Thai year-old coup imposes superficial calm but little else

[Lite Beer]

Thai year-old coup imposes superficial calm but little else
TODD PITMAN, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Shortly after seizing power in a coup that followed months of debilitating street protests, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha vowed to end Thailand's decade of political upheaval once and for all. In his words, "to bring everything out in the open and fix it."

One year later, the military can boast it has restored stability and kept this Southeast Asian nation calm. But the bitter societal fissures that helped trigger the putsch are still simmering below the surface, unresolved.

"Our differences have just been pushed under the rug by a junta that prohibits freedom of expression. Nothing has been done to address the root causes of Thailand's deep divide," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch.

He said what is happening now is the imposition of peace by force. "There's no guarantee that whenever the junta lets go of their iron grip, the country will not to fall back into conflict," he said.

On Friday, the anniversary of the takeover, police quashed a small student demonstration in Bangkok, triggering scuffles. At least 37 people were detained overnight and released Saturday after 11 hours of questioning. Seven others who staged a similar protest in the northeastern city of Khon Kaen were also freed.

Speaking to reporters the same day, Prayuth acknowledged that seizing power was wrong. But he nevertheless defended the overthrow of Yingluck Shinawatra's government, saying "we cannot fix the past, but we can build for the future."

The problem, critics argue, is that the junta may be sowing the seeds of more conflict by building that future on its own terms — with reform committee, a rubber-stamp legislature, and no input from the Pheu Thai party it toppled or their supporters, who likely still represent a majority of the electorate.

The latest point of contention, a constitutional draft released in April, has been criticized even by groups who supported the putsch. If approved, the charter would significantly weaken the power of political parties, shifting it to unelected agencies like a new "National Moral Assembly" empowered to investigate politicians for offenses as minor as "impolite" speech — ultimately initiating the path to their removal.

The drafters say such reforms are designed to check abuse by corrupt politicians, a problem acknowledged by all sides. But Pheu Thai officials say the real aim is to prevent their party from governing effectively if it wins again.

"Nobody knows how these agencies would be made accountable themselves," said Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former premier who was among those who called for Yingluck to resign before the coup. Speaking of the junta, he added: "They should be more concerned with making elected governments more accountable, rather than making them weaker."

Last week, the military government announced it would subject the draft to a referendum. Sunai said that posed a dilemma. "If you vote yes, you end up with a Frankenstein constitution that undercuts liberal democracy. If you vote no, they'll have to go back to the drawing board, and Prayuth will just stay in power longer."

The junta has spoken of holding nationwide elections in late 2016, but no date has been set and some believe it could govern for years.

"The big picture for now is, we're still in a lockdown ... there's still a huge question mark over the future," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University.

The junta has not been helped by Thailand's sputtering economy, which has largely remained flat since the coup, with exports and investment down. Thitinan said that generals "were not meant to govern Thailand. Some have lost their way. They're not used to accountability, or being in the public eye, being asked questions."

And they do not tolerate dissent. According to iLaw, a nonprofit group that monitors legal cases, at least 751 people have been summoned by the junta for what the military calls "attitude adjustments." Before Friday, at least 428 had been arrested, 166 for expressing opinions perceived as critical; many are supporters of the ousted government, along with students, writers and academics — some of whom have fled into exile.

Thailand's junta argues it is working to create the foundation for a stable democracy, and while it does, liberties and freedom of speech that could sow division must be curtailed. "We need an environment that is conducive to dialogue, where people can speak to one another," said Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, a junta spokesman.

"We're not saying that they would not have any freedom at all in future, we're not saying that this country will be in this environment forever," he said. "We're trying to create ... understanding."

Yingluck's former Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang, who is facing 14 years in prison for not reporting to a junta summons after the coup and then criticizing the takeover, disagreed. There has been no "attempt to address the reconciliation process at all," he said. "There has never been any discussion (with us) from people in charge on what the roots of the problem are."

Last year's coup was the culmination of a political schism laid bare after another putsch in 2006 that deposed billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The struggle, in broad terms, pits a majority rural poor in the north and northeast who benefited from the Shinawatra's populist policies against an urban-based elite in Bangkok and the south that is worried over its steady loss of power at the polls.

The conflict has spurred crippling protests. In 2010, one mass demonstration ended with scores dead and central Bangkok in flames. In 2014, rival protesters seized ministries and all but shut down the government of Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, amid a wave of increasing violence that killed dozens before the army intervened.

