Thread: Thai elections 2011-Thai PM sets stage for tough election

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

However, some soldiers admitted that it was difficult to convince local people not to support Pheu Thai.

Originally Posted by Calgary

Like I said, these people will swear up and own that they are above the fray, unbiased and untainted by any one side, but then consistently propagate that side.

Continues to amaze me, as it is done consistently by all those types.

Sorry, but that is paranoid and delusional. Trust me. It really is. If you really believe that people lie to you in that way, can I suggest you see a psychiatrist soon.

It sounds like the ramblings of someone suffering some form of schizophrenia. People have no reason to lie to you. Why would they? What possible reason would they do that for? To you? Like you matter? Do you really think a person would go to all that effort just to hide their real motives, from you? From you? Do you really think you are that important?

My goodness.

This post of yours is so far removed from reality and suggests a total disconnect. You are possessed of a total inability to read peoples behaviour and their real intentions. Ergo something is very wrong with you.

Think about it. You talk to people. They express their opinions. You see it as they are lying. They are masking what they really feel. To you. Does that sound sane to you?

People poorly judge the motives of others here, in print, without tone or facial expressions to help them. Mid has done it a few times (I am sure I have to). But his errors are usually simple misinterpretations. Yours on the other hand suggests sinister motives. A plot. A conspiracy. People are deliberately lying to you to mask their true intentions from you. From you! Why???????????

I write this out of concern for you. Not to be critical. Hopefully you will read it with an open mind, although if the above is correct, you are too far gone and unable to do anything about it. Take care.

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

However, some soldiers admitted that it was difficult to convince local people not to support Pheu Thai.

Taking things out of context again Mid. Naughty, naughty.

Bangkok Post : 'Forced marriage' was not made in heaven

COMMENTARY

'Forced marriage' was not made in heaven

• Published: 13/06/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Chartthaipattana Party leader Chumpol Silpa-archa might have felt it was too much for him to bear any longer with repeated insults from Abhisit Vejjajiva, prime minister and Democrat Party leader.

The latest spat between the two party leaders stemmed from Mr Abhisit's misquoted statement saying that he had no choice but to accept the Chartthaipattana Party into the coalition alliance at a time when the Democrat-led government was reported to be set up in military barracks.

In response to what he perceived as an insult from Mr Abhisit, Mr Chumpol retorted his party would not have joined the coalition with the Democrats in the first place had it not been for the fact that it was forced to do so.

Belatedly though, Mr Chumpol's first public admission of Chartthaipattana's "forced marriage" with the Democrats and three other junior parties, Bhumjaithai, Puea Pandin and Social Action, has confirmed what the opposition Pheu Thai Party and many political observers have accused all along _ that the military had played a crucial role in cobbling together the Abhisit government.

But Mr Abhisit has denied all along that his coalition government was put together with the help of the military. Writing in the Facebook social network last week, he made a clarification about the formation of his government about two years ago.

"Was it strange if other parties decided to switch sides to join the Democrats in forming a government? It was not because the country at the time was stuck in an impasse due to the accumulated problems _ be it the self-serving attempt to rewrite the constitution or the October7 affairs. I didn't know who had talked with the military because I had never dealt with any military officer. But I believe that no one can force the MPs. Khun Suthep Thaugsuban, the party secretary-general who coordinated with the other parties, asked me what about my position. I told him that it was a matter of the parliament and I thought one we could have shrugged off as none of our business. But as an opposition leader, [i] had to be responsible. We did not rob power from anybody and if [i] ever had a chance to become prime minister I would not do anything for myself. Everything was in accordance with procedure, with the law. If the majority in the parliament accepted [me] I would accept and the voting was open. Switching sides in a parliamentary system can always happen ..." In short, Mr Abhisit was not involved in the back-door manoeuvring in the formation of his government and knew nothing about the military's interference. Was it true as he claimed?

Consider this point made in Manager Weekly. The writer asked about the appointment of Prawit Wongsuwon as defence minister in the Abhisit government. "Where did the defence portfolio quota come from? Gen Prawit is neither a Democrat nor a member of any coalition party." So you can judge for yourself whether you should believe Mr Abhisit's words or not.

