Thailand's junta outlines promised 20-year strategy

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's military junta on Thursday outlined the 20-year strategy it has said will guide policy long after elections which are now expected next year at the earliest.

 

The duration of the strategy and the fact that it would be legally binding on future governments have fuelled concerns among critics that the army aims to keep its grip on power whenever a ballot is held and whoever wins it.

 

Setting out the strategy, deputy government spokesman Weerachon Sukondhapatipak said its pillars would be security, competitiveness, human capital, social equality, the green economy and reforming public administration.

 

The details of the strategy have yet to be decided and public hearings will also be held before it becomes law.

 

After seizing power during political turmoil in 2014, in the 19th coup in just over eight decades, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said the army would leave power within 18 months.

 

On Tuesday, his cabinet gave approval in principal to bills which set out the framework for drafting the 20-year strategy with committees to work out the strategy itself as well and separate committees for different areas of reform.

 

Elections had been promised for 2017 after a referendum on a new constitution last year.

 

But mourning for the death of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October and constitutional changes requested by new King Maha Vajiralongkorn have led to delays which mean elections are not now widely expected before well into 2018.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-3-16

They might as well stay in power for the next 20 year if each successive Government is obliged to follow a plan that will be set into law.

 

 

2 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's military junta on Thursday outlined the 20-year strategy

To catch Dhammachayo.

"The first five-year plan (Russian: I пятилетний план, первая пятилетка) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a list of economic goals, created by General Secretary Joseph Stalin and based on his policy of Socialism in One Country. It was implemented between 1928 and 1932."

 

And we all know how well that went.

 

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

George Santayana

Well now you have the answer, hell on earth for 20 years, where's the exit gate?

In so many ways, the junta has regressed 20 years and they want to keep it that way. There are many similarities to Myanmar regarding the the way in which the Thai Constitution was written and implemented.  Both documents are designed to keep the military in power despite providing a facade of democracy.  The junta will be in power for many years to come either through manipulation of the political system or just another outright coup.

Pretty much confirms what everyone expected...elections are simply going to be a meaningless charade for the world to see....no doubt there'll be global headlines canvassed, that this or that party were victors......but behind all that will be the military.....for decades, Thailand will suffer from ever increasing ineptness and failure.

Thailand looks as though it will become a Hong Kong democracy only with less opportunity for its people.  The people will have to rely on the intellectual prowess of the Thai Military from now onwards.

Previous coup leaders had "legally binding" things on future governments, but those of course were all tossed aside when the next coup happened!  If one doesn't obey the laws, then the laws are meaningless

12 hours ago, madmitch said:

They might as well stay in power for the next 20 year if each successive Government is obliged to follow a plan that will be set into law.

 

 

 

By controlling the political parties (banning "populist parties, encouraging smaller parties, forcing coalitions) , judiciary, the military (obviously), religion, that other thing, the upper house and PM, the police; passing new "organic" laws and having a "20-year plan" means "they" will be in power pretty much for the foreseeable future.

 

You have to hand it to them; they've figured out how to control everything, post coup, after so many tries.

 

The "20-year plan" must be followed, and if any pesky politicians are even remotely viewed as diverting from this plan, they will be subject to criminal charges, asset seizure and prison.

It'd at least be intellectually honest of them to just come out and say "Yeah, we had fun for 80 years pretending to be a democracy, but now we're not even gonna try to maintain the charade. We'll be running things outright henceforth just like we pretty much always have. You folks aren't democracy-oriented anyways.... just too servile what with the programming being as it is."

13 hours ago, madmitch said:

They might as well stay in power for the next 20 year if each successive Government is obliged to follow a plan that will be set into law.

 

 

Don't worry with the economic mismanagement of the Junta that will ultimately lead to social upheavals it will become categorised as a failed state long before then

It doesn't matter what you the people of this country wants. This is not a democracy. We are the Military Junta. We will tell you what you want and will continue to do so. Kao jai mai.

3 minutes ago, whatawonderfulday said:

Don't worry with the economic mismanagement of the Junta that will ultimately lead to social upheavals it will become categorised as a failed state long before then

 

Not sure how you manage to sleep at night with all that worrying........................

 

 

You seem to have forgotten how the Shinawatras raped the country.

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

Pretty much confirms what everyone expected...elections are simply going to be a meaningless charade for the world to see....no doubt there'll be global headlines canvassed, that this or that party were victors......but behind all that will be the military.....for decades, Thailand will suffer from ever increasing ineptness and failure.

Same as elections in China a sham

Well things for Thailand will only slowly deteriorate , the lies , deception is now out in the open for all to see and as somebody else mentioned why would a government want to be elected to be tied to these  rules , the junta has smelt power and intends to keep it , what happens from now on in rests entirely on the Junta's shoulders...........................................

