'Go vote if you want to become a servant of the Thaksin regime'
"Go vote if you want to vote and become a servant of the Thaksin regime, but we're not going to vote." That is, says action leader Suthep Thaugsuban, the strategy on Sunday: no longer block polling stations like last Sunday, but 'completely flatten the city' by holding the largest rally ever.
The election results will not be delivered on Sunday. That will take at least three to four months. I can't say how long because it depends on the situation," said Electoral Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn.
The problems are known. Pointwise:
- District candidates are missing in 28 constituencies in the South because protesters have prevented their registration. There must be re-elections.
- The results of the election of national candidates cannot be announced if voting is not possible at one polling station alone.
- The question is whether the ballots in the South can be delivered to the polling stations in time, because demonstrators have besieged post offices there. These are the provinces of Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang and Phatthalung.
- The question is also whether there is enough staff for all polling stations.
- The primaries must be redone for people who were unable to vote on Sunday. That only happens at the end of February.
The biggest rally
The biggest rally announced by Suthep last night starts today with a march from Soi On Nut along Sukhumvit road to Asok. Along the way, the residents of Bangkok and officials are urged to join and not to vote. A march on Lat Phrao Road is scheduled for tomorrow and on Saturday the demonstrators, dressed in red, will head to Yaowarat to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
“We want to make it clear to the international community that we do not reject democracy, but we reject fake democracy,” says Suthep. "We call for reform of the country ahead of elections."
To voters who do not vote, he said that they should not be afraid of losing their right to vote because the elections will be declared invalid, he expects.
The army has decided not to make army bases available as polling stations. The army is prepared to maintain security and peace at polling stations, said army spokesman Winthai Suwaree. Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha has called on his men to vote.
In addition, the Interior Minister has instructed all provincial governors to conduct pro-election campaigns in their provinces.
More election news and news about Bangkok Shutdown in
Bangkok Breaking News from January 29.
Bangkok Breaking News from January 30.
Thailand follows Belgium; 'We stumble on'
Protesters disrupt elections in 83 constituencies
(Source: bangkok mail, January 30, 2014)
There are more options, but a servant of anyone is better than a servant of this shouter, Thailand will get something like this in power, then it will be worse if Burma was...
Let's hope things will get better in the future, but there is a very long way to go if people really want to kill corruption.
From behind my desk I thought last night: are there really no other options for Thai to let it be known that you are tired of the Yingluck government than NOT to vote? Incidentally: Thai MUST vote so by not voting they violate the law. One of the consequences is that you cannot be a candidate for a seat in parliament in the next election. The leader of the red shirts, Jatuporn, experienced this firsthand because he was unable to vote the last time. He was held in custody.
The most practical solution is to vote but to vote blankly. There seems to be an answer category on the ballot paper: No, nobody. Blank voting is then a form of protest voting.
The second, really theoretical (but fun to think about) is that EVERYONE votes Pheu Thai, Yingluck's party. Then the parliament will resemble the congress of the communist party in China or North Korea. It can be more fun if everyone also registers as a member of the Pheu Thai and starts setting up local branches that will support the elected member of parliament (support groups, etc.). That member of parliament must then introduce the democratic decisions of the constituency into parliament. If he/she does not do so, the local chapter loses confidence in the MP and forces him/her to resign. then new elections will follow in that district.
@ Chris Klopp. There is a box on the ballot paper: None of the above (in Thai, of course). You can also invalidate the ballot paper by drawing a large cross on it. Thailand has compulsory voting, but if you never want to go into politics (which is very wise) not voting has no consequences.
The Thais are not obliged to vote, they should not vote! There is compulsory attendance, as there still is in Belgium: there too, voters must go to the polls.
No one can tell you whether you actually cast a vote. Not even in Thailand.
The Thai can thus also vote 'No Vote', with which they have complied with their compulsory attendance, and with which the hassle surrounding compulsory voting has been resolved.
What is the difference?
When voting is compulsory, you must appear at the polling station and actually deposit a ballot paper in the box. The validity of the vote cast is monitored.
When it is compulsory to vote, you must actually appear, but you can leave the ballot paper blank or invalidate the ballot paper. But of course also just cast a vote.
Compulsory voting was abolished in the Netherlands in 1970. Compulsory voting has become single right to vote.
In Thailand you have compulsory voting, and if someone does not report to the polling station, he is in principle punishable. You can be fined. Which rarely if ever happens. However, you will no longer be eligible for a public official position, such as that of poejaaibaan, and you will then lose your passive right to vote: that is, the right to be elected. You can therefore no longer become a member of the municipal council or parliament.
I don't know what the sanctions are in Belgium if you can't show up. There is always a lot of hassle regarding the mandatory occupation of polling stations. But anyway, effectively none of that has anything to do with TH, so we'll stop talking about it!
In Belgium you will then receive a reprimand and a fine of up to 55 euros. If you have not voted four times, including the municipal council, you will receive a reward, then you do not have to go for the first ten years 555555.
I don't think there is any personal voting requirement in Thailand.
my spouse is from southern Thailand and can only vote there in her place of birth where she is registered.
We live between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, so there is no voting.
It would, among other things, a return flight costs via transfer in Bangkok and that is of course crazy to cast your vote.
there is no one who calls her to account for her behavior… so it is compulsory to vote?
is there any duty in this country?
mrsgr.
Leon
@Leonard Laster Voting in the city where you are registered only applies to the elections, not last Sunday's primaries.
