Abhisit protege plans new path for Democrats

[webfact]

Abhisit protege plans new path for Democrats

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

 

“I’M NOT the political legacy of anyone, especially Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva,” Parit Wacharasindhu firmly told The Nation during a conversation at the Democrat Party headquarters in Bangkok.

 

It is a place where the 26-year-old Oxon, publicly known by his nickname “Itim”, has not only trained himself but is also expecting to work as an MP once the country returns to parliamentary democracy.

 

According to critics, the ruling junta has striven in every way to ensure their continuation in power after the election. In countering the old-fashioned air surrounding the regime, and bored with the old faces long associated with key parties, Thais are increasingly looking to rising and new figures in the hope that they could more or less rescue Thai politics.

 

Parit, indeed, puts himself in this latter category. Young, educated in top British institutes with working experience in the development field, Parit has recently spoken in many public forums, selling his idea of promoting “liberal democracy” as a cure for what ails the country.

 

Parit bears a significant resemblance to Abhisit, one of the political old faces that the electorate has come to love and hate.

 

But it is not just Parit’s face. Even his way of speaking and his demeanour reminds people of the Democrat Party leader.

 

When he was the premier, Abhisit brought the then 16-year-old Parit to “observe” how Government House functioned. The relatives, looking a lot like father and son, have made occasional media appearances together since then.

 

But Parit brushed aside accusations of nepotism.

 

“They would say that I will automatically enter the Democrat Party because of my background, but no. In fact, the party has the most democratic internal system I’ve seen so far. Unlike the others, the party’s leader is chosen from a contested election among branch leaders,” he said. “I happened to be born in Mr Abhisit’s family, I didn’t choose it,” he went on, flashing a charming smile. “All of this is the way I have chosen by myself.”

 

His reason to jump into the quagmire of Thai politics is one that is heard often but rarely practised – to be involved in the country’s development via policy-making processes based on academic research.

 

Among the issues that grab his interest are some that have been previously voiced by Abhisit, such as equality enhancement in Thai society, but also more modern concepts ranging from legalising LGBTQ to engaging with more technology at the party to national policy levels.

 

Parit would have to work this out with the country’s oldest party, one perceived as the most conservative. The Democrat Party’s image has a definite lean to the right and is seen to have joined hands with the coup-makers.

 

Worst of all, Abhisit and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban – viewed as the most powerful Democrat figure – have not able to erase memories of the 2010 massacre when Abhisit was the PM and Suthep his deputy. Although the two have been acquitted legally, the public doubts the justice system and continues to condemn the two.

 

This means that in order to step forward successfully, Parit and the Democrats have a lot to do to clear the party’s name. Parit partially accepts some of the flaws.

 

“The Democrat and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee [PDRC] are two separate groups,” Parit clarifies. “The two agreed to object to the amnesty bill [pushed by Yingluck Shinawatra’s government]. I also supported the cause while I studied in the UK. The party, however, was not involved with the ‘shutdown’ event.”

 

The point that Parit makes has been long reiterated by Abhisit and the Democrats, that despite Suthep’s leading role in the PDRC and the active roles of some former Democrat MPs in the PDRC, the two parties are separate from each other.

 

For the 2010 tragedy, Parit briefly said that the justice process should “punish those responsible” and retribution should prevent such a scenario from repeating itself.

 

He did not agree with the opinion that the party was conservative, arguing that the party has been open to the young generations throughout its seven decades “like how Mr Abhisit became the party’s leader when he was in his 40s”.

 

Parit, however, said the party would require some reforms and modernisation, including adhering to “liberal democracy” as the founding principle of the party.

 

“Our fight against corruption, against ‘tyranny of majority’, may have cast doubts among the public whether the Democrats will return to this principle,” he said, using the Democrats’ much-used phrase against its rival, the populist Pheu Thai Party. He wants a liberal democracy in Thai society to prevent the usurping of “power by the majority”. And the champion to lead such ideology, in his view, is certainly the Democrat Party in the modern era. 

 

 “We have a high numbers of branches across the country. This ensures our internal checks-and-balance system with decentralisation of power,” he said.

 

Unlike Abhisit, who has been criticised for allegedly avoiding military service, Parit will enter the Army next month following his voluntary enrolment last week.

 

He would be trained for six months, meaning he would be out in time for the general election, now tentatively set for February.

