Chaturon urges junta to stage election even if draft charter fails to be approved

[webfact]

Chaturon urges junta to stage election even if draft charter fails to be approved



BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai core member Chaturon Chaisaeng suggested the National Council for Peace and Order to order the Election Commission to stage an election if the draft constitution fails in the August 7 referendum.

He said he felt that the NCPO would like people to believe that uncertainty will prevail if the draft charter fails to be approved in the referendum, hence, voters should vote in support of the draft so that there won’t be political uncertainty and election can proceed in accordance with the roadmap.

However, the former deputy prime minister noted that even if the draft charter fails to get the approval of the public, an election can be held in accordance with the roadmap if the NCPO revives one of the previous charters for temporary enforcement.

A new draft charter can be drawn up after the election and, this time around, all stakeholders must be invited to join in the drafting process, said Chaturon.

Nevertheless, he complained that the NCPO intended to stay on for at least eight more years up to 20 years with an appointed prime minister chosen by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/172968-2/


-- Thai PBS 2016-07-19

[The stuttering parrot]

He's pretty much spot on.

The unelected government is ruling with uncertainty and fear and although there is a trigger for a democratic elelection the only roadmap this mob are looking is full of one way streets.

[Thailand]

Of course they will hold an election,when all the provisions are in place to ensure the required result.

[aussieinthailand]

Elections, after three promised election dates, and you plebs still talking about elections if the draft fails, what a pack of buffaloes'....

But hang on, the PM himself has told the country that the draft "will sail through."

Then he said that if the draft fails, "we have an way out."

Q. How many promised elections dose it take for a junta to allow the people to have their right to choose who runs the country?

A. As many as it takes until the desired people run the country.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Dream on Chaturon

[waldroj]

Especially if the draft charter fails to be approved!

Once the "yes" vote is confirmed the junta usurpers get want they want. Then, the 6-4-6-4 road map can then proceed with the tacit approval of the Thai people, and elections should follow accordingly (unless "ill-intentioned" individuals intervene). Excuse the alliteration!

However, in the unlikely chance that a "no" vote gets up, not only will this void the timetable, but it will also represent rejection of the junta and its "policies".

In this case, an alternative government should be sought sooner, rather than later.

[Srikcir]

Prayut has already said that if the current draft constitution is voted down, a new one will be written. The only issue then is whether it will be again presented for another referendum that could jepordize the junta's plans for a 2017 election or simply have the next draft endorsed into law that would preserve plans for the 2017 elections.

Chaturon's suggestions bring nothing new to the discussion.

[Eric Loh]

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

[sweatalot]

Chaturon - I doubt this guy knows what democracy is or even if he does is interested in having (real) democracy in Thailand.

His only interest is getting another well paid government post and continue getting the flow of money from his puppeteer.

Let's face it: the gross of Thai people are not mature for democracy, given their average education standard and the state of informations they receive. They are easy prey for delusion, manipulation and bribery which got previous governments into place.

The same people who are still greedy to get back to the troughs. (even if they have to burn Bangkok)

And they are the only group who have the financial power to work against the military government. Their financial power creates man power.

I am not saying a military government should be in place forever - but at least until voters understand the rules of democracy (which is NOT just vote). Otherwise Thailand will again go back to square one.

[tuanku]

Chaturon - I doubt this guy knows what democracy is or even if he does is interested in having (real) democracy in Thailand.

His only interest is getting another well paid government post and continue getting the flow of money from his puppeteer.

Let's face it: the gross of Thai people are not mature for democracy, given their average education standard and the state of informations they receive. They are easy prey for delusion, manipulation and bribery which got previous governments into place.

The same people who are still greedy to get back to the troughs. (even if they have to burn Bangkok)

And they are the only group who have the financial power to work against the military government. Their financial power creates man power.

I am not saying a military government should be in place forever - but at least until voters understand the rules of democracy (which is NOT just vote). Otherwise Thailand will again go back to square one.

Democratic maturity will never come if the army keep pressing the "reset" button.

The transition from Military Dictatorship, through often corrupt semi-dictatorship "strongman" civilian governments to full Western style democracies has been seen many times in South American countries (and historically in other countries, Cromwell is a UK example) and is an established model. A nation and a population has to learn/develop democracy the immediate transition between dictatorship and full democracy is generally too difficult to make.

