Thanathorn ready to face his critics on Facebook

By The Nation

 

 

THE LEADER of the newly set-up political party, Future Forward, pledged in a Facebook post on Friday that he would spend time this week clarifying issues and the criticism raised against him.

 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit pre-registered his party on Thursday, and has since been subject to some criticism in regard to his family’s auto parts business, Thai Summit, which laid off more than 200 employees in 2006. Remarks he made about religion in the South have also triggered criticism.

 

His party, while earning praise from some for its young and idealistic image, has been questioned by others, suggesting the party’s initial success might be short-lived due to the lack of a mass political base.

 

Thanathorn said he would use social media, possibly Facebook Live, to explain to the public any issues that he has been questioned about. 

Thanathorn said as the party had pre-registered, the first chapter was over, and it would proceed to do what needed to be done to prove itself to the public. 

 

The young leader said he realised the next chapter of his party would be tougher, but he was confident with its ideologies as expressed to the public, as he has received morale-boost from a number of supporters.

 

Open to criticism

 

Thanathorn said he listened to productive criticism and would take it into account as the party’s “homework”. As for those comments meant to attack and discredit the party, he would not let them sway his morale and would respond to them with facts.

 

The “young blood” also said he would spend time during the coming week communicating with his supporters, as the past week he kept him busy setting up the party.

 

The party, he said, plans to forge a network with professional and local associations to recruit members – 500 at least – and lay down an infrastructure so it could be a true party for the masses.

 

Thanathorn also posted on Facebook to clarify his views on religion in the South. He said he had expressed a personal view a while ago that had nothing to do with his party. The context, he said, had been removed, prompting an easy misunderstanding about what he had expressed.

 

He was alleged to have suggested that the state not support any religions as part of the deep South solution. 

 

Thanathorn said religion was a personal matter that should not be exploited to instigate hatred against one another. 

 

Participatory dialogue should be pushed as part of the solution to the problems in the deep South, he said. Once his party was allowed to proceed with political activities, members would visit people in the South, he added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30341162

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-18

34 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

he would spend time this week clarifying issues and the criticism raised against him.

sounds like make-or-break time for him; also highlights the strength that social media has 

Ah, The need to clarify the misunderstandings, what is it with this country are they not speaking the same language?

 

To be fair it is common in politics to clarify, means to change what was initially said to appease the people or specific groups.

 

AKA, back peddling or flipping.

Edited March 18, 20188 yr by Oziex1

55 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

pledged in a Facebook post on Friday 

Well if he pledged on Facebook, who can doubt him now!

These are bright people running this party. I'm sure they are well aware of potential landmines- accusations of anti-monarchy, no connection to the grassroots, lack of support for Buddhism  in the Deep South. If they can persuade community leaders and civic groups from all regions  to climb on board they could generate some real momentum.

 

Just now, Oziex1 said:

Ah, The need to clarify the misunderstandings, what is it with this country are they not speaking the same language?

 

To be fair it is common in politics to clarify, means to change what was initially said to appease the people or specific groups.

 

AKA, back peddling or flipping.

I don't think his comments on religion required an apology. I agree with him.

12 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Thanathorn said he would use social media, possibly Facebook Live, to explain to the public any issues that he has been questioned about. 

Ah, that facebook thing, the panacea to all that ails you...

6 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Ah, that facebook thing, the panacea to all that ails you...

He is not allowed to have a public meeting. It is against the law.

11 minutes ago, bannork said:

He is not allowed to have a public meeting. It is against the law.

Doesn't change my antipathy towards everything being solved via zuckerburg's beast...

at this stage i would say good luck to him for trying to make progress, can only be good for thailand, lets face it whatever he comes up with can't be any worse.