At least 100 military in NLA: source

[Lite Beer]

At least 100 military in NLA: source
The Sunday Nation 
 

BANGKOK: -- At least 100 senior military officers are tipped to be selected as members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), an NCPO source said.

Although it was Saturday yesterday, Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha did not take a break but went to the Royal Thai Army headquarters to follow up on work.

An informed NCPO source, who asked not to be named, said that besides the looking into concerns in the restive South, Prayuth yesterday screened the list of people proposed to be members of the NLA presented by his assistant General Paiboon Koom-chaya, who is in charge of justice and legal matters for the military leaders.

The list of NLA members is expected to be announced in the coming week, the source said.

Names on the list include academics, members from non-government groups, business people, former senators, as well as military officers.

The military officers are mainly the commanders of key agencies, especially from the Army. They include permanent secretary of defence General Surasak Kanjanarat, plus three of his deputies. The Supreme Commander, General Tanasak Patimapragorn, deputy army chiefs, the army aide-de-camp General Aksra Kerdphol, as well as the head of the Armed Forces Development Command are also on the list.

Others include the commanders and deputy commanders of the Army Region Commands and the commanders of the Army's 20 divisions as well as the Special Warfare Command and 13 other armed forces agencies.

Deputy commanders of the Navy and Air Force, plus aide-de-camps and advisers, and at least 10 senior police including General Adul Saengsingkaew would also be included as NLA members, the source said.

NCPO chief advisers including former defence minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, former Army chief General Anupong Paochinda and former deputy Army chief General Dapong Ratanasuwan would also be in the NLA, the source said.

Other big names such as Prayuth and Paiboon, Navy chief Admiral Narong Pipatanasai, Royal Thai Air Force chief ACM Prajin Juntong, and General Chatchai Sarikalya won't be in the NLA as they are expected to join in the Cabinet, the source said adding that the NLA meeting to nominate Prayuth as PM would take place in August.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/At-least-100-military-in-NLA-source-30239549.html

 

[thenation]2014-07-27[/thenation]

[NongKhaiKid]

Now that really is a major shock  

[Somtamnication]

Bizarro democracy. 

[Mango Bob]

This the smart way to do it if you want to control the country.

[noitom]

This is called "totalitarianism" by the scholars. Thai military dictatorship - happiness and liberty, individual freedom with justice for "all" Thais. We can now be sure of that.

[tartempion]

Does this come as a surprise?


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[tominbkk]

There's never going back.  

[rubl]

I guess article 8 of the interim constitution come to bear. Mind you, the statement that politicians would not be able to stand for election for three years after having been a member of the NLA may also limit the number of 'well known' names. Pheu Thai party spoke against joining the NLA if I remember correctly.

 

Section 8. A member of the National Legislative Assembly shall not be under the prohibitions as follows:

(1) being or having been a person holding any position in a political party within three years prior to the date of appointment as a member of the National Legislative Assembly;
(2) being a Buddhist priest, novice, monk or clergy;
(3) being bankrupt or having been dishonestly bankrupt;
(4) having been under suspension of the right to vote;
(5) having been expelled, dismissed or removed from official service, State agency or State enterprise on the grounds of dishonest performance of duties or deemed as having committed dishonest acts or malfeasance in official service;
(6) having been ordered by a judgment or an order of the Court that his assets shall vest in the State on the grounds of unusual wealth or an unusual increase of assets;
(7) being under suspension of the right to hold political position or having been removed from office;
(8) having been sentenced by a final and conclusive judgment for an offence related to malfeasance in office, an offence related to malfeasance in judicial office, an offence related to narcotics drugs or an offence related to gambling as he was a croupier or host;
(9) having been sentenced by a final judgment to imprisonment except for an offence committed through negligence or a petty offence.

No member of the National Legislative Assembly shall be a member of the National Reform Council or a Minister at the same time.

