Thai editorial: Invoking Article 44 THROWS DOUBT on junta's competence

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Invoking Article 44 THROWS DOUBT on junta's competence

BANGKOK: -- The government has retained its faith in absolute power as the solution for Thailand's woes, yet its record over the past 10 months does little to inspire confidence

There is no doubting its wide-ranging powers, but Article 44 of the interim Constitution is not a magic wand for the country's deep-seated problems. And unless the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) uses it in a constructive manner, it risks exacerbating the political crisis.

To some observers, the lifting of martial law on Wednesday might have seemed like a relaxation of draconian security measures. But the international community responded with alarm over its replacement with Article 44, which hands absolute authority to the NCPO chief, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The invoking of this measure does nothing to lift the blocks on freedom of expression and other basic rights, which are a prerequisite for the national reconciliation and democratic reform for which the junta claims to be working.

The new 14-point NCPO order issued in accordance with Article 44 contains almost every measure previously used under martial law to authorise the junta chief's control over society. In this regard, rather than a lifting of military law, we seem to have military law Mark II.

The new junta order issued shortly after the lifting of martial law on Wednesday gives security officials arbitrary power to summon, arrest and detain persons, as well as search any premises and confiscate any assets. Restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly remain in place, as does the threat that media outlets can be shut down for defying junta authority. Article 44 also hands security officials immunity from prosecution for their actions.

The core reason for invoking the article is to maintain security. To be more precise, the purpose is to control and suppress groups or individuals whose political views differ from those of the junta. The new order mentions nothing about matters beyond security.

However, Premier Prayut has made assurances he will exercise the absolute

power constructively to solve other problems, such as exploitation of natural resources, income inequality, aviation safety and even overpriced lottery tickets.

It seems the prime minister has taken desperate measures as the country lurches towards an economic depression. Avoiding questions about his own competence as head of government, Prayut has sought to place the blame for failure in his administration elsewhere. But the junta is mistaken in the belief that its own members and its government have the power to "dictate" an end to the country's many and chronic problems. The authorities are also mistaken in thinking that those Thai citizens who seek the basic right to speak and gather to express their desires are obstructing the junta's moves for national reform.

Despite what the junta and its chief seem to believe, wielding absolute power cannot solve the political crisis.

In legal terms, Article 44 has existed since the junta-sponsored charter came into force last July, giving Prayut the power to do anything he deems necessary to meet the government's goals. In other words, Prayut has enjoyed absolute power - executive, judicial and legislative - since he ousted an elected government last May.

Thailand's problems persist despite that power arrangement, yet the premier and his colleagues in the junta and the Cabinet seem never to have considered the possibility that it is not lack of power but their own lack of ability that might be the problem. Nearly a year on from taking power, the junta has arrested, detained, raided, searched, censored and curbed freedoms, but Thailand has gone nowhere. Nearly all junta's enemies have been prosecuted or otherwise suppressed. But the same chronic problems still loom large, while the economy is slowing down and people are having to struggle harder to get by.

It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Invoking-Article-44-THROWS-DOUBT-on-juntas-compete-30257327.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-03

[tbthailand]

It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.

Not only this junta but the serial juntas over the last 70 some-odd years....

And to think that some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes...

[NongKhaiKid]

Rules for taking responsibility in Thailand.

Only 1, if anything goes wrong it's always somebody else's fault.

[Tokay]

Let's just hurry up and get this over with. I think we all know (except Costas) where this is heading.

[WhizBang]

I have had no doubt about the competence of this junta since the Koh Tao debacle.

Time for the general and his comrades to call it quits and leave the stage.

[NongKhaiKid]

That's quite an editorial for The Nation !

The staff should maybe get the drinks and snacks in as they may well get some ' visitors ' later.

[NeverSure]

The only way to have a proper D word is to not care what the international community thinks.

That way a country can be isolationist, throw its people into poverty, and totally stifle the press. See N. Korea, Cuba, and even the collapse of the Soviet Union.

International sanctions are placed in every area from import/export to tourism and everything dies.

The Thais aren't ready to be isolationist with little if any foreign trade and tourism etc. They depend too much on it.

The leader should look up the word "checkmate." Bad times are ahead for Thailand.