1 hour ago, whatawonderfulday said:

ultimately lead to social upheavals

Don't underestimate the power of indoctrination from pre-school to university, sporadically populist give away's, total control of the media, a well functioning system of obeying the hierarchy, and enough fire power- just in case it is needed.

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

By controlling the political parties (banning "populist parties, encouraging smaller parties, forcing coalitions) , judiciary, the military (obviously), religion, that other thing, the upper house and PM, the police; passing new "organic" laws and having a "20-year plan" means "they" will be in power pretty much for the foreseeable future.

 

You have to hand it to them; they've figured out how to control everything, post coup, after so many tries.

 

The "20-year plan" must be followed, and if any pesky politicians are even remotely viewed as diverting from this plan, they will be subject to criminal charges, asset seizure and prison.

'Better' yet, the politicians also get to carry the can for any policy failures. Yes, the 'good people' certainly have their angles covered. However I'm just wondering why elections are delayed and delayed now the military have it all squared away?

All i can say is in Australia the corrupt politicians wear Suits Here they wear army uniforms Just feel sorry for the ordinary citizens here Most Thais dont care what government they have as long as they dont bother them The army knows this so all happy

2 hours ago, baboon said:

'Better' yet, the politicians also get to carry the can for any policy failures. Yes, the 'good people' certainly have their angles covered. However I'm just wondering why elections are delayed and delayed now the military have it all squared away?

Apart from the use of force by the army, the power of the dominant elite traditionally lies in its influence through appointed people in various judicial, semi-judicial (NACC,  EC, NHRC, etc... and administrative entities (permanent secretaries, etc...). And these entities will play an important role in the new constitution. They will not go before they have finished appointing enough "good people" to guarantee further self-perpetuation of their influence over time by the usual system of reciprocal appointments. It may be one reason, among others (like getting generous allowances).

2 hours ago, Happyman58 said:

All i can say is in Australia the corrupt politicians wear Suits Here they wear army uniforms Just feel sorry for the ordinary citizens here Most Thais dont care what government they have as long as they dont bother them The army knows this so all happy

Really close to the truth. I am now getting a really good understanding of the new term "alternate truth" Its like the old saying if you do not like my opinion I have others. 

18 hours ago, pookiki said:

 There are many similarities to Myanmar regarding the the way in which the Thai Constitution was written and implemented. 

 

Both documents are designed to keep the military in power despite providing a facade of democracy. 

Aye, they must has seen the Myanmar "democracy" make up and though:

 

"Peachy: whole world is happy and the military control everything, let's do it too!!!" 

6 hours ago, Lupatria said:

Don't underestimate the power of indoctrination from pre-school to university, sporadically populist give away's, total control of the media, a well functioning system of obeying the hierarchy, and enough fire power- just in case it is needed.

And so it was in Russia, Rumania and Albania

23 hours ago, wakeupplease said:

Well now you have the answer, hell on earth for 20 years, where's the exit gate?

Remain calm, remember in times of desperation try to look on the bright side of life. You could be arrested and tortured by these lovely ladies.

20 year strategy:

 

Phase 1: 

- stay in power for 20 years

 

Phase 2:

- repeat

13 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Thailand looks as though it will become a Hong Kong democracy only with less opportunity for its people.  The people will have to rely on the intellectual prowess of the Thai Military from now onwards.

Possibly but the difference IMHO, of course is that Hong Kong had 100 years plus as a British colony, much to its advantage I guess, something Thailand has never experienced, and is probably the poorer for that reason. 

nice to see the junta will be staying around for another 20 years. oh and thailand will be corruption free in 19 years! GREAT TIMES AHEAD! 

 

 

 

I am happy for the military to stay in power. It has never been more peaceful in Thailand, the infrastructure projects are actually finally happening and the fact that we have a military government means nothing to this poor farang nor to any of the village people that I am honoured to be living amongst. 

43 minutes ago, spiderorchid said:

I am happy for the military to stay in power. It has never been more peaceful in Thailand, the infrastructure projects are actually finally happening and the fact that we have a military government means nothing to this poor farang nor to any of the village people that I am honoured to be living amongst. 

I'm sure the Thai nationals with nowhere else to run to, or are already in jail for simply objecting to what is going on in their own country against their will, will be absolutely delighted to hear that you are doing fine. Bravo!

19 minutes ago, baboon said:

I'm sure the Thai nationals with nowhere else to run to, or are already in jail for simply objecting to what is going on in their own country against their will, will be absolutely delighted to hear that you are doing fine. Bravo!

And the Thai nationals that I live amongst do not give a rats about corrupt politics. They are happy to have some peace and order in the country. If you are a visitor to this this country as I am, you should not be meddling in something that has no bearing on you. But I suspect you do not live here and if you do, you show no courtesy to the host country. How would you feel if I went to your former country and posted the constant negative and interfering posts that you constantly do. Maybe you should move to Spain. Or you could grab a life