Referee steps in to halt fight: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Referee steps in to halt fight
The Nation

The Army must now disprove the coup rumours by getting the combatants around the table to seek a peaceful way out for the country

BANGKOK: -- After more than six months of political confrontation and tension, the military has finally taken action - abruptly, as it turned out.

Early yesterday Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha declared martial law and set up the Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC) in a bid to stem growing violence in the country. The military has assumed responsibility for maintaining peace and order and martial law expands its authority to guard public security and safety.

The POMC has issued orders for different sectors of society. Ten satellite-based television stations, operated by both pro- and anti-government groups, and their affiliated community channels were ordered to suspend broadcasts. Both pro- and anti-government protesters have been ordered not to move from their present rally sites and to maintain the peace.

Top bureaucrats, chiefs of state agencies, provincial governors and representatives of civic groups are among those "invited" to meet with the POMC. They can do so at the Army Club in Bangkok or at three Army camps - in Nakhon Ratchasima for those in the Northeast, in Phitsanulok for those in the North, and in Nakhon Si Thammarat for those in the South.

Armed soldiers have been dispatched to "guard" media organisations - particularly the main television stations - as well as strategically important state agencies, such as petroleum firm PTT. Some political observers have described the situation as a "half coup".

A good sign is that the Army - the most powerful of the three armed forces - has not staged a coup or seized power from the increasingly weakened government.

The POMC and its chief should now move to ensure that the conflicting sides sit down together and talk in order to find a peaceful way out for the country. They should serve as "referee" in this ongoing dispute, which threatens to further weaken the economy. They should seek to identify which options are in the best interest of the country.

The conflicting sides, namely the caretaker Pheu Thai Party-led administration and the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), should both be made aware of the need to find a solution that benefits the country as a whole, and not any particular group or individual. The Army should make sure that the politicians involved realise this necessity, since many of them seem unmindful of it, intentionally or not.

What the POMC and General Prayuth should avoid is making any move that would bolster fears they are seizing administrative power. Pro-government activists view the military with suspicion. The Army chief must not be tempted to take over as prime minister and the military should avoid clinging to power after completing its mission of averting violence. It should prove its critics wrong with actions that make clear it is intervening only in the interest of the country.

Having stepped under the bright spotlight of both domestic and international scrutiny, the Army and its chief now carry the hopes of millions. Their next moves will be decisive for Thailand.

The military should ensure that any changes it makes pave the way for sweeping reforms and "cleaner" politics - something agreed upon by both sides in the political divide.

-- The Nation 2014-05-21

[smedly]

The military should ensure that any changes it makes pave the way for sweeping reforms and "cleaner" politics - something agreed upon by both sides in the political divide.

How difficult was that ?

It seems there is a solution already

[bobl]

I must be really thick. I always thought martial law was imposed at the behest of governments and the military making their own moves was a coup. I'm very confused by this notacoup and halfcoup nonsense.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[SABloke]

I must be really thick. I always thought martial law was imposed at the behest of governments and the military making their own moves was a coup. I'm very confused by this notacoup and halfcoup nonsense.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're not thick and just don't have the time to do research: Whether we agree or not, Thailand has its own laws...surprise, surprise. The military can legally invoke martial law without notifying the government. Half-coups do not exist- a politician or media group creating a new buzzword, does not make it a reality. So basically THIS IS NOT A COUP. Nothing to be confused about...

[Seastallion]

I must be really thick. I always thought martial law was imposed at the behest of governments and the military making their own moves was a coup. I'm very confused by this notacoup and halfcoup nonsense.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The RTA, while theoretically under the authority of the government, is led by the army chief who holds the loyalty of the soldiers. If the army decides to impose martial law without having a coup (and a smart move to do it that way), who is going to stop them? There was a reason the article mentioned that the army is the strongest of all the Thai military.

The Thai government could rant and rave and make demands that the army step down, but who will enforce it? There is nobody and no force capable, so pragmatically, the government and the police, do what they are told.

It's not a coup except in the intellectual sense. So far, Gen Chan-Ocha has acted wisely and fairly and at this point in time, not being familiar with his history, looks to me to be a chap that I would respect.

Edit; Thinking about it, if Thaksin was clever, he would get the government to rant and rave and force the army's hand to make it into a coup, if for nothing else than the moral high ground and in future to be able to say PTP was ousted by a coup. Next year it would be very easy to make it into a PR excercise and gloss over the less memorable facts such as YL's sacking etc.

But then, Thaksin IS clever.....so why hasn't he forced Prayuth's hand? It has to be something to do with the fact that PTP still control the purse strings.

