France not a good example of democracy, says Kraisak
THE NATION


Kraisak Choonhavan

BANGKOK: -- FORMER senator Kraisak Choonhavan yesterday criticised Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam for his remark that Article 44 was inspired by France, saying France was not a good example of democracy.

"France used this kind of law to crack down on countries during its colonial rule before World War II. The country is not a good example of democracy,'' he said.

Kraisak, who is an adviser to the National Human Rights Commission panel on civil rights and political rights, said the Prayut government has given itself too much power by replacing martial law with Article 44, which still violates human rights.

"The Criminal Code and security laws are enough to ensure peace and order in the country,'' he said.

He disapproved of the move to try civilians in military courts, which are meant to try soldiers who commit crimes and disciplinary offences.

"Sending offenders of the lese majeste law to military courts is not right. They are writers and political activists and not insurgents who use war weapons,'' he said.

The Prayut government has faced criticism from international organisations, especially the European Union and the Unites States after it replaced martial law with Article 44.

Kraisak said that criticism of Article 44 by foreign countries was based on fears that the government may cancel agreements on trade and investment. "Foreign countries look at business and investment. They scrutinise the laws that we enforce in terms of how much they can reap benefit from our country,'' he said.

Kraisak said Prayut would not be able to escape criticism abroad as he believed that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had hired influential lobbyists in the US to pressure the Thai government.

He denied that he has proposed the Thai government to hire lobbyists to counter Thaksin's move.

Only if the Prayut government enforces Article 44 in the interest of the public such as cracking down on officials who intimidate general public will negative comments be reduced, he said.

"I do not believe this group of junta has this ideology, unlike the military in the era of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, which extended an apology to people in the South to achieve national reconciliation,'' he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/France-not-a-good-example-of-democracy-says-Kraisa-30257714.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-09

France was not a good example of democracy

It's a dam sight closer to it than anything you and your mates would like to implement.

Could those sounding off about France and Germany find them on a blank world map ?

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France was not a good example of democracy

It's a dam sight closer to it than anything you and your mates would like to implement.

Did you even read the article? Probably not...&lt;deleted&gt; that reading sh#t

" he believed that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had hired influential lobbyists in the US to pressure the Thai government.

He denied that he has proposed the Thai government to hire lobbyists to counter Thaksin's move."

Why not do so? Sounds like a sensible counter move to me.

Edited April 9, 201511 yr by Bluespunk

Very off-topic stuff here. LET'S KEEP TO DEMOCRACY.

It's unlikely Thailand will ever become a Muslim country.

Nice way to further alienate France. Thailand could use a few lessons in diplomacy.

Very off-topic stuff here. LET'S KEEP TO DEMOCRACY.

It's unlikely Thailand will ever become a Muslim country.

But Thailand might break into two countries (1 muslim, 1 buddhist) if the current civil war in the south is effective.

Nice way to further alienate France. Thailand could use a few lessons in diplomacy.

I don't think France (or any other country) really cares about what Thailand thinks.

Maybe off-topic, but...isn't it fun, who some, who believe in all the bullenscheiss the current Thai- government talks, also believe the bullenscheiss some crazy muslim- leaders speak!

As long as it fits your agenda, everything is goldielocks, isn't it!

I bet you all I have, that none of the European countries-not France, not Britain, not Germany...- will bow to "sharia law"!

Not in my lifetime, not in the lifetime of my son...I would go as far to say :NEVER EVER!

But go on: bash European (-or US) democracy and fearmonger about Muslim radicals, who may be a threat in isolated incidents (Charlie Hebdo -which most of you also despise, I guess-, 9/11 etc.) but never on a nationwide scale.

In the meantime: cheer for a guy, who robbed a country of the slightest tiny bit of democracy, because you didn't like the other guy!

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

France was not a good example of democracy

It's a dam sight closer to it than anything you and your mates would like to implement.

Did you even read the article? Probably not...<deleted> that reading sh#t

Of course I read it, I prefer being informed over mainly opinionated, yourself?

Off-topic posts and replies removed.

1792 in france ... look it up ... that was democracy

no COUP since then

Nice way to further alienate France. Thailand could use a few lessons in diplomacy.