The Thai military might learn from this and refrain from perpetuating the cycle long enough for proper democracy to take hold, but unfortunately there is too much vested interest in a non-democratic distribution of wealth to make that likely.

[Baerboxer]

Would be nice if he was genuinely speaking out of concern for the people and the country.

Or is he hoping to get back in control of the trough? How did he vote in parliament on the subject of the whitewash Thaksin Amnesty Bill?

Until there is a real, impartial, fair and equally enforced justice system, and I don't see much progress on that, then all that will happen is the old cycle - Shin kleptocracy, coup, Shin kleptocracy, coup on and on.

[Baerboxer]

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

Not sure Bangkokians would be too supportive of the alternative. Certainly didn't seem to keen on them in their last iteration.

[Eric Loh]

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

Not sure Bangkokians would be too supportive of the alternative. Certainly didn't seem to keen on them in their last iteration.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/2014/01/23/politics/images/30224977-01_big.jpg

Not expecting support from these happy campers. Not sure the same warm reception now when the Baht dries up. If the capital is Chiangmai, we might see a totally different aftermath.

[Winniedapu]

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

Indeed, they seem to be very lucky, but I still think this is Thailand's last coup d'état.

The little general fondly imagines he's gonna be in power for 20 years to turn Thailand into God knows what so long as it's the little generals design.

I think the odds of him being in power for another two years. fall somewhere between 0% and 10%. Every month that passes reveals more about the character of those who have been running the country, especially the character of the 'Royal' Thai Army, and the 'Royal' Thai Police.

I do not think highly of the Thai people in general, but even I cannot conceive that they will put up with this shower for more than another one or two years.

Winnie

[dageurreotype]

He's pretty much spot on.

The unelected government is ruling with uncertainty and fear and although there is a trigger for a democratic elelection the only roadmap this mob are looking is full of one way streets.

Then what? Given no political discourse and an intentionally kept ignorant electorate, more of the same.

'Power attracts the mediocre and the venal' - Karl Popper

Edited July 19, 2016 by dageurreotype

[Eric Loh]

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

Indeed, they seem to be very lucky, but I still think this is Thailand's last coup d'état.

The little general fondly imagines he's gonna be in power for 20 years to turn Thailand into God knows what so long as it's the little generals design.

I think the odds of him being in power for another two years. fall somewhere between 0% and 10%. Every month that passes reveals more about the character of those who have been running the country, especially the character of the 'Royal' Thai Army, and the 'Royal' Thai Police.

I do not think highly of the Thai people in general, but even I cannot conceive that they will put up with this shower for more than another one or two years.

Winnie

Considering just how bad the economy, losing direct investment and a battered international image, his stay is wearing thin. I am sure he is looking at a dignify exit and an election next year will do just that. He can't have the election sooner because of the charter will have to take its legal progression.

He also can't lose the referendum as it means that the coup lose its legitimacy and meaningless. His draconian attempts to stop freedom of expression just drove the people sentiment underground. The NCPO has really no clue how the referendum will turn out. His intelligence units may have sensed that the referendum is not going to be positive. Something will be engineered to abort the referendum and maybe a national government set up till election next year. The alleged tearing up of voter list may be just the beginning for the independent agencies to pull the plug.

[Winniedapu]

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

Indeed, they seem to be very lucky, but I still think this is Thailand's last coup d'état.

The little general fondly imagines he's gonna be in power for 20 years to turn Thailand into God knows what so long as it's the little generals design.

I think the odds of him being in power for another two years. fall somewhere between 0% and 10%. Every month that passes reveals more about the character of those who have been running the country, especially the character of the 'Royal' Thai Army, and the 'Royal' Thai Police.

I do not think highly of the Thai people in general, but even I cannot conceive that they will put up with this shower for more than another one or two years.

Winnie

Considering just how bad the economy, losing direct investment and a battered international image, his stay is wearing thin. I am sure he is looking at a dignify exit and an election next year will do just that. He can't have the election sooner because of the charter will have to take its legal progression.

