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Thailand's First Provincial Elections Since the 2014 Military Coup
ISSUE: 2021 No. 24 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 5 March 2021 Thailand’s First Provincial Elections since the 2014 Military Coup: What Has Changed and Not Changed Punchada Sirivunnabood* Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party, attends a press conference in Bangkok on January 21, 2021, after he was accused of contravening Thailand's strict royal defamation lese majeste laws. In December 2020, the Progressive Movement competed for the post of provincial administrative organisations (PAO) chairman in 42 provinces and ran more than 1,000 candidates for PAO councils in 52 of Thailand’s 76 provinces. Although Thanathorn was banned from politics for 10 years, he involved himself in the campaign through the Progressive Movement. Photo: Lillian SUWANRUMPHA, AFP. * Punchada Sirivunnabood is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of Mahidol University and Visiting Fellow in the Thailand Studies Programme of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. 1 ISSUE: 2021 No. 24 ISSN 2335-6677 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • On 20 December 2020, voters across Thailand, except in Bangkok, elected representatives to provincial administrative organisations (PAO), in the first twinkle of hope for decentralisation in the past six years. • In previous sub-national elections, political parties chose to separate themselves from PAO candidates in order to balance their power among party allies who might want to contest for the same local positions. • In 2020, however, several political parties, including the Phuea Thai Party, the Democrat Party and the Progressive Movement (the successor of the Future Forward Party) officially supported PAO candidates. -
Thailand's Puzzling 2019 Election
ISSUE: 2019 No. 44 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 29 May 2019 Thailand’s Puzzling 2019 Election: How the NCPO Junta has Embedded itself in Thai Politics Punchada Sirivunnabood* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The “mixed-member apportionment” system that Thailand’s 2017 Constitution introduced to parliamentary elections has led to the changes in the country’s political landscape. Although the system was designed to help the military-backed Phalang Pracharat Party garner a large number of parliamentary seats, it also enabled a number of medium-size and small parties, including the Future Forward Party, to gain more parliamentary seats than expected. Eleven small parties with one or two seats each have pledged to support the pro- junta Phalang Pracharat Party in forming a government and to back the incumbent prime minister continuing in power. If these small parties join a pro-military coalition, the new government will face challenges managing a coalition of more than 20 parties. *Punchada Sirivunnabood is Visiting Fellow in the Thailand Studies Programme of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. 1 ISSUE: 2019 No. 44 ISSN 2335-6677 INTRODUCTION “Please let it be known about an important thing in governing, that in the country, there are both good and bad people. No one will make all people become good people. So to give the country normality and order is not about making everyone become good people, but it lies in supporting goodness, so that good people govern the country, and restraining bad people from having power, in order not to create confusion.” (Unofficial Translation) His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn’s statement 23 March 20191 On 23 March 2019, King Vajiralongkorn released an unexpected announcement on the eve of Thailand’s national elections, saying that voters should support “good people” to rule Thailand. -
Thailand, July 2005
Description of document: US Department of State Self Study Guide for Thailand, July 2005 Requested date: 11-March-2007 Released date: 25-Mar-2010 Posted date: 19-April-2010 Source of document: Freedom of Information Act Office of Information Programs and Services A/GIS/IPS/RL U. S. Department of State Washington, D. C. 20522-8100 Fax: 202-261-8579 Note: This is one of a series of self-study guides for a country or area, prepared for the use of USAID staff assigned to temporary duty in those countries. The guides are designed to allow individuals to familiarize themselves with the country or area in which they will be posted. The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. -
THE CONSTITUTION of the KINGDOM of THAILAND, 1997: a BLUEPRINT for PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY James R
