Call for charter court to scrap NLA
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Olan Lertrudtanadumrongkul
The Nation


General Thawatchai Samutsakorn shows his resignation letter to the National Legislative Assembly yesterday. He said he did not meet the qualifications needed to be a NLA member.

Activist's complaint says conflict of interest likely in choice of members

BANGKOK: -- Activist Srisuwan Janya yesterday filed a complaint against the appointment of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), saying it was unconstitutional.

The complaint was delivered to the Office of the Ombudsman, which will forward it to the Constitutional Court if it is approved by the Office.

Srisuwan said the NLA members only included certain groups of people who are mainly relatives and associates of former generals.

They will receive better returns and welfare for their work in the NLA than normal public duty.

The NLA consists of mostly generals and retired generals, which was within the scope of conflict of interests, he said, mentioning names like Lt-General Preecha Chan-ocha, brother of junta chief Prayuth, who put together the NLA list, and former police chief General Patcharawat and Admiral Sitthawat, who are younger brothers of former Army chief and defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who used to be the boss of the junta chief.

Meanwhile, speculation was building that Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, a key adviser to the NCPO, was tipped to become NLA president.

Former senator Somchai Swangkarn said he believed former Senate Speaker Surachai Liengboon-lertchai would step aside if the NLA proposed military-backed Pornpetch as the candidate for NLA president.

The former senators in the NLA will not lobby for Surachai, as they are willing to cooperate and work as a team, he said.

Poor representation of women

Assistant Prof Suchada Thaweenit, a lecturer at Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research and president of the Sexuality Studies Association, expressed disappointment at the poor representation for women in the NLA.

In the 200-member body, only 12, or 5 per cent, are women. Suchada said she had hoped that as many as half would be women. What's more, none are particularly knowledgeable about gender issues.

"They didn't really care about the proportion [of women]," she said.

General Thawatchai Samutsakorn yesterday resigned from the NLA, saying he did not meet the qualifications.

Under the regulations, NLA members must not have belonged to a political party for three years. Thawatchai was once a member of the Chart Pattana Party and a chief of the Second Army Region.

Aziz Phitakkumpon, the Chula-ratchamontri, has officially withdrawn from the NLA. He said it conflicted with his role as the spiritual leader of the Islamic community in Thailand.

Today is the last day for registration of NLA members. As of yesterday, 191 members had signed in.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Call-for-charter-court-to-scrap-NLA-30240224.html

[thenation]2014-08-05[/thenation]

For the greater good of the nation and lasting peaceful reforms, we need people with courage and conscience to admit and withdraw when they see a conflict of interest.

 

He said he did not meet the qualifications needed to be a NLA member.

what, he was not enough corrupt?

 

welcome to the new Burma...

same ,same no difference

"In the 200 member body only 12, or 5%, are women."

Maths not a strong point then.

For the greater good of the nation and lasting peaceful reforms, we need people with courage and conscience to admit and withdraw when they see a conflict of interest.

 

The key point is not the withdrawal of a  few nominees but the moral and legal questions over the NLA itself, stuffed as it is with the Junta's military nominees.I doubt whether the challenge submitted to the OAG will get very far but it's encouraging to see there a few people with democratic standards - not intimidated or cowardly complicit.Interesting that the British Ambassador, Mark Kent, on Twitter has acknowledged this event.

They need some place for all the generals moved to "inactive posts".

"Srisuwan said the NLA members only included certain groups of people who are mainly relatives and associates of former generals."

 

Quelle surprise ...

That's the whole point - "We" are in control here, and any criticism is banned.  Plurality of ideas is unwelcomed at this time.

"We" want every decision by the NLA to be unanimous, not merely having majority votes.

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They need some place for all the generals moved to "inactive posts".

In Japan, they call this position "mado giwa" which means window gazer. The guy gets a desk near a window, he gets no mail, no one talks to him, he has nothing to do. He merely gets to gaze out the window all day and engage in Omphaloskepsis.

I don't blame him.