My girlfriend also voted a long time ago: chose “no vote” and sent it in the pre-paid envelope to the Thai embassy in The Hague. Then you still fulfill your obligation to turn out (often called compulsory voting), the difference is there but it makes little difference: you can also tick nothing, tick blank, invalidate the ballot, etc. if you cannot/do not want to vote for which party/candidate then). And you immediately send the signal that you are dissatisfied with current politics.
I hear enough stories around me from pro-Abhisit or pro-reform supporters who think Suthep is a strange or dangerous bird. I wonder how many people fall for these kinds of pathetic statements... Statements that can also be used against him because he calls on people to break the law (obligation to attend)...
Something was missing, the first sentence should be: "That's how my girlfriend voted more than a week ago."
Before anyone accuses me of partiality (whether or not perceived) again, first the following:
1. The Reds (partly Thaksinism etc) have made some pretty big mistakes in recent years (don't go specifying them)
2. The yellows (Abhisith and Suthep) have not announced any reforms during their reign, let alone implemented them.
The voting part of the Thai population will have to realize this. Their only weapon is: votes!
If they don't and a government is not formed, the elite (Suthep, Abhisit and some well-known Thai families) will try to seize power in such a way that those who do not fall into this select group will have little chance in the coming decades. / will no longer have political influence.
Because if the above-mentioned elite group succeeds in seizing power from the left or right, the current electoral law will first be amended in such a way that the elite group will certainly win future elections (after 2-2-2014). And further “reforms” will not be difficult to guess.
So let elections go ahead and then see how "democratic" Suthep really is. Because if it turns out to be him and can also think in the long term, he will have to consult with other major parties. Otherwise, his “reforms” sooner or later turn into a disaster scenario.
Don't vote if you want to become a servant of Suthep.
He has it so high in his head that he thinks he is "the people". Writes letters to Obama explaining the situation. So apparently never heard of the NSA.
You can choose from 50+ parties in the elections. There are probably about 50 better than Suthep.
Letters to Obama always go through southern Thailand. And because Suthep cs. shut down the post there…..
Just kidding of course. But surely Suthep doesn't expect – after his explanation – Obama to immediately send aircraft carriers and planes? Or would I be wrong? And does he really think that Obama is coming to his rescue? If so, then Thailand should really start to worry about such a person. oops! This could be interpreted as partiality. But these kinds of actions are really strange. As if Obama hadn't already formed a judgment: “I don't interfere in Thailand's internal affairs”.
Suthep does not represent 'The People' (whatever that may be)…
He represents a part, namely those who voted for him
Others voted for Thaksin's 'legacy', not because they were tired of it, but because they expect more from it than from the 'Sutheps' of this world.
Suthep is a stomping child who doesn't get his way and is unable to commit to people who think differently
The famous Philosopher and Singer Robbert Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) already said wise things in 1964:
“You can fool some people some time, but you can't fool all the people all the time”
And Cicero, the father of speech and debate said thousands of years ago:
To win your heart I will speak your language, feel your feelings and think your thoughts!
Suthep feels nothing at all about the group he despises
There is still democracy, people can choose various parties, if Suthep becomes the boss without elections, it will become a dictatorship, let's hope it will not come to that. Opposing elections is of course a very bad thing.
Suthep is quite right, first reforms and then elections. The country is in the grip of corruption and populations are bought like the rice farmers. Attacks on the demonstrators indicate that those in power are afraid of losing power. There is no point in voting now, the corruption does ensure that the influence of the elite is maintained with types such as Thaksin. People must be heard and acted upon, otherwise you may have elections but no democracy.
pete,
Just a small nuance: who actually committed the attacks you refer to? As far as I know, no arrests have been made yet. But you seem to know more.
I would also like to point out the shooting death of a leader of the current government group in his home. Who do you think did that? Because no one has been arrested for this either, but maybe you know more in this case too?
Suppose you are right “first reforms and then elections”. Who will come up with those reforms? I think you have the protesters and their leader Suthep in mind. And suppose that Suthep - as he has announced - has these reforms in writing through his Volksraad (where he claims at least 25% of the participants on the basis of ????) in 1 year, who do you think will go to the elections? to win? If it is the Reds, they will not simply introduce Suthep's “reforms”. So then the Yellows have to win the elections and how do you think that will happen? Correct! By also “reforming” the electoral law to ensure that the yellows win.
Suggeste to Suthep's Volksraad on this point: those who pay private tax get 2 votes or more depending on the amount of private tax to be paid (Singha family say 10 votes per person). That's a fair system, isn't it? Or not?
Finally, one more question: if, according to Suthep, it is possible within 1 year to have the “reforms” formulated by Volksraad, why did he not formulate those reforms when he was deputy prime minister from 2009 to 2011 (more than 2 years) and also entered?
I assume that Piet means generally supported reforms and not Suthep's strange “electoral council”. The current electoral system is not democratic enough and Suthep's plans clearly are not either. With real reforms (as various “third” groups are calling for), the electoral system is reformed in such a way that it is representative. Now there is a certain weighting per constituency (explained elsewhere on TB), which means that the Phue Thai, with less than 50% of the votes, still has more than 50% of the seats. That is not democratic either. That has to change. As well as, of course, breaking the power/networks of the clans/elites/families (red and yellow rich families) so that the general national interest becomes the priority of the politicians and not their own family/clan/network interests because that only encourages corruption and is detrimental to the common people and the country in the long run.
Democracy at this time would mean that Thaksim et al. remain in power and can continue with their populist “bow” projects. This will bring the country to financial ruin, with many generations still having to pay the interest and repayments.
Apparently, a government can do as it pleases and lacks sufficient “checks and balances”, eg, strict fiscal rules. In Thailand, measures are needed to repair the apparent flaws in the democratic system. The question is how these reforms can be achieved. That is the matter on the table now.