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Friday, September 19, 2008

Chavalit Supports New Politics or Old Politics?


Ex-PM Chavalit backs 50% appointed parliament


(BangkokPost.com) - Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh on Thursday suggested the government consider establishing a constitution drafting assembly to propose a 50:50 ratio between elected MPs and selected representatives.

He said the civil strife has come about because of an unjust administration, and viewed the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD)’s political ideology as interesting. The group should retreat, use reason and seek ways to settle rifts before explaining their proposals to the public, he said.

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From the New York Times (1987)

Thais Tense as Officers Demonstrate


Excerpt:

The crisis began after Kukrit Pramoj - a writer, political columnist and former Prime Minister who asked American troops to leave Thailand in 1975 - strongly criticized a restructuring of the country's internal security command ordered by the Commander in Chief, Gen. Chavalit Younchaiyudh. 'Wants Sort of Communism'

Speaking to a university-sponsored seminar on Thai politics on April 1, Mr. Kukrit, 75 years old and the son of a prince, characterized some aspects of the plan as Communist-inspired.


The crisis began after Kukrit Pramoj - a writer, political columnist and former Prime Minister who asked American troops to leave Thailand in 1975 - strongly criticized a restructuring of the country's internal security command ordered by the Commander in Chief, Gen. Chavalit Younchaiyudh. 'Wants Sort of Communism'


Speaking to a university-sponsored seminar on Thai politics on April 1, Mr. Kukrit, 75 years old and the son of a prince, characterized some aspects of the plan as Communist-inspired. He repeated an earlier criticism that broadening the internal security operations command by expanding its political role was tantamount to turning over parliamentary functions to a ''politburo'' or ''presidium.''


Here is a tidbit in the same article unrelated to my blog entry, but interesting and ironic, nonetheless.


Politician's Home Bombed

The recent events follow the bombing in March of the home of another civilian politician, Samak Sundaravej, the leader of the parliamentary opposition. Two army sergeants, traced through their motorcycle registrations, were arrested by the Bangkok police after the blast.


They were then turned over to the army, and nothing more has been heard about the case.

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