Military Regime in Thailand Promises Elections by Year’s End; Analysts Skeptical
February 6, 2007
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The Washington Post reports that the ruling military junta in Thailand has promised to hold elections before the end of the year.  The report states that “the army would immediately hand over control to a civilian government” following the elections.  The pledge by military leader General Boonyaratkalin was seen as an attempt to “ease mounting concerns that the army may have long-term designs on power,” according to the Washington Post.  The military coup was “initially embraces by political opposition leaders…” that saw the previous elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra as corrupt.  However, according to the Washington Post, escalating violence in the country and mismanagement of the economy has caused the military government to fall out of favor. 

Despite the military junta’s promise of elections by the end of the year, Thai political science professor Panithan Wattanayakorn believes that Thailand will turn into a quasi-democracy, with a government that “could be ‘watched over by the military.”   According to the Washington Post other Thai analysts saw the process of moving the country back towards democracy has been slow, leading to suspicions that elections and transition would be delayed. 

Former Prime Minister Shinawatra has called on the military to return the country to democracy, claiming that “Thais have enjoyed democracy and do not want to be under a dictatorship.”  According to Time, Shinawatra has repeatedly insisted that he has no plans to return to politics.  Despite these claims, Time reports that Shinawatra makes the regime “very nervous.”  The same Time report says that the press is not allowed to report on Shinawatra, and a recent CNN interview with the former Prime Minister was not allowed to air in Thailand, highlighting both the government’s crackdown on press freedom, and its belief that Shinawatra still poses a threat. 

References:

Time: Thailand- Thaksin's Giant Shadow

Washington Post: Leader of Thai Junta Promises Vote in '07