New Political Party Ready To Launch

[Tony Clifton]

Funny how TRT style politicians will immediately switch camps at the sound of rattling baht. It`s happening all over again...

[Plus]

It's not funny.

[sriracha john]

Reaching beyond political wings

With someone as notorious as Samak Sundaravej _ a veteran politician in his 70s who can claim one of the most controversial track records in Thai politics since the end of World War Two _ waiting to be confirmed as leader of the Palang Prachachon (People's Power) party, the new home of former Thai Rak Thai party's disarrayed members, Thailand seems well on its way for a hotter confrontation between the anti- and pro-Thaksin Shinawatra wings. This will involve the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), together with their strategic and tactical allies. Armed with a well-known passion for sharply biting rhetoric, normally delivered at jet-like speed in broken sentences extremely difficult to dissect for their logical sequencing, Mr Samak certainly looks like the point man to replace the ongoing battles with a war, a development which can be viewed as a kind of self-fulfilled prophecy following months of empty reconciliation talks since the coup.

Opinion by Boonrak Boonyaketmala of Thammasat University Continued Here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09Aug2007_news17.php

[hammered]

Reaching beyond political wings

With someone as notorious as Samak Sundaravej _ a veteran politician in his 70s who can claim one of the most controversial track records in Thai politics since the end of World War Two _ waiting to be confirmed as leader of the Palang Prachachon (People's Power) party, the new home of former Thai Rak Thai party's disarrayed members, Thailand seems well on its way for a hotter confrontation between the anti- and pro-Thaksin Shinawatra wings. This will involve the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), together with their strategic and tactical allies. Armed with a well-known passion for sharply biting rhetoric, normally delivered at jet-like speed in broken sentences extremely difficult to dissect for their logical sequencing, Mr Samak certainly looks like the point man to replace the ongoing battles with a war, a development which can be viewed as a kind of self-fulfilled prophecy following months of empty reconciliation talks since the coup.

Opinion by Boonrak Boonyaketmala of Thammasat University Continued Here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09Aug2007_news17.php

This now looks like a war to the finish, but anyone who thinks it is a war about ideology, the best way froward for the country or its people rather than a pure power battle with winner takes all and exacts revenge on opponents needs to go no further than take a look at who is now allied with who. The need to win trumps any political rhetoric that occaisionally flies out of politicians mouths. The vile Samak-TRT October people alliance is maybe the most extreme case of this but we shouldnt also forget some of those allied with the military are not exactly natural bedfellows either and there are another whole bunch of unholy alliances forming as it seems nearly every ex-politician of any note is vieing to get their share of whatever the fallout may be. None of this is good for the Thai people. One wonders when Thailand will actually have politicans that will put anything before the pecuniary interests of themselves, their family and clan.

[sriracha john]

Politics by proxy in Thailand

BANGKOK - When Thaksin Shinawatra launched his populist Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, it ran and was swept into electoral office on a "think new, act new" campaign slogan. Six years and one military coup later, the party's new incarnation as the People's Power Party (PPP), in contrast, represents a distinct step back in time.

On May 30, TRT was legally dissolved and its executive members banned for five years from politics by the military-created Constitution Tribune on electoral-fraud charges held over from inconclusive 2005 polls. Next week, TRT's political remnants will formally reconvene under the PPP banner, in time to contest new general elections tentatively scheduled for December.

The PPP is expected to select right-wing politician and party outsider Samak Sundaravej as its nominal leader, marking a break from TRT's post-coup leadership under the soft-spoken, left-leaning former student activist Chaturon Chaisaeng. TRT fragmented badly under Chaturon's eight-month stewardship, where at least three key factional leaders and as many as 175 former parliamentarians ditched the party either to join political forces with the military or to strike out on their own.

Samak, 72, on the other hand, is a vintage old-style Thai politician, a tough-talking ultra-conservative with longtime links to the armed forces. Renowned for his fiery oratory in Parliament and popular among Bangkok's lower classes for his charisma and televised Thai-cooking program, Samak's appointment will signal a distinct move to the political right for the mass party. TRT-cum-PPP stalwarts are wagering that his veteran leadership will be able to hold the party's center and preserve its grassroots populist appeal while Thaksin is in exile.

Last Friday, Samak in a press interview said he decided to come out of retirement and re-enter politics in the wake of TRT's court-ordered dissolution, and that after speaking by telephone with Thaksin he agreed to "look after" the former premier's party members while they contest the next polls under a new PPP banner. From exile, Thaksin in a video recently advised PPP candidates to campaign on TRT's past achievements.

