New PM

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:11 pm

What Sondhi says is, unfortunately, very true. 56 years of so called democracy here just hasnt worked and seems now to be actually holding Thailand back....which is possibly why big interests like the US and UK carry on banging the "democracy" drum .... keep the "locals" poor, dumb and infighting so we get all the cream ....

The reason why democracy hasn’t worked in Thailand for 56 years is because people like Sondhi and his colleagues keep dragging governments down by coups.

What I haven’t seen him address is how he plans to keep his new nominated government in power if it came into being. It seems to me that an awfully large number of people are going to be very angry at having lost the power of the vote and will possibly immediately follow his example and occupy Government House or whatever.

Of course when this type of government has been tried before by the likes of Suharto in Indonesia and the Burmese generals, they have always dealt with this kind of protest by shooting at everybody.

The type of government envisaged is also far more prone to corruption than the present one as you then only have to bribe the people doing the nominating instead of the entire electorate.

Post by **buksida** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:27 pm

I believe a balance is required, what we have now is a farcical administration that needs to go and what Sondhi proposes doesn't do much for civil rights or any form of 'democracy'.

A government, elected or not, that takes care of all of Thailand (not just the easy half), would stop the protests - a coalition of candidates from all provinces, both democrat and populist, to form one party is the only way forward IMO.

Getting them to agree and work together is the hard bit.

sargeant · Post by **sargeant** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:27 pm

Exactely what i have been saying only not as eloquently put as you steve

Post by **Guess** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:18 pm

STEVE G wrote: The reason why democracy hasn’t worked in Thailand for 56 years is because people like Sondhi and his colleagues keep dragging governments down by coups.

And also the level of corruption. I don't just mean the corruption of getting a certain party in. I reckon in as fair open election Thaksin would have probably been elected anyway. it's just the turnout would have been less. Samak likewise.

What PAD have done twice now is to highlight the discrepancies and spread the word across Thailand. At least now we do have a chance of a fair election.

A token democracy that is really a charade for the outside world to cover a republic is pointless.

i think PAD have done there job and as has already been said, they are not offering any reasonable alternatives so they should now do what STEVE G says and give the democracy a chance.

They would have been more useful exposing Samak and the remainder of the Thaksin clan before the last election.

I think maybe they should go back to basics and explain what democracy is supposed to be and how it is implemented in other countries.

If PAD are trying to spread the word as I think then that is perfectly normal in a democracy. There are protests in London, New York and Washington as we write.

If PAD are trying to bring down an elected government it is anything but democracy and could be described as anarchy.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:52 pm

You've got a corrupt government, only interested in lining their own pockets.
You've got PAD who want to stop democracy (with this 70% selected, 30% democratically elected business) and use violence to achive this where neccessary.
Both as bad as each other ?

Cronyism and corruption is part of Thai culture with people in power, if a new bunch are put in will they be any different and not give jobs to friends and family and use their power for their own benefit.
Is there 250 non-greedy politicians somewhere waiting to put the people first ?
Doubt it.

Cynical from Hua Hin

Post by **richard** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:39 pm

BBC News

Thailand's governing People's Power Party has named Somchai Wongsawat as its candidate for prime minister to succeed Samak Sundaravej.

Somchai Wongsawat has been acting prime minister since Mr Samak's dismissal by the courts last week.

Mr Somchai is a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted as prime minister in an army coup in 2006.

Mr Samak's own links to Mr Thaksin were highlighted by demonstrators who have mounted weeks of paralysing protests.

So the selection of Mr Somchai - who is married to Mr Thaksin's favourite sister - is unlikely to placate them, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.

His appointment as prime minister will have to be approved by parliament later this week.

So what next

Post by **Wanderlust** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:43 pm

I don't think the coalition parties will vote for him, and the coalition will fall apart, leading to....another election, probably around December 25th I should think.

Post by **richard** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:49 pm

Another bonus Christmas for bar lease owners

sargeant · Post by **sargeant** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:54 pm

There is the possibility that the coalition partners will form a coalition with the democratic party
The question is then ....what then

Post by **buksida** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:22 pm

We may get a half decent government that puts the country before its own pockets.

Reports are already coming in that Wongsawat owned businesses are enjoying an increase in stock value.

Post by **buksida** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:20 pm

The political divide deepens ...

A new political challenge confronted Thailand on Tuesday with the bitterly divided ruling party debating whether to dissolve Parliament a day ahead of a crucial vote to pick the next prime minister.

Acting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat emerged from a Cabinet meeting saying the government was hopeful it could avert a new crisis, but acknowledging the dissolution of Parliament was an option.

We "still believe that the issue can be resolved within the party," Somchai told reporters.

Somchai himself is the issue.

Executives of the ruling People's Power Party on Monday nominated Somchai — the brother-in-law of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra — to become the next prime minister. The move angered a faction within the party that vowed to abstain from Wednesday's crucial parliamentary vote, saying that appointing a relative of Thaksin would inflame ongoing anti-government protests.

Full Story: AP

Thought: At least now they realise that Thaksin is bad news but they persist with the same stupid mistakes by nominating cronies. The whole party needs dissolving - it was a coalition of many anyway and most of the members are not even qualified to be in politics. A new election needs to be set with new, younger, blood to run the country. The path to democracy must be through a fair and balanced election, if the populists win again without the ability to hand out envelopes I'm sure they will be accepted by all sides. That is providing they are willing to support all Thais and not just the ones that voted them in.

Post by **STEVE G** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:46 pm

Certainly now, if they can’t even decide who to put forward as PM, it seems an election is the way to go.
Putting up Somchai would be foolish; if some members of his own party don’t even want him, he is not going to have a chance with the opposition.

Post by **PeteC** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:00 pm

STEVE G wrote:Certainly now, if they can’t even decide who to put forward as PM, it seems an election is the way to go.
Putting up Somchai would be foolish; if some members of his own party don’t even want him, he is not going to have a chance with the opposition.

The academics want him though and speak highly of him, per the Bangkok Post page 3 today. Struck me as strange seeing their support for him, but perhaps he's the lesser of all evils? Pete

sargeant · Post by **sargeant** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:08 pm

I may be wrong but the PPP dissolving parliament could mean the smaller parties going with the democrats so i think that may be a higher possibility than another election.
But maybe the democrats would not want it and then push for an election just after the PPP is banned or maybe im being cynical

Post by **STEVE G** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:28 pm

prcscct wrote:
STEVE G wrote:Certainly now, if they can’t even decide who to put forward as PM, it seems an election is the way to go.
Putting up Somchai would be foolish; if some members of his own party don’t even want him, he is not going to have a chance with the opposition.
The academics want him though and speak highly of him, per the Bangkok Post page 3 today. Struck me as strange seeing their support for him, but perhaps he's the lesser of all evils? Pete

I read the article in the Bangkok Post and maybe he is a competent politician, but I think he is doomed purely due to his connections with Thaksin.