Regarding Mr Chumpol's statement, he said he would not respond to it, claiming that the former might not have read his article in Facebook. He, however, expected to clear the air with Mr Chumpol during the cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Observing from the sidelines, I would say that, sometimes, some hidden truths might be exposed intentionally or accidentally in the course of a heated argument between two rivals who appear to be consumed with emotions. In the case of Mr Chumpol, it appeared to be a double snub from Mr Abhisit _ first against his own brother, Mr Banharn, and then his party, that caused him to blow his top and spill the beans about the "invisible hand" which forced his party to join the coalition alliance.

Now the truth has come out from the horse's mouth, belatedly though. Would the military, again, try to meddle in politics, especially in putting together another coalition government in case neither of the two major parties, Democrat and Pheu Thai, wins more than half of the 500 House seats under contest in the July 3 election?

Since army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has repeatedly assured that the military will not interfere with the election, he should be given the benefit of the doubt. After all, he was not yet army chief when the Abhisit government was set up in the barracks _ a fact which has always been a dark spot for the government and Mr Abhisit in particular.

Veera Prateepchaikul

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

However, some soldiers admitted that it was difficult to convince local people not to support Pheu Thai.

Taking things out of context again Mid. Naughty, naughty.

what is out of context ?

Bangkok Post : Hot-button pledges aside, what's their vision?

FACE OFF

Hot-button pledges aside, what's their vision?

Pheu Thai economic adviser Olarn Chaipravat admits his ideas are unconventional, but bristles at claims he is throwing money at problems. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, meanwhile, says the market usually does it better, but still sees a big role for the state

• Published: 13/06/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Pheu Thai: The campaign promises have come fast and furious, with policies aimed at the young and old, urban residents and rural farmers, business owners and new graduates.

If you are a family man, are you worried about your children's future?

Pheu Thai promises free tablet PCs and wifi internet for students nationwide.

Can't afford to buy your first-home mortgage or car? No problem, vote Pheu Thai and the party promises tax breaks for first-time homebuyers and car owners.

Finishing up university and worried about the job market? No worries, the party's campaign posters are promising a starting salary of 15,000 baht a month for new graduates across the country.

Of course, the devil is in the details. While some analysts might decry Pheu Thai for blatant populism, party executives say their platform has been carefully vetted, analysed and structured to be practical, feasible and affordable, now and in the medium term.


"But in the long-term, we will see better income distribution and productivity growth. Yes, in the short-term, there are higher costs. But it will be compensated for in the end." — OLARN CHAIPRAVAT, PHEU THAI’S ECONOMIC ADVISER

Pheu Thai's economic adviser Olarn Chaipravat bristles when questioned about populism. ''What is populism? How are we populist? It means different things to different people,'' he said.

''One person might question our policy from an investment return perspective. Another might raise a question about social justice. And another might ask about whether this policy is simply fuelling consumption, or is it actually an investment.

''But [Pheu Thai] can answer each of these questions.''

He points to the tablet PC concept. ''Say we price each tablet PC at 2,000 baht each. That's capital investment. We will invest other funds for training for teachers. That's investment in human capital. How is this populist?''

Pheu Thai's minimum wage policy, for instance, is hardly the blatant handout that it might seem.

''We have done surveys in Bangkok. And it turns out that only 30% of the companies would need to make adjustments [to meet the 300 baht/day proposed wage hike],'' Dr Olarn said.

For white-collar workers, the pledge to raise salaries for new graduates would begin with the civil service, with hikes in the private sector implemented on a voluntary basis.

Crucially, wage hikes would be tied to productivity and skill benchmarks, although Dr Olarn was coy on the details.

''But in the long term, we will see better income distribution and productivity growth.

''Yes, in the short term, there are higher costs. But it will be compensated for in the end,'' he said.

Dr Olarn's economics background includes a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, senior positions at the Bank of Thailand and the presidency of Siam Commercial Bank and council chairman of Shinawatra University. He served over two months as deputy prime minister under the Somchai Wongsawat government in late 2008. ''But my thinking isn't what you would call conventional wisdom. It's not something that you can get from a textbook,'' he said.

Pheu Thai's economic platform represents a strategy based around four major ''megatrends'', Dr Olarn said. They are global warming; scarcity of fossil fuels; growing consumer awareness of green issues and sustainability; and free trade.

''There are four global trends that all countries, including Thailand, will have to face, whether we like it or not. It's something that none of these countries alone can change,'' he said.

Global warming, Dr Olarn said, will result in drier weather in the northern and southern hemispheres but greater rainfall and rising sea levels in the tropics.