 

[chainarong]

You need to be very careful of these out comes , one wounders if the whole exercise is B/S, I would have thought very few military, perhaps 25,  the rest from the academic's, previous and present senior department heads and from the financial sector, what some of these military people know about democracy and good governance you could put on the back of a postage stamp,  this could turn out to be junta rule by stealth, not a good look General Prayuth.

[Pib]

The new legislative body's slogan will probably be: Long Live the Army.

[brucec64]

This article states that the NLA might be as few as 150 members in total.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nla-may-less-220-members/

That is a 66% military representation in the assembly. Burma military representation in their parliement is 25%...

Obvious where this is headed.

Sent from my SM-N900 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[fab4]

You need to be very careful of these out comes , one wounders if the whole exercise is B/S, I would have thought very few military, perhaps 25,  the rest from the academic's, previous and present senior department heads and from the financial sector, what some of these military people know about democracy and good governance you could put on the back of a postage stamp,  this could turn out to be junta rule by stealth, not a good look General Prayuth.

 

Stealth? Hardly, see Interim Constitution Sections 44, 48.

Edited July 27, 2014 by fab4

[phutoie2]

 

You need to be very careful of these out comes , one wounders if the whole exercise is B/S, I would have thought very few military, perhaps 25,  the rest from the academic's, previous and present senior department heads and from the financial sector, what some of these military people know about democracy and good governance you could put on the back of a postage stamp,  this could turn out to be junta rule by stealth, not a good look General Prayuth.

 

Stealth? Hardly, see Interim Constitution Sections 44, 48.

 

 

well as long as everybody is happy, thats what matters.
 

[smedly]

There is nothing at all surprising about this and I'm more than happy to see it

 

Politicians here have a habit of throwing the toys out of the pram once they get any semblance of power or influence - or devicive elements from abroad try and stir the pot and throw a spanner in the works - this must not be allowed

 

everybody is well aware of the undertaken process and what needs to be done and in what timeframe, all this does is makes sure that it is allowed to progress unhindered without interference from those that don't like the conditions and laws they are going to have to work too in the future - namely ex ministers, time for change let it happen and lets hope that it is enough to put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing

[Hawk]

 

You need to be very careful of these out comes , one wounders if the whole exercise is B/S, I would have thought very few military, perhaps 25,  the rest from the academic's, previous and present senior department heads and from the financial sector, what some of these military people know about democracy and good governance you could put on the back of a postage stamp,  this could turn out to be junta rule by stealth, not a good look General Prayuth.

 
Stealth? Hardly, see Interim Constitution Sections 44, 48.
 

 
well as long as everybody is happy, thats what matters.
 

Who is everybody? Yes the army are happy but I doubt that the majority of the population are happy. Military dictatorships are no longer fashionable and for a very good reason. Civil liberties and freedom of speech? Gone.

[heybruce]

There is nothing at all surprising about this and I'm more than happy to see it

 

Politicians here have a habit of throwing the toys out of the pram once they get any semblance of power or influence - or devicive elements from abroad try and stir the pot and throw a spanner in the works - this must not be allowed

 

everybody is well aware of the undertaken process and what needs to be done and in what timeframe, all this does is makes sure that it is allowed to progress unhindered without interference from those that don't like the conditions and laws they are going to have to work too in the future - namely ex ministers, time for change let it happen and lets hope that it is enough to put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing

 

So in summary:  All politicians are bad, all military people are good, so let the military "put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing." 

 

I'm curious, what qualifies the military to do this?
 

[Hawk]

There is nothing at all surprising about this and I'm more than happy to see it
 
Politicians here have a habit of throwing the toys out of the pram once they get any semblance of power or influence - or devicive elements from abroad try and stir the pot and throw a spanner in the works - this must not be allowed
 
everybody is well aware of the undertaken process and what needs to be done and in what timeframe, all this does is makes sure that it is allowed to progress unhindered without interference from those that don't like the conditions and laws they are going to have to work too in the future - namely ex ministers, time for change let it happen and lets hope that it is enough to put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing

 
So in summary:  All politicians are bad, all military people are good, so let the military "put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing." 
 
