Democrats Have Many Leaders, Unlike Pheu Thai: Suthep

[Lite Beer]

Democrats have many leaders, unlike Pheu Thai: Suthep

By The Nation on Sunday.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban suggested yesterday that three leading members of the ruling Democrat Party, namely former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra were ready to assume leadership of the party if needed.

Suthep, who is the secretary-general of the party, said this showed the Democrats would never run out of leaders, unlike the opposition Pheu Thai Party. Suthep lashed out at Thaksin Shinawatra for failing to come up with a new leader for Pheu Thai to compete as an alternative PM.

Suthep said the party was still waiting for a signal from Dubai, referring to Thaksin, who is in self-imposed exile in the Middle East, and "can't make up his mind". It showed there was no participation in the selection process of the Pheu Thai leader.

Suthep attacked Thaksin for drumming up "Communism-like sentiment" and encouraging red shirts to attack Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda. He urged the public to protect the monarchy from attacks.

"If you check the red shirts' websites, you will see the attack. This is not acceptable," he said. "If we don't protect the institution, which is the centre of people's hearts, the risk is that we will have civil war.

"But we have to be patient. Although we are not happy about the behaviour of Thais in some provinces, we must let them think, we can't just move in the troops and attack them like in Libya but must fight under the democratic system so the owners of the country can decide."

As for the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Suthep said they felt they could just do anything, including blocking Government House, as long as they had the masses and money, although they only have 300 demonstrators at the moment.

Suthep made the remark while holding a Democrat Party meeting on Samui Island, attended by about 1,000 people. The ruling party plans to open a branch on the tourist island by the end of this month.

The event was attended by 60 new recruits, dubbed as future party leaders.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party held a workshop in Bangkok yesterday to come up with strategies for the upcoming election.

Deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi and other senior party members met with about 50 participants.

The meeting concluded that Bangkok will be a crucial battlefield for the election and could determine who will win the election overall and form the next government.

The meeting said the party had always sought feedback from Bangkokians and the results were encouraging. Bangkokians, the meeting concluded, wanted a "total change" and better quality of life. This included an expansion of the Skytrain and subway network. Costs of living had also become a major concern.

In related news, Deputy House Speaker Nikom Wiratpanich complained about meetings in Parliament failing to get a quorum for three days. He was concerned also about the passing of organic laws needed before the election can proceed.

Nikom said he feared the public would become fed up with MPs' behaviour.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob said that such problems were "normal", given the fact the prime minister had announced that the House would be dissolved soon, so it was "natural" that many MPs rushed back to their constituencies to begin electoral preparations.

"These people were hard-headed when they were young. Now that they're big and powerful, they still behave the same way," said Chai, adding that at the end, the Election Commission (EC) can simply make new rules if the House failed to pass the bills in time.

-- The Nation 2011-04-03

[londonthai]

"we are not happy about the behaviour of Thais in some provinces, we must let them think, we can't just move in the troops and attack them like in Libya" Suthep

yes, he would move troops if he was sure, that soldiers will not give guns to the people and would not start a guerilla war.

situation is different than 20-30 years ago, when it was possible to fight back at 10k partisans (many of them flying students from bangkok) all around the country

Edited April 3, 2011 by londonthai

[ib1b4]

Suthep said we must fight under the democratic system so the OWNERS of the country can decide, which means????

[animatic]

Suthep said we must fight under the democratic system so the OWNERS of the country can decide, which means????

Obviously 'the people', don't try and read something mor insidious into a simple statement. Plus it's been translated by god knows whom.

[Lite Beer]

A post referencing the Monarchy has been removed along with a reply to it.