Thai junta reaffirms will hand back power in 2017, entering second phase of reforms
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE AND PANARAT THEPGUMPANAT

BANGKOK: -- Thai prime minister and junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha gave a sweeping year-end speech on Wednesday in which he reiterated that the junta will hand back power in 2017 and that it was entering "phase two" of its reform plan.

The junta, or National Council for Peace and Order, seized control in May 2014 and overthrew an elected government, putting an end to protests in Bangkok led by the middle classes and elites who wanted to get rid of the civilian government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Since then, it has busied itself with drafting a new constitution and reforms which critics say are designed to limit the powers of political parties and neutralize those seen as loyal to controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother who was ousted in 2006.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-politics-idUSKBN0U60AR20151223


-- Reuters 2015-12-23

Ummm didn't he say that about Feb 2016 at the beginning of this year? So how can he be believed? I beg to wonder if this same announcement will be made next December as well

does anyone know at this point in time whether the outcome will result in anything like true democracy?

in other words what about people (both politicians and the electorate)who are neither loyal to controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra or to interests of the so-called Bangkok elite?Will they have any chance under the new system?

Just a translation issue. Every time he is asked he says "next year" and the translator or the journalist expects it to be the with in 12 months.

Always next year, depending on circumstances.

I just back from the future...my time machine is working again.....here's what the headlines say from 23 Dec 16:

Thai junta reaffirms will hand back power in 2018, entering third phase of reforms.

Handing back power in 2017. My ass is still pointing South so that aint happening. Stalling and delaying are the tactics of the day. Just buying another two years in which time events will ensure (In their logic) that they will be needed to steady the ship for a further ? years (pick a number). When Suthep cried for a few good men to run the country ( not Nicholson and Cruise) the incumbents are the ones he had in mind (after reported scheming to cause unrest to facilitate a coup).

Civil unrest is looking more and more likely as people are now awakening to the fact, the khaki boys are going nowhere.

Anyone got the heads up on what phase 1 of reform was?

They are entering the 'Second Phase' of reforms? I must have missed it, but what was the first phase?

Anyone got the heads up on what phase 1 of reform was?

sedition.

Should bookmark this page for easy referral when date pushed back even further.

Make a website with a countdown clock. See if it is blocked by the junta.

Isn't this story akin to that of the "The Emperors New Clothes"?

This junta has been exposed "7 ways from Sunday"!

Anyone got the heads up on what phase 1 of reform was?

Lotto ticket price

Of course the 99% who think he is doing a wonderful job may well insist he stays...

Hey that's democracy for you.

Reforms? The past years there were only rats feeding on the dikes of democracy.

,,,but there is no statement that there will not a coup following the elections (just in case)

He is assuming the constitutional draft will pass a referendum and it won't. So then what?

"Hand back power..."

Hey, Khun Goh Hok, you should not have had it in the first place.

2017, that is significantly later than the original date for elections in September 2015

Lack of democracy this Governments style seems to be a little more attractive than democracy the Shinawtra style proved to be.

Handing back power in 2017. My ass is still pointing South so that aint happening. Stalling and delaying are the tactics of the day. Just buying another two years in which time events will ensure (In their logic) that they will be needed to steady the ship for a further ? years (pick a number). When Suthep cried for a few good men to run the country ( not Nicholson and Cruise) the incumbents are the ones he had in mind (after reported scheming to cause unrest to facilitate a coup).

Civil unrest is looking more and more likely as people are now awakening to the fact, the khaki boys are going nowhere.

I guess you're not British Australian, American etc etc by your grammatical errors. Your viewpoint is pure junta and Bangkok elite. Pray be so kind as to tell everyone what rank you hold in either the Thai military or Civil Service. It's not that I disagree totally with what you said, it's just that I'd be interested to have an indication of how you came to formulate such a radical viewpoint.

wow, you are such a hateful person.

Troll / Flaming posts - and replies - hidden

Now it's 2017, any advance on 2017 ?