Mingkwan Not Dropped From Partylist MPs: Pheu Thai

[webfact]

Mingkwan not dropped from partylist MPs: Pheu Thai

By Olarn Lertrattanadamrongkul

The NatIon

Pheu Thai has dismissed recent reports that the names of Mingkwan Saengsuwan and two of General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's close aides have been omitted from the party-list MP candidates for the upcoming election.

Mingkwan, whose ambitions of vying for premiership were nipped in the bud by fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, and about 20 MPs close to him and Chavalit did not show up at the launch of the party's political campaign platform and its candidates on Saturday.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said only Chavalit and General Jiradej Kacharat had submitted their resignations from the party but no one else including Gen Panlop Pinmanee. "If Mingkwan wants to run as party-list MP candidate, we can provide a place for him as he is a current MP," Prompong said.

He said Mingkwan had informed the party in advance that he would be occupied with some business and hence would not be able to attend the launch event on Saturday. Besides Mingkwan, two of Chavalit's close aides - Sornchai Montriwat and Chavalit Witchayasut - were also rumoured to have defected from the party. Mingkwan and his faction are being watched closely if they are going to form a new party with Chavalit.

Meanwhile, Pichit Chuenban, Thaksin's personal lawyer, is on the list of party-list MP candidates. Pichit was sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court after allegedly handing out a bag of cookies stuffed with Bt2 million to court officials.

Pol General Pracha Promnok, a former Peau Pandin party-list MP, will also apply as a Pheu Thai member. A source said Pheu Thai leaders would also talk to Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong into teaming up with the party after reports that he had changed his mind.

Among people in the list of Pheu Thai party-list MP candidates are Jatuporn Promphan, Natthawut Saikua, Arisman Pongruangrong, Kokaew Pikulthong, Wisa Kanthap, Chinawat Habunpad.

Pheu Thai MP from Chiang Mai, Surapong Towichakchaikul, said the fact that Mingkwan did not show up yesterday at the party's event made him believe the reports that he would form a new party with Chavalit and Snoh. He said if this is the case, Mingkwan should leave the party in good faith and not resign on the last day of MP candidacy registration. "I wish Mingkwan has a sense of good sportsmanship. I wish that he form a new party without any hassle. We do not have any intention of expelling him. We only have best wishes for him. But once he has formed a new party, he should not copy Pheu Thai Party's policies," he said.

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party revealed that a poll conducted by it involving 2,500 respondents in five regions across the country, following the unveiling of the party's policy on Saturday, showed that more than 71 per cent will vote for the Opposition party, Prompong said.

Of the respondents, 83 per cent said they had listened to the party announcement of its policies and 81 per cent said they believe the party is capable of translating its policies into action. Prompong added that more polls will be conducted after the party unveils more of its election campaign policies.

-- The Nation 2011-04-25

[whybother]

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party revealed that a poll conducted by it involving 2,500 respondents in five regions across the country, following the unveiling of the party's policy on Saturday, showed that more than 71 per cent will vote for the Opposition party, Prompong said.

Of the respondents, 83 per cent said they had listened to the party announcement of its policies and 81 per cent said they believe the party is capable of translating its policies into action. Prompong added that more polls will be conducted after the party unveils more of its election campaign policies.

I assume the 5 regions were all in the North East, so it's definitely not a reflection of how the country as a whole will vote.

Interesting that 81 percent believe the party is capable of translating its policies into action but only 71 percent will vote for them.

[animatic]

...Meanwhile, Pichit Chuenban, Thaksin's personal lawyer, is on the list of party-list MP candidates. Pichit was sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court after allegedly handing out a bag of cookies stuffed with Bt2 million to court officials.....

....among people in the list of Pheu Thai party-list MP candidates are Jatuporn Promphan, Natthawut Saikua, Arisman Pongruangrong, Kokaew Pikulthong, Wisa Kanthap, Chinawat Habunpad....

So much for the worries of those 40 MPs from Issan about the PTP getting too close to the Red Shirts.

And how about fighting corruption.... Pichit in and do your share!

Edited April 25, 2011 by animatic

[cougar52]

...among people in the list of Pheu Thai party-list MP candidates are Jatuporn Promphan, Natthawut Saikua, Arisman Pongruangrong, Kokaew Pikulthong, Wisa Kanthap, Chinawat Habunpad....

Arisman is not even in the country, he is a fugitive right now just like Thaksin, how can he even be a candidate????

It boggles my mind, how the laws work and don't work in this country.

[hyperdimension]

Among people in the list of Pheu Thai party-list MP candidates are Jatuporn Promphan, Natthawut Saikua, Arisman Pongruangrong, Kokaew Pikulthong, Wisa Kanthap, Chinawat Habunpad.

It feels like a black comedy - in one way it's comically funny, but in another way it's scary that people would actually vote for a political party that invites terrorists, law breakers and unashamed fugitives to together run the country and that they actually have some chance of winning (at least via a coalition).

"We have 1 million litre of gasoline":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M9XiJoWSSs

Arisman's escape from SC Park Hotel:

Edited April 25, 2011 by hyperdimension

[Robby nz]

Was in a very conjested Mo-Chit bus station on the 12th of this month and there were people handing out pamphlets with Mingkwan and others pics on the front.

Didnt bother getting one as my Thai reading skills are pretty much confined to menus but they were scattered everywhere on the floor.

Wondered if it was his constituancy or if it was some sort of statement of intent to abdicate from PTP or something of the sort.

Anyone else come accross them?

[yoshiwara]

Saying that you are going to win more than 71% of the vote is an advance trailer of violence when you lose.

[Ricardo]

One must feel a certain sympathy for poor Mingkwan, who thought he was encouraged by his leader that he might be 'in the running' for PM, but is now told he needs a sense of good sportmanship, and should form a new party without any hassle if he wants to, by some of those whom he sought to lead.

But he is not to copy those policies, which he had adopted and espoused and argued-for, as recently as the big debate in Parliament, if he decides to leave Pheu Thai. Why ever not ? Should he simply abandon his former views, because it might detract from the glory, of whoever does finally get the 'golden touch' ?

This public humbling must be very embarrassing, for the leader of one of TRT/PPP/PTP's factions, what is he to do ? Will he resign & take his followers elsewhere like Newin or Chavalit, and hope to become part of a governimg-coalition after the election, or will he eat 'humble-pie' in the hope of being thrown a bone later-on ?

PTP doesn't appear to be trying too hard, to mollify him, or keep him onboard. Perhaps he is serving as a useful object-lesson, for anyone else 'amongst-the-ranks', who is tempted not to 'follow-the-leader'. Politics is all about service, no ?

[slapout]

With the consistent background of skulduggery of this groups candidates and their supporters, you could wonder how/where the could get any significant number of votes. Logical thinking could lead one to think that this bunch of misfits from top to bottom would have no chance of being a part of the garbage pickup team, much less a national government. Convicts, absconders from justice, those enjoying immunity, bail jumpers, and then throw in the various charges pending and probably a multitude of other more serious offenses. This group could be the ugly of the potential Thai government while the other groups could be called the good and the bad. Too bad there is not a similar type solution as the movie depicted.