Thai elections

From AFP-

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States called on Thailand's military junta to call for quick elections, following voters' approval of a new army-backed constitution.

The new charter was to replace the one the military threw out when it seized power last year and toppled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"We have seen reports of the referendum and we believe it is important that they move forward with the elections as quickly as possible," said Gonzo Gallegos, a spokesman for the US State Department.

He spoke after nearly 58 percent of Thai voters approved the constitution in a referendum Sunday.

Dr. Taylor had an interesting take on the referendum. Saying 'This is yet another example of a classic post-coup move by a military government: some sort of popular vote that can be used to validate the coup in the first place.' The vote being to put a democratic face on a government that came to power undemocratically.

Both the margin of victory and the turnout were lower than the ruling junta had predicted. The last two general elections brought about 70 percent of voters to the ballot box.

Following the coup in September 2006, the United States suspended 24 million dollars in military aid to its oldest treaty ally in Asia and also halted negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement.

Thailand's military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said after the referendum that elections would be held by year's end as pledged earlier.

Don't mind me if I remain skeptical about the Thai military relinquishing power so quickly. Hopefully events will prove me wrong.

Arrest warrants were also recently issued for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife. I don't doubt the PM and his wife were corrupt, Through personal experience I've seen corruption in Asia, almost all coming from my time in the Philippines. Whether the Thaksin was corrupt or not, that doesn't legitimize the Chulanont regime or the junta that took power last year. They are no better than the crooks who get elected to office.

Linked to- Planck's Constant, Right Wing Nation, Third World County,