THE ASIA FOUNDATION WORKING PAPER SERIES THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND, 1997: A BLUEPRINT FOR PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY James R. Klein Representative of The Asia Foundation in Thailand Working Paper #8• March 1998 The Asia Foundation is a private, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization working to build leadership, improve policies, and strengthen institutions to foster greater openness and shared prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Building on its 43 years in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with Asian and other partners from the public and private sectors to advance effective governance and effective citizenship; open regional markets and create local opportunities; and promote peace and maintain stability within the region through leadership development, exchanges and dialogue, research, and policy management. Through its Working Paper Series, The Asia Foundation presents a range of views on the major political, economic, and security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific. The views expressed in this working paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Asia Foundation. Contents Introduction . .4 Background . .5 Thailand’s Guided Democracy: 1932-1997 . .5 The Legacy of Thailand’s Guided Democracy . .7 Political Reform and the Origins of the 1997 Constitution . .9 Constitutional Supremacy . .15 Judicial Review . .17 Constitutional Court . .19 Citizen Participation in Governance . .21 An Elected, Civil Society Senate . .21 Citizen Participation in Public Policy . .23 Citizen Participation in Local Resource Management . .24 Citizen Participation through Administrative Decentralization . .25 Citizen Participation through Public Policy Referendum . .26 Constitutional Mechanisms to Promote Accountability and Transparency . .28 National Counter Corruption Commission . .28 Declaration of Assets and Liabilities . .30 Impeachment . -
Thailand's 20 December 2020 Provincial Elections: a Contest
ISSUE: 2020 No. 145 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 18 December 2020 Thailand’s 20 December 2020 Provincial Elections: A Contest among National Political Parties and a Quasi-Party? Evidence from the Andaman Coast Michael J. Montesano* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Voters across Thailand will go to the polls on 20 December 2020, to elect chairmen of provincial administrative organisations and members of the councils of those organisations. • At a time of deep-seated political crisis in the country, observers have assumed the “nationalisation” of Thai provincial politics, and the central relevance of political parties to that process. • Consideration of political parties’ decisions on whether formally to contest the 2020 provincial elections and close scrutiny of races for the post of provincial administrative organisation chairman in four provinces on the Andaman Coast of South Thailand suggest that this relevance, along with the role of parties, remains minimal. • In 2020, provincial-national dynamics in Thai politics, as mediated by political parties, thus demonstrate little change from patterns of the recent past. • Even the much-noted effort of the Progressive Movement led by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to nationalise provincial polls does not seem to defy this pattern. • Thai political parties may rely on local structures of power, respect and influence in fighting national elections. But to see candidates in provincial elections simply as torch-bearers for national parties is to adopt a flawed understanding. * Michael J. Montesano is Coordinator, Thailand and Myanmar Studies Programmes, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and a co-editor of the forthcoming book Praetorians, Profiteers or Professionals? Studies on the Militaries of Myanmar and Thailand (ISEAS Publishing). -
Educational Politics in Thailand: a Case of the 1999 National Education Act Sarayuth Poolsup
Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 2-25-2003 Educational politics in Thailand: A case of the 1999 National Education Act Sarayuth Poolsup Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the Educational Administration and Supervision Commons Recommended Citation Poolsup, Sarayuth, "Educational politics in Thailand: A case of the 1999 National Education Act" (2003). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 62. http://commons.emich.edu/theses/62 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EDUCATIONAL POLITICS IN THAILAND: A CASE OF THE 1999 NATIONAL EDUCATION ACT By Sarayuth Poolsup Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Leadership and Counseling Eastern Michigan University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION February 25, 2003 Ypsilanti, Michigan ii EDUCATIONAL POLITICS IN THAILAND: A CASE OF THE 1999 NATIONAL EDUCATION ACT Sarayuth Poolsup APPROVAL: James Barott, Ph.D. Date Dissertation Chair David Anderson, Ed.D. Date Committee Member William Shelton, Ed.D. Date Committee Member Pat Williams-Boyd, Ed.D. Date Graduate School Representative Jaclynn Tracy, Ph.D. Date Department Head Patrick Melia, Ph.D. Date Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research ii iii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Prayoon and Prapha Poolsup, who have given me the most precious present, education. -
THAILAND General Election 3Rd July 2011
