Can Pheu Thai's Nominee Yingluck Really Convince The Thai Public?

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Can Pheu Thai's nominee really convince the Thai public?

By The Nation

Yingluck Shinawatra has jumped in at the political deep end and it will take honesty and determination to make people believe that she is really her own woman

Yingluck Shinawatra was named the Pheu Thai Party's prime minister candidate because of her last name. It's as simple as that, so the issue of "qualifications" should be out of the question. The most interesting part of her selection as party list "Number One" has to do with the controversial prospect of her big brother's return to Thailand and what she will do about it.

Yingluck made her first political appearance on Monday with a cheeky address of what would become the most controversial issue if she takes Thailand's helm after July 3. She suggested Thaksin's return to the country would depend on who wins the next general election. It was a daring strategic move, especially after her biggest rival, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has tried hard to drill home the point that the election should not be about one man.

Yingluck will find it almost impossible to show that this election is not about Thaksin, who has hired foreign consultants to clear his name and discredit Thailand's powers-that-be, and whose fingerprints were suspected as being in the country's bloody political turmoil over the past two years. Yingluck's slogan that "We are here to fix, and not take a revenge" will go against that kind of a backdrop.

Yingluck has promised that her party will abide by the law and not do anything for the sake of one person. The word "freedom" and "equity" were thrown out more than once during her statement on Monday. Action, however, will speak louder than those words.

Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit has tried to dismiss the prevalent perception that Thaksin was behind the Yingluck nomination decision, saying she was the choice of a majority of participants at a party meeting. He insisted there had been no outside interference. Even adamant Pheu Thai supporters will find Prompong hard to believe.

Yingluck said she volunteered for the top post, and that she must therefore prioritise benefits for the people. She said it was time to overcome conflicts so that the country could move forward again. Again, she was saying what all politicians in the land have been saying, without giving slightest hope to the Thai people.

An immense task awaits Yingluck, and that is to convince the Thai public that the "overcome the conflicts" pledge is for real. She entered the meeting room of the Pheu Thai Party headquarters to a loud applause, but outside the circle of party supporters, scepticism and cynicism must be everywhere. And for Yingluck to really "succeed" in politics, she will need to win over the doubters, not the people who embrace her because of her "Shinawatra" surname.

The jury is still out on Yingluck. Half of Thailand views her brother with mistrust, although he was democratically elected in a landslide poll triumph and was ousted by the Army in a controversial way. Political violence in Thailand can be attributed to many factors, but her brother can never deny his role in it.

Thaksin had his chance to make this country great. But he was not honest, and one thing led to another. While it would be unfair to blame him for all the misfortunes befalling Thailand, it will be a wrong start for Yingluck to assume that the country's problems are down to "injustice" against her family or Thaksin's supporters.

It will be impossible for Yingluck to shake off the "Shinawatra" shadow even if she wished to. She is Thaksin's youngest sister, now is running for the top office under the banner of a party he virtually owns. But now that she has decided to enter politics democratically, she will be given a chance if she decides to give herself a chance. She must have seen all the lessons and she must be able to make her own judgement on what is good or bad for Thailand. That's never an easy thing, but her reconciliation vow requires nothing but.

-- The Nation 2011-05-19

[swillowbee]

... of course she can convince the Thai public ... the simple public, for whom Yingluck = Thaksin.

... Thailand has a long history of electing "celebrity politicians" ... this seems a simple decision to a very large constituency of poor, long-disenfranchised Thai voters who Thaksin gave a voice ... and power ... and I doubt that power will ever be given back without a fight.

[AleG]

... of course she can convince the Thai public ... the simple public, for whom Yingluck = Thaksin.

... Thailand has a long history of electing "celebrity politicians" ... this seems a simple decision to a very large constituency of poor, long-disenfranchised Thai voters who Thaksin gave a voice ... and power ... and I doubt that power will ever be given back without a fight.

I don´t think the issue is taking power from those people, but having them use it responsibly.

[OZEMADE]

She will give them a run for their MONEY.

[swillowbee]

... of course she can convince the Thai public ... the simple public, for whom Yingluck = Thaksin.