Supporters of the Shinawatras say the junta and its allies are following through on one of their main goals: to dismantle the family's political machine to ensure that neither they nor the parties they've led can dominate politics again.

In March, Thailand's anti-corruption body recommended that 250 former lawmakers, most of them Shinawatra supporters, be barred from seeking office on charges of misuse of power. This month, the Supreme Court began hearings against Yingluck for alleged dereliction of duty in overseeing a government rice subsidy scheme that lost billions of dollars. She faces 10 years in prison.

By contrast, criminal charges have been dropped against former lawmaker Suthep Thaugsuban, who led the protests that set the stage for last year's coup. His supporters had brazenly seized government ministries, attacked the prime minister's office with homemade rockets, and disrupted an election that Yingluck called in a failed bid to defuse the crisis.

___

Associated Press writer Thanyarat Doksone contributed to this report.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-05-23

[waitforusalso]

"...and no input from the Pheu Thai party it toppled or their supporters, who likely still represent a majority of the electorate."

Nothing but junta propaganda polls say any different.

[chainarong]

Superficial is the key word , anything to do with any coup is superficial unless the new administration are staying for good, however it not only concerns superficial, it concerns transparency as well, like the Prayut - O transparency, a government to government agreement , with China, on those H/S Train projects , no tenders, no costing's to the people, no nothing and all can be cancelled by the next elected Government as too expensive or costing's figures are unrealistic or even worse un- available, yes superficial it is , only because it is done by superficial people with the help of section 44.

[Toknarok]

"...and no input from the Pheu Thai party it toppled or their supporters, who likely still represent a majority of the electorate."

Nothing but junta propaganda polls say any different.

Note that the above quote includes the word 'LIKELY'. Only a free and fair poll will determine whether that is true or not. As for the so called polls hasn't the General banned any that show the junta in a negative light?

Edited May 23, 2015 by Toknarok

[ThiravetPramuanratkarn]

"If you vote yes, you end up with a Frankenstein constitution that undercuts liberal democracy. If you vote no, they'll have to go back to the drawing board, and Prayuth will just stay in power longer."

Trick or treat!

[AoChalong]

I'll take a "superficial calm" any day over what was about to happen.... an all out civil war with the likely deaths of thousands and a splitting of the country into "Thaksinland" and the rest of Thailand....

[Fat Haggis]

I'll take a "superficial calm" any day over what was about to happen.... an all out civil war with the likely deaths of thousands and a splitting of the country into "Thaksinland" and the rest of Thailand....

And your basis of this was what? your opinion only?

Not a single Country put out a danger warning calling for all it's citizens to flee the Kingdom due to civil war being imminent

Not a single Intelligence agency believed civil war was about to unfold.

There has already been a civil war ongoing for the past 10 years in the South.

There was never the logistical support to launch a civil war, what were they going to use weapons wise?

Who was going to go to war? All the reds against all the yellows?

Why was the whole of the Royal Thai Army not on a war footing, Ports and Airports under Military control?

Thaksinland and the rest of Thailand? Do you mean the whole of the country against Bangkok?

What makes you think the Thais have the stomach to go all out and engage each other where thousands will have been killed?

By stating there would have been an all out civil war, it would be safe to say you believe the "yellows/Non Thaksin" elements to be sufficiently armed to protect themselves, and at some stage go on the offensive?

Do you honestly believe the RTA would have been able to function after mass desertions with lots of soldiers returning home to defend their families from reds/yellows/and greens?

How much military knowledge do you posses, to be able to begin to fathom how much logistics, from basics like Ammunition, Vehicles and POL (fuel) required to mobilise even 1,000 hardcore fighters on both sides? considering the magic number of 7% keeps getting mentioned as to the strength of the UDD, that by the way is a whopping 4.5 MILLION people, I doubt the Chinese Army could mobilise this much at short notice.

Who would command the sides considering you still have Army officers within the RTA who are loyal to Thaksin in some shape or form..

[h90]

I like it calm

Don't miss the red shirts shooting or burning down something

[oneday]

A very good article that sums up the situation very nicely.

It's a breath of fresh air to read a well written article with a lot of truth in it.

[MaeJoMTB]

I'll take a "superficial calm" any day over what was about to happen.... an all out civil war with the likely deaths of thousands and a splitting of the country into "Thaksinland" and the rest of Thailand....

