Abhisit Vejjajiva Elected New Prime Minister Of Thailand

[henryalleman]

Them shutting down the airports for a MONTH wouldn't do as much damage to the country than Toxin would if he was in power.

Sorry Thanh, but by this statement I can only assume that you do not clearly understand the extent of the damage that has been done to this country.

The tourism industry has been absolutely decimated to the tune of billions of baht, there is no high season this year thanks to PAD. To compound this even further they are also responsible for the damage to the air freight and logistics industries, lost foreign direct investment in the manufacturing and real estate sectors, then there is the knock on effect to the service industry to consider too, and that's to say nothing of the medium and long term damage that has to be accounted for.

I suggest that you go speak to some hotel staff who are now facing unemployment to see if they agree with your point of view that "nobody was hurt"'!

I understand (but do not necessarily agree with all of) the PAD's complaints but can not see how anyone can find any moral grounds to condone the closure of the airport.

Its not like it helped them to achieve their objectives, the legal system did that independently of the PAD. The only thing the PAD's actions succeeded in was to bring the entire country to its knees.

Adichai.... care to elaborate on who "The Lady" and "her Son" is?

Please keep in mind that toursim was already down because the sordwide economical crisis. in the long run the occupation of the airport for week has very limited effects on the long run in tourisn and trade.

Do you think the closing of the GM plant in Ranong has anything to do with the occupation of the airports?

[donx]

Ah, Democracy in action!

Lose an election, take over government house, blockade airports, wreck tourism, get prime ministership.

Neat!

The new PM should call fresh elections under the rule, one person, one vote, no pork barrelling of any kind (only joking ,Australia and the US never use pork barrelling tactics, yeah, right!!!) and abide by the result

And I suppose you infer that fresh elections would be democratic and without massive amounts of 500 baht notes being distributed by Thaksin to secure the election?

And I suppose you would infer that the "vote buying" for Parliamentary conversions, as reported by the Bangkok Post and The Nation are not a problem. This is the same game only at a higher level. Will the courts now have a new "vote buying" scandal to decide upon.

I don't know about vote buying for Parliamentary conversions, but here is was was reported in the Washington Post:

"He was hoisted into office by the back door," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist, said of Abhisit. "The military have arm-twisted former government MPs to change sides; he's benefited from a kind of judicial veto exercised when the courts don't like the government, and the People's Alliance for Democracy has effectively blackmailed the legislature to prevent another Puea Thai government."

Thitinan said he believes that the new government will have a honeymoon period to prove itself to the electorate but warned that the pressures are already mounting.

Washington Post reporter Tim Johnston

[henryalleman]

Wonderful news and he at least initially appears to be a decent, honest, sincere and well educated guy, indeed a ray of light in the darkness. I wish him well, he has a tough job ahead of him.

As a guy who was educated at Oxford I wonder whether he will be kinder to falangs living here legally and honestly in LOS. On a purely selfish note it would be great if he allowed at least retirees (and of any age) to own their own houses, albeit with a limited small amount of land say reasonably under 400 square wah or even half of that. Anyway the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future. This is hope at last for the Thai people and I hope a final goodbye to the destructive megalomaniac Toxin (though sadly I somehow doubt it)

Indeed, you are not a litle bit selfish, but very selfish. You are worried about what the impact wil be for yourself. May I remind you that we as farang are not important at all, his sole responsibilty is the welbeing of the Thai public, not the farang.

... and <deleted> are you! The guy wished the new PM well, the Thai people well and also wishing that we may have an easier time of it. What's wrong with that? We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

I also am important for my Thai family, they do care about me as a person not because I'm a farang. They now I can't buy a house or propertyby Thai law, that's why they offer me their villa nextdoor for rent 50% lower than the Thai market price, they even offer me to share their houskeeper free of charge. Because they said, Lung you and Pha children grow up already and have already their house why should spend money for nothing, better use your money to enjoy life.

[Wiresok]

Having just read todays bangkok post and Nation, I see the "Dems" are getting their excuses in already.