''The result of this is problems in the northernmost and southernmost parts of the world but opportunities for the golden land, the Suvarnabhumi area, which is in the equatorial region, including Thailand,'' he said.
Additional rainfall should benefit key crops such as rice, sugar cane and tapioca, with rising production expected in the future even as output declines in drier areas.

Pheu Thai is promoting a community-based water management system to help support farmers, with reservoirs established at the tambon level to help along growth during the dry season.

Dr Olarn said local and environmental concerns would prohibit the development of new large dams.

''We have to go down to the tambon level, to build small reservoirs and trap the water during the rainy season, everywhere in Thailand, and then retain the water for about five to six months after October,'' he said.

''Water from the small reservoirs ... would then be used to grow the crops that use relatively less water, such as rubber trees or high-value vegetable crops.''

New rubber tree plantations would be created with financing from the government, commercial banks and rubber plantations.

Dr Olarn said that based on a seven-year maturity cycle for rubber trees, the internal rate of return would be 20%.

Public investment would be capped at 25%, with 230 million baht enough for a plantation of 2,000 rai.

''They are not government owned plantations. ... If you get any investment in Thailand, public-private projects, and show me a rate of return that exceeds 20%, I will give you a Nobel prize,'' he said with a laugh.

''I have looked already. Normal rate of return is 15-16%. But rubber and water is an exception, because of high rubber prices.''

Pheu Thai would aim to double the growth of new rubber plantations to 1 million rai per year for the next five years. Farmers would be encouraged to shift from growing crops to more profitable rubber trees.

For the second megatrend, rising energy prices, Pheu Thai will focus on the development of renewable energy sources. ''As Thailand is a fossil-energy importing country, high-energy prices, unless we have compensating policy adjustments, would be tragic for the country,'' Dr Olarn said.

''Our policy in this area is to develop renewable energy sources from crops where we have an advantage.''

Pheu Thai aims to boost ethanol output to 6.5 million litres per day from 1.43 million now, through yield improvements in key input crops such as tapioca and sugar cane.

Ethanol use in fuel, now around 10%, would be quadrupled within five years, reducing petroleum imports.

Other sources, such as solar and biomass, would also be boosted to strengthen energy security, while public investment would go into improving storage and distribution systems.

The third megatrend focuses on growing social awareness of sustainability and environmental awareness.

''People in both developed and developing countries are moving towards the green concept of consumption habits. You should not destroy the environment in such a way that the benefits cannot be restored,'' Dr Olarn said.

Thailand, as a major agricultural and food exporter, can benefit from growing demand for organic food.

The decline in trade tariffs and barriers under free-trade arrangements was the last major megatrend underpinning Pheu Thai's strategy.

''No country can use protective tariff rates to insulate itself from competitive pressures from outside,'' Dr Olarn said.

Pheu Thai would help producers adjust to competition with initiatives to help boost productivity and efficiency. ''Our premier policy is to increase the competitiveness of Thai industries and cut the corporate income tax rate from 30% to 23% next year and to 20% in the following year,'' Dr Olarn said. Higher corporate revenues, value-added tax collections from business, and economic growth would help offset potential declines in revenues from the cuts in tax rates.

Democrats: Strength and stability is the primary focus of the Democrat Party's economic platform, says Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

The Democrat Party deputy leader dismissed the lavish promises made by his campaign competitors as impractical and unworkable, and urged voters to look beyond the poster headlines to the fine details.

''[Pheu Thai] is essentially focused on passing an amnesty law [to bring back Thaksin Shinawatra]. Their campaign promises are simply empty promises,'' Mr Korn said.


"Is theminimumwage too low? Yes, considering that listed companies are posting record profits right now. The spoils of economic growth should be better shared." — KORN CHATIKAVANIJ, FINANCE MINISTER AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY DEPUTY LEADER

''They say they will raise minimum wages to 300 baht a day immediately. How can they execute this? And also honour their promises to cut corporate income taxes?''

Pheu Thai's agricultural platform similarly defies logic, Mr Korn said. Pheu Thai has vowed to double prices for rice farmers by doing away with the crop insurance programme and returning to the previous rice mortgage system.

''They say they will give 15,000 baht per tonne for rice paddy at a time when the market price is 8,000 baht. Executing this policy will cost as much as 50 billion baht,'' Mr Korn said.

''Where will the funds come from? How will the government store the rice? And if all of the country's rice is in the hands of the government, how is this a good thing?''

