Thai PM Finds Thaksin Tough Act To Follow

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Thai PM finds Thaksin tough act to follow

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BANGKOK, July 1, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's first superstar premier Thaksin Shinawatra was a hard act to follow. But current leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has found it particularly difficult to emerge from his rival's shadow.

British-born Abhisit, the head of the establishment-backed Democrat Party, is the mirror image of former billionaire telecoms tycoon Thaksin, who swept to power a decade ago by capturing the support of the rural poor.

Thaksin, who lives in exile after being removed in a 2006 coup and convicted in his absence of corruption, remains wildly popular in the vast northern hinterlands for his populist policies while in power.

The former policeman now looks to be on the verge of a remarkable comeback with his youngest sister and political proxy Yingluck Shinawatra the frontrunner to become prime minister in a closely fought election on Sunday.

In contrast to his rival, 46-year-old Abhisit often comes across as aloof and awkward, more at ease mingling with international leaders or corporate CEOs than ordinary voters.

"I think he comes across as a very cold leader in an ivory tower," said Thai academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun, from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

"He looks so uncomfortable every time he goes to the rice fields."

The scion of an influential family whose name means "privilege", Abhisit was born in the northern English city of Newcastle while his parents were studying medicine.

His CV includes an elite education at Britain's Eton College and Oxford University.

Abhisit stormed into political life in 1992 when, aged 27, he became the youngest person to win a seat in the Thai parliament.

He rapidly climbed the ranks in Thailand's oldest party with a reputation for clean politics and an idealism rarely seen here.

Abhisit declared his ambition to be prime minister as far back as 2006 when a movement first began against then-premier Thaksin.

His chance came in 2008 when he took office in a parliamentary vote after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

He pledged to reconcile the nation after years of political unrest, but under his watch the country's divisions have only deepened, and he is accused by his foes of being an unelected puppet of the military and the establishment.

His party has also failed to expand its traditional base in Bangkok and southern Thailand to reach out to voters in impoverished parts of the rural north and northeast.

Despite being the country's oldest party, the Democrats have not won a general election in nearly two decades and polls suggest it is unlikely to reverse the trend this weekend.

In an interview with AFP just days before the vote, Abhisit defended his record during a premiership marked by street protests and a military crackdown on an anti-government rally last year that left about 90 people dead.

"I am confident that what we've done for the country has been the right thing," he said.

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

[phupaman]

Hi All

Who would lead the PTP if or when Thaksin ends up in a box,in my opinion could happen same as Sae Daeng,

Not much faith in yingluck or anyone else in PTP.

phupaman

[OzMick]

In PI it would be known as an Aquino Welcome. Who will replace him - "Mr Charm" Chalerm, Jatuporn, Nuttawhat? god help us all!

[delazion]

God help Thailand indeed....

I can sympathize with both sides... rural versus the elite...

But do we ask the head to rule the body?

or do we ask dirty hands to rule the body?

manipulation is rife again...

[relidiousenut]

Borne in Newcastle. Educated at Eaton and Oxford, no wonder the poor mans confused, No one at Eaton or Oxford would have understood a word he spoke

[Bakseedaa]

Borne in Newcastle. Educated at Eaton and Oxford, no wonder the poor mans confused, No one at Eaton or Oxford would have understood a word he spoke

sorry, is this supposed to be funny.... and its Eton, not eat on.... I take it you are a fatty..!

[Phatcharanan]

Borne in Newcastle. Educated at Eaton and Oxford, no wonder the poor mans confused, No one at Eaton or Oxford would have understood a word he spoke

Same applies to your post I think.

[lannarebirth]

Borne in Newcastle. Educated at Eaton and Oxford, no wonder the poor mans confused, No one at Eaton or Oxford would have understood a word he spoke

You know, I don't like the British either, but no need to cast aspersions just because a man happens to be literate.

[animatic]

Hard work and circumstances can buy you a reputation,

but money beyond avarice can buy you a legend that people believe inspite of accurate evidence to the contrary.

