Negotiating 'is Only Way Out Of This Impasse'

[Flashermac]

Both sides of the political conflict should realise that they will never be able to completely defeat each other and that some form of compromise is urgently needed before Thailand plunges deeper into turmoil, former Election Commissioner Prapun Naigowit said.

 

"Neither side is winning nor losing, but the country is suffering great damage," Prapun said.

 

He was speaking at a symposium at Chulalongkorn University yesterday on the role independent organisations under the Constitution can play in breaking the political deadlock. The event was organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Insight Foundation and Inside Thailand Parliament.

 

Prapun said the best solution would be to hold fresh elections under an agreement that the new administration carry out reforms and only stay for a short time. "It's been six months now and if we let the situation continue this way, it will become a huge problem for the country," he warned.

 

He also urged leaders of the armed forces and presidents of the courts of justice to come out and talk both sides into sitting down and negotiating.

 

Jade Donavanik, a law lecturer at Siam University, said the two sides essentially had two options - sit down and negotiate now or allow clashes to break out first before being forced to negotiate. He also called on those not directly linked to the conflict to help forge dialogue.

 

However, he warned that seeking an appointed premier under Article 7 of the Constitution, as the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has done, would not bring an end to the conflict. Calling for a military coup or pushing for an election that is not accepted by the PDRC would not work either, he said.

 

Yet, former vice-chairman of the 2007 Constitution Drafting Assembly, Seri Suwanpanont, insisted that the military and the Privy Council had to play a lead role in seeking an appointed premier.

 

"[Having] weapons makes them powerful," said Seri, in reference to the armed forces. "But they're not ready [for a coup] yet. They need anarchy [before they act]." However, he said he did not wish to see another coup, adding that since Thailand was already in a political vacuum, the Privy Council should step in. "They can offer advice [to HM the King] - whether you like it or not is another matter," he said.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Negotiating-is-only-way-out-of-this-impasse-30233507.html

[cavanami]

Neither side wants to look weak, as in sitting down and negotiating...so this will continue until the violence breaks out, IMO...

[robaus]

>> Both sides of the political conflict should realise that they will never be able to completely defeat each other

... says who...except that the majority have done so 3 times already, and would have done so again in February except they have been disenfranchised and elections disrupted by armed yellow shirt gangs.

 

>> but the country is suffering great damage

...and whose fault is that?...disrupting tourism by creating fear of armed conflict and closing airports and transport, draining international business confidence, disrupting the elected government from paying bills or establishing projects.

 

OK enough of what everyone knows already.

 

>> Prapun said the best solution would be to hold fresh elections under an agreement that the new administration carry out reforms and only stay for a short time.

..perhaps his suggestion has merit. But please can someone tell me what are these mysterious reforms that thousands are marching and dying for?

 

I hope it’s not something as daft as “No-one with the name Shinawatra or anyone associated with them will ever be allowed to hold office.†That’s a ridiculous unenforceable non starter.

 

If it’s gerrymandering election districts unfairly so that rural voters automatically have less chance of electing their candidates..that’s another non starter.

 

If it’s seats reserved in parliament for a large chunk of un-elected members who can cock up what the elected majority want...another non starter.

 

Any evidence of vote buying or bribery on both sides, means instant disqualification of that candidate. That ought to be obligatory anyway.

 

If it’s something like proportional representation that would stand the scrutiny of expert international psephologists, well that could win back global confidence.

 

In a fair democracy as it matures and Thailand becomes less of a feudal paternalism, perhaps a third major party would emerge that satisfies the interests of rural and city folks alike, and maybe make the other parties lift their game too.

 

Can anyone give me a clue as to what these mysterious reforms are?? And what’s in it for both parties?

 

[cavanami]

The reforms are a "pie in the sky". They are not concrete, they are not exactly defined...let the first of the protesters step forward in that they will be the first to give up the corruption they are involved in...waiting, waiting and more waiting...

 

What a surprise...when it comes down to the individual, no one wants to give up their little part of the corruption...so keep the boogie man (Takky) alive and well with the Suthep fairy tale....sorry, no happy endings here!

[StoneSoup]

It is all Kabuki dancing - because it is all really about the 800 pound gorilla that roams in the background. It is all about who is on top when a particular card is played. There will never be steady-state peace as long as either side feels itself sitting at a disadvantage, going into the final hand of that game.

 

So - all of the the present machinations are just tactical jockeying and posturing - with no chance that they actually represent a search for long-term answers. Probably, before it is all over, the majority of the population - of Bangkok, at least - will be begging for the military to take over, just to end the mob rule by extremist clowns on both sides.

 

Cheers!

SS