Abhisit urges voters to opt for democracy with ‘integrity’

By Jintana Panyaarvudh 
The Nation

 

The Nation/Tanachai Pramarnpanich

 

In a final effort to attract voters in Sunday’s general election, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva offered himself up as the next prime minister, promising to release the country from a new round of conflict.

 

He called on voters to opt for democracy with “integrity” as a way to unlock conflicts and to give his party a chance to form the next government.

 

In his final speech on Friday, Abhisit told the crowds that it was sad that two parties were using voters as pawns and forcing them to choose between a despised dictatorship or out of fear of the fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was clearly referring to the Phalang Pracharat and Pheu Thai parties.

 

“A new round of conflict will begin if the military continues with its power and corruption, so democracy with ‘integrity’ will be the only way out if we are not to lead the country to new conflicts,” he cautioned. 

 

Abhisit also told voters to not let anyone persuade them to vote out of anger or fear, but to vote with the belief that a democracy with integrity is actually out there.  

 

“On March 24, don’t vote out of fear or anger, but vote for the best choice for your lives and for the country,” he said.

 

Abhisit also added that he will not tell the media which parties the Democrats would ally with to form the next government, because his only aim is to become the core party in Parliament. 

 

The Democrats’ final rally, held at the Lan Khon Muang Plaza in front of Bangkok City Hall in Phra Nakhon district, was attended by thousands of supporters.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30366347

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-23

5 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

promising to release the country from a new round of conflict.

he doesnt and wont have the power to do that

Abhisit is smart, educated and honest - it seems these are all the things the typical Thai voters don't want.

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Abhisit is smart, educated and honest - it seems these are all the things the typical Thai voters don't want.

But the Thai voters will not forget he was PM when he allowed the army in 2010 to act violently against his own people on the streets of Bangkok.  Shooting civilians must be his own take on acting with integrity.  Suspect the families of those shot may not quite understand his ethics.

What would Abhisit know about democracy or integrity? Past experience showed he valued neither of them.

Edited March 23, 20197 yr by Lungstib

32 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva offered himself up as the next prime minister

He failed on his first go-round.  (2008 - 2011)

Crackdown at Rajadamnoen : (April 10, 2010) - 24 dead, 800 injured; April 22 - 1 dead, 85 injured.

Crackdown at Rajaprasong: (May 13-18, 2010) - 41 dead, >2100 injured.

Has he spent the last 9 years at attitude adjustment camp?

Integrity amongst Thailand cival servants !   Saddly that will never happen , and it is what Thailand needs most.

Edited March 23, 20197 yr by mok199

nothing new: the usual politicians talks!

Democracy with integrity.

 

Well he can cross himself of the list then.

 

 

1 hour ago, geoffbezoz said:

But the Thai voters will not forget he was PM when he allowed the army in 2010 to act violently against his own people on the streets of Bangkok.  Shooting civilians must be his own take on acting with integrity.  Suspect the families of those shot may not quite understand his ethics.

he had to let the army go in because those criminals - working on behalf of  another criminal threatened to torch Thailand.

It would have been the task of the police - but they did nothing - favouring the criminal abroad. His only mistake was not sending the army earlier.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Abhisit urges voters to opt for democracy with ‘integrity’

Hopefully they can find politicians with integrity

Edited March 23, 20197 yr by sweatalot

"Integrity".....that's about the funniest thing I ever heard coming from a Thai!  Is it available on eBay or Lazada!

1 hour ago, geoffbezoz said:

But the Thai voters will not forget he was PM when he allowed the army in 2010 to act violently against his own people on the streets of Bangkok.  Shooting civilians must be his own take on acting with integrity.  Suspect the families of those shot may not quite understand his ethics.

And who paid those people to protest so that he could get "his" money back?

The red shirts had war weapons, grenades, etc. and they had the MiB in the middle of them. Any peaceful protesters could have left anytime. The radicals who stayed knew what was coming. They took the risk to die for their super rich corrupt hero. And let's not forget the families of the protesting red shirts who died received many millions each.

 

Abhisit ordered to clean up the streets. That should have been a police job but the tomato police did as usual nothing. The only mistake Abhisit made was that he waited too long.

 

But obviously the red shirts don't want to see the reality that happened. The believe the same lies from Thaksin, Jatuporn, Nattawut, and all the others. Intelligent people don't behave like that...

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Abhisit is smart, educated and honest - it seems these are all the things the typical Thai voters don't want.

that's because they don't recognise them, they rarely see those qualities in anyone,  including themselves. 

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And who paid those people to protest so that he could get "his" money back?

 

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

and they had the MiB in the middle of them.

 

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Any peaceful protesters could have left anytime. The radicals who stayed knew what was coming. They took the risk to die for their super rich corrupt hero.

 

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And let's not forget the families of the protesting red shirts who died received many millions each.

Where do you read this utter guff?

Utter garbage.

Abhisit is smart, educated and honest - it seems these are all the things the typical Thai voters don't want.

It’s just that he is a flip-flopping traitor to the democratic process. Was instrumental in helping anti-democratic forces stealing the country from the Thai people, did not mind to have a scoundrel like Suthep as his deputy for political gain.
And Thai people know that the so called educated Thais are mostly using their education for personal gain - integrity is certainly not a trait that one can associate with Abhisit.

The loser who can’t win elections who has put the country into the situation we are in, spoiled rich kid sent to study abroad by papa without any social consciousness, idealism and integrity would describe him much better!


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

2 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Where do you read this utter guff?

Utter garbage.