My guess is once several covert plans have been executed, Prayuth's hand will be forced.

We'll see.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Seastallion

[malt25]

Is this something like the Coup either being half full of half empty ? Just wondering.

[moonao]

If they are the refs, they should be sacked. The yellow shirts needed to be disqualified months ago for dirty, cowardly fighting

[Jimmu]

If they are the refs, they should be sacked. The yellow shirts needed to be disqualified months ago for dirty, cowardly fighting

Just because you keep on writing really stupid things doesn't necessarily make you an idiot! Anyway, there are much worse things to be!

[Jimmu]

If they are the refs, they should be sacked. The yellow shirts needed to be disqualified months ago for dirty, cowardly fighting

Double post

Edited May 21, 2014 by Jimmu

[Issangeorge]

The army would be very smart to avoid having a coup, they should persuade the two sides to hold an election probably in August and guarantee that it will be peaceful, then after the new government is formed step back and let the new government look after security. If they do this, not only will they have the respect of all Thais, but Prayuth would be in a good position to run for Prime minister sometime in the future.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited May 21, 2014 by Issangeorge

[moonao]

If they are the refs, they should be sacked. The yellow shirts needed to be disqualified months ago for dirty, cowardly fighting

Just because you keep on writing really stupid things doesn't necessarily make you an idiot! Anyway, there are much worse things to be!

You mean like a intollerant yellow shirt supporter having a mini hissy fit when they disagree with someone on the internet? :roll eyes:

[raybal5]

Referee steps in to halt fight says the headline - I would have thought it should be more like Security steps in to curtail the violence

[LivinLOS]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Drop-poll-if-too-dangerous-Army-30234150.html

Drop poll if too dangerous: Army

Didnt take long.. I mean, if those pesky elections keep electing the wrong people, we will just have to, I dont know, appoint someone I guess.

[citizen33]

I must be really thick. I always thought martial law was imposed at the behest of governments and the military making their own moves was a coup. I'm very confused by this notacoup and halfcoup nonsense.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're not thick and just don't have the time to do research: Whether we agree or not, Thailand has its own laws...surprise, surprise. The military can legally invoke martial law without notifying the government. Half-coups do not exist- a politician or media group creating a new buzzword, does not make it a reality. So basically THIS IS NOT A COUP. Nothing to be confused about...

It looks like I'm another stupid one. I thought that s 188 of the Constitution and s2 of the Martial Law Act, 2014 meant that nationwide martial law could only be initiated by a Royal Proclamation. I am so obtuse that I cannot see how s 4 covers what happened this week. Because I can't keep up with the adults, I've gone back to reading children's books.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."

[Scamper]

For the first time, five members from each of the Pheu Thai party, the UDD, the Democratic party, and the PDRC are meeting together in the same room, along with representatives of the National Election Commission and the Senate. It is being officiated by Prayuth. Was Yingluck ever this successful, or even interested ? No. But Prayuth has been. This meeting is happening now. That is immensely positive. This crisis will not be solved by posturing. It will be solved by people sitting down and talking to each other. Prayuth has already shown his genuineness by getting this meeting arranged in the space of mere hours. What the various participants do with it is up to them, but with Prayuth overseeing it, they'll likely be better behaved than they have ever been inside or outside of parliament.

[LivinLOS]

^^ Because Suthep refused to come to the table.. Negotiations were offered many many times. PDRC refused.

[bobl]

I must be really thick. I always thought martial law was imposed at the behest of governments and the military making their own moves was a coup. I'm very confused by this notacoup and halfcoup nonsense.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're not thick and just don't have the time to do research: Whether we agree or not, Thailand has its own laws...surprise, surprise. The military can legally invoke martial law without notifying the government. Half-coups do not exist- a politician or media group creating a new buzzword, does not make it a reality. So basically THIS IS NOT A COUP. Nothing to be confused about...

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're blind to satire. Is it still "notacoup" or have they stopped pretending?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27517591

[3NUMBAS]

long term it wont work as the 2 parties hate each other so much over the abuse meted out by the yellows to the reds

[BigC]

so for our own safety we cannot watch forang films. pop out to buy some water. How can forang telly stations be a threat.

now we are all prisoners until they can sort there mess out grrrr!!!!

[englishoak]

so for our own safety we cannot watch forang films. pop out to buy some water. How can forang telly stations be a threat.

now we are all prisoners until they can sort there mess out grrrr!!!!

If you came here expecting anything else from time to time you should have done a little bit more background work before deciding to reside here.

[newcomer71]

...and the referee looked at two teams, whistled the end of the match and lift to the sky the precious World Cup himself...

A bitter smile, inspired by the silly headline.