New panel to ensure ongoing reforms: PM Prayut

[webfact]

New panel to ensure ongoing reforms: PM
THE NATION



PRAYUT SAYS POLITICIANS WOULD SHIRK THEIR DUTY OTHERWISE

BANGKOK: -- The National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Commission (NSRRC) under the new charter will ensure that the subsequent government continues with implementing reform plans, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha explained yesterday.

He pointed out that without this panel, politicians would not voluntarily introduce reforms in line with the new constitution. "The future government must implement reforms and this panel would be responsible for making sure that happens. Do you think an elected government would do it voluntarily?" the PM asked reporters on the Government House beat. "I don't think they will," he added.

Prayut went on to say that the NSRRC's term would last five years - covering the next government's term as well as part of the term of the government's after that.

When asked if he would be part of the commission in the next government's tenure, he said he had not made a decision on that. "It will depend on my mood at the time. If I'm really bored, I don't want to be anything.

"It is not necessary for me to be part of it. Anyone can join it, the commission will play a great role and I personally don't even want power," he said.

He was speaking at yesterday's closing ceremony of the NRC Blueprint for Change event, where the council unveiled its reform guidelines.

The PM also hailed the blueprint as the country's "first reform bible" produced by the NRC.

With the blueprint, he said, he believed the country would move forward with necessary mechanisms for national reforms. "Still, Thailand cannot go anywhere if we're still fighting, so proper reconciliation is also needed," he added.

He said his government planned to stay in power until September next year.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that the NSRRC would help prevent future political crises by offering suggestions for a way out for the country if the ruling government is "crippled" and cannot function any more, though the panel will not step in where normal laws can be applied.

However, Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, chairman of the Nation Reform Council (NRC)'s political reform committee, stood opposed to the NSRRC yesterday, saying a democratic mechanism should be designed to help solve political crises or conflicts.

"It's better than having a strategic committee, which is not in line with democratic principles," he said.

NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana, however, said the NSRRC would be a significant mechanism in the country's administration. He explained that Thailand had learned from past experience that sometimes those in power cannot resolve conflicts and there is not always a way out of an impasse. With a five-year time frame as proposed, at least the country will have an option to come out of the impasse, he said.

"This is just a mechanism to take care of the country, when there is no way out," Thienchay said at an interview on the sidelines of the NRC Blueprint for Change event yesterday.

He also denied this was a move by the powers-that-be to retain power. "If we see this as a way to prolong power, then the debate will never be over," he said.

Thienchay added that considering past events, the country is need of a mechanism to take care of it in times of crisis. He said it would possibly not wield the "sovereign power" exercised by a coup, but be more of a mechanism that works legitimately and constitutionally. He said it would work if the public accepts the conditions set for it.

Asked whether this power would mean the committee supersedes the government's power, he said nobody wanted see the panel use this power at all. If the country were run in a good spirit and with accountability, then coups would not have taken place.

Previously, he said, there was no other option but to stage coups to deal with crises, which was bad for the country, hence, he said people should think about this new power as a last choice.

However, Thienchay said he had yet to see details of the draft charter and see how the provision on this point was written. Also, he said, that at this point he could not say what scope of power this committee would have and how it would be different from the council proposed under the interim charter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/New-panel-to-ensure-ongoing-reforms-PM-30266552.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-14

[thesetat2013]

Prayuth seems to forget that their was already a body made to monitor this and that one of the first things YL did was to cut their budget so low that it made proper oversight impossible.

[oneday]

Sounds like a neat way to totally eviscerate and ignore Democracy and continue the present government under a new committee.

[chainarong]

If the military didn't have so much power there would never be any Coups, however what state would the country be in by now under the grand master Khun Thaksin certainly a Prime Minister for life with totalitarian powers, whether or not this is the way to go time will tell, having an un appointed panel working, maybe against the Elected Government on some issues and introducing new laws without Government approval seems an explosive mixture, especially when the people never elected this panel that was anointed by a Junta and that is a valid argument.

[noitom]

This was a great laugher about "Thais shirking/"

[h90]

Sounds like a neat way to totally eviscerate and ignore Democracy and continue the present government under a new committee.

Lets hope you are right, in case the Shinawatra government comes.

[ldiablo]

So of as you stated Mr. P, If proper reconciliation is needed then get on with the reconciliation process as it's only been a year and a half since you first made that claim.

[Srikcir]

More and more the NSRRC is beginning to look like the USSR and Chinese Politburos.

This isn’t surprising:

“Prayuth has reportedly decided to upgrade his advisory team into a body [NCPO] similar to the central politburo of China's Communist Party.” The Nation 2014-08-29

News Flash – China’s politburo is not a democratic monarchial regime but rather a communist regime.

[deckape]

NSRRC? They sure love an acronym here.

[FangFerang]

Those in democratic power clash with those in shadow power, and it sparks a coup. Eighteen times.

