Democrats launch campaign to 'save Thai democracy'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As the country's political struggles take on more complexity and intensity, Opposition Democrat heavyweights are teaming up in a campaign against their political opponents, opening political schools and calling on their supporters to fight against Thaksinomics.

Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday presided over the opening ceremonies of "Democrat political schools" in Sathorn, Bang Korlaem and Yannawa district.

In an opening speech entitled "Major institutions in a democratic system in Thailand's constitutional monarchy", Abhisit said the reason the party decided to launch the political schools was that the country's political fighting had intensified and the objectives of opponents were different from the past. Democracy was being used as a tool for self gain.

"A former PM whom I do not want to name said he does not believe in democracy. His political ideology is a one-party system. This is not democracy but an exploitation of majority for business or self interest. Majority without rules, limitations, boundaries and checks plus freedom of the press is not democracy," he said. He called on Democrat supporters to fight against the move to whitewash those who committed crimes, corruption and serious offences by amending the Constitution.

Democrat Surat Thani MP Suthep Thaugsuban said he had worked separately from Abhisit in the party political campaigns which included opening political schools, organising rallies and using the media.

"Our opponents have red schools, red villages, red TV and they are now in control of every television channel. If we do nothing, the country will be in for a big mess," he said.

Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said the country's biggest political threat was no longer the military, because the institution had grown up and did not want to stage a coup to bring down a democratic government as happened in the past.

"The country has a new political disease since Thaksin has joined politics and bought political parties with majority votes," he said. "Under the Thaksin regime, governments abuse their powers, corruption is so rife the country risks seeing a coup being staged. Besides, there is a move to topple the monarchy with the committing of lese majeste offences," he said.

Chuan said red-shirt activist Surachai Sae Dan had defamed him and later confessed he did not speak the truth, saying he'd repeated only what he had been told to say. "It has been found that every month Bt30,000 is wired into Surachai's bank account," Chuan said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-29

Here we go again..... sigh!!

This is like saving an imaginary friend....

They probably should define what Democracy is first.. That would be a good start..

Coz based on past performance THEY HAVEN'T a CLUE

Included in that step should an effort to Define what Law and Order is.

They probably should define what Democracy is first.. That would be a good start..

Coz based on past performance THEY HAVEN'T a CLUE

Included in that step should an effort to Define what Law and Order is.

No point asking the current government, they don't have a clue either!

Besides, there is a move to topple the monarchy with the committing of lese majeste offences,

and here we have that repeated line that was sold to the pad movement to make it grow from it's roots.

Edited October 29, 201213 yr by nurofiend

It's perfectly in order for the Democrats to reorganise and improve their political organisation.It would be a mistake however to seek to coordinate their activities with those of the fascists who are currently on the march again.That is more or less what happened in the past with results that are well known.

I do hope Chuan has been misquoted because the comments ascribed to him are foolish.

Edited October 29, 201213 yr by jayboy

In reading these articles I feel like I'm stuck in the movie Groundhog Day.

In reading these articles I feel like I'm stuck in the movie Groundhog Day.

The only thing missing is the poo yai playing "I got you babe" over the tannoy system at 6am.

Can't save something this country has never actually had. Democracy? What a joke.

Besides, there is a move to topple the monarchy with the committing of lese majeste offences,

and here we have that repeated line that was sold to the pad movement to make it grow from it's roots.

Same old lie , to justify a coup that is the negation of democracy, by the way .

They probably should define what Democracy is first.. That would be a good start..

Coz based on past performance THEY HAVEN'T a CLUE

Included in that step should an effort to Define what Law and Order is.

No point asking the current government, they don't have a clue either!

Why it is so easy!

Democracy...you get as many votes as much as you pay.

Law and Order.....Thaksin is the Law and the police does what he is ordering them to do.

That was easy...next question....

Can't save something this country has never actually had. Democracy? What a joke.

But that applies to most countries

Two of the most important statements are:

"Our opponents have red schools, red villages, red TV and they are now in control of every television channel."

AND

"The country has a new political disease since Thaksin joined politics ~... Under the Thaksin regime, governments abuse their powers, corruption is so rife the country risks seeing a coup ... "

When Thai people wake up from being mesmerised by the spin doctors through their own media, and realise Thaksins game, which has nothing to do with helping Thailand, Thailand's poor, Thailand's "democracy" (a joke), then maybe, the coup will occur and the chance to reorganise may evolve. I for one would welcome it.

Besides, there is a move to topple the monarchy with the committing of lese majeste offences,

and here we have that repeated line that was sold to the pad movement to make it grow from it's roots.

I usually do not agree with you, but I don't buy that excuse either.

My biggest problem with the Abhisit administration is the huge increase of Art.112 cases.

It is like the witch hunts of old. Guilty by accusation. It has not changed either.