... Thailand has a long history of electing "celebrity politicians" ... this seems a simple decision to a very large constituency of poor, long-disenfranchised Thai voters who Thaksin gave a voice ... and power ... and I doubt that power will ever be given back without a fight.

I don´t think the issue is taking power from those people, but having them use it responsibly.

... agree ... but, with the levels of education and Thai cultural values as we know them, how likely is that?

... some countries are prepared to step across the threshhold to responsible self-determination ... some are not ... I fear a spiral here ... an ugly one.

[lensta]

... of course she can convince the Thai public ... the simple public, for whom Yingluck = Thaksin.

... Thailand has a long history of electing "celebrity politicians" ... this seems a simple decision to a very large constituency of poor, long-disenfranchised Thai voters who Thaksin gave a voice ... and power ... and I doubt that power will ever be given back without a fight.

Well she has convinced me, what an improvement to the usual sleazy looking selection of Thai politicians.

Have you seen the 30 year old pictures they bring out and put up everywhere

[geriatrickid]

She doesn't need to convince anyone. All she needs to do is to offer hope and the possibility of change for the better. This is how President Obama was elected. It's how a socialist party became official opposition in Canada. It's why right wing parties in western europe are surging. People want change and if they are frustrated enough, they will embrace it, even if it doesn't make sense to the "experts".

[whybother]

She doesn't need to convince anyone. All she needs to do is to offer hope and the possibility of change for the better. This is how President Obama was elected. It's how a socialist party became official opposition in Canada. It's why right wing parties in western europe are surging. People want change and if they are frustrated enough, they will embrace it, even if it doesn't make sense to the "experts".

The only thing she is offering is change back to the past.

[rubl]

She doesn't need to convince anyone. All she needs to do is to offer hope and the possibility of change for the better. This is how President Obama was elected. It's how a socialist party became official opposition in Canada. It's why right wing parties in western europe are surging. People want change and if they are frustrated enough, they will embrace it, even if it doesn't make sense to the "experts".

The only thing she is offering is change back to the past.

"All for one and more for me"

[Siripon]

She doesn't need to convince anyone. All she needs to do is to offer hope and the possibility of change for the better. This is how President Obama was elected. It's how a socialist party became official opposition in Canada. It's why right wing parties in western europe are surging. People want change and if they are frustrated enough, they will embrace it, even if it doesn't make sense to the "experts".

Obama has oratorial skills, his powerful voice, combined with rhetoric and the yearning for change, helped him win the election.

So far Yinglak has shown only a soft voice.

But that may be all that is required, after the aggressive voices of the red shirts, Thaksin employs the sensitive and reasonable voice of a woman to woo the undecided, and also female voters.

After the election, if won, perhaps Pheua Thai will announce that Yinglak feels too despondent after all the merciless attacks on her to continue, and General Sanan is voted in as PM instead,(thereby guaranteeing support for an amnesty for Thaksin from the coalition parties).

[Crushdepth]

. But now that she has decided to enter politics democratically

Democratically? You mean PT members were given a choice?

[Arkady]

Deleted by Arkady

Edited May 20, 2011 by Arkady

[scorecard]

She doesn't need to convince anyone. All she needs to do is to offer hope and the possibility of change for the better. This is how President Obama was elected. It's how a socialist party became official opposition in Canada. It's why right wing parties in western europe are surging. People want change and if they are frustrated enough, they will embrace it, even if it doesn't make sense to the "experts".

Obama has oratorial skills, his powerful voice, combined with rhetoric and the yearning for change, helped him win the election.

So far Yinglak has shown only a soft voice.

But that may be all that is required, after the aggressive voices of the red shirts, Thaksin employs the sensitive and reasonable voice of a woman to woo the undecided, and also female voters.

After the election, if won, perhaps Pheua Thai will announce that Yinglak feels too despondent after all the merciless attacks on her to continue, and General Sanan is voted in as PM instead,(thereby guaranteeing support for an amnesty for Thaksin from the coalition parties).

Your last paragrpah is very interesting.