There was never the logistical support to launch a civil war, what were they going to use weapons wise?

Who was going to go to war? All the reds against all the yellows?

Why was the whole of the Royal Thai Army not on a war footing, Ports and Airports under Military control?

Quit often civil war is supported by factions in the existing army.

They already have plenty of guns and tanks.

I don't think there will be any problems with people finding weapons, if they really want them.

[stoffel45]

There are many benefits from having Law and Order restored.

I can cross Bangkok without having to worry about being shot or bombed by a red-shirted terrorist.

Business owners and shopkeepers can get on with their liveliehoods without fear of being maimed or killed by political protesters.

Yes we can isolate a few, frankly not very important other than to a very small number of people, areas - but plenty of people are reading the Bangkok Post which is clearly anti-Junta aren't they.

Hopefully the Government will really tackle the methods used by vote rigging, vote buying would be MPs. When they are caught they should be banned from public life in any capacity for life along with all who helped them. Their Parties should be fined out of existence.

If we do not stamp out political corruption and vote buying - we will never get rid of the Shinawatra plagues.

[Alwyn]

We all have our opinions on the coup, the fearless new leader and where the country is headed etc so no point debating it as it is only opinions after all. But two things in the article leapt out at me;

1. " Prayuth acknowledged that seizing power was wrong. But he nevertheless defended the overthrow of Yingluck Shinawatra's government," He didn't overthrow anything, the government had ceded and stepped down. There was only a caretaker government in place that had tried to hold fresh elections and we all know how that ended

2. "Supporters of the Shinawatras say the junta and its allies are following through on one of their main goals: to dismantle the family's political machine" Right and wrong. Sure the Shins political machine is being dismantled but more importantly, the whole country's political machine has been dismantled.

[MaeJoMTB]

If we do not stamp out political corruption and vote buying - we will never get rid of the Shinawatra plagues.

'We' .......... you're a foreigner, don't think you have a horse in this race

[Alwyn]

There are many benefits from having Law and Order restored.

I can cross Bangkok without having to worry about being shot or bombed by a red-shirted terrorist.

Business owners and shopkeepers can get on with their liveliehoods without fear of being maimed or killed by political protesters.

Yes we can isolate a few, frankly not very important other than to a very small number of people, areas - but plenty of people are reading the Bangkok Post which is clearly anti-Junta aren't they.

Hopefully the Government will really tackle the methods used by vote rigging, vote buying would be MPs. When they are caught they should be banned from public life in any capacity for life along with all who helped them. Their Parties should be fined out of existence.

If we do not stamp out political corruption and vote buying - we will never get rid of the Shinawatra plagues.

oh, did I miss something? I thought it was Suthep and his yellow shirt buddies that were seizing control of government buildings etc this time? Law and order restored my ass! People (mainly farang, both expats and tourists) are getting the shake down by police every day in Bangkok, it's worse than before the illegal coup!

Edited May 23, 2015 by Alwyn

[MockingJay]

What is better - a superficial calm or a deep, bleeding cut? Thailand and its people are unfit for democracy. As soon as Prayut steps back, the kerfuffle will start again, with some loud, superficial idiots ranting on stages, common people acting as they were police or army, red shirts burning down the capital with their superficial leaders also ranting on stage, etc... it will never end until all Thai people agree to keep their holes shut for the 4 years any party has been elected into government and the parties agree to get votes through good governance and solid programs, but not by buying them.

Since all that are things Thais would never follow suit, because they are "oh, so free", I fear that democracy (if there ever was a true democracy in Thailand) will never return, especially not in times where such a mountain of odds and such an array of possible negative outcomes are blocking the path.

Everyone, including the human rights commissioners, who has better ideas on how to govern under the given circumstances should approach Prayuth and provide his idea for solutions. I believe I even read in a much older thread that he asked people to come forward with ideas. If the people don't grab this chance they also have none to very little right to rant about nothing being done or moan about superficial achievements.

Honestly, I don't envy Prayuth for the position he is in. Id' say it's a catch 22.

Edited May 23, 2015 by MockingJay

[Pinot]

I think he's done a fantastic job.

Here in Phuket the beaches have never looked better. There has been a serious dent in the cesspool of corruption that was Phuket last year.

