Pm: Request For House Dissolution Acceptable With Conditions

[HagenvonTronje]

PM: Request for house dissolution acceptable with conditions

BANGKOK, 28 June 2009 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva showed no opposition to the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)’s demand for a House dissolution, saying that he was willing to comply if a fair set of rules was established in exchange.

In regards to another UDD rally scheduled for next month, Prime Minister Abhisit asserted that the demonstration would be allowed as long as it was conducted in compliance with the law. He informed that all members of the government, the opposition and the Senate were currently working speedily to deal with various issues, ranging from the Constitution amendment, political reform and economic stimulation. The Prime Minister thus insisted that everyone should first allow the operation of these issues to move forward.

Whether or not he would dissolve the House to allow for a new election to take place as requested by the UDD, Mr Abhisit explained that Thailand’s democratic system would be exploited if the group could not assure its abstinence from violence against the new administration.

-- NNT 28 June 2009

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[HagenvonTronje]

PM admits Puea Thai’s popularity in Northeast

BANGKOK, 29 June 2009 (NNT) - The Prime Minister acceded that the northeastern region had remained a stronghold of the Puea Thai Party after by-election victories in Sakon Nakhon and Si Sa Ket.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave clarification on the fact that he had not conducted provincial visits in the northern and northeastern regions, saying that he only wished to avoid creating further conflicts, rather than fearing protesters as speculated.

When asked whether fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's phone-ins to local people in Sakon Nakhon and Si Sa Ket had played a key role in winning both by-elections, Mr Abhisit stated that the voters were the ones with the answer.

In response to reports of a campaign to collect one million signatures of people to support a petition seeking a royal pardon for the self-exiled former prime minister, Mr Abhisit reemphasized that the request must be conducted within legal and political procedures.

-- NNT 29 June 2009

article here

[HagenvonTronje]

SIDELINES

By-election defeats emphasise need for a stronger band of coalition partners

By SOPON ONKGARA

The Nation

Published on June 30, 2009

The coalition government got another rude awakening on Sunday when Pheu Thai Party scored another landslide by-election victory in Si Sa Ket Province, a week after a similar triumph in Sakon Nakhon. Is it time for the heavyweights to start mopping their brows, now that Thaksin Shinawatra intends to exhale his hot breathe on their necks soon?

Chieftains of the defeated parties - Bhumi Jai Thai, and Chart Thai Pattana - conceded that it was next to impossible to convince northeastern voters to forget Thaksin who in recent weeks had increased the frequency of his phone-ins to woo support for Pheu Thai candidates.

The victories did not mean that Thaksin could get back home to reclaim political power after a military coup toppled him three years ago. The rally of red-shirt supporters on Saturday night gave him another opportunity to plead for help. He has been languishing abroad, mostly in Dubai, for three years and does not want to face a lonely death in the desert.

The defeats represented a no-contest between the two coalition partners against Pheu Thai. The gap in the number of votes was so vast that it took less than an hour for the results to be known. Pheu Thai ringleaders were overjoyed by the outcome. They challenged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House and hold general elections if he has enough guts.

It has become a joint effort by the red-shirt activists and Pheu Thai Party to bring Thaksin home at any cost. That includes national instability. It is also their goal to unseat Abhisit as soon as possible so that Thaksin can be free from legal troubles, especially a two-year jail term.

The public saw that Thaksin's influence was still considerable. This raises a fearsome possibility that he would again become a political overlord with an authoritarian streak. More dreadful is that there could be full-scale corruption with politicians and cronies taking big cuts and kickbacks from multi-million-baht projects.

Should Abhisit and the coalition partners be frightened by the prospect of losing power in a very near future as their performance in office has not been up to par as shown by a public opinion poll by a university? Not yet. The people, by and large, are not yet in the mood to go to the polling booths now that the country is plagued by unending political, economic and health crises.

Thaksin admirers have voted for Pheu Thai Party candidates in the Northeast, but it remains a far cry for urban people to embrace his return. The disgraced politician in exile has yet to clear his name from 17 pending criminal allegations related to malpractices in office.

