Don't Betray People: Chuan

[Lite Beer]

Don't betray people: Chuan

By Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation on Sunday.

Chief adviser of Democrat Party tells MP hopefuls not to ruin voters' faith in democracy

Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai warned members at a seminar yesterday preparing MP candidates for the election not to spoil people's faith in democracy.

"Don't depress people by condemning democracy. Don't ruin their hope," he said. "Don't let personal evil ruin the [democracy] system. There are some bad people and good people sharing the country."

Chuan, a former Democrat leader and ex-premier, quoted a popular saying of His Majesty King Bhumibol - that it was impossible to make all the people good, but it is important to let good people rule.

Although the party said it had not finalised its list of MP candidates, the event even drew candidates switching from other parties. They include Jumpot Boonyai from Pheu Thai Party, former deputy education minister Chaiyos Chiramethakorn and Nikom Chaokittisophon from Puea Pandin Party, as well as new members like comedian Thanupong Sakthanawat or "Kluay Choenyim".

Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the unfinished selection of constituency and party-list MP candidates would be considered tomorrow.

At the event, titled "Move on with policies for the people", Abhisit stressed readiness to continue or start implementation of policies as a strength of the Democrats once it becomes government, compared to the Pheu Thai Party, which he said might spend time bringing its de facto leader [Thaksin] back to the country without having to serve time in jail.

Abhisit and former ministers talked about policies his government had implemented and would implement for MP candidates to promote during their campaigns.

The policies include those on education, the community's use and management of public land, the price guarantees for crops, community welfare, solving problems in the restive South and drug eradication.

Chuan, one of the highlighted speakers, told the politicians to do their duty as best they could and to consider any criticism they receive.

"Don't worry, no matter if you win the election or not. Losing an election never kills a candidate. In the worst case, a candidate is killed before the election," he said, drawing laughs for his black joke.

One duty of MPs was telling people the truth, he said. "We must be brave and tell people what the obstacles and problems of democracy - the administration system we have chosen - are.

"In the past, we saw the military as a problem, as a military coup occurred occasionally. But [the military] is not the problem nowadays," Chuan said. He cited political business as the current threat to Thai politics.

He told the Democrats to be measured in their words, not to speak carelessly and to stress legitimacy and accountability. However, he warned the candidates of dirty tactics their opponents might use, including sending people disguised as assistants, who might break the law and try to frame some candidates.

Earlier, Thawil Praison noted important laws for the election, and told candidates to be very careful in the people they select to work with.

Party adviser Banyat Bantadtan told the Democrats to follow the poll laws, to educate people so they understand the importance and role of MPs, and understand various problems but have the determination to solve them.

In accordance with Abhisit's remark, Banyat told the Democrats to tell people the upcoming election is very important, as it will determine the direction of the country and its politics.

Abhisit left the event early yesterday with a dose of the flu. His spokesman Thepthai Senapong said it was caused by Abhisit doing a lot of travelling, changing weather and lacking proper rest.

-- The Nation 2011-05-15

[krangeek]

Chief adviser of Democrat Party tells MP hopefuls not to ruin voters' faith in democracy

[unquote]

Is this a joke?

[tomyummer]

Speaking to the wrong country sir.

[Payboy]

"In the past, we saw the military as a problem, as a military coup occurred occasionally. But [the military] is not the problem nowadays," Chuan said

Yeah right - they're the solution.

[SomTumTiger]

Chuan is one of the few decent folks in the sh$tty sewer of Thai politics. You guys would do well to remember that, before criticizing his words so readily.

[Payboy]

In 1987, when Chuan was Parliament Speaker, his younger brother Raluek Leekpai (ระลึก หลีกภัย) was charged with embezzling 231.8 million THB (approx. 9 million USD in 1987) from Thai Farmers Bank.[28] Raluek had been an executive at TFB. Responding to accusations in Parliament, Chuan publicly defended the innocence of his brother. Raluek fled the country, and only returned to Thailand in 2004 after the statute of limitations expired on his crime and he couldn't be prosecuted. He had been on the run as a fugitive in Taiwan.

Ask some Thai's about Chang Tha See.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Payboy

[Helloo]

Chuan just looks like a decent guy, just like any other Democrat members. They were trained before joining politics. My family knows a lot of former MPs and former Ministers. Their words are very well selected and they often sound very admirable. I personally quite like many Democrat members due to their well-spoken speeches but I'm not sure if they can keep their words.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Helloo

[rubl]

In 1987, when Chuan was Parliament Speaker, his younger brother Raluek Leekpai (ระลึก หลีกภัย) was charged with embezzling 231.8 million THB (approx. 9 million USD in 1987) from Thai Farmers Bank.[28] Raluek had been an executive at TFB. Responding to accusations in Parliament, Chuan publicly defended the innocence of his brother. Raluek fled the country, and only returned to Thailand in 2004 after the statute of limitations expired on his crime and he couldn't be prosecuted. He had been on the run as a fugitive in Taiwan.

Ask some Thai's about Chang Tha See.

