The people's power versus the junta's power

The prime minister reasoned that the economy is in bad shape and the tax might derail recovery. Also, the draft law seemingly failed to win much public support.

But as a citizen eagerly awaiting sweeping reform that authorities claim will change Thailand for the greater good, I am kind of worried what the final package will look like.

Following Prayut’s tax decision, his deputy Wissanu Krea-ngam suggested that the Finance Ministry had only been testing the waters by publicising parts of the draft law. Though its tax rates are quite clear, he said the law has not yet taken full shape and is nowhere near ready for submission to Cabinet or the National Legislative Assembly.

Even Finance Minister Sommai Phasee did not seem displeased, noting the PM had merely ordered the bill be shelved, not aborted. He added that the order came at the right time, as the ministry is already overburdened dealing with economic difficulties. The ministry would now have time for more research on the appropriate tax rates and to improve understanding among the public and investors on the issue.

That the prime minister failed to consult him before making the decision didn’t seem to matter. Prayut might be rigid, said the finance minister, but he is also capable of flexibility.

However, the episode prompts an important question: How many more policies are being enforced or scrapped on Prayut’s orders? Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised at the answer. The coup leader and PM has stressed many times that Thais would sometimes have to accept undemocratic decisions during this period. And he has adhered to those words.

Though he supported the Energy Ministry’s view that Thailand needed to proceed with bidding on petroleum exploration concessions in order to ensure energy security, he then took an intermediary role. He ordered a discussion forum, only to learn that the ministry and opponents could not reach a compromise. Eventually, he ordered the ministry to put off the bidding just days before the scheduled date. Yet it came as no surprise when Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee declared the postponement would not affect Thailand’s energy security. The speedy U-turn raised eyebrows, coming at a time when the whole world knows that energy consumption is likely to increase due to falling prices.

Luckily, the prime minister agreed to the Finance Ministry’s inheritance-tax plan as well as the Energy Ministry’s decision to restructure energy prices. Otherwise, these two ministries would have achieved nothing in the 10 months since the coup.

The junta’s overwhelming power also extends to other branches.

The Constitution Drafting Committee’s proposal that junta members be banned from politics for two years – which would prevent them holding on to power – made headlines. No committee appointed by any previous military government has made such a suggestion. The proposal was dropped after it failed to win junta approval.

It remains to be seen how the junta’s power will influence the new charter.

Among the more contentious points of the draft charter is a proposal to make the 200-member Senate unelected. Neither would the prime minister have to be an elected lawmaker.

CDC chairman Bowornsak Uwanno has spoken of his role with pride. In a recent interview he reiterated that the new constitution would raise the people’s power. Thais would be guaranteed of rights and be made to respect their civic responsibilities. Establishing a people’s assembly that had power to impeach the prime minister was one way this goal would be achieved, said Bowornsak.

However, questions remain over how people’s political power would be enhanced if they are barred from electing senators who are in charge of screening laws proposed by elected MPs. And for decades, Thais have been accustomed to seeing the leader of the political power that wins most votes becoming prime minister.

A survey that suggested most Thais would prefer an elected prime minister has been criticised by CDC members.

Conducted by King Prajadhipok’s Institute and the National Statistical Office, the January 1-15 poll showed that 58.9 per cent of 5,800 respondents wanted an elected PM. Also, 62.3 per cent said senators should be elected while 85.1 per cent said the party that won the most votes should have the power to form the government.

Another contentious proposal is for an unelected steering committee and strategy committee tasked with making policies to tackle inequality. Their suggestions would have to be honoured by an elected government.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether this draft charter will win the approval of the National Legislative Assembly. Only then will we know whether people’s power has really been raised after the coup.