Junta wants sweeping reforms before election

[Lite Beer]

AFTER COUP
Junta wants sweeping reforms before election
The Nation

A soldier receives flowers outside the Army Club yesterday from a group of people supporting Thursday

BANGKOK: -- Payment of debt to rice farmers should be made in 20 days: Prayuth

Military junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday pushed forward a reform agenda and made the payment of debts to farmers under the rice-pledging scheme a top priority after Thursday's coup, which he called a sacrifice for the nation to build unity and end conflicts.

The monarchy has nothing to do with the seizure of power, Prayuth was quoted as saying to officers at a meeting of the junta's National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) yesterday.

The NPOMC began to formulate an action plan to bring the country back to normalcy. Prayuth told yesterday's meeting of agency heads that funds have been allocated to repay debts owed to rice farmers under the ousted government's rice-pledging scheme. He expressed confidence that within 15-20 days the debts should be repaid.

Priority has been given to hunting down people the junta considers its opponents.

More than 100 people, including former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, were summoned before the junta yesterday. Many people such as former education minister Chaturon Chaisang however refused to comply, saying they disagreed with the coup and had done nothing wrong.

The military believes underground movements would soon surface to oppose the coup. The previous junta of the 2006 coup faced severe resistance from armed groups.

An anti-coup group yesterday confronted the military near Bangkok Art Centre in Pathumwan.

The second task in the plan outlined yesterday was to enhance Thailand's image internationally by inviting diplomatic corps based in Thailand to explain the reasons for the coup.

Diplomats and representatives from 58 countries attended the meeting, but ambassadors of major embassies in the capital, such as US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and German Ambassador Rolf Schulze, did not attend.

Kenney told the media that she was busy with another engagement. Schulze said that he did not want to be involved in the activities of the Thai military. Many other embassies also did not send their top diplomat to attend the briefing at Army Club, instead sending a low-ranking official.

Countries around the world yesterday issued statements to express their opposition to the coup and demanded that the military restore a civilian government immediately.

The junta anticipates that Thailand will face sanctions from the United States and the European Union, according a source close to the junta.

The military might not be familiar with economic matters but the junta will appoint prominent economists and key officials of relevant ministries to push urgent plans to restore the economy, which has slowed down since anti-government protests began seven months ago, a source said.

Under the plan, the junta will soon install a new government with a full mandate to have the budget to run the country, including assisting farmers who have suffered under the rice-pledging scheme, the source said. The final stage of the plan is to carry out the reform agenda, the sources said.

Although anti-government protesters had for months called for reforms before a fresh election, the source said, the reform agenda has never been spelled out clearly and the junta may need to set up a council to implement reform.

The junta yesterday allocated responsibilities among commanders of the NPOMC, which is headed by Prayuth. Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimaprakorn, the deputy chairman of the NPOMC, will take care of security matters and relevant ministries.

Navy chief Narong Pipatanasai, another deputy of the junta, is overseeing social psychology works and ministries such as education, public health and science.

Air Force chief Prajin Juntong is taking care of economic matters and all relevant ministries.

Assistant Army chief Lt-General Paiboon Kumchaya is taking care of justice and legal works.

Other matters, such as the Office of the Prime Minister are being overseen by police chief Adul Saengsingkaew.

-- The Nation 2014-05-23

[edwinchester]

Well father in law and the guy who rents wifeys paddy have been waiting for their rice payments since October. Hopefully the Junta will be good for their word and pay the poor farmers within 20 days.

[terryp]

will this also include reform of the rampant corruption in the military?

[The stuttering parrot]

While he is at reforming how about reforming the kangaroo courts that are filled with yellows and hand down bias verdicts time after time!

And reinstate yingluck as PM!

[Robby nz]

If you want to see who is considered to be the most corrupt of the Govt departments have a look at the following :

This is compiled by the National Anti Corruption Commission and is 2012 vintage. Things may have changed for the Navy now with the Rohinga thing.

Look who is bottom on the list, that is the most corrupt.

That's right, the outfit that's supposed to be fighting corruption in the public service.

[Robby nz]

While he is at reforming how about reforming the kangaroo courts that are filled with yellows and hand down bias verdicts time after time!

And reinstate yingluck as PM!

What you really mean is :

When will the courts be filled with Thaksin lackies so no judgments can ever be handed down against him his family or their supporters.

Dream on.

[Rorri]

Well father in law and the guy who rents wifeys paddy have been waiting for their rice payments since October. Hopefully the Junta will be good for their word and pay the poor farmers within 20 days.

The problem I see is the country, does not have the money to pay them, if they "find" money then what else suffers.

[NongKhaiKid]

If you want to see who is considered to be the most corrupt of the Govt departments have a look at the following :

corruption index.jpg

This is compiled by the National Anti Corruption Commission and is 2012 vintage. Things may have changed for the Navy now with the Rohinga thing.

Look who is bottom on the list, that is the most corrupt.

That's right, the outfit that's supposed to be fighting corruption in the public service.

What's happened to Customs and Revenue Dept ?

They used to rated the most corrupt almost every year, have they really been cleaned up so much ?

A little hard to believe.

