News from Thailand (1) – December 10, 2013
The olive branch that Prime Minister Yingluck offered to the anti-government protesters has had no effect. The protest leaders believe that dissolution of the House of Representatives and new elections (set for February 2) are not enough. The rally will continue until the 'Thaksin regime' is eradicated.
The leaders only agree to general elections after (political) reforms have taken place. For example, vote buying must end and the police force must be reorganized. That will take at least 15 months, says action leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
Suthep gives the prime minister and cabinet 24 hours to step down and hand over power to an (unelected) 'People's Council' and a 'People's Parliament'. "From now on, we'll run the country ourselves." He has called on protesters at Government House to continue for three more days.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets yesterday. They marched to the Government House from different sides in Bangkok. The newspaper cites a number of 200.000. The demonstrators formed a motley crew of office workers who had taken the day off, students, pupils, and so on – young and old, from all walks of life. First, Suthep and supporters departed from the government complex on Chaeng Wattana road for a 20 km march to the Government House.
Prime Minister Yingluck announced shortly before nine that she had dissolved the House of Representatives. Protest leader Sathit Wongnongtoey called it "a maiden victory". "We want Ms Yingluck to step down as (outgoing) prime minister," he told the Opinion at the Democracy Moment, who then took to the road. It was so crowded that some protesters passed out; because of the hot weather and crowds.
Sondhi Limthongkul, a former leader of the People's Assembly for Democracy (PAD), also attended. He left the office of his media company ASTV/Manager with a group of about XNUMX yellow shirts.
Sondhi, like the other Yellow Shirt leaders, stepped down as leader earlier this year because he faces prosecution for the occupation of Suvarnabhumi in late 2008 and is out on bail. Initially, the PAD kept aloof because it did not trust opposition Democrats, but now that all Democratic MPs have resigned, Sondhi is ready to rejoin the protest.
Action leader Suthep did not have a good word for Yingluck yesterday. He called her decision to dissolve the Chamber 'no more than political tactics to return to power at the next election'. 'You are a liar. But people are not as foolish as you think. […] I am a rebel and I will no longer bow to you [the government], even if it means my death.”
For the other events of yesterday, see Breaking News dated December 9, 2013.
(Source: Bangkok Post, Dec. 10, 2013)
And again Suthep didn't say a word. He had stated that Monday would be “do or die”. In other words, if he hadn't gotten what he wanted by the end of the day on Monday (namely departure of Yingluk cs) then he would turn himself in to the police. But although Yingluk is still in power and today is really Tuesday, Suthep has not turned himself in.
He keeps rambling on about Volksraad (read: small club of followers selected by him) and People's Parliament (an even larger club of followers selected by him).
Suthep wants with all his might to prevent elections within 2 months. Because he knows he's not going to win it. He first wants to “push through reforms” and that will mean that his club (a minority) will then be sure that he can win the elections. If he has his way, the minority led by him will rule the majority.
It remains to be seen whether he can enforce his sentence. A dangerous little man with his Volksraad and Volksparliament. All sounds very scary. And I have a hard time believing that he has Thailand's best interests at heart.
Dear Teun,
Let's not forget that there were and are great doubts about the elections that Yingluck won a year ago. It is well known that the votes are bought or manipulated on a large scale by this family.
Of course it is a concern if the same family organizes the elections again in the same way.
Of course the result is the same again.
This time it is not stupid people who have taken to the streets… without sticks and stones and in such numbers.
You won't hear me say that Suthep should become prime minister, but what has been achieved so far is a great good for the country….even if it is a start and of course there will be bumps, but so many people who take to the streets against corruption gone can never be wrong.
Abhisit and Suthep are not two hands on one stomach as is sometimes thought. They do come from the same party.
Let's especially think about the good results achieved so far… you can always complain.
greetings from dani
Danny,
It is true that after the weekend the demonstrations proceeded in a reasonably orderly manner. But before that I observed quite a lot of aggression.
Regarding the elections of 2 years ago, you state that "it is common knowledge that the votes are bought on a large scale by this family". I wonder if this is based on facts. After all, before the last elections, the party was condemned for this and even banned/abolished. The question is then justified whether the later established successor of the banned party will immediately use the same practices. This has not yet been proven. So it is mainly based on rumours. And that could also apply to the other party. Moreover, so far no one has filed a complaint about bribery in the last elections.
Furthermore, it is pure speculation to assume that there will be vote-buying again in the next elections.
What bothers me about Suthep's plans is that he decides who gets into the Volksraad. They will not be – to use your words – stupid people with sticks. It will be “smart” people who will determine which system is best for these “stupid” people. And I predict that the recommendations of this “people's council” will lead to Suthep cs. get the say. And so the minority will rule.
The best option would be to hold elections as Yingluk proposes, with independent observers brought in to see whether the elections are fair. But taking into account Suthep's position on farang, I find it highly unlikely that he will agree to this.
Yes I have that with thaksin too.
That is why it will remain restless for a long time, especially now that the elderly Reds are allowed to participate again.
No, the next election will only bring more misery.
What then? Good question, unfortunately I don't have an answer.
The problem is and remains CORRUPTION.
Only in power can you steal and on the sidelines you get tips.