This new mechanism makes political coups so easy, so simple, so....

fascist.

Wave flags all you want, this is a way to permanently cripple democracy, which was already in a wheelchair.

We're going from paraplegic to quadriplegic.

[bamnutsak]

I think that the new Constitution, and the NRC, have created upwards of seventeen (17) new panels, commissions, courts, regulatory bodies, all meant to "oversee" any democratically selected parliament.

What could go wrong?

[Thai at Heart]

If the military didn't have so much power there would never be any Coups, however what state would the country be in by now under the grand master Khun Thaksin certainly a Prime Minister for life with totalitarian powers, whether or not this is the way to go time will tell, having an un appointed panel working, maybe against the Elected Government on some issues and introducing new laws without Government approval seems an explosive mixture, especially when the people never elected this panel that was anointed by a Junta and that is a valid argument.

By now they might have lost an election.

[4evermaat]

Not sure why they do not have like a 5 years on/ 3 years off democracy/coup regular schedule.

[bamnutsak]

Not sure why they do not have like a 5 years on/ 3 years off democracy/coup regular schedule.

They do.

But now they want it to be more 100 % Coup/0% democracy.

[tbthailand]

Do you think an elected government would do it voluntarily?" the PM asked reporters on the Government House beat. "I don't think they will," he added.

imagine that, an "elected government" might decide to NOT implement the agenda of an "unelected government"

This guy is a real boner...

[tbthailand]

If the military didn't have so much power there would never be any Coups, however what state would the country be in by now under the grand master Khun Thaksin certainly a Prime Minister for life with totalitarian powers, whether or not this is the way to go time will tell, having an un appointed panel working, maybe against the Elected Government on some issues and introducing new laws without Government approval seems an explosive mixture, especially when the people never elected this panel that was anointed by a Junta and that is a valid argument.

By now they might have lost an election.

do you think that highly of Mark?

But of course, they could have lost. And that is the way that countries around the globe select/change their governments and how citizens collectively set the direction of the country themselves...

but not in Thailand... where the generals and the rich still rule with an iron fist.

[Alwyn]

"It will depend on my mood at the time. If I'm really bored, I don't want to be anything."

"It is not necessary for me to be part of it. Anyone can join it, the commission will play a great role and I personally don't even want power,"

You couldn't make this stuff up!

[tbthailand]

gotta finish work so I can get back in time for the Friday propaganda festival...

This should be a good session of BS...

[h90]

If the military didn't have so much power there would never be any Coups, however what state would the country be in by now under the grand master Khun Thaksin certainly a Prime Minister for life with totalitarian powers, whether or not this is the way to go time will tell, having an un appointed panel working, maybe against the Elected Government on some issues and introducing new laws without Government approval seems an explosive mixture, especially when the people never elected this panel that was anointed by a Junta and that is a valid argument.

By now they might have lost an election.

Who? Thaksin already tried to rig the elections as he feared that he won't win even with the vote buying.

(remember of the rubber stamps and transport of the ballot boxes by Taxi driver)

[Just1Voice]

"There will not be a coup." - General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha

"I personally don't even want power," - (illegal) Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha

[Thai at Heart]

If the military didn't have so much power there would never be any Coups, however what state would the country be in by now under the grand master Khun Thaksin certainly a Prime Minister for life with totalitarian powers, whether or not this is the way to go time will tell, having an un appointed panel working, maybe against the Elected Government on some issues and introducing new laws without Government approval seems an explosive mixture, especially when the people never elected this panel that was anointed by a Junta and that is a valid argument.

By now they might have lost an election.

Who? Thaksin already tried to rig the elections as he feared that he won't win even with the vote buying.

(remember of the rubber stamps and transport of the ballot boxes by Taxi driver)

Please note, it has been proven unequivacally that ALL major parties buy votes.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/09/01/opinion/opinion_30082102.php

According to legend, vote-buying began in spectacular fashion in Roi Et in 1981, engineered by people in the military.

Korn admitted that the Democrats have done it. All parties engage in pork barrel benefits. Now the junta is in, the subsidies are flowing back to the rubber and palm oil areas away from rice.

Haven't heard about the rigging, but monitors keep signing off on the elections but for the occasional local red or yellow card. Of course, its all moot if the system allows a few dissenters to just block polling stations and threaten voters. I would suggest that a general misunderstanding of the value of elections doesn't end with the reds.....

[diehard60]

If the military didn't have so much power there would never be any Coups, however what state would the country be in by now under the grand master Khun Thaksin certainly a Prime Minister for life with totalitarian powers, whether or not this is the way to go time will tell, having an un appointed panel working, maybe against the Elected Government on some issues and introducing new laws without Government approval seems an explosive mixture, especially when the people never elected this panel that was anointed by a Junta and that is a valid argument.

Well we will never know because people like you do not like democracy. Or you do NOT know the meaning of the word DEMOCRACY.

Edited August 14, 2015 by diehard60