[retsdon]

Finally, The Nation is waking up to the obvious. Too late. Like the Democrat party which it supports,it should have thrown its weight behind the inviolate principle of democratic accountability - never mind the temporary storms and bad weather to be endured on the way. Instead, the Democrat grouping (of which this paper is a part) tried to hedge their bets, talking democracy while secretly hoping that the military would give them a free pass back into power without ever having to face the electorate.

Well, now the mask has slipped. The people now in control have about as much time for the Democrats as they do for PTP. Both of them are regarded with equal contempt.

You would have thought that Eton might have educated Abhisit better in historical precedents.

[JAG]

The only way to have a proper D word is to not care what the international community thinks.

That way a country can be isolationist, throw its people into poverty, and totally stifle the press. See N. Korea, Cuba, and even the collapse of the Soviet Union.

International sanctions are placed in every area from import/export to tourism and everything dies.

The Thais aren't ready to be isolationist with little if any foreign trade and tourism etc. They depend too much on it.

The leader should look up the word "checkmate." Bad times are ahead for Thailand.

Unfortunately whether or not the Thais are ready to be isolationist, or indeed want to be isolationist doesn't come into it. As the OP says Prayut has the power to do anything he deems necessary to meet the government's goals. In other words, Prayut has enjoyed absolute power - executive, judicial and legislative - since he ousted an elected government last May.

[NeverSure]

Someone should study the history of the Philippines under Marcos and see how that ended economically and politically in the mid 1980's. Not a pretty sight.

[Ricardo]

It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.

Not only this junta but the serial juntas over the last 70 some-odd years....

And to think that some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes...

"some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes"

I've not seen that, I think most of us realise that the corruption & mis-management go back much further, however some administrations seem better than others at rooting some of it out.

So it's a matter of poor-government, versus totally-inept ones, and how much they ever deliver from the pretty words & promises. At least the daily shootings/bombings (excluding the South ... which is a separate situation) have been stopped for now, barring a few idiots.

In an ideal democratic world, there would be someone honest & competent to lead the country, but I can't currently see who that might be. And whether they'd be permitted to do so, by the amart or military or Thaksin's bunch, is debateable.

Sometimes one has to choose the less-bad option in life, until a better one comes along.

[tbthailand]

It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.

Not only this junta but the serial juntas over the last 70 some-odd years....

And to think that some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes...

"some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes"

I've not seen that, I think most of us realise that the corruption & mis-management go back much further, however some administrations seem better than others at rooting some of it out.

So it's a matter of poor-government, versus totally-inept ones, and how much they ever deliver from the pretty words & promises. At least the daily shootings/bombings (excluding the South ... which is a separate situation) have been stopped for now, barring a few idiots.

In an ideal democratic world, there would be someone honest & competent to lead the country, but I can't currently see who that might be. And whether they'd be permitted to do so, by the amart or military or Thaksin's bunch, is debateable.

Sometimes one has to choose the less-bad option in life, until a better one comes along.

oh, I think a lot of people blame the last government and politicians in general... and that has been a trend throughout the 70-odd years I mentioned above.... There are quite a few posters here who see Thaksin as the end-all and be-all of Thailand's problems...

And to your point, I don't agree that it's a choice between good-bad governments. It's a choice between systems of governance; self-governance or - let's call it "imposed" governance... From that point on, there will be some which are better/worse than others... that's life in the real world.

You mention this point:

And whether they'd be permitted to do so, by the amart or military or Thaksin's bunch, is debateable.

which is a good one... The amart and military are exactly the allegiance which has been at the heart of the serial-juntas that I mentioned. So yes, that is a big factor in Thailand's future...

[yellowboat]

The sound of the number "four" in Japanese and Chinese is the same sound as the word for death. Any number with "four" is considered unlucky. Two "fours" would be even more unlucky.

The junta does and will play favorites, and it is doubtful there will be any reconciliation while they are running the country.

[JOC]

>>It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.<< Quote

Sums it up nicely......................

[spidermike007]

It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.

Not only this junta but the serial juntas over the last 70 some-odd years....

And to think that some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes...

"some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes"

I've not seen that, I think most of us realise that the corruption & mis-management go back much further, however some administrations seem better than others at rooting some of it out.

So it's a matter of poor-government, versus totally-inept ones, and how much they ever deliver from the pretty words & promises. At least the daily shootings/bombings (excluding the South ... which is a separate situation) have been stopped for now, barring a few idiots.

