Poll finds majority wants political activities to resume

BANGKOK, Nov 4 (TNA) -- A survey finds majority of Thais want political activities in the country to resume while more than half of the respondents believe the resumption would not help improve Thai politics. The survey, conducted recently by Bangkok University Research Centre (Bangkok Poll), on 1,194 people nationwide, found that 54.3 per cent of the respondents were concerned that political troubles could erupt again if political activities are allowed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). 63.5 per cent of the total respondents agreed that Thailand is not yet a fully democratic country. Although 61.2 per cent of them believed that the NCPO should lift the ban on political activites, 54.3 per cent were still concerned that street fighting and sharp social divisiveness might occur while 51.5 per cent said that there was still no development in Thai politics and “old faces of politicians” would return to the chamber. Those who wanted to lift the ban were worried that a general election could be delayed and 20.4 per cent of the respondents said political parties would not have sufficient time for preparations for the general election. The survey found that 21.8 per cent of the respondents found that the NCPO should continue administering the country. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha, also leader of NCPO, said recently that his government would not lift the ban on political activities until calm and order are restored in the country. Gen Prayut, however, said the ban would eventually be lifted to allow political parties to resume activities in compliance with the constitution and election-related laws. Sharp social divisiveness and massive corruption were among major reasons for the NCPO to seize the administrative power on May 22, 2014. (TNA)