CDC makes final decision on composition of Thai Senate

[webfact]

CDC makes final decision on composition of Senate
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) resolved yesterday that 77 senators would be elected and 123 senators indirectly elected, a source said yesterday.

The 77 provinces would elect one senator each, but a committee to search 10 specialists and people of high moral grounds in each province as indicated earlier in the draft charter. The idea of the committee has been dropped so voters can freely vote for a senator.

The indirectly elected senators would be divided into four groups. The first group will comprise of former civil servants who once served as a ministry's permanent secretary or held post at an equal level, military officials who serve in management posts, those who served as supreme commanders, or were part of the military top brass. There can be no more than five senators from this group, instead of 10 as previously indicated.

The second group will comprise of professionals, who will be chosen using drawing lots. There will be no more than 15 senators in this group. The reason the senators will be chosen via drawing lots is because the CDC expects candidates from up to 30 organisations, and picking names randomly would be most efficient.

The third group will be comprised of representatives from legal bodies hailing from the agriculture, labour, academic and education, community and local sectors. Six people will be selected from each of these sectors.

The fourth group will comprise of 68 specialists and people known for their high moral grounds, who will be selected from various sectors such as administration, legal and justice, science and technology, arts and culture, religion, consumer protection, youth and women, disabled and local wisdom advocates and others. The draft charter previously indicated that there would be 58 senators from this group.

The CDC has also assigned its spokesman General Lertrat Rattanwanit to design the structure of the selection committee, who will select the 68 specialists.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-makes-final-decision-on-composition-of-Senate-30263994.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-08

[NeverSure]

[peterjackson]

Quote....The fourth group will comprise of 68 specialists and people known for their high moral grounds

That's going to be a tall order.

[Somtamnication]

Oh goody. Sitting here anxiously waiting for their phone call!

[tbthailand]

polish the turd, polish the turd...

[tbthailand]

so basically, the Senate will be controlled by the military and the elite and filled with their pawns and patsies.

great...

[Toknarok]

so basically, the Senate will be controlled by the military and the elite and filled with their pawns and patsies.

great...

Did you really expect anything different?

[halloween]

so basically, the Senate will be controlled by the military and the elite and filled with their pawns and patsies.

great...

I don't much military representation, but of course quite a few "elite" if that's what you call educated people. Which might make a good balance for the "pawns and patsies" selling their votes in the lower house, as I still haven't seen any proposed ban on MPs accepting payment other than their salary.

BYW shouldn't a fully elected senate have equal representation? Care to comment on your own country's failure with that? I know the people of NSW get heartily sick of our senate being controlled by greens and religious bigots from Tasmania elected with 1/10th the vote of their member.

[oneday]

"...123 senators indirectly elected, a source said yesterday..."

Absolutely disgusting. This isn't even a semblance of Democracy. Fifty/fifty would have been bad enough, but 61.5% not elected is a sham.

[JakeSully]

Just divide the country already and have muslimistan down south, suthepistan in the middle and prostitutionistan in Isaan.

No more fighting, just sex and rock and roll.

[Srikcir]

"The indirectly elected senators would be divided into four groups."

There is only one group - the Thai Citizen.

Article 4 of the darft 2015 Constitution states "The human dignity, right, liberty and equality of the people shall be protected.

Looks like a sham already.

[Fat Haggis]

so basically, the Senate will be controlled by the military and the elite and filled with their pawns and patsies.

great...

I don't much military representation, but of course quite a few "elite" if that's what you call educated people. Which might make a good balance for the "pawns and patsies" selling their votes in the lower house, as I still haven't seen any proposed ban on MPs accepting payment other than their salary.

BYW shouldn't a fully elected senate have equal representation? Care to comment on your own country's failure with that? I know the people of NSW get heartily sick of our senate being controlled by greens and religious bigots from Tasmania elected with 1/10th the vote of their member.

The first group will comprise of former civil servants who once served as a ministry's permanent secretary or held post at an equal level, military officials who serve in management posts, those who served as supreme commanders, or were part of the military top brass.

In other words, the Eastern Tigers will not only control the military, but the senate too

Dinosaurs controlling dinosaurs!!

The biggest sham since "There will be no coup" talk about stacking the decks? Utter contempt towards the Thai people indeed.

