Thread: Thailand : Election Commission starts preparing new general election

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by noelbino

Enough of all this BS let's have an election ASAP.

will it change anything ? doubt it,

they need to zap Thaksin and his cronies once and for all,

no more excuses on either side for their incompetence,

I am sorry, but do you mean like zap "eliminate" half the country, Mr T and supporters? (check votes) You lived in Thailand long? You know what is going on?

Originally Posted by Exit Strategy

You know what is going on?

He thinks he knows, but his views are disturbing, to say the least...

Originally Posted by Mid

July 20 or 27

Far to late. No chance of getting a government seated, budgets planned and approved before Oct 1 (FY15). No budgets. No infrastructure projects. Local companies will be heading out like rats from a sinking ship. More big economic hits. All because a gang of fools want to rid the country of any whiff of Thaksin or anyone else outside a Democrat who may win an election.

Originally Posted by noelbino

Enough of all this BS let's have an election ASAP.

And my the best man or woman win.

PT wants election on June 15
20/04/2014

The Pheu Thai Party wants the election be held on June 15 as proposed by 53 smaller parties, not July 20 or 27 as earlier suggested by Election Commission member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said on Sunday.

Mr Prompong said Pheu Thai would send its leader Charupong Ruangsuwan to a meeting of political parties on April 22 under the invitation of the EC to discuss a framework for the new election.

He said the party would submit a proposal to the EC. The proposal would include calls for the election to be held in 60 days of the publication of a royal decree on the new poll, an amendment to a regulation to allow registration of candidates by mail or via the Internet and use of secure locations such as military or border patrol police camps as polling venues.

Pheu Thai would also call for the EC to take legal action against any groups which obstructed the election.

On a suggestion by Mr Somchai for the election to be held in 90 days of the announcement of the royal decree and the poll be held on either July 20 or 27, Mr Prompong said the party disagreed with this because it did not correspond to the current political conflict.

He said that on April 22 the EC should be able to fix a certain date for the election.

Pheu Thai agreed with a proposal made by 53 small parties for the election to be held on June 15. If the majority agreed on this date, the EC should agree with it. If the EC insisted on holding the election on July 20 or 27 and a political crisis occurred, it must be held responsible, Mr Prompong said.

On the Democrat Party's conditions for it to contest the new election including requirements for the government to accept the judicial process, to take action against those who committed lese majeste, and to end a problem over the red shirts threatening to use force, Mr Prompong said he thought it was an attempt to use the issues as an excuse to again boycott the poll.

He said Pheu Thai and the government had always acceptedd the judicial process and taken action against people who insulted the royal institution.

Mr Prompong challenged Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to announce on Apr 22 that his party would join the election, otherwise he should resign the party's leadership.

He claimed to have obtained information from a Democrat source that the party had tried to delay taking part in an election until a case against Mr Abhisit for murder in connection with the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters is thrown out.

On the red shirts' rally against Mr Somchai while on an official trip to Lamphun province, Mr Prompong said the action was a mirror reflecting Mr Somchai's performance as an EC member.

The EC should find another commissioner to replace Mr Somchai in handling election management while Mr Somchai himself should ask to be assigned to new responsibilities, Mr Prompong said.

bangkokpost.com

Soonest election date is July 20
20/04/2014

The next general election can be held on July 20 at the earliest, Election Commission (EC) member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said on Sunday.

Mr Somchai, who is in charge of election management, said the EC will meet 70 political parties on Tuesday to discuss and exchange views on the next election. The EC will then see which date is the most appropriate for holding the polls.

He said the EC may have a meeting with the caretaker government on April 30 to discuss the election date.

If both sides agree, a draft royal decree for the new polls can be forwarded for royal approval and this would take 20 days. After it is promulgated in the royal gazette, the commission will have to wait for another 60 days to hold the election and the earliest date is July 20.

"The EC will seek ways to prevent the next election from being unconstitutional like the Feb 2 poll," the commissioner said. "The EC has adjusted the regulations to allow candidates to register in every constituency, in case protesters gather to obstruct them."

The government and the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) should hold talks to settle the political conflict. The EC will not act as a mediator in talks between them, he added.

bangkokpost.com

Originally Posted by Mid

The EC has adjusted the regulations to allow candidates to register in every constituency, in case protesters gather to obstruct them.

