Pheu Thai Picks Pongsapat As Bangkok Governor Candidate

[webfact]

Pheu Thai picks Pongsapat as city governor candidate

The Nation

KOSIT Suwinitjit, a candidate for Bangkok governor, kicks off his election campaign at the Princess Mother Garden on VibhavadiRangsit Road yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party's executive board yesterday made a unanimous decision to field Pongsapat Pongcharoen in the race for Bangkok governor.

The Pheu Thai Party's executive board yesterday made a unanimous decision to field Pongsapat Pongcharoen in the race for Bangkok governor.

Pongsapat is expected to resign today from his concurrent positions as deputy National Police chief and secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board. Tomorrow, he will formally take up membership of the Pheu Thai Party ahead of candidacy registration on January 25.

"Pongsapat is a senior police officer with great human relations skills and a good track record on addressing the grievances of city residents," Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said.

Phumtham voiced hope that Pongsapat, if elected, would lead the city administration to new heights.

All three chairmen of Pheu Thai zones responsible for the capital backed Pongsapat's candidacy, paving the way for the ruling party to pick him without any contest, party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said.

In swaying votes, Phumtham is slated to work as campaign manager. And Thai Rak Thai veteran Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan will assist in the campaigning.

The ruling party has issued a ban on its government appointees from getting involved in the campaigning in order to avoid facing complaints on electoral rules.

In another development, Pheu Thai decided to endorse the candidacy of Pahol Worapanya for the Lop Buri byelection on February 9.

Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanit is to take charge of running the campaign for Pahol.

The Democrat Party will campaign for the gubernatorial race under the slogan "Love Bangkok, Build Bangkok", its campaign manager Ong-art Klampaiboon said.

Ong-art said the campaign would highlight the capital's seven features - safety, happiness, green and cleanliness, learning, opportunity, centre for all citizens and centre for Asean.

The party is inviting Bangkok residents to share their thoughts with its candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra via his website, Facebook and Twitter.

Sukhumbhand will today kickstart his campaign rally at Yaowarat, known as Bangkok's Chinatown.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the rival Pheu Thai had snubbed the Bangkok residents by boasting it could win the race even if it fielded an electricity pole for governor.

Aspiring independent candidate Kosit Suvinijjit unveiled his four main platforms for the race.

If elected, Kosit said he would devote his attention to traffic woes, education development, preparations for the Asean Economic Community and 24-hour services to ensure safety.

He said the city officials would work around the clock, comprising three shifts.

In order to tackle traffic woes, he said the first priority is to install more road signs to direct motorists to their destinations, he said.

In regard to education development, the city administration would set up demonstration schools designed to upgrade learning standards, he promised.

The city schools would access high-speed Internet services and satellite broadcasts to allow teachers and students to share their learning experiences.

The city administration will launch 20-megabyte Wi-Fi hotspots in public places.

The city services will be made competitive with those offered by Singapore in order to attract head offices of international companies. Bangkok will offer the same tax rate of 17 per cent as Singapore.

On the cultural front, the capital will strive to become a hub for Asean cultures. It is destined to become the Hollywood of Asia.

On the security front, the city administration will install security cameras and street lights at all high-risk areas in 50 districts.

All taxi services will have the GPS tracking system to enable passengers to check their routes as well as notify family members of their whereabouts.

-- The Nation 2013-01-14

[Buchholz]

Background from the earlier Thaksin Picks, Pheu Thai Follows thread:

http://www.thaivisa....e/#entry5853309

Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, a Deputy National Police Chief has agreed to run as the Pheu Thai Party candidate in the upcoming Bangkok governor's election

He was approached by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who wanted the media-savvy officer to represent Pheu Thai in the contest for the Bangkok governorship, the sources said.

But, but, but, it's not about Thaksin....

Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen

Police General Pongsapat has a back-up if he's loses.

Good cash earner is his being a member of the Board of Directors for the MEA (amusingly referred to as "Independent")

http://www.mea.or.th...&mid=250&pid=92

Had to chuckle at his alma mater in the bio.

Seems he's actually Police General Doctor Pongsapat Pongcharoen as he's listed as having obtained the same degree (PhD) at the same university as Police Lieutenant-Colonel Doctor Thaksin (Sam Houston State University).

What a coincidence.

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Edited January 14, 2013 by Buchholz

[Ricardo]

Cue promises to banish traffic-jams within six months (or is 90-days the new 'black' ?), cut the cost-of-living (while paying the farmers more for their produce ?) and start building (again ?) dozens of extensions to the Sky-train lines or replacing elderly polluting buses. Release those fire-brigade pick-ups for actual use ! Let ambulances be used to carry seriosly-sick people to hospital ! Ban all noise generated by planes landing/taking-off at Swampy ! A crack-down will be announced on gambling-dens or soapy-massage joints within 10 meters of schools.

