Prayut drops plan for press conference on NCPO’s third anniversary

By Wasamon Audjarint

The Nation

 

 

Despite an earlier plan to do so, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will not hold a press conference on the occasion of its third anniversary next Monday, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday.

 

Prayut said a single press conference would be held in September, when the junta government has its own anniversary, as he considered that the two bodies should not be regarded separately. 

 

“We work together.

 

The NCPO serves as a supporter, not a commander, to the government,” he added.

 

The premier went on to say that people’s well-being, and especially those with low incomes, remained the priority for the government and the NCPO. 

 

However, he said, they had focused on a restructuring approach rather than stimulus policies involving the provision of money.

 

The PM acknowledged, however, that such an approach might not be widely appreciated. “But how can we seek money to subsidise everything?” he said rhetorically. “We just do as much as the budget allows us to do.”

 

The national-budget issue came to the fore recently following figures showing that treasury reserves had hit a decade low in January, sinking to Bt74.9 billion. 

 

Despite this, the Cabinet approved a series of military hardware procurements, one of which was the Bt13.5-billion Chinese-submarine purchase that would bind Thailand for seven years.

 

As Prayut said, the ruling junta has focused its main effort on so-called reforms, to the extent that they became the working theme of this authority. 

 

The parliamentary National Reform Steering Assembly, governmental committees and several actions under Article 44 of the former charter have all been used to work on holistic reforms.

 

Still, these NCPO-focused attempts have been doubted as to whether they can truly bring effective reform, otherwise they could just as well be authoritarian tools. 

 

This also relates to concerns that the NCPO may want to remain in power after a democratic general election is held.

 

“I do worry about this country. But I don’t worry much about democracy,” the premier said. “This is because democracy is already there. I don’t think the [coming] election will be any different from the past.

 

“What are we going to do if we get the same troublemakers [after the election]?” he added. “Still, an election needs to happen. This country shouldn’t return to the same format of democracy. Every single person needs to participate in designing future paths together.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30315430

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-5-16

Oh boy that was a mouth full. Is baloney bad for you? How do they make baloney?

 

Sensible move given the government and NCPO are one and the same thing, to all intents and purposes.

The rest just him rambling on as usual. Nothing to say, but I'll say it anyway...

Edited May 16, 20179 yr by baboon

This is indeed sad news, I had my day planned, for there would have been so much to celebrate.

 

No fireworks for the kids tomorrow.

because democracy is already there

 

Well if it is its a new form relative to those who never understood the word or ever will by the looks of things

 

reserves at a low in Jan, even lower now

 

We need more farangs doing border runs, yep that will do it along with them dumping lots of cash in our banks and subs tanks and aircraft to defend the country against the rubbish that never gets put in the bins, because bins are expensive to maintain.

 

I wonder what he takes to sleep at night, whatever it is, it delivers weird dreams

 

Utter codswallop

 

They can't really hold a big song and dance, when they don't have a single thing to sing and dance about.

Keeping Facebook online and averting questions about plaques and submarines have taken their toll on the pat-oneself-on-the-back awards.

Prayut drops plans for press conference, due to the fact that when questioned about their achievements in the last 3 years, it would be embarrassing,  to have to say sweet f... all.

Bringing Happiness back to the people !  

 The NCPO serves as a supporter, not a commander, to the government,” he added.

 

Isn't that suppose to be the role of the military as well.

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

Prayut drops plans for press conference, due to the fact that when questioned about their achievements in the last 3 years, it would be embarrassing,  to have to say sweet f... all.

I think after publicising and making a Facebook post go viral around the world he wants to lay low and avoid scrutiny of what he has done.

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

on so-called reforms

So called as they have never been defined properly.  The only objective was and is to marginalize the Shinawarta family and the people who support them.  

It would have a been the shortest press conference anyway.

 

It seems like the Junta is on their back foot these days.

 

Maybe he could just pen a new song to highlight three years of accomplishments? I guess it would be an instrumental?

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 20179 yr by mtls2005

Cant have a press conference when you really have nothing to say can you? Government is nearly broke To many government officals have there snouts in the trough But we got a great deal on the subs Now that is something to talk about right We hate the Farang here and we wish they go home but we cant because we like taking there money I think that about sums it up

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The NCPO serves as a supporter, not a commander, to the government

I thought they were one and the same .

10 hours ago, colinneil said:

Prayut drops plans for press conference, due to the fact that when questioned about their achievements in the last 3 years, it would be embarrassing,  to have to say sweet f... all.

But.....but....3 submarines for the price of 2.......everyone's a winner!

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“But I don’t worry much about democracy,” the premier said. “

First time he points out the real problem...

This is positive ... at least Napoleon won't interrupt transmission of international tennis on the pay TV channel as he did in the past to tell the nation and the expats how he is bringing back happiness to the Thai people....

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The PM acknowledged, however, that such an approach might not be widely appreciated. “But how can we seek money to subsidise everything?” he said rhetorically. “We just do as much as the budget allows us to do.”

To be honest, that sounds fair enough.

 

Well, if money hadn't been spent on aquatic submersible military devises it would anyway

Edited May 17, 20179 yr by Bluespunk

He should take to twitter and spout utter codswallop like his counterpart in america.

As much as I despise this government, I think it wrong to say that they have not done anything.  They have certainly streamlined how the civil service operates, cut out a lot of deadwood, and put timelines on how long most tasks must take. In the past, you would never know when something would be ready, or how long it would take, resulting in shed loads of tea money passing hands to get things done. Now if things are not completed within the fixed time-frame you are able to file formal complaints against those involved.  As a result all my interactions with the land department, district office, trademark office, and others have been smooth and you know in advance how long things will take (with no need to grease palms). This is a far cry from the past. Nevertheless, I am not saying corruption is a thing of the past, it is just less pervasive for Mr. Average person. Now if they could just do something about the police. 

 

In any case, I would hazard a guess that most of the posters have little or no direct interaction with the civil service, with the exception of immigration (which I know for a fact is still exceedingly corrupt), so have probably not seen any improvement in their daily lives.    

It's a good idea to cancel the meeting. It would be too embarrassing to admit the complete failure of government, means loosing face...