Appears they expect a repeat of Feb 2 obstruction of registration centers. Accounting for delays because a lawless group may do so is not on. Get security in place and arrest anyone attempting to disrupt the registration process. The EC is stalling in hopes there will be no need for general elections if Y is impeached, PT is banned and government is appointed. Been down this road before.

Originally Posted by Norton

Been down this road before.

Indeed and the destination won't be any different this time either .

Capo orders election talks be shown live on TV
21/04/2014

Talks on a future general election between the Election Commission (EC) and representatives of about 70 political parties, including the Democrats and Pheu Thai, on Tuesday will be broadcast live on two government-owned television stations.

The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) on Monday ordered the two broadcasters -- channels 9 and 11 -- to provide live coverage of the meeting to be held at Miracle Grande Hotel from 2pm.

Capo wants the public to get the right information instead of distorted reports, centre spokeswoman Pol Lt Col Anchulee Theerawongpaisarn said.

The EC will host the meeting with representatives of 70 political parties invited to discuss a new date for the elections after the incomplete Feb 2 polls were annulled by the Constitutional Court.

Attention will inevitably focus on the two major political rivals, the Pheu Thai and the Democrat parties, which have both agreed to take part in the discussions.

Pheu Thai issued a statement on Monday reiterating its position, saying new elections must be urgently organised to end the political turmoil.

The statement read out by lawyer Bhokin Bhalakula urged the Democrats not to derail attempts to hold a new general election.

Pheu Thai wll send party leader Jarupong Ruangsuwan and Mr Bhokin to the meeting. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Chamni Sakdiset will represent their party.

Mr Abhisit said on the eve of the meeting that the Democrats will go to the talks with the intention of finding a way out of the political impass for the country, rather than ''an exit for political parties''.

The bottom line was to hold fresh elections that would provide an answer to the ongoing political crisis and serve the public, he said.

''The people are the ones who suffer most. So all sides must seek a common solution by setting aside their quarrels and individual benefits so that democracy can move forward without violence or a military coup,'' Mr Abhisit said.

''A new election must provide the answers the country needs to move forward,'' he stressed.

The issue that needed to be addressed at the meeting was ''how'', not ''when'', he added.

Pol Maj Gen Thawat Phuengphung, the prime minister's deputy secretary-general, said caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was not pressuring the EC to hold quick polls or rush to set the date.

The caretaker government wanted only to see new elections as soon as possible, would follow the EC's directions and hoped the new polls would go ahead smoothly, he said.

bangkokpost.com

Chuvit won't attend EC meeting
21/04/2014

Chuvit Kamolvisit, the flamboyant leader of the small Rak Thailand party, will not attend the meeting of political parties on Tuesday called by the Election Commission (EC).

The EC invited all 70 registered parties to send representatives to the meeting to discuss planning for the next election. The Pheu Thai and Democrat parties have agreed to send representatives.

Mr Chuvit said Monday he thinks the meeting is unlikely to be fruitful.

Even if the meeting is held and an election date set, it was unlikely the polls could be successfully held, he said.

This is because Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), had confirmed he would disrupt the elections again if reform is not implemented first, Mr Chuvit said.

"The EC should hold talks with Mr Suthep and Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, instead of with other parties."

Commenting on election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn's earlier proposal that polls be held on July 20 or 27, Mr Chuvit said it was just a tentative timetable leaked to show society the EC was doing its job.

Mr Chuvit believed Mr Somchai could not do anything to prevent or solve the problems that may arise during the elections.

"That leaves the country with only one option — hold talks with Mr Suthep, so that he does not disrupt the election, and with the Democrats to make sure they field candidates," Mr Chuvit said.

Asked whether his party would run in the next election, Mr Chuvit said he would watch the Democrats for clues.

"If the Democrat Party runs, we definitely won't skip it," he said.

The four-year-old Rak Thailand Party, which won four seats in the 2011 general election, fielded only party-list MP candidates and came up with no policy as it pledged to only be the opposition.

bangkokpost.com

Abhisit Says Election Is Not Answer, Warns Of Coup

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1398076240§ion=11

BANGKOK — The head of the Democrat Party has insisted that a new election is not a sufficient solution to Thailand's ongoing political crisis, contrary to the government's claims.

"At this moment many think ... a smooth, problem-free election is an adequate solution," Abhisit Vejjajiva said at a press conference today. "But that is not the truth."

