Thailand’s Politics Heat Up Ahead of Elusive Election

[webfact]

Thailand’s Politics Heat Up Ahead of Elusive Election

With the new round of hype over potential polls in Thailand has come a focus on parties, players, and who the future prime minister could be. 

By Luke Hunt

 

Late last month, Thailand’s main “opposition” Pheu Thai party – relative to the ruling military junta government now in place – announced that Viroj Pao-in has emerged as the party’s leader ahead of upcoming elections.

 

While there is still much uncertainty around what this means for the future of the party, including who will actually be its prime ministerial candidate if it is to move forward to contest, the development has nonetheless cast further attention onto the country’s upcoming polls and what the mix of parties will be like.

 

Pheu Thai, the party founded by exiled businessman and former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, has long faced scrutiny and harassment in Thailand despite its success at the polls. Thaksin was himself overthrown in a coup in 2006, and his sister Yingluck was overthrown in the last coup in May 2014 which saw army general Prayut Chan-o-cha come to power and serving as the current premier. Since then, despite multiple promises of elections and a return to democratic rule, no polls have been held.

 

Full story: https://thediplomat.com/2018/11/thailands-politics-heat-up-ahead-of-elusive-election/

 

-- THE DIP:OMAT 2018-11-16

 

 

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

general Prayut Chan-o-cha come to power and serving as the current premier.

serving ? serving who ?

[Lungstib]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

saw army general Prayut Chan-o-cha come to power

The sort of vague description often seen in Thai history books. No mention of the planning and scheming, no talk of backing violent street riots, nothing on an illegal military coup. He just miraculously came to power. Its this sort of self censorship that has helped Thailand hide its unsavoury past. 

[colinneil]

14 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

serving ? serving who ?

Good question, the only people he has served, are himself and his cronies.

You know he is like a supermarket....... Self -service.

[PatOngo]

23 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

serving ? serving who ?

The People! Did'nt he return happiness to the people?

[PatOngo]

24 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

serving ? serving who ?

The music industry, do you forget his amazing songwriting abilities?

[bannork]

1 hour ago, Lungstib said:

The sort of vague description often seen in Thai history books. No mention of the planning and scheming, no talk of backing violent street riots, nothing on an illegal military coup. He just miraculously came to power. Its this sort of self censorship that has helped Thailand hide its unsavoury past. 

The article is written by a Luke Kent.  I doubt there's any aelf censorship there. Just a lazy article with nothing to say.

[Eric Loh]

33 minutes ago, bannork said:

The article is written by a Luke Kent.  I doubt there's any aelf censorship there. Just a lazy article with nothing to say.

He is a mystery writer. Lots of questions but no opinion and left the end hanging. Self censored himself; scared.  

[JAG]

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

serving ? serving who ?

A bit like one of those lunch buffets the big hotels do?

 

A legion of minions creating and bringing out all the goodies, then you and your mates serve yourselves to whatever and as much as you want?

[zzaa09]

11 hours ago, Lungstib said:

The sort of vague description often seen in Thai history books. No mention of the planning and scheming, no talk of backing violent street riots, nothing on an illegal military coup. He just miraculously came to power. Its this sort of self censorship that has helped Thailand hide its unsavoury past. 

Sure...

And repeated loud and often enough - all become true or untrue. 

 

What's even more discouraging is the news outlets that assist and aid in the general illusion. 

[Bundooman]

On ‎11‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 6:42 AM, Lungstib said:

The sort of vague description often seen in Thai history books. No mention of the planning and scheming, no talk of backing violent street riots, nothing on an illegal military coup. He just miraculously came to power. Its this sort of self censorship that has helped Thailand hide its unsavoury past. 

Not to mention, quote, "Thaksin himself was overthrown in a coup in 2006" - a statement that inadequately describes the events that occurred when Thaksin, his allotted periodicity of PM having ended, declared himself 'Caretaker' with no apparent plan in place to hold another election. 

 

Thaksin was overthrown because he was wasn't the elected PM at the time but was making his own power grab, trying to silence the press, blaming the army of trying to assassinate him in the comedy arrest of some Army Lieutenant/captain whatever (w2hat happened to him, by the way?)- with Thaksin trying to win public support.

 

Remember?

[zzaa09]

On 11/15/2018 at 3:42 PM, Lungstib said:

The sort of vague description often seen in Thai history books. No mention of the planning and scheming, no talk of backing violent street riots, nothing on an illegal military coup. He just miraculously came to power. Its this sort of self censorship that has helped Thailand hide its unsavoury past. 

Doesn't help the cause, when the illusions are repeated often and loud enough. 

To be expected from the usual sources and incompetent journalism practices, from domestic and foreign sources alike. 

Nothing to be challenged or questioned - same old riddled lines.

[pornprong]

7 hours ago, Bundooman said:

Not to mention, quote, "Thaksin himself was overthrown in a coup in 2006" - a statement that inadequately describes the events that occurred when Thaksin, his allotted periodicity of PM having ended, declared himself 'Caretaker' with no apparent plan in place to hold another election. 

