Democrats, Pheu Thai must aid reform

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Democrats, Pheu Thai must aid reform
The Nation

Big sacrifices needed from the big parties' leaders

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's political reform will have at least three crucial phases. The first is a peaceful return to the ballot boxes and the second involves how to make a divided populace accept the results. If things go well, implementing measures to make the new government accountable and transparent will be next. As we can see, the first is the easiest step and the second and third phases are closely related. And while the onus is on the military rulers to deliver new fair ground rules for politics, the country's two biggest countries will need to help, if not make big sacrifices.

To achieve peace and reconciliation, contentious figures will have to seriously consider bowing out. This means the leaderships of the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties will have to think long and hard over how their presence in - or absence from - the election will affect the outcome, its aftermath and the future of the country as a whole. Simply put, the likes of Yingluck Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva must weigh the pros and cons of fighting on or graciously leaving the scene. This is something those involved have avoided talking about out loud, but it will come to the fore sooner rather than later.

The battle between the two parties has never been a healthy democratic showdown. The Democrats were accused of using undemocratic means, including seeking military support, in a bid to overthrow an elected government. Pheu Thai, on the other hand, was charged with using nominees and devising highly controversial populist schemes that spawned corruption in a bid to hold on to power or, worse still, whitewash its de facto leader. It's too late to conclude the debate over who started it, but the undeniable crux of the current impasse is that the present leaderships of both parties are abhorred by supporters of the other side.

This means the present leaderships' continued presence in the next election and its aftermath would not guarantee peace and reconciliation. That is to say the least. In fact, fragile political peace will be in danger if either Abhisit or Yingluck became a post-election prime minister. We know what happened in 2010 and we know what happened in late 2013.

To make the outcome of the next election acceptable to both sides, the contest and its aftermath must not reopen old wounds. Perhaps, it's time for the second-tier leaders of both parties, ones who have had little to do with the cut-throat politics over the past few years, to step in. Both parties have prominent figures whose names won't provoke anger or inflame doubts or mistrust. It will be refreshing if they carry their parties' flags in a democratic battle.

Of course, such a change in the Thai political landscape is easier said than done.

It requires mutual retreats, something that has never happened over the past few years. Each side insists it is right and the other is wrong. Neither side has expressed willingness to make sacrifices so that Thailand can have a long-lasting political peace. Both sides have justified their aggression with that overly used word, "justice".

This year, all eyes will be on how the military-guided "reform" looks like. But 2015 should also give the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties time for soul-searching. They know better than anybody else what their rivalry has done to democracy. They know who to blame even if the May 22 coup was a simple case of military opportunism. Most of all, they know better than anyone what Thailand stands to get if the rivalry remains unchanged.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Democrats-Pheu-Thai-must-aid-reform-30251162.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-05

[aussiesteve63]

Easier said then done,To hard to get to a power position and to hard to give up.

[Robby nz]

When you look at things objectively it is easy to see that the baggage that Abhisit carries are mostly generated by lies told against him to promote hate for political gain, such as 'his Govt was installed by the military', 'he did nothing for the poor', 'he is a murderer'.

While Yingluck on the other hand, well I don't think she is hated by political opponents at all, for they recognize that she was only a tool used by her brother for him to maintain power and she really didn't understand what was going on around her.

Now of course she, being the face of PT, is being held to account, along with others that is. This while it must happen is playing into the hands of PT for they are and will continue to talk of witch hunts and bias stirring up even more hate.

It is not Yingluck who must step aside it is Thaksin for he is the real problem and even if Abhisit and Yingluck both went he would still be in charge of "His party" and would just put another proxy (clone to use his word) in his place.

It would be extremely convenient for him to have the head cut from the Democrats and Yingluck as a martyr to the dastardly elite, military, democrats, whatever.

[tbthailand]

and the second involves how to make a divided populace accept the results.

so in other words, once the field is tilted so hard toward the elites, how will we get the rest of Thailand to accept the results...

it's not like the elites could accept the results of elections before... why will they expect everyone else to do so once they are done rigging the system?

pffft, more coffee.

[MaxLee]

Like hell, they will,...

[tbthailand]

a change in the Thai political landscape is easier said than done.

It requires mutual retreats, something that has never happened over the past few years.

These guys at the Nation continue to pretend that the Army is not part of the political landscape. If they would acknowledge that fact, they could point out that one side has never really retreated...

