The group accused the secretary-general of mistakes in management and poor leadership skills that had caused internal conflict and crisis within the party.

A motion to expel Sonrirat will be put to the party meeting on Tuesday by MP Sira Jenjaka, a member of Sam Mitr.

The move comes after Sam Mitr failed to get its hands on key ministries in the Cabinet portfolio.

Prawit was responding to public claims that the junta is using violence against its critics, after a spate of assaults on political activists culminated on Friday when men on motorcycles beat the 27-year-old Ja New with baseball bats, leaving him severely injured. Prawit countered on Monday that he had no violent tendencies.

He said the police were investigating the case and would bring the culprits to justice, adding it was unclear if the assault stemmed from a personal or political matter.

Sirawit had now been given police protection, he said.

Prawit said that while the government could do nothing about claims it was behind the violence, it was doing its best to catch the wrongdoers.

Sirawit had also been attacked on June 2 while walking on a Bangkok street, while fellow activist Ekachai Hongkangwan, who has targeted Prawit over his multimillion-baht collection of luxury watches, has faced several assaults over the past few months. No suspects have been caught for the assaults.

Friday’s attack left Sirawit in a hospital ICU with a broken nose and eye socket, and serious injuries to his head and other parts of his body.

He underwent surgery on Sunday to ease breathing problems caused by the broken nose.

Meanwhile Sirawit’s mother says doctors are monitoring his right-eye socket, which may need surgery after swelling impaired his vision.

The former junta leader, and now Prime Minister selected by recently elected MPs and a junta-appointed Senate, pledged to do his best.

His statement attributed the issues raised over party administration to the party’s novelty and that it was composed of different political factions.

The PM said it was difficult to make everyone happy. But most important was how to make the government credible to the public, he added.

The statement came after the influential so-called Sam Mitr or Three Allies in the party expressed discontent over Cabinet portfolios during the weekend. Its leader, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, had reportedly been allotted the Cabinet post of Industry Minister when there had been a previous agreement that he would head the Energy Ministry.

Suriya had reportedly said last week that he would consider withdrawing from Phalang Pracharat Party and taking some 30 MPs with him if he did not get the Energy seat.

The veteran politician denied the reports on Saturday but other signs still pointed to serious conflict within the party.

Three Allies key figure Anucha Nakasai held a press conference for the first time on Saturday in which he said he could accept losing the Commerce deputy ministerial post but that at least Suriya should get to keep the Energy Ministry.

Seats are being allocated between the nearly 20 parties composing the Phalang Pracharat-led coalition.

Though Thailand’s road to democracy over the past five decades has hit a series of diversions and dead ends, political scientists believe there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

However, they say, any further progress depends on the new generation, who must play a vital role if the dream of full democracy is to come true.

In the 48 years of this newspaper’s existence, Thailand has never been a “fully democratic” state in which a government is truly accountable to its people via elections and a robust system of independent checks and balances.

For most of that time, it has been under military control, backed by a small conservative elite who believe democracy is unnecessary, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, political science dean at Ubon Ratchathani University.

Even after the latest general election, he added, the coup-makers’ National Council for Peace and Order has managed to extend its control over a nominally democratic Parliament.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha arrives at Kansai airport in Izumisano city, Osaka prefecture, on June 27, 2019 ahead of the G20 Osaka Summit. /AFP

Not only has junta leader, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, retained his power as prime |minister, but the junta-appointed Senate will stay in place for five years, playing a decisive role in voting for the next PM.

In fact, Thailand has been “undemocratic” since the 1932 revolution, which saw the abolition of absolute monarchy, Titipol said.

Anti-democratic rhetoric is still a part of everyday life nearly nine decades after the change from rule by royalty to rule by the |people. People like to say “we’re not ready or it’s too early” for democracy, or that democracy “doesn’t fit in Thai society”, Titipol said.

Indeed, Thai democracy has been blocked since birth by a series of elitist powerplays, according to Yuthaporn Issarachai, a political scientist from the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.

“First there were strong dictatorships, then plutocracy or money politics [under Thaksin Shinawatra], then military coups and now we’re under a ‘neo-bureaucratic polity’,” he said.

This picture taken on March 25, 2019, shows exiled former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra being interviewed by Agence France-presse in Hong Kong. /AFP

Yet, amid the dead ends and despotism, Thailand experienced a brief flourishing of democracy with the 1997 Constitution.

Under what was dubbed the “People’s Constitution”, the country’s rules and legal mechanisms were liberalised and the charter played a crucial role in motivating public awareness and political participation, said Stithorn Thananithichot, a political scientist from King Prajadhipok’s Institute.

However, he blames resistance to the progressive charter among the administration and voters for weakening its defences against authoritarianism.

The people’s charter was finally torn up after the military coup of 2006, to be replaced with one “less than half as progressive”, Stithorn said. This was in turn scrapped and replaced by our current and even “more regressive” Constitution of 2017.