THAILAND General Election 3rd July 2011 Report of the International Election Observation Mission by The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Published by The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) 109 Suthisarnwinichai Road Samsennok, Huaykwang Bangkok 10320, Thailand Tel: (+66 2) 2773627 Email : [email protected] www.anfrel.org Written by Ryan D. Whelan & Michael Lidauer Some background content sourced from ANFREL’s 2007 Thai Election Report written by Mr. Adam Cooper Edited by Ryan D. Whelan & Orawan Yafa Layout by Pongsak Chanon Design by Suthida Buasukkasem Photos without credits are courtesy of mission observers ISBN: 978-616-90144-2-3 Book cover design by Akanit Srisuttiwong Printed in Bangkok, Thailand FOREWORD ANFREL was established in 1997 as Asia’s first regional network of civil society organisations promoting democratization. It has a strong network of over 20 partner organisations within Asia from whom it draws experienced election observers to take part in its various missions. ANFREL has significant experience coordinating international election observation missions in Thailand, receiving international funding to observe the 2001, 2005, and 2007 general elections. Through our work and the work of Thai election observation organizations such as the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (PollWatch) and the People’s Network for Elections in Thailand (P-NET), I believe that election observers made a significant contribution towards not just the fairness of this election, but towards strengthening Thailand’s democracy in the long-term. This report is the product of information and analysis from the ANFREL observers and Secretariat. It covers the pre and post election periods as well as Election Day itself. -
Thailand 2006
National Integrity Systems Transparency International Country Study Report Thailand 2006 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 Authors Dr. Ora-orn Poocharoen Lecturer, Director of the Political Science PhD Program, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University Dr. Ake Tangsupvattana Associate Professor, Deputy Dean for Academic and International Affairs, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University Research Assistant Arunee Santhitiwanich Researcher, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University The National Integrity Systems TI Country Study Report of Thailand is part of a 2006 series of National Integrity System Country Studies of East and Southeast Asia made possible with funding from: Sovereign Global Development The Starr Foundation The Council for the Korean Pact on Anti-Corruption and Transparency United Kingdom Department for International Development All material contained in this report was believed to be accurate as of 2006. Every effort has been made to verify the information contained herein, including allegations. Nevertheless, Transparency International does not accept responsibility for the consequences of the use of this information for other purposes or in other contexts. © 2006 Transparency International Transparency International Secretariat Alt Moabit 96 10559 Berlin Germany http://www.transparency.org Thailand 2 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 Acknowledgements This report would not have been possible without the assistance of many people. The authors would especially like to thank Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan (TI-Thailand), Dr. Kanokkan Anukansai (TI- Thailand), Rosana Tositrakul (NGO), Dr. Ammar Siamwalla (TDRI), Dr. Somkiat Tangkitvanich (TDRI), Dr. Jirawan Bhakdiputra, Prasong Lertrattanawisut (media), Somluk Hutanulak, Benjamas Siripak, Noppadol Themmatha (police), Chairat Khanittabutr (NCCC) and Gecha Chechay (Ombudman Office). We would also like to thank Associate Professor Dr. -
Elections in Thailand Has Been Elaborated Upon Here at Some Length
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by SOAS Research Online Constitutional Design in Thailand: the Management of Electoral Process in an Emergent Democracy By Andrew Harding and Peter Leyland1 Abstract: This article focuses on the measures and organic laws that have been introduced in Thailand since 1997 to secure fair elections and effective parliamentary representation. The discussion involves a critical assessment of constitutional regulation of the electoral process and also of political parties, and in particular the role of the Election Commission of Thailand, which was set up under the provisions of the 1997 Constitution. The article also seeks to assess the effect of these measures in delivering a secure system of government and parliamentary democracy in Thailand during a turbulent and uncertain 12-year period, which as well as reform has witnessed a military coup and the drafting of a new Constitution. 1 Introduction Since the inauguration of constitutional government and democratic elections with the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand’s electoral politics has been tainted by corruption. Due to this and other causes the nation has suffered grievously from political instability, so much so that constitutional innovation has been regarded as a form of crisis management rather than a secure basis for reform.2 In this way Thailand has been a source both of interesting and imaginative experimentation and of object lessons in constitutional failure. In all, including interim constitutions, Thailand has had 18 constitutions (the latest in 2007), and has suffered 17 military coups (the latest in 2006). -
Descent Into Chaos RIGHTS Thailand’S 2010 Red Shirt Protests and the Government Crackdown WATCH
