Opinion: A well intentioned but problematic charter.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... ic-charter
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Opinion: A well intentioned but problematic charter.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... ic-charter
but it may be achieving somebody's agenda - the major parties are united and it may yet justify election delays until the elephant has left the roomQuote:
Originally Posted by Up2U
Political foes will accept poll lag
Bangkok Post
bkkguyQuote:
Leaders of Pheu Thai, Democrats, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and other political parties and groups were invited by military officers to a meeting of the regime's Reconciliation Centre for Reform. They told the officers that even three more years of military rule would be preferable to "divisive" elections under the proposed constitution.
Poll delay proposal slammed - the Nation.
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/vCaDA
Government coy on poll lag plan - BP.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... l-lag-plan
BP: Peace TV (red shirt station) licence revoked.
http://m.bangkokpost.com/latestnews/542939
BP Opinion : Democracy must be built on the mistrust of "good people".
http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/543679
First edition of government tabloid newspaper being distributed.
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/35FHU
Thai press Assoc : decision to shut down red tv station "disproportionate".
http://prachatai.org/english/node/5007? ... um=twitter
There have been no protests/demonstrations for about a year now. Doesn't this thread title now give the wrong impression to a casual reader? Should it be changed?
I wonder why? Is it possibly the result of Thailand now being a police- state and opposition to the military clowns being illegal?
Does that make any difference to the thread title?Quote:
Originally Posted by Oliver
Threads evolve but you raise a valid point, what title change would you suggest? As Oliver notes, the only reason there are no protests/demonstrations/free discussion is they are outlawed. What we have now is an unfragmented, historical timeline and discussion, and I see that as being a distinct benefit.Quote:
Originally Posted by fountainhall
it shows the same polarized and polarizing mentality is still in placeQuote:
Originally Posted by fountainhall
what we have in Thailand is a continuing drift away from both the desire and the possibility of establishing a working democratic system, what we have in this thread is mostly a carefully curated twitter feed of links - the distinct benefit you perceive is probably because you are the curatorQuote:
Originally Posted by Up2U
bkkguy
A timeline of what is happening can be useful for those not living in Thailand who want to get an idea of what is going on here according to various sources. I just wonder how many readers actually open up any of the links! Personally I always hope to find a brief 3 or 4 line summary provided by the author of a post in addition to the thread itself - but that's just my view. As bkkguy points out, though, this has essentially become a one-poster thread which rather implies few readers feel the posts are worth much comment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Up2U
As for title the posts are surely now more accurately concerned with the "Political Situation in Thailand".
Sorry to disappoint you but the sources are primarily rss news feeds, fb, bp, nation, western news sources, etc. which I suspect most twitter posters also use. Anything about the current political situation I try to post but all of us just by being human have our own biases, prejudices, political leanings, etc. I certainly don't want to be the curator but sharing of information is important and your lucid comments on this budding Thai democracy are always appreciated (remember I don't do sarcasm).Quote:
Originally Posted by bkkguy
Again, the headlines and links are there for informational purposes and I deliberately try not to editorialize but let readers come to their own conclusions. There is enough info in the title if someone wants to open the link and feel inspired to comment. I could make comments about every article and stir the shit if I chose but I view that as counterproductive.Quote:
Originally Posted by fountainhall
BP: Democrats, PT slam CDC chairman on trialling new charter
29 Apr 2015
The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties have attacked a suggestion that the new charter be given a trial period of five years, saying Thailand and its people are not guinea pigs.
Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno made the controversial trial run remark while addressing the presidents of provincial administrative organisations from across the country on the topic тАЬThe New Constitution and DecentralizationтАЭ on Tuesday....... (read more)
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/54 ... ew-charter
BP: Referendum risks 90 day poll holdup.
April 30, 2015
A general election will be delayed for about three months if a referendum is to be held on the draft charter.
However, the government and charter drafters are not yet on the same page where the referendum is concerned.
Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said Wednesday the charter drafters and National Reform Council (NRC) are not authorised to decide whether the referendum should be held.
The final say rests with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the cabinet, he said.
