cavanami Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Didn't you just know that this was coming Thailand's Leader Hints At Putting Off Return To Democracy http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/15/356398777/thailands-leader-hints-at-putting-off-return-to-democracy?sc=tw Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power in a coup nearly five months ago, is hinting that he may need to backtrack on an earlier promise to restore democracy by next year. In June, little more than a month after the May 22 putsch that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Prayuth said elections would be held by late 2015. In remarks today, however, Thailand's former army chief said the date could be pushed back. "I outlined a roadmap. The election must come with a new constitution and 11 reform areas," Reuters quotes Prayuth as saying as he boarded a plane in Bangkok to attend an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Milan. "Everything depends on the road map, so we must see first if the road map can be completed. Elections take time to organize."... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My Penis is hungry Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Nooooo - not possible - this man has a firm commitment to democracy! Say it isn't soooooo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baa99 Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 He's for democracy as long as he retains absolute power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 'The boss knows best' Close aides and advisers of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha are concerned about his tendency to shoot his mouth off, but nobody in the inner circle has the courage to tell him how he should conduct himself in the public domain. They fear Prayut's PR disasters could jeopardise the coup-installed government's mission of reform and reconciliation. "We understand he knows better than us," said a military officer who once worked closely with Prayut. "It is the tradition in the Thai military that we refrain from telling the superior what he should or should not do." Prayut often loses his temper in public when he is asked a provocative question by journalists. There was another instance of Prayut losing his cool, on Tuesday, when he was asked by a senior reporter not to make his press briefings too long. Prayut is known to be short-tempered by nature. Initially his close aides tried to keep him away from reporters. However, as the prime minister, Prayut cannot remain silent over many issues of public concern, noted an official at Government House. "We try to make it difficult for reporters to get access to the prime minister, but it is he who wants access to the media to communicate with the public," the official said on condition of anonymity. Indeed, Prayut knows his weak points and that a loose mouth would not be good for his political future and the government's image - but it seems he cannot control his old habits. Colonel Winthai Suvari, a spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said Prayut had himself said that he would try to speak less and be careful lest someone distorts his remarks. "I can't speak on behalf of my superior. Perhaps he's trying and he's rather cautious. Maybe it has more to do with the questions posed", Winthai justified. A source close to a senior member of Prayut's Cabinet said the prime minister was very talkative at meetings and tended to focus on himself too much. Deputy Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prayut's background as an Army officer might make him appear intimidating. Some who have worked with the PM have suggested that he should answer fewer questions from the media, although Prayut has cited the importance of explaining things to the public. "He stressed to the whole Cabinet and the team of spokesmen that they should not be bored explaining issues," said Sansern, adding that Prayut said news and information travelled fast so there was always the need to update and explain things frequently. Reading from a script, Sansern said, would instead make Prayut appear rigid. The prime minister is also willing to apologise when it is due, he added Sukhum Nuansakul, a political analyst and former rector of Ramkhamhaeng University, said the PM and the media should attune to each other's ways of talking. "We have to understand that the PM is from the junta, and he was also a commander-in-chief. His way of speaking is more about issuing orders, and sometimes he can get offended by questions not in tune with his thoughts," Sukhum said. Meanwhile, the media should get familiar with the PM's style of talking, even though previous prime ministers were softer in many ways, he said. "Personally, I believe General Prayut should not sound as if he is giving orders but rather explaining, and reporters should respect the PM more," he said. Sukhum also suggested that Prayut should understand that reporters' work is driven by curiosity and he should answer according to his thoughts, without personal emotion. Yuwadee Thanyasiri, a veteran reporter at the Government House who always asks provocative questions, said it would be best for the prime minister to be brief and talk to the point. "It does not help to speak longer, because everything he says could be on the news and it is not only in Thailand but outside the country as well. In particular, he has to be cautious on international relations," she said. She said personally she does not assume she knows more or less than the premier, and her intentions are good. "I do not preach him [Prayut] but I only proposed that he should talk to the point, to save time for media and reporters," said Yuwadee. She said that she understood Prayut was the commander-in-chief, who used to giving orders, but now he has another role as prime minister and he should adjust himself to get along with reporters. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/The-boss-knows-best-30245569.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jitagawn Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 He is a soldier after all really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted October 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 He is/was a general, used to giving orders and having them unquestioned and followed. As such, makes it tough to be a politician He has lots of good ideas, but the key is in the implementation and that is not so plain and simple. I said it from the start, it will takes a few generations to end corruption and all the other items that are now talked about. Still waiting for the 50,000 SMEs to register (and pay taxes)...in my moo baan, there are 10s of small companies doing the fish business and I doubt that any are registered yet all having many employees. With three police officers living in the moo baan, it should be a simple matter to get them registered...but....TIT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who nether know victory nor defeat. : Teddy Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted October 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 As one of my managers used to say...do something, anything, even if it is wrong but do something! Too many people just sit on their hands, doing nothing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My Penis is hungry Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who nether know victory nor defeat. : Teddy Roosevelt That is pretty much the opposite of a democracy now isn't it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now