Thai govt could stay longer: official

[webfact]

POLITICS
Govt could stay longer: official
THE NATION

Date of election 'depends on situation in the country next year.'

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday did not rule out the possibility that the Prayut administration may stick around longer than planned.

His remark came after a fortune-teller earlier cast doubt on the time frame for the general election.

According to the junta's road map, the government will call the poll early next year.

Whether the administration will continue working beyond its scheduled demise depends largely on the country's situation at that time, Sansern said.

Warin Buawiratlert, one of the country's most influential astrologers, claimed he saw the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha running the country for three more years without any hostile movements or undercurrents "because the country's star is not ominous".

To ease the pressure from some Western countries and democracy advocates, Prayut said during a special interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK in February that the general election would be held late this year at the earliest, or early next year.

Sansern said Prayut probably felt good that Warin has given him support to continue working and that the country would be peaceful.

Sansern said that how many months or years the prime minister and his Cabinet will stay in power depended on whether they have accomplished the objectives mapped out for them.

The PM set the objectives in terms of fulfilling his mission. If everything goes as planned, the government does not need to remain in office.

"The PM has always said the government does not want power but wants to work for the country," he said.

"However, if there are anti-government movements trying to block the government from working or accomplishing the goals laid down in the road map or instigating riots, the government has no choice but to stand side by side with the people, as we cannot abandon them," he said.

Colonel Winthai Suvari, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, said that Warin was just making a prediction and that the government and the NCPO insist that they are on course in traversing the road map to democracy.

"Nothing has changed,'' he said.

Dr Jetn Siratharanon, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, said he could not comment on Warin's prophecy but in his view, the NLA would follow the road map and not the heavens.

Positive results from new poll

"We cannot link the prediction with our road map," he said.

The NLA can complete its tasks as assigned by the government, he said.

More than 60 per cent of community leaders believe General Prayut will exercise his authority constructively under Article 44 of the provisional charter, according to a public opinion poll.

Thai Researchers in Community Happiness Association conducted the master poll on 1,016 community leaders in 19 provinces from April 3-5.

On April 1, martial law was replaced by an NCPO order issued under Article 44.

The survey found that 94.4 per cent acknowledge the NCPO had lifted martial law and invoked Article 44, while 5.6 per cent did not know.

About 38.3 per cent of the community leaders believe that Prayut made the right decision in cancelling martial law and that Article 44 was quite similar to martial law, followed by 25.8 per cent who feel no change in employing Article 44 instead of martial law

When asked whether they are confident that Prayut will use the article creatively as promised to the people, 67 per cent of the leaders said they did, adding that the PM would keep his word because he is an honest and responsible person.

About 27 per cent of the leaders were uncertain that the PM could exercise this article creatively, and 5.3 per cent strongly felt a lack of confidence in Prayut because Thailand's conflicts and situation had still not improved. More important, Prayut is a hot-headed person and he alone cannot contain the situation.

Asked whether they believe in Article 44, 87 per cent said they did but 12.6 per cent said otherwise.

On whether they believe lifting martial law could lead the country in a better direction, 73.8 per cent said love and unity of the people would increase, while 62 per cent said relationships with other countries could be better.

The government is preparing to explain Article 44 to foreign diplomats today at the Foreign Ministry.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and Winthai, also deputy Army spokesman, will describe and summarise the process of enforcing Article 44 by NCPO leader Prayut to the representatives of foreign countries and international organisations as well as the international media.

In the forum, reports and documents in English will be handed out for better understanding of the law, but the forum will be observed by those who received invitations.

Suriyasai Katasila, director of the Thailand Reform Institute, called for the government to deploy Article 44 discreetly."The challenge for the NCPO regarding the use of Article 44 is how to use it creatively and for the benefit of the people as a whole."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Govt-could-stay-longer-official-30257523.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-07

[Somtamnication]

What a surprise!

[kotsak]

What he meant to say is "Gov could stay forever"

[chooka]

Didn't anyone really believe they weren't going to stick around in definately. Prayuth has article 44 and answers to no one. Anyone who opposes his reign can be rounded up, locked away forever or executed. He has his family heirloom which he intends to pass down to his children and god have mercy on anyone who doesn't adore and worship him.

Edited April 6, 2015 by chooka

[NongKhaiKid]

Did it need a fortune teller to cast doubt although such is more likely to be believed than any politician or official on any subject.

I'm not saying it will happen but there's a possibility these messages will become more frequent to prepare the country for the final definitive statement of something like " no elections yet, we are staying on. " Governments around the world use this tactic to prepare the public for bad or unwanted news, action, policies etc.

[thesetat2013]

So now the current gov has the perfect excuse to stay in power longer. It was foretold be a fortune teller.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

This will end in more street protests and in more problems for the Thai economy.