Standby for a mega flood-elimination scam scheme, Whoops ... too late, it's already been promised, for completion within the lifetime of the current government, no less will do !

And hide your innocent young babies, unless you wish them to be kissed, on camera or live-TV !

Oh, and the banks should prepare for larger-than-usual numbers of B100/B500 bank-notes to be needed in-circulation !

Edited January 14, 2013 by Ricardo

[473geo]

Not really news then is it? just confirmation.

[Buchholz]

The Pheu Thai Party's executive board yesterday made a unanimous decision to field Pongsapat Pongcharoen in the race for Bangkok governor.

Background from the earlier Thaksin Picks, Pheu Thai Follows thread:

http://www.thaivisa....e/#entry5853309

.

Not really news then is it? just confirmation.

The unanimous vote confirming Thaksin's control over the entire Party.

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Edited January 14, 2013 by Buchholz

[beano2274]

So PT could not find anyone from inside their own ranks and had to get someone from outside, I thought the person who was named as a candidate had to be a party member at the time of being choosen.

So him and TS did Criminal Justice at Sam Houston then? Maybe they should go over their notes again and see where they have gone wrong in the past.

Edited January 14, 2013 by beano2274

[siampolee]

The spread of the malignant P.T.P. cancer spreads.

[Nickymaster]

The same people who in 2010 conveniently vanished from the scene in order to let the Red shirts terrorize and burn Bangkok are now running for Governor.

If this guys get’s elected to become governor of Bangkok it would be the joke of the century.

[Buchholz]

So PT could not find anyone from inside their own ranks and had to get someone from outside, I thought the person who was named as a candidate had to be a party member at the time of being choosen.

So him and TS did Criminal Justice at Sam Houston then? Maybe they should go over their notes again and see where they have gone wrong in the past.

Party membership rules are different for MP's and Bangkok Governor races.

It's reported elsewhere that Police General Pongsapat will apply for Pheu Thai Party membership tomorrow.

[Buchholz]

The Pheu Thai Party's executive board yesterday made a unanimous decision to field Pongsapat Pongcharoen in the race for Bangkok governor.

This additional nuance is always amusing to be reminded of :

However, Premier Yingluck Shinawatra did not appear at the meeting because she is not an Executive Committee member.

http://www.mcot.net/...78#.UPN-hJgm-So

,

[jcb2001]

Why not pick Nutawat or Jatuporn. Either one are outstanding role models for Bangkok and would make an excellent Governor. They have so much too offer.

[geriatrickid]

Ahh the harpes of jealousy have emerged to pass their shrill judgement.

Let's recap some of their shrieks against the man's candidacy;

- He is currently head of the narcotics unit of the police. (Can't have that, he must be no fun if he interferes with the party people's chemical potions.)

- He is blamed for the Bangkok riots. (Apparently, his not being responsible for the response, nor even being in a command position for the response doesn't seem to register.)

- He has a doctorate from an accredited American university. (This must really pour salt on the wounds of inadequacy for some people. Can't have someone with all that book larnin.)

- He attended the same university as the former popularly elected PM. (Tens of housands graduate from Mahidol, Chula and other universities, but this doesn't seem to cause as much concern.)

- The man is relatively free of the taint of corruption. (This must be a worry for those that rely on corrupt cops to get by in Thailand.)

Frankly, I don't think a police officer should be running for political office, particularly one that sits on the board of Thai Airways. However, TIL and anything goes. He is not likely to win the election, at least not if the Nation can help his Democrat party opponent. Quite an interesting election shaping up: An incumbent governor with a lacklustre record vs. a political neophyte that is well connected with the elites of Thailand and under different circumstances might have run as a Democrat..

Edited January 14, 2013 by geriatrickid

[geriatrickid]

Why not pick Nutawat or Jatuporn. Either one are outstanding role models for Bangkok and would make an excellent Governor. They have so much too offer.

They are not Bangkok residents. I appreciate that you must admire the gentemen, and while I am sure they are your role models, their candidacy would be inappropriate.

[Buchholz]

Ahh the harpes of jealousy have emerged to pass their shrill judgement.

Let's recap some of their shrieks against the man's candidacy;

- He is currently head of the narcotics unit of the police. (Can't have that, he must be no fun if he interferes with the party people's chemical potions.)

Nice to air out the sycophant screeches, but not one post was made regarding the first one while also completely ignored are posts attributing his candidacy being selected by Thaksin as well as the demeaning manner in which the Prime Minister is not even entrusted with a seat on her own Party's Executive Committee.

.