About 200 former TRT members of Parliament recently gathered at a party meeting - though many of them are disqualified from running for office and may only play advisory roles to the PPP. Leveraging the former TRT's established electoral machinery and franchise in the pivotal north and northeast regions, which will account for 212 of the Lower House's total 480 seats, political analysts believe the PPP could win as many as 150 seats. PPP is likely to be a strong force, but not the political juggernaut that won 377 of 500 at the 2005 polls and will likely not notch enough seats to be able independently to form the next government.

Political street fighting

But there is more at play than mere political-party reconfiguration. Samak's selection as party leader to many political analysts signals a new era of contentious and unstable coalition politics, prolonging the period of political conflict between Thaksin and the coup makers fought out by their proxies in a partially elected, partially appointed new Parliament.

The military is expected to run candidates under a newly formed Rak Chart (Love the Nation) party, possibly including coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratklin, and will be highly influential in the appointment of nearly half of the 150-member Senate. The political risk is that Thai politics has re-entered its vicious historical cycle of coup, new constitution, new political parties, election, honeymoon period, political crisis and new coup.

Samak has a long political history of locking horns with former army commander and appointed prime minister, now Privy Council president, Prem Tinsulanonda, whom pro-Thaksin protesters have accused publicly of orchestrating last year's coup independent of his role as palace adviser.

Separate from the PPP, pro-Thaksin street demonstrators have recently upped the tempo of their protests by directly targeting Prem, including calls for his resignation and a raucous protest in front of his private residence in Bangkok that saw the eventual arrest of nine protest leaders.

Old enemies

Significant in a cultural context, where even in politics respect is bestowed on elders, Samak came of political age in the same era as Prem. Samak's political resume spans four decades, including 10 elections to Parliament, five stints as a minister or deputy minister, and three postings as a deputy prime minister.

In the ideologically divisive 1970s, Samak served as parliamentary spokesman for the ultra-right and, according to historical accounts, was pivotal in ordering the bloody 1976 crackdown on leftist student protesters in Bangkok. Later, as interior minister, he was responsible for the closure of several critical left-leaning newspapers. He survived at least two assassination attempts during that troubled era, one plotted by vengeful students.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Samak was a permanent fixture in Parliament, and his Prachakorn Thai Party's staunch opposition to Prem seeking another term as prime minister, including a threat to launch an immediate no-confidence motion if he resumed the post, was one key factor in Prem's decision to step down and quit politics in 1988.

Samak later joined forces in a coalition led by General Chatichai Choonhavan's Chat Thai party, which was ousted in a military coup in 1991 on charges of rampant corruption. He later secured top positions, including the deputy premiership, in the post-1992 transition from military to democratic rule and became notorious in Thai media circles for unleashing vicious guard dogs on rural protesters who had gathered in Bangkok.

In 2000, Samak won an electoral landslide at Bangkok's gubernatorial election, where by nearly 2-1 he romped over TRT's then "new-age" candidate, Sudarat Keyuraphan. He thereafter worked closely with Thaksin and TRT representatives during his governorship, which critics say was notable for its lack of tangible accomplishments and faint clouds of corruption. On serving out his four-year term, Samak re-emerged as a tough-talking, pro-Thaksin radio and television talk-show host on state-controlled frequencies.

In February 2006, Samak was pressured by both the Defense Ministry and Supreme Command to cease broadcasting after, in Thaksin's political defense, he criticized Prem on air. During his most recent press interview, Samak said he has stopped needling Prem and that as PPP party leader he will not act as Thaksin's political proxy,

claims that raise eyebrows among some Thailand-focused political analysts.

With the restoration of democracy and a new coalition government in place by early next year, Prem will once again aim to hover above the cut-and-thrust of daily Thai politics. But count on Samak concentrating his considerable oratory energies toward questioning the legitimacy and aims of the military proxies linked to Prem in the next coalition government and keeping Thai politics on an unstable footing.

By Shawn W Crispin, Asia Times

[John K]

I know this will sound negative but it is not meant to be. But reading the last several posts, the former TRT looks like a bunch of children running around asking “Can you be my daddy?” and “How much is my allowance?”

Certainly of leadership quality.

[hammered]

Politics by proxy in Thailand

BANGKOK - When Thaksin Shinawatra launched his populist Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, it ran and was swept into electoral office on a "think new, act new" campaign slogan. Six years and one military coup later, the party's new incarnation as the People's Power Party (PPP), in contrast, represents a distinct step back in time.

On May 30, TRT was legally dissolved and its executive members banned for five years from politics by the military-created Constitution Tribune on electoral-fraud charges held over from inconclusive 2005 polls. Next week, TRT's political remnants will formally reconvene under the PPP banner, in time to contest new general elections tentatively scheduled for December.

