'Reform before election' would ignite new crisis, Thai official warns

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'Reform Before Election' Would Ignite New Crisis, Official Warns
By Khaosod English


Anti-government protesters rally outside of Government House in Bangkok in this 17 May, 2014, file photo.

BANGKOK — A top member of the junta-appointed National Reform Council warned yesterday that a new round of crises will hit Thailand if the government agrees to postpone elections for two more years.

Alongkorn Pollabutr, the council’s secretary general, spoke out against the recent proposal by a faction of conservative council members that the ruling military junta extend its stay in power two years to accomplish its effort of “national reform” before any election is held.

“Any change to the road map will only breed disputes and deepen the woes of country, and it will be hard for our nation to get on its feet and move along the path of reform as we have hoped,” he said.

The hardliners faction, which numbers about 20 people, has expressed its intention to reject the draft of the new constitution penned by another junta-appointed body, to prolong the junta’s stay in power and postpone the scheduled election.

Citing a need to restore peace and order to the country, the military seized power from the civilian government in May 2014 amidst street protests that demanded the government to step down.

Under the current “road map” announced by the junta, the reform council will vote whether to accept the new charter on 7 September. Should it approve the charter, a national referendum will be held in early 2016, and a new election will take place later that year.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1439206071&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-08-11

[Eric Loh]

The hardline faction consist of mainly PDRC sympathizers and Suthep's lackeys. The NRC has been politically compromised from the beginning with this faction already have an agenda.

[bamnutsak]

Nonsense.

The "Good People" are to be trusted.

If reforms need to be completed before elections then they must be "right".

That said, the NRC seems more like the RMS Thaitanic these days, time to re-arrange the deck-chairs.

[Jimlove]

What a mess this country is ... Are they able to do anything without causing more damage ?

[lildragon]

This is the only way that lot ever have power, so it's unsurprising to see them cling onto it so desperately.

[Eric Loh]

This is the only way that lot ever have power, so it's unsurprising to see them cling onto it so desperately.

So wrong to have PDRC sympathizers and the Group of 40 appointed senators to be in the NRC. Even the NRC whip is a PDRC lackey. This group who campaigned with Sutherp during the PDRC rally have came out to support Sutherp call for the junta stay and election delay. They will do everything to derail early election and stay in power illegitimately. Activists have came out and asked for ethics probe of these members. These are the people who will split Thailand and continue the divide so they can cling on to power illegitimately; only way they know to stay in power.

[Srikcir]

Shouldn't ...

"A top member of the junta-appointed National Reform Council warned yesterday that a new round of crises will hit Thailand if the government agrees to postpone elections for two more years."

Read instead ...

"A top member of the junta-appointed National Reform Council warned yesterday that a new round of crises will hit Thailand if the NCPO agrees to postpone elections for two more years."

Why does the NCPO and Prayut try to hide in the shadows over their absoute power over the Thai Peoples? No one is fooled as to who controls the NLA, NRC and the CDC; no one is fooled to think the "government" somehow operates independently from the NCPO and has support from the majority of Thai People. Frankly, their behavior smells of hidden fear.

“None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear.”- Ferdinand Foch

So maybe there is still hope for the Thai People to find their courage to take back their soverneignty.