Is there some kind of competition going on in the upper echelons of Thailand over who can p!ss off the highest number of foreigners? If so it is certainly a hard fought one...

1792 in france ... look it up ... that was democracy

no COUP since then

Did you read the article? There was no democracy in French colonies, and Kraisak is saying Article 44 was inspired by French colonial administration.

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

" he believed that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had hired influential lobbyists in the US to pressure the Thai government.

He denied that he has proposed the Thai government to hire lobbyists to counter Thaksin's move."

Why not do so? Sounds like a sensible counter move to me.

he believed that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had hired influential lobbyists in the US to pressure the Thai governmen

Just wondering if he means recently / very recently, or is he talking about a few years ago.

Could those sounding off about France and Germany find them on a blank world map ?

I doubt it.

Nice way to further alienate France. Thailand could use a few lessons in diplomacy.

Diplomacy is not in their DNA; it's why there are continuous coups ... looks like they unable to openly and honestly discuss anything of value. My way or the highway attitude.

maidee, on 09 Apr 2015 - 09:41, said:

1792 in france ... look it up ... that was democracy

no COUP since then

There was the COUP by Napoleon in 1799 after the big mess which followed the French Revolution

Also the rule of Napoleon as Emperor from 1804 to 1814 was not democracy as we like it...

Democracy is not firmly established in one day or one revolution ...it is a process...and in the end France became a good example of what true democracy can be (never perfect but always better than all the other systems)

France was not a good example of democracy.

A country with a bad democracy is farther towards democracy than Thailand without any vestage of democracy.

>>"I do not believe this group of junta has this ideology, unlike the military in the era of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, which extended an apology to people in the South to achieve national reconciliation,'' he said.<<

And that worked out well!!

More than 6000 killed after Surayuds "apology"..........................

So France is not now a good example of democracy because of it's past colonial laws. It further confirms that these guys are under the modernity of the 50's.

Edited April 9, 201511 yr by candide

So France is not now a good example of democracy because of it's pas colonial laws. It further confirms that these guys are under the modernity of the 50's.

You must te relearn your history, France has make a lot of harm to Thailand with his gunship diplomacy......

Preah Vihar is one of result of this colonial time, when English and French wanted to control Thailand

So France is not now a good example of democracy because of it's past colonial laws. It further confirms that these guys are under the modernity of the 50's.

I think it's the 30s when they were in Indochina. They lost power since WW2.

So France is not now a good example of democracy because of it's pas colonial laws. It further confirms that these guys are under the modernity of the 50's.

You must te relearn your history, France has make a lot of harm to Thailand with his gunship diplomacy......

Preah Vihar is one of result of this colonial time, when English and French wanted to control Thailand

I don't deny the harm done by French colonial policy. What I mean is that it doesn't make the CURRENT state of democracy in France worst than what it is.

At least France has freedom of speech and you can say and write that president Hollande is an !d!ot without getting jailed.

Try that in Thailand.

At least France has freedom of speech and you can say and write that president Hollande is an !d!ot without getting jailed.

Try that in Thailand.

you can try in France, you will be fall for defamatory...

There were some protesters who criticize Holland or Fromer president Sarkozy these people were arrest and detain by presidential security....

You cannot make any negative remark against power without have an investigation from police or see revenue inspector control you

In France there are not really freedom of speech......... you cannot criticize religion, a joke in a "lay" country....

1792 in france ... look it up ... that was democracy

no COUP since then

A democratic revolution - followed by 'the terror' and how many "republics" and Emperors since ?

And of course democracy was somewhat shelved during two world wars.

A democraty more like the Swiss , would be great....but not doable in Thailand.

At least France has freedom of speech and you can say and write that president Hollande is an !d!ot without getting jailed.

Try that in Thailand.

you can try in France, you will be fall for defamatory...

There were some protesters who criticize Holland or Fromer president Sarkozy these people were arrest and detain by presidential security....

You cannot make any negative remark against power without have an investigation from police or see revenue inspector control you

In France there are not really freedom of speech......... you cannot criticize religion, a joke in a "lay" country....

Are you joking? You never read charlie hebdo? Just type charlie hebdo on google then image and enjoy the various cover pages dealing with political figures and others