The PPP is expected to select right-wing politician and party outsider Samak Sundaravej as its nominal leader, marking a break from TRT's post-coup leadership under the soft-spoken, left-leaning former student activist Chaturon Chaisaeng. TRT fragmented badly under Chaturon's eight-month stewardship, where at least three key factional leaders and as many as 175 former parliamentarians ditched the party either to join political forces with the military or to strike out on their own.

Samak, 72, on the other hand, is a vintage old-style Thai politician, a tough-talking ultra-conservative with longtime links to the armed forces. Renowned for his fiery oratory in Parliament and popular among Bangkok's lower classes for his charisma and televised Thai-cooking program, Samak's appointment will signal a distinct move to the political right for the mass party. TRT-cum-PPP stalwarts are wagering that his veteran leadership will be able to hold the party's center and preserve its grassroots populist appeal while Thaksin is in exile.

Last Friday, Samak in a press interview said he decided to come out of retirement and re-enter politics in the wake of TRT's court-ordered dissolution, and that after speaking by telephone with Thaksin he agreed to "look after" the former premier's party members while they contest the next polls under a new PPP banner. From exile, Thaksin in a video recently advised PPP candidates to campaign on TRT's past achievements.

About 200 former TRT members of Parliament recently gathered at a party meeting - though many of them are disqualified from running for office and may only play advisory roles to the PPP. Leveraging the former TRT's established electoral machinery and franchise in the pivotal north and northeast regions, which will account for 212 of the Lower House's total 480 seats, political analysts believe the PPP could win as many as 150 seats. PPP is likely to be a strong force, but not the political juggernaut that won 377 of 500 at the 2005 polls and will likely not notch enough seats to be able independently to form the next government.

Political street fighting

But there is more at play than mere political-party reconfiguration. Samak's selection as party leader to many political analysts signals a new era of contentious and unstable coalition politics, prolonging the period of political conflict between Thaksin and the coup makers fought out by their proxies in a partially elected, partially appointed new Parliament.

The military is expected to run candidates under a newly formed Rak Chart (Love the Nation) party, possibly including coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratklin, and will be highly influential in the appointment of nearly half of the 150-member Senate. The political risk is that Thai politics has re-entered its vicious historical cycle of coup, new constitution, new political parties, election, honeymoon period, political crisis and new coup.

Samak has a long political history of locking horns with former army commander and appointed prime minister, now Privy Council president, Prem Tinsulanonda, whom pro-Thaksin protesters have accused publicly of orchestrating last year's coup independent of his role as palace adviser.

Separate from the PPP, pro-Thaksin street demonstrators have recently upped the tempo of their protests by directly targeting Prem, including calls for his resignation and a raucous protest in front of his private residence in Bangkok that saw the eventual arrest of nine protest leaders.

Old enemies

Significant in a cultural context, where even in politics respect is bestowed on elders, Samak came of political age in the same era as Prem. Samak's political resume spans four decades, including 10 elections to Parliament, five stints as a minister or deputy minister, and three postings as a deputy prime minister.

In the ideologically divisive 1970s, Samak served as parliamentary spokesman for the ultra-right and, according to historical accounts, was pivotal in ordering the bloody 1976 crackdown on leftist student protesters in Bangkok. Later, as interior minister, he was responsible for the closure of several critical left-leaning newspapers. He survived at least two assassination attempts during that troubled era, one plotted by vengeful students.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Samak was a permanent fixture in Parliament, and his Prachakorn Thai Party's staunch opposition to Prem seeking another term as prime minister, including a threat to launch an immediate no-confidence motion if he resumed the post, was one key factor in Prem's decision to step down and quit politics in 1988.

Samak later joined forces in a coalition led by General Chatichai Choonhavan's Chat Thai party, which was ousted in a military coup in 1991 on charges of rampant corruption. He later secured top positions, including the deputy premiership, in the post-1992 transition from military to democratic rule and became notorious in Thai media circles for unleashing vicious guard dogs on rural protesters who had gathered in Bangkok.

In 2000, Samak won an electoral landslide at Bangkok's gubernatorial election, where by nearly 2-1 he romped over TRT's then "new-age" candidate, Sudarat Keyuraphan. He thereafter worked closely with Thaksin and TRT representatives during his governorship, which critics say was notable for its lack of tangible accomplishments and faint clouds of corruption. On serving out his four-year term, Samak re-emerged as a tough-talking, pro-Thaksin radio and television talk-show host on state-controlled frequencies.

In February 2006, Samak was pressured by both the Defense Ministry and Supreme Command to cease broadcasting after, in Thaksin's political defense, he criticized Prem on air. During his most recent press interview, Samak said he has stopped needling Prem and that as PPP party leader he will not act as Thaksin's political proxy,

claims that raise eyebrows among some Thailand-focused political analysts.

