Suspicion over NCPO's role after charter is promulgated

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THAI TALK
Suspicion over NCPO's role after charter is promulgated
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- One day, he said he was ready to call it quits "if the public doesn't want me". The next day, he was equally unequivocal that nothing could change his determination to stay the course.

If you are confused by what Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha has been saying about his tenure, you are not alone. The contradictions in his public statements may, however, be part of his strategic move to confuse his enemy and to console his supporters.

General Prayut has insisted that he will follow the political road map that will ensure the next elections are held early next year. He claims he has no political ambition. He complains that his life has become much more difficult after taking over power - and that he doesn't stand to gain at all. But then, the premier also warns, in another context, that if conflicts persist and violence flares, elections might not be held according to the set schedule.

What do political analysts make of these apparently contradictory statements? Most of them are keeping their fingers crossed. If you really press them hard, they will tell you that they aren't sure what the PM is up to either.

One thing they do know, though, is that Prayut will have to make sure that if elections are held on time, things don't get out of hand - and that the circle of violence doesn't return.

Will he approve a new, controversial provision in the draft Constitution that will set up two agencies which critics see as an apparent attempt to keep the coup-makers in power after the elections - the formation of the so-called Reform Promotion Assembly and Reform Strategy Committee?

The new assembly would comprise members picked from the National Reform Council (NRC) and National Legislative Assembly (NLA) - a clause that inevitably raises suspicion that this is nothing but an extension of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)'s power into the new political set-up even after the elections.

The official reason given for the existence of these two new agencies is that without them, there is no guarantee that the hard-won reform agenda worked out by the NRC and NLA would be carried out once politicians are back in power. In fact, there are fears that some of the draconian reform measures drawn up to clean up Thai politics might be diluted or even eliminated by the politicians, simply because they would be placed under more stringent control to ensure transparency and accountability.

There is admittedly a widespread belief that the incoming MPs and Senators - whatever the electoral system - will try every possible means to undo the new ground rules set by the outgoing legislative body, the reason being they harbour deep suspicion that the charter drafters are biased against politicians of all shades. And, to a segment of observers at least, that doesn't sit well with the promise to return the country to democracy.

That is probably why it's so difficult to "read Premier Prayut's lips" to determine whether he intends to extend his influence beyond his own road map.

The premier has denied that attempts are being made by his supporters or certain political figures to form a political party that will see him continue his role in politics. He has also repeatedly said he staged last May's coup with only one objective: to put the country back on track, and not to put himself in power for an extended period of time.

But with all the controversies surrounding a number of constitutional provisions that have stirred strong opposition from various circles, it's not too far-fetched to assume that the whole exercise may be a conspiracy to derail the charter draft so that a new reform council and charter drafting committee will have to be appointed to put the whole process back to Square One, thereby postponing the deadline for new elections by at least another year to 18 months.

Of course, if you put that scenario to the PM, he will likely shoot it down, perhaps with a signature outburst. Then again, he might offer a non-committal response. And if that were the case, the picture would become much clearer.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Suspicion-over-NCPOs-role-after-charter-is-promulg-30256311.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-19

[Anthony5]

Hasn't the current PM said, shortly after his brother and close family members elected him, that the next elected government still would be held accountable by the NCPO that they follow the rules set out by super general?

Of course they will deny it, and at the time being change the name of NCPO, similar like they did in September to give the impression that it isn't the same organisation.