The insurance programme, introduced during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, offers farmers compensation if market prices fall below benchmark prices.

Under the mortgage system, the government became the buyer of last resort for paddy pledged as collateral against state bank loans.

Mr Korn said the insurance programme was superior in that it minimised corruption through direct payments to farmers, avoided distortions with the market mechanism and had lower logistics expenses for the state.

Mr Korn, 47, is former head of JPMorgan Chase.

He said he remained committed to the idea of competitive markets and limited government intervention within the economy.

''I am a great believer in competition. But intervention is necessary when market competition fails,'' he said, pointing to the government's use of state banks to push credit card charges downwards and policies to liberalise the capital market.

Of course, the Democrats have their own package of hot-button promises aimed at luring voters, whether it be vows to hold diesel prices under 30 baht per litre, interest-free home loans for new buyers, a 25% increase in farm profits through the crop insurance programme and a 25% hike in minimum wages over the next two years.

''We're ready to go. Is the minimum wage too low? Yes, considering that listed companies are posting record profits right now.

The spoils of economic growth should be better shared,'' Mr Korn said.

But in contrast to Pheu Thai, the Democrats would offer tax incentives to companies to implement the programme, spreading the costs between the private sector and the state.

Mr Korn said the party's economic platform focused on the consequences of two major trends: urbanisation and growing consumption in developing economies, and the rise of Asia as an engine for global growth.

''Both these place Thailand in a very important strategic position. It allows us to take a look at what our competitive strengths are, and allows us to set government policies in coordination with the private sector in order to promote our competitive advantages in the best way possible,'' he said.

One key implication of urbanisation is that a new food crisis could be seen in the future, as demand for meat rises among the rapidly growing middle class in countries such as India, China and even Thailand.

Thailand, as one of the world's largest food exporters, stands to gain handsomely from higher food prices, although much room remains for productivity improvements.

''The key theme in our long-term policy is how to promote the agriculture sector, which I think serves the need both for the majority of our people who work in the farming sector but also serves the need of the country as a whole, because it is a competitive area for us,'' Mr Korn said.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier this month outlined budget plans calling for 170 billion baht worth of new investment in irrigation systems, a plan that would help increase the amount of arable land in the coun try by 4.5 million rai.

Mr Korn said investment incentives would also be expanded for the development of value-added food processing industries. Incentives provided through the Board of Investment, normally reserved for foreign investors, would be expanded to Thais as well.

A wealthier middle class also implies an increase in travel and demand for services. Thailand, as a major tourism destination, also stands to benefit.

Mr Korn said that to help along tourism, logistical links would be strengthened through new high-speed rail links from southern China, through Laos and Thailand and down to the Malaysian border.

High-speed rail links would also be built running from the Eastern Seaboard and Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast to Bangkok.

He said industrial development would be restricted to protect both the western and eastern sides of the country's southern seashore, a prime tourist destination for the country.

''Unlike our opposition, [under the Democrats] you would not see any oil tankers coming to dock in any spot in what is a prime tourist destination,'' Mr Korn said.

''We have decided that the potential short-term benefits aren't worth the damage to our long-term heritage.''

The Democrats will also allocate up to 10 billion baht per year towards conservation and rehabilitation of tourist sites.

''We want to increase tourism income to one trillion baht per year [from 586 billion in 2010] and spending per tourist to 50,000 baht per visit, up from 35,000 baht now. But the goal is to raise not just the numbers, but also the quality, to make Thailand a world-class tourist destination,'' Mr Korn said.

Exploiting the second major trend, regionalisation and the growth of Asia, the Democrats see Thailand as a ''gateway to Asean'', with the country positioned as a high-end manufacturing base for both Asean and the rest of the region.

Logistics networks would be significantly strengthened under the Harbour City concept, a plan to build up the Laem Chabang area with new high-speed rail lines running from Rayong to Bangkok and then on to deep-sea ports in Dawei, Burma.

Italian-Thai Development Plc, Thailand's largest construction company, is seeking partners to invest $8 billion in building a port in Dawei as well as roads and railways linking the city with the Thai border in Kanchanaburi.

The overall project is envisioned to be worth as much as $58 billion.

Mr Korn said railway links will also be strengthened between Laem Chabang and terminal centres in Lat Krabang in the city's east, while U-Tapao airport will be positioned as a new commercial centre to help serve the region.