With the restoration of democracy and a new coalition government in place by early next year, Prem will once again aim to hover above the cut-and-thrust of daily Thai politics. But count on Samak concentrating his considerable oratory energies toward questioning the legitimacy and aims of the military proxies linked to Prem in the next coalition government and keeping Thai politics on an unstable footing.

By Shawn W Crispin, Asia Times

Interesting Crispin mentions the guard dogs and poor rural protestors. There was also the time Samak described Kalasin tapioca farmers demonstrating in Bangkok as not Thai bringing back ghosts of the 70s where not being Thai or not being human were used to justify the slaughters. To the point. the axis between Samak and any true leftists in th PPP will be strained to say the least. Apart from instability in the country in general there should be instability in the PPP. Even ex-TRT leader Chaturon and his group should have big problems with Samak and even desperate political opportunism should not be enough to overcome them. Then there has always been the conundrum of Samak being popular with and playing to the Bangkok urban lower classes or at least the ultra traditionalist ones while vilyfying any farmer who ever wanted anything and generally not being very popular anywhere upcountry. These obvious contradictions between Samak and and what he has been grafted onto point to a fractious group unless the intent is for his period of ownership to be very limited allowing a leader more in tune with the group to either emerge or possibly return. We will however see, and we do seem to be entering a period of new parties and the reemergnece of the old generation of politciains has been the factor that has marked this to date. What emerges from this in a few years time is difficult to impossible to predict and that itself probably means extra instability.

[hammered]

Has anyone else noticed the little factual error in Shawn Crispins latest piece. Not usual for him!

[A_Traveller]

For completeness I include the link to the full article which for reasons presumably pertaining to this boards rules, SJ has edited but forgot to highlight.

Regards

Article

[hammered]

For completeness I include the link to the full article which for reasons presumably pertaining to this boards rules, SJ has edited but forgot to highlight.

Regards

Article

Footnote 3 shows the difficulty of the position the UDDers are in of where their line of Prem being behind the coup takes them and their own attempt at explaining that difficulty away although whether the said thing actaully exists and whether it would prove their point are certainly very open to debate. Certainly in the villages I know of up country the coup and demise of T is seen as having the necessary backing and hence has little opposition unlike the young turk coup which Crispin mentions.

Mods delete if deemed necessary

[sriracha john]

People Power leader steps aside

The leader of the People Power Party stepped down yesterday to make way for Samak Sundaravej, who has the Thai Rak Thai group's support, to take the helm.

Supaporn Thienkaew announced her resignation after a discussion with key Thai Rak Thai group members Sompong Amornwiwat, Samphan Lertnuwat and Peerapan Palusuk.

People Power will name its new leader on August 22 and the Thai Rak Thai group will nominate Samak.

Sompong said there should be more than one candidate for the post so that party members would have a choice.

- The Nation

===============================================================================

Sompong will likely nominate Ronald McDonald to run against Samak for the party leadership position.

[Jai Dee]

Leader of People Power Party resigns

The Leader of the People Power Party has announced her resignation from her post.

Ms. Supaporn Theankaew (สุภาพร เทียนแก้ว), the leader of the People Power Party, has announced that she will be resigning as party leader in order to allow party members to select a new leader who will develop the People Power Party and the Thai Rak Thai group into a strong political party. Ms. Supaporn said that she will continue in her capacity as interim leader of the People Power Party until a new leader has been selected.

The Chairman of the People Power Party Advisory Council, Pol. Lt. Col. Karn Theankaew (กานต์ เทียนแก้ว), and Mr. Samak Sundaravej (สมัคร สุนทรเวช) will be running as candidates for the party's leader.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2007

[Jai Dee]

TRT Group meets with People Power Party leaders to discuss joint policies

Leaders of the Thai Rak Thai group are conducting discussions with the People Power Party in order to create policies and appoint new leaders.

The Chairman of the Thai Rak Thai group's management, Mr. Sompong Amornwiwat (สมพงษ์ อมรวิวัฒน์), along with 7 leading elements of the Thai Rak Thai group traveled to meet with executive members of the People Power Party in Don Muang district yesterday in order to discuss party regulations for the integration of the Thai Rak Thai group into the People Power Party.

Party leaders also discussed policies and the selection of a new leader for the People Power Party before the party's annual meeting on August 22nd. The Thai Rak Thai group and the People Power Party will also be appointing an additional 30 party administration to supplement 7 party leaders already in power.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2007

[hammered]

Leader of People Power Party resigns

The Leader of the People Power Party has announced her resignation from her post.

Ms. Supaporn Theankaew (สุภาพร เทียนแก้ว), the leader of the People Power Party, has announced that she will be resigning as party leader in order to allow party members to select a new leader who will develop the People Power Party and the Thai Rak Thai group into a strong political party. Ms. Supaporn said that she will continue in her capacity as interim leader of the People Power Party until a new leader has been selected.

