Thread: Abhisit offers to head efforts to end deadlock

Abhisit offers to head efforts to end deadlock
25/04/2014

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has volunteered to spearhead efforts to break the current political deadlock by personally approaching key political figures to sell them on the ideas of reform.

His offer has already been met with mixed responses.


Mr Abhisit hits YouTube for a Thursday address: "All sides have to realize and accept is that there can be no clear-cut winners, nor losers."

Appearing in a three-minute video clip posted on YouTube Thursday, Mr Abhisit said the only way to solve the political problems and move the country towards progress and stability is reform.

"I believe that the only way forward for the country is through reform, undertaken constitutionally and democratically with elections an integral part of the process,” he said.

He did not elaborate on his reform ideas, saying he wanted to meet key individuals and groups to convince them in person. He will today meet permanent secretary for justice Kittipong Kittayarak and the Reform Now Group. On Monday, he will meet Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimaprakorn for talks. He also plans to meet the Election Commission, the government, other political parties, as well as leaders of protest groups.

Mr Abhisit expects to complete the series of meetings within seven days.

Mr Abhisit said he was realistic yet hopeful about his mission. Some groups responded positively to Mr Abhisit's approach, but the red shirts and the Pheu Thai Party poured scorn on it.

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship chairman, Jatuporn Prompan, said Mr Abhisit's proposals are not based on democratic principles and will not help ease political conflict. His meetings will be futile if the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will not allow the poll to proceed, Mr Jatuporn said.

''Mark [Mr Abhisit's nickname] doesn't need to meet anyone. He should find an answer by himself,'' he said.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit lashed out at Mr Abhisit's proposals, saying they are a belated attempt after more than five months of protests by the PDRC. Mr Prompong also said Mr Abhisit should announce whether he will run in the fresh poll before going ahead with the meetings.

However, Mr Abhisit was adamant: "I am determined to help foster a reasonable solution to problems. What all sides have to realise and accept is that there can be no clear-cut winner or loser.

"I understand that my proposals cannot satisfy the wishes and demands of all sides, not even within the Democrat Party, or those seen to be on my side. But I believe that this is the correct direction in order for our country to move forward,'' he said.

Mr Abhisit also urged all Thais to be open-minded and to give him, reform and Thailand a chance.

He also voiced his frustration with current economic problems. He spoke of the rising cost of living and highlighted the fact that many farmers have still not received their payments for pledged rice. He also pointed out the adverse impacts corruption has on the economy.

However, he did not place the blame on any particular group. "Now is not the time to play the blame game because everyone is accountable for the situation our country is facing, including the Democrat Party and myself," he said.

A key Democrat Party figure said Mr Abhisit's planned meetings with representatives of all sectors of society are a middle-of-the-road approach that should be acceptable to all, because nobody will gain everything and nobody will lose everything. Mr Abhisit's proposed reforms will not be extreme ones that would allow "outsiders" or appointed persons to push for legal amendments.

Mr Abhisit's proposed reform process will comply with the legal, democratic and constitutional framework, the source said, adding that Mr Abhisit will detail his proposed solutions to all during his meetings with them.

Mr Abhisit will also take his proposals to caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra if she agrees to meet with him.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday urged all sectors of society to consider Mr Abhisit's proposals.

Mr Chavanond said Mr Abhisit has good intentions without any ulterior motives for political gain.

PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said yesterday the PDRC agrees with Mr Abhisit's proposal for reform and is willing to meet him to discuss solutions to the political problems.

Speaking on behalf of the Reform Now Network, Mr Kittipong said yesterday he and Mr Abhisit will meet today to exchange views.

Mr Kittipong said he will meet Mr Abhisit on behalf of the network, not as permanent secretary for justice. He said at least three of the network's groups will also attend the meeting.

bangkokpost.com

All that education and still dumb as a housebrick.

Originally Posted by Mid

Abhisit offers to head efforts to end deadlock

Groan...And sigh...

Originally Posted by bangkokpost.com

Mr Chavanond said Mr Abhisit has good intentions without any ulterior motives for political gain.

Want to buy a bridge ?

you've got to admit, as a comedy show Thai politics has the Marx Brothers beaten.

Originally Posted by Mid

Mr Chavanond said Mr Abhisit has good intentions without any ulterior motives for political gain.

The road to hell is paved with it...

Originally Posted by Abhisit

"I believe that the only way forward for the country is through reform, undertaken constitutionally and democratically with elections an integral part of the process,” he said.

Finally, let me also clarify that the protests are not being organized or led by the Democrat Party but we can certainly communicate with their leaders and will convey your concerns regarding the situation to them.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon dated 13 May 2014

Source .

Next Thaksin Shinawatra offers to return to Thailand and help reform the corruption laws....

Meanwhile, Thailands most prominent Scotsman , Suthep McThaugsuban is having none of it.