[henryalleman]

Wonderful news and he at least initially appears to be a decent, honest, sincere and well educated guy, indeed a ray of light in the darkness. I wish him well, he has a tough job ahead of him.

As a guy who was educated at Oxford I wonder whether he will be kinder to falangs living here legally and honestly in LOS. On a purely selfish note it would be great if he allowed at least retirees (and of any age) to own their own houses, albeit with a limited small amount of land say reasonably under 400 square wah or even half of that. Anyway the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future. This is hope at last for the Thai people and I hope a final goodbye to the destructive megalomaniac Toxin (though sadly I somehow doubt it)

Indeed, you are not a litle bit selfish, but very selfish. You are worried about what the impact wil be for yourself. May I remind you that we as farang are not important at all, his sole responsibilty is the welbeing of the Thai public, not the farang.

... and <deleted> are you! The guy wished the new PM well, the Thai people well and also wishing that we may have an easier time of it. What's wrong with that? We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

I also am important for my Thai family, they do care about me as a person not because I'm a farang. They now I can't buy a house or propertyby Thai law, that's why they offer me their villa nextdoor for rent 50% lower than the Thai market price, they even offer me to share their houskeeper free of charge. Because they said, Lung you and Pha children grow up already and have already their house why should spend money for nothing, better use your money to enjoy life.

To avoid any misunderstanding, I declined their offer because I prefer an appartment.

[Wiresok]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7783650.stm

[samgrowth]

Give this boy a chance. He may have came to power via the back door, but at least he is charming and clean (sadly, the same cannot be said about his team). Like his mentor Chuan, he will be well like by the people.

This is one of the very few Thai PM that speak good English, almost perfect (the other is Anan, a non-elected PM). It is delighful to see him in ALJ/BCC/CNN/etc rather than the incomprehensible Thaksin et al. After a few weeks, I am quite sure the foreign media will go easy on him.

[jbowman1993]

The lack of class continues...

Govt won't last long: Pheu Thai

By The Nation

Published on December 16, 2008

The Pheu Thai Party says it's ready to be the opposition party in Parliament and predicted the Democrats' coalition government would not last long.

"We will do the opposition's duty at our best. We will give the new PM a chance to rule the country first and not rush to file a no-confidence motion, as the country is too ruined," former People Power Party chief whip Wittaya Buranasiri said after a Pheu Thai meeting.

A source, who asked not to be named, claimed the Democrats were not likely to hold power long as the government must pay for what it had done.

"Things that go round come back round [to harm people who do wrong]," he said, without explaining what the Democrats had actually done to justify negative repercussions.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected as the 27th prime minister yesterday. He beat Pol Gen Pracha Promnok, leader of Pheu Pandin party.

Wittaya praised three veteran politicians: Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong, Pol Gen Pracha, and Gen Chettha Thanajaro, the former Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader. All three voted for Pracha, who was nominated by Pheu Thai Party.

"They are respectable politicians, who keep their words. They are honest with people. It is hard to find such these days," he said.

Snoh, who proposed Pracha to the House as a candidate to be PM, said he had no regrets over his nominee being defeated by Abhisit.

"For me, it's a victory as Pracha and Chettha stood by me to solve the country's problems. I beg all of you to wait and see what will happens to the country after this," he said.

A source, who asked not to be named, said Snoh expected to be an opposition leader as Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit was not an MP.

Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan said Abhisit should explain to the House on the day his government delivers its policy statement how he would "take responsibility" for being a draft dodger and the military's involvement in the formation of his government.

He said his party would not appoint a shadow Cabinet to scrutinise the Democrats' coalition.

[Siripon]

The Democrats will certainly pick up many seats in the by-elections, what is most interesting today is what the Constitutional judges will do with the Party List MPs of the dissolved parties.

Could they hand them to their offshoots, ie Peua Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, etc ?- hardly as the voters didn't vote for those parties, not being in existence at the time.

But the vacant seats must be filled to have a functioning Parliament, a dilemma for the judges.