Sanan is a very cunning dinosaur who has contributed very little to Thailand over something like 25 years in politics, but somehow has managed to be 'up front'. He's been convicted for electoral fraud with no embarrassment at all, he embraces nepotism, he's very thick skinned, he has just brushed off all criticisms over the years, and he's the style of politician and the political era that Thailand desperately needs to totally ditch.

In fact until these characters are gone the capable sincere Thais (and there are many of them) don't want to join political parties and contribute to the development of Thailand.

For several months Sanan claimed he was on a personal crusade of 'reconciliation', meeting all the dinsoaurs and supposedly getting their buy-in and he even visited thaksin abroad and supposedly got thaksins buy-in.

But, Sanan has never ever explained: what he means by reconciliation, his planned process to achieve reconciliation nor what he would see as success at achieving reconciliation. Not one word.

Some would argue that 'reconciliation' means addressing and fixing the severe imbalances that do exist across the Thai population, equal justice for all regardless of family name or affiliations etc. Sanan has never mentioned any of this, not one word.

On the other hand, others would claim that 'reconciliation' means we all forgive each other, cancel the outcomes of all the (political etc.) court cases of the past few years (including cancelling the ban of the TRT 111 and more), cancel the pending cases, and return to the 2006 constitution, so that the dinosaurs and their leeches can all quickly get back to the feeding trough, and nothing more. My guess is that this is what Sanan sees as 'reconsiliation'.

In other words, we go backwards 20 years, very sad for Thailand.

Edited May 20, 2011 by scorecard

[steveromagnino]

Sanan is a very cunning dinosaur who has contributed very little to Thailand over something like 25 years in politics, but somehow has managed to be 'up front'. He's been convicted for electoral fraud with no embarrassment at all, he embraces nepotism, he's very thick skinned, he has just brushed off all criticisms over the years, and he's the style of politician and the political era that Thailand desperately needs to totally ditch.

In fact until these characters are gone the capable sincere Thais (and there are many of them) don't want to join political parties and contribute to the development of Thailand.

For several months Sanan claimed he was on a personal crusade of 'reconciliation', meeting all the dinsoaurs and supposedly getting their buy-in and he even visited thaksin abroad and supposedly got thaksins buy-in.

But, Sanan has never ever explained: what he means by reconciliation, his planned process to achieve reconciliation nor what he would see as success at achieving reconciliation. Not one word.

Some would argue that 'reconciliation' means addressing and fixing the severe imbalances that do exist across the Thai population, equal justice for all regardless of family name or affiliations etc. Sanan has never mentioned any of this, not one word.

On the other hand, others would claim that 'reconciliation' means we all forgive each other, cancel the outcomes of all the (political etc.) court cases of the past few years (including cancelling the ban of the TRT 111 and more), cancel the pending cases, and return to the 2006 constitution, so that the dinosaurs and their leeches can all quickly get back to the feeding trough, and nothing more. My guess is that this is what Sanan sees as 'reconsiliation'.

In other words, we go backwards 20 years, very sad for Thailand.

Well, the type of politician you speak of is the old style faction jao por leader, who is in politics mostly to support either winning government contracts for friends etc or for protecting personal interests, such as monopoly transport, construction, infrastructure or telecoms/media type monopoly/oligopoly business.

I think Sanan and his dinosaur ilk would die out except that TRT proved you can just coopt them into your own party, and keep them going.

Looking at PT party list, interesting to see so many would be extinct reptiles in the list - I just have time to do the first 8 but no doubt someone can fill in the rest. Not bad, 1 actual politician in the first 8.... could be worse....could be zero!

1. Yingluck Shinawatra NORTHERN DINOSAUR

2. Yongyuth Wichaidit SOUTHERN DINOSAUR

3. Chalerm Yoobamrung DINOSAUR THONBURI

4. Snoh Thienthong BRONTOSAUR SAKAEW

5. Pracha Promnok MEGASAURAUS ISSAAN

6. Plodprasop Suraswadi - Actual politician

7. Jatuporn Promphan RED SHIRT

8. Natthawut Saikua RED SHIRT

[siampolee]

the actual Dinosaur species are actually known as Corruptuss grabbus all vulgaris. An interesting sub species belonging to the leech family.

below is their habitat.