Edited July 1, 2011 by animatic

[steveromagnino]

Borne in Newcastle. Educated at Eaton and Oxford, no wonder the poor mans confused, No one at Eaton or Oxford would have understood a word he spoke

You know, I don't like the British either, but no need to cast aspersions just because a man happens to be literate.

I think the joke is that because he was a Geordie (born in Newcastle) that the accent from that part of the UK would be difficult to understand for others who are not from that area (such as Eton, Oxford etc). This joke would kill in Sunderland (maybe). :-)

It certainly amuses me that suddenly not being adept at knowing how to plant rice or smile on cue, and being well suited to talking to other heads of state or indeed having one of the best educations in the world is now a negative, and instead we are better off with poorly educated, loud mouth upcountry style MPs (Chalerm, Chavalit type mould) or community leaders (Jatuporn, Natthawut, et al) who almost boast of their lack of quality education and understanding of things like economics or legal frameworks. Or the billionaire who is actually suppsedly one of poor (actually the claiming to be one of the poor bit can be also attributed to Chavalit, but you can't rely too much on what he says, given that his brain and mouth aren't always in the same gear).

Just because someone has been poor or can pretend some relationship with poor doesn't mean they understand much about how to make the poor less poor or better off long term. Sadly, however, that's what this and every election since 2000 seems to grind down to.

If being well educated (Aphisit) an intellectual ((Korn) too honest (Purachai) or not having made a fortune out of politics (Chuan) are insults in Thailand, then one needs to look at who slings the insults a little closer before joining the band wagon.

Sadly for this weekend, it seems like its simply too little, too late for the Dems and the smaller parties, who have been rolled into submission by a very well executed PR and marketing campaign that in 4 weeks has gone from zero to hero, albeit without too much substance, explanations or details along the way, those haven't even been needed! had they played things differently (admittedly the major campaign to destroy and vandalise signage seems focused on number 10) they should have been playing for an overall win in numbers...not a chance to salvage should the BJT decision prove costly for PT.....

Edited July 1, 2011 by steveromagnino

[vont]

Borne in Newcastle. Educated at Eaton and Oxford, no wonder the poor mans confused, No one at Eaton or Oxford would have understood a word he spoke

You know, I don't like the British either, but no need to cast aspersions just because a man happens to be literate.

I think the joke is that because he was a Geordie (born in Newcastle) that the accent from that part of the UK would be difficult to understand for others who are not from that area (such as Eton, Oxford etc). This joke would kill in Sunderland (maybe). :-)

It certainly amuses me that suddenly not being adept at knowing how to plant rice or smile on cue, and being well suited to talking to other heads of state or indeed having one of the best educations in the world is now a negative, and instead we are better off with poorly educated, loud mouth upcountry style MPs (Chalerm, Chavalit type mould) or community leaders (Jatuporn, Natthawut, et al) who almost boast of their lack of quality education and understanding of things like economics or legal frameworks. Or the billionaire who is actually suppsedly one of poor (actually the claiming to be one of the poor bit can be also attributed to Chavalit, but you can't rely too much on what he says, given that his brain and mouth aren't always in the same gear).

Just because someone has been poor or can pretend some relationship with poor doesn't mean they understand much about how to make the poor less poor or better off long term. Sadly, however, that's what this and every election since 2000 seems to grind down to.

If being well educated (Aphisit) an intellectual ((Korn) too honest (Purachai) or not having made a fortune out of politics (Chuan) are insults in Thailand, then one needs to look at who slings the insults a little closer before joining the band wagon.

Sadly for this weekend, it seems like its simply too little, too late for the Dems and the smaller parties, who have been rolled into submission by a very well executed PR and marketing campaign that in 4 weeks has gone from zero to hero, albeit without too much substance, explanations or details along the way, those haven't even been needed! had they played things differently (admittedly the major campaign to destroy and vandalise signage seems focused on number 10) they should have been playing for an overall win in numbers...not a chance to salvage should the BJT decision prove costly for PT.....