[BSJ]

When I read the headline part of the ' Rawhide ' song jumped into my head! Funny that.

"Movin', movin', movin',

Though they're disapprovin',
Keep them dogies movin', rawhide.
Don't try to understand 'em,
Just rope an' throw an' brand 'em.
Soon we'll be living high and wide.
My heart's calculatin',
My true love will be waitin':
Waitin' at the end of my ride.

Move 'em out, head 'em up,
Head 'em up, move 'em on.
Move 'em out, head 'em up:
Rawhide.
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in,
Ride 'em in, cut 'em out,
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in:

Rawhide! "

[cloudhopper]

So now the current gov has the perfect excuse to stay in power longer. It was foretold be a fortune teller.

By an influential fortune teller no less. The fact that mainstream news media quote fortune tellers is very telling.

[zaphod reborn]

If the fortune teller is so influential, give him a shot at running the government. Only idiots would report the lies and deceit of a fortune teller as news.

[WhizBang]

No real surprise they 'may' stay on longer. But based on what a fortune teller said? Really? Thailand does know that this is the 21st century, right?

[tbthailand]

'depends on situation in the country next year.'

If you step back from that statement, you can see that this is the closest the Junta ever comes to admitting the real reason for the 'intervention'....

[EnzoRippo]

So this is a long article to comment about quack's predictions. If another quack makes other predictions => another article?

[NongKhaiKid]

No real surprise they 'may' stay on longer. But based on what a fortune teller said? Really? Thailand does know that this is the 21st century, right?

Didn't the PM say he consults a soothsayer ?

[brucec64]

This article has everything:

1) Government decisions influenced by fortune tellers

2) Softening the public to additional extensions to the "roadmap" to be announced at a later date

3) A dodgy Thai Happiness poll

4) Comments about educating foreign diplomats that will certainly lead to statements about foreign "understanding"

The junta propoganda machine is becoming much more efficient. They now bundle all the nonsense into a single article!

[LuckyLew]

Guess Mr P likes the power position

Not surprising as most people do not like to relinquish power

[Anthony5]

Now who would ever have thought that?

His remark came after a fortune-teller earlier cast doubt on the time frame for the general election.

If the future and well being of the Thai people now depends on fortune tellers, then it is clear where this country is heading.

Edited April 7, 2015 by Anthony5

[JOC]

Poor Mr P & Co.

Their small hands are going to get all sweaty desperately holding on to the chairs until the music stops to play...........

[laocowboy2]

What a surprise!

Not ....

[yellowboat]

This will end in more street protests and in more problems for the Thai economy.

That and the reputation of the fortune telling industry will be in shambles. People will have to start pay attention to what they are doing in the moment and think for themselves.

[uty6543]

Well I'll be the odd one out here. I believe their will be elections early next year but the general will keep some power to stop politicians from just thinking that everything is back to the way it was and they can carry on with their corrupt practices.

Edited April 7, 2015 by uty6543

[Lupatria]

Did it need a fortune teller to cast doubt although such is more likely to be believed than any politician or official on any subject.

I'm not saying it will happen but there's a possibility these messages will become more frequent to prepare the country for the final definitive statement of something like " no elections yet, we are staying on. " Governments around the world use this tactic to prepare the public for bad or unwanted news, action, policies etc.

The idea of a millennial Reich did not work too well elsewhere already, despite “Ermächtigungsgesetz” (Enabling Act) equivalent to article 44.

[bruceybonus]

Does anybody know a time frame of when sanctions would be placed on Thailand? i.e if the Junta are still in place in 18 months would there be sanctions?

[Lovekorat]

Be honest. Are any of us serious thinking people surprised?

But a 'fortune teller'

If it wasn't so serious it would be funny

[oneday]

"...Prayut administration may stick around longer than planned..."

Wow! I'm shocked. Anyone else shocked. Please raise your hands if you are shocked.

[wabothai]

many of the decisions by H, H and G during the 30´s and 40´s were based on

fortune telling.

[Commerce]

Doesn't matter when any elections are. The votes are already counted.

[Anthony5]

many of the decisions by H, H and G during the 30´s and 40´s were based on

fortune telling.

Psst, we're now in the 21st century.

[DM07]

I stopped reading and started laughing ...right...here...

"His remark came after a fortune-teller earlier cast doubt on the time frame for the general election."

Priceless!

[Snig27]

Well I'll be the odd one out here. I believe their will be elections early next year but the general will keep some power to stop politicians from just thinking that everything is back to the way it was and they can carry on with their corrupt practices.

You mean like the impending purchase of unneeded submarines?

Just how much money did Prayuth and his brother have? It never was properly explained. So, yes, I agree, corrupt practices remain an issue.

(PS have a look at offshore stories about nefarious practices currently being put in place for long term stripping of the telecoms industries - these dwarf any rice scheme losses).