The progress here in Phuket would have been unimaginable without the coup. I'm a big supporter of the General and hope he stays in office forever. Who needs democracy?

[Fat Haggis]

There are many benefits from having Law and Order restored.

I can cross Bangkok without having to worry about being shot or bombed by a red-shirted terrorist.

Business owners and shopkeepers can get on with their liveliehoods without fear of being maimed or killed by political protesters.

Yes we can isolate a few, frankly not very important other than to a very small number of people, areas - but plenty of people are reading the Bangkok Post which is clearly anti-Junta aren't they.

Hopefully the Government will really tackle the methods used by vote rigging, vote buying would be MPs. When they are caught they should be banned from public life in any capacity for life along with all who helped them. Their Parties should be fined out of existence.

If we do not stamp out political corruption and vote buying - we will never get rid of the Shinawatra plagues.

Did you ever try to remove a cone from Lumpini at night?

The odd think was I walked through many parts of Bangkok, I was never afraid, I was smart though, when they said the protest areas were volatile places to be, I took that as my cue of staying the F away from them.

Nice to see the vote buying cropping up again, despite it being a total red herring, Abhist and Korn don't whine about this as much as Farangs do, They have the right to cast a vote, the cry baby farangs... well, dry your eyes, cause you don't!!

Want to beat vote buying? simples, have something in common with the people you want to vote for you, and have better policies than ALL the other candidates.

[Suffinator]

Shortly after seizing power in a coup that followed months of debilitating street protests, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha vowed to end Thailand's decade of political upheaval once and for all. In his words, "to bring everything out in the open and fix it."

What exactly has he fixed? The answer ... bugger all. He should of started off with corruption by opening up his own personal wealth to public scrutiny but of course that was never going to happen. I've read reports that he's worth millions of dollars and yet his annual army salary was just 1.4m baht ... how do you accumulate such vast wealth from such pittance?

"Our differences have just been pushed under the rug by a junta that prohibits freedom of expression. Nothing has been done to address the root causes of Thailand's deep divide," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Yep and your basic human rights will continue to be abused as long as you have a dictator in control who works solely for the interests of the ruling elite. What's the different between Prayut and Thaskin ... not a whole lot, it's all about money and control.

Speaking to reporters the same day, Prayuth acknowledged that seizing power was wrong.

Actually if you want to get technical it was an illegal act known as treason but let's not worry about that when you have first place at the trough.

By contrast, criminal charges have been dropped against former lawmaker Suthep Thaugsuban, who led the protests that set the stage for last year's coup. His supporters had brazenly seized government ministries, attacked the prime minister's office with homemade rockets, and disrupted an election that Yingluck called in a failed bid to defuse the crisis.

Yeah but that's just another technicality that Prayut is prepared to overlook as it fits in the political ideology of getting power back in the hands of the ruling elite. This ain't rocket science folks just clear undeniable facts.

Let's be honest ... from day one all you've had is the rhetoric of peace through reform but nothing tangible has materialized.

Thailand's issues center around corruption and power and until the day that the likes of Thaskin and the ruling elite are put out of the picture the issue of the military coup will be played out time and time again; it's not about not learning from your mistakes but rather pure greed and corruption.

[glegolo]

I must say that I give all my applause to the military who really focus on trying to put this corrupted nation on its feets for the first time ever. It will be a cold day in hell when this nation voluntarily will abandon their habits of corruption..... When even munks dealing with it, it really sucks

Glegolo

[konying]

So the only choice is to keep country under military rule until morons who create problems either die or get bored.

[EnglishJohn]

"The drafters say such reforms are designed to check abuse by corrupt politicians, a problem acknowledged by all sides. But Pheu Thai officials say the real aim is to prevent their party from governing effectively if it wins again."

So the drafters and Pheu-Thai officials agree.

[marinediscoking]

I think he's done a fantastic job.

Here in Phuket the beaches have never looked better. There has been a serious dent in the cesspool of corruption that was Phuket last year.

The progress here in Phuket would have been unimaginable without the coup. I'm a big supporter of the General and hope he stays in office forever. Who needs democracy?

Have the jet ski extortions stopped?

Can one get a taxi for under 200 bath on short distance trips?

Are all the beach venders gone?

Is Phuket city hall doing anything different?

[retarius]

Simples.....just make it illegal to campaign or vote against the constitution....they did it last time, why not now?