But NCPO chief and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said it is the CDC and NRC's job to decide........(read more)
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... ll-hold-up
Up2U's efforts to provide these news clips from various sources in one place is appreciated. Easy to stay on top of the news and I click on the links quite often. Having a Red Boyfriend from Isaan myself, I share Up2U's concerns. The Protests update moniker seems to be just as good as any. I do wonder why some posters seem to wander in occasionally and feel a need to tidy it up. Call it what you may, but please keep it up.
Thai police say more than 200 l├иse majest├й cases closed in 6 months
Sun, 26/04/2015
The Thai police said on Friday that they have closed about 50 per cent of more than 400 l├иse majest├й cases filed with them in the past six months. Also, more than 25,000 websites were closed because of l├иse majest├й.
The police reported their six-month results at a press conference at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters on Friday.
During the press conference, attended by about 100 civil servants, entrepreneurs, and medical volunteers, the police said they have closed 239 of 443 l├иse majest├й cases in the past six months. There are 76 more cases under the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Attorney General. 128 cases are currently under investigation.
The police added that they closed 25,069 websites disseminating l├иse majest├й content.
They also said that they have continued to monitor online media for l├иse majest├й content.
Since protecting the monarchy is the police's top priority, the police also work hard to help raise the awareness of the Thai people to be loyal to the monarchy. They also continue to follow and support several Royal Projects.
http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/5000
They are your posts and you have every right to post them as and how you wish. It is merely my preference for a slightly longer summery (as per your most recent posts - thank you) as it helps decide whether it's worth opening the links and wading through them or not. But I still think "Protests Update" is an inaccurate heading and could give occasional readers the wrong idea that Bangkok still has regular street protests. Might that put anyone off coming? Perhaps unlikely, but who knows? And with the thread now so long, I doubt any of these will bother looking back to read the first few pages when the title was wholly relevant and particularly informative.Quote:
Originally Posted by Up2U
Again you raise a good point, hopefully those who follow this thread understand. I will include the first paragraph or so of an article at your suggestion. Thanks for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by fountainhall
Kyoto Review (opinion)
Ugly Americans, Ugly Thais
Sinae Hyun
On January 26, 2015, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, Daniel R. Russel, delivered a speech at Chulalongkorn University, urging the end of martial law throughout the country and the removal of restrictions of speech and assembly. 1 In the following days Thai Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, lambasted the speech, and said martial law would not be lifted as it could lead to political disturbances. 2 Subsequently, a group of Thai people gathered to protest in front of the U.S. embassy in Bangkok. On January 30, well-known Thai columnist Thanong Khanthong wrote in the Nation: тАЬтАжthe incident brings to mind тАШThe Ugly American,тАЩ тАжтАЭ which portrayed тАЬтАжAmericaтАЩs arrogant behavior towards a third-world country.тАЭ He added that тАЬmany ThaisтАЭ reacted with fury to тАЬwhat is being widely seen as a case of the U.S. meddling in Thai politics.тАЭ 3 In fact, it is those тАЬmany ThaisтАЭ who have permitted the Ugly Americans to тАЬmeddleтАЭ in Thai politics throughout the Cold War right up to the present day....... (read more)
http://kyotoreview.org/yav/ugly-americans-ugly-thais/
The United States Should Explore Constructive Engagement with Thailand
by cogitASIA Staff тАв April 29, 2015 тАв(CSIS opinion)
By George Abonyi
The United States has taken a strong stand against the Thai coup in May 2014. This may be consistent with the U.S. position on military coups, and with popular sentiment sympathetic to shared democratic values in other societies. However, it may represent a missed opportunity for the United States to help shape ThailandтАЩs complex and ongoing political-economic transformation. While the United States has reduced the scope of military cooperation with Thailand, it can still find ways to constructively engage, even if informally, those in Thailand seeking to implement much needed, long-term institutional reforms.......... (read more)
http://cogitasia.com/the-united-states- ... -thailand/
Redshirts Urge Prayuth to Overturn TV Blackout Order
BANGKOK тАФ Redshirt activists have asked junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha to overturn a state agencyтАЩs decision to revoke the license of a Redshirt-operated TV channel.