From the Nation :




Suthep turns down effort to involve him in talks

April 25, 2014 6:35 pm
Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, Friday turned down any effort to involve him in a talk.

He said that he would listen to noone except the "great masses of the people" who are calling for national reforms before the next election.

"Whoever he is, don't dare to appoint himself as the mediator. Whether he is my acquaintance, my former colleague or my friend, don't poke his wee nose into other people's business," Suthep said.

"I listen to noone but the people. The people want to see reform so we must chase away the government so that reform can be carried out," he added.

Suthep turns down effort to involve him in talks - The Nation

mega wealthy 20 year olds, of whatever political persuasion, who have not had to earn their wealth, and are heirs to daddys fortune are going to be arseholes to a greater or lesser degree.

thaksins family wealth has ensured that many of his heirs and siblings are also stupid and irresponsible.

there is nothing wrong with wealth, most wealthy people have worked to attain it and hence will value it and the benefits wealth can bring.

ferrari boys stupidity comes not from his wealth, but from poor parenting and lack of life experience.

Thread title: Abhisit offers to head efforts to end deadlock

1st post on thread:

Originally Posted by taxexile

thaksins family

"But, Thaksin..."

Keep up the good work, Tax, suthep would be proud of you...

for gods sake. just sweep the most important ingredient of this impasse under the carpet why dont you.

thaksin is at the root of all this, so discussing this ongoing farce, clusterfuck and deadlock without mentioning thaksin is impossible.

Thread title: Abhisit offers to head efforts to end deadlock

Originally Posted by taxexile

thaksin is

Originally Posted by taxexile

thaksin is

"But, Thaksin...", "But, Thaksin...". 2
abhisit. 0

Keep up the good work, Tax; you are doing the right thing for good people...

thats right bb, just evade the issue and pretend that your puppetmaster THAKSIN never existed and has nothing to do with all this.

Thread title: Abhisit offers to head efforts to end deadlock

Thaksin: 4.

abhisit: 0.

Make that 5-1

Certainly Thaksin has been at the forefront of Thai politics for the past 13/14 years so very difficult to not include him when mentioning talks about national reform.

Talks between political parties for the benefit of the people must take place if Thailand is to progress, to not do so is to ignore existing violence and disruption.

Those who wish to keep the status quo when the country is in political chaos quite frankly should be sent to the funny farm.

Abhisit is way behind the money on this one but better late than never. Can't see Yingluck agreeing to talks though as she is normally too busy posting comments to friends on her Facebook page and visiting foreign dignitaries like her brother

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

He has never been elected, never even stimulated the electorate.

Except for when he was an MP.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

we're talking about a functioning political party that offers voters a viable set of policies, hopefully with a strong ethical and moral base which avoids corruption

I do not see the Shinawatra's as a part of that solution, more the cause of the problem. They have been in power for 10 of the past 14 years, a period where corruption has been most prominent.

Blameless? Hardly!

Originally Posted by pickel

Except for when he was an MP

Stupid comment. Thai MPs, like everywhere else, just get put in by their family/powerful groups, etc. As you know full well, we are talking about national politics and the party leaders role. I sincerely believe that if abhisit had done a good job since becoming party leader that the dems would have won a national election by now - everything has been in their favour, yet abhisit has offered nothing.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

I do not see the Shinawatra's as a part of that solution, more the cause of the problem. They have been in power for 10 of the past 14 years, a period where corruption has been most prominent.

Blameless? Hardly!

"But, Thaksin..."

This thread is about abhisit, and the dems must take responsibility for their lack of performance at election time.

BTW, it has not been the most corrupt period. The army has run the country since the 1930s, and all those governments have been more corrupt. The last coup government and the abhisit government were also more corrupt. Much as it's hard to believe the PPP governments, corrupt as we know they are, are somewhere between no more corrupt and less corrupt than all the other options including the dems - that's how bad abhisit and the dems are!!!

Originally Posted by taxexile

mega wealthy 20 year olds, of whatever political persuasion, who have not had to earn their wealth, and are heirs to daddys fortune are going to be arseholes to a greater or lesser degree.

thaksins family wealth has ensured that many of his heirs and siblings are also stupid and irresponsible.

there is nothing wrong with wealth, most wealthy people have worked to attain it and hence will value it and the benefits wealth can bring.

ferrari boys stupidity comes not from his wealth, but from poor parenting and lack of life experience.

Yeah whatever Tax. It is a great video regardless, and shows the true face of those behind this 'movement' (bowel movement) called the PDRC

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Stupid comment.

Your usual response when proven wrong.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Thai MPs, like everywhere else, just get put in by their family/powerful groups, etc.

Including Peua Thai MP's? PM's?

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

He has never been elected, never even stimulated the electorate.

Except for when he was an MP.

As far as I recall he never ran for a constituency. He was always a party list appointment. So the only people that elected him were members of his own party