Rivals Harp On Differences

[Lite Beer]

Rivals harp on differences

By Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation on Sunday

While the Democrat Party is banking on its policies to woo voters, Pheu Thai believes giving people widest possible access to Yingluck would boost its chances

While both the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties are pursuing the same objective of winning the July 3 election, their campaign strategies are strikingly different.

On one hand, the Pheu Thai Party makes sure that its No 1 party-list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra, who is new in the political arena, sees as many supporters as possible and delivers simple messages.

The No 10 Democrats led by incumbent premier Abhisit Vejjajiva are trying to highlight their policies while amplifying the possible political consequences if Pheu Thai wins the election.

"To make a fresh start for the country, the first step is that everybody must respect the outcome of the poll. Everybody needs to hear the facts," Democrat campaign manager Korbsak Sabhavasu, said during a panel discussion on campaign strategies on Asean TV (True 99 Channel).

"Voters have to decide whether they will vote for No 1 [Pheu Thai] so that some of the red-shirt leaders can be members of Parliament and manage the country."

In response to Pheu Thai deputy leader Kanawat Wasinsungworn's clarification that Pheu Thai Party and the red shirts are different organisations, Korbsak countered that some of the red-shirt leaders or their wives are on Pheu Thai's party list.

Korbsak said it was important that candidates for the prime minister's post answer questions candidly before the camera so that voters can see how they deal with unexpected problems.

"Tell people that if nothing is prepared, how can you manage because when you manage the country, nothing is prepared for you," Korbsak said.

Korbsak said the candidates do not have to be next to each other in the same interview at the same time.

Given that Yingluck had just entered politics while Abhisit is a good speaker, Kanawat said Yingluck would allow televised interviews "if time allows". He gave an example of her appearance in a televised interview with Sorayut Sutassanajinda.

"Yingluck is new, of course, our voters want to see her. The best strategy for her to get exposure is the word of mouth. We take her to see people so that they see that she is touchable and down-to-earth, she is kind and polite. It will be different for people just to see her on TV," he said.

While Korbsak said his party leader Abhisit had already been a prime minister for two and a half years, and his party has the policies that can be started "from day one" as continuation of the current government's, Kanawat highlighted Yingluck as a woman and a new choice.

"Thanks to the people that they have tried this PM [Abhisit] and they have said, 'we have had enough of him', thus give a chance to Yingluck and try the first lady, with experience in big business for years," he said. "We have tried only male PMs in our political history and we haven't been satisfied with that."

Korbsak tried to get Kanawat to make it clear that reconciliation does not mean whitewashing criminal or corruption charges against politicians, including Yingluck's brother fugitive former prime minister Thaksin. Kanawat said Yingluck would come and solve the country's economic problems and political amnesty was not the priority.

"We will propose to all stakeholders to speak out and talk over to ensure there will be no confrontation anymore. No matter how long it takes, whatever the solutions they must come from discussions at forums," Kanawat said.

On Thaksin being seen as a towering shadow in Thai politics, Kanawat said "The media make Thaksin so important. The media should just ignore him."

Korbsak and Kanawat agreed that as the election day draws closer, parties would run more intense campaigns or even unveil new policies to attract votes.

In the later part of the discussion, which will be on the air shortly, Korbsak stressed on the differences between the two parties in how they viewed events, besides their policies.

"While Pheu Thai Party says the beginning of the political rivalry was the [2006] coup, the Democrats say it was the selling of Shin Corp without paying taxes," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-12

[OzMick]

".............. Kanawat said "The media make Thaksin so important. The media should just ignore him."

Can you believe this? PTP is like a street magician, flashing the shiny bauble (otherwise known as a yingluk) to distract you, while picking your pocket with the other hand. How do you ignore the elephant n the corner?