In an ideal democratic world, there would be someone honest & competent to lead the country, but I can't currently see who that might be. And whether they'd be permitted to do so, by the amart or military or Thaksin's bunch, is debateable.

Sometimes one has to choose the less-bad option in life, until a better one comes along.

That applies to any country. Especially the US, being the largest promoter of "democracy". Can Americans govern? It does not appear so. And I say that as an American. So, incompetence at the National level is a worldwide issue. Please suggest some examples if you are aware of a few well governed nations. Perhaps in Scandinavia?

[DM07]

Someone may be in for some serious attitude adjustment!

[lostoday]

Someone should study the history of the Philippines under Marcos and see how that ended economically and politically in the mid 1980's. Not a pretty sight.

Why not study that other dictator Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore? Didn't you ever wonder why he is getting all the good press now upon his demise?

He and his family and appointees ruled Singapore from 1959 to the present day. How come you don't know about that or have anything bad to say about the dramatic rise in the economy and standard of living of Singapore from third world to first world?

Is it because you don't know anything about Asia or are you just uneducated?

[lostoday]

It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.

Not only this junta but the serial juntas over the last 70 some-odd years....

And to think that some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes...

"some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes"

I've not seen that, I think most of us realise that the corruption & mis-management go back much further, however some administrations seem better than others at rooting some of it out.

So it's a matter of poor-government, versus totally-inept ones, and how much they ever deliver from the pretty words & promises. At least the daily shootings/bombings (excluding the South ... which is a separate situation) have been stopped for now, barring a few idiots.

In an ideal democratic world, there would be someone honest & competent to lead the country, but I can't currently see who that might be. And whether they'd be permitted to do so, by the amart or military or Thaksin's bunch, is debateable.

Sometimes one has to choose the less-bad option in life, until a better one comes along.

That applies to any country. Especially the US, being the largest promoter of "democracy". Can Americans govern? It does not appear so. And I say that as an American. So, incompetence at the National level is a worldwide issue. Please suggest some examples if you are aware of a few well governed nations. Perhaps in Scandinavia?

Singapore and they have had a dictatorship for 56 years.

[Snig27]

Considering how close the Nation Group is to the centre of power, this may be a pointer towards serious rumblings of unhappiness behind the scenes. This sort of editorial does not appear unapproved. Herr General seems to have overstepped the mark.

[lostoday]

The only way to have a proper D word is to not care what the international community thinks.

That way a country can be isolationist, throw its people into poverty, and totally stifle the press. See N. Korea, Cuba, and even the collapse of the Soviet Union.

International sanctions are placed in every area from import/export to tourism and everything dies.

The Thais aren't ready to be isolationist with little if any foreign trade and tourism etc. They depend too much on it.

The leader should look up the word "checkmate." Bad times are ahead for Thailand.

Did you forget about China? Or Vietnam, Laos and the Vatican?

Edited April 3, 2015 by lostoday

[JOC]

Considering how close the Nation Group is to the centre of power, this may be a pointer towards serious rumblings of unhappiness behind the scenes. This sort of editorial does not appear unapproved. Herr General seems to have overstepped the mark.

Hope you are right.

That is, if it doesn't lead to a counter coup!!

[Snig27]

Considering how close the Nation Group is to the centre of power, this may be a pointer towards serious rumblings of unhappiness behind the scenes. This sort of editorial does not appear unapproved. Herr General seems to have overstepped the mark.

Hope you are right.

That is, if it doesn't lead to a counter coup!!

Considering all this is about controlling the wealth, and the country is in increasingly dire straits financially thanks in a large part to gross incompetence on the part of this lot, there must be unease. At least under the elected past governments, as grossly flawed as they were, the country boomed economically. Retail collapse, low spending tourists and the corporate exodus make a counter-coup at least possible. Prayuth has made a dogs breakfast of his chance to adjust things.

[JOC]

Considering how close the Nation Group is to the centre of power, this may be a pointer towards serious rumblings of unhappiness behind the scenes. This sort of editorial does not appear unapproved. Herr General seems to have overstepped the mark.

Hope you are right.

That is, if it doesn't lead to a counter coup!!