''Tax structures will be set to ensure the continued competitiveness of Thai industries. But outside of providing logistical support, we will pretty much leave the private sector alone,'' the finance minister said.

Did you all know that already?

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

However, some soldiers admitted that it was difficult to convince local people not to support Pheu Thai.

Taking things out of context again Mid. Naughty, naughty.

what is out of context ?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Isoc has reportedly assigned agents to monitor party campaigns to collect evidence of electoral fraud.

Rallies in which red shirt leaders participate are prime targets.

Isoc has also deployed 17,000 soldiers to all regions. Officially they are implementing vocational training projects for villagers, but simultaneously are trying to prevent political canvassers from buying votes.

The project focuses on the North and the Northeast, which are the political strongholds of the Pheu Thai Party.

However, some soldiers admitted that it was difficult to convince local people not to support Pheu Thai.

"We never try to convince residents to hate Thaksin or Pheu Thai, or slander the red shirts," said one soldier.

See, easy isn't it.

Thai-ASEAN News Network

Outspoken Politician Suspends Campaigning after Accident

UPDATE : 13 June 2011

The Rak Prathet Thai Party leader has to suspend his election campaign for a day after a slip-and-fall accident in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday.

Rak Prathet Thai Party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit, who was earlier scheduled to carry out his election campaign at the Thai Chamber of Commerce University today, traveld to Samitivej Hospital on Sukhumvit Road to get a medical check-up following a slip-and-fall accident.

Chuwit slipped and fell while walking to a bridge severed by floods in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Sichon District yesterday.


After the fall, he had severe back pain on the way to Surat Thani and had to seek medical help at Thaksin Hospital in Surat Thani.

When asked by journalists why he expressed concern for Democrat secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban, Chuwit said laughingly that when Suthep was deputy prime minister, he was involved in many corruption scandals.

The outspoken politician noted that Suthep will be unlucky if he is the opposition bloc.

Before returning to Bangkok, the Rak Prathet Thai Party leader, while sitting in their wheelchair, asked the public to give him a chance to work as an Opposition member.

Thai-ASEAN News Network

Transfer Order Altered for 2 Chiang Mai Cops

UPDATE : 13 June 2011

The Chiang Mai provincial police commander has requested an immediate transfer of two newly-promoted superintendents to the provincial police office before they assume their new posts at their respective police stations.

Chiang Mai Provincial Police Commander Police Major General Somsak Chantaping commented on the immediate transfer of Mae Rim Superintendent Police Colonel Somchai Inthornsotthi and Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Wichathorn Paipen, who were originally set to take the Mae On superintendent and Wiang Hang crime suppression superintendent posts respectively.


Somsak said he has ordered the pair moved to Chiang Mai provincial police office immediately to assist with the peacekeeping task.

The Mae On deputy police superintendent has been reassigned as acting superintendent of Mae On police station after Somchai was transferred to the Chiang Mai provincial police office.

The Chiang Mai provincial police commander insisted that the transfer of the pair was not made under pressure from certain political parties but rather part of a security plan to ensure public safety.

Huh

I've no idea wtf you are on about .

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255406130005

EC: Unofficial election results to come out late night of 3 July



BANGKOK, 13 June 2011 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) has expected that the unofficial ballot counting results should be available by 21.00 hrs on 3 July while ballot boxes containing votes from advance election will be securely stored for counting on the same evening.

Election Commissioner Prapun Naigowit stressed that all eligible voters must cast their votes on 3 July while those who have registered themselves for advance election, both inside and outside their election constituencies, should also go to vote on 26 June as specified.

Asked how ballot boxes containing votes from the advance election will be stored, the commissioner elaborated that ballot boxes for Bangkok constituencies will be kept at district offices while those for provincial constituencies will be kept at police stations.

Mr Prapun added that ballot boxes can be kept in other secured places if the mentioned sites are not spacious enough. He noted that the EC will install CCTVs in every place where ballot boxes are stored while political parties can have their CCTVs installed as well but they must notify the EC first.

As for a news report that the European Union (EU) will send in representatives to observe the election, the commissioner replied that the EC is considering this issue and is confident that the election that it will arrange will be free, fair, transparent and internationally accepted.

Asked in case EU observers file a complaint about the election and whether that complaint will affect the election result, Mr Prapun played down the speculation saying the EC will do its best to ensure a smooth election.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Taking things out of context again Mid. Naughty, naughty.

