Thai junta chief rejects proposal to bar coup leaders from office
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's junta chief spoke out Thursday against a proposal from one of his own military-appointed panels that he and other key coup figures should be temporarily banned from politics once civilian rule is returned.

After seizing power last May, former army chief and now Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha set up a string of committees tasked with reforming the notoriously fractured kingdom after years of political instability and often violent street protests.

One of those panels -- the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) -- is tasked with rewriting the country's constitution.

The military have already said that CDC members will be temporarily excluded from politics once their task is complete.

On Wednesday CDC chairman Jade Donavanik suggested that junta members and their rubber-stamp National Assembly should be among those excluded from politics for two years to prevent them from holding onto power or meddling in Thailand's future.

But Prayut gave the idea short shrift.

"Please go see what was written in the interim constitution (set up after the coup)," he told reporters Thursday.

"It only bans members of the CDC (from politics) and I agree with that," he said, adding that a ban on key junta figures now would discourage them working to reform the country.

The junta chief also rejected allegations he will refuse to let go of power.

"Don't mistrust me, it (reforms) would all end if I refused to return power," he said.

The former army chief has given mixed signals over a date for a future election, promising polls by the end of this year or the beginning of 2016, once his reforms have taken place.

He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration.

Prayut insists his intervention and reforms will end a decade-long political crisis that broadly pits Bangkok's middle class and royalist elites, backed by parts of the military, against rural and working-class voters loyal to Yingluck and her brother Thaksin.

But critics say the military's reforms are aimed at extinguishing the political influence of the Shinawatras, whose parties have won every election since 2001.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-03-05

There's no stopping the 5 rivers from flooding Thailand

Absolutely shameless, isn't it? The temerity of the guy is something else entirely!

Absolutely shameless, isn't it? The temerity of the guy is something else entirely!

Shameless?

Return to democracy, oppose banning of politicians, but of course ban the NLA members from seeking political office in elections?

speechless....

Absolutely shameless, isn't it? The temerity of the guy is something else entirely!

Shameless?

Return to democracy, oppose banning of politicians, but of course ban the NLA members from seeking political office in elections?

Yes, shameless.

It will be many years before this guys mission is accomplished.

So no one has a choice in the matter. Doesn't matter what CDC or anyone else thinks if the Junta chief says no, its no. One man, one vote.

Absolutely shameless, isn't it? The temerity of the guy is something else entirely!

Shameless?

Return to democracy, oppose banning of politicians, but of course ban the NLA members from seeking political office in elections?

Yes, shameless.

Could you please elaborate a wee bit? What makes you describe the words of PM Prayut as 'shameless'

Shamefully said

Of course the prime minister coup leader army GENERAL Prayuth would object to having the junta's coup leader's banned from politics. What were they thinking?

We do not want that...

And you can not do that....

No more questions!!!

"Please go see what was written in the interim constitution (set up after the coup)," he told reporters Thursday.

"It only bans members of the CDC (from politics) and I agree with that," he said, adding that a ban on key junta figures now would discourage them working to reform the country.

Note to general: Look up the word "interim", the "interim" constitution means that it is suppose to terminate once a "permanent" (i.e. different / new) constitution is in place. If the new constitution specifies a time-out for the current members of the NLA by this supposedly "independent" group of drafters.... then it should supercede/replace the interim constitution.... that is if you were actually trustworthy enough to live up to your word about the CDC....... And he says that he should not be called a dictator by the rest of the world.....

I must say as a skeptic and cynic in regard to anything to do with the coup, the NCPO, the NLA and the CDC I was pleasantly surprised that Mr Jade would make such a suggestion as it has a lot of merit and would earn a lot of goodwill for the government side. But I am not at all surprised at the PMs response. The general likes the limelight and has a taste for the power and notoriety that comes with being a PM. He LOVES the media throng and attention. He has not interest in bowing out for two minutes let alone two years.

"Please go see what was written in the interim constitution (set up after the coup)," he told reporters Thursday.

"It only bans members of the CDC (from politics) and I agree with that," he said, adding that a ban on key junta figures now would discourage them working to reform the country.

Note to general: Look up the word "interim", the "interim" constitution means that it is suppose to terminate once a "permanent" (i.e. different / new) constitution is in place. If the new constitution specifies a time-out for the current members of the NLA by this supposedly "independent" group of drafters.... then it should supercede/replace the interim constitution.... that is if you were actually trustworthy enough to live up to your word about the CDC....... And he says that he should not be called a dictator by the rest of the world.....

Second note to the junta leader prime minister army GENERAL and coup leader Prayuth:

Hubris.

Edited March 5, 201511 yr by 96tehtarp

CDC chairman Jade Donavanik is up for an "attitude adjustment"

I must say as a skeptic and cynic in regard to anything to do with the coup, the NCPO, the NLA and the CDC I was pleasantly surprised that Mr Jade would make such a suggestion as it has a lot of merit and would earn a lot of goodwill for the government side. But I am not at all surprised at the PMs response. The general likes the limelight and has a taste for the power and notoriety that comes with being a PM. He LOVES the media throng and attention. He has not interest in bowing out for two minutes let alone two years.

