UDD ready to join reconciliation efforts but calls for new ‘people’s

[webfact]

UDD ready to join reconciliation efforts but calls for new ‘people’s constitution’
By Kasamakorn Chanwanpen
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) is ready to cooperate with the ongoing attempt at reconciliation, but has called for the writing of a new constitution that would prevent future conflict, and the abrogation of Article 44 while leaving the issues of amnesty and royal pardon untouched.

 

The group, led by key figures such as Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut Saikua, Weng and Thida Tojirakarn, participated in the reconciliation talks at the Defence Ministry on Wednesday.

 

After a five-hour discussion, UDD spokesman Nattawut told reporters the group had proposed that after the new constitution came into effect and the situation had returned to normal, a new constitution should be written by the people to prevent conflicts from resurfacing.

 

“Although, reconciliation might be achieved this time, we still see the need to write a new constitution,” Nattawut said. “It should be written when sovereign power is in the hands of the people, with full public participation, with a national referendum held in an absolutely free atmosphere.”

 

Nattawut said the UDD had proposed that all the orders issued by the coup-makers that remained in effect should be nullified, including those under Article 44 of the 2014 interim charter. The former politician said these orders were an obstruction to the reconciliation process hence the group wanted the military to give thought to this proposal.

 

The UDD also suggested that any political cases in the past 10 years and in the future should enter the legal process so that the truth could come out, Nattawut said.

 

While saying the group would not raise the issues of amnesty or royal pardon, Nattawut said the UDD was only seeking fair trials with no discrimination. The powers that be should also ensure that all people affected by the past conflicts were properly compensated, he said.

 

More importantly, the UDD spokesman said the group wanted all sides to accept the truth and be sincere in participating in the reconciliation efforts, including the Army.

 

He said the UDD had urged the powers that be to create confidence among participants as without trust, it was impossible for groups to join in the talks and help bring about harmony.

 

Nattawut also said the UDD did not expect all its demands to be met, but was satisfied that it had been given some space to express its thoughts.

 

The rest should be left for the Por Yor Por to carry on, he added.

 

UDD president Jatuporn said the group had decided to join the talks because it had confidence that this would be successful.

 

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had showed determination by quoting the King’s remarks about wanting to see peace in society.

 

Jatuporn said that all sides, including the UDD and the Army, should accept their mistakes.

 

The UDD, too, admitted that it had made some mistakes, he said. He said the group had joined the reconciliation efforts as they saw the possibility of more conflicts unless they joined the reconciliation efforts.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30309229

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-16

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Nattawut also said the UDD did not expect all its demands to be met, but was satisfied that it had been given some space to express its thoughts.

There is nothing satisfying about talking to deaf ears.  Make the junta adhere to levels of openness enjoyed in places like Taiwan or Norway.  Looks like the bar is going to be low for the foreseeable future.  Even China does more for its people's prosperity than Thailand.  

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

There is nothing satisfying about talking to deaf ears.  Make the junta adhere to levels of openness enjoyed in places like Taiwan or Norway.  Looks like the bar is going to be low for the foreseeable future.  Even China does more for its people's prosperity than Thailand.  

It's such an irony that the RTM fought communist insurgents for twenty years and all it has to show today is a form of governance that is worse than communism found in China and Vietnam.

[Eric Loh]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Nattawut also said the UDD did not expect all its demands to be met, but was satisfied that it had been given some space to express its thoughts.

I will consider this a coup for Nattawut to say all their demands without being hauled for AA and has his bail revoke. Smart to know that all the demands will not be meet. Score 1 for the UDD. 

[mtls2005]

 has called for the writing of a new constitution that would prevent future conflict

 

 

I think there is a better chance of snow in Bangkok this week

[Baerboxer]

6 hours ago, yellowboat said:

There is nothing satisfying about talking to deaf ears.  Make the junta adhere to levels of openness enjoyed in places like Taiwan or Norway.  Looks like the bar is going to be low for the foreseeable future.  Even China does more for its people's prosperity than Thailand.  

 

Yeah right. These non elected appointed by schh you know who UDD leaders are speaking on behalf of whom? Themselves, the person or persons who appointed them? 

 

The UDD isn't a political party and has no legitimacy. As for fair trials and truth, as we've seen in the past, only as long as the answer is one they like and want. 

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

It's such an irony that the RTM fought communist insurgents for twenty years and all it has to show today is a form of governance that is worse than communism found in China and Vietnam.

 

Which aspects of the current Thai government do you feel enable them to be categorized as communist in style?

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

I will consider this a coup for Nattawut to say all their demands without being hauled for AA and has his bail revoke. Smart to know that all the demands will not be meet. Score 1 for the UDD. 

 

How about Nattawut and his mates explaining how they all got appointed?

 

A very non democratic way of appointing leaders in an organization supposedly representing democracy.

 

But some people actually believe their bilge.

[Eric Loh]

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

How about Nattawut and his mates explaining how they all got appointed?

 

A very non democratic way of appointing leaders in an organization supposedly representing democracy.

 

But some people actually believe their bilge.

A very non democratic way of appointing leaders sit very nicely with this junta government; your pals. 

 

UDD got the recognition by being invited by the junta. PDRC chickened out and PAD is a broken and fragmented organisation. But you still believed in them, sad. 

[Baerboxer]

35 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

A very non democratic way of appointing leaders sit very nicely with this junta government; your pals. 

 

UDD got the recognition by being invited by the junta. PDRC chickened out and PAD is a broken and fragmented organisation. But you still believed in them, sad. 

 

The Junta aren't my pals - that's simply your imagination and/or paranoia. I really have no idea what the PDRC and PAD relevance is these days, if any at all. 

 

But, like most people I can only guess who appointed Nat, Jat, the Weng's etc to lead the UDD. I do know the membership didn't get offered a vote. 

 

Don't you think it a bit odd that an organization claiming to support and defend democracy doesn't actually use democratic methods to elect its leaders? Or perhaps they don't really have any interest in real democracy.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Which aspects of the current Thai government do you feel enable them to be categorized as communist in style?

I didn't categorize the Prayut government as communist in style. The Prayut government is much more restrictive, covert and elitist.                                                                             

[Baerboxer]

14 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

I didn't categorize the Prayut government as communist in style. The Prayut government is much more restrictive, covert and elitist.                                                                             

 

I don't think that's true, more like hyperbole. If you've ever seen communist regimes first hand you'd know that their excesses in restrictions of freedoms especially dissent and criticism, restrictions and control of information and cronyism and nepotism far exceed anything Thailand has yet seen.

 

[gamini]

4 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

I don't think that's true, more like hyperbole. If you've ever seen communist regimes first hand you'd know that their excesses in restrictions of freedoms especially dissent and criticism, restrictions and control of information and cronyism and nepotism far exceed anything Thailand has yet seen.

 

I agree he has probably never been out of Thailand. Maybe he does not even know about Singapore./ This forum would have been banned in Singapore years ago. I was banned for 10 years for suggesting free and fair elections.