This is like a rapist campaigning to save virginity!

This is coming from a party who supports coup! How hypocrite!

Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said the country's biggest political threat was no longer the military, because the institution had grown up and did not want to stage a coup to bring down a democratic government as happened in the past.

Sorry, I see no evidence that the military has "grown up" nor that it wouldn't stage another coup.

Under the Thaksin regime, governments abuse their powers, corruption is so rife

Says a man found guilty by the National Counter Corruption Commission and who is known as 'The Painter' amongst Thais for excusing his own government's corruption during the 90's.

This is like a rapist campaigning to save virginity!

This is coming from a party who supports coup! How hypocrite!

When did they support the coup?

This is like a rapist campaigning to save virginity!

This is coming from a party who supports coup! How hypocrite!

Is the rapist Thaksin and the virgin Thailand?

In reading these articles I feel like I'm stuck in the movie Groundhog Day.

Bugger ... I was going to say that....

Of course the rich and powerful have their own vested interests too, not just the red shirts. When CP undertakes 'contract' farming for eggs for example, the farmer must sell his eggs only to CP as they helped set it up .. sounds fair, but when the contract expires, the farmer has virtually no choice but to continue selling to CP as it is the monopoly... and of course the new prices offered are substantially lower than previously. IMHO, the locus of control is invariably biased towards the big fellas, where they rip the country off in a more or less legal way .. land usage comes to mind. In more developed countries there may be more transparency and public outcry is always available. The rice pledging scheme is just another device to concentrate money making opportunities (and graft) in the hands of a few. It makes little difference to the little guy if he is being shafted by a fascist right wing regime or a left - leaning corrupt machine ... at the end of the day, it still hurts and more to the point... Thailand is the private club of the rich and powerful, red, yellow, puke (sorry puce) or green.

Just my 2 satangs worth...

This is like a rapist campaigning to save virginity!

This is coming from a party who supports coup! How hypocrite!

When did they support the coup?

Always and even more obvious when they agreed to join a governmnet with the support of the army!

They probably should define what Democracy is first.. That would be a good start..

Coz based on past performance THEY HAVEN'T a CLUE

Included in that step should an effort to Define what Law and Order is.

No point asking the current government, they don't have a clue either!

Why it is so easy!

Democracy...you get as many votes as much as you pay.

Law and Order.....Thaksin is the Law and the police does what he is ordering them to do.

That was easy...next question....

Thaksin is the law?

I wonder why he was convicted then and has many cases outstanding against him,

or are you just talking without fully thinking through your comments, just spouting the same nonsense that you have seen others spout.

This is like a rapist campaigning to save virginity!

This is coming from a party who supports coup! How hypocrite!

When did they support the coup?

Always and even more obvious when they agreed to join a governmnet with the support of the army!

A post containing a deliberate misspelling of the former PM's name into a derogatory meaning has been removed. Spell people's names correctly or your post(s) will be removed.

Of course the rich and powerful have their own vested interests too, not just the red shirts. When CP undertakes 'contract' farming for eggs for example, the farmer must sell his eggs only to CP as they helped set it up .. sounds fair, but when the contract expires, the farmer has virtually no choice but to continue selling to CP as it is the monopoly... and of course the new prices offered are substantially lower than previously. IMHO, the locus of control is invariably biased towards the big fellas, where they rip the country off in a more or less legal way .. land usage comes to mind. In more developed countries there may be more transparency and public outcry is always available. The rice pledging scheme is just another device to concentrate money making opportunities (and graft) in the hands of a few. It makes little difference to the little guy if he is being shafted by a fascist right wing regime or a left - leaning corrupt machine ... at the end of the day, it still hurts and more to the point... Thailand is the private club of the rich and powerful, red, yellow, puke (sorry puce) or green.

Just my 2 satangs worth...

It might interest you to know that Abhisit's father is a director at CP.

This is like a rapist campaigning to save virginity!

This is coming from a party who supports coup! How hypocrite!

Not quite:

Leader of the Democrat Party Abhisit Vejjajiva voiced displeasure at the coup hours just before all political activities were banned: “

We cannot and do not support any kind of extra-constitutional change, but it's done. The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out reforms they promised. They have to prove themselves. I urge them to lift all restrictions as soon as possible. There is no need to write a brand new constitution. They could make changes to the 1997 constitution and if that's the case, there is no reason to take a year. Six months is a good time.

from Wikipedia. (yeah, I know) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Thai_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

Besides, the current government could do with some forceful opposition, right?

Thaddeus: I think its more like DESOLATION ROW

Unlike in 2008, Yingluck’s party now controls an outright majority in parliament. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-27/thaksin-s-opponents-to-hold-bangkok-rally-in-bid-to-oust-sister.html