New Politics Set To Pull Out Of Upcoming Thai Polls

[webfact]

New Politics set to pull out of upcoming polls

By SATHIEN VIRIYAPANPONGSA

THE NATION

The New Politics Party (NPP) looks likely to withdraw from the upcoming general elections because it does not believe it can do well, especially as its partner, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), has decided to launch a "no-vote" campaign.

It has been four weeks since the party held its weekly press conference and sources in the party said potential candidates had all but abandoned their campaign. The party is expected to make an announcement soon that the yellow shirts and their political party, NPP, have decided to stay away from the battle between the red shirts and the government, which is becoming fiercer, sources said.

The PAD will also form a board to launch the no-vote campaign in a move to bring onboard more people who are not directly linked to the yellow-shirt movement. Discussions are also taking place as to the possibility of changing PAD's current five-leader structure and have it replaced with a board of leaders.

These decisions were made during a meeting of the five PAD leaders and NPP executives. One of PAD's five leaders is Somsak Kosaisuk, who is also leader of the NPP.

Sources said they expect the battle between the ruling Democrat Party and the red shirts to intensify, and that the yellow shirts would not want to take bullets on behalf of the red shirts by competing in polls that would put their movement at a disadvantage.

Instead, the sources said, they will aim at gathering enough "no-votes" in order to push for political reform after the election. The new PAD board is also expected to push for reforms through street protests after the election. The group aims to have 50 per cent of the voters to cast a no-vote during the upcoming elections.

NPP secretary-general and former PAD spokesperson Suriyasai Katasila said the party was thinking of pulling out because it did not want to become an enemy of the PAD.

Suriyasai reckoned that if the party were attacked by the PAD-mouthpiece, the ASTV satellite television, the NPP might not win even a single seat. He also admitted that there were people who were loyal to both the PAD and the ruling Democrat Party.

PAD spokesperson Panthep Puapongphan said the alliance would play the least visible role after a no-vote coalition is formed.

-- The Nation 2011-04-15

[Thailand]

If they look like idiots, walk like idiots, talk like idiots, chances are they are ---------.

[virtualtraveller]

One further step down the path to irrelevance. NPP and PAD are history, apart from the odd sad under-attended rallies.

Pity, the country is going to need them if and when a Puea Thai Govt start making bold moves to bring back Thaksin.

[whybother]

The PAD are probably right about the need for political reform, but that can't be done from outside parliament. Unfortunately, it needs to be done by the politicians.

I would doubt that any PTP supporters would support the PAD's "No vote" campaign, even if they believed that there should be political reform.

There is little chance of getting 50% "No vote". They would be lucky to get 5%, and would more likely get 0.5%.

The Democrats will be quite happy with the NPP pulling out. People that would have voted NPP wouldn't necessarily "vote no", so are now more likely to vote Democrat.

[Bagwan]

Quote :- NPP secretary-general and former PAD spokesperson Suriyasai Katasila said the party was thinking of pulling out because it did not want to become an enemy of the PAD.

You don't automatically become an enemy just because you have a different point of view. It seems that NPP are happy to deny themselves freedom of expression and action. If they see fit to deny themselves basic freedoms it seems logical that they would also deny it to others, The corollary is that political maturity and an understanding of the nature of democracy is still a long way off.

[Skywalker69]

Right now people around the World is dying for the right to wote. If you don´t wote you don´t have the right to complain.

[yoshiwara]

NPP and PAD are not doing very well and their strike out for award as patriots of the month up at the border went nowhere in the end.

A No/Abstention vote would likely weaken the Democrats, but PAD have given up on the Democrats and would rather claim the mantle of representing all the non-voters as theirs. Why? because for opposite reasons to the reds they would like to force the army into action. The reds want it in order to help claim the moral high ground (don't laugh) and PAD because they want what they consider to be the moral high ground in power. Like the reds last year both PAD and the NPP have lost political momentum. All of them reds/NPP/PAD will tempt to rev it up once the election is called but their moments have probably passed. For Thaksin all pretence about supporting a 'movement' has gone. Its all about him now. The NPP and PAD are about to be rolled over in the forthcoming electoral fight.

[animatic]

Good for the Dems for sure.

The No Vote will be inconsequential.

So some good news for a change.

Now if the put forward Payup or Oak for PM it's happy days.

[Robby nz]

Only way PAD can come back now is if PT win the election and start to put things in place to bring Thaksin back, as they would.

Then PAD will be back with rallies that will make the reds go green, with envy.

[junkofdavid2]

Watch ASTV, their rallies are so full that every single square inch of my TV screen is filled with people. Don't you know?

Oops! Just checked again now... they take extreme close up shots of the "crowd" of the "several" dancing grannies so it looks "full".

.

Edited April 16, 2011 by junkofdavid2

[Oberkommando]

Then PAD will be back with rallies that will make the reds go green, with envy.

Then they will have to learn the hard way to respect the will of the people and the election result.

[Robby nz]

Then PAD will be back with rallies that will make the reds go green, with envy.

Then they will have to learn the hard way to respect the will of the people and the election result.

As the reds will do if the Dems win...right?

[Ricardo]

If they look like idiots, walk like idiots, talk like idiots, chances are they are ---------.

Erm ... Red Shirts ?

But seriously, unless PTP win a massive majority in the election, Thaksin is amnestied all his alleged-crimes both pre & post-coup, and returns to take direct-control of Thaksinland Thailand, the PAD/NPP are just a minor pressure-group (with some media to appear on) now.

[bangkokeddy]

Only way PAD can come back now is if PT win the election and start to put things in place to bring Thaksin back, as they would.

Then PAD will be back with rallies that will make the reds go green, with envy.

In case the reds/PTP would win the yellows will go green, with envy.