Only positive scenarios for Pheu Thai rivals

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Only positive scenarios for Pheu Thai rivals
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH

BANGKOK: -- Once the lengthy impeachment process against three Pheu Thai politicians finally comes to an end today, their opponents can make moves to further nail them down. The three will, after all, be at their most vulnerable.

One of the politicians in this process is former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who faces charges of dereliction of duty in relation to the rice-pledging scheme. While the other two are former Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranon and his then-deputy Nikom Wairatpanich, who are indicted for violating the 2007 Constitution by trying to change the make-up of the Senate.

Impeachment cases have rarely been successful in Thailand, because impeaching a politician requires a very high number of votes in Parliament. Previously, even if the charges levelled against the accused were very strong, their supporters in Parliament could vote in their favour and against the motion.

However, the circumstances are different this time around.

All seats in Parliament are filled by people appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order, and most of these people are known for their anti-Thaksin Shinawatra stance. The accused, on the other hand, all come from the Thaksin camp.

Hence, with all cards stacked against them in Parliament, there is very little guarantee that these three people will survive.

The biggest blow will come from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) because the 2014 Provisional Constitution gives it the power to act as both the House of Representatives and Senate. Not to mention the fact that mostly comprises military members.

However, this might be the perfect time for the junta to take a step toward promoting reconciliation - a promise it has been making from the very start.

The case against Yingluck is related to the rice-pledging scheme - which was rife with corruption and caused massive losses to the country. Obviously, all sides are looking for someone to hold responsible for this.

Yingluck appeared to be the perfect candidate, because not only was she the leader of the last government, she is also the sister of fugitive ex-PM Thaksin, who has been convicted.

Somsak and Nikom, on the other hand, are only facing charges for violating the 2007 Constitution, which is defunct already. Impeaching them may not be the wisest decision, because the interim charter does not stipulate clearly what should be done in this case, which probably also explains why most NLA members are uncertain about their role in this case. Besides, these two have not been charged under a criminal law like Yingluck has.

Now, if the NLA does go ahead with impeaching the three, it will look more like a political agenda rather than fair justice.

Meanwhile, if the parliamentary system does get changed to a mixed-member proportional system ahead of the next elections, it would reduce Pheu Thai Party's seats in Parliament, thus weakening the so-called "Thaksin regime".

Now, if Yingluck is impeached, it would cost her a lot, because not only will she be banned form politics for five years, she would also have to face criminal charges.

For Pheu Thai opponents, though, all scenarios are positive because they may not see these three faces in the political arena any time soon.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Only-positive-scenarios-for-Pheu-Thai-rivals-30252514.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-23

[Diplomatico]

"However, the circumstances are different this time around.

All seats in Parliament are filled by people appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order, and most of these people are known for their anti-Thaksin Shinawatra stance. The accused, on the other hand, all come from the Thaksin camp.

Hence, with all cards stacked against them in Parliament, there is very little guarantee that these three people will survive."

Pretty much says it all.

[Thailand]

On the road to democracy - not!

[sweatalot]

On the road to democracy - not!

Yes - more than not

Btw road to democracy from where? Was there democracy before? No

And don't come again with that "democratically elected" sh*t

Edited January 23, 2015 by sweatalot

[marquisdesade]

The Thais should outsource their government to peoples from across the spectrum ( bring in experts with no financial ties) but certainly from other countries and ban all politicians and their families down to the third cousin level for the next twenty years, get rid of all the nepotism and hire due to ability and not family connections and finally get the military firmly under civilian rule, then maybe this country would be the great nation it could be by the year 2040 ! The first step would be to have a rule of law that is followed by all !

[rasmus5150]

Reminds me of a cockroach. You can spray it until it runs into a dark corner and dies, or you can keep spraying it and stomp on it and throw it in the toilet. Either way it is surely going to die. But remember how many other cockroaches comes to the funeral - this could be leading to an infestation.

Edited January 23, 2015 by rasmus5150

[h90]

"However, the circumstances are different this time around.

All seats in Parliament are filled by people appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order, and most of these people are known for their anti-Thaksin Shinawatra stance. The accused, on the other hand, all come from the Thaksin camp.

Hence, with all cards stacked against them in Parliament, there is very little guarantee that these three people will survive."

Pretty much says it all.

sounds good

[Baerboxer]

"However, the circumstances are different this time around.

All seats in Parliament are filled by people appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order, and most of these people are known for their anti-Thaksin Shinawatra stance. The accused, on the other hand, all come from the Thaksin camp.