[halloween]

so basically, the Senate will be controlled by the military and the elite and filled with their pawns and patsies.

great...

I don't much military representation, but of course quite a few "elite" if that's what you call educated people. Which might make a good balance for the "pawns and patsies" selling their votes in the lower house, as I still haven't seen any proposed ban on MPs accepting payment other than their salary.

BYW shouldn't a fully elected senate have equal representation? Care to comment on your own country's failure with that? I know the people of NSW get heartily sick of our senate being controlled by greens and religious bigots from Tasmania elected with 1/10th the vote of their member.

The first group will comprise of former civil servants who once served as a ministry's permanent secretary or held post at an equal level, military officials who serve in management posts, those who served as supreme commanders, or were part of the military top brass.

In other words, the Eastern Tigers will not only control the military, but the senate too

Dinosaurs controlling dinosaurs!!

The biggest sham since "There will be no coup" talk about stacking the decks? Utter contempt towards the Thai people indeed.

Why did you stop your quote at that point? Let me guess, because the next few words are "There can be no more than five senators from this group....."

How do 2.5%, not all military, control anything?

[Fat Haggis]

the same way they control everything now.. you know that the Armed Forces work out less than 2% of the voting population right ?

They seem to be able to control an entire country, never mind the senate with such low numbers.

The very fact that the senate is not even, and 123 will be handpicked... by whom? Kind of says it all doesn't it ?

but of course, you're happy that the decks are stacked, like a fat kid in a chocolate shop.

It's the Thai people who will get stiffed over, again and again and again. If anyone thinks this will be the last ever coup, needs a reality check, if anyone also thinks there isn't more trouble on the cards needs the same reality check.

[halloween]

the same way they control everything now.. you know that the Armed Forces work out less than 2% of the voting population right ?

They seem to be able to control an entire country, never mind the senate with such low numbers.

The very fact that the senate is not even, and 123 will be handpicked... by whom? Kind of says it all doesn't it ?

but of course, you're happy that the decks are stacked, like a fat kid in a chocolate shop.

It's the Thai people who will get stiffed over, again and again and again. If anyone thinks this will be the last ever coup, needs a reality check, if anyone also thinks there isn't more trouble on the cards needs the same reality check.

The UK senate seems to do OK without being fully elected. And the selection process here seems, at very least, more equitable than the UK system.

Australia and the US have fixed numbers of senators per state. This leads to unequal representation of up to 15 to 1 (Oz) and 40 to 1 (US). Does this seem fairer to you? Or does the fact that they are elected over-ride all other considerations?

Edited July 8, 2015 by halloween

[Fat Haggis]

I don't believe the UK has a senate, it has the House of Lords, but there was talk back in 2010 of abolishing it, and replacing it with an "elected" senate.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-29857849

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335547/House-Lords-abolished-replaced-elected-senate.htmLabour l

So Labour didn't win, and as it stands the House of Lords remains.

And to be honest, I didn't think the House of Lords was a good thing anyway.

You can discuss other countries as much as you want, it's Thailand that's the issue here, and having a 75% unelected chosen senate certainly doesn't seem fair, nor make it right, as exactly who gets to chose these senators? Isn't choosing and picking people out not pretty much the same as "elected" ?

[halloween]

I don't believe the UK has a senate, it has the House of Lords, but there was talk back in 2010 of abolishing it, and replacing it with an "elected" senate.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-29857849

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335547/House-Lords-abolished-replaced-elected-senate.htmLabour l

So Labour didn't win, and as it stands the House of Lords remains.

And to be honest, I didn't think the House of Lords was a good thing anyway.

You can discuss other countries as much as you want, it's Thailand that's the issue here, and having a 75% unelected chosen senate certainly doesn't seem fair, nor make it right, as exactly who gets to chose these senators? Isn't choosing and picking people out not pretty much the same as "elected" ?

The house of lords performs the same function, with a less equitable selection, and works well. You could at least get your math right, it's 61.5% selected.

It appears you don't wish to discuss the inequities of fixed number elected senators. Even in Thailand where the people of Bangkok will get a tiny fraction of the elected representation of those from smaller population provinces such as Mae Hong Son.