[Thai at Heart]

Neither the red shirts or the yellow shirts in their basic form represented a majority of anything.

They stupidly allowed sondhi to protest and bring down one govt and so the cycle of chaos was born. Mob rule doesn't represent a majority and as such can be noted and nothing more.

There needs to be a mechanism to put down long drawn out illegal street protest.

[chainarong]

The only thing these two have in common is they are Thai, maturity will be sorely tested to see who is the statesman in which party, without running off to the courts for a ruling or suing here or there for liable , surprising as it is both sides have a lot to offer but reforms must also include , no one with a criminal record shall hold the office or be a member or independent member of a political party sorry.

[The stuttering parrot]

The problem is not the PTP reds accepting the results it's the yellow dems who can't accept the results.

Now and for the foreseeable future.

Iif the dems want better results they have to find a way to get in touch with the people.

[Tatsujin]

Leaders (from both sides) making sacrifices? Never gonna happen, they only sacrifice the pawns.

[WhizBang]

Dissolve ALL political parties and add a lifetime ban on all current politicians, their families and cronies.

Start fresh. Expecting anyone in any party, especially the PTP or the Democrats to man up and bow out (for the good of the country), is asking too much of these morally bankrupt people.

[Bakseeda]

Dissolve ALL political parties and add a lifetime ban on all current politicians, their families and cronies.

Start fresh. Expecting anyone in any party, especially the PTP or the Democrats to man up and bow out (for the good of the country), is asking too much of these morally bankrupt people.

Whizbang is probabaly right in what he says... But the whole truth of the matter is that this military government will be here for a long time .. get used to it.

I went down to Cha-aam this last few days with my Thai g/f . The town was chock-a-block with Thai peoples.. The beach was jam-packed with happy smiling Thal holidaymakers. Chldren and babies everywhere.. The roads were full of red plated and new cars. Happiness was everywhere over those few days.. I asked many Thai peoples around us what they thought about this new government. Every single Thai person told me...GREAT.. So it seems that it does not matter what we , TV posters might think.. It seems that Thai peoples are extremely happy with the status quo and their new government.. And thats what counts... Good luck Thailand ..

[jpeg]

Dissolve ALL political parties and add a lifetime ban on all current politicians, their families and cronies.

Start fresh. Expecting anyone in any party, especially the PTP or the Democrats to man up and bow out (for the good of the country), is asking too much of these morally bankrupt people.

Ripping it all up and starting again will only give the same result. Or are some Thai Gods preparing to swoop down from the heavens to rescue the Thais from themselves?

The writer of this silly article appears to think so. Who do they expect would replace Abhisit or Taksin (I won't even bother to credit muddle headed little Yingluck as being a player other than her brother's puppet)?

Abhisit's all they got at this moment in time. Unless you'd prefer a junta in perpetuity. Time he hired some of Taksin's PR boys

Edited January 5, 2015 by jpeg

[billd766]

Dissolve ALL political parties and add a lifetime ban on all current politicians, their families and cronies.

Start fresh. Expecting anyone in any party, especially the PTP or the Democrats to man up and bow out (for the good of the country), is asking too much of these morally bankrupt people.

Ripping it all up and starting again will only give the same result. Or are some Thai Gods preparing to swoop down from the heavans to rescue the Thais from themselves?

The writer of this silly article appears to think so. Who do they expect would replace Abhisit or Taksin (I won't even bother to credit muddle headed little Yingluck as being a player other than her brother's puppet)?

Abhisit's all they got at this moment in time. Unless you'd prefer a junta in perpetuity. Time he hired some of Taksin's PR boys

I think that Korn Chatikavanij could replace Abhisit and Abhisit has already said last year that if the Democrat party want him to stand down he is quite willing to do so.

There were a very very few proming people in the Democrats who are hampered by the old guard of the party and there is nobody worth considering in Sutheps protester lot either.

I also think that Yingluck would not want to be put into the same position as last time by Thaksin. She may not be the brightest bulb in the chandelier but I don't think she realised just how rough it would get for her and how little REAL support she would get from Thaksin and the PTP.

Looking at the last PTP line up of ministers there is nobody who really stands out as a leader to go against Thaksin. There is nobody worth considering in the UDD either.

