Change of Senate guard

COMMENTARY

Published: 20 Aug 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

When the junta-appointed charter drafters crafted the current constitution, they wanted to make sure that the establishment would have a say in the Senate and that it would not be controlled by politicians. So, the result of this scheming to maintain the status quo of the establishment was a 150-member Senate which is made up of one elected senator for each province with the rest appointed.

The election of Nikhom Wairatchapanich of Chachoengsao as the new Senate speaker could allow the ruling Pheu Thai Party to dominate the Upper House in addition to their control of the House of Representatives.

Because of this pre-arranged setup, non-senators have always been the dominant force in the Upper House since its inception in 2008.

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wangsuda
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Discussion 11 : 21 Aug 2012 at 12.2211
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#8 - not at all. Thailand's been playing with "democracy" far too long now. It isn't "birthing." It isn't "fledgling." It's what works for those in power. And that is all it is.
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domdunnn
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Discussion 10 : 20 Aug 2012 at 12.5910
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johninak D7

Politicians are not the elite, the real elite are the faceless people who have ruled the country by force for the last 50 years. Instead of using the word elite substitute 'establishment'.

Now that the establishment have found that force is unacceptable to the international community and they are unacceptable to the Thai voters, they are trying to hold onto power by undemocratic means.

Thaksin's family were minor establishment figures but he has broken with the old powers to create a 'new establishment' which is why the old powers fear and hate him.
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domdunnn
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Discussion 9 : 20 Aug 2012 at 12.479
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democrazy D5

I agree about the lack of democracy in the House of lords and so do a lot of UK citizens.

Notably the party that has just put a stop to democratic reform of the HOL is the Conservative Party headed by David Cameron, a rich kid who went to Eton and Oxford. Ring any bells?
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peterl
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Discussion 8 : 20 Aug 2012 at 11.488
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Are these debates the birth pangs of genuine democracy in Thailand? I would like to think so....
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joninnak
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Discussion 7 : 20 Aug 2012 at 11.417
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Re Disc 2 Bkposter. Why do you and the rest of the red shirt bretheren keep referring to the Democrats as the elite?? Surely the Shinawatras, family and friends are among the very high elite. Can you give me any politicians name that have actually come from a working class background?
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Renaissance
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Discussion 6 : 20 Aug 2012 at 11.316
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If one looks at the broader picture, Thaksin is pursuing a strategy for total domination of the country. He has his system in place to control the rural voters. The Red Shirt Federation is being enlarged quickly. At the same time, education is ignored so that the rural voters cannot see through him. PT has massive potential personal income from the national budget to keep all the influential people on his side. The rice pledging policy keeps the rice sector people on his side. He controls Parliament already so he can pass any laws he likes. Now the Senate is falling into his hands. DSI is on his side, which is very useful as well. By means of "Reconciliation", which is really "Revenge", he is pursuing his opponents. The independent organizations, which could stop him doing whatever he wants to do, are now being targeted and will soon be his. The courts may soon be in his hand as well. What comes after he is bored with being just a Prime Minister?
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democrazy
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Discussion 5 : 20 Aug 2012 at 11.175
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D.3 So in your logic, then the UK is undemocratic.
Bec. the House of Lords is not elected by the people.
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smiles999
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Discussion 4 : 20 Aug 2012 at 11.164
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The speaker's position is one of neutrality in the Parliament sessions, and this should not be even be commented just because he is related to someone.. There are even checks on the speaker's actions. # johninbkk, agree, the person is democratically elected, and there are these ridiculous assumptions.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 3 : 20 Aug 2012 at 08.333
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If you don't want elected individuals ruling the government, it is not democracy that you want.
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bkposter
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Discussion 2 : 20 Aug 2012 at 06.252
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RE: D1...John..I have some questions...How long has corruption been going on in Thailand? did it start only in 2000, or was it going on for generations before that...but might have only benefited the ruling elite for those long years...? was it only after they lost the power in elections that corruption suddenly became a campaign issue to them? When they took back power by force from 06 for 5 years did corruption suddenly stop? Why did they find it necessary to have a coup every few years whenever they lost power? Why are the elite afraid of elections? is it because they know they can not win on their performance record?
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Change of Senate guard | Bangkok Post: opinion