NLA President confident Gen. Prawit’s proposal for appointed senators not an intention to retain power

Kitti Cheevasittiyanon



BANGKOK, 13 March 2016 (NNT) – The President of the National Legislative Assembly is confident that a proposal by a deputy prime minister on the possibility of appointed senators is not meant as a means of retaining power.

NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, said that the government and the legislature are currently drafting the law on a public referendum on the new draft charter, in order to make sure that the process continues smoothly and truly reflects the wishes of the people.

Mr. Pornpetch’s comment was in response to reports of criticism of the draft Constitution, which may affect the referendum process, and also impair the work of the NLA.

The NLA President added that the legislature and the National Reform Steering Assembly are working on questions to be included in the public referendum. He said that these questions are expected to be ready in 10 days after the final rewrite of the draft charter is agreed upon.

He went on to say that if a proposed “transitional” national government is to be set up, the Constitution will need to be amended.

He noted that it is important that the legislature makes sure that such a proposal is what the public really wants while saying that the suggestion by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon should not be seen as an attempt to help those in office now, retain their power after the general election takes place, but as a move to help realize the successful steering of the national reform efforts.

-- NNT 2016-03-13

Hmm

:lol:

There doesn't appear to be a smiley for " taking the mickey"!

Edited March 13, 201610 yr by JAG

When looking at the make up of the voted senators previously being law breakers and people that moved law breakers across the borders illegally this may be a wise move.

Only thing that concerns me with this is that the Junta may not have that much confidence in their reforms removing the criminal element from the upper echelons of parliament which at the end of the day is their and the majorities goal.

"a proposal by a deputy prime minister on the possibility of appointed senators is not meant as a means of retaining power."

However it is clearly a means to take power away from the voters and give it to those selected by traditional, unelected elites.

"I don't have a problem with an appointed senate and this is not an attempt to retain power", said the appointed President of the NLA, who is also eligible to retain power by being appointed to the Senate.

Sounds legit to me...

When looking at the make up of the voted senators previously being law breakers and people that moved law breakers across the borders illegally this may be a wise move.

Only thing that concerns me with this is that the Junta may not have that much confidence in their reforms removing the criminal element from the upper echelons of parliament which at the end of the day is their and the majorities goal.

What reforms?

It's all so obvious that it doesn't make fun to criticise such statements

The NLA President added that the legislature and the National Reform Steering Assembly are working on questions to be included in the public referendum. He said that these questions are expected to be ready in 10 days after the final rewrite of the draft charter is agreed upon.

In every NNT article, there is a nugget of "What?"

This whole conflict is because the elites don't want to share power with the masses. Appointing people's representatives is the apex of retaining power.

When looking at the make up of the voted senators previously being law breakers and people that moved law breakers across the borders illegally this may be a wise move.

Only thing that concerns me with this is that the Junta may not have that much confidence in their reforms removing the criminal element from the upper echelons of parliament which at the end of the day is their and the majorities goal.

What reforms?

What majority?

A word in your shell like "djamie". Your beloved junta put a stop to the election which would have revealed what the majority wanted, and who they wanted to implement it.Why was that I wander, was it because they were pretty certain neither they, their political allies nor the policies which they espouse,would be chosen by the majority? Is that why they are so reluctant to risk allowing the majority to have any say in what is happening and planned to happen?

the government and the legislature are currently drafting the law on a public referendum on the new draft charter

Such a law is meaningless until the NCPO amends the interim charter to ALLOW a referendum on the draft constitution. To date it has not.

Prayut seems to have adopted a wait and see attitude on the general public's view on acceptance of the draft before he moves to amend the interim charter for a referendum. The military did not allow a public referendum on the 1997 draft charter and may want to keep that option open with the 2016 draft charter if public opinion seems largely against the next draft charter.

It's all so obvious that it doesn't make fun to criticise such statements

Yes it has become so blatantly obvious as to what they are doing the fun has truly gone out of criticizing them.

The NLA President added that the legislature and the National Reform Steering Assembly are working on questions to be included in the public referendum. He said that these questions are expected to be ready in 10 days after the final rewrite of the draft charter is agreed upon.

He noted that it is important that the legislature makes sure that such a proposal is what the public really wants while saying that the suggestion by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon should not be seen as an attempt to help those in office now, retain their power after the general election takes place, but as a move to help realize the successful steering of the national reform efforts.

So it's up to the Thai public if they want a self appointed senate or an elected senate. It's that easy, or is it? I would like to see those questions being prepared for the referendum with tick boxes first. I smell a rat, something's a miss.

What will these questions that are expected to be ready in 10 days after the final rewrite of the draft charter is agreed upon be?

Edited March 13, 201610 yr by Wilsonandson

the government and the legislature are currently drafting the law on a public referendum on the new draft charter

Such a law is meaningless until the NCPO amends the interim charter to ALLOW a referendum on the draft constitution. To date it has not.

Prayut seems to have adopted a wait and see attitude on the general public's view on acceptance of the draft before he moves to amend the interim charter for a referendum. The military did not allow a public referendum on the 1997 draft charter and may want to keep that option open with the 2016 draft charter if public opinion seems largely against the next draft charter.

Exactly. Prayut blabbed about his "alternative" plan. I'm guessing it has become Plan A. No need to announce that.

as I recall, the 200 member NLA consists of more than 100 generals.

The "NCPO" and the NLA members are both eligible to become senators....

Are these guys really so stupid that they can't imagine that your average Thai on the street knows what is going on?

They are as condescending and dismissive of their own people as Rubl is.

'The rissolution', said Rabbit,'is that we all sign it,and take it to Christopher Robin.'

So it was signed PooH, Wol, PIGLET, EOR, RABBIT,KANGA, BLOT, SMUDGE,and they all went off to Christopher Robins house with it.

Oh sorry wrong fairy story.

These military blokes will ruin the economy with their insistence to stay in power defacto. The elected government will never able to function with laws delayed and possible impasse with the power the upper house hold. Lower house will just be a namesake with no majority and small coalition parties will create a hung parliament scenario. Look no further than Myanmar and the 50 years of sick economy since the charter insisted on 25% of military appointees to the Parliament. FDI will plummet further and Thailand will be lost on every investors radar for next 5 years.

When looking at the make up of the voted senators previously being law breakers and people that moved law breakers across the borders illegally this may be a wise move.

Only thing that concerns me with this is that the Junta may not have that much confidence in their reforms removing the criminal element from the upper echelons of parliament which at the end of the day is their and the majorities goal.

"The majorities". Who are you referring to?