Ex-poll commissioner warns of rising political tensions in Thailand in October

[webfact]

Ex-poll commissioner warns of rising political tensions in Thailand in October

 

 

A former election commissioner has warned that political tensions in Thailand are likely to reach boiling point in October, dubbed the “cursed October”, because the only parliamentary channel, through which the heat can escape, has been closed.

 

“Do not blame anyone,” said Mr. Somchai  Srisutthiyakorn, now director of the Political Research and Development Centre of Rangsit University, adding that the decision yesterday, by a parliamentary majority, to stall the constitutional amendments by setting up a three-party panel to study the amendments for a month, before they are returned to Parliament for further debate and voting, is not a delaying tactic, as widely interpreted, “but a sign of fear of the power of public resentment”.

 

In his Facebook post today, he said that the two-day debate in Parliament on the amendments, especially the speeches by military senators, reflect the self centred attitude that “it is only with me that the nation will survive and the others are dumb or careless. The people cannot be trusted and are afraid to let the people elect their representatives to write the charter.”

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ex-poll-commissioner-warns-of-rising-political-tensions-in-thailand-in-october/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-09-25

 

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[Thaiwrath]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

“Do not blame anyone,” said Mr. Somchai  Srisutthiyakorn,

<deleted> off.

One person to blame, and he is shambolically running the country !

The sooner he goes, the better.

Edited September 25, 2020 by Thaiwrath

[ThailandRyan]

I already mentioned in another OP, that we are reaching critical mass.  Unfortunately I believe this government wants bloodshed to occur and the protestors do not.  The government forgets that military strength is not power but only control which is only obtained and kept by violence.

Edited September 25, 2020 by ThailandRyan

[rkidlad]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

Ex-poll commissioner warns of rising political tensions in Thailand in October

Yes, but why exactly? 

 

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

“Do not blame anyone,” said Mr. Somchai  Srisutthiyakorn, now director of the Political Research and Development Centre of Rangsit University, adding that the decision yesterday, by a parliamentary majority, to stall the constitutional amendments by setting up a three-party panel to study the amendments for a month, before they are returned to Parliament for further debate and voting, is not a delaying tactic, as widely interpreted, “but a sign of fear of the power of public resentment”.

Ah, cos of b******* like this. They're not delaying - they're just scared. Good to that the people making the most important decisions for the country aren't just slimy, deceitful snakes, but they're also cowardly weasels. 

[Jack Mountain]

In case somebody never heard about ' cursed October' they have now. Looks like the man has his own agenda ...

[zzaa09]

The tradition of October. 

Can't disregard such realities. 

 

 

Here it comes.

[rtco]

The Thammasat University massacre, or ambiguously-worded the 6 October event was a violent crackdown by Thai police and lynching by right-wing paramilitaries and bystanders against leftist protesters who had occupied Bangkok's Thammasat University and the adjacent Sanam Luang, on 6 October 1976. Official reports state that 46 were killed and 167 were wounded, while unofficial reports state that more than 100 demonstrators were killed.

 

I do hope that history won't repeat itself

[mikebell]

Another Somchai expert stating the bleedin' obvious.

[DrTuner]

It's been a very low & slow cook. I hope the results turn delicious.

[DrTuner]

18 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

The tradition of October. 

Can't disregard such realities. 

 

 

Here it comes.

If it does, Thailand will face immediate international condemnation and will float to CCP lap pronto. Big moves ahead.

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

In his Facebook post today, he said that the two-day debate in Parliament on the amendments, especially the speeches by military senators, reflect the self centred attitude that “it is only with me that the nation will survive and the others are dumb or careless. The people cannot be trusted and are afraid to let the people elect their representatives to write the charter.”

This dictatorship has to end and let people have a free vote for true democratic leaders.

The military senators are scared to let people have their vote because they won't vote for them.

The military has no place in politics in a democratic society.

[Flying Saucage]

I also think that the protests will reach what the big parts of the conservative elite see as a critical mass. And from the protesters view, the protests already now have reached a point of no return.

 

At the same time, powerful parts of the elite have an agenda to transform the political system away from the faked democracy today towards an absolutist, medieval system. For them even the faked democracy today is too much concession towards the peasants. They will never agree in any approach one step further towards a true democracy. Their plan is quite the opposite. And they will do everything to keep the current constitution with the 250 senators as the facade to of a democracy, if at all.

 

On the other hand, many of the elite also shrink from commiting a new massacre, as this definitely will create immediate international condemnation, which will directly affect their businesses. The comments of that former member of the election commission in the OP, who is yellow and conservative as well of course, is just one example. Other powerful players in the elite, especially from the army, are quite trigger happy and would like to start their "Traditional Thai Massacre" better today than tomorrow.

 

So you can bet that there are fights inside of the elite are currently going on, how to proceed. Nobody today can predict what will be the outcome of that. Even those in power do not know what they will do in four weeks.

 

For sure, in October we will see some substancial political changes. I predict that there will be no coup, as the powerful people in the elite have enough power just to tell Prayut to step down. No coup is needed. I predict that after this they will try to calm down the situtaion by installing a civil government under a civil prime minister who is part of the most powerful faction. My bet is on Anutin.

 

But, nothing in the politics will change by this, except another boost in xenophobia and other steps away from democracy. The students, activists and liberal academics will understand this game easily. They will try to increase the pressure, the demonstrations will become bigger and longer, and hundreds of thousands will join. Maybe they will dissolve the parliament and hold a snap election, rigged again of course. The protests will increase again after this.

 

At the end, it is more than likely that on of these "Traditional Thai Massacres" will be commited again. And they will get the moral backing from their Chinese friends for this. I agree with DrTuner, this will let the country completely float on the lap of the CCP. The propaganda against us Westerners will be increased, our life will become less comfortable than it was before.

 

Be prepared!

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by Flying Saucage

[fantom]

To Flying Sausage, I think you are right.

[zzaa09]

7 hours ago, DrTuner said:

If it does, Thailand will face immediate international condemnation and will float to CCP lap pronto. Big moves ahead.

Int'l condemnation [whatever that is]. 

International. Defined as: a couple of English-speaking countries. The usual.

 

Yet, never received such in the past. What makes you think that anything would be different today? 

You need to be much more selective as to your boogieman of the month club. It ain't China.