Thai politics: Plans for people power spelled out

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Plans for people power spelled out
The Nation


The People

Council for Reform says they want to propose ideas for new constitution

BANGKOK: -- The newly established People's Council for Reform has set its key agenda to tackle social inequality and increase people's power by having the council included in the new constitution to act as another branch to check and balance power.

Charchai Luengcharoen said such a move would promote democracy, encourage people's participation and strengthen communities. The council's key responsibility would be to regulate administrative power from national to local levels.

The council held a press conference yesterday to announce its establishment, saying it was based on cooperation between the citizen sector and various organisations, such as community groups, civil society, academics, and businessmen and over 30 farmers' networks.

Council representatives Jinda Boonyajun and Lawun Ngamchuen said it would act as a networking body to coordinate between citizens and other organisations. The aim was to consider a reform proposal and to ensure the new constitution is drafted in a democratic manner.

People's representatives from all regions of the country offered their visions of national reform.

Bumrung Kayotha, Northeast region representative, said the 250 members of the National Reform Council could not consider all social issues in the country. Hence there should be a stage where they could listen to people's ideas. He suggested the government could help farmers by investing in research and development of tools that could increase productivity and improve marketing.

Bumrung also proposed that the government focus on strengthening communities, as strong citizen groups could help regulate against corruption.

Maithree Jongkraijak, a southern representative, said people in the South needed more land security, and rights to manage their properties. He also backed the idea that the People's Council should be included in the new constitution to act as another branch to regulate and propose ideas.

Eastern region representative Jumroon Suaydee said people should be given power to govern themselves. The past 30 years had proved that central government failed to live up to its promise to transform the region into a special economic area.

He proposed that people in the East should solve their own problems - given authority and legitimacy to do so without having to follow the reform roadmap designed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Jumroon's rejection of NCPO's reform road map joined a rising number of dissidents, especially from the Northeast.

The "Isaan People's Network" (Northeast People's Network) who did not join the reform council, said they rejected the legitimacy of the junta altogether. Hence they rejected the mechanism engineered by the coupmakers including Cabinet, NRC and legislative assembly.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Plans-for-people-power-spelled-out-30246903.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-04

[chainarong]

Put the reforms and everything you do to the people, don't just say this is it take it or leave it, let the people decide, then the nation has spoken and the North East will have to wear it, at this time they have a valid argument, a national referendum might defuse the situation slightly.

[Emster23]

Too many checks cashed and balances are rigged. Isn't senate etc supposed to represent the people, or since that will be loaded with old guard they slipped and inadvertently admitted the fix is in?

[Thailand]

People power?

An oxymoron?

[ginjag]

People power?

An oxymoron?

No money for the red army or red villages, so please note everyone has blended back into the general populous. Strange isn't it ?? it is only strong when the Baht is flowing to the village head man.

These people are not suppressed they are not paid for working so the fever has waned somewhat. But the fanatics are there and always will be. Just the same as the old yellow brigade (who generally were not the violent type--mega disruption yes)

In Udon area villages are working as per normal-to and from the rice fields---no free trips to BKK with expenses paid for disruption purposes.

Return power to the people plan is on schedule apart from rogue groups here and there. Yippeeee elections in a year.

[Thailand]

People power?

An oxymoron?

No money for the red army or red villages, so please note everyone has blended back into the general populous. Strange isn't it ?? it is only strong when the Baht is flowing to the village head man.

These people are not suppressed they are not paid for working so the fever has waned somewhat. But the fanatics are there and always will be. Just the same as the old yellow brigade (who generally were not the violent type--mega disruption yes)

In Udon area villages are working as per normal-to and from the rice fields---no free trips to BKK with expenses paid for disruption purposes.

Return power to the people plan is on schedule apart from rogue groups here and there. Yippeeee elections in a year.

You do know the yellow brigade and associates are now running the country but simply wearing uniforms showing their true colors?

And elections in one year? You are in cloud cuckoo land if you believe that.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Too many checks cashed and balances are rigged. Isn't senate etc supposed to represent the people, or since that will be loaded with old guard they slipped and inadvertently admitted the fix is in?

Wasn't the Senate abolished when the NCPO abolished the 2007 Constitution and created the NLA ? Before the coup only 50% of the Senate wa elected anyways with the balance appointed by special committee.

[rickirs]

I believe that it was the intention of the NCPO to rebrand ITSELF into a "People's Council" in an effort to shed its military connections and appear perhaps to be more democratic. But this council would still retain the absolute power of the NCPO similar to the Chinese politburo as some Nation reporters suggest.

[sundrenched]

Rich people power is also people power, I guess.

[Robespiere]

Good on the Issan's Peoples Network.

".... said they rejected the legitimacy of the junta altogether. Hence they rejected the mechanism engineered by the coupmakers including Cabinet, NRC and legislative assembly."

They certainly know how to call a spade a spade.

[ginjag]

People power?

An oxymoron?

No money for the red army or red villages, so please note everyone has blended back into the general populous. Strange isn't it ?? it is only strong when the Baht is flowing to the village head man.

These people are not suppressed they are not paid for working so the fever has waned somewhat. But the fanatics are there and always will be. Just the same as the old yellow brigade (who generally were not the violent type--mega disruption yes)

In Udon area villages are working as per normal-to and from the rice fields---no free trips to BKK with expenses paid for disruption purposes.