That only leaves the helpless, hopeless and useless other political parties led by dinosaurs like Banharn and if anybody can remember him there is always Chavalit Yongchaiyudh but he will be 83 this year.

[jpeg]

I think that Korn Chatikavanij could replace Abhisit

Yes, I'd forgotten about him. Didn't he bow out after an 'injury' though?

[billd766]

I think that Korn Chatikavanij could replace Abhisit

Yes, I'd forgotten about him. Didn't he bow out after an 'injury' though?

I can't remember though according to Wikipedia he was Thailands longest serving Minister of Finance.

[jpeg]

I think that Korn Chatikavanij could replace Abhisit

Yes, I'd forgotten about him. Didn't he bow out after an 'injury' though?

I can't remember though according to Wikipedia he was Thailands longest serving Minister of Finance.

I remember a pic of him in some paper in a hospital bed, but don't remember what for. However this https://www.facebook.com/KornChatikavanijDP from his Facebook page shows him a tad more comfortable (not to mention more experienced) with the farming community, than Abhisit who always gave the impression he didn't want to get his shoes muddy

Edited January 5, 2015 by jpeg

[binjalin]

no problem the yellow fellows will just accept the result of another loss? ok that's solved! *sigh*

[Zolt]

The ban on all political activity is still in place. Pheu Thai and the Democrats cannot operate as political parties in the current situation, let alone contribute to the reform process.

[Robby nz]

The problem is not the PTP reds accepting the results it's the yellow dems who can't accept the results.

Now and for the foreseeable future.

Iif the dems want better results they have to find a way to get in touch with the people.

You call Thaksins 2010 funded riots accepting the result of a legal Dem coalition Govt ?

Don't you remember the little episode of PT refusing to accept the decision of the constitution court...no matter which way it went.

Yep the Dems must be able to get in touch with the people , like somehow stopping the reds from preventing them campaigning in the north and northeast. Remember the Dem campaigner who was killed for his audacity in attempting to enter a red stronghold.

Like somehow stopping the reds from attempting to disrupt Dem campaign meetings by blocking the venues and making as much noise as possible, like this mob is doing :

Incidentally that lot were not locals they were an imported mob who followed the Dems meetings to make as much trouble as possible.

[Hawkman]

The problem is not the PTP reds accepting the results it's the yellow dems who can't accept the results.

Now and for the foreseeable future.

Iif the dems want better results they have to find a way to get in touch with the people.

I won't argue with your last sentence.

However, your first sentence you failed to mention the other problem which also lies with PTP reds abusing their power, ignoring laws and putting one man's wishes ahead of the nation. Hence why we have had the problems these last 15 months.

[halloween]

If the Puppet of Thaksin Party truly became accountable and transparent, how could he steal the money to pay them?

[tbthailand]

The ban on all political activity is still in place. Pheu Thai and the Democrats cannot operate as political parties in the current situation, let alone contribute to the reform process.

and their input is not really needed/desired by the people steering the process.

[tbthailand]

The problem is not the PTP reds accepting the results it's the yellow dems who can't accept the results.

Now and for the foreseeable future.

Iif the dems want better results they have to find a way to get in touch with the people.

You call Thaksins 2010 funded riots accepting the result of a legal Dem coalition Govt ?

Don't you remember the little episode of PT refusing to accept the decision of the constitution court...no matter which way it went.

Yep the Dems must be able to get in touch with the people , like somehow stopping the reds from preventing them campaigning in the north and northeast. Remember the Dem campaigner who was killed for his audacity in attempting to enter a red stronghold.

Like somehow stopping the reds from attempting to disrupt Dem campaign meetings by blocking the venues and making as much noise as possible, like this mob is doing :

DSC_1231.JPG

Incidentally that lot were not locals they were an imported mob who followed the Dems meetings to make as much trouble as possible.

You call Thaksins 2010 funded riots accepting the result of a legal Dem coalition Govt ?

funny you should mention that.

first of all, you know that there were no elections before Abhisit came to power

'legal' in the sense that the levers placed into the 2007 constitution functioned so that the military could change the government without a coup.

But it was a lot of work. Closing an airport or two, occupying the government house, ....

As for 2010 vs 2014, hmmm,

92 dead vs ...

2 months of protest compared to 6 in 2014

no call for elections compared to a dissolved parliament and scheduled elections

no coup, elections in 2011, vs ...