Elections delayed again, and again, and again

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404cameljockey
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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handdrummer wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:00 am
caller wrote: Tue Mar 27, 2018 11:48 pm
handdrummer wrote: Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:03 pm We don't need no stinking elections!
You really do. God only knows what the consequences will be if they are postponed indefinitely and the Country moves into full totalitarian mode.
Being that "they" can do anything they want now, I don't know how much different it would be. Maybe expelling all the foreigners is a possibility. That might get me a free ride home as a refugee.
Kick us out because they don't need the Dollars? You think they fancy becoming the next N.Korea. :idea:
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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404cameljockey wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:50 pm
handdrummer wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:00 am
caller wrote: Tue Mar 27, 2018 11:48 pm

You really do. God only knows what the consequences will be if they are postponed indefinitely and the Country moves into full totalitarian mode.
Being that "they" can do anything they want now, I don't know how much different it would be. Maybe expelling all the foreigners is a possibility. That might get me a free ride home as a refugee.
Kick us out because they don't need the Dollars? You think they fancy becoming the next N.Korea. :idea:
They (he) might want to become the next Nk. There's something about total power and control that appeals to many dictators, regardless of the consequences. After all, the leaders(s) don't suffer the consequences. At any rate I don't rule out anything.
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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I don't think we have to look as far as North-Korea. Look what happened to Burma long time ago. From one of the most mineral rich countries in S-E Asia to rags.
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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:shock:
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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Bamboo Grove wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:08 am I don't think we have to look as far as North-Korea. Look what happened to Burma long time ago. From one of the most mineral rich countries in S-E Asia to rags.
The British had a lot to do with that. :duck:

But yes, 60 years of military rule has done Burma no favours whatsoever, sadly Thailand seems to be going down the same path.
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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The General himself has said that he is happy to make Thailand the next Burma if that is what is needed to preserve 'Thainess'. Of course, much has changed since he said that.
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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But the military never intended for Myanmar to be a Western-style democracy. It wanted the government to have a civilian face but fully preserve its strong prerogatives.
In fact, the 2008 constitution was written to ensure that Myanmar's civilian government would be, at best, democracy on a leash.
Under the constitution, the Myanmar military is a fourth branch of government; it sets its own budget independent of the president and parliament; it appoints the defense, home and border affairs ministers; and it has the right to veto decisions of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government. In fact, the civilian government has no oversight over the military, which "has the right to independently administer and adjudicate all affairs of the armed forces."
Looks very similar to what we will have here.
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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buksida wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:21 am
Bamboo Grove wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:08 am I don't think we have to look as far as North-Korea. Look what happened to Burma long time ago. From one of the most mineral rich countries in S-E Asia to rags.
The British had a lot to do with that. :duck:

But yes, 60 years of military rule has done Burma no favours whatsoever, sadly Thailand seems to be going down the same path.
Absolute BS. Can you explain that? Separation from British India (demanded by the people) just left Burmese ethnics to fight amongst themselves, as always. Simply put, because of the chauvinism of much of the majority Bamar (Burmese) ethnic group in Myanmar, the country has been the home of some of the world’s longest conflicts. Since Burma became independent in 1948, it has been in a constant state of civil war between the central government and minority groups.

If they'd wanted to stay part of India, how much better off they could have been. The idea of keeping some sort of Burmese ethnic purity is idiotic in the modern world.

Sorry for going off topic. I took the bait. :P
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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' "Burmanisation", an ultra-nationalist ideology based on the racial purity of the Burman ethnicity and its Buddhist faith, which was implemented when General Ne Win and the military junta came to power in 1962.'

Scary if you really believe that Thais would allow this to happen.

Source:
http://www.oxfordburmaalliance.org/ethnic-groups.html
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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404cameljockey wrote: Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:43 pm Sorry for going off topic. I took the bait. :P
Quite a common theme with you isnt it. This topic is about the Thai elections, stick to it please. If you want to discuss Burmese history and the benefits of colonialism start another topic.

:offtopic:
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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Thailand wearies of junta rule, election promise still vague
Four years after seizing power, Thailand's junta has a singular success it never hoped for: uniting a politically divided nation in growing dissatisfaction with the thin-skinned rule of the generals.

After rifle-toting soldiers overthrew the elected government in a bloodless coup in May 2014, the new military leaders, like a succession of Thai coup makers before them, pledged reform and reconciliation and promised they wouldn't stay long.

But after repeatedly delaying elections, frustration with the junta and its leader, former army chief Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, is visibly growing. And far from stepping back, they appear to be planning to maintain a vice-like grip on the country by turning political parties into their proxies if elections are held. The latest vague date for an election is February next year.

From humble street-food sellers ordered off Bangkok's pavements to wealthier echelons of society, the junta's promise to “return happiness” to the country now rings hollow.


https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politi ... till-vague
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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^^ The great man's own words (from the above article): “You cannot say that we haven't done anything, otherwise, why have we been here for the past four years?” he said at a recent news briefing.

Why, indeed?
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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ASEAN RIGHTS GROUP TO JUNTA: LIFT POLITICAL BANS, HOLD ELECTIONS
A regional human rights group on Monday urged the junta to immediately lift restrictions on political rights and pave the way for democratic elections.

Jakarta-based ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, composed of parliamentarians from ASEAN member states, called for an end to dictatorial rule in a Monday statement, urging elections to be held as soon as possible.

“It is long past time that this military regime fulfills its promise to the Thai people and restores democracy,” said Chairperson Charles Santiago, a group representative for Malaysia. “That means an immediate end to arbitrary limits on fundamental freedoms and a clear timeline for the holding of free and fair elections.”

The group, a collective of regional lawmakers, specified the ban on political gathering of more than four people, which bars political parties from conducting meetings or other activities.

“These restrictions are baseless, and the junta’s justifications for instituting them have long since lost any relevance. Their perpetuation is making a mockery of the rule of law in Thailand, and they must be lifted,” the statement read.

It also criticized junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha’s absolute power under Article 44 of the now defunct 2014 provisional military charter, which is recognized by the junta-sponsored 2017 constitution.

“General Prayuth’s limitless authority, coupled with the junta’s repeated failure to live up to its own word, sends the concerning signal that Thailand may still be far from democracy’s return,” said Teddy Baguilat, a member of the Philippine lower house.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/ ... elections/

Related article:
https://asiancorrespondent.com/2018/05/ ... zGDiAos.99
The promise to return the country to democratic rule within two years has been repeatedly broken by the head of the National Council for Peace and Order, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

“General Prayuth’s limitless authority, coupled with the junta’s repeated failure to live up to its own word, sends the concerning signal that Thailand may still be far from democracy’s return,”
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Re: Elections delayed again, PM denies involvement

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ELECTIONS MAY BE DEFERRED TO MAY: DEPUTY PM
The next election may have to be postponed until May 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krue-ngam said Monday.

In the government’s latest hint at yet another delay, Wissanu said 11 months are likely needed before general elections and the primary vote process – a new electoral feature introduced by the junta – can take place.

His comment came after junta reps met with 199 politicians from different parties at the Army Sports Club – the same site where regime chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha staged the coup four years ago – to discuss the next election. The junta previously promised a poll would be held this coming February.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/ ... deputy-pm/
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