"The general likes the limelight and has a taste for the power and notoriety that comes with being a PM. He LOVES the media throng and attention."

I've been watching him lately on Thai TV. It's difficult to avoid as he is on almost every channel for several hours every night. He's loving the limelight. Well observed lewy67.

Absolutely shameless, isn't it? The temerity of the guy is something else entirely!

Shameless?

Return to democracy, oppose banning of politicians, but of course ban the NLA members from seeking political office in elections?

Yes, shameless.

Could you please elaborate a wee bit? What makes you describe the words of PM Prayut as 'shameless'

Wood for trees, Rubi.

"He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration."

Really? I thought at the time of the coup there was only a caretaker govt due to the failure of the elections held to elect a govt. I also thought yingluck had been removed as caretaker PM by then as well.

I really should pay more attention. Thank goodness AFP is there to put me right.

Absolutely shameless, isn't it? The temerity of the guy is something else entirely!

Shameless?

Return to democracy, oppose banning of politicians, but of course ban the NLA members from seeking political office in elections?

Yes, shameless.

Could you please elaborate a wee bit? What makes you describe the words of PM Prayut as 'shameless'

Why don't you state your opinion first so then we are on a level playing field.

I gather there are now "five spirits" for the drafting of the new charter.

1. empowerment of the people,

2. clean and balance politics,

3. social justice

4. peace for the nation

5. no banning the generals

Anybody unclear about that? Hmmm?

Edited March 5, 201511 yr by phoenixdoglover

"He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration."

Really? I thought at the time of the coup there was only a caretaker govt due to the failure of the elections held to elect a govt. I also thought yingluck had been removed as caretaker PM by then as well.

I really should pay more attention. Thank goodness AFP is there to put me right.

Indeed you should. There was a caretaker government in situ (not "only" - this is , or should be, the normal state of affairs for a government that has dissolved parliament and awaiting elections to be organised and held, which were due to be scheduled for July 20th, I remember). So the caretaker government that were the representatives of the Thai Nation were prevented from holding that election by the Army Generals seizing power, hence

"He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration".

Is that clear enough for you?

Guess who the next "elected" pm will be and what occupation the majority of the cabinet etc will come from?

Almost exactly a year ago he was declaring he would never attempt to be PM and had no interest in doing so

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I must say as a skeptic and cynic in regard to anything to do with the coup, the NCPO, the NLA and the CDC I was pleasantly surprised that Mr Jade would make such a suggestion as it has a lot of merit and would earn a lot of goodwill for the government side. But I am not at all surprised at the PMs response. The general likes the limelight and has a taste for the power and notoriety that comes with being a PM. He LOVES the media throng and attention. He has not interest in bowing out for two minutes let alone two years.

Yes when I read the original article this morning I felt there was some hope for a fair constitution , that hope lasted for about 4 hours until the PMs response

"He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration."

Really? I thought at the time of the coup there was only a caretaker govt due to the failure of the elections held to elect a govt. I also thought yingluck had been removed as caretaker PM by then as well.

I really should pay more attention. Thank goodness AFP is there to put me right.

hey, Bluespunk, the statement is actually correct, grammatically and factually, and it doesn't disagree with your interpretation either.

Thai junta chief rejects proposal to bar coup leaders from office

of course he rejects it. How in heavens name will he follow in Prem's footsteps if he did reject it?

Besides, what else is he going to do after he returns from vacation?

So no one has a choice in the matter. Doesn't matter what CDC or anyone else thinks if the Junta chief says no, its no. One man, one vote.

Call me Mr. Picky, but don't you mean "one man, all the votes"?

"He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration."

Really? I thought at the time of the coup there was only a caretaker govt due to the failure of the elections held to elect a govt. I also thought yingluck had been removed as caretaker PM by then as well.

I really should pay more attention. Thank goodness AFP is there to put me right.

AFP - hardly a well researched news agency - just regurgitates many of the same lines

"He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration."

Really? I thought at the time of the coup there was only a caretaker govt due to the failure of the elections held to elect a govt. I also thought yingluck had been removed as caretaker PM by then as well.

I really should pay more attention. Thank goodness AFP is there to put me right.

Indeed you should. There was a caretaker government in situ (not "only" - this is , or should be, the normal state of affairs for a government that has dissolved parliament and awaiting elections to be organised and held, which were due to be scheduled for July 20th, I remember). So the caretaker government that were the representatives of the Thai Nation were prevented from holding that election by the Army Generals seizing power, hence

"He seized power after months of street protests led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected administration".

Is that clear enough for you?

actually he seized power after the reds started killing/blowing up innocent kids and women and threatened to start a war as well as declare their own state and the ptp were letting/encouraging them to do it

, I suppose that would have been your preferred outcome

Edited March 5, 201511 yr by seajae