 

Thaksin was overthrown because he was wasn't the elected PM at the time but was making his own power grab, trying to silence the press, blaming the army of trying to assassinate him in the comedy arrest of some Army Lieutenant/captain whatever (w2hat happened to him, by the way?)- with Thaksin trying to win public support.

 

Remember?

What uninformed, idiotic and ignorant nonsense.

 

Thaksin won the 2005 election in a massive landslide.

14 million votes to the Democrats measly 4 million.

375 seats to the Democrats 96.

Thaksin legitimately and utterly destroyed the old guard......and then the street protest began by minority losers backed by the  greedy and corrupt plutocrats.

So Thaksin called for another election and surprise surprise.......in the 2006 elections he destroyed the old guard again, this time winning 460 of the 500 lower house seats as the laughably named Democrats boycotted the election (no doubt terrified of the voting publics complete and total rejection of their brown nosing sychophancy to the elites at the expense of the ordinary citizen).

 

So after two overwhelming electoral victories to Thaksin, the losers responded with a coup - completely by passing the voting public and you have the temerity to accuse Thaksin of a power grab.

 

 

Remember????

Clearly you do not.

[bannork]

8 minutes ago, pornprong said:

What uninformed, idiotic and ignorant nonsense.

 

Thaksin won the 2005 election in a massive landslide.

14 million votes to the Democrats measly 4 million.

375 seats to the Democrats 96.

Thaksin legitimately and utterly destroyed the old guard......and then the street protest began by minority losers backed by the  greedy and corrupt plutocrats.

So Thaksin called for another election and surprise surprise.......in the 2006 elections he destroyed the old guard again, this time winning 460 of the 500 lower house seats as the laughably named Democrats boycotted the election (no doubt terrified of the voting publics complete and total rejection of their brown nosing sychophancy to the elites at the expense of the ordinary citizen).

 

So after two overwhelming electoral victories to Thaksin, the losers responded with a coup - completely by passing the voting public and you have the temerity to accuse Thaksin of a power grab.

 

 

Remember????

Clearly you do not.

Seems The Democrats weren't so terrified in 2007

Thai election 2007: Thaksin's party(PPP) 26,293,456 (Constituency) 14,071,799 (Party List)

                             Democrats :             21,745,696 (Constituency) 14,084,265 (Party List)

 

[pornprong]

6 minutes ago, bannork said:

Seems The Democrats weren't so terrified in 2007

Thai election 2007: Thaksin's party(PPP) 26,293,456 (Constituency) 14,071,799 (Party List)

                             Democrats :             21,745,696 (Constituency) 14,084,265 (Party List)

 

Aah, the election after the 2006 coup that altered the Constitution to make it less democratic and less representative of the will of the people and also after the corrupted courts disbanded Thaksin's TRT party..... the election which was again won by Thaksin (233 seats to 165).

 

From the same wiki page from which you drew your figures:

 

Despite being the junta's target for suppression, the PPP won 233 out of 480 parliamentary seats, close to controlling the majority in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party came in a distant second with 165 seats

↓
233	37	24	21	165
People's Power	CTP	PPD	Other	Democrat

 

So embolden were the Democrats by losing in 2007, they would go on to lose again in 2011 before again boycotting in 2014 - what a bunch of champions.

[bannork]

16 minutes ago, pornprong said:

Aah, the election after the 2006 coup that altered the Constitution to make it less democratic and less representative of the will of the people and also after the corrupted courts disbanded Thaksin's TRT party..... the election which was again won by Thaksin (233 seats to 165).

 

From the same wiki page from which you drew your figures:

 

Despite being the junta's target for suppression, the PPP won 233 out of 480 parliamentary seats, close to controlling the majority in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party came in a distant second with 165 seats

↓
233	37	24	21	165
People's Power	CTP	PPD	Other	Democrat

 

So embolden were the Democrats by losing in 2007, they would go on to lose again in 2011 before again boycotting in 2014 - what a bunch of champions.

The fact is the Democrats actually won more votes on the Party List than Thaksin in 2007. But of course they couldn't compete against his populist policies upcountry.

 

[GinBoy2]

On 11/16/2018 at 3:56 AM, zzaa09 said:

Sure...

And repeated loud and often enough - all become true or untrue. 

 

What's even more discouraging is the news outlets that assist and aid in the general illusion. 

Trouble is I actually feel sympathy for any 'real' journalist in Thailand.

 

With the combination of Defamation, 112, Computer Crimes Act to name the principle laws, who in their corn fed mind would actually want to work as a real investigative journalist, one that we would recognize in the West.

 

It's basically committing yourself to a one way trip to Bang Kwang, financial ruin, or worse

[HalfLight]

On 11/16/2018 at 6:42 AM, Lungstib said:

The sort of vague description often seen in Thai history books. No mention of the planning and scheming, no talk of backing violent street riots, nothing on an illegal military coup. He just miraculously came to power. Its this sort of self censorship that has helped Thailand hide its unsavoury past. 

 

And will regrettably continue and hide its unsavoury future.

 

A cat cannot become a dog.

