Future Forward mounts offensive ‘Against the Tide’

[webfact]

Future Forward mounts offensive ‘Against the Tide’

By The Nation

 

The party also is determined to defend itself against allegations that its members “hate their own nation”.

 

The Future Forward Party has started to campaign “Against the Tide” (yu-mai pen inThai) in an effort to stem further political polarisation between conservative and liberal voters.

 

 

Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, newly named among the world’s 100 most influential people of 2019 by Time magazine, launched the campaign on Saturday (November 16) with a rally at which the party’s ideals and aims were highlighted.

 

Its key message is that it intends to honour election-campaign promises to restore democracy lost in the 2014 military coup and abolish mandatory military conscription.

 

The party also is determined to defend itself against allegations that its members “hate their own nation”.

 

“Criticising the government is not equivalent to hating the nation,” one party banner read.

 

 

Another vow is to convey the message that there is a third option beyond ignoring injustice at home and abandoning the country to live elsewhere.

 

This appeared to be a response to conservative posts on social media suggesting that anyone who dislikes the way Thailand is run is welcome to leave.

 

A keen observer contacted by The Nation expressed doubt that the “Against the Tide” campaign would impress anyone other than Future Forward’s supporters.

 

Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of political science at Ubonratchathani University, said the party should instead appeal directly to its foes.

 

“They could do this by presenting the facts, but they shouldn’t politicise everything,” he said.

 

He suggested that key leaders such as party spokeswoman Pannikar Wanich should tone down their public statements. She often uses language that is “too strong” and might be interpreted as extreme or offensive, Titipol said.

 

And the party should disdain “public relations” pitches such as circulating a photo of Thanathorn washing dishes, he said. Everyone knows he’s a billionaire.

 

But Titipol agrees that Thanathorn deserved a place on Time’s list of influential people. “He inspires the young people and it’s very good that we have him.”

 

He disagrees with self-exiled academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun’s frequent ferocious attacks on Thanathorn and other party members for perceived shifts in political ideology. 

 

Pavin has said Future Forward lacks firmness in fighting against military suppression and in favour of freedom of expression, especially when it comes to speaking out on the role of monarchy.

 

“I think they have done their best under the current circumstances,” Titipol said.

 

The reaction to the party’s new campaign from the Phalang Pracharat Party, which leads the ruling government coalition, came from its spokesman, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.

 

He warned Future Forward not to mobilise people to protest in the streets.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30378444

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-11-18

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[OneMoreFarang]

Maybe Thanathorn should clearly distance himself from the criminal fugitives.

Thailand had already one infamous multi millionaire who claimed he does not need more money. And then he made all those "honest mistakes".

Does Thailand need more of the same? No!

[robblok]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe Thanathorn should clearly distance himself from the criminal fugitives.

Thailand had already one infamous multi millionaire who claimed he does not need more money. And then he made all those "honest mistakes".

Does Thailand need more of the same? No!

Of Course he should do that so he won't be associated with that money grabbing criminal

 

He should stay as clean as possible and so do people in his party that takes away the ammonution of his foes.

 

He is the best there is and i hope he gets more votes and is cleared of those stupid charges.

 

The junta fears him a lot as he attracts the younger crowd and they ate the future.

 

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe Thanathorn should clearly distance himself from the criminal fugitives.

Thailand had already one infamous multi millionaire who claimed he does not need more money. And then he made all those "honest mistakes".

Does Thailand need more of the same? No!

Yeah it needs clueless, feckless military strong men that do nothing for vast majority of the local population.  The nation had hope and fun under the Shinawatras. 

[Prairieboy]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, newly named among the world’s 100 most influential people of 2019 by Time magazine,

Those in power are doing everything possible to discredit the FFP!  Methinks they are fearful of losing their grip on the country - perhaps the youth movement will rid the country of the military dinosaurs.

[Grumpy John]

One mans coup d'état for the good of the people is not that different to another mans fight for what is right......for the people.

But not necessarily the same thing.

The people in the first maybe different to the people in the second!

Thanathorn needs to tread carefully!

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The party also is determined to defend itself against allegations that its members “hate their own nation”.

What a strange idea that someone who dares to criticize something that he , (or she ) , does not like in the way a country is run becomes a ' hater ' of his own country . In the ( very simple ) mind of some people . That is ' ultra nationalism ' and absolutely wrong !

Only a nation that allows freedom of speech is a country that is worth ' loving ' it .

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

The nation had hope and fun under the Shinawatras.

The nation had food scraps cleared off the Shinawatras fine dining table... the were a family out for themselves which has been evident for years with billions in the bank in self imposed exiled luxury.

A true party for the people is what is needed.

[Justsomeguy]

Sad thing is in 2 days they going to find him guilty of something/anything.

[Eligius]

The idea that because you criticise a certain regime that has seized hold of your nation you 'hate your country' is too, too ludicrous and brain-dead for words.

 

So I won't waste any more of those precious but often banned and circumscribed things called 'words'!