Chris de Boer and Tino Kuis wrote an article about a new political party, Future Forward, the New Future. The party held its first meeting, elected directors and the leaders spoke about the party program. The junta is not so happy.
On March 29, Chris de Boer and Tino Kuis wrote the article 'A new spring, a new sound: the Future Forward Party'. We would discuss new developments and do so here. www.thailandblog.nl/background/new-spring-new-sound-future-forward-party/
The first party meeting
On May 27, the first public meeting of this party took place at the Rangsit campus of Thammasat University in Pathum Thani. Two thousand people, some members and some supporters, attended the meeting.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was elected party leader by unanimous vote, while Piyabitr Saengkanokkul was appointed as his replacement and general secretary. Both are founders of the party. In addition, 17 members were elected to lead the (now banned) election campaign.
Orange flags, representing the color of the party, were handed out. Maybe, maybe not, it's a coincidence that orange is a mixture of yellow and red.
Sek Samyan / Shutterstock.comIn a post-election speech, Thanathorn promised to tear up the current constitution, which cannot or hardly be amended and is a product of a dictatorial regime, and to draft a new constitution. He wants to abolish or amend all laws and orders of the regime in the past 4 years. He pleaded for an amnesty for all political prisoners in the past 4 years. The party will not accept an unelected prime minister.
He further promised to visit all 77 provinces. The audience cheered whenever the panel mentioned the possibility of him being the next prime minister.
The junta's response
Prime Minister Prayut accused the new party of finding a pretext to attack the regime in a permitted meeting, despite a ban on political gatherings.
"I monitor each party," Prayut said, "to see if they are following the law." "Think carefully before you say or do anything," he added, "is criticizing the junta really wise?"
Deputy Prime Minister and spokesman Wissanu Krea-ngam said including an amendment to the constitution in an election manifesto "could be seen as a hostile act and could lead to legal action".
However, the Electoral Council said that advocating amendments to the constitution is not illegal. It's up to the voter, he said.
Responses from other parties
The Democrats are urging caution and not acting too aggressively or against the law. That will make the country more divided, Wiratana Kalayasiri said.
The Pheu Thai party, through its leader, Tida Tawornseth, supported the amnesty proposals.
Thailand is facing exciting months.
Source: Bangkok Post
Don't see any way forward in this at all:
'During a speech after his election, Thanathorn promised to tear up the current constitution, which can hardly be amended and is a product of dictatorial rule, and to draw up a new constitution. He wants to abolish or adjust all laws and orders of the regime in the past 4 years. He advocated an amnesty for all political prisoners in the past 4 years. The party will not accept an unelected Prime Minister.”
Only empty slogans to abolish old things.
No positive goals for the future, only resentment towards the ruling military.
Those beautiful positive goals will come. But for a way forward you will first have to clear the barricades.
An important barricade for independent policy is the 20-year (20 years!) strategy program drawn up by the current regime and which is constitutionally stipulated that all future governments must follow that strategy.
In addition, there is the appointed Senate, which lasts 5 years (one year longer than the elected parliament) and which has a reasonable amount of power to stop or change the policies of the elected government.
Clean up the rubble and start over…something like that.
The junta constitution is a monstrosity. So the whole 'reform before elections' thing has not benefited the Thais. Now let's do it the democratic way. First elections with a 100% elected parliament and senate. For this, the current junta constitution must be thrown into the fire. Reversal that constitution, if necessary temporarily introduce the 2007 constitution or, in my opinion, the 1932 constitution (Pridi's first version). Assuming that the elections have been fair, parliament and senate will then get to work writing a new constitution that the people can agree with. 1 that meets international standards of democracy and human rights. Then you can call elections again and then definitively implement the new constitution. I would say, keep the constitution short and sweet.
While you're at it, you can also take a good look at the pizza law (112). It has been abused a lot, especially over the past 10 years. Former Prime Minister Abhisit also indicated this *, so that should work if the Democrats are not hypocrites, right?
* see (I came across this week), this conversation between him and professor Jiles Ungpakorn (the son of the famous Peuy Ungpakorn):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWCmtqTNlzU
In short: let Thailand really start with a clean slate. Fair laws that are democratic and humane with minimal risk of abuse. After that, one can also start tinkering with, for example, improving the rule of law (trias politica) etc., but that is then a next step. The FFP can be a step towards a truly democratic, fair and free Thailand.
indeed, they want to drive out power in order to take power into their own hands. As if democracy were the end that justifies the means, no democracy in the world is pure and all about power and domination. people are always left out in the cold, especially the poor.
marinon, intriguing response you give here. I had to think about it for a while.