On the contrary, the by-election results should have convinced all coalition partners to band together and reduce the bickering over vested interests during the past six months. If they continue to fight for plum projects amidst the public outrage, it means they want to hasten their departure due to growing negative views of those previously sympathetic to the government.

Leaders of the defeated parties should feel that they would be needed more than ever by the coalition core. At the same time, the Democrats can also feel that the people need them as well if they don't want Thaksin back to haunt the country's coffers while his cronies lurk around to plunder national assets again.

What's more, the coalition is not ready for a break-up, despite the haggling over who should get what and how much. The budgetary allocations await final passage after many multi-million-baht projects have been prepared to improve the government image for a longer stay in office.

Still, if the coalition government continues to limp along with an unimpressive performance in tackling chronic and new problems, it would not take long for the people to feel that they might have to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea if their tolerance thins out.

Until then, the government has some more time to show competence in crisis management. The fiscal position doesn't look too good amidst dim prospects for an increase in exports. The poor handling of the type-A (H1N1) flu, which has caused three deaths, does not inspire much confidence as the number of those infected also rises by almost a hundred cases daily.

Abhisit still has some room for manoeuvre while he stands out as the only selling point with credibility and integrity. So far, he has not been shunned by foreign leaders when he holds bilateral talks. What is needed from him is decisiveness in saying "no" when faced with unreasonable propositions.

If the government's popularity rating does not slip further, Thaksin and his cronies will have to wait longer. The euphoria over the by-election victories would not make them feel justified in paving the way for the quick return of the fugitive in exile.

-- The Nation June 30, 2009

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[webfact]

someone seems to have a field day today...

[HagenvonTronje]

someone seems to have a field day today...

Abhisit had today a meeting with the Mathematics Olympiad Team.

Abhisit showed today support for anti-alcohol advocates

Abhisit today met with the Actvist of the national "Safety Week 2009"

Abhisit recieved today examples of educational material of the democracy for thailand campaign

and Abhisit had today a meeting with the Cultural Minister of Korea, ROK

and it is just midday, much more to come.

click on the photos for source and more information.

[hammered]

Red-shirt co-leader Veera Musigapong has been approached to appear on a talk show with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said on Tuesday.

From the Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...-the-twain-meet?

An interesting gambit, and for once from this government a brilliantly leaked PR piece. Puts Veera in an interesting spot.

[HagenvonTronje]

Red-shirt co-leader Veera Musigapong has been approached to appear on a talk show with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said on Tuesday.

From the Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...-the-twain-meet?

An interesting gambit, and for once from this government a brilliantly leaked PR piece. Puts Veera in an interesting spot.

yep, super PR. just good to announce a couple of hours later:

"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday shrugged off the refusal by red-shirt co-leader Veera Musigapong to act as the master of ceremony in the Sunday's talk show to air the prime minister's speech.

"Never mind, the programme will have to invite other people although I have sincerely hoped for Veera to join," he said.

The Nation,

Veera shies away from appearing on talk show with Abhisit

[HagenvonTronje]

Chalerm unconcerns over MPs disqualification

BANGKOK, 29 June 2009 (NNT) – Puea Thai MPs Chairperson Police Captain Chalerm Yubamrung expressed no concern over his MPs being disqualified by the Election Commission in holding shares of companies with state concession.

Police Captian Chalerm said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva must consider this issue carefully. He said if there would be by-elections to replace disqualified MPs and the Puea Thai party could gain more seats, the Prime Minister must pledge not to dissolve the House according to the political courtesy.

Yet, Police Captain Chalerm stated further if the Prime Minister expected that the Government could not beat the Puea Thai in by-elections, he suggested that House dissolution might be better in order to complete everything in only one election.

The Puea Thai MPs Chairperson added that if there would be a fresh election and the Puea Thai party could win and form a new Government, he would proceed with the amnesty bill for the benefit of everyone. He also said that he would bring Mr Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand to help solve the current overwhelming issues in the nation.

-- NNT 29 June 2009

article here