K. Raluek may have been guilty, but no one ever accused k. Chuan that he was an accomplice or had even known about what his brother had been up to. Stay cool and keep whistling

[rubl]

Chuan just looks like a decent guy, just like any other Democrat members. They were trained before joining politics. My family knows a lot of former MPs and former Ministers. Their words are very well selected and they often sound very admirable. I personally quite like many Democrat members due to their well-spoken speeches but I'm not sure if they can keep their words.

K. Chuan 'just looks' like a decent guy? The poorest MP and PM Thailand ever had? No offence, but go and defame another Thai politician, enough choice

[Payboy]

In 1987, when Chuan was Parliament Speaker, his younger brother Raluek Leekpai (ระลึก หลีกภัย) was charged with embezzling 231.8 million THB (approx. 9 million USD in 1987) from Thai Farmers Bank.[28] Raluek had been an executive at TFB. Responding to accusations in Parliament, Chuan publicly defended the innocence of his brother. Raluek fled the country, and only returned to Thailand in 2004 after the statute of limitations expired on his crime and he couldn't be prosecuted. He had been on the run as a fugitive in Taiwan.

Ask some Thai's about Chang Tha See.

K. Raluek may have been guilty, but no one ever accused k. Chuan that he was an accomplice or had even known about what his brother had been up to. Stay cool and keep whistling

Chuan publicly defended the innocence of his brother. Raluek fled the country

Chuan Leekpai government scandals:

Rakkiat Sukhthana, Health Minister, was charged with taking a five million THB (125,000 USD) bribe from a drug firm and forcing state hospitals to buy medicine at exorbitant prices. After being found guilty, he jumped bail and went into hiding.

Suthep Thaugsuban, Minister of Transport and Communications, whose brokering of illegal land deals caused the fall of the Chuan 1 government, was linked to abuse of funds in setting up a co-operative in his southern constituency of Surat Thani.

The "edible fence" seed scandal, in which collusion led to massive overpricing of seeds distributed to rural areas. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture was forced to resign.

The Salween logging scandal, where up to 20,000 logs were felled illegally in the Salween forest in Mae Hong Son. Some of them turned up in the compound of the Democrat party’s office in Phichit province.

Sanan Kajornprasart, Interior Minister, as well as 8 other cabinet ministers were found to have understated their declared assets. Sanan was later barred by the Constitution Court from politics for 5 years.

Chuan himself was found by the National Counter-Corruption Commission to have undeclared shareholdings in a rural cooperative.

Edited May 18, 2011 by Payboy

[rubl]

In 1987, when Chuan was Parliament Speaker, his younger brother Raluek Leekpai (ระลึก หลีกภัย) was charged with embezzling 231.8 million THB (approx. 9 million USD in 1987) from Thai Farmers Bank.[28] Raluek had been an executive at TFB. Responding to accusations in Parliament, Chuan publicly defended the innocence of his brother. Raluek fled the country, and only returned to Thailand in 2004 after the statute of limitations expired on his crime and he couldn't be prosecuted. He had been on the run as a fugitive in Taiwan.

Ask some Thai's about Chang Tha See.

K. Raluek may have been guilty, but no one ever accused k. Chuan that he was an accomplice or had even known about what his brother had been up to. Stay cool and keep whistling

Chuan publicly defended the innocence of his brother. Raluek fled the country

Chuan Leekpai government scandals:

Rakkiat Sukhthana, Health Minister, was charged with taking a five million THB (125,000 USD) bribe from a drug firm and forcing state hospitals to buy medicine at exorbitant prices. After being found guilty, he jumped bail and went into hiding.

Suthep Thaugsuban, Minister of Transport and Communications, whose brokering of illegal land deals caused the fall of the Chuan 1 government, was linked to abuse of funds in setting up a co-operative in his southern constituency of Surat Thani.

The "edible fence" seed scandal, in which collusion led to massive overpricing of seeds distributed to rural areas. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture was forced to resign.

The Salween logging scandal, where up to 20,000 logs were felled illegally in the Salween forest in Mae Hong Son. Some of them turned up in the compound of the Democrat party’s office in Phichit province.

Sanan Kajornprasart, Interior Minister, as well as 8 other cabinet ministers were found to have understated their declared assets. Sanan was later barred by the Constitution Court from politics for 5 years.

Chuan himself was found by the National Counter-Corruption Commission to have undeclared shareholdings in a rural cooperative.

K. Chuan had received some shares with a total value of around 250,000B as far as I remember, it's unclear he really knew that had happened. A deadly sin, especially compared to the billions k. Thaksin had forgotten about in an honest mistake in 2001 which required some pressure to courts to get accepted (the mistake that is).

Anyway your info seems to have been copied straight from WIKI, so let's just add the link for fair usage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuan_Leekpai

Edited May 18, 2011 by rubl

[Payboy]

Some people really need to get over their Thaksin obsession, Thaksin was not mentioned anywhere on this thread until the previous post.

Back to Chuan - try asking some Thai's about Chang Tha See.

[homeslice]

Meanwhile.....back at the oasis.......