Edited January 14, 2013 by Buchholz

[bigbamboo]

PT claiming it could win the Bangkok election by putting up an electricity pole as their candidate is no idle boast.

It would probably work in a national election too.

[pisico]

Ahh the harpes of jealousy have emerged to pass their shrill judgement.

Let's recap some of their shrieks against the man's candidacy;

- He is currently head of the narcotics unit of the police. (Can't have that, he must be no fun if he interferes with the party people's chemical potions.)

- He is blamed for the Bangkok riots. (Apparently, his not being responsible for the response, nor even being in a command position for the response doesn't seem to register.)

- He has a doctorate from an accredited American university. (This must really pour salt on the wounds of inadequacy for some people. Can't have someone with all that book larnin.)

- He attended the same university as the former popularly elected PM. (Tens of housands graduate from Mahidol, Chula and other universities, but this doesn't seem to cause as much concern.)

- The man is relatively free of the taint of corruption. (This must be a worry for those that rely on corrupt cops to get by in Thailand.)

Frankly, I don't think a police officer should be running for political office, particularly one that sits on the board of Thai Airways. However, TIL and anything goes. He is not likely to win the election, at least not if the Nation can help his Democrat party opponent. Quite an interesting election shaping up: An incumbent governor with a lackluster record vs. a political neophyte that is well connected with the elites of Thailand and under different circumstances might have run as a Democrat..

"Quite an interesting election shaping up: An incumbent governor with a lackluster record vs. a political neophyte that is well connected with the elites of Thailand and under different circumstances might have run as a Democrat.."

Aptly articulated.

As they same in Thailand: same, same.

[Locationthailand]

Why not wait and see how the campaigns shape up? I for one would love to see the streets cleared of vendors to appropriate market sites, allowing pedestrian traffic to move, and of course same applies to vehicular traffic. Open up all the blocked one ways and no ways that have been put in place to make traffic flow 'better' and start again. Now the PTP have given gazillions of Baht to first time car buyers (Qu: Have you previously owned a car? Ans: No sir, never - snigger - here's your 10,000 Baht) means traffic problems can be resolved in 90 - 180 days? I gotta see that...

[Skywalker69]

Why not pick Nutawat or Jatuporn. Either one are outstanding role models for Bangkok and would make an excellent Governor. They have so much too offer.

"They have so much too offer"

Yes the do, 1.000.000 bottles of gasoline.

[rubl]

The Pheu Thai Party's executive board yesterday made a unanimous decision to field Pongsapat Pongcharoen in the race for Bangkok governor.

Pongsapat is expected to resign today from his concurrent positions as deputy National Police chief and secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board. Tomorrow, he will formally take up membership of the Pheu Thai Party ahead of candidacy registration on January 25.

I'm sure all this is legal, although I'm not certain how long a candidate is supposed to have been member of the party he is candidate for. Is there a difference between candidate for general elections and candidate for BKK governor post?

Furthermore with all discussions before I'm not surprised the choice was unanimous. The main advantage of 'Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts'. Way to go, democracy at last :-) Poor Bangkok citizens.

[GentlemanJim]

So, a Police Officer who aided and abetted another Police Officer by failing to deploy his policemen to control the red crowds in 2010, now reaps the reward for his loyalty, - a nomination for a post for which he is absolutely totally unqualified, then again if Arnie can do it!

[OzMick]

so it's Ok for paramilitary police officers to be political but not actual military? OTOH I'm sure that he'll resign from PTP after he loses and goes back to his sinecure, where of course, he will be completely politically independent.

[geriatrickid]

So, a Police Officer who aided and abetted another Police Officer by failing to deploy his policemen to control the red crowds in 2010, now reaps the reward for his loyalty, - a nomination for a post for which he is absolutely totally unqualified, then again if Arnie can do it!

Ok, you don't like Thaksin. Cool. You have many people in TV that share the same sentiment.

However, the difference is that not all of them post misleading statements when they express their dislike of the former popularly elected PM.

Please tell me where police General Pongsapat failed to deploy "his" policemen.

You are aware that the police are not "his" and that he was not in in charge of the responding personnel at the time of the Bangkok troubles, right? If you are aware of that fact, then why try to mislead people? If you actually believe that the gentleman was in command of Bangkok's police personnel for this response, would you please be so kind as to tell me where you obtained the information? Please educate me because the information that I have and that is readily available indicates that he was the police spokesman, the media relations guy and not the man giving any orders.

Is it really so difficult to be honest? Why not just say you don;t like the guy because you think he's linked to the man that terrifies you? I hate to break it to you, but the police general has closer links to the elite and the Democrats than he does to the former PM Thaksin. He didn't just show up at the TG board and say let me in.

