Freedom of expression

Thai Rath said it seemed like the PAD might be trying to deny the importance of the House and the electoral system. Nonetheless, the mass-circulation daily said it hoped the debate on "new politics" would be conducted in a civilised manner to promote freedom of expression.

The debate on this issue should be based on facts and rationality rather than political rhetoric or aiming to create a new political conflict. Every party should be patient and listen to the others.

The PAD had yet to expand on the idea of the new politics initiative, saying only that a 70-30 House composition formula should consist of 70 per cent of representatives nominated or appointed and 30 per cent coming from an election. The PAD left the option for the military to have a role in politics. But the People Power Party opposes this view, reasoning that it could be treacherous because it could be seen as an attempt to abolish the democratic system.

Thai Rath said that those who support the 70-30 formula claim they have modern political views. But in fact, Thai Rath said, the idea is outdated, lagging behind even the constitution of 1932. Back then, the People's Party came up with a 50-50 formula, half from the election and half appointed by the People's Party. The portion of elected MPs would increase later when the public was better educated, the People's Party said.

The 70-30 formula also lagged behind the "Half Democracy" constitution of 1978, which provided for an equal number of appointed senators and elected representatives in the House. The 2007 Constitution allocated 76 seats for elected senators compared to 74 for nominated senators.

Thai Rath said everyone agrees that the systems are not flawless. But they have progressed over time. For instance, there have been serious attempts to curb vote-buying through independent organisations and the issuing of 'red' and 'yellow' cards.

Therefore, Thai Rath said, it is the duty of all parties involved to ensure the strength and independence of the Election Commission so that polls are conducted in a fair and just manner. In addition, preventative measures to stop political corruption should be effective so that the checks and balances system operates as it should. The judicial and civil branches should also benefit from improved roles. Thai Rath implied that this is the most desirable option rather than overhauling the House's structure.

 Matichon expressed concern over the divisions in Thai society by citing the recent incident in Krabi in which Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung was met by a hostile crowd of People's Alliance for Democracy supporters. This phenomenon was not new. When deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in power, he faced similar protests. When former prime minister Chuan Leekpai and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva went to make political speeches in Chiang Mai, they faced protests from supporters of Thaksin and the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.

Matichon said the incident shows the deep divisions in society, and thus urged the public to place high priority on the country's interests and to adhere to the unity principle. To date, attempts to bring people together have failed. Even worse, the government has become a problem in exacerbating the division. Therefore, we should be aware that we are all Thais. And the leader of the country should act with righteous intent for the interest of the nation, not a small group of cronies.