The voices that can’t be ignored

[rooster59]

The voices that can’t be ignored

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee 
The Nation weekend 

 

Photo/EPA

 

Drivals of a newgeneration party are wrestling to break its grip on seven million firsttime voters

 

Sunday's election has been cast as a battle between authoritarian and democratic forces to determine whether members of the military junta will be able to legitimately cling to power through the ballot.

 

Among key factors standing in the generals’ way is the younger generation. Some seven million first-time voters have indicated they oppose the establishment elite and military-dominated politics and want a fresh start for the future.

 

Veteran politician Suthep Thaugsuban of the pro-junta Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT) knows this. The man who led the massive street protests that paved the way for military intervention in 2014 has asked his limited support base to persuade their kids to vote for him.

 

“Give them a wai, tell them this is the only thing you’ll ever ask them to do for you – ‘Please go vote for Loong Kamnan’,” Suthep begged on Monday while campaigning in Bangkok.

 

For an adult to wai a youngster suggests a desperate appeal for a favour or kindness. Suthep was referring to himself by his nickname, Loong Kamnan. He was once a tambon chief in the South. And he would love to have a share of the youth support enjoyed by youthful billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party. 

 

Thanathorn, a newcomer to politics apart from his student activism long ago, has based his campaigning on championing democracy, rights and a more open society, as well as improving the economy.

 

Opinion polls and observers give Future Forward little chance of winning the election, but junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha, eager to hang on to the Prime Minister’s Office, realises that voters are drawn to what’s new. He’s modified his look and gestures and has tried to appear less gruff and rigid.

 

The pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party, which nominated Prayut as its PM candidate, mimics Suthep’s tactic for attracting the youth vote, espousing the belief that “parents know best” and children should honour their parents’ wishes. 

 

Prayut actually said last week he regards himself as the father of all Thais – a figurehead role most commonly associated with His Majesty the late King Bhumibol.

 

Phalang Pracharat, which takes its name from the junta-led government’s popular Pracharat series of public welfare schemes, is anxious to continue what observers refer to as the “Prayut regime”, which began with the 2014 coup. 

 

The party has enjoyed electoral privilege, with the Election Commission and Ombudsman accepting Prayut’s candidacy on the grounds that despite being prime minister he is not a “state official”. Yet surveys suggest Phalang Pracharat cannot win a majority of House seats on Sunday.

 

To continue in government, Prayut and the party will need allies, because not even the 250 senators to be appointed by the junta will be enough to maintain the status quo. Potential allies abound, though, ready to vote for Prayut’s return to high office in exchange for Cabinet portfolios and other influential posts.

 

 

Surveys and analysts tend to view Pheu Thai as the frontrunner in the polling, despite the dissolution of its major ally, the Thai Raksa Chart Party, over its daring nomination of Princess Ubolratana as a PM candidate.

 

The Democrats, Thailand’s oldest party, have a significant chance to do well in the election, although their former secretary general, Suthep, will be funnelling off support for the ACT. 

 

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s stated refusal to support Prayut’s continuance in office reflected his confidence of victory in the polls, but his party has a slim chance of beating Pheu Thai.

 

Debate over specific policy proposals has largely faded from Thai electioneering since 2006. All of the parties have announced policies this time, but the public’s attention has mainly focused on personalities and the question of who might support whom as premier.

 

That is to date the key question for voters old and young – whether the triumphant party on Sunday will then enable General Prayut to continue his rule.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30366327

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-23

[Samui Bodoh]

"...The voices that can’t be ignored..."

 

Thai people's voices have been ignored over and over and over again.

 

They have been, and likely will continue to be, ignored.

 

 

 

[YetAnother]

3 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

“Give them a wai, tell them this is the only thing you’ll ever ask them to do for you – ‘Please go vote for Loong Kamnan’,” Suthep begged

ahh, add 'begger' to his impressively negative resume

[JAG]

29 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Prayut actually said last week he regards himself as the father of all Thais – a figurehead role most commonly associated with His Majesty the late King Bhumibol.

If any of the other parties or candidates had made such a presumptuous claim, the EC, the courts, not to mention every fascist in and out of uniform would have been down on him like a ton of bricks!

 

For reasons we all understand but cannot mention...

[Eligius]

8 minutes ago, JAG said:

If any of the other parties or candidates had made such a presumptuous claim, the EC, the courts, not to mention every fascist in and out of uniform would have been down on him like a ton of bricks!

 

For reasons we all understand but cannot mention...

JAG, you are so right in your comments above. If Thanathorn or anyone else on the pro-democratic side had come out with such a statement - my God, there would be hell to pay.

The 'sacred and untouchable' is only the sacred and untouchable when it suits the Powers That Be  ...

 

[jollyhangmon]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

If any of the other parties or candidates had made such a presumptuous claim, the EC, the courts, not to mention every fascist in and out of uniform would have been down on him like a ton of bricks!

 

For reasons we all understand but cannot mention...

 

Exactly, I'm actually pretty surprised Future Forward is still existing ... here some of Thanathorns statements re army rule, religions and getting a different angle on Thailand and its politics:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3L5-qb2QaU&feature=youtu.be&t=3478

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiWG7W0dknA&feature=youtu.be&t=259

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3L5-qb2QaU&feature=youtu.be&t=3363

 

... refreshing in these lands and all English with Thai subs ... 

[chama]

The times are changing from when the public just goes along saying and thinking it is their lot in life to be led by the powerful regardless of qualifications. The younger generation has members that are well educated and aware of what life is like in other countries living in true democracies (as true as is possible). And although social media has been restricted never underestimate the ability of the youth to get the word out to their compatriots. That youth vote will be strong and will aim to bring change. 

[beautifulthailand99]

I fear if the freedom genie comes out of the bottle again the Junta are going to have to kill a lot of young folk to send out the age-old message of who rules Thailand. There's no dynastic 'backstop' anymore to keep the populace in line. Pretty much everyone knows what is going on and it will be fear not love that rules the day. 

[soalbundy]

10 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

If you cannot win when the fix is in then it's time to go and fall on your sword.

or wield one

[emptypockets]

12 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Drivals of a newgeneration party are wrestling to break its grip on seven million firsttime voters

What's a Drival?

A new low in translation even for Thaivisa. Can't Dan afford a proof reader? The chick from Morocco works for free doesn't she?

[MikeN]

37 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

What's a Drival?

A new low in translation even for Thaivisa. Can't Dan afford a proof reader? The chick from Morocco works for free doesn't she?

That’s exactly how the Nation wrote it ..... guess a “professional “ media outlet cannot afford a proof reader either.

[Reigntax]

6 hours ago, emptypockets said:

What's a Drival?

A new low in translation even for Thaivisa. Can't Dan afford a proof reader? The chick from Morocco works for free doesn't she?

Drival. It is what comes out of Prayuth's mouth every time he opens it.

The "a" has been used to highlight what we all know. He's a big A.

[wotsdermatter]

The word is incorrect.  It should be DRIVEL and is a noun that can mean either Silly Talk - silly and irrelevant or inaccurate talk, or Drooled Saliva - saliva dribbling from the mouth.  In this case, take your choice, or combine them to form a total description of what is being written about.

 

'nuf sed.

[metisdead]

A troll post in violation of the following has been removed:

 

8.) You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages, vulgarities, obscenities or profanities.