[northernjohn]

"...and no input from the Pheu Thai party it toppled or their supporters, who likely still represent a majority of the electorate."

Nothing but junta propaganda polls say any different.

You are very very wrong. You must be a PTP supporter. Every one else knows that the popularity vote was against the PTP 49% does not represent the majority.

Where did you learn your arithmetic? Or did you learn any?

[MaeJoMTB]

"...and no input from the Pheu Thai party it toppled or their supporters, who likely still represent a majority of the electorate."

Nothing but junta propaganda polls say any different.

You are very very wrong. You must be a PTP supporter. Every one else knows that the popularity vote was against the PTP 49% does not represent the majority.

Where did you learn your arithmetic? Or did you learn any?

36% works for the conservatives ..................

[nithisa78]

Since the 21st Century Thailand has barely had a government long enough to facilitate any changes for, We the people.

This is the most imposition on people who can't properly take care of themselves, their tastes and desires or the tastes and desires of others.

It is little to no imposition on those who have seized the opportunities that are ever present and learned to take care of themselves.

Forget the drama of politics, pay attention and persevere. If one person can, any of We can.

[metisdead]

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

[tonbridgebrit]

This article is acually negative about the coup. It's used the word 'putsch', not a nice word that. It's good for the Associated Press that they are not a Thai newspaper. If they were, well, they'd be closed down.

Actually no, the Nation Newspaper has printed countless negative stories about the coup, and they're still allowed to operate. So, Thai newspapers don't actually get closed down if they make negative comments about the coup.

Back to the article. "Speaking to reporters the same day, Prayuth acknowledged that seizing power was wrong. But he nevertheless defended the overthrow of Yingluck Shinawatra's government". Hold on, wait a minute, are Associated Press making this up ? Did the General really 'acknowledged that seizing power was wrong' ???

[The Deerhunter]

I'll take a "superficial calm" any day over what was about to happen.... an all out civil war with the likely deaths of thousands and a splitting of the country into "Thaksinland" and the rest of Thailand....

And your basis of this was what? your opinion only?

Not a single Country put out a danger warning calling for all it's citizens to flee the Kingdom due to civil war being imminent

Not a single Intelligence agency believed civil war was about to unfold.

There has already been a civil war ongoing for the past 10 years in the South.

There was never the logistical support to launch a civil war, what were they going to use weapons wise?

Who was going to go to war? All the reds against all the yellows?

Why was the whole of the Royal Thai Army not on a war footing, Ports and Airports under Military control?

Thaksinland and the rest of Thailand? Do you mean the whole of the country against Bangkok?

What makes you think the Thais have the stomach to go all out and engage each other where thousands will have been killed?

By stating there would have been an all out civil war, it would be safe to say you believe the "yellows/Non Thaksin" elements to be sufficiently armed to protect themselves, and at some stage go on the offensive?

Do you honestly believe the RTA would have been able to function after mass desertions with lots of soldiers returning home to defend their families from reds/yellows/and greens?

How much military knowledge do you posses, to be able to begin to fathom how much logistics, from basics like Ammunition, Vehicles and POL (fuel) required to mobilise even 1,000 hardcore fighters on both sides? considering the magic number of 7% keeps getting mentioned as to the strength of the UDD, that by the way is a whopping 4.5 MILLION people, I doubt the Chinese Army could mobilise this much at short notice.

Who would command the sides considering you still have Army officers within the RTA who are loyal to Thaksin in some shape or form..

So the claims/boast of having a million guns (by your PTP/UDD/TCP heroes) was a totally responsible and therefore completely benign and unthreatening porkie?

Edited May 23, 2015 by The Deerhunter

[Bob12345]

I think he's done a fantastic job.

Here in Phuket the beaches have never looked better. There has been a serious dent in the cesspool of corruption that was Phuket last year.

The progress here in Phuket would have been unimaginable without the coup. I'm a big supporter of the General and hope he stays in office forever. Who needs democracy?

Good to see you got your priorities straight: good looking beaches > voting rights, human rights, free press, democracy.

I suppose you were being sarcastic, but that is often hard to detect as some people type similar messages as you just did and actually mean it. So just to be sure you weren't serious, can you give some examples of the progress that has been made in the past year (specifics about the cesspool of corruption that have now been cleared up) in Phuket excluding some window dressing that happens under every government every year?