Thai protesters to 'appoint new government': spokesman

[webfact]

Thai protesters to 'appoint new government': spokesman

BANGKOK, May 8, 2014 (AFP) - Thai protesters who have massed on Bangkok's streets for six months said Thursday they would appoint a new government, following the removal of Premier Yingluck Shinawatra by a court.

The announcement comes as the ailing ruling party seeks to bolster its authority after Yingluck's dismissal.

Observers warned the move would likely enrage pro-government supporters, risking further violence as the country lurches deeper into a political crisis.

"Tomorrow (Friday) we will take steps towards appointing a new government," protest spokesman Akanat Promphan told AFP, adding the new prime minister named after the court ruling lacked legitimacy.

"After the Constitutional Court's decision yesterday we decided to move up our schedule.... the government has lost all legitimacy and any claim it has to govern the country."

It was not immediately clear what legal basis their vow draws on, but the Thai constitution has an article which may enable the appointment of a new executive body by the Senate.

Anti-government protest leaders have vowed a "final fight" on Friday, without giving details of their plans.

Their pledge comes a day after the Constitutional Court removed Yingluck from office for abusing her power in the 2011 transfer of a security official.

- Crossing a 'red line' -

The ruling Puea Thai party accused the court of a "conspiracy" against the administration, many of whose ministers are loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra -- Yingluck's billionaire brother and a former prime minister ousted in a military coup.

Thaksin is adored by the rural, poor northern portion of the country for his populist policies, but reviled by the Bangkok-based establishment and southern royalists.

The appointment of a new premier by the anti-government group "is the red line not to be crossed," said Thailand-based author and academic David Streckfuss.

"The Red Shirts will rise en masse," he said referring to Shinawatra supporters who are due to hold a mass rally on Saturday in a Bangkok suburb.

Puea Thai swiftly appointed a deputy premier -- Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan -- as Yingluck's replacement.

An anti-graft authority may rule on Thursday against Yingluck and a former minister in a case over a costly rice subsidy scheme -- that could lead to a five-year ban from politics.

Observers say the anti-government movement is also banking on legal rulings to chisel away at the new administration.

They have been camped on Bangkok's streets for six months in a bid to topple Yingluck and rid the country of the influence of her billionaire brother Thaksin.

At least 25 people have been killed and hundreds more wounded in political violence since they flooded Bangkok's streets and there are fears of wider clashes between pro- and anti-government supporters as the crisis intensifies.

The kingdom has been bitterly split since 2006 when an army coup deposed Thaksin.

He now lives overseas to avoid jail for corruption convictions, that he is were politically motivated.

Shinawatra-led or linked governments have won every election since 2001.

On Wednesday Yingluck became the third premier of a Thaksin-aligned government to be forced from office by the courts, who critics say support the Thai elite.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-08

[Costas2008]

And why the protesters new government would have any "legitimacy"?

Edited May 8, 2014 by Costas2008

[DK2223]

Now, the protester have the power to appoint a government.. What a joke in Thailand.. Someone please tell the protestor that the only way to appoint a government is to go for election and not by their current status as protester to appoint a government.. Just call them to wake up and don't listen to their rally leader to much and start to learn some general knowledge on politic and government..

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 5.3 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited May 8, 2014 by DK2223

[Mango Bob]

Hey, I want to set up a new government too.

[tx22cb]

I'd love to see who is "appointed" as the PM. And who does the selecting.

The new cabinet can at least rule over Lumpini Park for starters, and work up from there.

[Thait Spot]

It's high time for Suthep to pick up his ball and go home.

It's also high time for Abhisit to put forward a reform manifesto and take part in elections.

[seajae]

this is absolute bullsh*t, they are juast as bad as rhe reds now thinking that they have the right to tell people what they are and are not allowed to do. They did what they set out to, remove yl and some of the ministers but now they need to let the country sort this out legally as do the reds. It is only the extremists on both sides that are going to cause problems, the leaders need to show some backbone and make sure that violence does not start up.

[newcomer71]

They showing their real colors... Nothing more that a power-hungry movement...

I hoped Abhisit could be the one trying to cool down the situation, but he failed too.

Dark times ahead for our dear Thailand.

[pookiki]

Wonder what portfolio Pu Luang will get? Minister of Defense? Maybe the head of the National Security Council?

[tezzainoz]

Suthep can say what he wants, and there are people who will say that Suthep has said this or that or another when he did not these things at all

At the moment many members and members of PTP who are putting words in to Sutheps mouth

But there is one fact only

Suthep can not appoint a self appointed PM

[Cylon]

Spiralling downward out of control....

[Snig27]

Strange sounds emanating from Bangkok in the past 24 hours: canine noises from the barking mad PDRC leadership and an odd bounding noise coming the direction of the Constitutional Court, which sounds for all the world like a Kangaroo Court in session.