 

He doesn't see the point of the NLA. After all, it's just a bunch of old generals cozying up to one another, all to reach a foregone conclusion, with another old general telling them what to do and vetoing any decisions he doesn't like.

 

A complete waste of time, if ever there was one.

 

I don't blame him.

 

He doesn't see the point of the NLA. After all, it's just a bunch of old generals cozying up to one another, all to reach a foregone conclusion, with another old general telling them what to do and vetoing any decisions he doesn't like.

 

A complete waste of time, if ever there was one.

 

 

But it sounds like an improvement in compare to the PTP. Look at what MPs they had.....Not the smartest available in Thailand (to say it polite).

And all directed from Dubai.

 

I don't blame him.

 

He doesn't see the point of the NLA. After all, it's just a bunch of old generals cozying up to one another, all to reach a foregone conclusion, with another old general telling them what to do and vetoing any decisions he doesn't like.

 

A complete waste of time, if ever there was one.

 

 

But it sounds like an improvement in compare to the PTP. Look at what MPs they had.....Not the smartest available in Thailand (to say it polite).

And all directed from Dubai.

 

 

At the very least, quite a few of these MP's where actually voted in by the Thai electorate. These people are not voted in by that very same electorate and cannot be held accountable during any subsequent election. They can do whatever the hell they want.

 

I don't blame him.

 

He doesn't see the point of the NLA. After all, it's just a bunch of old generals cozying up to one another, all to reach a foregone conclusion, with another old general telling them what to do and vetoing any decisions he doesn't like.

 

A complete waste of time, if ever there was one.

 

 

But it sounds like an improvement in compare to the PTP. Look at what MPs they had.....Not the smartest available in Thailand (to say it polite).

And all directed from Dubai.

 

 

In what ways is it an improvement? Well, if you believe all the sanitised propaganda that is called "news" these days, you might think it is an improvement, but how on earth would you know for sure?

 

Thaksin could be got rid of once the electorate got tired of him. These guys can't. We could criticise Thaksin and could have voted him out based on our right to hold a political viewpoint. We can't do that any more - criticism gets you thrown in jail or worse.

 

They can do exactly as they please, and you will be none the wiser.

 

And you call this an improvement? This is not your country, I guess, and you can leave if your vision of Thailand turns into a nightmare.

 

Edited August 5, 201411 yr by Thanet

relatively quiet from the "Suthepistas" on here. This is what Suthep meant when he said " good men" Its not my country so my opinion counts for little and the world doesn't listen to me but when a senior analyst from a reputable TV station calls General Prayuth a dictator and The British Ambassador tweets in support of this complaint I would start to get worried where it will all end. Nobodys getting rid of the trough, its just going to be different pigs with their snouts in it

 

I don't blame him.

 

He doesn't see the point of the NLA. After all, it's just a bunch of old generals cozying up to one another, all to reach a foregone conclusion, with another old general telling them what to do and vetoing any decisions he doesn't like.

 

A complete waste of time, if ever there was one.

 

 

But it sounds like an improvement in compare to the PTP. Look at what MPs they had.....Not the smartest available in Thailand (to say it polite).

And all directed from Dubai.

 

if my memory hasn't faded , you were strongly in support of Suthep. if you couldn't see that this was the direction of his game you must have blinkers or no understanding of the political landscape in Thialand. Retire gracefully is my suggestion

 

relatively quiet from the "Suthepistas" on here. This is what Suthep meant when he said " good men" Its not my country so my opinion counts for little and the world doesn't listen to me but when a senior analyst from a reputable TV station calls General Prayuth a dictator and The British Ambassador tweets in support of this complaint I would start to get worried where it will all end. Nobodys getting rid of the trough, its just going to be different pigs with their snouts in it

 

Right. Suthep and his unelected "Good" men. And here they all are. Good for whom, I wonder?

 

With no news any more, we'll never know.

 

For the greater good of the nation and lasting peaceful reforms, we need people with courage and conscience to admit and withdraw when they see a conflict of interest.