According to Mr. Abhisit, even if the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra manages to organise a new round of polls—the previous general election on 2 February was invalidated by the Constitutional Court—the public may not accept the election results because of widespread mistrust towards the government.
Mr. Abhisit's comment came the day before a meeting is scheduled to take place between various parties and the Election Commission concerning a future general election. Tomorrow’s meeting will be broadcast live on two government-owned television stations, channels 9 and 11.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party has urged the EC to conduct a new election as soon as possible, but Mr. Abhisit said this will "not answer the country's problems." The Democrat Party boycotted the previous 2 February election.

The head of the opposition party also warned that possible clashes between rival protest groups may lead to a military coup similar to the one that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

"I want all sides to look at the events of 2006. The date of the election was already set, political parties already began vote canvassing, but it ended in a military coup," Mr. Abhisit told reporters.

He went on, "I hope the discussion on 22 April will not see fights between different parties. The talk should be a discussion about the needs of every side, how to help the country move forward, without violence and coups."

Mr. Abhisit refused to say whether his party will run in the next election, but insisted that the Democrat Party is open to opinions from all sides in tomorrow's forum.

Commenting on the reports that Mr. Thaksin is willing to "quit politics" for the sake of peace in Thailand, Mr. Abhisit said Mr. Thaksin is welcomed to stay in politics as long as he agrees to abide by the rule of laws and transparency.

Meeting begins, Abhisit no show
22/04/2014

The meeting between the Election Commission (EC) and 59 political parties began at Miracle Grand Convention Hotel in Bangkok's Laksi at 2.45pm.

There was no sign of Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who had said earlier he would attend.

Puchong Nutrawong, the EC's secretary general, said Mr Abhisit had informed the EC earlier he would not come.

Mr Puchong said he did not know whether the Democrat Party would send anyone to represent the party but the meeting would take place anyway.
An hour earlier, Laung Pu Buddha Issara led anti-government protesters to the hotel, demanding the EC put up a poster in the meeting room.

The poster says: "Thais won't go to the polls until reform takes place."

After EC officials showed him the photo as a confirmation they had put the poster in the room, the senior monk left, according to Thai news media.

bangkokpost.com

No live broadcast of EC meeting
22/04/2014

The Election Commission (EC) has resolved not to allow a live broadcast of its meeting with representatives of political parties scheduled for this afternoon to discuss a framework for a new election, reports said.

The resolution was made at an EC meeting which began at 10am. First item on the agenda for consideration was the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order's (Capo) order that Channels 9 and 11 television stations broadcast live today's meeting between election commissioner and political parties.

The meeting reportedly decided to defy Capo's order and not allow the live broadcast. The decision was based on the fact that the EC had never allowed a live broadcast of its meetings with political party leaders before.

Moreover, today's meeting, due to start at 2pm, was an internal discussion intended to hear opinions and reasons from political parties for consideration.

However, members of the news media would be allowed to listen to the discussion.

Sixty-four of the 70 registered political parties were reported to have agreed to send representatives to the meeting.

At the government offices complex on Chaeng Wattana road, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) used four buses to block the road and cordon off members of the People's Radio for Democracy Group (PRDG).

Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, EC member for election management, said the venue for today's meeting would not be changed.

The EC had asked the Royal Thai Police Office and Thung Song Hong police to provide security, he added.

The Election Commission's offices are inside the government complex.

bangkokpost.com

Originally Posted by Merrimack

"I want all sides to look at the events of 2006. The date of the election was already set, political parties already began vote canvassing, but it ended in a military coup," Mr. Abhisit told reporters.

He went on, "I hope the discussion on 22 April will not see fights between different parties. The talk should be a discussion about the needs of every side, how to help the country move forward, without violence and coups."

[emphasis added]

Well that's clearly a threat in'it.

Simple- if the Democrat supporters and the 'establishment' that backs it wants to have any meaningful democratic say in this nations governance, get rid of Abhisit and the rest of the prissy malignant's. Fail. Either that, or lets see if you can turn Thailand into Burma (when Burma is in the process of turning into Thailand). Fail.

I'd like to see the Democrats compete in some meaningful sense, but that clearly isn't going to happen under this incompetent bunch.