Thailand HUMAN Descent into Chaos RIGHTS Thailand’s 2010 Red Shirt Protests and the Government Crackdown WATCH Descent into Chaos Thailand’s 2010 Red Shirt Protests and the Government Crackdown Copyright © 2011 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-56432-764-7 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA Tel: +1 212 290 4700, Fax: +1 212 736 1300 [email protected] Poststraße 4-5 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2593 06-10, Fax: +49 30 2593 0629 [email protected] Avenue des Gaulois, 7 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 (2) 732 2009, Fax: + 32 (2) 732 0471 [email protected] 64-66 Rue de Lausanne 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 738 0481, Fax: +41 22 738 1791 [email protected] 2-12 Pentonville Road, 2nd Floor London N1 9HF, UK Tel: +44 20 7713 1995, Fax: +44 20 7713 1800 [email protected] 27 Rue de Lisbonne 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 (1)43 59 55 35, Fax: +33 (1) 43 59 55 22 [email protected] 1630 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20009 USA Tel: +1 202 612 4321, Fax: +1 202 612 4333 [email protected] Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org May 2011 1-56432-764-7 Descent into Chaos Thailand’s 2010 Red Shirt Protests and the Government Crackdown I. Summary and Key Recommendations....................................................................................... 1 II. Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 28 III. Background .......................................................................................................................... 29 The People’s Alliance for Democracy and Anti-Thaksin Movement ...................................... -
Superfluous, Mischievous Or Emancipating? Thailand's Evolving Senate Today
Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs Chambers, Paul (2009), Superfluous, Mischievous or Emancipating? Thailand’s Evolving Senate Today, in: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 28, 3, 3-80. ISSN: 1868-4882 (online), ISSN: 1868-1034 (print) The online version of this article can be found at: <www.CurrentSoutheastAsianAffairs.org> Published by GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Institute of Asian Studies and Hamburg University Press. The Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs is an Open Access publication. It may be read, copied and distributed free of charge according to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. To subscribe to the print edition: <[email protected]> For an e-mail alert please register at: <www.CurrentSoutheastAsianAffairs.org> The Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs is part of the GIGA Journal Family which includes: Africa Spectrum • Journal of Current Chinese Affairs • Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs • Journal of Politics in Latin America • <www.giga-journal-family.org> Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 3/2009: 3-38 Superfluous, Mischievous or Emancipating? Thailand’s Evolving Senate Today Paul Chambers Abstract: In Thailand’s emerging democracy, the Senate has played an often underestimated role. This study analyzes Thailand’s Upper House, examin- ing its historical evolution until 2009. In particular, it focuses on the follow- ing questions. What innovations did the 1997 Constitution bring to the Senate? How and why was the Senate adjusted under the 2007 constitution? The study further reviews the Senate elections of 2000 and 2006 as well as the election/ selection of 2008. -
Title Politics of Electoral Reform in Thailand( Dissertation 全文 )
Title Politics of Electoral Reform in Thailand( Dissertation_全文 ) Author(s) Siripan, Nogsuan Sawasdee Citation 京都大学 Issue Date 2015-03-23 URL https://doi.org/10.14989/doctor.r12940 Right 許諾条件により本文は2015/06/01に公開 Type Thesis or Dissertation Textversion ETD Kyoto University A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Area Studies Politics of Electoral Reform in Thailand タイにおける選挙制度改革の政治 Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee November 2014 Doctor of Area Studies A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Area Studies Politics of Electoral Reform in Thailand タイにおける選挙制度改革の政治 Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee สิริพรรณ นกสวน สวสดั ี Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies Kyoto University November 2014 Contents Contents 1 Lists of Tables and Figures 4 List of Acronyms 6 Acknowledgements 8 Abstract 10 Chapter I: Introduction: Understanding Electoral Reform 15 1.1 Get to Know Electoral Reform 15 1.2 Electoral Reform: The Cross-National Appeals 16 1.3 Main Argument 19 1.4 Questions and the Contentions: Democracy and Electoral Reform in Thailand 22 1.5 Review Literature and Major Discourses 27 1.6 Plan of the Study 39 Chapter II: Constitutional and Electoral Rule Changes, 1932-1996 41 2.1 Five Episodes of Political Development 44 2.2 Changes to Electoral Rules, 1933-1996 59 2.3 Conclusion: the Chosen Few versus the Voice and Will of the Public 62 Chapter III: The 1997 Electoral Reform: New Modes of Political Competition 64 3.1 The Background 65 3.2 The Process 65 3.3 Public Participation 67 3.4 Introducing New Electoral System 69 3.5 First Time Popular