Thaksin 'Clone' Frontrunner To Be Thai PM

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Thaksin 'clone' frontrunner to be Thai PM

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BANGKOK, July 1, 2011 (AFP) - Yingluck Shinawatra, the woman tipped to be Thailand's first female prime minister, is a political novice whose biggest asset is also her most controversial -- her family name.

She is widely seen as the political proxy of her older brother, the fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who himself describes Yingluck as his "clone" -- a description she says underlines their similar thinking.

"We are alike in the sense that I have learned from him in business and I understand his vision, how he solves problems and the way he built everything from the beginning," the mother-of-one told AFP on the campaign trail.

The photogenic 44-year-old, who has a business-oriented background, has defied sceptics who said the initial excitement over her nomination as the main opposition candidate for prime minister would soon fizzle out.

Her brother remains a hugely divisive figure in Thailand. He was ousted in a 2006 military coup and fled the country in 2008 before a court sentenced him in his absence to two years in prison for corruption.

He is still adored by many rural and working class voters for his populist policies while in power, but is reviled by the ruling elite who see him as corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy.

Yingluck herself, however, is seen as a fresh face largely untainted by scandal. Accusations by her political foes that she lied in court to protect her brother appear to have had little impact on her popularity.

With her telegenic looks, relaxed demeanour and carefully choreographed stage routines, Yingluck -- 18 years junior to her controversial big brother -- has proven a hit on the campaign trail.

She starts her rallies by asking the crowd: "I don't know how much you love Thaksin. But can you share some of this love for me, his younger sister?"

In contrast to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, she has refrained from negative campaigning, instead keeping the focus on her Puea Thai Party's policies and stressing the need for reconciliation after years of civil unrest.

Yingluck was born on June 21, 1967, into one of the most prominent ethnic Chinese families in northern Chiang Mai province, the youngest of nine siblings.

Until recently president of Thai real estate firm SC Asset Corp, she graduated in political science from Chiang Mai University and earned a masters degree in public administration at Kentucky State University in the United States.

She returned to Thailand to work for one of Thaksin's companies as a trainee in the early 1990s, going on to take various positions within her brother's business empire.

She is a former president of the mobile telephone unit of Shin Corp., the telecoms giant founded by Thaksin that was at the centre of a scandal over the tax-free sale of the family's shares in the group in 2006.

While her business credentials are well known, observers say she has given few concrete clues about what kind of leader she would be.

"She is at the moment sticking by what Thaksin has asked her to do in a very detailed way," said a Bangkok-based Western diplomat. "I don't think we have yet seen what she is capable of."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-07-01

[FOODLOVER]

In every movie that i have seen with a clone in it, it usually turns out that the clone is evil. Just sayin

[thaikahuna]

In every movie that i have seen with a clone in it, it usually turns out that the clone is evil. Just sayin

[rixalex]

He is still adored by many rural and working class voters for his populist policies while in power, but is reviled by the ruling elite who see him as corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy.

Not about people seeing him as corrupt. He is. A matter of fact, not opinion.

Yingluck herself, however, is seen as a fresh face largely untainted by scandal. Accusations by her political foes that she lied in court to protect her brother appear to have had little impact on her popularity.

Whether or not her false statements in court or her tight connections with her brother and his dubious past, affect her popularity remains to be seen, but untainted she is not.

In contrast to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, she has refrained from negative campaigning, instead keeping the focus on her Puea Thai Party's policies and stressing the need for reconciliation after years of civil unrest.

She hasn't refrained though has she, she has simply passed on that dirty work to affiliated groups.

[kumsamut]

In every movie that i have seen with a clone in it, it usually turns out that the clone is evil. Just sayin

Please go back and check who actually burn and blamed.

[TheWalkingMan]

I think she will win and general amnesty statement will be made. It should be cloaked in the words of healing, bringing people together, making a stronger Thailand etc...

Thaksin should be home before Christmas and some people will be literally dancing in the streets. After his interviews saying how happy he is to be back on Thai soil and how he wants to somehow contribute to the country, he should be back in the Prime Minister role.

Oh, and that issue about 46 billion baht, I think he will be laughing all the way to the bank...

Of course I could be wrong.

TheWalkingMan

[FOODLOVER]

In every movie that i have seen with a clone in it, it usually turns out that the clone is evil. Just sayin

Please go back and check who actually burn and blamed.

