New Election Rules Designed to Keep Junta in Power

[europtimiste]

The junta like it or not, Pheu Thai is the leader, even Democrats have lost in South Thailand where they were leading since decades. Hopefully an anti junta coalition succeed to form a government even if it won't be easy.

[buksida]

Nothing good is going to come from the dictator not relinquishing power ...

PARTY WITH MOST MP SEATS SHOULD FORM NEXT GOVT
Political parties should respect their pledge to allow the party with the most MP seats to attempt the formation of a coalition government, the director of Mahidol University’s human rights institute said Friday.

Eakpant Pindavanija, from the university’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, said he hoped all parties that signed the pledge “will respect it, as it will set a good political foundation.” Eakpant, led the effort to have 25 political parties sign the pledge in December 2018.

Signatories include the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Future Forward, BhumjaiThai, Democrat and Commoner parties.

“Political parties that form the next coalition government shall seek and receive the support of more than half the members of the House of Representatives,” part of the pledge stated.

Both sides of the political divide are now claiming the right to lead the next administration – pro-junta Phalang Pracharath, which won the popular vote and the Pheu Thai party, which has more parliamentary seats.

It’s likely that Phalang Pracharath – which supports strongman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister – will have to depend on the votes of the 250 junta-appointed senators.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/ ... -academic/

AUTHORITARIAN SPECTER AWAITS POST-ELECTION THAILAND
A historian on Friday gave a pessimistic prediction of Thailand’s future after elections, envisioning a scenario of political stalemate.

Charnvit Kasetsiri said at a symposium at Thammasat University that junta leader Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha would likely remain in power one way or the other and evoke a high risk of political violence. He added that it’s unclear how long the strongman would last, however.

“Those in power become addicted to power,” said Charnvit, who believes the anti-junta camp will not be able to form a government despite possessing more MPs due to the votes of the 250 senators Prayuth himself will appoint.

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


John Dalberg-Acton: 'Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely'

[caller]

So, judging by the news, post-election, all the junta's rules about gatherings, protests, internet comments are all still being enforced. Nothing has changed, nothing will change - apart from the reaction.

[europtimiste]

Very good article by Charnvit Kasetsiri, Prayuth should remember what happened in 1992.

[oakdale160]

Sadly, at the present time, neither the US or the UK can serve as examples on the superiority of western electoral democracies.

[caller]

Here we go, one activist has his car torched (petition inside) and another is attacked by his home. Both involved in the petitions against the EC. I wonder who would stand to gain by such actions?

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crim ... -attacked/

[caller]

Sadly, at the present time, neither the US or the UK can serve as examples on the superiority of western electoral democracies.

I don't think that bothers the Thais at all - what they are concerned about is their democracy.

[buksida]

POLL RESULTS LEAVE NATION PUZZLED WITH MANY MATH MYSTERIES
he preliminary election results released Thursday by officials left the nation lost in mathematical wonders as little explanation was given to the many inconsistencies.

The Election Commission blamed human errors in each polling station as it scrambled to explain discrepancies discovered in numbers from the unofficial report of Sunday’s voting results and those in prior reports. The body has fallen in hot water as public dissatisfaction is running high by case after case of alleged election irregularities.

“Everything was going smoothly. The election procedure was monitored by observers … from the beginning to the end,” head commissioner Jarungvith Phumma said.

After the report was released, many appeared to be baffled about the drastic increase of voter turnout from about 66 percent – when about 93 percent of ballots had been counted – to nearly 75 percent according to yesterday’s report, including differences in reported numbers of eligible voters before and after the election, and voter turnout not matching the number of used ballots.

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


I must admit that Khaosod's reporting of the election farce has been far superior to that in the Post or Nation which are probably pandering.

[oakdale160]

So you are saying that the whole process was a totally corrupt f***-up ----YAWN!

[caller]

So you are saying that the whole process was a totally corrupt f***-up ----YAWN!

It's what the Thais are saying, which is womewhat more important than anything said here.

[Fandango]

Given that it has taken four months and counting to sort out the relatively short stretch of road leading to the flyover into town, nothing surprises me!

[HHTel]

Listening to the news last night, the pro-junta mob are now attempting to discredit leaders of anti-junta parties. The leader of the Future Forward Party, who came in third, has been summoned to the police station to answer charges dating back 4 years. The charge is that his car was used in a small demonstration (of more than 5 people) leading to a charge of sedition. It seems the junta is determined to stay in power at any cost! If they can't win fairly, then get rid of the opposition. Reminds me of Lee Kuan Yu who exiled anyone who stood against him.

BANGKOK — Another serious legal threat has hit the leader of Future Forward Party, this time an accusation of sedition.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit posted online on Wednesday a photo of a legal document showing that the Pathum Wan police have summoned him to hear charges over “causing disorder and disobedience among the public” that could lead to “the acts of rebellion.”

