Thailand's Election Race Heats Up

[webfact]

Thailand's election race heats up

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, May 19, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's election battle got into full swing on Thursday as a planned opposition rally to mourn protesters killed in a military crackdown a year ago underscored simmering political tensions.

The vote, set for July 3, is shaping up to be a close fight pitting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's establishment-backed Democrats against allies of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

Registrations for candidates under the proportional representation system began on Thursday and Abhisit took two days' leave from his official duties to throw his hat in the ring to win a second term, and hit the campaign trail.

The British-born, Oxford-educated premier's party, Thailand's oldest, draws most of its support from Bangkok and the south but it has not won a general election in nearly two decades.

Abhisit took over as the head of a coalition government in a 2008 parliamentary vote after a judicial ruling threw out the previous administration, and he is accused by his political foes of being an unelected puppet of the military and the establishment.

His main rival in the lower house election race is Thaksin's youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the main opposition Puea Thai party's candidate for premier.

Parties affiliated to Thaksin have won the most seats in the past four elections, but courts reversed the results of the last two polls.

Puea Thai won a psychological victory Thursday when it was allocated the top spot on the ballot paper, selecting number one in a lottery to decide how 26 parties contesting the vote would be ranked. Democrats selected number 10.

"People still love and are concerned about our family. We owe the people," Yingluck said in an interview with Thai television broadcast late Wednesday.

If it wins, her party is considering issuing an amnesty to politicians, including Thaksin, who have been charged or convicted.

But Yingluck denied her brother would get special treatment.

"I don't want people to only focus on an amnesty only. I want people to rely on reconciliation and justice first," the 43-year-old businesswoman said. "Everything must be done by the rules, equally for everyone."

Although he lives abroad to escape a jail term imposed in absentia for corruption, Thaksin is widely considered the de facto leader of the Puea Thai party and his politically inexperienced sister is viewed as his proxy.

Abhisit on Thursday challenged Yingluck to produce a clear set of policies.

"We want to set a democratic standard so whoever wants to run for the post of prime minister should tell the people their vision," he said.

Puea Thai has wide support among the largely rural and working-class Red Shirts, whose mass anti-government rallies in the capital last year sparked violence that left more than 90 people dead in clashes with armed troops.

Thaksin, a former billionaire telecoms tycoon who led his party to landslide victories in 2001 and 2005, is hailed by the Reds for his policies for the poor while in power.

But he is regarded by the Thai ruling elite as authoritarian, corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy, and faces terrorism charges in Thailand, accused of bankrolling last year's protests and instigating unrest.

Tens of thousands of Red Shirts were expected to gather in the retail heart of the capital to mark the first anniversary of the army's assault on their protest base, which ended the two-month-long rally.

Thailand has suffered years of political instability, punctuated by unrest and military intervention, with 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy.

The current army chief has ruled out another coup, but that has not dampened speculation of possible fresh military intervention.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-05-19

[OZEMADE]

Sounds to me like the Democrats are a little bit worried already. Or am I reading this editorial wrong.

[OZEMADE]

Sorry posted twice.

Edited May 19, 2011 by OZEMADE

[whybother]

Sounds to me like the Democrats are a little bit worried already. Or am I reading this editorial wrong.

You're reading this editorial article wrong.

Where do you get that they are worried from this article?

[Thailand]

Sounds to me like the Democrats are a little bit worried already. Or am I reading this editorial wrong.

Not having won an election in 20 years isn't going to help their cause or confidence although Yingluck standing for pm via Phue Thai could be a bonus as I don't think Thai men are ready for a woman pm yet, that's from some Thai friends here in Chiang Mai.

Military intervention-only if the Thaksinites win which would not go down well with the establishment,seen it before and chances are we will see it again.

[Phuket1]

Phua Thai might win the elections but need others to form a government. That is where the Democrats will win, to be able to form a government.

[OZEMADE]

Sounds to me like the Democrats are a little bit worried already. Or am I reading this editorial wrong.

You're reading this editorial article wrong.

Where do you get that they are worried from this article?

I think if you read from paragraph 4 down, each of them and carefully. They are self explanatory.

That is where I get they are worried from in the ARTICLE.

[boggle]

This in the Aussie media.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8251250

[OZEMADE]

This in the Aussie media.

http://news.ninemsn....aspx?id=8251250

Had you have read the top of the Aussie media item, you would have deen it is an identical publication written by by Thanaporn Promyamyai in Thailand.

[boggle]

This in the Aussie media.

http://news.ninemsn....aspx?id=8251250

Had you have read the top of the Aussie media item, you would have deen it is an identical publication written by by Thanaporn Promyamyai in Thailand.

Correct

[whybother]

Sounds to me like the Democrats are a little bit worried already. Or am I reading this editorial wrong.

You're reading this editorial article wrong.

Where do you get that they are worried from this article?

I think if you read from paragraph 4 down, each of them and carefully. They are self explanatory.

That is where I get they are worried from in the ARTICLE.

So, the reporter going into a bit of background gives you the impression that "the Democrats are a little bit worried already"?

Is there anything in the article that is new that makes them look worried?

Edited May 19, 2011 by whybother

[hyperdimension]

Sounds to me like the Democrats are a little bit worried already. Or am I reading this editorial wrong.

You're reading this editorial article wrong.

Where do you get that they are worried from this article?

I think if you read from paragraph 4 down, each of them and carefully. They are self explanatory.

That is where I get they are worried from in the ARTICLE.

So, the reporter going into a bit of background gives you the impression that "the Democrats are a little bit worried already"?

Is there anything in the article that is new that makes them look worried?

OZEMADE's own bias is deluding him.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Clearly Phua Thai has so much more to worry about:

* They might not win the election with an in experienced female front runner.

* The consitution drafted under military supervision includes things like a largely appointed senate, who could block the government on key issues.

* Even if they win the courts could just ban them, again, for something or another.

* Even if they win the election then the Democrats and Invisible Hands may steer/bribe/force other parties into a Democrat led coalition.

* Even if they win the military could just stage another coup.

The democrats don't have to worry about most of those.

Edited May 19, 2011 by WinnieTheKhwai

[whybother]

Clearly Phua Thai has so much more to worry about:

* They might not win the election with an in experienced female front runner.

* Even if they win the courts could just ban them, again, for something or another.

* Even if they win the election then the Democrats and Invisible Hands may steer/bribe/force other parties into a Democrat led coalition

* Even if they win the military could just stage another coup.

The democrats don't have to worry about most of those.

If the PTP don't get into government, then they haven't won anything.

And, of course, the other parties might choose to support a Democrat led coalition simply because it's better for the country.

[rubl]

Clearly Phua Thai has so much more to worry about:

* They might not win the election with an in experienced female front runner.

* Even if they win the courts could just ban them, again, for something or another.

* Even if they win the election then the Democrats and Invisible Hands may steer/bribe/force other parties into a Democrat led coalition

* Even if they win the military could just stage another coup.

The democrats don't have to worry about most of those.

So very true, the PTP has so much more to worry about with 10 extremely qualified UDD leaders on sure positions on the party list MP candidates. With a number 1 who is described as 'clone' by her own brother. With slogan 'Thaksin thinks, Phue Thai acts'. etc., etc.

"All for one, and more for me"