The Chairman of the People Power Party Advisory Council, Pol. Lt. Col. Karn Theankaew (กานต์ เทียนแก้ว), and Mr. Samak Sundaravej (สมัคร สุนทรเวช) will be running as candidates for the party's leader.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2007

Such a surprising development. Of course this was not a take over of an exisiting party. One wonders what poor stste the bank account of th ex-leader remains in.

[Jai Dee]

Matchima Group still feels assured of its members

The Matchima (มัชฌิมา) Group insists that its members have not been transferred to other political parties yet, but the group will go through its member list once again on August 17th, 2007.

The Matchima Group Spokesman, Army Captain Rachata Phisitbannakorn (รชฏ พิสิษฏ์บรรณกร), says the Matchima Group is analyzing Thailand’s current political situation. He says if the Thai Rak Thai Group is trying to bring deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand, there would likely be only two main political parties and the public would not have the third alternative to consider and choose.

However, Army Captain Rachata says the Matchima Group is not shaken by this political movement and is ready to engage in political activities as declared. He says he is confident that the number of former members of the House of Representatives in the Matchima Group will not decrease, adding that the group already has more than 200 members.

The spokesman however denies to talk about the army’s plan to set up the Rak Chart Party because he believes everything will be clearer after the 2007 constitution referendum on August 19th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2007

[John K]

I try to treat people according to their personal merits, and I am sure there are Members of the former TRT that are worthy of phrase, but this just baffles the mind how the bad taint the good.

The visual I get is a pack of rats all gnawing and biting on the main power line of a properly functioning government with the hopes of shorting it out.

[hammered]

Matchima Group still feels assured of its members

The Matchima (มัชฌิมา) Group insists that its members have not been transferred to other political parties yet, but the group will go through its member list once again on August 17th, 2007.

The Matchima Group Spokesman, Army Captain Rachata Phisitbannakorn (รชฏ พิสิษฏ์บรรณกร), says the Matchima Group is analyzing Thailand’s current political situation. He says if the Thai Rak Thai Group is trying to bring deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand, there would likely be only two main political parties and the public would not have the third alternative to consider and choose.

However, Army Captain Rachata says the Matchima Group is not shaken by this political movement and is ready to engage in political activities as declared. He says he is confident that the number of former members of the House of Representatives in the Matchima Group will not decrease, adding that the group already has more than 200 members.

The spokesman however denies to talk about the army’s plan to set up the Rak Chart Party because he believes everything will be clearer after the 2007 constitution referendum on August 19th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2007

The importance of the charter vote being far beyond just the issue of the charter is sneaking out for all to see. A lot of these up country MPs will want to see how popular parties are and more to the point how much control various groups have over the elcetorate in their own district. The charter vote will be a good guage of this. Then MPs can decide which party or grouping to run under. To not be elected is not an option for a lot of these guys. As the way the charter vote goes will also see which groupings or parties in which areas will be a magnet for sitting MPs the stakes are high. Not surprising the vote buyers, canvassers, influential ones are all starting to come out in force.

[hammered]

A good editorial in the Nation for any real proponent of democracy

Editorial: A strange marriage of convenience

By welcoming Samak as People Power Party head, former democracy activists seem to have forgotten October, 1976 Published on August 12, 2007

For those who participated in the historic October 1976 political turmoil, Samak Sundaravej is a man whom they will remember well until the day they die for what he did at that time to activists fighting for democracy. When right-wing mobs massacred anti-government protesters at Sanam Luang and the adjacent Thammasat University on October 6, 1976, Samak was a symbol of right-wing political extremism and was believed to have had a role in the bloodshed.

Now, 31 years have passed, and Samak has not changed even slightly. He is still as rightist and aggressive as he used to be. Conversely, some of the activists who played a leading role in the October 1976 political movement seem to have changed and are now trying to forget a bitter past that they once had to endure under the oppressive hand of those in power.

Back on October 6, 1976, the whole country watched in shock as right-wing mobs and security troops stormed Thammasat University to execute a violent crackdown on students and activists who held protests against the return from exile of then ousted prime minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.

The bloodshed came after several days of efforts to instigate animosity through public media by government officials and right-wing politicians. The outspoken Samak was then at the forefront of the verbal onslaught on the protesters.

Many protesters, most of whom were university students, were brutally killed during the crackdown while most of the survivors were arrested. Some student leaders managed to run away and had to join the communist movement in remote jungles as the only way to escape the manhunt being conducted by security forces.

The government's bloody suppression efforts and the casualties they caused did not consequently discourage the October, 1976 activists but rather strengthened their convictions and taught them what kind of people were enemies of democracy.

