Thailand's military junta has indicated that elections in the country may take place late next year and a transitional government is expected to be formed within the next few weeks. The armed forces in the country took power on May 22 in a bloodless coup after several months of political instability that eventually led to the ouster of the government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The junta, which is maintaining a tight grip on the affairs of the country, made no bones of the fact that it will continue its dominance until the polls are held and may also devise a mechanism that would allow it to have a say in the future as well.
General Prayuth Chanocha, who spearheaded the coup, is likely to become prime minister heading a cabinet that would facilitate the way to the national elections in late 2015. The transition, mapped out in an interim constitution promulgated last week, retains the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) which is made of the armed forces people. The interim constitution provides the formation of a 220-member national legislative assembly which will be appointed by the NCPO. All this makes it abundantly clear that the armed forces will remain the most effective factor in the south-east Asian nation in the near future, if not for a longer period.
The military junta has outlawed all kinds of demonstrations and protests against its rule and this only shows that the authorities are hell-bent on stifling the voice of the people with a view to perpetuating its rule. The junta leader said earlier that elections would take place only after "political reforms" and defended the military coup to fend off criticisms at home and abroad. The United States and other democratic countries have urged the new rulers of Thailand to return to representative rule as early as possible.
The army took over the reins of Thailand against the backdrop of a political crisis. Initially, the military declared martial law without taking over power, but they hardly took much time to stage the real coup. The development came as another twist in the topsy-turvy politics of the nation, where a fresh election was scheduled for August 03. But the military is now supreme and the junta received a shot in the arm when the revered King of the nation endorsed the new rulers. But the army faces rising criticism at home and in the international arena in particular for taking over power and evidently seeking to prolong its governance.
Earlier, the constitutional court ordered prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra removed from the office for "abuse" of power. The anti-government agitators, who had been clamouring for the ouster of Yingluck and her government, greeted the court order. The development came as a big setback for the prime minister who was catapulted to the zenith of success in a short time on the coattail of her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The country held elections on February 02 that were boycotted by the main opposition party and also by the protestors calling for the exit of the government. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appeared to have weathered the storm to some extent. But, it is the legitimacy of the government that haunted her authority. The government later announced a fresh election.
Protestors clamoured for the formation of a "People's Council" that would govern the country. The demonstrators felt that Thailand needed to get rid of "unjust and corrupt" politicians. Their leader Suthep Thaugsuban said that the "anti-people" government must go. Main opposition Democratic Party boycotted the elections, which the prime minister called much ahead of the expiry of her term, but distanced itself from the demand of "People's Council".
Thailand, known for tourist attraction, faced the most volatile conditions in last several years. As the unrest was escalating and a tense situation prevailed, the army stepped in and the people appeared to have heaved a sigh of relief even though the measure was in contravention of democratic practice.
However, Yingluck Shinawatra's party remains active and she told a news conference in Bangkok on July 18 that Thailand needs to restore democracy at the earliest. The current situation has alarmed even the Democratic Party that was in the opposition during Yingluck's rule. Severel organisations, including the New York-based Human Rights Watch, said the interim constitution has given the junta "sweeping and unaccountable" power and also expressed concern over the repression of the supporters of the ousted government. But the military rulers seem hardly bothered and say that Thailand badly needs political reforms to rid the nation of frequent street demonstrations and political instability.
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