I believe the PAD will face court action, Aphisit will say everyone must be held accountable under the law; this argument will cause problems for some Democrat MPs, especially in the South, but it's the only way forward for reconciliation.

[samgrowth]

I believe the PAD will face court action, Aphisit will say everyone must be held accountable under the law; this argument will cause problems for some Democrat MPs, especially in the South, but it's the only way forward for reconciliation.

I disagree. I think PAD walks free, that's the deal between Mark V & Sondhi.

If Mark V attemp to convict PAD, PAD will raise against, capture the airports and demand Mark V to step down. This have happens before, remember Sondhi was once a true support of Thaksin (calling him the best thing that could have happen to Thailand), but later turned against him.

[henryalleman]

Wonderful news and he at least initially appears to be a decent, honest, sincere and well educated guy, indeed a ray of light in the darkness. I wish him well, he has a tough job ahead of him.

As a guy who was educated at Oxford I wonder whether he will be kinder to falangs living here legally and honestly in LOS. On a purely selfish note it would be great if he allowed at least retirees (and of any age) to own their own houses, albeit with a limited small amount of land say reasonably under 400 square wah or even half of that. Anyway the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future. This is hope at last for the Thai people and I hope a final goodbye to the destructive megalomaniac Toxin (though sadly I somehow doubt it)

Indeed, you are not a litle bit selfish, but very selfish. You are worried about what the impact wil be for yourself. May I remind you that we as farang are not important at all, his sole responsibilty is the welbeing of the Thai public, not the farang.

... and <deleted> are you! The guy wished the new PM well, the Thai people well and also wishing that we may have an easier time of it. What's wrong with that? We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

Agreed, as highlighted above, he says "the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future." selfish?

And what's so wrong about wishing to be allowed to buy a piece of land? If a Thai (or anyone else) comes to Australia/England/USA/... s/he is permitted to work any job for which s/he is qualified, and if s/he possesses or earns sufficient funds, s/he may also buy property... Why would we not wish the same in Thailand? He is not asking for a gift... simply the 'privilege' of being allowed to part with his hard earned cash in exchange for a commodity, land, just the same as any other resident of this fine nation is 'allowed'.... how is that selfish? A "hot cash injection" which, by-the-way, would surely benefit the Thai economy in the long-run... how is that selfish?

"Please explain!?" <--- Pauline Hanson 1996 ---> lol

Agreed, Abhisit's main focus will be on the Thai people and not Farang interests, that is as it should be and as it must be... but "Rayw"s hope that, due to the fact that the new P.M. might understand what it's like to be a "Stranger in a strange land" (having been one himself), we receive slightly fairer treatment in this country (to which we have brought our $) is not much to ask, is it?

henryalleman: I don't say much on this forum but I read a lot, you have said many things which I agree with, and many things that I do not, such is the nature of discussion. However I would hope you try to rethink your stance on this issue.

<--- warfie dons the flame-proof suit ---> (gee, it's getting a bit threadbare...)

Warfie, I thank you for your comment, and you are correct to mention

Agreed, as highlighted above, he says "the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future." selfish?

I confess I overlooked that line, and I only focussed on

On a purely selfish note it would be great if he allowed at least retirees (and of any age) to own their own houses, albeit with a limited small amount of land say reasonably under 400 square wah or even half of that.

and you are correct that I should have read that sentence more than once, and not make an too hasty conclusion.

By this I also offer my excuses to Rayw's to make an too hasty conclusion.

the comment of jackr

... and &lt;deleted&gt; are you! The guy wished the new PM well, the Thai people well and also wishing that we may have an easier time of it. What's wrong with that? We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

I did answer already in another topic.

[animatic]

Thailand needs to keep those voters in the North away from the polls for a good period of time so Thaksin can't buy another election. Thaksin will flail for sure but likely finally fade. Only then could there be some regrouping of Thai society and some desperately needed peace.

You'd make a fine dictator... Of course, I'd rather not have a small percentage of people dictate what everyone else should do. It's all a moot point though, now its the reds time to buy protesters and camp them out in strategic locations that will help hurt the nations economy even further.

