Opinion....... shut up, put up, pay up.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -up-pay-up
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Opinion....... shut up, put up, pay up.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -up-pay-up
a very astute analysis I think from four Americans in an op-ed piece in the Bangkok Post, and an antidote to things like the crap Guardian article linked above:
Thailand needs a democratic, just society
The authors see themselves as "colour blind" - "we do not see that one side or another of the political fray is more or less virtuous", something that is often lacking in some of the local op-ed and commentary pieces, but regardless of your "colour" preference read the article and decide for yourself the value of their positive but challenging comments about the democratic future Thailand could make for itselfQuote:
Genuine, sustainable democracy has yet to take root in Thailand. Numerous coups and constitutions enacted and then torn up over the past 83 years tell the story. We ask ourselves, what is this democracy which these well-meaning foreign critics wish Thailand to restore? We wonder what is achieved by demanding Thailand hold elections right away, considering the repeated frustrations and disappointments after the several elections held over the past decade. Is there any reason to believe that yet another election will magically resolve ThailandтАЩs political paralysis?
bkkguy
"Colour blind"..... 'in support of elite politics'Quote:
Originally Posted by bkkguy
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/
Quite right bkk guy. I'm at one with the author Nuat Namman in his excellent piece America needs Thai-style democracyQuote:
Originally Posted by bkkguy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuat Namman
In the US, democracy has been bought by the wealthy and the far-right. In Thailand, dictatorship has been brought about by the wealthy and the far-right.
The poor always suffer. And some want to ensure that its stays that way.
Co-incidentally (perhaps), in both countries, the darker your skin, the more likely you are to be denied your human rghts.
Government to remain in power until goals achieved - spokesman.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/51 ... -spokesman
WSJ: Thailand's Martial Rule.
ThailandтАЩs military dictator Prayuth Chan-ocha says he realized martial law was hurting the countryтАЩs reputation abroad. So last week he lifted martial law and declared instead that his orders will have the force of law.
Instead of only being able to hold dissidents for seven days without charge, the Thai military can now do whatever it likes. The last dictator to hold such powers, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, used them to summarily execute his opponents in the 1960s.
To the juntaтАЩs dismay, some disloyal Thais have тАЬmisunderstoodтАЭ Gen. PrayuthтАЩs magnanimous lifting of martial law. So Deputy Chairman Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan reassured the public that his bossтАЩs invocation of Article 44 of the military-imposed provisional constitutionтАФwhich allows the junta leader to issue any order deemed necessary for national securityтАФwonтАЩt change anything. It will only be used to тАЬmimicтАЭ the powers granted by martial law.
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Military-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam offered an equally compelling reason for optimism: The Article, he said, тАЬcannot be applied to harm anybody until it is used.тАЭ
Gen. Prayuth was more blunt: Those who question his powers forfeit the protections of being Thai citizens. He appreciated the ability to act swiftly тАЬto apprehend people, if an incident occurs, without an arrest warrant.тАЭ But he also explained that he doesnтАЩt want to detain one suspect for even one day. In his heart he is a democrat: Otherwise, why would he have seized power?
Meanwhile, arbitrary detentions and prosecutions for thought crimes are on the rise. The junta has detained journalists and threatened media, most recently last week when Gen. Prayuth promised to close down publications that тАЬdonтАЩt write good things.тАЭ Four bombing suspects last month alleged they were tortured in police custody and smuggled photos of their injuries out of prison. The junta denied torture was used but barred the governmentтАЩs own human-rights body from interviewing the suspects.
Most critics of the junta are keeping their heads down and waiting to see the new permanent constitution it is due to unveil later this month. Enough details of how the charter will restrict democratic rights and perpetuate military control have already leaked that even the pro-coup Democrat Party has split with the generals. If ThailandтАЩs new strongman wants to crush resistance to the constitution, he may need the full power of Article 44.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/thailands-m ... 1428448751
I doubt it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Up2U (WSJ)
Charter drafters firm on preventing 'one - man rule'.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 57804.html
Did Prayuth tell you that himself last time your nose was firmly up his arse?Quote:
Originally Posted by lego