Thai public must have say on PM staying on

[webfact]

Public must have say on PM staying on
SOMROUTAI SAPSOMBOON
THE NATION

CLARITY NEEDED ON WHAT REFORMS ARE INTENDED TO BE ACHIEVED IN TWO YEARS

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's recent clear hint that he is ready to continue in his post to reform the country has become a hot political topic, dominating other political news.

The move is not unprecedented as the same suggestion was proposed in May - but it got no response from Prayut and the offer to continue in power was met with opposition.

At that time, the National Reform Council (NRC) proposed an amendment to Article 308 of the charter draft. The original version of the provision said that after the charter takes effect, a general election must be called within 90 days and senators selected within 150 days. The amendment proposed that after the charter took effect, a public referendum be held to decide if the people agreed with implementing reform for two years before calling a general election.

The sentiment has picked up this time after NRC member Manoon Siriwan explained the reason behind the amendment proposal to the charter drafters. Reporters then asked Prayut last Thursday and he said if the people wanted him to stay in power for another two years, he would - but they would have to find a way to protect him against allegations levelled domestically or internationally that he wanted to cling to power.

During the joint meeting of the NRC, the National Legislative Assembly and the Cabinet on the same day, NRC member Paiboon Nititawan asked Prayut again - and the PM affirmed the same stance.

With the PM's firm decision to continue working, some NRC members have made a new proposal - asking voters who want "reform before election" to sign a petition and send to the PM, calling for holding a plebiscite on whether a reform should be implemented for two years before a general election was held.

This method would lead to an amendment of the 2014 provisional charter to pave the way for a referendum to be held for the purpose. It would speed up the referendum process more than the amendment of Article 308. Besides, if this political channel failed, lawmakers could opt to amend provision 308 of the charter draft as another way to help Prayut continue in his post.

Paiboon is a former senator from the group of 40 ex-senators who joined the People's Democratic Alliance for Democracy (PDRC) in ousting the Yingluck government. It is not surprising that Phra Buddha Issara, another core PDRC leader, also volunteered to lead the campaign to gather 50,000 signatures to hold a plebiscite.

The move to implement reform two years before calling a general election is equal to the move to have Prayut stay in power for another two years. No one can give a clear answer what the two-year reform is about. Does it mean to solve major problems facing the country - or to draft a new charter - or to dissolve political or national division? During its campaign to oust the Yingluck government, one of the PDRC's major demands was to implement reforms before a general election.

PDRC ex-chief Phra Suthep Paphakaro recently said he would leave the monkhood because "the country had a situation that needed his help".

It appears that the moves happened coincidentally and simultaneously - but Paiboon immediately dismissed speculation that Phra Suthep would join his move to seek the people's signatures, saying he had not been in touch with the monk.

Another coincidental move involved political groups and politicians who had said in April they did not mind if a general election was postponed for a few years so that charter drafting could be completed, as they preferred a democratic charter.

Those led to the big question - whether it was an intended plot to delay the election. Prayut himself has never shut the door on staying longer than the government's road map to democracy. Although Prayut always insisted that "the road map is on schedule" he also said "everything depends on the situation".

Prayut's major concern in continuing his administration is not domestic pressure - since he believes he is in control - but opposition from abroad, which is beyond his control. The pressure from foreign communities could negatively affect the business sector and bring about serious business damage.

Only if Prayut receives public backing to continue in his post with legitimacy - like through a public referendum - should he think twice about staying in power for another two years.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Public-must-have-say-on-PM-staying-on-30261829.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-08

[shirtless]

Thais really need to understand they do not live in a democracy, is everyone equal hell ., no freedom of speech, the country is fast becoming a laughing stock as the circus continues.

[quandow]

The public will be told what to say.

[rijb]

What will the 'reform' do? Reform the government? Reform the people? Or is 'reform' another word for 'purge'?

[tracker1]

Reporters then asked Prayut last Thursday and he said if the people wanted him to stay in power for another two years, he would - but they would have to find a way to protect him against allegations levelled domestically or internationally that he wanted to cling to power.Asking the Thai people to protect him, well that amazes me ! how does the common people achieve that ?

[smutcakes]

13 months in and still no idea what reforms to make.

Exactly the same as PDRC, squeal about reform this, that and the other, but no detail or real plan to do it.

Two more years for what? He has had a year and not one reform has been undertaken. As someone mentioned on another topic, a good editorial illustrating this in the other newspaper today.

[Lovekorat]

Keep hearing about this road map?

Has he put the wrong coordinates into his satnav and got lost?

Or perhaps he went out on the roads, nearly got wiped out by an uninsured, unlicensed driver and decided the reforms go deeper than he is willing to accept or able to do anything about.

Or perhaps he has a road map that says " all roads must lead to me and no criticism please"

Take your pick.

[Godders]

All those in favour of the general staying on as Prime Minister, tick this box. All those against report to the military for attitude adjustment.