By saying "keep those voters away from the polls" I think he mean that by good governance avoid an election and not take away their voting rights.

That's also how I read the comment.

At this point calling an election would mean campaigning,

and there would likely be many little bloodbaths across the country.

Not an appealing prospect...

[Ulysses G.]

Them shutting down the airports for a MONTH wouldn't do as much damage to the country than Toxin would if he was in power.

Sorry Thanh, but by this statement I can only assume that you do not clearly understand the extent of the damage that has been done to this country.

The tourism industry has been absolutely decimated to the tune of billions of baht, there is no high season this year thanks to PAD. To compound this even further they are also responsible for the damage to the air freight and logistics industries, lost foreign direct investment in the manufacturing and real estate sectors, then there is the knock on effect to the service industry to consider too, and that's to say nothing of the medium and long term damage that has to be accounted for.

I suggest that you go speak to some hotel staff who are now facing unemployment to see if they agree with your point of view that "nobody was hurt"'!

I understand (but do not necessarily agree with all of) the PAD's complaints but can not see how anyone can find any moral grounds to condone the closure of the airport.

Its not like it helped them to achieve their objectives, the legal system did that independently of the PAD. The only thing the PAD's actions succeeded in was to bring the entire country to its knees.

Adichai.... care to elaborate on who "The Lady" and "her Son" is?

Please keep in mind that toursim was already down because the sordwide economical crisis. in the long run the occupation of the airport for week has very limited effects on the long run in tourisn and trade.

Do you think the closing of the GM plant in Ranong has anything to do with the occupation of the airports?

Tourism was only down slightly because of the economy. We were kicking butt - selling well - for weeks before the closing of the airport. The PAD ruined tourism this year pretty much by themselves!

[animatic]

Wonderful news and he at least initially appears to be a decent, honest, sincere and well educated guy, indeed a ray of light in the darkness. I wish him well, he has a tough job ahead of him.

As a guy who was educated at Oxford I wonder whether he will be kinder to falangs living here legally and honestly in LOS. On a purely selfish note it would be great if he allowed at least retirees (and of any age) to own their own houses, albeit with a limited small amount of land say reasonably under 400 square wah or even half of that. Anyway the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future. This is hope at last for the Thai people and I hope a final goodbye to the destructive megalomaniac Toxin (though sadly I somehow doubt it)

Indeed, you are not a litle bit selfish, but very selfish. You are worried about what the impact wil be for yourself. May I remind you that we as farang are not important at all, his sole responsibilty is the welbeing of the Thai public, not the farang.

... and &lt;deleted&gt; are you! The guy wished the new PM well, the Thai people well and also wishing that we may have an easier time of it. What's wrong with that? We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

Agreed, as highlighted above, he says "the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future." selfish?

And what's so wrong about wishing to be allowed to buy a piece of land? If a Thai (or anyone else) comes to Australia/England/USA/... s/he is permitted to work any job for which s/he is qualified, and if s/he possesses or earns sufficient funds, s/he may also buy property... Why would we not wish the same in Thailand? He is not asking for a gift... simply the 'privilege' of being allowed to part with his hard earned cash in exchange for a commodity, land, just the same as any other resident of this fine nation is 'allowed'.... how is that selfish? A "hot cash injection" which, by-the-way, would surely benefit the Thai economy in the long-run... how is that selfish?

"Please explain!?" <--- Pauline Hanson 1996 ---> lol

Agreed, Abhisit's main focus will be on the Thai people and not Farang interests, that is as it should be and as it must be... but "Rayw"s hope that, due to the fact that the new P.M. might understand what it's like to be a "Stranger in a strange land" (having been one himself), we receive slightly fairer treatment in this country (to which we have brought our $) is not much to ask, is it?

henryalleman: I don't say much on this forum but I read a lot, you have said many things which I agree with, and many things that I do not, such is the nature of discussion. However I would hope you try to rethink your stance on this issue.

<--- warfie dons the flame-proof suit ---> (gee, it's getting a bit threadbare...)

