise he's very predictable our Abhisit.

Please note this means two things:

1) He doesn't expect to get his judicial coup

2) He is talking up the EC, so he does expect to get cooperation from EC in stopping elections.

Edited May 3, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[Baerboxer]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

"Plenty of other parties to partake in the election if you don't" - how many voters do these parties represent? Pheu Thai and Democrat supporters make over 75% of the popular vote.

I'm not trying to say that what the Democrat Party does is commendable, just that if one accepts that they do represent a large segment of the voters, ignoring them wouldn't solve the Thailand's political mess. Same holds true for the Democrat Party in relation to the wishes of the other side. A working democracy is supposed to be inclusive and comprehensive.

Of course, it can be argued that no party in Thailand really represents the voters, but the interests of its leaders.

The way votes are translated into parliamentary seats is somewhat unique in Thailand. Maybe they should do away with the party list system. This would, theoretically mean that those elected are accountable to their electorate. PTP lost the Don Meuang by-election and the Bangkok governor election when they thought they'd win even if they put a telegraph pole up as candidate. So there are some swings.

A system of proportional representation may also stop, or at least reduce the dominance of any political clan.

The corruption has always been here - but the greed has grown to unmanageable and unsustainable proportions. The rich all need bigger and more mansions, more expensive fleets of cars, private airplanes etc etc. The small % enjoying this lifestyle won't give it up easily.

[BlueNoseCodger]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

"Plenty of other parties to partake in the election if you don't" - how many voters do these parties represent? Pheu Thai and Democrat supporters make over 75% of the popular vote.

I'm not trying to say that what the Democrat Party does is commendable, just that if one accepts that they do represent a large segment of the voters, ignoring them wouldn't solve the Thailand's political mess. Same holds true for the Democrat Party in relation to the wishes of the other side. A working democracy is supposed to be inclusive and comprehensive.

Of course, it can be argued that no party in Thailand really represents the voters, but the interests of its leaders.

The way votes are translated into parliamentary seats is somewhat unique in Thailand. Maybe they should do away with the party list system. This would, theoretically mean that those elected are accountable to their electorate. PTP lost the Don Meuang by-election and the Bangkok governor election when they thought they'd win even if they put a telegraph pole up as candidate. So there are some swings.

A system of proportional representation may also stop, or at least reduce the dominance of any political clan.

The corruption has always been here - but the greed has grown to unmanageable and unsustainable proportions. The rich all need bigger and more mansions, more expensive fleets of cars, private airplanes etc etc. The small % enjoying this lifestyle won't give it up easily.

You realize they made that system in 2007 exactly in order to create weak governments. Hoping to fracture between the party list and the local MP. Divide and conquer.

Trouble was, Democrats lost so badly, it didn't work. In 2008 they wanted to make the cabinet appointed! Leaving only a token elected official and the Parliament still elected. Red protests put paid to that one.

In 2011, as the numbers suggested Abhisit would lose badly, he proposed scaling the vote, so that any party who supported the 2010 riots be punished for that support (i.e. scaling Pheu Thai's vote by say 0.7 and letting him win that way). They didn't dare do that one.

Here we are in 2014, and he's still trying to get them to hand him power, and they'll decide on how to reform. (i.e. how can we rig the government even more than we rigged the senate and get away with it).

It seems it never dawned on them, to choose electable leaders and get elected with good policies that unite more Thai people to support them.

Edited May 3, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[fab4]

well take your ball and go home you sooky little rich brats. Plenty of other parties to partake in the election and if you pull out then don't come running and crying that it is not fair because you didn't win. Stupid bunch of morons.

"Plenty of other parties to partake in the election if you don't" - how many voters do these parties represent? Pheu Thai and Democrat supporters make over 75% of the popular vote.

I'm not trying to say that what the Democrat Party does is commendable, just that if one accepts that they do represent a large segment of the voters, ignoring them wouldn't solve the Thailand's political mess. Same holds true for the Democrat Party in relation to the wishes of the other side. A working democracy is supposed to be inclusive and comprehensive.

Of course, it can be argued that no party in Thailand really represents the voters, but the interests of its leaders.

The way votes are translated into parliamentary seats is somewhat unique in Thailand. Maybe they should do away with the party list system. This would, theoretically mean that those elected are accountable to their electorate. PTP lost the Don Meuang by-election and the Bangkok governor election when they thought they'd win even if they put a telegraph pole up as candidate. So there are some swings.

A system of proportional representation may also stop, or at least reduce the dominance of any political clan.

The corruption has always been here - but the greed has grown to unmanageable and unsustainable proportions. The rich all need bigger and more mansions, more expensive fleets of cars, private airplanes etc etc. The small % enjoying this lifestyle won't give it up easily.

The Bangkok Governor election is being rerun because of cheating by the democrat backed Sukhumbhand Paribatra. He was yellow carded for breaking election law http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ec-yellowcards-bangkok-governor-sukhumbhand/