'Let both sides govern in coalition'

[Lite Beer]

'Let both sides govern in coalition'
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- NRC members suggest rival parties be brought together in new government to achieve true reconcilation

ONE POSSIBLE way of achieving sustainable reconciliation would be to create a coalition government comprised of the two main rival political parties, key members of the National Reform Council (NRC)'s reconciliation panel suggested yesterday.

The panel's chairman Anek Laothamatas also said an independent commission would be created to help achieve true reconciliation, and that it would be tasked with fact-finding, compensation and proposed bills for pardons.

The idea of setting up an independent panel for reconciliation has been proposed by both NRC and the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC).

Ekachai Srivilas, also from the NRC panel, said the new commission would discuss all facts at hand, and would try and solve as many conflict-related issues as it can.

Anek added that one of the key mechanisms to achieve sustainable reconciliation would be to have both conflicting political parties - the Democrats and Pheu Thai - work together in a coalition government. If that was possible reconciliation would be achieved, he said.

Ekachai backed the idea, citing the success achieved in Northern Ireland as an example. He said two rival parties in Northern Ireland were brought together to form a coalition, and it was the first government in 40 years to last a full term.

He said although there were some disagreements in terms of administration, they did not result in conflict.

'Northern Ireland formula may work'

Ekachai said the conflicts in Thailand are similar to those in Northern Ireland in many respects, such as rows stemming from contrasting principles on democracy and justice.

He said for this independent commission to achieve true success, it would have to use previous studies, set clear targets and have a practical approach.

He said a new by-law would be drafted and passed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) before the new charter is put into effect, as the reconciliation commission had to start working right away.

Ekachai said the initial plan was to create a commission comprised of the two politically conflicting groups and middlemen who are respected by both sides, adding that no matter what happens, leaders of the two parties must be brought together.

These ideas were aired at a seminar on reconciliation yesterday that was co-hosted by the CDC, the NRC and Thai Reform Institute of Rangsit University.

Nicha Hirunburana Thuwatham, another member of the NRC reconciliation panel, said the first step would be for the junta, the NRC, NLA, CDC and the Cabinet to create rules that are acceptable to all sides. She also said that those in power should learn from past mistakes and instil a sense of justice in society via means such as compensation and faster legal processes.

Meanwhile, ex-Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmeechai said he believed reconciliation could only be achieved by holding elections and granting an amnesty.

He said granting people amnesty would be key, because some of those being punished still believe in their innocence and think they are being treated unfairly.

Hence, he said, true reconciliation could not be achieved through the justice system, adding that amnesty should only cover political cases.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Let-both-sides-govern-in-coalition-30254613.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-22

[ExPratt]

Naaaaah , Just have an election

[davehowden]

Have to get a bigger trough for twice as many snouts!

[noitom]

Thais bluster first the German model, now the Northern Ireland "formula." What next? The Thais are thrashing about. The circus has opened in New York. It should have opened in Thailand. Thailand has its own circus right here and the Thai press prints it up ring by ring, side show by side show.

[NCFC]

They have elections in Northern Ireland

[trogers]

One pulling north and the other south. The country ending up going nowhere.

The reason why Henry Higgins remained a bachelor.

Seems 'educated' Thais do not learn from literature outside Thailand.

Edited February 22, 2015 by trogers

[Caveat Emptor]

Great idea, we all know just how reasonable and tolerant Thai politicians are to views other than their own and how they would work together for the benefit of the country.

The only thing they would be able to agree on is the agreement to disagree.

[rubl]

Shouldn't the Dems have to come within a million miles of winning an election before they are allowed to govern? Tricky concept, but usually the party with the most votes gets to form a government. Then, the whole point of this current FUBAR charade is to prevent that happening I guess.

The topic only has some NRC members suggest to let both sides form a coalition government. Probably they had Pheu Thai and Democrats in mind.

Mind you, even after elections any party which is part of a coalition government is governing up-to-a-point. As such they are 'allowed' to govern. All parties of a coalition won of course since they have seats otherwise they wouldn't be able to be part of a coalition government.

BTW you got things in the wrong order, it's because of what you so succinctly phrase as FUBAR situation that the NRC came to be.

Edited February 22, 2015 by rubl

[PatOngo]

I can just imagine Apisit inviting Chalerm around to share a bottle of red and discuss strategy.

[Tatsujin]

Shouldn't the Dems have to come within a million miles of winning an election before they are allowed to govern? Tricky concept, but usually the party with the most votes gets to form a government. Then, the whole point of this current FUBAR charade is to prevent that happening I guess.

2007:

Thaksin = 36.63% of constituency vote

Democrats = 30.30% of constituency vote

2011:

Thaksin = 44.30% of constituency vote

Democrats = 32.30% of constituency vote

They're not a million miles away from winning as it stands, however you make it sound like Thaksin always gets 90% of the vote and the Democrats always get 5% of the vote with "independents" (funded by Thaksin) making up the rest. Those numbers are a million miles away, the real numbers are not.