As I understand it "taking things out of context" means cutting a part out so that the meaning is lost.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

However, some soldiers admitted that it was difficult to convince local people not to support Pheu Thai.

This is very clear and unambiguous and stands without the surrounding paragraphs. So not taken out of context. Or otherwise you would always have to quote the source in whole.

BTW this sentence sticks out like a sore thumb and I would have commented on it in any case, identical with Mid's comment.

Originally Posted by Mid

Huh

I've no idea wtf you are on about .

I suspect the attempted implication is that the line you quoted is somehow contradicted by other lines around it ("context"). Unsurprisingly, given the source, that's patently specious.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

BTW this sentence sticks out like a sore thumb and I would have commented on it in any case, identical with Mid's comment.

I agree.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Mr Abhisit disagreed with Pheu Thai Party's No.1 list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra that a referendum be held to decide if her elder brother Thaksin should be granted amnesty.
Mr Abhisit said the public should decide for themselves if the country should waste time and money on holding a referendum only to clear the name of Thaksin.

?

How should I read this? Should a referendum be held to determine, if a referendum on amnesty is held?

Or should a Yellow demonstration be taken as the public will not to have a referendum?

Interesting that with all this talk about moving democracy forward and empowering rural people, no politicians are talking about elected governors.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Originally Posted by NoBuzz

Well.. "Thaksin's Tak Bai incident" was intended to be read as "The Tak Bai incident that happened under Thaksins time as PM." Not a big deal that you weren't able to come to that interpretation by yourself.

Untrue.

Nominalization is a core ideologically maipulative tool used by many writers...

Nouns are names, we do not linguistically challenge them; we consider them facts.

Clauses are propositions which we naturally consider; we linguistically challenge their legitimacy.

I suggest that you are very aware of this, but if not then try this out: Critical Stylistics : Lesley Jeffries : Palgrave Macmillan

Thank you for the link. I'm not too aware of those things as I'm not very skilled in grammar and linguistics. Nor is english my mother tounge.

^^^Allowing for both imperfect and partial translation, it does seem to smack of the usual sound-bite doublespeak. Abhisit claimed earlier that nobody could know which of PT's policy proposals voters were supporting. For an experienced politician to say this as if it were some kind of startling new discovery is..... well..... strange to put it mildly. I can only assume (aside from trying to stir some self-serving pot) that he's just not used to what the idea of a "mandate" entails. Can't really blame him for that - he's had very little (if any) experience of receiving one..... a pattern that seems highly unlikely to be broken on 3rd July.

Originally Posted by Buksida

Interesting that with all this talk about moving democracy forward and empowering rural people, no politicians are talking about elected governors.

A valid point - one could say the same about expanding de-centralisation which has been recommended by just about every reform panel for decades. I think there are at least two practical reasons why it/they aren't (yet anyway) present as issues in the campaign. First, the governor issue seems rather too big to bite off and chew to present coherently to the voters along with everything else right now (not saying I support that view - just recognising probable reality). Second, perhaps needless to say, none of the parties wants to upset powerful figures (the current governors) that will almost certainly have an influence on voting in their provinces. One might also think that an election campaign that explicitly includes the promise of yet more election campaigns to come might well act as a turn-off to already election-weary voters.

As with de-centralisation, the elected governor issue is highly complex and full of repercussions that likely include unintended consequences. On that basis, it seems understandable to leave it out of this election campaign at least as a main platform issue. That said, I'd like to see at least the main parties at least mentioning both as something that needs to examined/addressed as part of a long-term programme - so long-term as to likely require more than one parliament to deal with.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

As with de-centralisation, the elected governor issue is highly complex and full of repercussions that likely include unintended consequences. On that basis, it seems understandable to leave it out of this election campaign at least as a main platform issue. That said, I'd like to see at least the main parties at least mentioning both as something that needs to examined/addressed as part of a long-term programme - so long-term as to likely require more than one parliament to deal with.

Good comment.

Nonconfrontational too.

Originally Posted by Buksida

Interesting that with all this talk about moving democracy forward and empowering rural people, no politicians are talking about elected governors.

One thing at a time... Lets just hope the Thai people can have who they have voted for respected by the military and a white haired former PM.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Nonconfrontational too.

I doubt that aspect will catch on with some here..... Rather too much fragile ego and self-obsessed need for fight-picking for that to happen.