Forum pushes for Feb 2 election

Reds urge Democrats not to boycott contest

Most participants at the government's reform forum yesterday agreed the Feb 2 election should go ahead, while others argued the poll should be postponed to prevent further conflicts.

Representatives from state agencies, political parties, civil groups and the private sector discuss solutions to the political impasse at the government’s national reform forum held yesterday at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

The participants included former MPs, senators, academics, representatives from political parties, the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the private sector.

However, the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the Democrat Party did not send representatives to the meeting.

Most participants, including representatives from the Defence Ministry, the UDD, the Pheu Thai Party and some academics, said the Feb 2 election should go ahead on condition that measures be put in place to ensure the vote is clean.

They called on the Democrat Party not to boycott the election as this would only worsen the situation.

However, some participants including Bhumjaithai Party representatives and some academics believed the poll would not help end the conflict and should be delayed until the atmosphere is right.

Speaking after the seven-hour forum, caretaker PM's Office permanent secretary Tongthong Chadransu, who acted as moderator, said the participants had agreed that reform plans must be implemented to address political and economic problems and corruption, and to support power decentralisation and reduce social injustices.
However, the forum still could not reach a conclusion on how to implement the reform, Mr Tongthong said.

Weerapat Pariyawong, an independent legal academic, said the election should go ahead but all political parties must agree that if they win and form the government, they will not serve out a full four-year term and will instead dissolve the House of Representatives within two years to allow national reform to proceed.

Mr Weerapat said election campaigning should focus on national reform rather than populist policies.

UDD leaders Tida Tawornseth and Jatuporn Promphan also supported the Feb 2 poll.

The Defence Ministry's permanent secretary Nipat Thonglek told the forum the armed forces stood by the constitution and the military supports an election on Feb 2.

But PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban, speaking on the Democracy Monument rally stage last night, accused Gen Nipat of "distorting" the army's stance.

Mr Suthep claimed the armed forces commanders, whom he met on Saturday, actually did not take any side on the Feb 2 election.

"Gen Niphat's behaviour does not surprise me because he is [former premier] Thaksin Shinawatra's man. Thaksin picked this guy for the defence permanent-secretary post himself," he said.

Mr Suthep said he would call another mass rally in Bangkok soon. He also insisted the Feb 2 election will not happen. "Or if it happens, it won't be a smooth one," he said.

Chaturon Chaisaeng, who represented the Pheu Thai Party, told the forum that before the poll takes place, all political parties should ratify a pact that the next government would step down as soon as it completed laying out the foundations for national reform. This means the next government would not complete a four-year term, he said.

Some participants said they believed an election would not solve the crisis.

Ratchaburi senator Kecha Saksomboon said the election should be postponed to allow the reform process to begin.

He also said the government should step down from its caretaker role to show it is sincere in implementing reforms.

Bhumjaithai Party deputy leader Sohpon Zarum said that while the party agreed with the election, it wants all sides involved in the conflict to work out a new set of rules before the poll is held.

He said politicians are the source of conflict and need to be reformed.

Songsak Thongsri, also from the Bhumjaithai Party, said that since the PDRC insisted it opposed the Feb 2 poll, further conflict will result if it goes ahead.

"We support the election and our party is ready for the election, but it must be held in the right atmosphere," he said.

Gothom Arya, of Mahidol University's Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, urged the Democrats not to boycott the vote as it would only make the problem more complicated.

Meanwhile, PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan yesterday labelled the government's forum a "stunt".

PDRC member Suriyasai Katasila said the forum was full of government supporters and it was organised to distract attention from the PDRC's reform push.

Source: Bangkokpost