Snoh Gambling On Pheu Thai Landslide

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Snoh gambling on Pheu Thai landslide

By Piyanart Srivalo,

Jintana Panyaarvudh

The Nation

As Thailand moves into election mode, many politicians are busy looking for "a place to stay" before the polls are held.

In one of the biggest reunions in fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's camp, Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong last week used his 78th birthday celebrations to announce reconciliation with his former boss.

Disillusioned with Thaksin's leadership, Snoh had resigned from the then-ruling Thai Rak Thai Party in February 2006 before joining the anti-Thaksin camp. He even took to the stage of the People's Alliance for Democracy at Sanam Luang during its campaign to oust Thaksin.

Snoh then formed Pracharaj to contest the 2007 general election. His proclaimed policy at his party launch was "political reform and the overthrowing of Thaksin's regime". However, Snoh failed to strengthen Pracharaj and the nine-MP party never joined the ruling coalition.

Snoh justified the reunion by saying he could not stand by idly while the country plunged into turmoil. Once again he seems to be gambling as he expects Thaksin's Pheu Thai to win the election by a landslide and form the next government.

At 78, time is running out for the veteran politician so he is worried about his clan's future: his two sons, one nephew and one niece. Snoh now appears to be alone. Many of his MPs have already defected to other parties. Pracharaj is too small to compete with other parties so he had no choice but to join the party he expects to form the next government.

"Sometimes I have to take the pain," Snoh said to one of his close aides when asked how he could so easily forget about the past conflict between him and Thaksin.

In fact, one of Snoh's sons, Surachat, ran under Pheu Thai's banner in a by-election in Bang Khen district but lost the poll. Snoh will run in the next election under Pheu Thai's banner as well, though he may keep the Pracharaj Party alive, a source close to Snoh said.

Snoh also hopes he can help prime-ministerial hopeful Mingkwan Sangsuwan become premier. Snoh has served as kingmaker in the past, installing three prime ministers: Banharn Silpa-archa, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Thaksin. If Snoh achieves that mission, it will be another feather in the cap for him.

So clearly, the reunion benefits Snoh. What will Thaksin gain?

First things first, Snoh is senior enough to help Thaksin manage and control party MPs. After outspoken politician Chalerm Yoobumrung quit as MP and chairman of the party's MPs, he said his role in the party would be as a "trainer" for the party's parliamentarians. In fact, Chalerm is reportedly trying to found his own faction and gather MPs, especially from the Northeast, to his side.

Thaksin could use Snoh to block Chalerm. In light of the veteran's experience as former secretary-general of the Chart Thai and New Aspiration parties and chief adviser to the Thai Rak Thai Party, MPs have more respect and belief in Snoh than Chalerm.

And since the fight for the leadership of Pheu Thai is not yet over, Snoh could be suitable for the post. We all know current leader Yongyut Wichaidit is just a nominee of Thaksin. Yongyut has also shown his unwillingness to remain in the post and resigned three times. Thaksin has shown clearly that the party leader and his candidate for the premiership are not the same person. So Snoh could be the party leader without becoming prime-ministerial candidate.

Snoh could also replace Chalerm as party MP chairman or even be rewarded with a ministerial post if the kingmaker allows Pheu Thai to rule the country again. The reunion of Thaksin and Snoh is a win-win for both of them. But what does it mean for the country? We will see.

-- The Nation 2011-04-07

[scorecard]

Part quote from above:

"Snoh also hopes he can help prime-ministerial hopeful Mingkwan Sangsuwan become premier. Snoh has served as kingmaker in the past, installing three prime ministers: Banharn Silpa-archa, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Thaksin. If Snoh achieves that mission, it will be another feather in the cap for him."

In his own view he probably does see these past 'events' as a feather in HIS cap.

But for Thailand what has this produced? Nothing! In fact it has kept Thailand in an old style political process which has not taken Thailand forward in any way whatever, and has in fact produced a political mess. Nothing more!

mess t

[hammered]

Old style politics with all the seniors coming out to say they can solve the problems they created. Suwat too. They all agree new politicians lack the experience to solve the problems (created by the seniors)

[Buchholz]

Part quote from above:

"Snoh also hopes he can help prime-ministerial hopeful Mingkwan Sangsuwan become premier. Snoh has served as kingmaker in the past, installing three prime ministers: Banharn Silpa-archa, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Thaksin. If Snoh achieves that mission, it will be another feather in the cap for him."

In his own view he probably does see these past 'events' as a feather in HIS cap.

