Southern folk want an elected Thai PM and a crackdown on corruption

[webfact]

Southern folk want an elected PM and a crackdown on corruption
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- REPRESENTATIVES of southern communities want an elected PM and they proposed that political parties present prime ministerial candidates and a Cabinet list prior to election campaigns.

They voiced their opinions yesterday at a public hearing held by the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) in Songkhla's Hat Yai district.

Five groups gave their views to the panel on five topics. On the debate over desired rights, liberty and the duties of the people, the group said the charter must strengthen the people through rights and responsibilities to protect major institutions of the nation, religion and the monarchy, including justice.

The people must protect the constitution and join forces with the state to combat corruption, they said.

On the duties they desired for the state, the group suggested that the state must be a democratic one, and that administrates with good governance respond to the people's demands. The state must educate citizens, giving them opportunities to check administrators through monitoring bodies established by the community. The state must promote decentralisation to strengthen local communities. It must pass laws to empower Human Rights Commission members, they said, and it must allow electors to share in its work through public hearings.

On a desired election system, the group suggested people should be given the right to vote for all levels of political office holders from the PM, Senators, MPs and provincial governors. They said the prime minister must be an elected MP. The Election Commission must clearly identify qualifications of MP candidates who must reveal their background and allow backdated asset investigation of at least five years. The number of MPs should not be more than 350, they suggested.

MPs should not have more than three aides to help in their work at constituencies.

They suggested that each province be an electoral zone and their preferred election system is one MP per one constituency. They also proposed independent MP candidates to allow representatives from ethnic groups and professional groups to represent the people.

They proposed that political parties announce the list of PM nominees they supported and the Cabinet list.

On desired decentralisation, the group proposed that the CDC adopt the self-management decentralisation style that the Law Reform Commission (LRC) chaired by Kanit Na Nakorn had designed. The LRC suggested 70 per cent of taxes collected be injected into local government and 30 per cent to central government. Electors should directly vote to elect local leaders or the so-called kamnan who serves a term of five years.

On the matter of national reform, the group called for the establishment of the House of the People - comprising representatives from people across the country to check politicians and government officials suspected of graft. They also suggested a special court be set up to handle only corruption cases to expedite cases and complete trials within 180 days.

The group also suggested that MPs not come under the banner of political parties and they added that reform be achieved first before a general election is held.

They also wanted a lifetime ban for political office holders found guilty of electoral fraud. Voters who accepted money in return for votes would face hefty fines and jail terms.

The public hearing also wanted the CDC punished if it drafted an undemocratic charter in the form of returning their salaries to the state. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 people from 14 southern provinces will take part in a public hearing tomorrow organised by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Songkhla's Hat Yai district to voice their opinions on the content of the charter.

Peerasak Porjit, vice president of the NLA, said the assembly would accept public opinions to be put into the charter's organic laws.

Commenting on the indirect election of Senators by professional groups and legal bodies, he said it was not yet clear who could apply to be senatorial candidates.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Southern-folk-want-an-elected-PM-and-a-crackdown-o-30273969.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-30

[Somtamnication]

It won't happen till the year 2525. But hope is good. It is what keeps us alive.

[MZurf]

"Southern folk want an elected PM and a crackdown on corruption"

What an absolute shocker!! Unfortunately they get neither.

[tom21]

It won't happen till the year 2525. But hope is good. It is what keeps us alive.

considering it is 2558 now they running a bit late

[jaltsc]

"The people must protect the constitution and join forces with the state to combat corruption, they said."

Until a new constitution is created by the next corrupt government that takes over.

[6NS]

Political promises mean nothing anywhere in the world it seams these days.

[Srikcir]

"The people must protect the constitution and join forces with the state to combat corruption, they said."

Until a new constitution is created by the next corrupt government that takes over.

Unfortunately, THE PEOPLE never includes the Royal Thai Military that sees itself as exempt from the People's Constitutions and believes it has the sole authority to create new constitutions. There has never been a new elected government that has created a new constitution.

[Srikcir]

Judging from seemingly radical nonThai-democratic ideas coming from the South, pro-autocracy Suthep will be busy in the next national referendum to get support for Meechai's draft constitution.

The South according to its "representatives" would seem to have little commitment to Prayut's Thai-style democracy. Prayut wants a democracy that would be allegedly consistent with Thai heritage, culture and religion but the Southern Malay-Thais seem to favor one more consistent with Western-styled democracy.

[wandasloan]

Unfortunately, THE PEOPLE never includes the Royal Thai Military that sees itself as exempt from the People's Constitutions and believes it has the sole authority to create new constitutions. There has never been a new elected government that has created a new constitution.

The military had nothing to do with making the 1997 "people's constitution". Neither did the elected government that was in office at the time, headed by the shortest prime minister in the world.

