Military should be involved in Thai elections for two years

[webfact]

Military should be involved in elections for two years
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FOR ELECTORAL reform to be effective change must begin from the ground up, starting with the 'eradication' of village canvassers, and would require military involvement for another two years, National Reform Council member Pairoj Promsan said after an NRC meeting on the topic yesterday.

The military should have the task of investigating individuals and political parties involved in electoral fraud, he said.

Pairoj said another election area that needed reform was vote-counting and was suggested at yesterday's meeting that the process should take place at local electoral units instead of ballots being transported to a counting centre because "problems can occur during transportation".

In recent months, there has been speculation that the duty of organising elections will be taken from the Election Commission (EC) given back to the Interior Ministry.

Many members of the EC have criticised the idea, with one key member saying it would be "like giving a dagger to a thief" - because they say ministry officials are likely under the influence of the current administration and have a tendency to be partial.

NRC member Pracha Terat responded by pointing to the period from 1932 to 1997, which he claimed had seen successful and well-organised elections run by the Interior Ministry with cooperation of police, the Education Ministry and the Agricultural Ministry.

Pracha rejected claims that the Interior Ministry is partial, saying that though it was true some bureaucrats were politically biased, rules and mechanisms could be designed to punish and remove corrupt officials.

He said another reason for shifting the responsibility of organising elections to the Interior Ministry was the desire by NRC members to create a balance of power by separating the administrative and regulative elements of staging polls, with the EC delegated sole responsibility for regulating transparency. The members said that in the past, administrative and regulative responsibility had been delegated to a single organisation and that raised questions about its willingness to regulate itself should it make an administrative error.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Military-should-be-involved-in-elections-for-two-y-30251786.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-13

[chainarong]

At the beginning it was a bad deal to allow Generals to be head of departments after the student revolt success in 92 as a trade off for supposed Democratically elected government, swinging Thailand away from the Junta controlled governments of the past, however seeing as the army has never really lost control you have no choice but to use the army to sort out electoral fraud, working in hind sight which is a glorious thing, if Thailand had adopted a style of government similar to Singapore back in 92 you would have very few problems today and as long as the Military remains in control you will always have trouble.

[Tatsujin]

At the beginning it was a bad deal to allow Generals to be head of departments after the student revolt success in 92 as a trade off for supposed Democratically elected government, swinging Thailand away from the Junta controlled governments of the past, however seeing as the army has never really lost control you have no choice but to use the army to sort out electoral fraud, working in hind sight which is a glorious thing, if Thailand had adopted a style of government similar to Singapore back in 92 you would have very few problems today and as long as the Military remains in control you will always have trouble.

I took a chance and "liked" your post, but with the newly enacted/expanded Computer Crimes Act (CCA), even "liking" or "commenting" on any post that the powers that be don't agree with can now land you in jail. No questions asked. Oh, and they now have the right to access ANY material on ANY computer in Thailand without needing a warrant or just cause or explanation.

[Somtamnication]

North Korean Democracy at its best!

[fishingforsquid]

Then in '97, AFC triggered by Thailand banks defaulting to Japan. Lead to massive foreign bailout, bank rationalisation, forced Democratic Constitution by IMF and now pretty well back to pre '92.

The rice pledge debt, economic stimulus mind snaps and personal debt in Thailand will have similar consequences, except the bailout money from the past will not be there this time.

[yellowboat]

The Thai Army to safe gaurd fairness and freedoms ? ""like giving a dagger to a thief" Thieves covet imunity more which they already have

[Thailand]

The military have been in control for years with the occasional short term elected government in between coups.

[daveAustin]

Not perfect, but kind of a necessary evil for this place methinks. All those Red villages with their henchman was just gross.

[mikiea]

North Korean Democracy at its best!

this is the "chinese" way, soon all midlevel thai goverment leaders will be paid to suck the socks of their chinese overlords, & that is the chinese way.

[chainarong]

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

At the beginning it was a bad deal to allow Generals to be head of departments after the student revolt success in 92 as a trade off for supposed Democratically elected government, swinging Thailand away from the Junta controlled governments of the past, however seeing as the army has never really lost control you have no choice but to use the army to sort out electoral fraud, working in hind sight which is a glorious thing, if Thailand had adopted a style of government similar to Singapore back in 92 you would have very few problems today and as long as the Military remains in control you will always have trouble. width=32 alt=coffee1.gif>

I took a chance and "liked" your post, but with the newly enacted/expanded Computer Crimes Act (CCA), even "liking" or "commenting" on any post that the powers that be don't agree with can now land you in jail. No questions asked. Oh, and they now have the right to access ANY material on ANY computer in Thailand without needing a warrant or just cause or explanation.