Some of the October, 1976 activists went on to become well-known politicians, including Surapong Suebwonglee, Prommin Lertsuridej, Sutham Saengprathum, Chaturon Chaisang, Adisorn Piengket and Phumtham Vejayachai. All of them must have learned first hand the pain that can arise from the abuse of power when hard-headed right-wing politicians are in positions of authority.

After 31 years, some of those activists from October, 1976 seem to have changed completely. From a group that once stood up to power-mad right-wing politicians, they have now become willing to share the same political path as Samak. If Samak were to become the leader of the newly formed People Power Party, those October 1976 veterans would be ready to serve him just as they previously devoted themselves to serving ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Many may question where the political esteem of these former fighters for democracy has gone, but others see it as useless to talk about ideology with them any more.

Other October, 1976 activists who remain faithful to their ideology may no longer want to talk about the stance they once shared with their former comrades since the latter have become lost in a greedy pursuit for political power and personal wealth. Those democracy activists-turned-politicians must have completely lost their ideology, even their consciences.

If one were to gauge the merit of Samak and the October, 1976 veterans who went on to join Thaksin's now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party, Samak emerges better in that he has never changed his political traits. It is an absolute ideological change for former democracy activists to accept Samak as the leader of the new political party under which they hope to run in the upcoming election.

It is shocking that they have shown no shame in turning to share a political path with Samak. Those who were unfairly subjected to a witch-hunt 31 years ago by right-wing politicians who attempted to quash their glorious fight for democracy have unbelievably become all too happy to work under a man who was once on the opposing side. They must have lost their political ideology, or perhaps they never had one at all.

[ColPyat]

A good editorial in the Nation for any real proponent of democracy

True what the editorial says.

But it leaves out an important point as well - that so many other activists of the October generation have joined forces first with the similarly nationalist leaders of the PAD - Sondhi L. and Chamlong, and then applauded the military coup, and joined forces with the vested interests and proponents of the status quo they have fought against for so long.

Looking at Thailand today i see the progressive forces more shattered than ever before. Even the ones who are refusing to join either side are by the vocal propaganda judged to be on Thaksin's side just because they are protesting against the military, even if their argument is that at least Thaksin was elected, and should have been removed via elections.

Who doesn't agree with nationalist mania of either side has to live in fear, again.

[hammered]

A good editorial in the Nation for any real proponent of democracy

True what the editorial says.

But it leaves out an important point as well - that so many other activists of the October generation have joined forces first with the similarly nationalist leaders of the PAD - Sondhi L. and Chamlong, and then applauded the military coup, and joined forces with the vested interests and proponents of the status quo they have fought against for so long.

Looking at Thailand today i see the progressive forces more shattered than ever before. Even the ones who are refusing to join either side are by the vocal propaganda judged to be on Thaksin's side just because they are protesting against the military, even if their argument is that at least Thaksin was elected, and should have been removed via elections.

Who doesn't agree with nationalist mania of either side has to live in fear, again.

Colpyat I think you hit on something in that no side can win without resorting to nationalist mania. That effectively leaves any leftist or liberal with no side to turn to, and third way groups are going to be viewed with suspicion. Progressive forces if you like are going to have to wait to see how this battle turns out before they can regroup outside of whoever wins. Luckily it does now seem the Buddhist state religion has been removed from the equation. That one was very dangerous.

[younghusband]

The visual I get is a pack of rats all gnawing and biting on the main power line of a properly functioning government with the hopes of shorting it out.

But the government is not properly functioning.It is unelected and incompetent.Those who put it into power through a military putsch remain in control and unpunished.In many countries the criminal band of generals involved would face a long time behind bars.And as for the rat metaphor, you might as well apply it to any legitimate resistance movement.Fortunately in Thailand the opposition is taking the moderate political path, and let's see how that pans out notwithstanding the rigged constitution being forced down an unwilling nation's throat.

It's ironic -though sickening as well- to see all these farang junta apologists when in their own countries -the US, UK, Australia,Italy, Canada etc - an illegal military coup on whatever pretext would certainly lead to an armed insurgency.As many will remember some scummy military tried it on in Spain a few years ago and were blocked by King Juan Carlos, a great hero of democracy now.

[ColPyat]

A good editorial in the Nation for any real proponent of democracy

True what the editorial says.

But it leaves out an important point as well - that so many other activists of the October generation have joined forces first with the similarly nationalist leaders of the PAD - Sondhi L. and Chamlong, and then applauded the military coup, and joined forces with the vested interests and proponents of the status quo they have fought against for so long.

Looking at Thailand today i see the progressive forces more shattered than ever before. Even the ones who are refusing to join either side are by the vocal propaganda judged to be on Thaksin's side just because they are protesting against the military, even if their argument is that at least Thaksin was elected, and should have been removed via elections.