Warfie, I thank you for your comment, and you are correct to mention

Agreed, as highlighted above, he says "the main thing is for now the well being of this country and its people, and its prosperous future." selfish?

I confess I overlooked that line, and I only focussed on

On a purely selfish note it would be great if he allowed at least retirees (and of any age) to own their own houses, albeit with a limited small amount of land say reasonably under 400 square wah or even half of that.

and you are correct that I should have read that sentence more than once, and not make an too hasty conclusion.

By this I also offer my excuses to Rayw's to make an too hasty conclusion.

the comment of jackr

... and &lt;deleted&gt; are you! The guy wished the new PM well, the Thai people well and also wishing that we may have an easier time of it. What's wrong with that? We are important, especially in the eyes of our immediate Thai families for those that have them, so get off your soapbox

I did answer already in another topic.

All politics is local.

What's more local than you're own home?

ALL politics is gauged via the self interest of the individual voter AND family.

Some have greater national interest vs self interest than others.

(see the TRT PPP PTP political group vs basic subsistance farmer.)

If your wife is thai and thus a voter,

then your comments as a voter's family should also be valid.

If a farang is allowed to buy 1 rai for a personal home,

Maybe with a 'can only be resold to thai hands' clause.

That will bring in retirées and steady pensions, ie economic income from abroad.

it will affect the investment climate positively.

That will help Thailand in general.

Who can deny that the decisions made by politicians affect farangs

on a regular basis and effects their and their families lives.

If you live here you have right of comment in YOUR OWN SELF INTEREST

and your families, as well as the country's.

Often they can be much the same, being tied together so closely

[MyphuketLife]

Quite a stupid arcticle, considering Thaksin/TRT/PPP used the same tactics - buying candidates and parties -- to get to power. Funny how the farang journalists just don't get it

I don't understand your logic, it was not OK for Mr T. but its ok for the new guy? This may come as a shocking thought to you but if its not ok for one, then its not ok for all.

How can you expect better leadership than the Thaksin/TRT/PPP if the new leadership used the same tactics? But like the wise shirt I see every one wearing in this country says "Same Same but Different", same tactics different man, so I guess that makes it all ok right?

[Ricardo]

A pro-Thaksin Shinawatra supporter throws punches at police as Thai legislators attempt to leave Parliament Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand following the formation of a new government. Parliament chose Democrat Abhisit Vejjajiva as the nation's new prime minister following months of political chaos.

Associated Press

Protesters attack a car coming out of parliament with rocks after the voting for the country's prime minister in Bangkok, Thailand Monday, Dec. 15, 2008. Parliament chose opposition party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as Thailand's prime minister Monday following months of political chaos, as supporters of the former government tried to blockade lawmakers in the building.

Associated Press

Pro-Thaksin Shinawatra supporters hurl barricades at the front of Parliament Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand following the formation of a new government. Parliament chose Democrat Abhisit Vejjajiva as the nation's new prime minister following months of political chaos.

Associated Press

The Red-Shirts exercise their right to peaceful protest, in the usual way, if they wore yellow shirts in these photos then there would be a flood of condemnation on TV. Did anyone mention the word 'terrorists' yet ? No, and perhaps correctly, they're just getting carried-away a bit. But at least the police didn't gas them this time.

Ah but MOST of these little parties in the new coalition originaly campaigned and won their seats with a

'We won't join with PPP' as one of their MAIN political platform planks,

and then just promptly ignored that when they saw they would be out in the weeds if they didn't.

Now they are actual back to keeping that original electoral promise,

Rather ironic and drole isn't it?

Quite.

Please keep in mind that toursim was already down because the sordwide economical crisis. in the long run the occupation of the airport for week has very limited effects on the long run in tourisn and trade.

Do you think the closing of the GM plant in Ranong has anything to do with the occupation of the airports?

Agreed, it has much more to do with the world-wide down-turn, and quite a lot to do with the recent policy of the BoT to maintain a Strong-Baht policy, against the best interests of tourism & exporters and the workers formerly employed in those industries.

