Thai talk: WHICH ROAD MAP are we talking about today?

[webfact]

THAI TALK
WHICH ROAD MAP are we talking about today?

BANGKOK: -- If someone should ask you today whether you believe the government will ultimately follow its road map, you should respond with a question: "Which road map are you talking about?"

As it turns out, there is not just one road map being bandied about. The original road map has undergone a series of transformations and will continue to be amended - so much so that the final version may not be recognisable by the time it is declared ready to be launched.

That, perhaps, is why Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked reporters to stop posing questions about his road map. He said last week that he was tired of answering the same question over and over. He needs to spend time getting work done, he said, not engaging reporters in daily sparring about the road map.

The truth may be more complicated, though. Prayut is probably reluctant to be pinned down on specifics by correspondents at Government House because he isn't quite sure himself what twists and turns may emerge on this winding road towards the next election.

That he insists on "sticking to the road map" may be a way of avoiding discussing possible changes that appear to have emerged now that the constitution draft is being wrapped up - marking a crucial turning point.

Of course, he realises he can't make a U-turn, but then there is no preventing roadblocks from sprouting along the way.

For one thing, there is no telling whether the National Reform Council (NRC) will pass the draft charter when they cast their votes on September 4. Already, a segment of the premier's supporters has suggested that the draft be rejected so that the current administration can stay on to carry out the promised reform before elections are held.

It's not clear whether these advocates belong to the same group of NRC members who had earlier proposed that a referendum be held to ask the public to support a two-year "pause" before elections are held. Now, with several amendments in the works, it is increasingly likely that the same referendum on the draft charter may also include a question on whether the public is in favour of a two-year "reform" period before elections.

That's where the possible confusion may emerge: The Election Commission has set January 10, 2016 for the referendum on the draft constitution. The main question to be put forward in this national opinion poll is obviously: Do you accept the draft constitution as it stands? It's basically a "Yes or No" question.

But now that the Cabinet has asked the NRC and the National Legislative Assembly to propose one additional question each for the referendum ballot, nobody can tell how the outcome of the public vote will be interpreted.

What if the majority of voters say "yes" to the draft charter but are also in favour of a two-year "reform" period before elections? Would the two-year "pause" override the immediate enforcement of the new constitution? Or would the draft charter be suspended for two years?

What if the third question on the referendum form asks the people to decide on one of the most controversial issues of the new charter: Can a non-MP be made the prime minister? Would the votes for the first question cancel out those for the third question?

These are all hypothetical questions, of course, since anything could happen to all these major political bodies set up by the National Council for Peace and Order headed by General Prayut himself.

His public stance remains: I am not interested in staying on in power after my mission is accomplished according to the road map. But since the road map is still in the process of being revised, the timetable could be rewritten, with significant changes made along the way.

If anyone tries to engage you in conversation about "the" road map, make sure to ask: Which road map are you talking about?

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/WHICH-ROAD-MAP-are-we-talking-about-today-30262547.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-18

[wow64]

Have not meet many thais that could read a map.

Maybe thats the real problem.

Sent from my c64

[billphillips]

It's extremely difficult to follow a roadmap whilst it's in the process of constant change. Likewise, the final destination and duration of a journey becomes a mystery too. Sounds familiar to me for some reason.

[Just1Voice]

This is like Dorthy's worst nightmare while on the Yellow Brick Road to find Oz.

[greenchair]

What a mess.

[Srikcir]

Prayut's Roadmap should be renamed "FINAL DESTINATION #12" as the last military coup the Junta expects to engage.