The world's media is lining up to make fun of this court today. An example: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304431104579547340574302518

[Scamper]

This is silly theatre on the part of the PDRC, but then so is what Pheu Thai has done. There is a provision in the constitution to nominate a prime minister through the Senate in lieu of a parliamentary quorum, but there is no provision for a prime minister to be nominated through a cabinet, let along a caretaker cabinet, let along a caretaker cabinet without a parliament, let along a caretaker cabinet without a parliament whose prime minister has just been thrown out for having committed an unconstitutional act, and let along a caretaker cabinet without a parliament whose own membership has been decimated by nine of their own members having been thrown out for having committed an unconstitutional act. So for those who are interested in silliness, you can start with that.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Scamper

[CiaranO]

Each day both groups try to make themselves look more and mire stupid. You would nearly think they are in competition for an award for it. Today's turn is the PDRC. Tomorrow will be the red shirts and so on.

The only way this will be resolved is through reforms and an election. Everyone sign up for it and thats it. The winner of the election is the winner - no crying no complaining.

[bangkokheat]

Hey, I want to set up a new government too.

oh can i join, can i can i can i, i promise i will be good and not let evil infiltrate on my goodness

[hagler]

The world's media is lining up to make fun of this court today. An example: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304431104579547340574302518

That is an excellent article. Thanks for posting

[CiaranO]

The world's media is lining up to make fun of this court today. An example: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304431104579547340574302518

That is an excellent article. Thanks for posting

Great article

[virtualtraveller]

Any old nutter can stand up and announce an appointed govt, best you can do is find this humorous, of course the Reds will cease on it as a coup attempt. Btw, the outgoing govt was appointed by a similar fashion in Dubai, and somehow it became legal.

[chainarong]

One needs to be careful at this time of the day, however it is highly unlikely that any protesting group would be asked to form a government , perhaps they might indicate who they prefer as a minister, there is a special process to carry out and the protesters are not involved with that.

[issanaus]

The fool should stop believing his own press releases

Clearly he is part of the problem not part of the solution.

[Torkmada]

And why the protesters new government would have any "legitimacy"?

Are you asking a question?

And why WOULD the protesters new government would have any "legitimacy"?

Because if you are, the answer is clearly not.

Their government would have as much legitimacy as one proposed by you or I.

But I guess it gets boring out there in the park so they need to play some sort of games to help pass the time.

[fab4]

Suthep can say what he wants, and there are people who will say that Suthep has said this or that or another when he did not these things at all

At the moment many members and members of PTP who are putting words in to Sutheps mouth

But there is one fact only

Suthep can not appoint a self appointed PM

Fake words now?

Is this one of those situations like when he said he claimed sovereign power for his "movement", people like you denied he said that, only for him to turn up the very next day and retract the sovereign claim?

By the way if such a thing as a self appointed PM existed, the only person able to appoint that person would be that self appointed PM - the clue is in the words.

But you're quite right, "Suthep can not appoint a self appointed PM"

[patjem]

All Thailand needs is a credible alternative. Poor show that there currently isn't one that is putting a good foot forward.

[Torkmada]

this is absolute bullsh*t, they are juast as bad as rhe reds now thinking that they have the right to tell people what they are and are not allowed to do. They did what they set out to, remove yl and some of the ministers but now they need to let the country sort this out legally as do the reds. It is only the extremists on both sides that are going to cause problems, the leaders need to show some backbone and make sure that violence does not start up.

Why the surprise?

This has been their intention all along.

Get rid of the elected government and usurp power for themselves without consulting the people.

It's getting increasingly difficult for the Yellows on TVF to remain behind their veil of ignorance.

Again, funny how reality eventually intrudes into the lives of even the most deluded and ignorant of those amongst us!

[Cnxforever]

Great !

Yes please do that! All 100 of you camped out at Lumphini Park make the gangster Suthep the Fuehrer of your "government" and then you can all go home to Surat and there you can rule forever chewing on your krathom leafs!

[fab4]

Any old nutter can stand up and announce an appointed govt, best you can do is find this humorous, of course the Reds will cease on it as a coup attempt. Btw, the outgoing govt was appointed by a similar fashion in Dubai, and somehow it became legal.

Would you care to explain that last sentence

"Btw, the outgoing govt was appointed by a similar fashion in Dubai, and somehow it became legal."

I'm really interested in your "reasoning" for this political bombshell of a revelation.

[tingtongteesood]

Bad idea, stick to the courts, PT have given more than enough rope to hang themselves....

[Guest]

It would be a nice experiment if Yingluck and Abhisit would create the next government together. Dropping out all the extremist and giving power for the moderate thinkers.

[FangFerang]

Suthep will make all things better now, There will be perfection now. All will be well. The evil Shins created everything that was evil. Now all is safe. Forever. Amen,

[chooka]

Hey, I want to set up a new government too.

Yea I set one up but the missus ousted me in a coup.