Seeking reasons why Thailand has not yet achieved full democracy, analysts identify several culprits. Chief among them is the support given by the Thai elite to the military so they can protect their interests, the entrenched conservative bureaucratic polity, and rulers’ obsession with institutional structures that |regulate the direction of democracy.

“The rulers want people to blindly believe in the rules they design. But this no longer works. The public can no longer be as easily controlled as they think,” Stithorn said.

In the modern world, we have to create a “shared democracy”, in which the designers of the rules have to allow the voters – who are supposed to follow these rules – to participate in designing these rules, he added.

Thai electoral officials count ballots after voting closed in the general election, at a polling station during a general elections at a temple in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, 24 March 2019. /EPA-EFE

Hope for a better democracy

Is there any hope that Thailand will ever become an open, liberal democracy?

Yes, say the academics, because Thailand |cannot avoid the global trend towards freedom and accountable rulers. However, they admit this will be a difficult task and may take at least another two decades, as the key to a fully |liberal democracy lies with the younger generation.

It will be difficult to see true democracy before that because the current generation doesn’t truly believe in government accountable to the “demos”, or people, and doesn’t think it would good for the country, so keeps letting the military take control, Titipol said.

He believes society should stop talking about whether we, as Thais, are ready for |democracy, and instead understand that democracy evolves on its own.

“We have to progress and move forward. We cannot stop. We have to continue moving towards becoming a fully democratic country,” he added.

And despite the dark clouds hanging over Thai democracy, analysts still see a silver lining.

Yuthaporn said Thai politics will continue developing in a positive direction for the next 50 years even though the current version of governance is seen only as quasi-democracy.

“Social dynamics and disruptive technology will disrupt Thai politics too. Positive changes will soon be visible,” he said, adding that these days many people – regardless of their age – are actively interested in politics.

This, he added, is especially true among the new generation.

The younger generation offers strong hope for the survival of democracy or at the very least social change that creates a better form of democracy, academics say.

Titipol cited recent signs of such hope, including the high-school students who designed pedestal trays on Teacher’s Day to mock the current state of politics, and a school parade in Trang province where students held up placards satirising the junta-led government.

Students place pedestal trays decorated with hand-made items to mock the current state of politics.

He said these and other similar actions show that despite its five years in power, the military-led government has failed to control the new generation’s thoughts.

“The new generation’s thought process represents a change [in society],” Yuthaporn said.

No white knight to the rescue

However, he said, the public should not place their hopes on a white knight showing up to “present” the country with full democracy. They will be disappointed again, as they were in the past, he cautioned.

He cited the 1997 charter, which was widely hailed as a landmark in democratic |constitutional reforms that was meant to deliver a strong democracy and strong government.

But though Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration at the time was powerful, democratic accountability failed because checks and balances were undermined.

The current 2017 Constitution was also created with the promise of deep and wide-ranging reforms, but it became a |political nightmare when drafters overlooked the significance of democracy and instead placed politics under the control of what Yuthaporn calls a neo-bureaucratic polity.

“The hope for a full democracy lies in the hands of Thai citizens. Democracy can only be created by the public, not by rules and mechanisms. They need to learn to build a new culture that facilitates democracy,” Yuthaporn said.

“Thais must adopt ‘fraternity’, or the concept of living together as brothers and |sisters, instead of being divided. We have to learn to listen to different voices and opinions. That is fundamental for creating a democracy,” he added.

Stithorn identified another key problem of politics that leads to social divisions as the “winner-takes-all” concept, which has existed in Thailand for a very long time.

“A key factor in becoming a full democracy is finding a way to balance power and also to share power so it benefits everybody and gives each person their own turf to work from,” he added.

Each player has to wait for his turn, and though a winner can take all sometimes, they must realise that they too will lose one day and that the loser will one day become a winner, he said. Similarly, the majority can become the minority and vice versa.

“If there is no development within seven days, you can’t stop the consequences – I am not threatening,” said Adul Khiewboriboon, chairman of the Relative Committee of May 1992 Heroes.

Adul said on Sunday intelligence he had received indicated that junior military officers had attacked Sirawit to please their superior.

Their superior was currently overseas, Adul said, citing “in-depth” information he’d obtained.

But the soldiers were neither subordinates of Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief General Apirat Kongsompong nor Army troops, he said.

Security officials must know who was behind the attack, he added. “And the government has to give the public answers and try to catch the perpetrators.”

Sirawit – known in the media as “Ja New”, meaning Sergeant New – was attacked by four men near his home at about noon last Friday.

The assailants arrived on two motorcycles, wore crash helmets and wielded sticks. His injuries included a broken nose and fractured eye socket.

Payao Akkahad, whose daughter was killed during the red-shirt protests in 2010, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had to be held responsible for the attack on Sirawit.

“The government has to take the responsibility,” she said. “Incidents like this must not happen to anyone who disagrees with the government. Arrests must be made within a week.”