 

The key point is not the withdrawal of a  few nominees but the moral and legal questions over the NLA itself, stuffed as it is with the Junta's military nominees.I doubt whether the challenge submitted to the OAG will get very far but it's encouraging to see there a few people with democratic standards - not intimidated or cowardly complicit.Interesting that the British Ambassador, Mark Kent, on Twitter has acknowledged this event.

 

 

On this occasion I tend to agree with you. A coup and military leadership is never good but at the time the general pointed to elections in the future. There was a need to do something as the previous administration was getting bogged down with the continual attempts at amnesty for Thaksin. Without that they'd probably still be in government. One of the other problems with the PTP was the focus on family members in as many top posts as possible. If you stage a coup to get rid of this type of politics then it's not helpful if you appear to do the same yourself. All these bodies need to not only be balanced but look it as well. The people appointed may well do a good job but it just looks like jobs for the military and supporters of one side. If this is supposed to help the Democrats I think they've got it wrong as it will work against them as even though they aren't responsible it may look that way. Appearances are important.

 

I would have thought it might be better if politicians from all sides were included after all they'll be the ones carrying on after an election. The right ones would need to be chosen. I'm not familiar with many of the politicians but Abhsit from the Dems would be OK but I can't see Suthep working at all at this point. He was good at getting people on the streets in the original peaceful protests to demonstrate the feelings present at the time but after that he showed himself unwilling to compromise.

 

PTP is difficult as many in the top jobs were family or too closely associated with Thaksin but I'm certain there are moderates there as in the Dems and other parties. I think my wife, who would have normally voted Democrat in the last election voted for a PTP guy because she'd met him and she felt he was a good guy.

 

Strangely Yingluck might be possibilty. She hasn't really got the political skills but she must have picked something up. She showed she was able to work with Abhisit during the floods and she felt his proposals for breaking the deadlock this year should be considered so she does at least seem capable of working with others. Breaking the Thaksin link would be difficult but she would give a different perspective from experienced politicians and she'd be popular with the PTP supporters. Who knows if she were given a proper job instead of the fake ones she seems to have had up to now she could do some good.

 

If the general wants to keep a veto for a while then he needs to use it responsibly otherwise he will end up just looking like a military dictator rather than someone who has changed Thai politics for the better.

"In the 200 member body only 12, or 5%, are women."

Maths not a strong point then.

 

Only off by one percent, could be worse :).

Thaksin could be got rid of once the electorate got tired of him.

As the Cambodians have discovered after three decades of Hun Sen and the Filipinos discovered after two decades of Marcos and the Indonesians discovered after three decades of Suharto, it's not so easy as you make it out to be for Southeast Asian nations to rid themselves of their despots.

Edited August 5, 201411 yr by Mmorris

 

Thaksin could be got rid of once the electorate got tired of him.

As the Cambodians have discovered after three decades of Hun Sen and the Filipinos discovered after two decades of Marcos and the Indonesians discovered after three decades of Suharto, it's not so easy as you make it out to be for Southeast Asian nations to rid themselves of their despots.

 

 

You are right, but there is a clear difference between "not so easy" and "Impossible". 

 

Not so easy to kick out Thaksin using the rule of constitutional law, because a majority voted for him and needed to be shown a credible opposition, which they weren't. Instead, he junta violated constitutional law by conducting a coup.

 

Impossible to kick out this lot, because there is no democratic process any more, and no news on any of the mistakes that they will inevitably make.

 

 

For the greater good of the nation and lasting peaceful reforms, we need people with courage and conscience to admit and withdraw when they see a conflict of interest.

 

The key point is not the withdrawal of a  few nominees but the moral and legal questions over the NLA itself, stuffed as it is with the Junta's military nominees.I doubt whether the challenge submitted to the OAG will get very far but it's encouraging to see there a few people with democratic standards - not intimidated or cowardly complicit.Interesting that the British Ambassador, Mark Kent, on Twitter has acknowledged this event.