[Fat Haggis]

Keep hearing about this road map?

Has he put the wrong coordinates into his satnav and got lost?

Or perhaps he went out on the roads, nearly got wiped out by an uninsured, unlicensed driver and decided the reforms go deeper than he is willing to accept or able to do anything about.

Or perhaps he has a road map that says " all roads must lead to me and no criticism please"

Take your pick.

Perhaps he's a Talking Heads fan, and he's on the road to nowhere?

[Praematura]

Yes put it to a vote! I think North Korea elected their boy by 99%?

All this duplicitous effort isn't going to fool the west.

[h90]

Yes put it to a vote! I think North Korea elected their boy by 99%?

All this duplicitous effort isn't going to fool the west.

Or just make 2 army parties with 2 generals and let the public vote....American Style.

[Fat Haggis]

Yes put it to a vote! I think North Korea elected their boy by 99%?

All this duplicitous effort isn't going to fool the west.

Or just make 2 army parties with 2 generals and let the public vote....American Style.

Except that they normally have all been senators and congressmen prior to even getting to run for president and the campaign there involves billions of $$$$ so really?

Nothing like American style at all.

[Alwyn]

"Public must have say on PM staying on".. What, like an election?

[MockingJay]

Rrrright, public must have a say in a dict.... sorry, in a compromised, blurry yet strict, interim junta-alike goversomething, of course they must!

[sawadee1947]

13 months in and still no idea what reforms to make.

Exactly the same as PDRC, squeal about reform this, that and the other, but no detail or real plan to do it.

Two more years for what? He has had a year and not one reform has been undertaken. As someone mentioned on another topic, a good editorial illustrating this in the other newspaper today.

Two more years for what?

well, they need 2 years more to fill their own pockets.....as any government before....that's Thai meaning of democracy

[Praematura]

The additional time is literally to play kingmaker or maybe that's how long it takes to finish his bike lane initiative.[emoji19]

[h90]

Yes put it to a vote! I think North Korea elected their boy by 99%?

All this duplicitous effort isn't going to fool the west.

Or just make 2 army parties with 2 generals and let the public vote....American Style.

Except that they normally have all been senators and congressmen prior to even getting to run for president and the campaign there involves billions of $$$$ so really?

Nothing like American style at all.

Of course at congressmen and senators you know already all the big industry who is willing to spend some extra money to get the laws they want. That is a big advantage for them. As well controlling the mass media with money is much more elegant then controlling them with the gun.

So yes there are differences but just minor. Both isn't even remote something similar to democracy as it was designed (that the people select their best (anyone really thinking that Bush or Obama is Americans best?) and people decide the politic and their representants just figure out the details).

[chickenslegs]

The additional time is literally to play kingmaker or maybe that's how long it takes to finish his bike lane initiative.[emoji19]

You are saying what a lot of people are thinking.

As far as I know, there is no law against "thinking" it.

But you can get into a lot of trouble for "saying" it.

[h90]

13 months in and still no idea what reforms to make.

Exactly the same as PDRC, squeal about reform this, that and the other, but no detail or real plan to do it.

Two more years for what? He has had a year and not one reform has been undertaken. As someone mentioned on another topic, a good editorial illustrating this in the other newspaper today.

Two more years for what?

well, they need 2 years more to fill their own pockets.....as any government before....that's Thai meaning of democracy

Well no previous government filled their own pockets as shameless as the Shinawatra governments......I think that the General himself is clean so the corruption will be a minimum (minimum relative to the usual Thai level).

[smutcakes]

13 months in and still no idea what reforms to make.

Exactly the same as PDRC, squeal about reform this, that and the other, but no detail or real plan to do it.

Two more years for what? He has had a year and not one reform has been undertaken. As someone mentioned on another topic, a good editorial illustrating this in the other newspaper today.

Two more years for what?

well, they need 2 years more to fill their own pockets.....as any government before....that's Thai meaning of democracy

Well no previous government filled their own pockets as shameless as the Shinawatra governments......I think that the General himself is clean so the corruption will be a minimum (minimum relative to the usual Thai level).

I would say that over the decades the military and civil servants have siphoned off many times more from the Thai public than the Shinawtras could even dream of.

[Laughing Gravy]

13 months in and still no idea what reforms to make.

Exactly the same as PDRC, squeal about reform this, that and the other, but no detail or real plan to do it.

Two more years for what? He has had a year and not one reform has been undertaken. As someone mentioned on another topic, a good editorial illustrating this in the other newspaper today.

Two more years for what?

well, they need 2 years more to fill their own pockets.....as any government before....that's Thai meaning of democracy

Well no previous government filled their own pockets as shameless as the Shinawatra governments......I think that the General himself is clean so the corruption will be a minimum (minimum relative to the usual Thai level).

Now I have picked myself off the floor for the clean comment.

Mentioning previous Pm's does make it right. There should not be a bar of who is more corrupt or who steals the most money etc.