Thanks for that Tatsujin however I am a protected species and I am quiet sure the G men wont be around to your house in the short term, however I can't predict the longer term.

[Tatsujin]

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

At the beginning it was a bad deal to allow Generals to be head of departments after the student revolt success in 92 as a trade off for supposed Democratically elected government, swinging Thailand away from the Junta controlled governments of the past, however seeing as the army has never really lost control you have no choice but to use the army to sort out electoral fraud, working in hind sight which is a glorious thing, if Thailand had adopted a style of government similar to Singapore back in 92 you would have very few problems today and as long as the Military remains in control you will always have trouble. width=32 alt=coffee1.gif>

I took a chance and "liked" your post, but with the newly enacted/expanded Computer Crimes Act (CCA), even "liking" or "commenting" on any post that the powers that be don't agree with can now land you in jail. No questions asked. Oh, and they now have the right to access ANY material on ANY computer in Thailand without needing a warrant or just cause or explanation.

Thanks for that Tatsujin however I am a protected species and I am quiet sure the G men wont be around to your house in the short term, however I can't predict the longer term.

Unfortunately ( or fortunately depending on your point of view ) I'm a dying breed and not protected in any way, shape or form lol ... and no one can predict ANYTHING here as it changes hour by hour it seems lol

[JOC]

Anyone still believe in elections in 2016??

After this:

starting with the 'eradication' of village canvassers, and would require military involvement for another two years, National Reform Council member Pairoj Promsan said after an NRC meeting on the topic yesterday.

[iReason]

"The military should have the task of investigating individuals and political parties involved in electoral fraud, he said."

Will they investigate the un-elected PM?

And the process by which he got there?

[brucec64]

"The military should have the task of investigating individuals and political parties involved in electoral fraud, he said."

Will they investigate the un-elected PM?

And the process by which he got there?

The un-elected PM is also leader of the NCPO and has conveniently written a vague clause into the interim constitution making everything he does legal.

Section 44 empowers the NCPO leader to issue any order "for the sake of the reforms in any field, the promotion of love and harmony amongst the people in the nation, or the prevention, abatement or suppression of any act detrimental to national order or security, royal throne, national economy or public administration, whether the act occurs inside or outside the kingdom". The orders so issued are all deemed "lawful, constitutional and final".

So nothing to investigate, because everything he does is legal!

[bassman]

Each province should have its own election commission with seats given to all major parties. Diversifying the election oversight to the provinces has a better chance to make nationwide vote count rigging more difficult. To let the interior minister of the current regime "Gen Anupong Paojindaor" or future governments to oversee the election is bad news and will ensure that true democracy is not emplace. Thailand would be better off with more of a Federal type system wherein the provinces are empowered with locally elected governors and police heads. A federal system "should" (TIT) keep the central government more accountable.

[rickirs]

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

"The military should have the task of investigating individuals and political parties involved in electoral fraud, he said."

Will they investigate the un-elected PM?

And the process by which he got there? alt=wai2.gif width=20 height=20> alt=wai.gif width=20 height=20>

The un-elected PM is also leader of the NCPO and has conveniently written a vague clause into the interim constitution making everything he does legal.

Section 44 empowers the NCPO leader to issue any order "for the sake of the reforms in any field, the promotion of love and harmony amongst the people in the nation, or the prevention, abatement or suppression of any act detrimental to national order or security, royal throne, national economy or public administration, whether the act occurs inside or outside the kingdom". The orders so issued are all deemed "lawful, constitutional and final".

So nothing to investigate, because everything he does is legal!

The Junta's Interim Charter gave the NCPO sweeping powers over the Thai people very similar to those powers granted to Adolph Hitler in 1933 with the "Enabling Act," also known as the "Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich." Hitler was untoucheable and master of German lives. Oh my, the parallels.

[greenchair]

Bet that ec is wishing they organised those free and fair elections properly in 2014. Now they might be out of a job altogether. ? what goes around, comes around I guess ?

[chainarong]

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

Then in '97, AFC triggered by Thailand banks defaulting to Japan. Lead to massive foreign bailout, bank rationalisation, forced Democratic Constitution by IMF and now pretty well back to pre '92.

The rice pledge debt, economic stimulus mind snaps and personal debt in Thailand will have similar consequences, except the bailout money from the past will not be there this time.

Yeah , Thailand really hasn't moved forward after the Thaitanic, it has stagnated leveled out and now is slowly spiraling back towards pre 92.