Considering all this is about controlling the wealth, and the country is in increasingly dire straits financially thanks in a large part to gross incompetence on the part of this lot, there must be unease. At least under the elected past governments, as grossly flawed as they were, the country boomed economically. Retail collapse, low spending tourists and the corporate exodus make a counter-coup at least possible. Prayuth has made a dogs breakfast of his chance to adjust things.

Spot on!!

For the benefit of Mr P, please allow me this quote:

A society is judged by how it treats its weakest members

[NeverSure]

The only way to have a proper D word is to not care what the international community thinks.

That way a country can be isolationist, throw its people into poverty, and totally stifle the press. See N. Korea, Cuba, and even the collapse of the Soviet Union.

International sanctions are placed in every area from import/export to tourism and everything dies.

The Thais aren't ready to be isolationist with little if any foreign trade and tourism etc. They depend too much on it.

The leader should look up the word "checkmate." Bad times are ahead for Thailand.

Did you forget about China? Or Vietnam, Laos and the Vatican?

The Vatican is a money machine supported by donors from all over the world. Up to them.

The other three you mentioned have horrible incomes per capita. Very few hi so's among the people. The people are poor and stifled.

[NeverSure]

Singapore and they have had a dictatorship for 56 years.

Really. I thought Singapore was a parliamentary representative democratic republic with elections every 6 years. I thought the leaders were directly elected by the people.

[lostoday]

The only way to have a proper D word is to not care what the international community thinks.

That way a country can be isolationist, throw its people into poverty, and totally stifle the press. See N. Korea, Cuba, and even the collapse of the Soviet Union.

International sanctions are placed in every area from import/export to tourism and everything dies.

The Thais aren't ready to be isolationist with little if any foreign trade and tourism etc. They depend too much on it.

The leader should look up the word "checkmate." Bad times are ahead for Thailand.

Did you forget about China? Or Vietnam, Laos and the Vatican?

The Vatican is a money machine supported by donors from all over the world. Up to them.

The other three you mentioned have horrible incomes per capita. Very few hi so's among the people. The people are poor and stifled.

There are more than 1 million millionaires in China, defined as those with at least 10 million yuan, roughly $1.6 million.

Their ranks grew 3.8 percent from a year earlier, to 1,090,000. Meanwhile, the number of super-rich, those with at least 100 million yuan ($16 million), grew 3.7 percent to 67,000. Those numbers are expected to rise to more than 1.2 million millionaires and 73,000 super-rich in the next three years, predicts Hurun.

www.bloomberg.com/.../where-chinas-millionaires-live-and-how-they-g...

[lostoday]

Singapore and they have had a dictatorship for 56 years.

Really. I thought Singapore was a parliamentary representative democratic republic with elections every 6 years. I thought the leaders were directly elected by the people.

Yew's article 44 was the, "Internal Security Act" a holdover from Singapore’s colonial past. He arrested all of his political opponents with no charges or evidence. Run against Yew and you went to jail. Yew was a dictator, an anti communist dictator but still a dictator. How do you think one family stays in power for 60 years? Democratic elections? You gotta be kidding.

[NongKhaiKid]

Considering how close the Nation Group is to the centre of power, this may be a pointer towards serious rumblings of unhappiness behind the scenes. This sort of editorial does not appear unapproved. Herr General seems to have overstepped the mark.

Hope you are right.

That is, if it doesn't lead to a counter coup!!

Can't be discounted if he starts screwing things up for the elite who will easily persuade another military type to step up and what self respecting military man doesn't fancy running the country especially as he knows he can do a better job and it's all for the good of the country anyway.

[Orac]

Considering how close the Nation Group is to the centre of power, this may be a pointer towards serious rumblings of unhappiness behind the scenes. This sort of editorial does not appear unapproved. Herr General seems to have overstepped the mark.

Hope you are right.

That is, if it doesn't lead to a counter coup!!

Can't be discounted if he starts screwing things up for the elite who will easily persuade another military type to step up and what self respecting military man doesn't fancy running the country especially as he knows he can do a better job and it's all for the good of the country anyway.

Hence the need for removing martial law perhaps. The significant difference between martial law and article 44 is it has transferred power away from the military to Prayuth directly.

[Suffinator]

The government has retained its faith in absolute power as the solution for Thailand's woes, yet its record over the past 10 months does little to inspire confidence.

No S*** Sherlock.