[Artisi]

Maybe they should just call it all off and revert to the previous dodgie crowd they had before, seems this would satisfy the majority of those crying about the current ideas. Some people are never happy or satisfied .

[Artisi]

Oh goody. Sitting here anxiously waiting for their phone call!

Haven't you been advised as yet about being short listed.

[Fat Haggis]

I don't believe the UK has a senate, it has the House of Lords, but there was talk back in 2010 of abolishing it, and replacing it with an "elected" senate.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-29857849

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335547/House-Lords-abolished-replaced-elected-senate.htmLabour l

So Labour didn't win, and as it stands the House of Lords remains.

And to be honest, I didn't think the House of Lords was a good thing anyway.

You can discuss other countries as much as you want, it's Thailand that's the issue here, and having a 75% unelected chosen senate certainly doesn't seem fair, nor make it right, as exactly who gets to chose these senators? Isn't choosing and picking people out not pretty much the same as "elected" ?

The house of lords performs the same function, with a less equitable selection, and works well. You could at least get your math right, it's 61.5% selected.

It appears you don't wish to discuss the inequities of fixed number elected senators. Even in Thailand where the people of Bangkok will get a tiny fraction of the elected representation of those from smaller population provinces such as Mae Hong Son.

It only works well to those that suit, ask the people of Scotland how they feel about both the House Of Lords and Parlaimant, as both were making decision for a country none of them represented

However, I would be much happier if there was an even split, 50/50, but you and I both know that will never happen, and as much as I appear unwilling to discuss the inequities, no less than you wish to discuss as to exactly whom picks these unelected Senators.

At the end of the day, between the senate and the potential for a stacked deck election, where any sort of opposition isn't allowed to even begin a manifest, the ruling elite, and the military will continue to influence the situation, coups will continue to be part and parcel of the countries issues.

[halloween]

I don't believe the UK has a senate, it has the House of Lords, but there was talk back in 2010 of abolishing it, and replacing it with an "elected" senate.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-29857849

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335547/House-Lords-abolished-replaced-elected-senate.htmLabour l

So Labour didn't win, and as it stands the House of Lords remains.

And to be honest, I didn't think the House of Lords was a good thing anyway.

You can discuss other countries as much as you want, it's Thailand that's the issue here, and having a 75% unelected chosen senate certainly doesn't seem fair, nor make it right, as exactly who gets to chose these senators? Isn't choosing and picking people out not pretty much the same as "elected" ?

The house of lords performs the same function, with a less equitable selection, and works well. You could at least get your math right, it's 61.5% selected.

It appears you don't wish to discuss the inequities of fixed number elected senators. Even in Thailand where the people of Bangkok will get a tiny fraction of the elected representation of those from smaller population provinces such as Mae Hong Son.

It only works well to those that suit, ask the people of Scotland how they feel about both the House Of Lords and Parlaimant, as both were making decision for a country none of them represented

However, I would be much happier if there was an even split, 50/50, but you and I both know that will never happen, and as much as I appear unwilling to discuss the inequities, no less than you wish to discuss as to exactly whom picks these unelected Senators.

At the end of the day, between the senate and the potential for a stacked deck election, where any sort of opposition isn't allowed to even begin a manifest, the ruling elite, and the military will continue to influence the situation, coups will continue to be part and parcel of the countries issues.

How do I discuss something yet to be decided? Your problem is you start out with the position that everything being done is wrong even before it's decided.

Why is there more "potential for a stacked deck" than a fair election?

[Fat Haggis]

I can't believe you actually asked that question given what's been going on and who's cases have been brought to the forefront of prior cases!!

I couldn't care less if the PTP were banned, but it's as obvious as the nose on ones face that there's a concerted and concentrated effort to bring most, if not all PTP politicians to account, over varying schemes and scams, whilst the odd token Democrat case arises.

There's NO opposition allowed, there's no dissent allowed, there's no anti junta demonstrations allowed, seriously, is there any point in pretending otherwise that any election far off in the future is going to be allowed?

It's all smoke and mirrors, the powers that be are stalling and delaying everything as much as they can, for one reason, and one reason only. The right people HAVE to be in power for that reason.

[tbthailand]

so basically, the Senate will be controlled by the military and the elite and filled with their pawns and patsies.

great...