 

“The soldiers, the policemen, all sacrifice themselves for the public cause. The politicians are no different,” he added, before leaving to join a group of young Democrats who would soon make their debut alongside him.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30342862

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-10

[Samui Bodoh]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

Parit bears a significant resemblance to Abhisit, one of the political old faces that the electorate has come to love and hate.

Abhisit USED to be a politician that the electorate loved and hated.

 

Now he and the Dem party have been so used and abused by their masters that they simply resemble an aging prostitute that doesn't quite understand that their glory days are over.

 

Once so promising, now destined for a poorly lit street corner...

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

and is seen to have joined hands with the coup-makers.

 

Worst of all, Abhisit and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban – viewed as the most powerful Democrat figure – have not able to erase memories of the 2010 massacre when Abhisit was the PM and Suthep his deputy. Although the two have been acquitted legally, the public doubts the justice system and continues to condemn the two.

the death knell for this guy's political ambitions; only chance is a new party; we all know abhisit's issues as well as the ,god help us all, suthep's

[tingtongtourist]

7 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Abhisit USED to be a politician that the electorate loved and hated.

 

Now he and the Dem party have been so used and abused by their masters that they simply resemble an aging prostitute that doesn't quite understand that their glory days are over.

 

Once so promising, now destined for a poorly lit street corner...

 

must disagree there sir. A new generation is coming up now.

 

On one side the specie of dinosaurs will soon to be extinct, and probably replaced by more of the arrogant same.

 

On the other side a new lot of youth will be replacing the elected pollies.

and i dont believe what many TVers say, i thjnk there are educated and smart Thais here.

 

But obvious, the youth will be replacing old at some stage.

If thinking for a positive future for Thailand,  maybe they have learn from passed mistakes 

 

or maybe they will just be another lot that just wanna make themselves rich.

 

either way,  Thai politics never is boring!

[Anak Nakal]

Abhisit and democrats no good anymore.

It is time to retire!

[MRToMRT]

Another rich boy who thinks he has the right to rule as a birthright?

[JAG]

Well I doubt whether his shared "political DNA" with Abhisit, ( background, resemblance and family ), will stand him in good stead  with the electorate.

 

Not that being emphatically rejected by the electorate stopped Abhisit being given (or accepting ) the job as PM!

[leeneeds]

good on him , serving his army time, 

[geriatrickid]

At 26 he has no real world work experience. Same as Abhisit. It is the reason why Abhisit failed: He  could neither understand, nor connect with the people who work.

[yellowboat]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He wants a liberal democracy in Thai society to prevent the usurping of “power by the majority”.

"Usurp", good word kid, but the yellows have been party to usurping power at gun point, which is far worse.  Also, perhaps you should do a little baby kissing, stomping and campaigning in the north and northeast of your country.  If you are not going to compete, then just shut up already.   He may be young, but his thoughts are same same. 

[Eric Loh]

As one political family leave the stage, another one is in the making. Those who lambasted the Shin political family will now have nothing much to say.  

[nausea]

I get it - the Democrats aren't moribund and Parit isn't a clone; well let's run that up the flagpole at an election and see if the country salutes.

 

"The relatives, looking a lot like father and son"

I looked it up, he's Abhisit's nephew. One would've thought such basic info would be included in the article.

 

‘tyranny of majority" - is that an oxymoron?

[Chris Lawrence]

Associate

McKinsey & Company

 

President The Oxford Union

 

Election Campaign Strategy Team

Democrat Party, Thailand

 

University of Oxford

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Philosophy, Politics and Economics, First Class Honours

 

Eton College

King's Scholar

 

Teacher Assistant

Eton Porny School

 

Causes Parit cares about:

• Civil Rights and Social Action
• Economic Empowerment
• Education
• Health
• Human Rights
• Politics
• Poverty Alleviation

https://www.linkedin.com/in/parit-wacharasindhu-45a81262

 

If you view his page you will see he has had a gifted leg up the ranks.

 

I wonder what are his real views of education in Thailand, versus an overseas education. 6 of what he cares about are related to education but the 7th evil sin is politics. 6 into the 7th doses not work in Thai politics.

 

A young boy with a lot to learn.

[Chris Lawrence]

Hope he was in the Cadets, may help him to become Captain in a week or two?

 

Hasn't been living in a dorm since he was a wee sprog. Could be hard for the first night, maybe sergeant in the first week with his own room. That would be nice.

[billd766]

2 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

At 26 he has no real world work experience. Same as Abhisit. It is the reason why Abhisit failed: He  could neither understand, nor connect with the people who work.