One might hope that the Democratic Party might try hard, over the next few weeks, to get this message across to the people who are/will-be affected, so that the blame rightly lands on ex-PM Somchai and his self-acknowledged Thaksin-nominee PPP-government.

Why did they pursue this damaging policy to the bitter end ? Hopefully it will now swiftly be abandoned, in whatever face-saving fashion can be devised, by Abhisit.

[henryalleman]

This mans clearly drink too much Chan

A pro-Thaksin Shinawatra supporter throws punches at police as Thai legislators attempt to leave Parliament Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand following the formation of a new government. Parliament chose Democrat Abhisit Vejjajiva as the nation's new prime minister following months of political chaos.

Associated Press

Protesters attack a car coming out of parliament with rocks after the voting for the country's prime minister in Bangkok, Thailand Monday, Dec. 15, 2008. Parliament chose opposition party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as Thailand's prime minister Monday following months of political chaos, as supporters of the former government tried to blockade lawmakers in the building.

Associated Press

Pro-Thaksin Shinawatra supporters hurl barricades at the front of Parliament Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand following the formation of a new government. Parliament chose Democrat Abhisit Vejjajiva as the nation's new prime minister following months of political chaos.

Associated Press

[henryalleman]

"Abhisit proposes to fix that by amending the constitution should he assume the PM post. That could mean yet another referendum." Time magazine interview.

His thoughts from when he thought he was going to walk into power on the back of the last military set up.

Hope he has the balls to tell PAD and the generals/elite clique where to go and change the constitution back to the agreed 97(?) model. If he can achieve that and deliver his promised education and other reforms to the Isaan people then he maybe a very good solution for the present mess. I wish him the best of luck.

Well said +++1

He might have a chance as from what I can see, he is the only one in Politics that has never worn a uniform of some type. Except in his school days.

And that is his biggest benefit, at last someone who have no connection with the military

[cmsally]

Agreed, it has much more to do with the world-wide down-turn, and quite a lot to do with the recent policy of the BoT to maintain a Strong-Baht policy, against the best interests of tourism & exporters and the workers formerly employed in those industries.

One might hope that the Democratic Party might try hard, over the next few weeks, to get this message across to the people who are/will-be affected, so that the blame rightly lands on ex-PM Somchai and his self-acknowledged Thaksin-nominee PPP-government.

Why did they pursue this damaging policy to the bitter end ? Hopefully it will now swiftly be abandoned, in whatever face-saving fashion can be devised, by Abhisit.

Those in the tourism industry would disagree. The plunge in tourism is directly attributable to the airport fiasco.

[MyphuketLife]

If a farang is allowed to buy 1 rai for a personal home,

Maybe with a 'can only be resold to thai hands' clause.

That will bring in retirées and steady pensions, ie economic income from abroad.

it will affect the investment climate positively.

Agreed with one exception, the 'can only be resold to a thai' clause.... That makes for unfair selling, as all Thai's would know that they can offer the Farang less money than they would a Thai for the same land. Generally speaking if only one group of people are allowed to buy the seller is at a disadvantage, and the buyer will take advantage. The buyers will have an untold rule that Farangs get offered X% less than market value. Just like the allot of restaurants and hotels have a Thai price, and a Farang price.

There should be a clause that says you can only sell to a person that is Thai or fits the visa requirements (living in Thailand legally, not on the 30day visa runs) and does not own another personal home...

That will help Thailand in general.

Who can deny that the decisions made by politicians affect farangs

on a regular basis and effects their and their families lives.

If you live here you have right of comment in YOUR OWN SELF INTEREST

and your families, as well as the country's.

Often they can be much the same, being tied together so closely

I must have woken up in a strange world because I agree with your point 100%..... I feel like it’s the twilight zone or something.

[henryalleman]

Abhisit Vejjajiva Elected New Prime Minister Of Thailand,

Elected by who? Certainly not the people

Elected by MP's, who were elected by the people.

When no Party has an absolute majority, coalitions must be formed and whatnot.

It's called a Parliamentary Zystem.

