BANGKOK — A spokesperson for the junta's reform council said no changes have been made to the schedule for Thailand’s return to democratic rule, despite proposals from some members of the military government to postpone a national election for two more years.

"At this moment, the NRC still insists on the same road map," said Alongkorn Pollabutr Alongkorn, the secretary of junta-appointed National Reform Council (NRC). "There has been no change in our consensus on the issue of whether there will be [more] reforms before an election." 

He was referring to a proposal recently put forth by 26 members of the NRC who have called for a referendum to determine whether the military government should stay in power for two more years, thereby postponing the election tentatively set for September 2016.

Even without the extension, the current schedule is slated to subject Thailand to the longest period of military junta rule in the past 40 years. In previous military coups, the junta organized an election close to one year after seizing power. 

The petitioners say they believe junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha needs more time to complete the reform program he launched after staging a coup in May 2014.

"This matter is very sensitive," said Alongkorn. "There needs to be careful deliberation, because it might be seen as an attempt to perpetuate [the junta’s] power."

Gen. Prayuth himself has neither endorsed nor dismissed the proposal. Commenting on the issue today, he said he would only stay on if the Thai people approve the measure in a referendum. 

"If it is the voice of the people, how can I object to that?" he said. 

Gen. Prayuth seized power as army chief from an elected government in May 2014 amidst protracted anti-government protests in the capital city. He was later chosen as Prime Minister by an interim parliament he appointed.

The deputy chairman of the conservative Democrat Party – whose members initially welcomed the coup but have since become more critical of the military government – said he was not surprised by the proposal to further postpone national elections.

"The fact that some NRC members applaud and cheer the Prime Minister to stay on, I am not surprised," said Nipit Intarasombat. "Because these people were all installed in power because of the NCPO. Of course, they want the Prime Minister to stay, so that they can stay, too."

He continued, "As a good friend of the Prime Minister who has never criticized him at all, I'd like to warn him loudly this time, please be careful of the people close to you. The more power you have, the more vulnerable you will be. People around you are too afraid to warn you. They are all the type who say, ‘yes sir, it's good sir, that's right sir.’"

BANGKOK — Junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha reiterated today that he is willing to delay national elections and stay in power for two more years if "the people" demand it.

Supporters of the military junta, including 26 members of the junta-appointed National Reform Council, have been publicly urging Gen. Prayuth to extend his "road map" to democracy by two years in order to complete the reform process he launched after staging a coup in May 2014.

As it stands now, a national election is expected to be held in September 2016 if the new charter, which is being drafted under the junta's oversight, passes a national referendum. 

Yesterday Gen. Prayuth said he would agree to stay on for two more years if the public approved the measure in a vote. He repeated his stance in a press conference with reporters at Government House today. Below are excerpts from the conference.

Reporter: Many NRC members have proposed that the Prime Minister stay for two more years to complete the national reforms.

Prayuth: Are the NRC the people? How many people are there in the country? There are 60 to 70 million people here. And about this proposal for a referendum for the government to stay and complete reforms, can it be done? If it can be done, do it. If it cannot be done, don't. It's not like I am saying yes to it. I am not. You have to understand that a commander or a leader has to respect other people as well. Now that they have put forth the proposal, I cannot simply dismiss them. Isn't that right? I have to thank them. If it can be done, it's up to the people to do it. It doesn't mean I am saying this because I accept it or I am happy about it. If I do not have to do anything more, if it's over at this point, I will be relieved. It's up to the next government. Let them do the work. I have done this much. But if they want me to do it, how to stay and make foreigners accept me – that will be my problem.

Reporter: Judging from the current situation, do you think you should stay?

Prayuth: I do not think like that. I only think about doing my best with the remaining time, and solving problems as fast as I can. But I cannot solve all the problems. The people expect a lot from me. They want everything to be solved. Can they not see that some things are really complicated? There needs to be a complete overhaul. It takes time. But it does not mean that I will monopolize it. I did the work, I started it, I drafted the plan and the laws, it depends on who will continue these works. It's up to the people and Thailand.

Reporter: If the majority of the people vote in favor in the referendum for you to stay — 

Prayuth: How can the referendum be done? Answer me first. There has to be an amendment in the interim charter, no? If so, you have to ask the Election Commission whether it can be done. I don't know if it can be done. Don't get me involved in this.

Reporter: What if there is a referendum and the people vote for you to stay?

Prayuth: It depends on the constitution. Is it written in there? The referendum for me to stay, is it written in there?

Reporter: So you will not oppose it if they want you to stay for two more years?

Prayuth: Don't use "if" with me. But, if it is the voice of the people, how can I oppose it? Are you Thai? I am here, I am doing this for the Thai people, is that not right? Am I doing this for others? If they want me to continue my work, then they must help create understanding, for people in the country, for politicians, and others, that I do not want power. It depends on Thailand, what kind of future the people want. It may not be me. The referendum may choose someone other than me.

Reporter: Does it mean that you can stay in power indefinitely as long as a new charter is not promulgated? 

Prayuth [raises his voice]: What do you mean, indefinitely? How? What does the [interim] charter say? It doesn't say I will stay on indefinitely. Talk some sense. Don't use the word indefinitely. Am I staying till next life? Say it correctly. What does the constitution say? It has limits of 60 days, 90 days, 120 days. Read it sometimes. 