It was the evil clones! Please note," Attack of the Clones" released in 2002 clearly show the clones being the aggressor. I did not see one clone start a fire i must admit. Could have been Luke as he is a Jedi and has proven to be a "Hot Head", but with just one arm such an attitude is to be expected. Kind of like a Napoleonic complex but with a gimp. As for the blame, obviously THE SITH!

[rubl]

While her business credentials are well known, observers say she has given few concrete clues about what kind of leader she would be.

What kind of leader:

"Yingluck Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister, has worked hard on her campaign in a bid to win the most seats or even secure a landslide. However, she has had to skip many of her campaign appointments after reportedly complaining of being tired."

[rayw]

It is an unbelievable scam that so many Thai folk seem to be falling for Thaksin's sister being the candidate for the next PM's job. Nowhere in the west would this be allowed to happen, not by laws but not allowed by the people. Putting the sister of a convicted crook and proven robber of the Thai people into the PM's job is ridiculous in the extreme. She is a sister who has NO political experience let alone any suitability to be a proper and effective PM, a sister who is NOT untainted by her brothers crimes either, and one that will be certainly a puppet of Thaksin himself, this is surely intolerable to any sensible and fair minded thinking person. She is there just to ensure that if elected she will bring her brother back on an amnesty that would be totally endorsing crime in Thailand. Thaksin will then be back and PM within a year mark my words, and Thailand will be a laughing stock in the World as a country who has no respect for honesty and its courts of law.

Advice to all Thai people DO NOT be fooled by Thaksin, or his family and his crooked cronies, they are after making themselves richer at YOUR expense as they did before and care only about themselves NOT you. So for now keep the far more honest Democrats in power as they seem not bad for a centre right party, and then quickly clean up the PTP by getting rid of all connections and support for the Thaksin family and their cronies and get yourself some honest ordinary and capable Thai folk as leaders, folk who care about Thailand. Only then at the next elections in say 4 or 5 years will you really have a peoples' centre left/socialist party that will be electable and honourable and thus good for the Thai people and the country as a whole too. Elect in this weekend what will surely be Thaksin as PM within a year, and it will truly be a massive disaster for Thailand and its people for another 10 years or more. You have missed your chance of a peoples Government this time around by the stupid and ill thought out silly support of a 100% for sure convicted crook Thaksin and his selfish greedy and wicked cronies.

Sure I am not a Thai but I DO care about this country and its future and offer my advice above as a friend of Thailand, so please please no ignorant "go home if your do not like it here" crap. I just want to see this country be respected in the world again and climb out of the past (and sadly still present) childish and damaging corruption and the blatant abuse of power for selfish greed. I chose to retire and live here and do not regret it overall either, so will live by whatever the Thai people decide what they want for their country, but I can surely still thoughtfully suggest ways that they could maybe make life better here for them all and avoid pitfalls, and indeed that way try to also make it better for us guests too. I want to see a happy Thailand that respects ALL of its people and stops corruptly exploiting them.

Edited July 1, 2011 by rayw

[Kanchalee]

My gues is.. she will win and provided she doesnt try to get her brother back the army wont intervene.

Within a few months her lack of political nous will be shown. (Thaksin can only do so much outside of the country)... The economy will start to spiral downhill. The Thais are shortsighted. They will get the person they deserve.

I think she will win and general amnesty statement will be made. It should be cloaked in the words of healing, bringing people together, making a stronger Thailand etc...

Thaksin should be home before Christmas and some people will be literally dancing in the streets. After his interviews saying how happy he is to be back on Thai soil and how he wants to somehow contribute to the country, he should be back in the Prime Minister role.

Oh, and that issue about 46 billion baht, I think he will be laughing all the way to the bank...

Of course I could be wrong.

TheWalkingMan

[tragickingdom]

Let's hope that warmongering, mudslinging and sheering while showing the bodies of dead demonstrators are shown are not paying off. Anyone who have read the article last week in the economist must give Yingluck credit for the way she campaigned. The economist think rightfully that Yingluck is too hot for the generals.

[galerita]

rayw

Very well said.

I heartily concur with you 100%

[sbk]

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[rixalex]

Let's hope that warmongering, mudslinging and sheering while showing the bodies of dead demonstrators are shown are not paying off. Anyone who have read the article last week in the economist must give Yingluck credit for the way she campaigned. The economist think rightfully that Yingluck is too hot for the generals.