Return power to the people plan is on schedule apart from rogue groups here and there. Yippeeee elections in a year.

You do know the yellow brigade and associates are now running the country but simply wearing uniforms showing their true colors?

And elections in one year? You are in cloud cuckoo land if you believe that.

Elections --you do not have a choice--the reason most of you Shin style believers got blown away with PTP, this is why you NOW have to wait.

PTP self destructing, now we have posters blaming everyone else.

Thought this do do colour was extinct.

[gemini81]

People power huh? They stay politicians are installed to try and convince people they have any power, when really they're just a subject of whatever the state wants to do.

[fab4]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Too many checks cashed and balances are rigged. Isn't senate etc supposed to represent the people, or since that will be loaded with old guard they slipped and inadvertently admitted the fix is in?

Wasn't the Senate abolished when the NCPO abolished the 2007 Constitution and created the NLA ? Before the coup only 50% of the Senate wa elected anyways with the balance appointed by special committee.

And before the coup before that coup (1997 Constitution) the Senate was fully elected. Of course suggesting that in 2014 was adjudged by the CC as being tantamount to "overthrowing the democratic regime with the King as Head of State" - though they were conspicuously silent about the 2014 military coup which actually achieved the overthrowing of a democratic regime.........................

Edited November 4, 2014 by fab4

[Krataiboy]

Anything to avoid true democracy.

[Robespiere]

Put the reforms and everything you do to the people, don't just say this is it take it or leave it, let the people decide, then the nation has spoken and the North East will have to wear it, at this time they have a valid argument, a national referendum might defuse the situation slightly.

If the nation is allowed to speak, the Junta will be gone in a week.

[Baerboxer]

Put the reforms and everything you do to the people, don't just say this is it take it or leave it, let the people decide, then the nation has spoken and the North East will have to wear it, at this time they have a valid argument, a national referendum might defuse the situation slightly.

If the nation is allowed to speak, the Junta will be gone in a week.

The nation did speak - no amnesty for Thaksin.

PTP then lost their plot completely.

Remember the inspiring UDD non elected leaders calling the faithful to come to the war drum meetings? Few did. As with all things, if there's no money, they ain't interested here.

[Baerboxer]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Too many checks cashed and balances are rigged. Isn't senate etc supposed to represent the people, or since that will be loaded with old guard they slipped and inadvertently admitted the fix is in?

Wasn't the Senate abolished when the NCPO abolished the 2007 Constitution and created the NLA ? Before the coup only 50% of the Senate wa elected anyways with the balance appointed by special committee.

And before the coup before that coup (1997 Constitution) the Senate was fully elected. Of course suggesting that in 2014 was adjudged by the CC as being tantamount to "overthrowing the democratic regime with the King as Head of State" - though they were conspicuously silent about the 2014 military coup which actually achieved the overthrowing of a democratic regime.........................

Removed a regime that had been elected democratically. But hardly a democratic regime.

[Robespiere]

Put the reforms and everything you do to the people, don't just say this is it take it or leave it, let the people decide, then the nation has spoken and the North East will have to wear it, at this time they have a valid argument, a national referendum might defuse the situation slightly.

If the nation is allowed to speak, the Junta will be gone in a week.

The nation did speak - no amnesty for Thaksin.

PTP then lost their plot completely.

Remember the inspiring UDD non elected leaders calling the faithful to come to the war drum meetings? Few did. As with all things, if there's no money, they ain't interested here.

Doesn't rhyme, doesn't count.

[tbthailand]

Put the reforms and everything you do to the people, don't just say this is it take it or leave it, let the people decide, then the nation has spoken and the North East will have to wear it, at this time they have a valid argument, a national referendum might defuse the situation slightly.

If the nation is allowed to speak, the Junta will be gone in a week.

The nation did speak - no amnesty for Thaksin.

PTP then lost their plot completely.

Remember the inspiring UDD non elected leaders calling the faithful to come to the war drum meetings? Few did. As with all things, if there's no money, they ain't interested here.

you have a very faulty memory.

the government specifically asked the UDD to not counter protest in order to avoid conflict

instead you play the 'no money' card.

then you say the nation spoke, well, actually not. THAT would have been called an election.

[englishoak]

People power green Khaki style.....

Morons

[tbthailand]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Too many checks cashed and balances are rigged. Isn't senate etc supposed to represent the people, or since that will be loaded with old guard they slipped and inadvertently admitted the fix is in?

Wasn't the Senate abolished when the NCPO abolished the 2007 Constitution and created the NLA ? Before the coup only 50% of the Senate wa elected anyways with the balance appointed by special committee.

And before the coup before that coup (1997 Constitution) the Senate was fully elected. Of course suggesting that in 2014 was adjudged by the CC as being tantamount to "overthrowing the democratic regime with the King as Head of State" - though they were conspicuously silent about the 2014 military coup which actually achieved the overthrowing of a democratic regime.........................

Removed a regime that had been elected democratically. But hardly a democratic regime.

ah yes, parliamentary dictatorship, aka pdrc propaganda line. no one who is an honest observer buys that line.