I'm curious, what qualifies the military to do this?
 

Guns and tanks perhaps?

[Hawk]

There is nothing at all surprising about this and I'm more than happy to see it
 
Politicians here have a habit of throwing the toys out of the pram once they get any semblance of power or influence - or devicive elements from abroad try and stir the pot and throw a spanner in the works - this must not be allowed
 
everybody is well aware of the undertaken process and what needs to be done and in what timeframe, all this does is makes sure that it is allowed to progress unhindered without interference from those that don't like the conditions and laws they are going to have to work too in the future - namely ex ministers, time for change let it happen and lets hope that it is enough to put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing

 
So in summary:  All politicians are bad, all military people are good, so let the military "put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing." 
 
I'm curious, what qualifies the military to do this?
 

Guns and tanks perhaps?

[Oziex1]

 

 

There is nothing at all surprising about this and I'm more than happy to see it
 
Politicians here have a habit of throwing the toys out of the pram once they get any semblance of power or influence - or devicive elements from abroad try and stir the pot and throw a spanner in the works - this must not be allowed
 
everybody is well aware of the undertaken process and what needs to be done and in what timeframe, all this does is makes sure that it is allowed to progress unhindered without interference from those that don't like the conditions and laws they are going to have to work too in the future - namely ex ministers, time for change let it happen and lets hope that it is enough to put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing

 
So in summary:  All politicians are bad, all military people are good, so let the military "put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing." 
 
I'm curious, what qualifies the military to do this?
 

Guns and tanks perhaps?

 

 

We will watch this with interest, perhaps this is what the country needs and this may prevent  the predictions of the doomsayers coming true, that all that is rotten will return when a parliament resumes. Possibly the only way for the current changes to be managed and continued. 

[cooked]

I like the idea of politicians being constantly aware that in the future the army is likely to pounce if they resume their wicked ways. However any institution becomes engulfed with bureaucracy and then corruption in time . Every generation has to start again. Let's give these guys a chance. I for one hope that Prayuth will be prime minister. After that.... We'll see.

[mikemac]

Perhaps the good General and staff just don't trust politicians. And after seeing what happened during the last 3 years under that disgraceful lot the PTP, who could blame them ?

[heybruce]

I like the idea of politicians being constantly aware that in the future the army is likely to pounce if they resume their wicked ways. However any institution becomes engulfed with bureaucracy and then corruption in time . Every generation has to start again. Let's give these guys a chance. I for one hope that Prayuth will be prime minister. After that.... We'll see.

 

Yeah, all quality governments live with a military looking over their shoulder and ready to pounce whenever the generals are displeased.  Places like Egypt, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand....
 

[Lowryder]

Looking a bit more like N.Korea every day. It's proably a good thing, because North Korean polls are showing that their people are the happiest in the world.

[mikemac]

 

I like the idea of politicians being constantly aware that in the future the army is likely to pounce if they resume their wicked ways. However any institution becomes engulfed with bureaucracy and then corruption in time . Every generation has to start again. Let's give these guys a chance. I for one hope that Prayuth will be prime minister. After that.... We'll see.

 

Yeah, all quality governments live with a military looking over their shoulder and ready to pounce whenever the generals are displeased.  Places like Egypt, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand....
 

 

 

Not sure what was going on in Burma before the military took over, but the other governments you listed had something in common, corrupt and crooked and controlled by tyrants. That is why some countries go through military coups. It becomes the only way to cleanse the country of these scumbags.

Have you not put 2 and 2 together and worked that out yet ?
 

Edited July 27, 2014 by mikemac

[smutcakes]

 

 

I like the idea of politicians being constantly aware that in the future the army is likely to pounce if they resume their wicked ways. However any institution becomes engulfed with bureaucracy and then corruption in time . Every generation has to start again. Let's give these guys a chance. I for one hope that Prayuth will be prime minister. After that.... We'll see.

