Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Chicanery can only go on so long
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 25/03/2018
» The week ahead is going to be intense as political parties prepare to attend a meeting on Wednesday with those who seized power to negotiate the possibility of a total lifting of the ban on political activities.
Broken vows test patience to the limit
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 28/01/2018
» The military government has managed to break yet another promise as its proteges who go by the name of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last week passed a bill that could delay the long-promised general election by another 90 days.
Poll delays do nobody any favours
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 21/01/2018
» Once again, hopes of an election in November this year seem to be slipping with each passing day -- the latest blow coming courtesy of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) vote on Friday to change Section 2 of the organic law on the election of members of parliament.
Stacking the deck doomed to failure
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 24/12/2017
» After months of waiting, Thailand's political sector saw light at the end of the tunnel but that ray of hope came in the form of the use of Section 44 with an announcement by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday.
All signs point to an election
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 17/12/2017
» The messages coming from the men in uniform and those who helped them seize power are all positive. It makes democracy lovers such as myself feel a little more secure that after failing to deliver its promises for the past few years, the military government could hold an election in November 2018.
Prayut must clear decks ahead of vote
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 05/11/2017
» Once again the working of the military government has come under public scrutiny and those involved in the gaffe are acting as though the general public is nothing but a bunch of fools who would forget as long as those involved in the incident keep their head below the ground.
Regime is destroying rule of law
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 08/10/2017
» Bending the law and going back on words seems to have become the norm ever since the coup that ousted the elected government in 2014. Over the past week the supporters of the coup must have had a field day as their idol managed to have an audience with the head of state of a country that until recently was considered to be the beacon of democracy.
Dismal EC needs people with ethics
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 04/06/2017
» The move by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to possibly remove the current members of the Election Commission (EC) comes as a surprise to many in the country. The NLA has proposed that the five commissioners, appointed under the defunct 2007 constitution, vacate their posts after the new EC organic law comes into effect.
PM's magic wand now redundant
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 09/04/2017
» Thailand's 20th constitution was promulgated on Thursday with a fanfare that most Thais have not seen in their lifetime. It was a much-needed lifeline for the never-ending promises of the military junta to bring the country back to a democratic system.
'Set zero' dangerous in wrong hands
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 18/11/2016
» Of late the debate on "set zero" -- a scenario in which certain political institutions are dissolved and reset or re-established in accordance with a new organic law -- has dominated news headlines. But this time, political parties look set to be spared the gallows.