^
Not incompetent - malicious and malignant. Read his comments again. It's a clear threat. "We have the armed forces on our side." That's the translation

Again, there is nothing that says the Democrats have to be present to make anything like this legitimate

Originally Posted by sabang

I'd like to see the Democrats compete in some meaningful sense, but that clearly isn't going to happen under this incompetent bunch.

again, how can you be so naive and ignorant about Thailand politics. The Democrats are not a "normal" political party, and will never be.

Maybe the Reds as a true independent political party, with a strong socialist agenda could be a real alternative, otherwise, they are useless.

Abhisit Skips EC Forum Because of ‘Death Threats’
22 April 2014

BANGKOK — The Chairman of the Democrat Party was forced to skip the forum on Thailand's future election because of an assassination threat from a pro-government activist, said the Democrat Party’s spokesperson.

Abhisit Vejjajiva had previously agreed to meet with representatives of more than 60 political parties, including the ruling Pheu Thai Party, in a forum organised by the Election Commission (EC) at the Miracle Grand Hotel in northern Bangkok today.

However, Mr. Abhisit declined to attend the meeting at the last minute, citing unspecified security concerns.

Democrat Party spokesperson Mr. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut later elaborated in a press conference at the party's headquarters that he had received intelligence about a plot by Redshirt supporters to assassinate Mr. Abhisit during the EC meeting.

Mr. Chavanond also cited a Facebook post by a Redshirt activist called Uncle Yim Tasawang who wrote that he planned to fire "several rounds of shot" inside the meeting room and cause chaos among forum participants.

In another Facebook post, Uncle Yim wrote that he wished the meeting would be broadcast live so his group could cause embarrassment to Mr. Abhisit in front of a national audience.

en.khaosod.co.th

Originally Posted by Butterfly

The Democrats are not a "normal" political party, and will never be.

Obviously not- they are an abnormally useless political party, even for Thailand. Their electoral, democratic participation, and popularity record speaks for itself. Under the titular 'leadership' of Mark Abhisit (h'rrmph, and they call Yingluck a puppet) they appear to have rejected the democratic process entirely, and aligned their colors to the neo-fascist PAD. What an insult to the name they call themselves by.

So surely, just as TRT arose from the ashes of PDP and has thrashed the inept Democrats ever since, it is well past time for some serious political players to not so much change the dem's, as replace them. I really cannot see them competing in a national democratic sense any more, their name is poison in much of Thailand- and I do not just mean in a 'democratic preference' sense, I mean they are outright hated. A clean brush is needed, and the rump of the so called dem's can continue on as a neo-fascist pressure group, so what we've seen it all before.

But the core constituency they should be, but blatantly are not, appealing to- the growing urban middle class, not just in Bangkok but throughout Thailand, are being sorely let down, and deserve better than this.

Originally Posted by Mid

The Chairman of the Democrat Party was forced to skip the forum on Thailand's future election because of an assassination threat from a pro-government activist,

Bullshit.

Originally Posted by sabang

they are an abnormally useless political party

Hence Butterfly's affiliation with them...

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

how exactly do you replace Suthep?

No need to replace him, he will not get his way. What sort of pathetic testament to civil disorder that will entail before it is made clear, is the only real question. He is puny, with puny 'ideas', and speaks for a puny minority that has only ever held this nation back over the last decade. If there is an ounce of this elusive 'good protester' left, I invite you to look in the mirror.

Or perhaps, just be honest with yerself- is this really about corruption, to you?

Wow. Big grandiloquent speech ! What rhetoric!


I know several Thais who find Thaksin proxy governments too rapacious.

If you want to tell them that they are 'puny' then don't preach to Teakdoor. Send a letter to the Post under your own name informing them so.

Tell them its the 'Thai way or the highway', that they're either 'with you or against you', that there is no middle ground, only polarities, and you know better than they.


Not sure what you're all going to do next week if Yingluck gets nailed for corruption - your ire will be unstoppable , and possibly self-combust with suppressed fury that third world politics isn't operating the way you want it to !

Originally Posted by sabang

So surely, just as TRT arose from the ashes of PDP and has thrashed the inept Democrats ever since, it is well past time for some serious political players to not so much change the dem's, as replace them.

TRT is stronly motivated by their leader thirst of power and money, not Democracy

so in that sense, they are more effective than the Democrats and will deliver to their electorate

again sab, you seem confused about the reality of Thai politics, and romanticizing it is not exactly reality, isn't it ?

<edit> got your reply now -next time perhaps.