“When the dark power won’t leave Future Forward alone,” Thanathorn wrote in the accompanying post. “It’s clear now that the old-school political game won’t end after the election, but is only getting more intense, because they’re afraid of Future Forward.”

“They’re afraid of our wins that exceeded the expectations of many, afraid of politics based only on policies and ideologies that can build faith and support from the public without money or authority, afraid of the truth that nearly 6.3 million people sincerely support Future Forward Party,” he continued.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/ ... on-charge/

[HHTel]

Voting reruns at several polling stations
Recounts at some others.

And then the attempt at discrediting any opposition.

Staying in power at any cost. Are we surprised?

Seems that those that said the election was a complete waste of time are being proved right.

[buksida]

WHY WE SHOULD STILL BE HOPEFUL FOR THAILAND
Post-election political stalemate, the specter of the junta leader returning as prime minister, witch hunts against new party leaders – what’s there to be hopeful about in Thailand?

Hope is what keeps us alive and not all is lost after the March 24 general elections.

Three factors in particular suggest that not all is lost even in Juntaland.

First is the rise of youth and first-time voters. Second is the growth of social media as a new public sphere. Third is the transactional relationship between some voters and political parties.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2 ... -thailand/

An emotive piece but really, none of it actually matters as voting in this "election" was totally futile.

[Nereus]

Old guard can't halt the turning tide

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... rning-tide

Wasant Techawongtham is a former news editor, Bangkok Post.

The wind of change is blowing. It's only just a breeze now really. But already it has caused quite a stir.
A frenzy of mud-slinging against the new up-and-coming party and its freshmen politicians has been launched in earnest.

When the Future Forward Party (FFP) was being formed, people looked at them condescendingly. After all, they were just a bunch of new and inexperienced faces attempting to play in the big league.

But once the party and its leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit scored a major surprise, all hell broke loose. All roads bearing knives and venom lead to Thanathorn and the FFP.

All sorts of complaints have been laid against the party, Mr Thanathorn and secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul. Some of these allegations are old news that happened way before the party existed.

Most of the allegations are politically motivated and simply ridiculous attempts to stop the party's and Mr Thanathorn's meteoric rise.
Everybody knows it. The military bosses know it but they don't care what people think so long as they achieve their sinister objectives.

A seasonal change usually brings inclement weather. And so this stormy political weather is to be expected. The establishment is being shaken up to its core, not by its traditional enemy but by an unknown, untested force with an army of young, enthusiastic followers.

The rise of the FFP and its so-called "Futuristas" scares the military and its conservative flock to such a degree they are resorting to the tactics of past eras past that may eventually led to mindless violence against fellow citizens.
Old clips, old writings, old spoken words have been dug up from years ago to level against both Mr Thanathorn and Mr Piyabutr. Hate speech has been slung against them with such venom one would think they are pathological serial killers rather than just two young men trying to put the system right.

Why such hate and venom? It's not hard to see. The FFP's political platform aims at the heart of the status quo and the current power structure with the military at the centre.

The military has always claimed to have monopolistic love for the nation, religion and the monarchy. Any critique, for whatever reason, instantly elicits counter-reaction, often followed by intimidation and threats.

Advocacy of military reform is also viewed as a threat to the cosy relationship between the military and the monopolistic business elite. While the Thai business elite would rather keep a low profile and avoid being dragged into the fray, its determination to maintain the status quo cannot be under­estimated.

It also highlights an emerging generation gap.
The older generations, understandably, are apprehensive about change, especially if that comes fast and furiously and disrupts everything in their world.
They are seeing the world they have grown comfortable with turning into an almost incomprehensible mass where communication of ideas moves in shapeless form with the speed of light.

Evidently, some older folks see Mr Thanathorn and the Futuristas as bringers of disruption.
It's conceivable that Mr Thanathorn and the FFP might not be able to withstand the onslaught of hate and ignorance. But it will not stop change, the seed of which has been firmly planted.

The oligarchy is working against time and history. Nothing will stop change. That is realism. The change that is coming will trend towards a more democratic and free society that allows widespread sharing of ideas through the cyber world.

The younger generation will have their own ideas about how to run this world. The surviving older generations can choose either to be their supporters and guide them through a gentler change or obstruct their progress and be swept asunder.

As for the military, they have existed in a virtual contradictory state for far too long.
They have always proclaimed to be the nation's protectors, but the "nation" in their dictionary does not include the people. Indeed, at times, they treat the people as if their enemy.

Their official status is only a ministerial unit in a government, but they act as if they are a government unto themselves.
They demand that others obey the law and be accountable but they themselves refuse to be held to the same standard.
They earn their living from the people's tax money but they demand that the people are beholden to them.
All these will have to change sooner or later. Let's hope it's sooner through peaceful means.