 

Yeah, all quality governments live with a military looking over their shoulder and ready to pounce whenever the generals are displeased.  Places like Egypt, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand....
 

 

 

The governments you listed had something in common, all corrupt and crooked and controlled by tyrants. That is why some countries go through military coups. It becomes the only way to cleanse the country of these scumbags.

Have you not put 2 and 2 together and worked that out yet ?
 

 

 

My history of those countries is a little shakey, but care to elaborate which crooked tryants were overthrown by the military in Pakistan, Mynamar and Egypt?

[smedly]

 

There is nothing at all surprising about this and I'm more than happy to see it

 

Politicians here have a habit of throwing the toys out of the pram once they get any semblance of power or influence - or devicive elements from abroad try and stir the pot and throw a spanner in the works - this must not be allowed

 

everybody is well aware of the undertaken process and what needs to be done and in what timeframe, all this does is makes sure that it is allowed to progress unhindered without interference from those that don't like the conditions and laws they are going to have to work too in the future - namely ex ministers, time for change let it happen and lets hope that it is enough to put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing

 

So in summary:  All politicians are bad, all military people are good, so let the military "put Thailand on a solid democratic and political footing." 

 

I'm curious, what qualifies the military to do this?
 

 

 

 

History and performance related to it

 

You must have heard the old saying - History never tells lies

 

Past governments (politicians) have an extremely poor record of running Thailand - hence the number of interventions and the last one probably the most needed of them all

[Lowryder]

 
 
History and performance related to it
 
You must have heard the old saying - History never tells lies
 
Past governments (politicians) have an extremely poor record of running Thailand - hence the number of interventions and the last one probably the most needed of them all

What does history tell us about past juntas?

[trd]

 

I like the idea of politicians being constantly aware that in the future the army is likely to pounce if they resume their wicked ways. However any institution becomes engulfed with bureaucracy and then corruption in time . Every generation has to start again. Let's give these guys a chance. I for one hope that Prayuth will be prime minister. After that.... We'll see.

 
Yeah, all quality governments live with a military looking over their shoulder and ready to pounce whenever the generals are displeased.  Places like Egypt, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand....
 
 

 
Not sure what was going on in Burma before the military took over, but the other governments you listed had something in common, corrupt and crooked and controlled by tyrants. That is why some countries go through military coups. It becomes the only way to cleanse the country of these scumbags.
Have you not put 2 and 2 together and worked that out yet ?
 

For you, 2+2=5
Brush up on your history pal? It's all about the pursuit of power.

[NCFC]

So NLA will be the rubber stamp and decisions to be made by PM. I wonder who that will be?  hmmm...

[heybruce]

 

 

I like the idea of politicians being constantly aware that in the future the army is likely to pounce if they resume their wicked ways. However any institution becomes engulfed with bureaucracy and then corruption in time . Every generation has to start again. Let's give these guys a chance. I for one hope that Prayuth will be prime minister. After that.... We'll see.

 

Yeah, all quality governments live with a military looking over their shoulder and ready to pounce whenever the generals are displeased.  Places like Egypt, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand....
 

 

 

Not sure what was going on in Burma before the military took over, but the other governments you listed had something in common, corrupt and crooked and controlled by tyrants. That is why some countries go through military coups. It becomes the only way to cleanse the country of these scumbags.

Have you not put 2 and 2 together and worked that out yet ?
 

 

 

The military has run Burma almost continuously since it ceased to be a British colony. They allowed at least one experiment with democracy (before their current half-hearted one) but didn't like the results.  In Pakistan and Egypt the worst tyrants have generally come from the military, though they often sought an appearance of legitimacy through questionable elections.

 

Corruption can provide a useful excuse for a coup, but I can think of no military coup justified by corruption that did not eventually result in the military grabbing a bigger share of the corruption pie.  But since you've put 2 and 2 together I'm sure you can provide examples where that wasn't the case.