[Rorri]

What they should do, and would go a long way to help the country, is to remove all under performing, useless governors, eg the governor of Phuket, these people have the power and authority to make change but refuse to do so.

[Thailand]

Clever but obvious move to pay the farmers first. The coup ousted government were blocked at every turn when trying to pay them.

The military have no such restriction.

Suthep,sadly, has won hands down as the military are now implementing everything no sane person wanted to see. Unelected government and officials. Where is Suthep by the way?

I think these guys are in it for a long ride, don't think you will see the illiterate great unwashed having an opportunity to express their democratic rights for some time to come.

Thailand is in a very sorry state.

[wealth]

... at least a start into the right direction. Reforms will be massive ...

[FrankOff]

election..... isn't that a dirty word to the Royal-Elitist ?..... how could the common Thai-people know what is good for them AND the county!

[edwinchester]

Well father in law and the guy who rents wifeys paddy have been waiting for their rice payments since October. Hopefully the Junta will be good for their word and pay the poor farmers within 20 days.

The problem I see is the country, does not have the money to pay them, if they "find" money then what else suffers.

If that's the case then I guess they'll be firing up the printing press.

[ding]

Sometimes ya gotta lance the boil to bring on healing. Time will tell. Long live the King.

[Publicus]

From the OP:

The military believes underground movements would soon surface to oppose the coup.

The military dictators and the ammart are deeper into it than they had ever been for a hundred years yet they're still digging.

Good on US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and German Ambassador Rolf Schulze among others for not attending the meeting because, as they said, they want nothing to do with the Thai military as dictators ruling over Thailand. That's an excellent posture by Prez Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Waiting also for the sanctions coming that were referenced in the OP, by the United States and the European Union.

I see the State Department has now issued a travel warning against travel to Thailand, which throws the marker down to begin the international processes to isolate the military dictatorship. Military mutiny coup d'état is already passe' in civilized society but this one is beyond the pale.

has only just begun to begin for the militarists, the military dictators, the ammart. There's a severe shitstorm headed their way.

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Security Situation in Thailand

Thailand Travel Alert

Last Updated: May 23, 2014

The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens reconsider any non-essential travel to Thailand, particularly Bangkok, due to ongoing political and social unrest and restrictions on internal movements, including an indefinite nighttime curfew throughout Thailand. The Department of State has advised official U.S. government travelers to defer all non-essential travel to Thailand until further notice. This Travel Alert supersedes the Travel Alert issued on May 16, 2014.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service.html

Edited May 24, 2014 by Publicus

[farang000999]

Are they going to pay out every baht owed to the farmers?

[Robby nz]

If you want to see who is considered to be the most corrupt of the Govt departments have a look at the following :

corruption index.jpg

This is compiled by the National Anti Corruption Commission and is 2012 vintage. Things may have changed for the Navy now with the Rohinga thing.

Look who is bottom on the list, that is the most corrupt.

That's right, the outfit that's supposed to be fighting corruption in the public service.

What's happened to Customs and Revenue Dept ?

They used to rated the most corrupt almost every year, have they really been cleaned up so much ?

A little hard to believe.

These are just the top and bottom 5 NKK I would suspect they would not be close to the top 5.

[Roadman]

Well done to the Army for identifying the rice farmers needs as first priority and that the country sucks up the cost of the Shinawtra's incompetence to put this right.

And as for the Americans and Germans your ignorance knows no bounds. Quick to condemn on the garbage that is presented to you by the criminals that have been ransacking Thailand and its democracy for the last 13 years and then complete ignorance with a closed mind mentality shown when invited to hear the other side of the debate.

[worgeordie]

From the OP:

The military believes underground movements would soon surface to oppose the coup.

The military dictators and the ammart are deeper into it than they had ever been for a hundred years yet they're still digging.

Good on US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and German Ambassador Rolf Schulze among others for not attending the meeting because, as they said, they want nothing to do with the Thai military as dictators ruling over Thailand. That's an excellent posture by Prez Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Waiting also for the sanctions coming that were referenced in the OP, by the United States and the European Union. I see the State Department has now issued a travel warning against travel to Thailand, which throws the marker down to begin the international processes to isolate the military dictatorship. Military mutiny coup d'état is already passe' in civilized society but this one is beyond the pale.

has only just begun to begin for the militarists, the military dictators, the ammart. There's a severe shitstorm headed their way.

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Security Situation in Thailand

Thailand Travel Alert

Last Updated: May 23, 2014

The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens reconsider any non-essential travel to Thailand, particularly Bangkok, due to ongoing political and social unrest and restrictions on internal movements, including an indefinite nighttime curfew throughout Thailand. The Department of State has advised official U.S. government travelers to defer all non-essential travel to Thailand until further notice. This Travel Alert supersedes the Travel Alert issued on May 16, 2014.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service.html

How many elected Governments has the CIA managed to overthrow in the past,

So not attending by the American ambassador is a bit hypocritical in my view,

Regards Worgeordie

[Dr Bruce]

If you want to see who is considered to be the most corrupt of the Govt departments have a look at the following :

corruption index.jpg

This is compiled by the National Anti Corruption Commission and is 2012 vintage. Things may have changed for the Navy now with the Rohinga thing.

