Buddha Issara submits 50,000 signatures in support of election delay

[webfact]

50,000 Signatures Submitted in Support of Election Delay
By Khaosod English


Panadda Diskul ( R ), Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, accepts the petition from Phra Buddha Issara (L) at Government House in Bangkok, 9 June 2015

BANGKOK - The ultra-conservative activist monk Phra Buddha Issara has submitted the 50,000 signatures he collected to show support for junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to stay in power until national reforms are completed.

Buddha Issara, a key activist who led the street protests that culminated in Gen. Prayuth's coup d'etat against the elected government in May 2014, said the 50,000 petitioners urged the government to accomplish the reforms of the country before any new election is held.

The monk also urged the junta to hold a referendum to decide the issue. Panadda Diskul, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, accepted the petition on Gen. Prayuth's behalf.

Under the current "road map" promised by the junta, the next election will be held in September 2016 at the earliest.

Buddha Issara's proposal is similar to a petition submitted by 26 members of the junta-appointed National Reform Council, which call for a referendum to decide whether Gen. Prayuth should delay the election and stay in power for two more years in order to complete the national reforms, though Buddha Issara has not mentioned any time frame of how long Gen. Prayuth should stay on.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1433830940


-- Khaosod English 2015-06-09

[Thai at Heart]

He petitioned people for their opinions? Isnt' campainging on any issue illegal at the moment?

[trd]

He's breaking his Buddhist vows as a monk to not get involved in worldly affairs.

Edited June 9, 2015 by trd

[webfact]

Activist monk submits 50,000 signatures to support extending of govt's tenure
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Phra Buddha Isara, an activist monk who led protest against the previous government, Tuesday submitted a list of 50,000 voters to the National Reform Council.

The list was given to the NRC to call for an amendment to the interim charter so that a public referendum could be held on the extension of the tenure of the interim government.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Activist-monk-submits-50000-signatures-to-support--30261925.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-09

[Bannum opinions]

Again, talk of 'referendums'.

I'm extremely suspicious about this talk of referendums.

Those in support of referendums for this or that, be very careful what you wish for.

There are referendums and then there are referendums. They are not a "one size fits all".

All talk about referendums should be preceded by describing their process....then determining if they are worth having. Are they intended to be a whitewashing, unrepresentative and thoroughly managed process, or a clear attempt to garner informed majority opinion. "Informed" meaning that both sides of the political divide being given equal access to the voting public......Unfortunately, there are some in Thailand who consider such a debate to be "political conflict"

Referendums rooted in anti-Democrat sources will be vastly different than those emanating from Democratic principles.

Anti-democrat, anti-electoral types are not paragons of unfettered public representative processes.......More into creating a facade of legitimization.

A little like laundering anti-democratic initiatives.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Bannum opinions

[EnzoRippo]

50,000 this is nothing.

[ratcatcher]

He's breaking his Buddhist vows as a monk to not get involved in worldly affairs.

Can he be compared to the Dalai Lama?

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/07/content_12131293.htm

[Andreas2]

Homage to the state and it's armed forces is meanwhile also a very common practice in the West, especially in the US.

Obviously many religious leaders have more faith in secular leadership than their own spiritual leaders and their commandments.

There is a quite big community of faith, which seems to have forgotten, that their own holy leader's son was horribly tortured and killed for his faith, challenging the state... Finally killed by the same state and its soldiers, as they initially failed doing so when he was born.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Andreas2

[Plutojames88]

Such holy people on the side of Military rule and forbidden freedoms ?

Seems a bit like the American evangelists and their noteworthy hobbies

Edited June 9, 2015 by Plutojames88

[webfact]

Activist abbot urges Prayut to stay on to accomplish reforms in two years

BANGKOK: -- The activist abbot of Wat Ornoi in Nakhon Pathom, Phra Buddha-isra, today submitted a list of 50,000 names to support reform-before-election proposal to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha Tuesday morning.

The reform-before-election proposal means to allow the prime minister to stay in power for another two years to ensure that all reforms have achieved to pave way for clean and clear election.

The political active monk arrived at Government House where he was received by Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office MR Panadda Disakul.

He then handed over the list and a letter to the prime minister via the minister.

The activist monk said the goal of his movement was to encourage the prime minister to extend his term in office for another two years so that he could accomplish his major task of national reform.

He also said it was the wish of the people to see Gen Prayut remains in power for another two years to restore full peace and order in the country before election is held.

They wanted him to accomplish the reform as they have no trust in the elected government to do the job, the abbot said.

After finishing the reform, then election could follow, he said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/activist-abbot-urges-prayut-to-stay-on-to-accomplish-reforms-in-two-years


-- Thai PBS 2015-06-09

[Your Thainess]

He's breaking his Buddhist vows as a monk to not get involved in worldly affairs.

Can he be compared to the Dalai Lama?

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/07/content_12131293.htm

The Dalai Lama is a head of state and represents a different sect of Buddhism.