 

[HalfLight]

2 hours ago, bannork said:

The fact is the Democrats actually won more votes on the Party List than Thaksin in 2007. But of course they couldn't compete against his populist policies upcountry.

 

 

So they will doubtless prevail this time I suppose...? Because there'll be sod all populist policies next year except those lied about by the junta.

 

[zzaa09]

39 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

Trouble is I actually feel sympathy for any 'real' journalist in Thailand.

 

With the combination of Defamation, 112, Computer Crimes Act to name the principle laws, who in their corn fed mind would actually want to work as a real investigative journalist, one that we would recognize in the West.

 

It's basically committing yourself to a one way trip to Bang Kwang, financial ruin, or worse

Should always be instinctively suspicious of Thai-based mainstream news sources and associations, as they're not allowed to waver or challenge the controllers. Fortunately, there are numerous alternative Thai sources available - up to the individual to suss out.

 

 

[zzaa09]

6 minutes ago, HalfLight said:

 

So they will doubtless prevail this time I suppose...? Because there'll be sod all populist policies next year except those lied about by the junta.

 

Populist policies......[whatever that is]

 

I believe comparatives towards any elective process that occurred years ago cannot be made for these times, even moot.

Everything - presence, atmosphere, political movements - has changed dramatically over several years.

What was cannot be used in today's very weird and unstable climate.

 

[GinBoy2]

34 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Should always be instinctively suspicious of Thai-based mainstream news sources and associations, as they're not allowed to waver or challenge the controllers. Fortunately, there are numerous alternative Thai sources available - up to the individual to suss out.

 

 

I agree with that. Trouble is, even reporting outside of Thai MSM, needs boots on the ground, there's only so much you can do if you're based outside of Thailand, and therefore outside the clutches of the Thai authorities.

 

Those that try still get caught up in the murky world of media control.

 

Think Drummond, basically left Thailand in fear of his life. Jonathan Head actually ended up in court, and I suspect that was only dropped after some aggressive arm twisting by the British Government, and has subsequently been uncharacteristically quiet in recent times.

 

When they seem to think that a 'like' on FB is sedition, hard to know how you actually can develop a real press.

 

So the very thought that there could ever be free expression and uncovering any real truth in an election designed to produce the 'correct' result is fanciful

[HalfLight]

12 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Populist policies......[whatever that is]

 

I believe comparatives towards any elective process that occurred years ago cannot be made for these times, even moot.

Everything - presence, atmosphere, political movements - has changed dramatically over several years.

What was cannot be used in today's very weird and unstable climate.

 

 

That might bea good point, although the relative popularity of the Thaksinites over time has become reasonably predictable. I suppose the baleful influence of the army wallahs may over-ride that, and each year that Thaksin does not put in an appearance (in person or in proxy), makes the memory more dim.

 

What worries me even more than the ubiquitous presence of thugs though, is the waning of enthusiasm among the proles for the principles of the Red-shirts and other Thaksin-leaning parties - always assuming they ever had any  clearly-defined principles to start with. Certainly I have seen the commitment among the local leaders wane alarmingly. Also, over the past 4 years, my perceptions of the Thai population have changed. I used to think that politicians of all stripes were largely principles-led and reasonably consistent in their outlooks. Now my vision has cleared and I now see the real depth of corruption among Thais and I no longer think that any politician (or any Thai for that matter - especially the pollies and the jurisprudential post-holders) has any principles at all apart from the principle of 'what's in it for me in addition to huge amounts of money?'.

 

Sadly, I don't see very much changing in the next 10 years from what has been happening over the past 1 year. Perhaps it's time to be more disinterested and a great deal more misanthropic.

 

 

Edited November 19, 2018 by HalfLight

[zzaa09]

7 hours ago, HalfLight said:

 

That might bea good point, although the relative popularity of the Thaksinites over time has become reasonably predictable. I suppose the baleful influence of the army wallahs may over-ride that, and each year that Thaksin does not put in an appearance (in person or in proxy), makes the memory more dim.

 

What worries me even more than the ubiquitous presence of thugs though, is the waning of enthusiasm among the proles for the principles of the Red-shirts and other Thaksin-leaning parties - always assuming they ever had any  clearly-defined principles to start with. Certainly I have seen the commitment among the local leaders wane alarmingly. Also, over the past 4 years, my perceptions of the Thai population have changed. I used to think that politicians of all stripes were largely principles-led and reasonably consistent in their outlooks. Now my vision has cleared and I now see the real depth of corruption among Thais and I no longer think that any politician (or any Thai for that matter - especially the pollies and the jurisprudential post-holders) has any principles at all apart from the principle of 'what's in it for me in addition to huge amounts of money?'.

 

Sadly, I don't see very much changing in the next 10 years from what has been happening over the past 1 year. Perhaps it's time to be more disinterested and a great deal more misanthropic.

 

 

Reality might suggest that nothing will change for the betterment until a thorough cleansing takes place...

[HalfLight]

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

Reality might suggest that nothing will change for the betterment until a thorough cleansing takes place...

 

Agreed, but probably not enough bullets in Thailand to get them all...