The Economist, for whatever reason, has long since ceased reporting on political matters in Thailand with any sort of objectivity.

As for Yingluck's campaigning and how impressive it has been, she has consistently dodged putting herself under any sort of scrutiny or dealing with anything close to tough questioning, and has instead spent all her time doing photo ops. If that brings in the votes then the tactic can't be argued with. For those however who aren't simply driven by a desire to see the Shinawats back in power, it has to be a worry as to exactly how she will manage, if and when the time comes, running the country.

[jayboy]

The Economist, for whatever reason, has long since ceased reporting on political matters in Thailand with any sort of objectivity.

In your opinion perhaps.For others The Economist has been generally first class on its Thailand reporting and commentary.

The question you have to answer is why any reputable foreign newspaper or journal should wish to be biased or have any interest in being prejudiced about Thailand.You can talk about The Economist being in the pay of Thaksin (via Howard Moon!) or you can talk about a neo liberal conspiracy, but these explanations are frankly rather far fetched if not unbelievable.

The explanation that the critics never are prepared to consider is that The Economist (and let's be honest the vast majority of all high quality foreign media outlets) is simply pointing out a few home truths.

[Bakseedaa]

I think she will win and general amnesty statement will be made. It should be cloaked in the words of healing, bringing people together, making a stronger Thailand etc...

Thaksin should be home before Christmas and some people will be literally dancing in the streets. After his interviews saying how happy he is to be back on Thai soil and how he wants to somehow contribute to the country, he should be back in the Prime Minister role.

Oh, and that issue about 46 billion baht, I think he will be laughing all the way to the bank...

Of course I could be wrong.

TheWalkingMan

And you really think the Army would stand idly by and allow that nightmare scenario to happen.. This country is on a precipice right now..! Wa-k on.... WalkingMan

[Bakseedaa]

rayw

Very well said.

I heartily concur with you 100%

Yes, anyone with an ounce of savvy has to agree with rayw, but alas it will not happen, too many 500 baht notes changing hands and not too much common sense in the land of Reds... Communism and corruption will win Big Time.. Goodbye the Thailand we came to love and call home.. my ticket is already booked.. Soth Vietnam here I come.. !

[rixalex]

In your opinion perhaps.For others The Economist has been generally first class on its Thailand reporting and commentary.

The question you have to answer is why any reputable foreign newspaper or journal should wish to be biased or have any interest in being prejudiced about Thailand.You can talk about The Economist being in the pay of Thaksin (via Howard Moon!) or you can talk about a neo liberal conspiracy, but these explanations are frankly rather far fetched if not unbelievable.

The explanation that the critics never are prepared to consider is that The Economist (and let's be honest the vast majority of all high quality foreign media outlets) is simply pointing out a few home truths.

I think there is something of a misconception that you are perpetuating here that foreign newspapers or journals categorised as being reputable are somehow above taking a position.

Opinion pieces in the Economist for some time now have consistently taken the same position, which is fine, they are after all opinion pieces.

[rubl]

rayw

Very well said.

I heartily concur with you 100%

Yes, anyone with an ounce of savvy has to agree with rayw, but alas it will not happen, too many 500 baht notes changing hands and not too much common sense in the land of Reds... Communism and corruption will win Big Time.. Goodbye the Thailand we came to love and call home.. my ticket is already booked.. Soth Vietnam here I come.. !

A bit of an inconsistence here. If one of the reasons to leave Thailand is 'communism will win big time', why would one go the (South) Vietnam instead ?

[jayboy]

I think there is something of a misconception that you are perpetuating here that foreign newspapers or journals categorised as being reputable are somehow above taking a position.

Opinion pieces in the Economist for some time now have consistently taken the same position, which is fine, they are after all opinion pieces.

I accept that The Economist - while also providing reportage embodied in oped pieces - is primarily a journal of opinion (some would say opinionated!), and thus by definition subjective.I'm not sure however this makes any difference to the point I was making.

Leaving The Economist to one side for a moment, it's very striking how certain strands of society in Thailand criticise foreign media organisations (most notably CNN and the BBC) to the point of demonising their people on the ground.I suspect it's an elite Thai trait, namely a profound dislike of having dirty linen examined by outsiders.The same principle applies to the UN:I well remember Thaksin's impatience at the suggestion outsiders might have something useful to say about how the country conducted itself.