Hence, with all cards stacked against them in Parliament, there is very little guarantee that these three people will survive."

Pretty much says it all.

Just concentrating on the facts.

Yingluck never turned up to rice policy meetings, rarely turned up to parliament, never really got involved in ensuring any issues were properly dealt with, never made sure financial and operational management was effective and has failed to explain how 700 billion ThB can be lost without seemingly anyone being to account for it.

The other two cheated things through parliament, depriving the opposition of their rights to debate and vote and allowed illegal practices by PTP members. At a time when their majority was sufficient enough have done everything by the book and still got all through.

All 3 have been shown to be liars.

Ignoring who appointed who, etc etc - do you think they are guilty of anything?

[FangFerang]

I do not like either political side in this ongoing power struggle. And strategically it's an unsound push in every way for this symbolic gesture called impeachment. Forgetting all other considerations, no party is going away just because a biased group ousts three people on one opposing side. The other side also lost some people, including the founder of the Yellow Shirts, who was found guilty of criminal charges (but no word since the trial ended about sentencing, appeals or a ban).

No matter who I like and for whatever reason, making Yingluck a martyr is a stupid idea. The people that voted for the Shinawatras are not going to read anything that will convince them that they voted for people who were more selfish than giving -- in their minds they voted for people who actually (100 baht medical scheme) did something to help them. In some ways they are correct, and happily unaware of the rest of the mess. Supporters of both sides have selective memories and that wonderful equestrian accessory -- blinders.

Martyrs cannot be silenced. Everyone that loves the idea of putting all the Shinawatras out of politics can stand in a Greek circle and pat each other on the back for a year. It doesn't matter.

All things considered, likewise, even if an election was held today, with no Shinawatras running or any high level PTP reps on any ballot, there will still be a group that claims to follow in their footsteps. No matter who they are, the same voters will vote for them simply because they would rather elect Lucifer than Abhisit.

If this is the best concept for reconciliatiopn they can come up with they need a new Oija board.

[Diplomatico]

^^^^ Well stated.

[h90]

I do not like either political side in this ongoing power struggle. And strategically it's an unsound push in every way for this symbolic gesture called impeachment. Forgetting all other considerations, no party is going away just because a biased group ousts three people on one opposing side. The other side also lost some people, including the founder of the Yellow Shirts, who was found guilty of criminal charges (but no word since the trial ended about sentencing, appeals or a ban).

No matter who I like and for whatever reason, making Yingluck a martyr is a stupid idea. The people that voted for the Shinawatras are not going to read anything that will convince them that they voted for people who were more selfish than giving -- in their minds they voted for people who actually (100 baht medical scheme) did something to help them. In some ways they are correct, and happily unaware of the rest of the mess. Supporters of both sides have selective memories and that wonderful equestrian accessory -- blinders.

Martyrs cannot be silenced. Everyone that loves the idea of putting all the Shinawatras out of politics can stand in a Greek circle and pat each other on the back for a year. It doesn't matter.

All things considered, likewise, even if an election was held today, with no Shinawatras running or any high level PTP reps on any ballot, there will still be a group that claims to follow in their footsteps. No matter who they are, the same voters will vote for them simply because they would rather elect Lucifer than Abhisit.

If this is the best concept for reconciliatiopn they can come up with they need a new Oija board.

well the founder of the yellow shirts is in troubles but things need long in Thailand (see Samak....he died before his corruption cases were finished at court) and there are over 500 lawsuits from Thaksin and PTP against Sondhi, that slows things down as well.

Problem is too much thinking about politics. If someone is corrupt, seize the money and put him/her into jail, no matter what party and no matter what the people think about it.

Corruption is widely accepted and only if an opponent is corrupt it will be a tool to cause him problems.

[mikemac]

"However, the circumstances are different this time around.

All seats in Parliament are filled by people appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order, and most of these people are known for their anti-Thaksin Shinawatra stance. The accused, on the other hand, all come from the Thaksin camp.

Hence, with all cards stacked against them in Parliament, there is very little guarantee that these three people will survive."

Pretty much says it all.

sounds good

Sounds good and seems legit.

[In Town]

"Meanwhile, if the parliamentary system does get changed to a mixed-member proportional system ahead of the next elections, it would reduce Pheu Thai Party's seats in Parliament, thus weakening the so-called "Thaksin regime".

I'm not sure why anyone would think MMPR would reduce Pheu Thai seats. It will probably increase them. No matter what they do, if they have an election and people can vote for a Thaksin-aligned party, they will do.