New Election Rules Designed to Keep Junta in Power

[Thistle]

I totally agree with "Callers" last paragraph this morning.I am currently in Bkk,and many people i meet and chat with are totally bemused as to what has occurred,even to the point of mentioning the 1542 votes not counted from New Zealand,this is supposedly headline news on many Thai channels still!!
Of course that amount of votes unlikely to alter any outcome,however,what else has taken place?

[StevePIraq]

Why does there have to be democracy, it doesn't work in all countries. DO the people Thai people really want it, Isaan and it's illiterate populations just wants Thaksin not democracy.
To say this is a dictatorship shows that you have not been to countries which have real dictators or military rule. I have spent the last 20 years working in war/conflict zones, countries under real military control with soldiers patrolling the streets 24/7, armoured military vehicles on every major corner, where police/soldiers come into shops and everyone has to stand still and show our papers, where you dare not say a word against the ruler, not in a bar, a web site like this, or at work.

This is nothing like a dictatorship or military rule.

[STEVE G]

This is nothing like a dictatorship or military rule.

How is the Army seizing power in a coup and putting a general in charge not military rule? Just because a dictator isn't as bad as many others doesn't stop him from being a dictator.

[buksida]

This is nothing like a dictatorship or military rule.

Really? An un-elected military general running the country carte blanche for five years with no other candidates getting a look in or nobody with the power to contest his decisions smells like dictatorship to me. Any form of criticism, public gatherings, social media postings, or protests against the junta are instantly quashed, with those 'guilty' fined, imprisoned or worse under some new draconian computer crime act he imposes ... smells like a dictatorship to me. A blatantly rigged election to keep the junta in power and prevent any third party political candidates taking the top positions from a military appointed senate smells like a dictatorship to me.

You don't have to commit genocide or be modeled on this guy to be a dictator.

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[barrys]

I have spent the last 20 years working in war/conflict zones, countries under real military control with soldiers patrolling the streets 24/7, armoured military vehicles on every major corner, where police/soldiers come into shops and everyone has to stand still and show our papers....

I spent a lot of my childhood in a place like that - it was called Omagh!!

[Thistle]

Obviously MR StevePIraq you are talking about countries within Africa or central America when you mention being in a position to be in a bar. These are generally third world countries,that i do not suspect are known for tourism,and for the outside world in general to take notice of an election where the outcome is pretty much assured.Can you compare Thailand to any of these countries,and if so,which ones? The world outside of Thailands borders are quite interested in the outcome of the current election result,especially with the current influence that China is having in the overall economic structure of the country.

[oakdale160]

It is a dictatorship but like most things in Thai the general is not very good at being a dictator.

[handdrummer]

It is a dictatorship but like most things in Thai the general is not very good at being a dictator.

Maybe we should be grateful for that. I wouldn't want to live under Erdogan, Maduro, Kim, any African dictator or take your pick.

[Dannie Boy]

If I’m typical (that may be a debatable question) then I’ve hardly noticed any impact on my daily life since the Army took over, so it can continue as it is as far as I’m concerned

[europtimiste]

If I’m typical (that may be a debatable question) then I’ve hardly noticed any impact on my daily life since the Army took over, so it can continue as it is as far as I’m concerned

NONSENSE: If you are foreigner and even a national, not involved in politics and you agree not being critical toward the government or laws, you will not notice any impact on your daily life.
I heard that while in Spain, from Spanish people during Franco dictatorship.

[Dannie Boy]

If I’m typical (that may be a debatable question) then I’ve hardly noticed any impact on my daily life since the Army took over, so it can continue as it is as far as I’m concerned

NONSENSE: If you are foreigner and even a national, not involved in politics and you agree not being critical toward the government or laws, you will not notice any impact on your daily life.
I heard that while in Spain, from Spanish people during Franco dictatorship.

So it’s not nonsense- most people won’t have noticed any difference!!


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[StevePIraq]

If I’m typical (that may be a debatable question) then I’ve hardly noticed any impact on my daily life since the Army took over, so it can continue as it is as far as I’m concerned

I totally agree with this, and it does not just apply to foreigners, to most Thais it makes no difference who the government is. It does not impact their lives one bit. Of course it may to those who want t be politically active, but that was the same with the last democratic government.

Have you all forgotten the chaos that overtook Thailand, the airport being shut down, highways blocked, shoot outs in Bangkok. The present government has stopped all of this and brought stability to a chaotic country.

Remember the Thais voted in the constitutional referendum and accepted the new constitution, whether you liked it or not. Now they have voted in the election and whoever gets in it is the Thai peoples choice as they accepted the new constitution.

If you are so offended and concerned about a Military government you have a choice, pack you bags and go and tell the government you are leaving because you do not accept the system. Every day you stay here and spend money you are financing the Dictator you supposedly hate.

We as foreigners are only visitors here to a maximum of one year. We have no say in running this country so leave it to the Thais.

[buksida]

I totally agree with this, and it does not just apply to foreigners, to most Thais it makes no difference who the government is. It does not impact their lives one bit.

You clearly don't speak to many Thais. Try asking them about costs of living, household debt, censorship, falling trade, closures and clampdowns, tourism in decline (for those in the industry) ... all worsened under junta rule. Yeah right, it doesn't affect Thais.

The only thing I think we can agree on is that they no longer have a choice in matters and seem to have accepted that. The 'we are guests and should keep our heads in the sand' attitude also stinks, whatever country you live in.

[europtimiste]

If I’m typical (that may be a debatable question) then I’ve hardly noticed any impact on my daily life since the Army took over, so it can continue as it is as far as I’m concerned

Remember the Thais voted in the constitutional referendum and accepted the new constitution, whether you liked it or not. Now they have voted in the election and whoever gets in it is the Thai peoples choice as they accepted the new constitution.


First, how many Thais could read or understand the proposed constitution ?
And you have a very bad memory, the dictator pushed to accept the new constitution and promised elections within a short period. That's the reason the referendum passed. But elections were postponed by those liars.

[caller]

Anyway, the army have implied they won't accept any party linked to Thaksin being in power. Just look at the staged nonsense against him the other day. But it appears the accepted norm is for the parties with most seats to form a Government, that could well be a Pheu Thai led coalition - could get nasty!

The whole World knows the EC are doing all they can to ensure The General and his party stay in power. And judging by the lies they are being caught making, they must be under severe pressure to get the desired result asap and sadly for them, it's all going awry. It does appear we could be heading for some nastiness.

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