He also can't lose the referendum as it means that the coup lose its legitimacy and meaningless. His draconian attempts to stop freedom of expression just drove the people sentiment underground. The NCPO has really no clue how the referendum will turn out. His intelligence units may have sensed that the referendum is not going to be positive. Something will be engineered to abort the referendum and maybe a national government set up till election next year. The alleged tearing up of voter list may be just the beginning for the independent agencies to pull the plug.

I can envisage the scenario you describe. I think a dignity exit for the little general is indeed on the cards, but not for the army, which has engineered a constitution which, if passed would ensure a long-term military influence over civilian politics. I believe this was the sole real agenda for the current draft.

This is a real danger signal. I personally think the referendum will not pass (but that may be wishful thinking, because I certainly hope it will not pass), and that the government will lose all perception of legitimacy - there are surely no lies the little general can tell which would offset the seismic effect it would have on international tolerance, which has so far been pitched at an outrageous proportion - principally to keep the Americans happy - they are in fear of China and desperate for a mainland foothold in SE Asia.

Thailand is in for a very interesting few years, I think - politics will dominate and will gestate a lot of changes in an attempt to deliver a reputation to the military and the military government for achieving substantial cultural change. Corruption and thievery will not be seriously addressed because the beneficiaries are in powerful places that pretty much ensure the army cannot go, and the beneficiaries, at least in part were the prime movers for the coup in the fist place. The surface levels of prostitution might be reformed in appearance, but in appearance only, for the same reasons.

These will interesting but not not comfortable years, not easy and not democratic, but interesting. And then of course, there's the event everyone is waiting for. If that is badly timed, it will just not be announced. Otherwise, chaos - in my humble opinion.

Winnie

[yimlitnoy]

The government will not let Chaturon and the corrupt Phua Thai have his election until a control mechanism is in place to create check and balance of those dangerous Thaksin puppets who could ruin the country with more populist policies.

[Winniedapu]

The government will not let Chaturon and the corrupt Phua Thai have his election until a control mechanism is in place to create check and balance of those dangerous Thaksin puppets who could ruin the country with more populist policies.

Nice one. It takes a very special kind of daft to say something like that under all of the circumstances... this weeks prize is won.

Winnie

[Eric Loh]

The government will not let Chaturon and the corrupt Phua Thai have his election until a control mechanism is in place to create check and balance of those dangerous Thaksin puppets who could ruin the country with more populist policies.

Nice one. It takes a very special kind of daft to say something like that under all of the circumstances... this weeks prize is won.

Winnie

What Yimlitnoy meant to say was that the establishment government will crook the control mechanism to have the trough to themselves and make sure that their supremacy will never ever be challenged. For that, he deserved the Pulitzer award.

[candide]

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

Indeed, they seem to be very lucky, but I still think this is Thailand's last coup d'état.

The little general fondly imagines he's gonna be in power for 20 years to turn Thailand into God knows what so long as it's the little generals design.

I think the odds of him being in power for another two years. fall somewhere between 0% and 10%. Every month that passes reveals more about the character of those who have been running the country, especially the character of the 'Royal' Thai Army, and the 'Royal' Thai Police.

I do not think highly of the Thai people in general, but even I cannot conceive that they will put up with this shower for more than another one or two years.

Winnie

Considering just how bad the economy, losing direct investment and a battered international image, his stay is wearing thin. I am sure he is looking at a dignify exit and an election next year will do just that. He can't have the election sooner because of the charter will have to take its legal progression.

He also can't lose the referendum as it means that the coup lose its legitimacy and meaningless. His draconian attempts to stop freedom of expression just drove the people sentiment underground. The NCPO has really no clue how the referendum will turn out. His intelligence units may have sensed that the referendum is not going to be positive. Something will be engineered to abort the referendum and maybe a national government set up till election next year. The alleged tearing up of voter list may be just the beginning for the independent agencies to pull the plug.

"Something will be engineered to abort the referendum and maybe a national government set up till election next year. The alleged tearing up of voter list may be just the beginning for the independent agencies to pull the plug."

I can imagine something like "because of fake rumours that could affect the election results and threat of violence on potential voters this referendum must be cancelled"