Who doesn't agree with nationalist mania of either side has to live in fear, again.

Colpyat I think you hit on something in that no side can win without resorting to nationalist mania. That effectively leaves any leftist or liberal with no side to turn to, and third way groups are going to be viewed with suspicion. Progressive forces if you like are going to have to wait to see how this battle turns out before they can regroup outside of whoever wins. Luckily it does now seem the Buddhist state religion has been removed from the equation. That one was very dangerous.

Personally, i do see many groups within the UDD alliance as "third way", but propaganda makes them all out as Thaksin's henchmen. One of the big problems here is fear - liberals and leftists cannot not openly address many faults of the system without the threat of long prison sentences. While private conversations are more open than i have ever seen in Thailand, open debate is more restricted than in a very long time. The powers that are have taken care that they pound of subject matters which makes any public debate impossible. This may work short term in order to avoid too much dissent, but in the long term it leaves a festering wound that will come to haunt us with vehemence.

Thailand's political debate is in a process of radicalization. We can even see that reflected here in the forum debate with the vehemence of personal attacks against everybody who thinks outside of the box. And debate on Thai language forums is even worse - accusations of the worst order, reports to authorities with made up charges, etc.

On the street, intimidation tactics, mostly unreported, have again reached heights that make any involvement in politics a very risky affair. Again, random accusations about the three pillar issue are used to silence any dissent. Right now, things are not yet as bad as they could be - it's more fear of possibilities than of real actions. But if things deteriorate any further here socially and politically, things might turn out very nasty.

When i see some of the persons involved now on all sides of the game, people like Samak, Saprang, Suchinda's comments, Panlop Pinmanee, and political groups, both parliamentary and outside, they represent and support - than i am very scared. These are all people that have a history of extreme violence, and should have stayed far away from any saying how Thailand is governed. They scare me far more than Thaksin ever did.

[John K]

The visual I get is a pack of rats all gnawing and biting on the main power line of a properly functioning government with the hopes of shorting it out.

But the government is not properly functioning.It is unelected and incompetent.Those who put it into power through a military putsch remain in control and unpunished.In many countries the criminal band of generals involved would face a long time behind bars.And as for the rat metaphor, you might as well apply it to any legitimate resistance movement.Fortunately in Thailand the opposition is taking the moderate political path, and let's see how that pans out notwithstanding the rigged constitution being forced down an unwilling nation's throat.

It's ironic -though sickening as well- to see all these farang junta apologists when in their own countries -the US, UK, Australia,Italy, Canada etc - an illegal military coup on whatever pretext would certainly lead to an armed insurgency.As many will remember some scummy military tried it on in Spain a few years ago and were blocked by King Juan Carlos, a great hero of democracy now.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I see this government working better than others. At least I get the feeling the have pulled the power wash out of the garage and are trying to remove years of accumulated crap from the face of Thailand. I also see Sonthi as the driving force behind that. When he steps down in a few weeks that all could change.

However there are two sides of this and I hope we are talking about the same side. The cleanup side is working great, however the knowhow side to make things tick seems to have a little water in the fuel.

[sriracha john]

yet another Thai Rak Thai party big wig reformulates....

Deputy Prime Minister (at the time) Suwat Liptapanlop shows off the 2004 Olympic gold medal won by weightlifter Udomporn Polsak

Suwat tells supporters Chat Pattana may be revived

Nakhon Ratchasima - Suwat Liptapanlop, a leading member of the Saman Chan Group, told his supporters in this northeastern province Sunday that the Chat Pattana Party might be revised.

Speaking to about 1,000 of his supporters, he said the Chat Pattana was suitable for the current political situation.

During the term of the Thaksin government, Suwat dissolved his Chat Pattan to merge with the Thai Rak Thai Party.

But when he talked to reporters later, Suwat said he had yet to consult with other leading members of the Saman Chan as to whether their new party should be called Chat Pattana or not.

- The Nation

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Is Suwat one of the banned members?

Yep... he's number #22 on the list of 111 Thai Rak Thai executives who were banned from politics for five years for engaging in electoral fraud.

[John K]

This mounting disrespect for authority by Club 111, I wonder how long it will be before they properly piss of the judges and get locked up for the remainder of the 5 years.

[hammered]

This mounting disrespect for authority by Club 111, I wonder how long it will be before they properly piss of the judges and get locked up for the remainder of the 5 years.

I think it is a bit more compicated than lumping all the 111 together. There are different groups within the 111 and some of these groups have moved close to the military or other parties.