December 23, 2007

News Desk

As the nation completed the much awaited task of voting for their future, it became clear from the unofficial results that their favorite has been People's Power Party. With 80 per cent of the vote counted, the People's Power Party won 230 seats. Rival Democrat Party won 161 seats.

Guess Democracy does not matter to much to the Democrats.

I really do think that you are mis-understanding how this system works.

Don't think so, I'm sure so.

[MyphuketLife]

The Red-Shirts exercise their right to peaceful protest, in the usual way, if they wore yellow shirts in these photos then there would be a flood of condemnation on TV. Did anyone mention the word 'terrorists' yet ? No, and perhaps correctly, they're just getting carried-away a bit. But at least the police didn't gas them this time.

Did they act violent so far? yes.

Should those that did be arrested? yes

Have they been called terrorists yet? no

Why have they not been labeled as terrorists yet???

Because they have not taken over a government building, tv station, seaport, train, 4 airports, shot a TV vans, or kidnapped any police yet.... If we see them turn to such tactics I am sure you will see the flood of condemnation and they will be called terrorists....

But until then you are not beeing fare when trying to compare the two.

[MyphuketLife]

Those in the tourism industry would disagree. The plunge in tourism is directly attributable to the airport fiasco.

That’s what the people I know that work in the tourism industry say. They say they were fine, then the PAD overtook the airport and people canceled trips not all of them, but there have been almost no new bookings since the airport closer. There was new bookings before the closer, but new bookings stopped coming in once the closer happened.

[jbowman1993]

The Red-Shirts exercise their right to peaceful protest, in the usual way, if they wore yellow shirts in these photos then there would be a flood of condemnation on TV. Did anyone mention the word 'terrorists' yet ? No, and perhaps correctly, they're just getting carried-away a bit. But at least the police didn't gas them this time.

Did they act violent so far? yes.

Should those that did be arrested? yes

Have they been called terrorists yet? no

Why have they not been labeled as terrorists yet???

Because they have not taken over a government building, tv station, seaport, train, 4 airports, shot a TV vans, or kidnapped any police yet.... If we see them turn to such tactics I am sure you will see the flood of condemnation and they will be called terrorists....

But until then you are not beeing fare when trying to compare the two.

As I said before, red, yellow - they're both idiots. Lets move on and get this country back on track.

[Ulysses G.]

One might hope that the Democratic Party might try hard, over the next few weeks, to get this message across to the people who are/will-be affected, so that the blame rightly lands on ex-PM Somchai and his self-acknowledged Thaksin-nominee PPP-government.

Oh, you can be sure that they will, but it is a LIE.

The PAD drove out the tourists who were here and scared the rest into canceling their vacations for this year. It is too bad that there is no way to make them pay the poor for their lost income along with the airlines and the hotel industry.

[MyphuketLife]

The Red-Shirts exercise their right to peaceful protest, in the usual way, if they wore yellow shirts in these photos then there would be a flood of condemnation on TV. Did anyone mention the word 'terrorists' yet ? No, and perhaps correctly, they're just getting carried-away a bit. But at least the police didn't gas them this time.

Did they act violent so far? yes.

Should those that did be arrested? yes

Have they been called terrorists yet? no

Why have they not been labeled as terrorists yet???

Because they have not taken over a government building, tv station, seaport, train, 4 airports, shot a TV vans, or kidnapped any police yet.... If we see them turn to such tactics I am sure you will see the flood of condemnation and they will be called terrorists....

But until then you are not beeing fare when trying to compare the two.

As I said before, red, yellow - they're both idiots. Lets move on and get this country back on track.

I agree 100%, red, blue, yellow, black, does not matter if you protest peacefully good for you and trying to change what you see wrong... If you turn to violent actions you should be arrested and jailed for those actions.

I hope the reds stop the violent actions, and just protest peacefully.

[animatic]

Quite a stupid arcticle, considering Thaksin/TRT/PPP used the same tactics - buying candidates and parties -- to get to power. Funny how the farang journalists just don't get it

I don't understand your logic, it was not OK for Mr T. but its ok for the new guy? This may come as a shocking thought to you but if its not ok for one, then its not ok for all.

