Overview Of Thailand Political Turmoil

[Martin]

There is a balanced overview, posted from Bangkok, in the 'Observer' today.

The 'Observer' is one of Britain's top serious Sunday papers, read by a large proportion of the 'middle-class'.

It can be read at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/2...haksin-protests

Sorry. I don't know how you all do those 'link' things, so you may have to copy it and paste it into your browser address box.

The article doesn't tell us much we didn't know, and is carefully worded so that its writer doesn't get expelled under those laws about which we mustn't comment, but most buyers of the 'Observer' will be able to 'read between the lines'.

[sharecropper]

There is a balanced overview, posted from Bangkok, in the 'Observer' today.

The 'Observer' is one of Britain's top serious Sunday papers, read by a large proportion of the 'middle-class'.

It can be read at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/2...haksin-protests

Sorry. I don't know how you all do those 'link' things, so you may have to copy it and paste it into your browser address box.

The article doesn't tell us much we didn't know, and is carefully worded so that its writer doesn't get expelled under those laws about which we mustn't comment, but most buyers of the 'Observer' will be able to 'read between the lines'.

Iinteresting and well written. I particularly liked this quote: In an interview with the BBC, an uncharacteristically touchy Abhisit said he had "not sold his soul", but some of the appointments suggest he may have been forced to take out a heavy mortgage.

[Ulysses G.]

I agree. Great quote!

[Groongthep]

I read the Observer article and found it to be a very concise and accurate summary of the current political situation. While I don't necessarily dislike Abhisit as a man, I very much dislike they way he gained the PM office. He is clearly an intelligent and well educated man but he seems to possess few if any leadership qualities and has yet to lay out any real political platform or specific agenda for addressing the country's many problems. It looks like the same old Thai politics as usual. What Thailand needs right now is a leader who will go on national television and eloquently address the entire nation concentrating on reconciliation and attempt to dispell the fear and resentment of the disenfranchised northeasterners. Unfortunately, I don't think Abhisit is up to the task. He appears much too sheepish and my guess is that he will soon retreat from the cameras as much as he can and not step up and try to fix the many problems which plague the country. Couple these weaknesses with the multitudes of red shirted masses who will continue to despise him until he at least tries to connect with them and I'm afraid the outlook for his political future and Thailand's stability as a whole is not good. I hope he proves me wrong. It's time for the country to start moving forward again.

[Ricardo]

I agree. Great quote!

Very nice turn-of-phrase.

I also enjoyed learning that Thaksin's recent absense, which delays his several court-cases, is due to his "enforced expulsion", rather than his having run away, and that he was convicted "in absentia", surely he was there for the verdict ?

The author also seems to have missed the fact that the 2006-election was annulled, shortly afterwards, and the reasons for that happening.