Reporter: But there are people who want you to stay, and others who don't want you to stay.

Prayuth: Hey, You already know that! Of course, it is that way. Why are you asking me this? 

Reporter: Are you worried about the opposition? 

Prayuth: You keep asking me about troubles. You keep writing about troubles.

BANGKOK — The ultra-conservative activist monk Buddha Issara is gathering signatures for a proposal that could keep junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha in power for several more years until the junta's national reform program is complete.

Phra Buddha Issara, who helped lead the street protests that paved the way for Gen. Prayuth to seize power in May 2014, said he would collect 50,000 signatures in support of a referendum that would determine whether to postpone the next election – scheduled for September 2016 at the earliest – until the junta’s reform process is complete.

Gen. Prayuth and the ruling junta, known as National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), would remain in power during that time. Some members of the junta-appointed National Reform Council have expressed support for a similar measure that would give Gen. Prayuth two more years to complete the reform process. 

"I support [the idea] of reforms before an election," Buddha Issara said, citing a slogan of the protest movement he helped lead in 2013 – 2014, which aimed to topple the government of then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

"I do not believe the NCPO will hold on to power forever," the monk told reporters. "Personally, I have seen the dedication of this government. They are dedicated to performing their duties and restoring peace to the country before a new election is held, because if an election takes place when the country has not returned to normalcy, I believe elections will be problematic again." 

Commenting on the proposal today, Gen. Prayuth said he would accept the extension if the Thai people approve it in a referendum. 

"If it is the voice of the people, how can I object to that?" he said. 

Buddha Issara was the leader of a "hardcore" faction of the anti-government protests that paralyzed parts of Bangkok for six months in an effort replace Yingluck's administration with an unelected "People’s Council" to implement unspecified national reforms. 

Bowing to pressure from the protesters, which mobilized tens of thousands of protesters on the streets, Yingluck dissolved the parliament in December 2013 and called a snap election for February 2014. However, protest leaders demanded that reforms be enacted before an election, and sent demonstrators to block polling stations in parts Bangkok and 14 southern provinces.

Buddha Issara personally led a group of militants – some of whom were armed – to besiege a district office in northern Bangkok to prevent the distribution of ballots and other election equipment. A gun fight between the protesters and pro-Yingluck demonstrators left a 72-year-old bystander mortally wounded. 

The Constitutional Court later voided the 2 February election on the grounds that voting did not occur throughout the Kingdom on the same day. On 22 May 2014, the military intervened and seized power, ostensibly to prevent the crisis from spiraling out of control. 

BANGKOK — Defying police orders to cancel a talk on the state of human rights in Thailand, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) held a press conference outside the venue where they were originally scheduled to present a panel discussion this evening.

The original event was canceled by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand this afternoon after police presented a letter ordering the club to drop the talk.

The letter, which police said they were instructed to deliver on the junta’s behalf, expressed concern that the event "may allow individuals with ill intention to create a [negative] situation and cause unrest, and lead to a violation of the laws."

However, representatives from TLHR decided to go to the FCCT at 6pm today as planned, and hold a press conference outside of the venue, where they distributed their 21-page report detailing the decline of human rights since the May 2014 coup.

“We insist that we didn’t break any laws, so we decided to go ahead with the press conference today,” TLHR member Yaowalak Anuphan told reporters and plain-clothed officers, who listened and took photos but did not interfere.

She said police never contacted her about today's cancelation, but that army officers called her a few days ago to say they were “uncomfortable” with the event. 

Since seizing power in a coup in May 2014, Thailand’s military junta has maintained a ban on all political gatherings, protests, and forums in the name of achieving "national reconciliation." Detractors, especially those who criticize the junta, are often arrested and some have been sent to face trial in martial court.

“The [junta] is using laws to suppress those who think differently,” Yaowalak said, citing the trial of pro-democracy activists in military court, and the junta’s repeated attempts to smother free speech. Today marked the 72nd time authorities have interfered with political forums since the coup, she said.

Poonthep Sirinupong, a law professor at Thammasat University who was supposed to speak on the panel, commented that putting the junta’s new charter to a referendum will be useless in a climate where free speech is so severely restricted.

“Holding a referendum under these circumstances is like binding the hands of the people,” he said. 

The current draft of the charter, which was written to replace the constitution shredded by the junta after the coup, has been widely criticized by politicians and rights activists as a significant step backwards for Thai democracy. 

Bowing to pressure from pro-democracy voices, the junta agreed last month to put the charter to a referendum vote, but has not yet specified what options will be made available on the ballot.

In the referendum for Thailand's previous charter, which was also drafted by a junta-appointed council following the 2006 coup, voters were only permitted to accept or decline the document. Critics say that many voters reluctantly approved the junta’s charter out of fear that the undisclosed alternative would be worse.

Speaking to Khaosod English after the lawyers’ press conference tonight, FCCT president Jonathan Head said the club was “very sorry the event had to be cancelled,” but was forced to comply with police’s orders.

“We had no choice,” he said, adding that the board refused to cancel the event until a formal letter was presented.