I don't much military representation, but of course quite a few "elite" if that's what you call educated people. Which might make a good balance for the "pawns and patsies" selling their votes in the lower house, as I still haven't seen any proposed ban on MPs accepting payment other than their salary.

BYW shouldn't a fully elected senate have equal representation? Care to comment on your own country's failure with that? I know the people of NSW get heartily sick of our senate being controlled by greens and religious bigots from Tasmania elected with 1/10th the vote of their member.

our Senate is not the topic here, but if you understood the structure of the US congress and the history of the formation of the United States of America, then you would realize that the structure of the US Senate makes perfect sense.

[mikemac]

Sorry, but when I hear the term "pawns and patsies" I am instantly reminded of any government associated with the Shin regime.

[ExPratt]

Referendum is going to be a real nail Biter

Yes - Un-elected elite holding Power in the Senate

No - Un-elected Junta holding power for the next 2 years

Absolute disgrace again, They are treating the people with total contempt . I hope these Dogs have their day

[ExPratt]

Actually , I'd like to see a yes vote and an election as I think the "Elite" would get trounced. Would not be perfect but it will give the opposition a stage and a mandate to change to a fair constitution.with another Referendum

Interesting to see what the "Opposition": tell their supporters to vote for

[Artisi]

Referendum is going to be a real nail Biter

Yes - Un-elected elite holding Power in the Senate

No - Un-elected Junta holding power for the next 2 years

Absolute disgrace again, They are treating the people with total contempt . I hope these Dogs have their day

Maybe bought and paid for lackeys of a fugitive criminal, most who could never be classed as elite would be your considered selection to oversee the running of Thailand once again, or do you just like making mindless comments.

[halloween]

Actually , I'd like to see a yes vote and an election as I think the "Elite" would get trounced. Would not be perfect but it will give the opposition a stage and a mandate to change to a fair constitution.with another Referendum

Interesting to see what the "Opposition": tell their supporters to vote for

Your constant mindless referral to the"Elite" reminds me of a Monty Python sketch where a peasant asks "Is that the <deleted, person of high rank>?

His friend answers "Must be, he hasn't got any shit on him."

It is also similar to Pol Pot's decision that anybody with spectacles must be an intellectual, and should be killed. Even if only in the desire.

[ExPratt]

Actually , I'd like to see a yes vote and an election as I think the "Elite" would get trounced. Would not be perfect but it will give the opposition a stage and a mandate to change to a fair constitution.with another Referendum

Interesting to see what the "Opposition": tell their supporters to vote for

Your constant mindless referral to the"Elite" reminds me of a Monty Python sketch where a peasant asks "Is that the <deleted, person of high rank>?

His friend answers "Must be, he hasn't got any shit on him."

It is also similar to Pol Pot's decision that anybody with spectacles must be an intellectual, and should be killed. Even if only in the desire.

Well its a name everyone is familiar with isnt it and used in a similar fashion to "Working Class'. Why dont you complain to the Newspapers who use it .You seem like the kind of Pedantic windbag who would do that

[halloween]

Actually , I'd like to see a yes vote and an election as I think the "Elite" would get trounced. Would not be perfect but it will give the opposition a stage and a mandate to change to a fair constitution.with another Referendum

Interesting to see what the "Opposition": tell their supporters to vote for

Your constant mindless referral to the"Elite" reminds me of a Monty Python sketch where a peasant asks "Is that the <deleted, person of high rank>?

His friend answers "Must be, he hasn't got any shit on him."

It is also similar to Pol Pot's decision that anybody with spectacles must be an intellectual, and should be killed. Even if only in the desire.

Well its a name everyone is familiar with isnt it and used in a similar fashion to "Working Class'. Why dont you complain to the Newspapers who use it .You seem like the kind of Pedantic windbag who would do that

Maybe you should stop accepting Thaksin's propaganda and realise that the more than 50% of Thai voters who don't vote for his party are ordinary Thais, though apparently with a higher sense of morality, and usually, education.

"Elite" is just the new name for the faceless people PTP supporters should hate because they are to blame for all the "reds" problems. In other times and places it would be interchangeable with bourgeois, Catholics, Jews, whites, blacks, intellectuals or whoever is handy at the time.

Edited July 9, 2015 by halloween