 

You could say the same about most politicians of any party or colour over the last 20 years or so.

 

The problem is the same as hynderds of thousand of years ago when the real dinosaurs ruled the world. They did not know that their time had passed.

 

Neither sadly, do the political dinosaurs of the present.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The point that Parit makes has been long reiterated by Abhisit and the Democrats, that despite Suthep’s leading role in the PDRC and the active roles of some former Democrat MPs in the PDRC, the two parties are separate from each other.

But "joined at the hip."

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/12/21/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/thailands-main-opposition-party-to-boycott-general-election/#.WsxSO5e-nIU

[candide]

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

"Usurp", good word kid, but the yellows have been party to usurping power at gun point, which is far worse.  Also, perhaps you should do a little baby kissing, stomping and campaigning in the north and northeast of your country.  If you are not going to compete, then just shut up already.   He may be young, but his thoughts are same same. 

Actually there seem to be many like him. While in western countries it is not uncommon to see young people from affluent and educated classes  take a stance which is opposite to their seniors, in Thailand it is seldom the case. They will only defend the interests and privileges of their class., as they did in 2014. 

[IamRoach]

Mini me version of Abhisit with the nickname "ice cream"

[JAG]

"Usurping of power by the majority" - would that be the utterly unreasonable and unrealistic expectations by the Thai people, distant from the plushly carpeted corridors of influence in Bangkok, that having voted in a party which commands a majority in parliament that party should then be allowed to form a government.

 

Oh the benefits of a first class degree in PPE from Oxford!

[Eligius]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

"Usurp", good word kid, but the yellows have been party to usurping power at gun point, which is far worse.  Also, perhaps you should do a little baby kissing, stomping and campaigning in the north and northeast of your country.  If you are not going to compete, then just shut up already.   He may be young, but his thoughts are same same. 

He comes across to me as so, so Establishment - so non-daring, so unchallenging of the power structures of Thailand, so gutless, so unwilling to take real risks for genuine social advancement of his country. He is just an Abhisit clone - it's ludicrous to push this guy forward, when he is just a slimmer version of the very unpopular Abhisit (but looks the same and sounds the same in his speech intonations and patterns) - another boring old man while  still in his twenties.

 

At least Thanathorn (who may or may not be genuine) is coming out with some pretty radical proposals (by Thai standards), such as insisting that the bogus 'Constitution' be re-drawn from top to bottom and getting the military confined to its barracks. Good on Thanathorn for saying these things loudly and clearly. This Abhisit clone, by contrast, is just totally more of the same old stuff as his uncle  - privileged rich kid with no political daring, with no real tested moral fibre or harsh life experience, and with no evident fire in his belly to make the lot of the majority of the Thais so much better.

 

As with Abhisit - this guy is (for me) a complete turn-off and waste of political space.

 

 

Edited April 10, 2018 by Eligius

[Eligius]

"The soldiers, the policemen, all sacrifice themselves for the public cause. The politicians are no different,” says Mini-Me Abhisit clone.

 

Oh my God! On the basis of these words alone, we can dismiss this kid as an utter fool: does he actually know ANYTHING of the reality of Thailand's military, police and politicians?! To come out with a statement like this (Thai police, military and politicians sacrificing themselves for the public cause!)  is not just naivete (he's been living away from Thailand too long, in the dreaming spires of Oxford), but calls into question his very hold on reality. You only have to have lived in Thailand for a year to see that the people LEAST given to self-sacrifice are the police, politicians and military.

 

And this Abhisit clone is the 'new face of Thailand - the hope for the future'. Heaven help us all!

[JAG]

20 minutes ago, Eligius said:

"The soldiers, the policemen, all sacrifice themselves for the public cause. The politicians are no different,” says Mini-Me Abhisit clone.

 

Oh my God! On the basis of these words alone, we can dismiss this kid as an utter fool: does he actually know ANYTHING of the reality of Thailand's military, police and politicians?! To come out with a statement like this (Thai police, military and politicians sacrificing themselves for the public cause!)  is not just naivete (he's been living away from Thailand too long, in the dreaming spires of Oxford), but calls into question his very hold on reality. You only have to have lived in Thailand for a year to see that the people LEAST given to self-sacrifice are the police, politicians and military.

 

And this Abhisit clone is the 'new face of Thailand - the hope for the future'. Heaven help us all!

But, but, but, he is qualified...