The Defence Ministry on Sunday dismissed allegations that security officials were stalling the investigation.

Ministry spokesman Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanit said General Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister and defence minister in charge of security affairs, had instructed the police to expedite their investigation and find the culprits as soon as possible.

Prawit had expressed sorrow over the attack on the activist, the spokesman said, adding that

government policy forbids such violence.

Police and other security officials had been instructed to increase measures to protect activists, Kongcheep said.

But he urged citizens not to hold Sirawit up as a “political victim” with the aim of gaining political advantage.

More than 92 per cent of the 1,673 respondents to the Super Poll opinion survey, the results of which were released on Sunday, said they’d grown “very tired” of the situation.

By comparison, 7.6 per cent said they considered the latest political jousting “fun” and not “boring”.

More than 67 per cent of respondents said they were “very worried” or “very much worried” that post-election political bickering between rival camps will worsen.

The chief concern stemmed from accusations that MPs in both the coalition government and the opposition retained shares in media companies, which is against the law.

Just over 23 per cent described themselves as “moderately concerned” about this issue, while 9.3 per cent were “slightly worried” or “not worried at all”.

More than 87 per cent of respondents agreed that government and opposition MPs as well as senators should be subjected to examinations to determine whether they are qualified for office and do not hold shares in media businesses.

Asked whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should be named leader of the main coalition partner, the Phalang Pracharath Party, 59.5 per cent said no and 40.5 per cent said yes.

The survey, conducted between June 20 and 29, covered residents in all regions of the country.

Jirayu Huangsap, a Bangkok MP for Pheu Thai, said his party would request an interpellation at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday to question the prime minister.

Thawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Prachachart Party, said the opposition would also file a motion with House Speaker Chuan Leekpai for the setting up of a fact-finding committee to investigate the government’s use of power in this matter.

The opposition politician called on the relevant authorities to find the attackers as soon as possible, adding that such an incident was negatively affecting the country’s image.

“He had been under the close watch of authorities round the clock, so the fact that he got attacked twice recently raise suspicions that people in power may have been involved,” said Thawee, who also heads the opposition whips.

Both Thawee and Jirayu were among politicians from the seven-party opposition bloc who visited Sirawit at Ramathibodi Hospital, where the activist was being treated for injuries sustained in the attack.

Sirawit, who is better known in the media as “Ja New” (Sergeant New), was attacked around noon near his home by four men wearing crash helmets and carrying sticks. He suffered serious injuries, including a broken nose and a fracture of the eye socket.

His mother Patnaree Charnkit said on Sunday that Sirawit was to undergo an operation on his broken nose and eye.

She added that she felt better now that her son was showing signs of improvement and was under the care of medical experts.

Sirawit’s education adviser Pattarajit Chotikapanit said later on Sunday that the operation would involve insertion of medical equipment into his nostrils to rectify the broken nose.

Regarding his fractured eye socket, Pattarajit said he was still under observation and no surgery was needed at this point, as Sirawit’s eyesight was not affected.

Pattarajit was advising Sirawit about his upcoming trip to India on further education.

Meanwhile, the prime minister has instructed police to find the perpetrators of the attack on Sirawit, National Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said on Sunday.

Chakthip chaired a meeting of senior police officers investigating the case at the Royal Thai Police headquarters.

He said “considerable progress” had been made in the investigation but added that the police needed more time to find the culprits. “The attack happened just two days ago,” he said.

Sirawith was assaulted by four unidentified men with baseball bats in Bangkok on Friday morning. They were wearing helmets and rode on motorbikes with no licence plates.

Sirawith suffered severe injuries to his head. His mother said he told her last night that he suspected he was being followed.

It was the second time Sirawith has been attacked this month.

The human rights lawyer group posted on its Twitter wall on Saturday that Sirawith, better known as Ja New, is still in severe condition and needs to be put on a respiratory system.

The group said Sirawith received eight stitches on his head and his right eye seemed to protrude more than the left eye after the injuries caused a blood clot and pressure in the eye.

Sirawith received treatment at the Navamin 1 Hospital before he was transferred to Mission Hospital where he can use his social security welfare rights, the group said.

The group said Sirawith is waiting for a specialist to perform surgery on his broken right eye socket.

The group posted a report from the Navamin 1 Hospital that said:

Physical checkup finding:

– Two wounds at right eyebrow and head skin.

– Swollen now with blood seeping out.

– Swollen right eye, blood clot in right eye, iris of the right eye expands, right eye lacks vision.

MRI scans on brain and right eye socket finding:

– Broken nose and broken cheekbone.

– Broken right eye socket with blood clot pressuring on nerves.

Treatment at Navamin 1:

– Surgery to cure wounds on head and right eyebrow.

– Piercing to reduce pressure in the right eyeball.

– Administered with oxygen, saline solution, antibiotic, anti-tetanus drug, and drug for reducing swollen eye nerves.

Forwarding:

The patient has been forwarded for treatment by ophthalmologist and for plastic surgery.