Thanawut Wichaidith, spokesperson of the Redshirts' official organization, the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), led a group of activists to submit the letter to Gen. Prayuth, who is also Prime Minister, at the governmentтАЩs complaint center this morning. An official received the letter on Gen. Prayuth's behalf........ (read more)
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6§ion=
(Sort of old news) Junta to pass law banning homosexuals from monkhood
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 10/03/2015
Kongpob Areerat
The junta cabinet has approved a bill on religion which can be used to prosecute, with jail terms, people who propagate тАШincorrectтАЩ versions of Buddhist doctrines or cause harm to Buddhism. The bill also posts jail terms specifically for homosexual monks...... (read more)
http://prachatai.org/english/node/4843
BP: Abhisit: Reforms to fail without better charter
Weak political parties will not prevent abuse
1 May 2015
WRITER: REUTERS
"Whatever they have achieved will just come to nothing," says Mr Abhisit.
Any achievements by Thailand's ruling junta while in power will be lost without significant changes to the country's draft constitution, Democrat Party leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday.
The military toppled an elected government last May and is engineering wide ranging reforms to heal the country's deep political divisions.
But both the Democrat Party and its rivals have called the junta's draft charter undemocratic, saying it could herald more turmoil under a weak coalition government...... (read more)
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/54 ... er-charter
Peace TV will 'keep working'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation May 2, 2015
Content will be broadcast via different media, legal fight will continue: Weng
THE red-shirt Peace TV station has decided to continue disseminating content via the Internet and other media after it was pulled off the air by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) on Thursday night for allegedly being a threat to national security.
The station will also continue its legal battle to be allowed back on air, red-shirt co-leader Weng Tojirakarn said........ (read more)
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/l7rqS
Thai military forbids labour rally in Chiang Mai
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 01/05/2015
The military have forced the cancellation of a Labour Day rally organised by workers in Chiang Mai, citing the continuing volatility of the political situation.
According to Prachatham News, the Workers Solidarity Association (WSA), Migrant Workers Federation (MWF), Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (TWF), Thailand Electronic and Electric Appliance Workers' Federation (TEEF), and the Federation of Jewelry and Accessory Workers planned to hold a rally in the northern province of Chiang Mai on the morning of Friday 1 May, International Labour Day.
The rally was initially planned to be attended by about 100 workers, who would walk from Lanna Rama 9 Park in central Chiang Mai to the Provincial Hall to submit a letter to the Chiang Mai governor on the demands of the labour groups...... (read more)
http://prachatai.org/english/node/5023
There has been comment in the Thai media recently about claims that the minimum wage should be raised to Bt.360 per day. It was last raised to Bt. 300 in 2013. That rally was about wage and other employment claims rather than political protest. Given that the rally was supposed to assemble only 100 attendees and the military still permitted them to send 30 representatives from each of several labour groups to submit their letter of demands, it seems a bit of a storm in a teacup!Quote:
Originally Posted by Up2U
You just have to remember Prayut wants to be Prem 2.
i done no that pink,is his culaQuote:
Originally Posted by BrisbaneGuy
bkkguy
Thai press one of the more restricted in Asean: SEAPA
The Nation May 4, 2015
Group rates thai media closer to myanmar's level but not all agree
THAILAND'S fourth estate has turned from being fairly free to one of the most restricted in the region, standing beside Myanmar and Malaysia, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance said on World Press Freedom Day yesterday.
"The military junta that took power on May 22, 2014 has imposed strict bans on media, public and online criticism of the government while overhauling the political system before calling for an election in 2016," Seapa said....... (read more)
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/mLefo
Thailand: Public assembly law creates new hurdles for political protests
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices May 04, 2015
In the past decade, Thailand has seen fair share of political protests. As color-coded groups staged prolonged, large-scale street rallies, politics frequently more often took place outside than inside its usual institutions. Many of these protests went on for several weeks with varying degrees of impact on public life as major public areas (Rajaprasong Intersection in 2010 and 2014, Democracy Monument), numerous government buildings (even Government House itself in 2008) and even BangkokтАЩs Suvarnabhumi Airport (also in 2008) have been occupied. And many protests have also sparked violent incidents (sometimes deliberately provoked), some resulting in deaths as protesters have clashed with security officials тАУ or in the case of the red shirt protests of 2010 тАУ the military.