 

 

On this occasion I tend to agree with you. A coup and military leadership is never good but at the time the general pointed to elections in the future. There was a need to do something as the previous administration was getting bogged down with the continual attempts at amnesty for Thaksin. Without that they'd probably still be in government. One of the other problems with the PTP was the focus on family members in as many top posts as possible. If you stage a coup to get rid of this type of politics then it's not helpful if you appear to do the same yourself. All these bodies need to not only be balanced but look it as well. The people appointed may well do a good job but it just looks like jobs for the military and supporters of one side. If this is supposed to help the Democrats I think they've got it wrong as it will work against them as even though they aren't responsible it may look that way. Appearances are important.

 

I would have thought it might be better if politicians from all sides were included after all they'll be the ones carrying on after an election. The right ones would need to be chosen. I'm not familiar with many of the politicians but Abhsit from the Dems would be OK but I can't see Suthep working at all at this point. He was good at getting people on the streets in the original peaceful protests to demonstrate the feelings present at the time but after that he showed himself unwilling to compromise.

 

PTP is difficult as many in the top jobs were family or too closely associated with Thaksin but I'm certain there are moderates there as in the Dems and other parties. I think my wife, who would have normally voted Democrat in the last election voted for a PTP guy because she'd met him and she felt he was a good guy.

 

Strangely Yingluck might be possibilty. She hasn't really got the political skills but she must have picked something up. She showed she was able to work with Abhisit during the floods and she felt his proposals for breaking the deadlock this year should be considered so she does at least seem capable of working with others. Breaking the Thaksin link would be difficult but she would give a different perspective from experienced politicians and she'd be popular with the PTP supporters. Who knows if she were given a proper job instead of the fake ones she seems to have had up to now she could do some good.

 

If the general wants to keep a veto for a while then he needs to use it responsibly otherwise he will end up just looking like a military dictator rather than someone who has changed Thai politics for the better.

 

 

It's a bit too late for the general to avoid looking like a military dictator, and banning politicians from the body politic makes him and his classmates in the NLA nothing more than politicians themselves.

 

 

Thaksin could be got rid of once the electorate got tired of him.

As the Cambodians have discovered after three decades of Hun Sen and the Filipinos discovered after two decades of Marcos and the Indonesians discovered after three decades of Suharto, it's not so easy as you make it out to be for Southeast Asian nations to rid themselves of their despots.

 

 

You are right, but there is a clear difference between "not so easy" and "Impossible". 

 

"not so easy" was just a euphemism for nearly impossible as the thousands that have perished during those regimes' years and years and years of tyranny attest to.

 

Additionally, there's nothing "impossible" about the current situation here. It was with far greater difficulty to finally remove the aforementioned despots.

 

Having lived under both Marcos in his heyday and the current NCPO, the latter are powderpuffs by comparison.

 

 

 

Thaksin could be got rid of once the electorate got tired of him.

As the Cambodians have discovered after three decades of Hun Sen and the Filipinos discovered after two decades of Marcos and the Indonesians discovered after three decades of Suharto, it's not so easy as you make it out to be for Southeast Asian nations to rid themselves of their despots.

 

 

You are right, but there is a clear difference between "not so easy" and "Impossible". 

 

"not so easy" was just a euphemism for nearly impossible as the thousands that have perished during those regimes' years and years and years of tyranny attest to.

 

Additionally, there's nothing "impossible" about the current situation here. It was with far greater difficulty to finally remove the aforementioned despots.

 

Having lived under both Marcos in his heyday and the current NCPO, the latter are powderpuffs by comparison.

 

This is not the Philippines. And it's also very early days here for the NCPO - how can you say that they are better than Marcos, and if they aren't then we can't get rid of them can we? Throughout history, tyrants always present themselves as protectors, in the first instance.

 

At least with Thaksin, we could read about all his misdeeds in the news, and vote him out in the election. Not so with this bunch - they can do what they like, and you won;t read about it in the papers.