Are you claiming here that the อนาคตไหม่ (Freedom Forward Party) will not shy away from any means – legal and illegal – to seize power from the current junta, so that fully democratic political order can be reinstated?
The current rulers have taken power from a democratically elected government with a coup d'état and are ruling dictatorially. They then created a new constitution that should guarantee their power in a stripped-down democracy for the distant future. They pushed through this constitution with promises, threats and intimidation.
I agree with you that the democratic political system in all its varieties is not perfect, but if you know of a political system that works better in practice, where everyone has an equal say, then I - and I think many with me - very curious.
oops! อนาคตไหม่ (Future New) is, of course, translated as Future Forward Party, not Freedom Forward Party. The wish is the father of the thought.
5555 Funny. You thought of the three-finger salute (what's the name of that movie again?) of those young rascals who demonstrate (terribly brutally!) in Bangkok for elections.
Three fingers 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity'. That's all I say.
Mallika Boonmeetrakool of the Democratic Party (also) criticized Future Forward Party's proposal to grant amnesty for those arrested under the NCPO junta. It would be nothing more than to clean up the crimes of people affiliated with the FFP: “By proposing an amnesty for people on their side, we can see that that party will set us on a path towards more conflict and division among the people because they know that legislation that wipes away crimes has already led to a crisis," referring to the blank amnesty law drawn up under the former civilian government in 2013.
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2018/05/29/calling-for-new-charter-is-totally-fine-election-official/
In The Nation, various members/supporters present also speak under the heading 'your say'. Reactions include 'I want the party to help everyone to have equal access to resources' , 'I am happy with a party that is not in favor of dictatorship but is in favor of equality' , 'It is nice that the party has all kinds of type of people together' and 'I don't know if this party can solve the current problems, but at least we have a choice (perspective?)'
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30346389
In my first year here in Thailand I taught a course to high potential in the Centara organization (retail and hotels) based on the excellent and still valuable book by Steven Covey, titled “the 7 habits of highly effective people”. This book has changed my life.
Habit 1 is called: be proactive. People who react to everything, especially seeing bears on the road are not as effective in achieving their goals. By being proactive you create a larger space than you had before. And spend your energy more directly on the ways in which you want to and can achieve your goals. This also includes not complaining about boundaries and possible obstacles and not blaming anyone for things. That is only negative and does not solve the problems because it only raises new resistances.
We have seen that in Thailand for years now. Every politician and political party is a champion at pinpointing those who let it all come to this; not herself of course. That takes so much time and energy (e.g. making a new constitution, lawsuits, silencing people) that there is hardly any time left for moving this country forward. In the 12 years that I have lived here now, not a single problem in this country has been solved. A solution to the major problems in this country is not even in sight. Everything gets bogged down in complaining about someone else.
I hope that the new FF party will come up with a positive, pro-active program and will not prioritize correcting the mistakes made by previous governments.
https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit1.php
Then Thanathorn and his party are proactive. They don't say 'We can't do it, what a pity' and accept it whining and complaining ('it's their fault'). They want to increase the space to govern independently and remove obstacles. I think they complain little but make sensible proposals.
You'd be right if the current Constitution, other laws and orders were something like a fixed, unchangeable fact, just like the complaints "I'm just an ignorant woman, I don't have money, it's the weather, my boss wants it." don't' and then things stop changing and improving. That's reactive and they don't.
It seems to me unwise (for any party whatsoever) to implement a rigorous change of course: then a lot of energy will be lost. Many improvements that have been enabled will be undone again. I think it would be wise to cautiously make improvements where necessary. Hopefully Thailand will not opt for a chaotic future. Stability and peaceful consultation will help Thailand out. We need sensible, balanced new leaders who are genuinely committed to the people.
Tearing up the constitution is not possible at all, according to General Horloge, who helped tear up the previous one. The Election Commission will investigate whether a law has been broken here, something the current government has never done.
Where there is a will there is a way. For example, if the people want a different constitution in large numbers, then that is possible. Then even the dinosaurs can't stop the will of the people. Hopefully without blood to flow (1973, 1976, 1992, 2010, …).
Petervz, right. You forget that tearing up constitutions is part of Thai culture and identity. Since 1932 already 20 times or so, every 4 years. And the current constitution writer, Meechai Ruchupan, 77 years young, has a lot of experience. He also drafted two torn constitutions before, 1997 and 2007. This will be the third. Poor man.
The point is that only military personnel are allowed to do that, that's what Prawit says.
Still a clear difference in culture between Thailand and the Netherlands….
Indeed, finally discovered a clear difference 5555
And for those who don't agree with the Future Forward Party, maybe Soethep's new party is something? The Past Backward Party:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/cartoon/20345
More information
pak adiet kao
Party past old/antique