[h90]

Well, let the oligarchs share Thailand together peacefully....Good idea.

That is working great in Greece and Ukraine.....

[smedly]

I cannot believe I just read that (OP) - shocking

The lack of intelligence and education in Thailand is astounding especially with those that are put in administrative positions

As I suggested before and will do it again, the simple answer is to change how bills get passed in the house - rather than a majority vote as it is now - modify it to require 75% for anything to get passed which would force them to work together for the good of all Thailand - how complicated is that

Edited February 22, 2015 by smedly

[Roadman]

In some ways there is some merit in that it brings the obvious two opposition groups together to make them work at the differences that separate them. But then who is to say that the Dems deserve such equal footing when they have not been close to half the vote in the past. It also assumes that Pheu Thai has close to half the vote which given recent outcomes is highly doubtful. The other obvious where one likes it or not there are several other parties who pick up a percentage of the vote and accordingly power seats that decide who holds the balance of power. Given the mix that has been the result of recent elections then one would struggle to see the fairness in it from the minor parties perspective.

Best solution is have elections and let the voters decide, but through the reforms which look like they will deliver the strengthening of the checks and balances to destroy patronage, actually do some thing new and bloody well enforce the law at all levels including immediate prison terms for all office holders who abuse their positions.

Which ever way they decide, in response to some of the usual pathetic comments above, improvements are gained by people presenting opinions and options and debating them. I guess that is a foreign concept to some.

[h90]

Shouldn't the Dems have to come within a million miles of winning an election before they are allowed to govern? Tricky concept, but usually the party with the most votes gets to form a government. Then, the whole point of this current FUBAR charade is to prevent that happening I guess.

2007:

Thaksin = 36.63% of constituency vote

Democrats = 30.30% of constituency vote

2011:

Thaksin = 44.30% of constituency vote

Democrats = 32.30% of constituency vote

They're not a million miles away from winning as it stands, however you make it sound like Thaksin always gets 90% of the vote and the Democrats always get 5% of the vote with "independents" (funded by Thaksin) making up the rest. Those numbers are a million miles away, the real numbers are not.

Actually 2007 the Dems won the proportional election

with 39.63% against 39.60. Only on the constituency Thaksin bought the popular people.

But at full scale vote buying this all isn't important.

[metisdead]

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Edited February 22, 2015 by metisdead

[Emster23]

How about "all sides" instead of "both sides"? I would guess a large portion of public figures either side of two presented puts them in frying pan or the fire. Is it possible that a party could form which actually had the Thai people's interests in mind, rather than sucking as much out of available wealth, from old guard elite or seeming populist panderers? Am I insane to think such thoughts?

[rubl]

How about "all sides" instead of "both sides"? I would guess a large portion of public figures either side of two presented puts them in frying pan or the fire. Is it possible that a party could form which actually had the Thai people's interests in mind, rather than sucking as much out of available wealth, from old guard elite or seeming populist panderers? Am I insane to think such thoughts?

If both implies Pheu Thai and Democrats then as others we have a.o. the Banharn gang and the Newin boys and don't forget the Gen Sondhi amnesty party.

[scorecard]

Why keep regurgitating the past.

Move on and into the future with a new page.

Thailand desperately needs to get into a situation where the law and the processes of the law is respected, applied fairly and swiftly.

Why should any folks, any side, any color be given amnesty, if they have broken the law they should be punished (after proper process) as a punishment and as an example of respect for the law.

[Plowman]

Anything to avoid an election.

[ableguy]

Then we would have double the theft of public funds, please get real.

[scorecard]

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Anything to avoid an election.

52 posts and your already very boring.

[scorecard]

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

Anything to avoid an election.

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52 posts and your already very boring.

[halloween]

The proposal fails on the principle of equal work for equal pay. Why should the Democrat MPs receive only their government salaries, and have to pay party dues, while the co-workers are allowed to receive top-up payments from their party (coincidentally owned by an off-shore criminal)?

Then consider how government priorities would be decided, with half the MPs not even willing to discuss Thaksin's amnesty.

[zaphod reborn]

Not a bad proposal. Let PTP provide the guns, grenades and bombs. Then have a free for all in government house, no survivors. Only by wiping the slate clean of these "politicians" can there be a proper government in the future.

[BSJ]

Are Thai people serious when they talk about this stuff? And putting it to print is just filling up space in the paper cos they can't get enough adverts!

[greenchair]

And lets just forget about those other 70 independent parties, that given the chance might win an election one day. It's not all about the reds and the yellows you know. Thailand's best chance is to vote in a non color affiliated party, and be done with both of them.

[jmwpga]

Dreamers!!!!!