The last major demonstrations weтАЩve seen were the anti-government protests of 2013-14, which lasted almost half a year and brought parts of the capital Bangkok to a grinding halt тАУ not to mention halting political discourse, deliberately creating a deadlock in which the military could easily launch the coup of May 22, 2014.....(read more)......
http://asiancorrespondent.com/132633/th ... -protests/
Thai JuntaтАЩs lawmakers to pass bill to regulate public demonstrations
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 04/05/2015
ThailandтАЩs Lawmakers gave a final approval to pass the bill to regulate public assemblies, which will create petty hindrances to public demonstrations.
According to the Nation Breaking News, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Friday completed the third reading on the Public Assembly Bill.
158 members of the NLA voted in favor of the bill while four members did not vote. None of the NLA members voted against the draft bill, the Nation reported...... (read more)......
http://prachatai.org/english/node/5025
Referendum should 'focus on key charter points'
THE NATION May 5, 2015
THE National Legislative Assembly yesterday threw its support behind submitting the new constitution to a public vote of confidence, but only on critical points, as most of it is regarded as fine already.
The NLA all agrees that a referendum should be held," deputy president Peerasak Porchit said yesterday. "A public referendum should not be focused on whether to adopt or reject the whole constitution, as it may prevent good elements [from being implemented]...... (read more)....
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 59327.html
New website for constitution referendum
4 May 2015 at 20:23
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
Some 150 people led by academics Nidhi Eawsriwong and Charnvit Kasetsiri have joined hands to push a "democratic referendum" on the new constitution.
The group comprises academics, activists, students, unions, writers, film directors, journalists, politicians and other people.
Among them are Mr Nidhi, a historian and former Chiang Mai University lecturer; Mr Charnvit, former Thammasat University rector; Kasian Tejapira, a politicial science professor at Thammasat University; Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, a movie director; former education minister Chaturon Chaisang; ex-deputy PM Surapong Suebwonglee; and Suchart Sawatsri, a national artist.
The group has three main proposals for different scenarios....... <read more)........
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... referendum
Red shirts petition UN over Peace TV ban
4 May 2015
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
Red shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn and news anchors from the now-defunct Peace TV submitted a petition to the United Nations on Monday to protest the revocation of its broadcasting licence.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship chief presented the protest letter to Yu Kanosue, a officer with the Office of High Commission on Human Rights for Southeast Asia at the UNтАЩs headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue.
The petition asks the UN to call on Thailand to comply with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which concerns the right to freedom of expression, after the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission banned Peace TV from the airwaves
..... (read more).......
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/55 ... ace-tv-ban
ThailandтАЩs Self-Absorbed Dictatorship
It has been a bleak year for democracy in Thailand.
By Serhat ├Ьnaldi
May 01, 2015
A mad man is ruling in the land of smiles. A year after taking power it has become clear that General Prayuth Chan-o-cha is a malign dictator who offers no solution to the problems Thailand is facing. Instead, he makes death threats against journalists, drags those who speak their minds before martial courts, postpones democratic elections time and again, and overlooks the drafting of a constitution that may legally prolong his stint as prime minister, or at least allow for his return when and if elections are eventually held. His aggressive comments before the media are as legendary as they are dangerous in that they reveal his temper, his lack of rationality, and an absence of any even-handedness. The world should have long lost patience with the man who has dragged Thailand into an economic and political no manтАЩs land...... (read more).....
http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/thailand ... tatorship/
democracy isnt for everyone...look at africa...one man one vote one time only.......and even when regular voting happens we still get situations like venezuela..greece...maybe some cultures require and respect a strongman.
Suthep Welcomes Five More Years for PM Prayuth
06 May 2015
SURAT THANI тАФ The leader of the street protests that paved the way for the May 2014 coup has praised ThailandтАЩs military leader and welcomed him to stay in power for up to five more years.
Speaking to reporters today, Suthep Thaugsuban described junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha as an ideal Prime Minister because he solves problems "without seeking personal gain."
"If Gen. Prayuth can stay and keep solving problems and making this country and the livelihood of the people better, he can stay for three years or five years," Suthep said. "We should not only try to have what looks cool."........ (read more).......
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1430910868