But for Thailand what has this produced? Nothing! In fact it has kept Thailand in an old style political process which has not taken Thailand forward in any way whatever, and has in fact produced a political mess. Nothing more!

Yes, not exactly something to be proud of or claim as an achievement.

[Buchholz]

Old style politics with all the seniors coming out to say they can solve the problems they created. Suwat too. They all agree new politicians lack the experience to solve the problems (created by the seniors)

Amplified by Sanoh calling Abhisit a "greenhorn" (which I suppose is mildly better than "young whipper-snapper").

And his further comment, “I want the see the return of the pleasant atmosphere we used to enjoy when I and Thaksin (Shinawatra) joined hands to set up the Thai Rak Thai Party."

http://pattayatoday.net/news/sanoh-abhisit-a-greenhorn-pm/

Yeah, a return to the good ol' days, that's what we need.

[animatic]

Part quote from above:

"Snoh also hopes he can help prime-ministerial hopeful Mingkwan Sangsuwan become premier. Snoh has served as kingmaker in the past, installing three prime ministers: Banharn Silpa-archa, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Thaksin. If Snoh achieves that mission, it will be another feather in the cap for him."

In his own view he probably does see these past 'events' as a feather in HIS cap.

But for Thailand what has this produced? Nothing! In fact it has kept Thailand in an old style political process which has not taken Thailand forward in any way whatever, and has in fact produced a political mess. Nothing more!

Yes, not exactly something to be proud of or claim as an achievement.

The negative effects felt by all Thais from Snoh's successful king making are still being felt nation wide even decades after his feathers have been capped.

Chavalit caused the Asian Tiger Crash. Just this alone is enough to brand Snoh's judgement a major detriment to Thailand

Banharn setting UP the pieces for Chavalit to knock down,

with Thaksin as a bubbling up, under card player in it all.

Anyone backing 'the Slippery Eel' is lacking judgment,

from wiki http://en.wikipedia....arn_Silpa-archa

....Many Thais call him all sorts of pejorative names, such as "Mr. ATM", portraying him as a politician who dispenses dirty money under the table to anyone who needs it. His short-lived yet highly inept administration is also believed to have paved the way for the economic crisis of 1997.

We all can see the repercussions of Thaksin being made top of the heap for a period of time. And Snoh thinks once more is a good thing... the old fart's gone potty.

Between him, Banharn and Chavalit, who is the most dino- of the dinosaurs?

Edited April 7, 2011 by animatic

[Buchholz]

Between him, Banharn and Chavalit, who is the most dino- of the dinosaurs?

Remarkably... same, same.

Chavalit takes the title with mere months.

Chavalit = May 15, 1932 = 78

Banharn = August 19, 1932 = 78

Sanoh = April 1, 1933 = 78

[animatic]

Between him, Banharn and Chavalit, who is the most dino- of the dinosaurs?

Remarkably... same, same.

Chavalit takes the title with mere months.

Chavalit = May 15, 1932 = 78

Banharn = August 19, 1932 = 78

Sanoh = April 1, 1933 = 78

I wonder what it was with that particular year or time frame, that raised the similar likes of these 'personages' ????

Maybe because they were born into the world wide financial depression, and raised to scrap constantly for power and wealth, till their last breath?

Edited April 7, 2011 by animatic

[SomTumTiger]

Sanoh has yet to be right about anything in the past 5 years - look for that trend to continue with his "Landslide" prediction. Remember the dinner party he threw, and nobody came too? It was his - I think I should be Premier, because I haven't been Premier yet - party. LOL SANOHFAIL

[whybother]

Between him, Banharn and Chavalit, who is the most dino- of the dinosaurs?

Remarkably... same, same.

Chavalit takes the title with mere months.

Chavalit = May 15, 1932 = 78

Banharn = August 19, 1932 = 78

Sanoh = April 1, 1933 = 78

I wonder what it was with that particular year or time frame, that raised the similar likes of these 'personages' ????

Maybe because they were born into the world wide financial depression, and raised to scrap constantly for power and wealth, till their last breath?

Wasn't the start of the constitutional monarchy in that year?

[nevermindtwo]

It is sad and nearly unbelieveable that old turncoat Snoh, once again, is trying to influence Thai politics for his own and his family's benefit .

For Snoh, "democracy" is an unknown word and he'll never learns of what true democracy consists. Hopefully, his teaming up with Thaksin

won't bear fruit and they'll quickly disappear together in Nirwana.