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Prayut could earn points if he quits as PM


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Prayut could earn points if he quits as PM

By The Nation

 

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There’s nothing fair about an election in which one candidate is the incumbent national leader wielding tremendous power

 

Thai politicians have a tendency to speak favourably about legality, but sometimes fail to apply it across the board, knowing it could come back to undermine their party’s agenda or, worse, haunt them personally.

 

Many of them came down hard on the Thaksin Shinawatra-affiliated Thai Raksa Chart Party. But where is the same recognition of legal principles when it comes to other parties and other candidates, particularly incumbent Prime Minister and junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha?

 

Prayut led the military coup nearly five years ago that brought down an elected government, making a show of deep reluctance at having no other option. He was sacrificing himself for the sake of the country, he said, echoing the woeful spin uttered by every coup plotter as well as every top political figure. He needed to put an end to the street battles between protesters loyal to and opposed to the Thaksin regime.

 

The National Council for Peace and Order, after a string of delaying tactics, is now about to hand the mandate back to the people to choose a leader. Prayut, after a string of equivocations, would like to return as premier, time with the electorate’s blessing. 

 

What might have given Thai politics a fresh start with a clean slate is instead soured by Prayut’s decision to remain in office up right until the election. If he had any sense of fair play, he would have stepped down the moment he formally accepted the Phalang Pracharat Party’s nomination of him as its PM candidate. He did not, shunning the normal rules of play. His arrogant decision only added insult to the injury imposed when the junta rewrote the Constitution to ensure the military – rather than returning to the barracks, mission accomplished – would remain a potent political force for at least the next two decades.

 

If Prayut had been elected to the office he now occupies and was preparing to retire, he could have comfortably stayed in place as a lame duck prime minister. But he was not elected and isn’t leaving the scene anytime soon, and meanwhile he is a candidate for the highest office with the full power of Article 44 at hand. The electoral situation is hardly what you would call a level playing field. 

 

Prayut ought to show respect for democracy and resign as premier immediately. In declining to do this, he is behaving like every other strongman, seizing power by force and then manipulating the rules and elections in his own favour. There can be no pride in clinging to authority in this manner. Victory in an unfair election is no victory at all. Should Prayut win, his legitimacy will remain forever in doubt.

 

Prayut has another means of earning broader support among the populace. He could reform the armed forces, perhaps beginning with an acknowledgement that Thailand has far more generals that it needs and that the military in general is too large, a drain on the national coffers.

 

If Prayut couldn’t find the heart to do this as junta chief, perhaps he can as a full-fledged politician.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30364365

 

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 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-19
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15 minutes ago, webfact said:

he is behaving like every other strongman, seizing power by force and then manipulating the rules and elections in his own favour

This trait has been going on since recorded time,

what comes next is their biggest fear undoing what they perceive as the good they have done, 

this cycle has a few more  little twists to yet be played out.

Removal of the person maybe a little easier than the removal of 

article 44, 

common sense never wins the first day

 but prevails over time.

 

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1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut ought to show respect for democracy and resign as premier immediately. In declining to do this, he is behaving like every other strongman, seizing power by force and then manipulating the rules and elections in his own favour. There can be no pride in clinging to authority in this manner. Victory in an unfair election is no victory at all. Should Prayut win, his legitimacy will remain forever in doubt.

 

He has no pride, (or shame), so it doesn't <deleted> bother him.

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If the worst is to happen, my wish is that both the Thai people and the outside world understand the seriousness of the election rigging that he and his cronies orchestrated and deny him the honorable, democratic win that he so craves. Make him wear his ill gotten win like a forehead tattoo. Remind him daily that he is an illegitimate PM.

Casting pride aside seems to be in vogue now, world wide, with the goal being to steal power by hook or by crook. Any sense of fair play and pride is history !

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54 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

nonsense, it is merely an unfair vistory;Still a victory

 

Precisely. To a sociopath, there is no such thing as "fair" or "unfair". Anything that gives them what they want is, by definition..."good"...and "right".

 

 

 

 

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I find it difficult to read these hypocritical articles by 'The Nation'. Why don't they - for once - fess up and say: 'Prayut led the military coup nearly five years ago that brought down an elected government, making a show of deep reluctance at having no other option. But we at The Nation cheered him on most fervently in those heady days and were solidly and consistently behind him and his junta. We stuck by him for the longest time. We supported the removal of democracy. We are thus covered in shame and should rightfully be reminded of our disgrace at every turn by our readers ....'

But they never do. Not once. Zero times have I read 'The Nation's' contrite and heartfelt apology to all its readers (and the Thai people) for the despicable cheerleading of a coup d'etat and the decimation of democracy.

 

Now - five years after the coup -  'The Nation' regularly comes out with hypocritical cant and pathetic, childish articles.

 

And I don't think I am the only one who feels this way!

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For Prayuth to be elected, in a democratic election, would be aa travesty this nation would suffer from, for decades. The army must be put out. Prayuth must be shown the door, in an adamant fashion. The people must say no to his incompetence, his arrogance, his lack of concern for the people and the nation, and his lack of vision. I am confident he will be beat. He is so hugely unpopular, and the Thai people are so sick of the army. He can be beat. Let us hope for the good of the nation, that these guys are ushered out the door, and put out to pasture. This country has no use for its army. 

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4 minutes ago, nong38 said:

Unfortunately once people have had a taste of power they find it very difficult to give it up.

Don't worry: he will not have to give up his power. It's all been planned and arranged (aka fixed) long in advance.

Prayut is home and dry (the result is already in).

 

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Why should he quit?? He and his party will be in the driver's seat once again after this sham election is over. Oh sure there will actually be a legislative body but so what?? All this so called election is doing is nothing more than a dog and pony show to placate the middle class, the educated elite and the world to show that democracy is alive and well in the Land of Smile. The General Premier has no intention of watching the Red Shirts or for that matter the Yellow Shirts taking control of the country once again.

Sent from my CMR-AL19 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

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18 minutes ago, lipflipper said:

he General Premier has no intention of watching the Red Shirts or for that matter the Yellow Shirts taking control of the country once again.  

Many of the yellows are in his administration. They have taken over. 

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3 hours ago, Eligius said:

I find it difficult to read these hypocritical articles by 'The Nation'. Why don't they - for once - fess up and say: 'Prayut led the military coup nearly five years ago that brought down an elected government, making a show of deep reluctance at having no other option. But we at The Nation cheered him on most fervently in those heady days and were solidly and consistently behind him and his junta. We stuck by him for the longest time. We supported the removal of democracy. We are thus covered in shame and should rightfully be reminded of our disgrace at every turn by our readers ....'

But they never do. Not once. Zero times have I read 'The Nation's' contrite and heartfelt apology to all its readers (and the Thai people) for the despicable cheerleading of a coup d'etat and the decimation of democracy.

 

Now - five years after the coup -  'The Nation' regularly comes out with hypocritical cant and pathetic, childish articles.

 

And I don't think I am the only one who feels this way!

Who do you think runs the press here? 

 

The media has no choice but to jockey for them and spread their lies and fluff. 

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