Thai junta sets up military-led reconciliation panel ahead of election

[webfact]

Thai junta sets up military-led reconciliation panel ahead of election

By Pracha Hariraksapitak and Aukkarapon Niyomyat

REUTERS

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's junta is setting up a reconciliation panel of generals and experts to find common ground between political factions ahead of elections, the general named to lead the body said on Friday.

 

But critics questioned how neutral the panel would be given decades of military involvement in politics.

 

The army overthrew Thailand's last elected prime minister in 2014, saying it had intervened to end street protests and years of political turmoil. It has promised to restore democracy to the Southeast Asian country.

 

General Chaichan Changmongkol, appointed by the junta to lead the panel, told reporters it would include the head of the armed forces, army specialists and civilian experts.

 

"We will spend three months listening to the views of every side and on every subject whether it is politics, reforms or education," said Chaichan, who is permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence.

 

The panel would then come up with an agreement that all sides would sign to ensure a peaceful transition, he said.

 

Thailand's political divide is broadly between a traditionalist elite, centered on Bangkok, and the less prosperous parts of the country, which largely backed populist governments before the most recent coup.

 

Both Thailand's main political parties said they were open to reconciliation if it was done fairly.

 

"The reconciliation process must be neutral, must be fair and must be according to the law," said former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose was overthrown in the last coup.

 

The army has repeatedly postponed elections in the past in the name of reforms to bring about reconciliation. The army had initially promised an election this year, but a delay until 2018 is widely expected.

 

Critics say the generals are working to ensure their political influence after elections, including drafting a constitution that enshrines military power at the expense of political parties.

 

Kan Yuenyong, executive director of the Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank, told Reuters that reconciliation by an army-led panel would be hard.

 

"If they were sincere they would admit that they have been part of the problem and appoint a neutral panel," he said.

 

Since helping to overthrow an absolute monarchy in what was then Siam in 1932, the military has staged 19 coups, 12 of them successful, and has provided 12 of its 29 prime ministers in that time.

 

The junta dismissed suggestions that it should also sign any reconciliation agreement and agree not to stage more coups.

 

"The majority of soldiers do not want to seize power. Having power isn't everything," Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters. "The citizens supported this coup because we restored stability."

 

(Writing by Cod Satrusayang; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Randy Fabi)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-20

[Chang_paarp]

Has anyone explained the meaning of irony to this bunch of clowns looking for a circus?

[sjaak327]

Hmm, so on the militairy just announced that it would't sign a MoU not to stage a coup (not that a coup is needed with the 'approved' constitution), yet it expects political parties to do so.

 

They didn't initially promised elections this year, but two years ago, and they will not bring democracy back to Thailand, as the 'approved' constitution makes elections inconsequential.

[phycokiller]

48 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

Hmm, so on the militairy just announced that it would't sign a MoU not to stage a coup (not that a coup is needed with the 'approved' constitution), yet it expects political parties to do so.

 

They didn't initially promised elections this year, but two years ago, and they will not bring democracy back to Thailand, as the 'approved' constitution makes elections inconsequential.

yes, Im not sure why the media calls it an election. its a pretend election. (thai media excused as they have no choice)

[yellowboat]

Reconciliation is a waste of time if attempted by the current bunch of empty headed, iron fisted men in uniform.  It can only come after a bona fide election.  The junta has no moral authority and its desire to involve itself shows that it wants to stay in politics.  One of many places it does not belong.     

[RichardColeman]

 

18 hours ago, webfact said:

The panel would then come up with an agreement that all sides would sign to ensure a peaceful transition, he said.

 

Or you cannot take part in democracy !

[midas]

"  The junta dismissed suggestions that it should also sign any reconciliation agreement and agree not to stage more coups. "

 

enough said

[Somtamnication]

There is nothing more sweeter, more humble and more surreal than a den of foxes creating a reconciliation panel for the chicken farm.

[outsider]

Let's say the reonciliation goes ahead, and works brilliantly, then there is no need for an election anymore, is there? After all, if all parties are reconciled, then they become one, have no more differences and therefore, no need for separate parties. What is there left to elect, then?

[Srikcir]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

The panel would then come up with an agreement that all sides would sign to ensure a peaceful transition

This means the newest 2016 constitution (yet to be endorsed) already fails to provide for political transition as one might expect with any democratic regime change. And instead it must be reinforced by an MOU with the military who presents itself as having separate and overriding sovereignty  to the People's Constitution.

Façade comes to mind. The new constitution even with the military embedded with permanent unelected powers fails to deliver a democratic society.

[waldroj]

"...junta setting up reconciliation panel of generals and experts to find common ground between political factions ahead of elections..."

 

 

Simply crass !!!

 

If the "promised" election date keeps getting deferred, then the junta's so-called common ground is likely to be the shared resentment of them by ALL citizens (whichever faction they support).

[elgordo38]

Sounds like a version of Russian Roulette and we know who is holding the gun and spinning the chamber. 

[rijb]

2 hours ago, outsider said:

Let's say the reonciliation goes ahead, and works brilliantly, then there is no need for an election anymore, is there? After all, if all parties are reconciled, then they become one, have no more differences and therefore, no need for separate parties. What is there left to elect, then?

 

And how will voters get paid?  No vote, no bribe.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

30 minutes ago, rijb said:

 

And how will voters get paid?  No vote, no bribe.

By being farmers the junta will give them B 15 000 for doing nothing or you get inflated prices for your rice and rubber or if you are poor you get a state allowance or if you are a civil servant you get salary increases 3 times the inflation rate and pension benefits that will cost the country more over the next 20 years than the rice scheme or if you are rich you can claim the tax back on you luxury festive shopping or if you are in the army you get protection for the law for being part of the human trafficing in the south or if are an admiral you get your toy submarines etc etc.

[rijb]

11 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

By being farmers the junta will give them B 15 000 for doing nothing or you get inflated prices for your rice and rubber or if you are poor you get a state allowance or if you are a civil servant you get salary increases 3 times the inflation rate and pension benefits that will cost the country more over the next 20 years than the rice scheme or if you are rich you can claim the tax back on you luxury festive shopping or if you are in the army you get protection for the law for being part of the human trafficing in the south or if are an admiral you get your toy submarines etc etc.

 

And if you're the rich elite, keep the population stupid.  Give handouts to the masses.  And support a lousy education system, while your offspring go to schools, abroad.

[mtls2005]

So military generals appointed by other military generals to yet another committee/panel will get to the bottom of this reconciliation thing. Pencil me in for "doubtful".