Breaking news: Big YES for Thai referendum on military control..

[CEOCambodiaNews]

The Thai military authorities have taken further control of the country through a seemingly democratic referendum which gives more power to the junta.

The Thai people have voted YES to the Draft Constitution in the national referendum.

Meaning they have chosen, democratically, for;

1. A military government during a transition period of at least five years to civilian rule. It could be many more than five years, that is now up to the military to decide.

2. A 250-member appointed Senate that includes the commanders of the army, navy, air forces and other security services.

3. A disagreement in the 500-member elected lower house could trigger the appointment of a prime minister who is not an elected member of parliament.

4. All laws and emergency decrees issued by the junta, without any parliamentary consent, will remain valid.

5. Any future civilian government will influenced by the military and controlled by appointed rather than elected officials.

The Election Commissioner, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, said at 7.30pm local time that with 91 percent of the votes counted, the YES camp received 61.5 percent of the votes, while 38.44 percent voted No in Sunday’s referendum.

He says counting will stop when 95 percent of the votes have been tallied.

He said the turnout was only 55 percent of the 50 million eligible voters.
http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/2295 ... tary-rule/

[epidemiks]

Channel News Asia had yes at ~65% with 95% counted about 45 minutes ago.

[phuketrichard]

a sad day for democracy; ;-(

Analysts have said that a "yes" vote would be a setback for democracy in Thailand.

Pavin, the Kyoto University professor, said that even when the military is no longer in power and a civilian government is in place after the 2017 elections, the military "will have the constitution as a remote control. The constitution can be used as a device to hold onto political power."

The main criticisms of the draft constitution are:

- A transition period of at least five years to civilian rule.

- A 250-member appointed Senate that includes the commanders of the army and other security services.

- A deadlock in the 500-member elected lower house could trigger a selection of a prime minister who is not an elected member of parliament. Under the abolished 2007 constitution, half the Senate was elected, and the prime minister had to come from the lower house.

- Emergency decrees enacted by the junta without any parliamentary consent remain valid.

The people have spoken, now time to get on with it

[obelisks]

But it should be no surprise to anyone . how could it possibly have not passed when they virtually criminalised any dissent!

" Anyone mounting a “no” campaign is liable to a potential 10 years in prison. "

http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/th ... eferendum/

[mammothboy2]

The aged and (so far) memorious among us can recall
when elements within the Youkay power elite were interested
in a bloodless coup

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... nt.labour1

But it is known that the supreme Poobah of the Thai junta fears that his enemies are using black magic
against him - so if WE ALL REALLY TRY HARD TO CLAP FOR TINKERBELL the regime will fall

[CEOCambodiaNews]

Further explanation on reasons behind the referendum:

The junta set up hand-picked committees to draft a charter that would enshrine its declared goal of reforming politics by eliminating corruption.

But others believe the new constitution has a different aim: to weaken allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the central figure in the roiling of Thai politics.

Thaksin's political machine has easily won every national election since 2001, mainly due to the support of working-class and rural voters who benefited from his populist policies. Leading the other side is Thailand's traditional ruling class and royalists — known as the "yellow shirts" — unnerved by Thaksin's support, especially as it contemplates its future. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose righteous rule has anchored the kingdom since 1946, is 88 and ailing.

The army ousted Thaksin in a 2006 coup, after "yellow shirt" protesters took to the streets and accused him of abuse of power, corruption and disrespecting the king. He has lived abroad since 2008 to avoid prison for a corruption conviction that he says was politically motivated. The 2014 coup ousted his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was elected prime minister in 2011.

Those who brought Thaksin down now seek to weaken major political parties, which would ensure that real power stays in the hands of what is dubbed the permanent bureaucracy: the military, the courts and other unelected guardians of the conservative bloc.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 77526.html

[sigmoid]

Electoral democracy is highly over-rated and, with exception of a few small easily managed countries such as Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and Iceland, typically leads to failed states, for example Turkey, Cambodia, the Philippines, Germany, France, etc. due to instabilty and incompetence.

The most stable members of the AEC are those without elections: Vietnam, Laos and Brunei.

China and Russia are still roiling while the USA with its political circus of clown versus criminal is slipping into an imperial collapse that threatens to bring down all of Western civilization.

As we all know, Thailand is at an extremely crucial juncture and the junta is doing what it can with the available resources to preserve Thainess. They certainly aren't perfect but all we are saying is give a tightly-controlled one-party system a chance.

[cptrelentless]

Electoral democracy is highly over-rated and, with exception of a few small easily managed countries such as Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and Iceland, typically leads to failed states, for example Turkey, Cambodia, the Philippines, Germany, France, etc. due to instabilty and incompetence.

Interesting choices there, Germany and France are failed states? They only have elections every four years or so, so not really unstable. I don't believe anyone has called their elections into question for the last 40 years at least. Surely if you're picking out countries with shitty political systems in Europe you'd pick the PIIGS. Or Belgium, which just went without a government.

[Anchor Moy]

Electoral democracy is highly over-rated and, with exception of a few small easily managed countries such as Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and Iceland, typically leads to failed states, for example Turkey, Cambodia, the Philippines, Germany, France, etc. due to instabilty and incompetence.

Interesting choices there, Germany and France are failed states? They only have elections every four years or so, so not really unstable. I don't believe anyone has called their elections into question for the last 40 years at least. Surely if you're picking out countries with shitty political systems in Europe you'd pick the PIIGS. Or Belgium, which just went without a government.

Interesting choices indeed; Singapore is an example of successful electoral democracy and France and Germany are 'failed states' ? Belgium is quite amazing since they seem to run ok whether they have a government or not.

[sigmoid]

Interesting choices there, Germany and France are failed states?

Good point but the assessment is not based on their elections, but is based on their current political situation, unpopular leaders (who were elected), and failed policies, especially in regard to immigration.