You have Sawat, Somkid and Phinij who are now well away from TRT. Somsak seems to be but is a politcal opportunist and could go either way depending on what looks best for him. Sonthaya is now close to Chart Thai. Prommin has withdrawn from politics at least temporarily. Then there are the hardcore TRT who dont really have a home to go and are together under Samak. On top of this nobody really knows who controls how many unbanned ex-MPs.If you add teh numbers up they all claim to control it comes to hundreds more MPs than TRT actually had. All in all there are groups the military would love to unban which is why Sonthi seems to go weak on them. he has spent a lot of effort ungrafting some big power groups from TRT, and he doesnt want to see them driven back into alliance. He wasnt even that happy with the disolution outcome trying to have a mas pardon for many a day after. In the end the military would probably put up with having the TRT hardcore guys more active if it meant their guys were still in the game of suprting proxies. It wil be interesting to se how when the election comes the EC wil deal with the inevitable vote buyng that will be a lot mor intense than we see now. The EC will inevitably red card at least a few but also have the power to take a party out. Things are unpredictable and that could hapen. The last EC received more than 80% of its complaints of vote buying and electoral breach about TRT candidates but only Democrat and Mahachon candidates were red carded in 2005. This time the EC is in control of another group, if things follow the norm of who controls gets off free but opponents dont, then theTRT succesor group could face a hard time, and it is in here that those of the 111 on the wrong side for the military could be dealt with while leaving supporters unhindered. That the TRT groups main support is in the Isaan and that the Isaan traditionally sees the most vote buying will also not help them. It has been rgued that the Dems could win the entire south without paying one baht - not saying they wont - even with others buying could the TRT group win the entire Isaan without paying one baht is probably more qustionable and even more so if others are paying although how the village headmen and kamnan were lining up would be at least as critical. There are a lot of unknowns in the upcoming election and that is why the charter vote is being used as test of strength, vote buying techniques and influence as much as anytingto do with what is written in the draft. People from all sides have made that catch all statement that things will be clearer after the charter vote. A very complicated, unpredictable and potentially explosive situation that the people on all sides that are trying to manipulate it are not even sure of their own support or where things ar going.

In this atmospehere I wouldnt expect too many if any of the 111 to be locked up any time soon unless they break other laws.

[John K]

I see what you are saying and certainly you are correct if you do a deep analysis like you did. However of you take a less than in-depth look you have the guilt by association effect.

Depending on how much you know about each person they more or less get tossed into the same bin. If they we bad enough to get their party dissolved, then many would not expect an overnight change.

In fact I suspect most would not take a look at them again for a year or more to see what they have been up to. In reality the time has been too short to see any change.

They are not to be near politics for 5 years but that court order seems to be falling on deaf ears. Also this matches Thaksin’s mentality to take out who took him out.

[sriracha john]

Samak will meet with former Thai Rak Thai MP on Tuesday

People Power Party leader-designate Samak Sundaravej is scheduled to meet with former Thai Rak Thai MPs to hold a preliminary discussion on Tuesday. They will discuss about a new banner for the general election.

Samak is slated to announce his decision to come out of retirement and become a proxy leader of a new home for supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

- The Nation

===============================================================================

funny connotation.... "to discuss a new BANner"

good to see they are calling a spade a spade and a proxy a proxy....

[sriracha john]

Manoonkrit undecided on Ruam Jai Thai

One of the core leaders of the Ruam Jai Thai party, Pradit Patraprasit, has admitted inviting Manoonkrit Roopkajorn to join the party.

He maintained that Manoonkrit has not made any decision to accept the invitation.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=120840

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Samak advises TRT to conduct constructive election campaigns

Mr. Samak Sundaravej (สมัคร สุนทรเวช) advised the Thai Rak Thai group to conduct creative campaigns to gather votes.

Former Bangkok Governor and People Power Party member Samak Sundaravej (สมัคร สุนทรเวช) met with over 100 members of the Thai Rak Thai group for over an hour to discuss the two political factions agenda. Thai Rak Thai leader MD Surapong Suebwonglee (สุรพงษ์ สืบวงศ์ล) revealed that Mr. Samak has reiterated his willingness to cooperate with the group in political activities.

Mr. Samak also advised that the Thai Rak Thai group should implement constructive and creative policies during its election campaign. He added that the political group should take into account the welfare of citizens and avoid attempting to win in subversive manners. The People Party member affirms that his party is happy to accept former Thai Rak Thai members into their organization.

Meanwhile Thai Rak Thai leader MD Surapong Suebwonglee revealed that the Thai Rak Thai group will share Sanam Luang with Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship demonstration groups tomorrow. Former members of the Thai Rak Thai Party, including Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธ์ ), Mr. Chaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง ), Lt. Suthep Chaikrachang (สุเทพ ใสกระจ่าง) will be participating in demonstrations.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 August 2007