 

The sad thing is that there are people on here who will say that, when he is eased into the job, (despite having been given two fingers by the electorate), at some stage in the future.

[Chris Lawrence]

21 hours ago, Eligius said:

"The soldiers, the policemen, all sacrifice themselves for the public cause. The politicians are no different,” says Mini-Me Abhisit clone.

 

Oh my God! On the basis of these words alone, we can dismiss this kid as an utter fool: does he actually know ANYTHING of the reality of Thailand's military, police and politicians?! To come out with a statement like this (Thai police, military and politicians sacrificing themselves for the public cause!)  is not just naivete (he's been living away from Thailand too long, in the dreaming spires of Oxford), but calls into question his very hold on reality. You only have to have lived in Thailand for a year to see that the people LEAST given to self-sacrifice are the police, politicians and military.

 

And this Abhisit clone is the 'new face of Thailand - the hope for the future'. Heaven help us all!

He watched the news and read the paper. His Dad, aunties and uncles would have also told him were his loyalty should be. For Christ's sake he only finished school 2 years ago, coming out with a BA. I have one of those too.

 

This young wiper snipper has been groomed. He will soon forget about social equality when the mob is at his door. 

 

Now that is the sad part to this story. So the hi-so puppet show will continue.

[mike324]

A boy who is young with a lot to learn, but better than the old corrupt dinosaurs that are like cockroaches that refuse to die. New brains if well trained are better than what we have now, decades and decades of the same same.

 

Abhisit was a good change, but too bad he was placed in the position at the wrong time which ruined his political career. Other than that, he was a leader who was working for the country, not his own pockets.

[geriatrickid]

22 hours ago, billd766 said:

You could say the same about most politicians of any party or colour over the last 20 years or so.

The problem is the same as hynderds of thousand of years ago when the real dinosaurs ruled the world. They did not know that their time had passed.

Neither sadly, do the political dinosaurs of the present.

Yes, you could say that, but it doesn't mean it is valid.

There is nothing wrong with having older politicians in office. Sometimes we are lucky to have them. Sir Winston Churchill at 66 became PM  and was instrumental in saving the free world from a madman. Golda Meir at 71 became PM of Israel; Mohandas Ghandi  led India to freedom in his mid 70's. The key difference with these people is that they stayed relevant and up to date. Most importantly, they had real life experience and a work history that let them understand people.

 

Abhist is still relatively young and never had a much real world experience before  his election. It is the same path as young "ice cream" cone guy.

[chainarong]

All the best Parit , if you get to the highs of Khun Chuan you'll be going very well indeed............................

[robblok]

Will see what the new elections will bring, everything is possible now that there are many smaller parties. I wonder how many votes they take from the democrats and PTP. Interesting times ahead. Depending on how much the democrats and PTP lose everything is possible. Finally no longer a boring 2 party situation. 

[sanuk711]

Does he have a Geordie accent when he speaks English ....??

 

[chainarong]

19 minutes ago, mike324 said:

A boy who is young with a lot to learn, but better than the old corrupt dinosaurs that are like cockroaches that refuse to die. New brains if well trained are better than what we have now, decades and decades of the same same.

 

Abhisit was a good change, but too bad he was placed in the position at the wrong time which ruined his political career. Other than that, he was a leader who was working for the country, not his own pockets.

Well it's history now but the Democrats under Mark had a far better scheme for agriculture and indeed rice farmers  than PTP ever had , only over in flated prices in the industry and greed brought the rice farmers to the PTP and in the end heartbreak................................................................

[Grouse]

23 hours ago, Chris Lawrence said:

Associate

McKinsey & Company

 

President The Oxford Union

 

Election Campaign Strategy Team

Democrat Party, Thailand

 

University of Oxford

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Philosophy, Politics and Economics, First Class Honours

 

Eton College

King's Scholar

 

Teacher Assistant

Eton Porny School

 

Causes Parit cares about:

• Civil Rights and Social Action
• Economic Empowerment
• Education
• Health
• Human Rights
• Politics
• Poverty Alleviation

https://www.linkedin.com/in/parit-wacharasindhu-45a81262

 

If you view his page you will see he has had a gifted leg up the ranks.

 

I wonder what are his real views of education in Thailand, versus an overseas education. 6 of what he cares about are related to education but the 7th evil sin is politics. 6 into the 7th doses not work in Thai politics.

 

A young boy with a lot to learn.

Seems to be a likely lad!

 

I wish him well. 

 

Good education is a good start