[Tanaka]

While her business credentials are well known, observers say she has given few concrete clues about what kind of leader she would be.

What kind of leader:

"Yingluck Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister, has worked hard on her campaign in a bid to win the most seats or even secure a landslide. However, she has had to skip many of her campaign appointments after reportedly complaining of being tired."

No wonder she was tired. She actually had to do something, even if it were just travel around and talk. Which of course is so very tiring. If she became PM some cabinet meetings have to be postponed because she is tired. And some meetings with other countrie's representatives have to be delayed because the PM is tired. She is convinced everyone will understand that.

[Phatcharanan]

my ticket is already booked.. Soth Vietnam here I come.. !

Goodbye.

[rixalex]

I accept that The Economist - while also providing reportage embodied in oped pieces - is primarily a journal of opinion (some would say opinionated!), and thus by definition subjective.I'm not sure however this makes any difference to the point I was making.

It makes a difference to the point you were making, because that point was, unless i somehow misread it, why would the Economist not be objective.

[FOODLOVER]

rayw

Very well said.

I heartily concur with you 100%

Yes, anyone with an ounce of savvy has to agree with rayw, but alas it will not happen, too many 500 baht notes changing hands and not too much common sense in the land of Reds... Communism and corruption will win Big Time.. Goodbye the Thailand we came to love and call home.. my ticket is already booked.. Soth Vietnam here I come.. !

A bit of an inconsistence here. If one of the reasons to leave Thailand is 'communism will win big time', why would one go the (South) Vietnam instead ?

good point

[newermonkey]

You might as well open the phone book and stick a pin in it, the name the pin lands on is your new prime minister.

Totaly unpredictable...

Exept of for 3 exceptions:

1) Her brother will get amisty

2) There will be riots in the streets

3) The country will become bangcrupt within one year

[Mystory]

In every movie that i have seen with a clone in it, it usually turns out that the clone is evil. Just sayin

Obviously you didnt watch all the Austin Powers, Mini Me turned good.

I guess you get yourself to a cinema near you...........................................

[Mystory]

You might as well open the phone book and stick a pin in it, the name the pin lands on is your new prime minister.

Totaly unpredictable...

Exept of for 3 exceptions:

1) Her brother will get amisty

2) There will be riots in the streets

3) The country will become bangcrupt within one year

4) Your prodection for Thai Baht to USD

[jayboy]

It makes a difference to the point you were making, because that point was, unless i somehow misread it, why would the Economist not be objective.

I take your point but your original post suggested that The Economist had somehow and for reasons unknown slipped from objectivity when discussing Thailand.If that isn't a fair summary, please correct me.

But The Economist has never been other than openly subjective on all matters.That doesn't mean it hasn't been fair.On Thailand I believe it has been excellent and not just recently: for all the bizarre gossip (the Howard Moon stuff) it has never been other than sceptical about Thaksin.

Incidentally as a general observation I think all news reports are usually subjective.There are very few hard facts that taken together as a story that will be accepted by all people of good faith

Edited July 1, 2011 by jayboy

[LuukKoeyKorat]

rayw

Very well said.

I heartily concur with you 100%

Yes, anyone with an ounce of savvy has to agree with rayw, but alas it will not happen, too many 500 baht notes changing hands and not too much common sense in the land of Reds... Communism and corruption will win Big Time.. Goodbye the Thailand we came to love and call home.. my ticket is already booked.. Soth Vietnam here I come.. !

A bit of an inconsistence here. If one of the reasons to leave Thailand is 'communism will win big time', why would one go the (South) Vietnam instead ?

brilliant!

[lannarebirth]

I think she will win and general amnesty statement will be made. It should be cloaked in the words of healing, bringing people together, making a stronger Thailand etc...

Thaksin should be home before Christmas and some people will be literally dancing in the streets. After his interviews saying how happy he is to be back on Thai soil and how he wants to somehow contribute to the country, he should be back in the Prime Minister role.

Oh, and that issue about 46 billion baht, I think he will be laughing all the way to the bank...

Of course I could be wrong.

TheWalkingMan

You may be right but I can't think of anything worse for Thailand. Instead what should happen is that many many people should go to jail. Lawbreakers of all political affiliations. If PTP comes to power thay know they have a mob on call at all times. They're not going to give up that "tool". Remember, democracy is not the goal, it is merely a "tool".