If being well educated (Aphisit) an intellectual ((Korn) too honest (Purachai) or not having made a fortune out of politics (Chuan) are insults in Thailand, then one needs to look at who slings the insults a little closer before joining the band wagon.

you ought to be applauded....

but the reality is.... the northeastern regions and provinces are desperado.... in comparison to the rest of the more blessed provinces.... particularly the southern regions....

the rural poors do have their rightful complaints which the current demo are just too engrossed in fraudulent practices of their own....

in spite of the fact that i am a supporter of chuan.... the current demo must go.... they have their enormous chances....

the current demo are just too green to run a country.... and most other allies are just too greed.... to help the poors....

what a missed opportunity to turn the country around....

may be..... the VOTE NO, campaigners ought to be given a chance....

for one.... they will not be too corruptible... and most poorer regions and provinces would probably receive the most blessings.... OH..... HOW I WISH IT TO BE SO.... :jap: :jap: :jap:

[relidiousenut]

Borne in Newcastle. Educated at Eaton and Oxford, no wonder the poor mans confused, No one at Eaton or Oxford would have understood a word he spoke

You know, I don't like the British either, but no need to cast aspersions just because a man happens to be literate.

I think the joke is that because he was a Geordie (born in Newcastle) that the accent from that part of the UK would be difficult to understand for others who are not from that area (such as Eton, Oxford etc). This joke would kill in Sunderland (maybe). :-)

It certainly amuses me that suddenly not being adept at knowing how to plant rice or smile on cue, and being well suited to talking to other heads of state or indeed having one of the best educations in the world is now a negative, and instead we are better off with poorly educated, loud mouth upcountry style MPs (Chalerm, Chavalit type mould) or community leaders (Jatuporn, Natthawut, et al) who almost boast of their lack of quality education and understanding of things like economics or legal frameworks. Or the billionaire who is actually suppsedly one of poor (actually the claiming to be one of the poor bit can be also attributed to Chavalit, but you can't rely too much on what he says, given that his brain and mouth aren't always in the same gear).

Just because someone has been poor or can pretend some relationship with poor doesn't mean they understand much about how to make the poor less poor or better off long term. Sadly, however, that's what this and every election since 2000 seems to grind down to.

If being well educated (Aphisit) an intellectual ((Korn) too honest (Purachai) or not having made a fortune out of politics (Chuan) are insults in Thailand, then one needs to look at who slings the insults a little closer before joining the band wagon.

Sadly for this weekend, it seems like its simply too little, too late for the Dems and the smaller parties, who have been rolled into submission by a very well executed PR and marketing campaign that in 4 weeks has gone from zero to hero, albeit without too much substance, explanations or details along the way, those haven't even been needed! had they played things differently (admittedly the major campaign to destroy and vandalise signage seems focused on number 10) they should have been playing for an overall win in numbers...not a chance to salvage should the BJT decision prove costly for PT.....

I think the joke is that because he was a Geordie (born in Newcastle) that the accent from that part of the UK would be difficult to understand for others who are not from that area (such as Eton, Oxford etc). This joke would kill in Sunderland (maybe). :-)

Well at least one person got it But maybe you have to be British to do that.

But also Newcastle (Geordie land) is in the North East and historically classified as a poor area of the UK, Whilst Eton & Oxford could be classified as Elitist.

Just a joke But they are not so poor there anymore (well maybe a little) Why?

[rubl]

Well at least one person got it But maybe you have to be British to do that.

But also Newcastle (Geordie land) is in the North East and historically classified as a poor area of the UK, Whilst Eton & Oxford could be classified as Elitist.

Just a joke But they are not so poor there anymore (well maybe a little) Why?

Why? Education, my dear chap, plus an evolving democracy, laws which are abided by and the course of time. The saying 'coals to Newcastle' is not that old