Look who is bottom on the list, that is the most corrupt.

That's right, the outfit that's supposed to be fighting corruption in the public service.

I am amazed that Health and Rural roads are considered so clean. I have to deal with both departments in the course of my work and my experience does not lead me to the same conclusion.

The department that I deal with mainly is the Education department and I had better not say more on this forum about what I witness and what my company pays.

[LuckyLew]

only slight problems, all the reforms will be made with the military in mind, hopefully the military will ask for help in pushing forward reforms or there will be more issues and protests once "democracy Thai style" is rolled out

[ianf]

From the OP:

The military believes underground movements would soon surface to oppose the coup.

The military dictators and the ammart are deeper into it than they had ever been for a hundred years yet they're still digging.

Good on US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and German Ambassador Rolf Schulze among others for not attending the meeting because, as they said, they want nothing to do with the Thai military as dictators ruling over Thailand. That's an excellent posture by Prez Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Waiting also for the sanctions coming that were referenced in the OP, by the United States and the European Union. I see the State Department has now issued a travel warning against travel to Thailand, which throws the marker down to begin the international processes to isolate the military dictatorship. Military mutiny coup d'état is already passe' in civilized society but this one is beyond the pale.

has only just begun to begin for the militarists, the military dictators, the ammart. There's a severe shitstorm headed their way.

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Security Situation in Thailand

Thailand Travel Alert

Last Updated: May 23, 2014

The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens reconsider any non-essential travel to Thailand, particularly Bangkok, due to ongoing political and social unrest and restrictions on internal movements, including an indefinite nighttime curfew throughout Thailand. The Department of State has advised official U.S. government travelers to defer all non-essential travel to Thailand until further notice. This Travel Alert supersedes the Travel Alert issued on May 16, 2014.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service.html

I love to see posts that are straight out of the Robert Amsterdam/Thaksin/Red PR book. Well done Publicus. However, most of the decent and normal working class people I have spoken to would not agree with you and stand squarely behind the army. The ammart are a fiction, blown out of all proportion such as your boss' claim to be a democrat. Role on Thaksin: the ultimate Autocrat!

[wealth]

election..... isn't that a dirty word to the Royal-Elitist ?..... how could the common Thai-people know what is good for them AND the county!

... because everyone knows it was S-elections by aliens if you will. The rest is easy to manipulate, - like yourself?

[wooloomooloo]

The military dictators and the ammart are deeper into it than they had ever been for a hundred years yet they're still digging.

The military aren't dictators in the true sense. They've kindly created a brand new vacuum.

My wife and I arrive at Swampy next week and looking forward to our break.

The FCO continue with the same line of the last six-months and doesn't amount to a travel warning in the slightest.

My wife and I are glad of the army's resolve in getting the country back to normal. It's not perfect but better than the instability of late.

No one cares what the international community thinks and the threat of sanctions will fall on deaf ears, and quite right too. It's hardly genocide. Jeez.

[garrya]

... at least a start into the right direction. Reforms will be massive ...

How do you know they are heading into the right direction??

[sscsamui]

It is a Shame that the world leaders and embassy personnel do not understand what has been going on in Thailand under the PTT along with the UDD and WHY the Millitary Had to step in to Save the Country.... This is Not a General Suchinda type of Coup{1992} that he ordered his troops to kill protesters... Suchinda was a greedy power crazy General. This General Truly care about Thailand and All it's people.

[garrya]

Well done to the Army for identifying the rice farmers needs as first priority and that the country sucks up the cost of the Shinawtra's incompetence to put this right.

And as for the Americans and Germans your ignorance knows no bounds. Quick to condemn on the garbage that is presented to you by the criminals that have been ransacking Thailand and its democracy for the last 13 years and then complete ignorance with a closed mind mentality shown when invited to hear the other side of the debate.

Thailand and its democracy (????) ?

Troll

[MZurf]

Well done to the Army for identifying the rice farmers needs as first priority and that the country sucks up the cost of the Shinawtra's incompetence to put this right.

And as for the Americans and Germans your ignorance knows no bounds. Quick to condemn on the garbage that is presented to you by the criminals that have been ransacking Thailand and its democracy for the last 13 years and then complete ignorance with a closed mind mentality shown when invited to hear the other side of the debate.

Yes, because the entire US and German foreign ministries are filled with people who have no clue what's going one here - unlike you!

[Cnxforever]

"Under the plan, the junta will soon install a new government with a full mandate to have the budget to run the country,"

This is the most important part in the article - the heist on the money can now begin.

Most analysts are expected the Thai economy to shrink some even predict a recession. If an insurgency should be forthcoming similar to the south the economy is doomed.

Time will prove again that primitive intervention into to the democratic process with force will have disastrous consequences for the country.

Did the "general" really expect ambassadors to attend his meeting? No decent country will lend him credibility and have an ambassador attend his "meetings". He will have to do with the likes of Zimbabwe and North Korea!

[Publicus]

Sometimes ya gotta lance the boil to bring on healing. Time will tell. Long live the King.

As to your boil, too late - gangrene has already set in.

Suthep is its host.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Publicus