[spidermike007]

They are suggesting that political parties propose prime ministerial candidates. That is a fascinating aspiration. The first question that comes to mind, is when is the current strongman going to be willing to give up his post? The second question is, where will they be able to find good, qualified candidates? Will it be another circus like last time? Will they be able to find stronger candidates, and more qualified leaders than No Luck, and Absent Abhisit? Where will these people come from? When was the last time Thailand has had an effective leader? What will change? When will things change and improve, politically speaking?

[thelonius]

Judging from seemingly radical nonThai-democratic ideas coming from the South, pro-autocracy Suthep will be busy in the next national referendum to get support for Meechai's draft constitution.

The South according to its "representatives" would seem to have little commitment to Prayut's Thai-style democracy. Prayut wants a democracy that would be allegedly consistent with Thai heritage, culture and religion but the Southern Malay-Thais seem to favor one more consistent with Western-styled democracy.

Indeed, the ideas presented were seemingly sound, right up until this;

The group also suggested that MPs not come under the banner of political parties and they added that reform be achieved first before a general election is held.

The Suthep/PDRC brainwashing mantra appears to have worked. Still, those who think that way are getting what they wanted, prayuth is reforming like mad..................isn't he?

[Farang99]

Then, as my granny used to say, want must be their master. They have not a hope of achieving either of these until Thailand becomes a true democracy

[Bakseeda]

Unfortunately, THE PEOPLE never includes the Royal Thai Military that sees itself as exempt from the People's Constitutions and believes it has the sole authority to create new constitutions. There has never been a new elected government that has created a new constitution.

The military had nothing to do with making the 1997 "people's constitution". Neither did the elected government that was in office at the time, headed by the shortest prime minister in the world.

What has the height of the Prime Minister got to do with anything..?

[Krataiboy]

Big Chief Five Rivers' only chance of running the country after the next general election unless he and his mates form a political party and win a majority of the votes (which, according to my missus and lots of other Thais I know, is a distinct possibility).

[Eric Loh]

Southern folks are a funny lot. They want an elected PM yet they joined up to creat an excuse for a coup to rid an elected government. They want a corruption crackdown and yet they support the most corrupted politician from the south. Hope they finally see the light of day and vote their proper representatives.

[billd766]

Southern folks are a funny lot. They want an elected PM yet they joined up to create an excuse for a coup to rid an elected government. They want a corruption crackdown and yet they support the most corrupted politician from the south. Hope they finally see the light of day and vote their proper representatives.

You could say exactly the same about the people from the north east and all the Thaksin governments and there would be little difference between them.

[Emster23]

"On the debate over desired rights, liberty and the duties of the people"

Um, how about duties of the government, or maybe assumed they have none other than to serve their masters....

[Eric Loh]

Southern folks are a funny lot. They want an elected PM yet they joined up to create an excuse for a coup to rid an elected government. They want a corruption crackdown and yet they support the most corrupted politician from the south. Hope they finally see the light of day and vote their proper representatives.

You could say exactly the same about the people from the north east and all the Thaksin governments and there would be little difference between them.

Big difference. The North East protest for an election, the south protest for an excuse to have a coup. The north east folks go of the polls while the southern folks prevent folks going to the poll.

[h90]

Southern folks are a funny lot. They want an elected PM yet they joined up to creat an excuse for a coup to rid an elected government. They want a corruption crackdown and yet they support the most corrupted politician from the south. Hope they finally see the light of day and vote their proper representatives.

elected government

You mean selected government? When will I see an election without the richest just buy his votes?

[billd766]

Southern folks are a funny lot. They want an elected PM yet they joined up to create an excuse for a coup to rid an elected government. They want a corruption crackdown and yet they support the most corrupted politician from the south. Hope they finally see the light of day and vote their proper representatives.

You could say exactly the same about the people from the north east and all the Thaksin governments and there would be little difference between them.

Big difference. The North East protest for an election, the south protest for an excuse to have a coup. The north east folks go of the polls while the southern folks prevent folks going to the poll.

If the southern people prevent folks from going to the polls and voting, then who votes the southern MPs into parliament?

If people in the north east protest for an election why won't they let the Democrats canvass in the north east and put candidates up for parliament?

[Nobb]

There will be no election for two or three years even though the Thai majority of the people in the north and south of Thailand are tired of the junta rules and want a election soon. Some people can not handle power and once they have it they never want to give it up. No freedom on Facebook, radios, TV,s or the press and what is next no smoking or drinking in Thailand!.

[cyberfarang]

They have more chance of winning the lottery while being struck by lightening and a meteorite at the same time.

[stickyrice2000]

Thailand should just eliminate the election and let the military governing the country. Election or no election, the junta has the final saying. It's a democracy in disguise.