I live in Bangkok for a long time. I was here for the last two coups, I saw the mayhem of the aggressive red shirts on the streets and in Ratchaprasong. I also saw the peaceful yellow-shirts demonstrating and I saw Suthep's crowd every day. I also saw how lots of people gave flowers and soft drinks to the soldiers.

All in all I had lots of first hand information. How about you?

1 hour ago, boonrawdcnx said:

It’s just that he is a flip-flopping traitor to the democratic process. Was instrumental in helping anti-democratic forces stealing the country from the Thai people, did not mind to have a scoundrel like Suthep as his deputy for political gain.
And Thai people know that the so called educated Thais are mostly using their education for personal gain - integrity is certainly not a trait that one can associate with Abhisit.

The loser who can’t win elections who has put the country into the situation we are in, spoiled rich kid sent to study abroad by papa without any social consciousness, idealism and integrity would describe him much better!

 

 

And how would you describe Thaksin and his criminal clan?

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And how would you describe Thaksin and his criminal clan?

 

 

I think you have just described them succinctly and accurately.

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I live in Bangkok for a long time. I was here for the last two coups, I saw the mayhem of the aggressive red shirts on the streets and in Ratchaprasong. I also saw the peaceful yellow-shirts demonstrating and I saw Suthep's crowd every day. I also saw how lots of people gave flowers and soft drinks to the soldiers.

All in all I had lots of first hand information. How about you?

I'm impressed. You clearly have the historical knowledge, educational background and analytical ability to shed light on Thailand's fractured political culture. I think the most excellent part of your explanation - though it is hard to single out one amidst so many gems - is the way you cut through to the nub of the matter. Many commentators, one suspects in the pay of Thaksin, deliberately confuse matters by introducing such matters as context, nuance, and empathy for the underprivileged. You correctly have none of this, cleverly reducing matters to simplicities that a five-year-old could understand. Naturally, there will be some malcontents that will accuse you of fatuous ignorance and stupidity. They are quite wrong and I will defend you against them. The final point you make cannot be trumped by the naysayers. I bet they have never seen the friendly coup loving populace hand out flowers and soft drinks to the soldiers.

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Abhisit is smart, educated and honest - it seems these are all the things the typical Thai voters don't want.

He appears to be honest when he chooses and is educated. But he definitely not smart !!

28 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And how would you describe Thaksin and his criminal clan?

 

Democratically elected. 

A system unknown to many tv readers where people can choose who they wish to whether that be of any background, education level, colour, sex or integrity.

Edited March 23, 20197 yr by Reigntax

5 hours ago, YetAnother said:

he doesnt and wont have the power to do that

isn't he the one who made deals with the ruling military....

36 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And how would you describe Thaksin and his criminal clan?

Extremely popular amongst the Thai people and far less corrupt than the military.

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Abhisit is smart, educated and honest - it seems these are all the things the typical Thai voters don't want.

He might be partly those things but he doesn't have the power base to rock with the established order even if he wanted to. Even Thaksin at the height of his power was brought down buy the old elite.

To coin a Thailand saying (if I may be so bold); Mess with the trough things will get rough! 

48 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I live in Bangkok for a long time. I was here for the last two coups, I saw the mayhem of the aggressive red shirts on the streets and in Ratchaprasong. I also saw the peaceful yellow-shirts demonstrating and I saw Suthep's crowd every day. I also saw how lots of people gave flowers and soft drinks to the soldiers.

All in all I had lots of first hand information. How about you?

You only saw it whilst the Thai people actually lived it - the outcome of tomorrow's vote will reveal who the real criminals are, wouldn't you agree?

Edited March 23, 20197 yr by pornprong

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Abhisit is smart, educated and honest - it seems these are all the things the typical Thai voters don't want.

 

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And who paid those people to protest so that he could get "his" money back?

The red shirts had war weapons, grenades, etc. and they had the MiB in the middle of them. Any peaceful protesters could have left anytime. The radicals who stayed knew what was coming. They took the risk to die for their super rich corrupt hero. And let's not forget the families of the protesting red shirts who died received many millions each.

 

Abhisit ordered to clean up the streets. That should have been a police job but the tomato police did as usual nothing. The only mistake Abhisit made was that he waited too long.

 

But obviously the red shirts don't want to see the reality that happened. The believe the same lies from Thaksin, Jatuporn, Nattawut, and all the others. Intelligent people don't behave like that...

lol

9 minutes ago, pornprong said:

You only saw it whilst the Thai people actually lived it - the outcome of tomorrow's vote will reveal who the real criminals are, wouldn't you agree?

No, I don't agree. Courts of laws judges who are criminals.

Voters vote who they want represents them.

In most countries voters do not vote for criminals. In fact in most countries criminals leave politics right away because nobody would vote for them. And political parties wouldn't allow criminals in their party.

 

But in Thailand things are obviously different. People vote again and again for the same criminals, or maybe their family members, and somehow Thai voters expect a competent and honest government - full of criminals which they voted for. Amazing Thailand!

"With integrity"! Love it.  This is the party and its leader whose deputy leader, Suthep, staged public protests against an election result he didn't like giving the military the excuse to step in (again)

33 minutes ago, Reigntax said:

Democratically elected. 

A system unknown to many tv readers where people can choose who they wish to whether that be of any background, education level, colour, sex or integrity.

Except in normal countries criminals are not allowed to run. And people wouldn't vote for criminals.

But in Thailand they vote for criminals and then they are surprised that they have an incompetent corrupt government full of criminals. One would think it's not so difficult to see the connection there. But then again, this is Thailand...