He's also respectably smart. This guy's nothing but a tosser.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Your Thainess

[webfact]

Phra Buddha Issara submits petition to extend reform timeframe

BANGKOK, 9 June 2015 (NNT) - Activist monk Phra Buddha Issara has gathered 50,000 signatures to petition the extension of the reform roadmap timeframe and for the Prime Minister to remain in office for another two years.

The abbot handed the petition to First Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Surachai Liengboonlertchai. The petition calls for an amendment to the 2014 interim constitution which would extend the reform timeframe for another two years, in order to further introduce reforms to various to the country before holding general elections.

Mr Surachai ensured the abbot he would forward the petition to the general NLA assembly for consideration.


-- NNT 2015-06-09

[DNPBC0]

.... and the key questions never get answered. Exactly what reforms and on what basis will it be known that they are completed?

[phoenixdoglover]

I don't suppose the petition actually defined "reforms".

I don't see the reforms that will make difference in the long run. Just a smattering of actions against corrupt individuals. No systemic changes.

And I don't see reform proposals from the NRC or NLA or the NCPO.

One issue that has been raised, and resulted in actions is the improper use of reserved lands. Land has been reclaimed, and a very limited number of officials have been implicated. Where is the proposal for a reform that will prevent this official corruption in the future?

I don't think the current government is serious about reform. Serious about staging "crackdowns"? Yes. Serious about reform? No.

[DLang]

Of course he does.

Those who won the last four democratic elections, and were then removed by the elite, haven't all been purged yet....

No point having fair elections while your party still has some competition.

[smutcakes]

I wonder how this activist at will seems to be able to meet, greet and discuss issues with the upper persons in the Government. I wonder how Khun Somchai from Nakorn Nowhere would get on trying to meet this people and submit a petition......

I expect they would not get far, yet this monk seems to have unrestricted and frequent access to them somehow.

[dageurreotype]

.... and the key questions never get answered. Exactly what reforms and on what basis will it be known that they are completed?

Exactly. And this monk knows this. So what's he really up to? He may be many things but stupid isn't one of them.

[ratcatcher]

He's breaking his Buddhist vows as a monk to not get involved in worldly affairs.

Can he be compared to the Dalai Lama?

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/07/content_12131293.htm

The Dalai Lama is a head of state and represents a different sect of Buddhism.

He's also respectably smart. This guy's nothing but a tosser.

As much as I respect HH Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama and agree he is a very intelligent man, can you tell me of which state he is head? I know he is the spiritual leader of Tibet.

Edited June 9, 2015 by ratcatcher

[ratcatcher]

I wonder how this activist at will seems to be able to meet, greet and discuss issues with the upper persons in the Government. I wonder how Khun Somchai from Nakorn Nowhere would get on trying to meet this people and submit a petition......

I expect they would not get far, yet this monk seems to have unrestricted and frequent access to them somehow.

Why are you wondering why he can meet the top brass, in this case MR Panadda Disakul, and have them wai him?

Surely it is obvious. He is "one of them". That should answer the question.

Good old Somchai from just outside Nakon Nowhere is merely a chaao baan, a pleb.

[docshock13]

He's breaking his Buddhist vows as a monk to not get involved in worldly affairs.

Can he be compared to the Dalai Lama?

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/07/content_12131293.htm

The Dalai Lama is a head of state and represents a different sect of Buddhism.

He's also respectably smart. This guy's nothing but a tosser.

Just a political agitator hiding behind a saffron robe. He is the antithesis of Buddhist philosophy and practice.

[Goanna]

If we can't win then no one will. Childish at the least. No Election means the people can't vote their choice, which isn't him.

[ddavidovsky]

More theatre. That's the way these chuckleheads will hold onto power, because that's the way they came into power.

[In Town]

Does this mean that Khun Tida can no go out and collect signatures on a petition to hold an election tomorrow? Somehow I doubt it. One law (or no law) for yellows, another for the prai.

[harada]

50,000 out of 68 million?

[chainarong]

Firstly the state should be separate from the Church and the Church should be separate from the State and for that matter so should the Military.in other-words let the elected members get on running the country, let the Church say their prayers and let the military provide security , unfortunately this is Thailand and perhaps before this , they never heard of separation of State and Church.

[Praematura]

The ignorant soliciting the incompetent

[Fat Haggis]

50,000 out of 68 million?

48500 more than your average Junta approved polls ?

The decks are getting stacked more and more but at then end of the day, the Thai people will get what they wished for.

It's when the farangs start feeling the effects as in their title deeds and all those who bought homes as companies that will see a change of attitudes.

No point in whining here, it's pissing against the wind and at the end of the day the smart people will fully know exactly why things are going the way they are.

It's no coincidence that Suthep has been vocal, could it be that the PDRC themselves have told the junta we put you there, we want reforms, gives us them or else we take to the streets? Sounds absurd doesn't it? But it isn't that absurd once you realise that it's all a game to the rich and powerful.

[diehard60]

Why is he not behind bars? He should be locked up along with suthep.

[Solomon]

1 page with 50 signatures photocopied 1000 times .

[Shaunduhpostman]

Phra Buddha Issara, the next figurehead of state with deputy minister Phra Suthep in tow? I wouldn't put it past Thailand for that to be waiting in the wings.