How can you expect better leadership than the Thaksin/TRT/PPP if the new leadership used the same tactics? But like the wise shirt I see every one wearing in this country says "Same Same but Different", same tactics different man, so I guess that makes it all ok right?

For me it's not so much the means as that is endemic,

but mucvh more HOW they will function in office.

I will suspend disbelief till I see some actions from the Dems.

But I have seen the Thaksin act and it came up wanting.

[animatic]

Agreed, it has much more to do with the world-wide down-turn, and quite a lot to do with the recent policy of the BoT to maintain a Strong-Baht policy, against the best interests of tourism & exporters and the workers formerly employed in those industries.

One might hope that the Democratic Party might try hard, over the next few weeks, to get this message across to the people who are/will-be affected, so that the blame rightly lands on ex-PM Somchai and his self-acknowledged Thaksin-nominee PPP-government.

Why did they pursue this damaging policy to the bitter end ? Hopefully it will now swiftly be abandoned, in whatever face-saving fashion can be devised, by Abhisit.

Those in the tourism industry would disagree. The plunge in tourism is directly attributable to the airport fiasco.

The SECOND plunge in tourism was connected to the airport.

It was long an open question wether there WOULD be a high season or not

most of this fall long before the airports were taken. That was just the final nail.

And for the reasons stated above tanking world economy, high baht high oil/travel costs.

[henryalleman]

Abhisit Vejjajiva Elected New Prime Minister Of Thailand,

Elected by who? Certainly not the people

Elected by MP's, who were elected by the people.

When no Party has an absolute majority, coalitions must be formed and whatnot.

It's called a Parliamentary Zystem.

December 23, 2007

News Desk

As the nation completed the much awaited task of voting for their future, it became clear from the unofficial results that their favorite has been People's Power Party. With 80 per cent of the vote counted, the People's Power Party won 230 seats. Rival Democrat Party won 161 seats.

Guess Democracy does not matter to much to the Democrats.

We in Austria had a coalition of the second and third strongest party in Austria. The third strongest had the PM. I can't recall that some one told that this isn't democratic.

Exactly! Imagine an election contested by one ultra-right wing party and 10 centre-left parties, with the ultra-rights winning the most seats, but still less than a minority. Would it be "good practce" democracy if they were to form the new government? No! But if a coalition of the centre-lefts were to form the government it would be much more democratic. OK, so that's not exactly the case here, but just because the party with the largest number of seats doesn't form the government doesn't make it non-democratic. In addition to the Austrian example, it nearly happened recently in Canada - no-one was complaining!

The same in Flanders, the biggest party is not in the government. One party even made an alliance with another party to have more votes.There was no vote buying but offering mandates to politicians to get their support. In fact its the same as buying MP like Thaksin did.

In my home town in the before last election all the parties join together to keep the biggest party out. We can dislike it or not but this is democracy.

[MyphuketLife]

One might hope that the Democratic Party might try hard, over the next few weeks, to get this message across to the people who are/will-be affected, so that the blame rightly lands on ex-PM Somchai and his self-acknowledged Thaksin-nominee PPP-government.

Oh, you can be sure that they will, but it is a LIE.

The PAD drove out the tourists who were here and scared the rest into canceling their vacations for this year. It is too bad that there is no way to make them pay the poor for their lost income along with the airlines and the hotel industry.

You are right the tourism down turn is a direct result of PAD, anyone with a brain knows it...

But the pad supporters have this irrational thinking:

Breaking laws to get the law breaker out is ok. And since Mr.T was the original law breaker he is responsible for the PAD's law breaking actions. So the drop in tourism is really Mr.T fault, if he would not have broken laws the PAD would not have been "forced" to break laws and overtake the airport and ruin tourism in the short term.

Any good things that came from the PAD actions the credit goes to the PAD leaders, any negative things that came from the PAD actions Mr. T gets credit for.

I love their logic...