Edited January 15, 2013 by geriatrickid

[geriatrickid]

so it's Ok for paramilitary police officers to be political but not actual military? OTOH I'm sure that he'll resign from PTP after he loses and goes back to his sinecure, where of course, he will be completely politically independent.

The police force in Thailand is seperate from the army. In case you forgot the army claims that it only answers to the King, whereas the police force is responsible to the civilian government. When the military is not suppressing democracy and launching coups, the civilian government is ostensibly in charge.

I trust this explanation clears up your confusion.

[Buchholz]

The Pheu Thai Party's executive board yesterday made a unanimous decision to field Pongsapat Pongcharoen in the race for Bangkok governor.

Pongsapat is expected to resign today from his concurrent positions as deputy National Police chief and secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board. Tomorrow, he will formally take up membership of the Pheu Thai Party ahead of candidacy registration on January 25.

I'm sure all this is legal, although I'm not certain how long a candidate is supposed to have been member of the party he is candidate for. Is there a difference between candidate for general elections and candidate for BKK governor post?

Furthermore with all discussions before I'm not surprised the choice was unanimous. The main advantage of 'Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts'. Way to go, democracy at last :-) Poor Bangkok citizens.

Out of a field of multiple candidates representing different factions within the Pheu Thai Party (PTP), Thaksin picked his fellow alumni and policeman Pongsapat for the position and lo and behold the PTP Executive Committee (minus Yingluck because she doesn't warrant being a member of her own Party's executives) followed and voted for him unanimously.

Apparently, there are different guidelines covering the Bangkok Governor election. For MP's, it's 90 days Party membership to run. Whereas, for Bangkok Governor, one can surmise it's only 30 days as the election is March 3rd, and he's getting Party membership today.

Phumtham Vechayachai, the Party’s Secretary-General said that Police General Pongsapat was scheduled to apply for the Party’s membership on Tuesday after resigning as Deputy Police Chief and Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

http://www.mcot.net/site/content?id=50f28331150ba01a5c000178#.UPSh5Zgm-So

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Edited January 15, 2013 by Buchholz

[GentlemanJim]

Any Thai readers may want to check the news. My wife has just informed me it has hit the news that Pongsapat was put in jail in the US for a brief period for shop lifting a radio!!! Seems like he is perfect for the team and the PTP.

[siampolee]

Any Thai readers may want to check the news. My wife has just informed me it has hit the news that Pongsapat was put in jail in the US for a brief period for shop lifting a radio!!! Seems like he is perfect for the team and the PTP.

Great Oaks from little acorns grow.

Looks like the boy has done his apprenticeship thus he is able to follow the capricious and malevolent whims of his puppet master without nary a word of of doubt or a qualm, thus he is also able to emulate the puppet master without any further training.

[metisdead]

A post containing a link to an article In Thai language has been removed. This is the English language forum.

[GiHadOrange]

Any Thai readers may want to check the news. My wife has just informed me it has hit the news that Pongsapat was put in jail in the US for a brief period for shop lifting a radio!!! Seems like he is perfect for the team and the PTP.

Great Oaks from little acorns grow.

Looks like the boy has done his apprenticeship thus he is able to follow the capricious and malevolent whims of his puppet master without nary a word of of doubt or a qualm, thus he is also able to emulate the puppet master without any further training.

Democrat Party welcomes Pongsapat

The Democrat Party offered a warm welcome to Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, who was picked on Sunday as the Pheu Thai Party’s candidate for Bangkok’s governorship.

At 10:45AM today, Ong-art Klampaiboon, the re-election campaign manager for incumbent Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, said that he was aware of the ruling party’s decision to field Pongsapat. However, he insisted that the governor’s race was not a war between parties but an individual competition.

...

http://www.coconutsbangkok.com/news/democrat-party-welcomes-pongsapat/

[siampolee]

At 10:45AM today, Ong-art Klampaiboon, the re-election campaign manager for incumbent Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, said that he was aware of the ruling party’s decision to field Pongsapat. However, he insisted that the governor’s race was not a war between parties but an individual competition.

The word competition that appears in the above quote brings to my mind and I am sure others minds too that if one achieves victory in a competition there is a winners laurel, possibly a cup and a financial consideration to sweeten ones moment of triumph over lesser mortals who may have competed against you in the event..

Now perish the thought that there is possibly some dubious activity or activities involved in such a prestigious office as the Bangkok Governers post and as such the hands of the office holder may be contaminated with filthy lucre. That thought seems to be implied by the venerable poster above in post # 28.

However as we are living in Thailand one can only surmise their may well be accountinga accidents no matter what the political hue is of the office holder (s) involved, ones minions often try to curry favour as do aspiring business men and women in this mercenary world of ours.

I suppose we would be wise on sending for the fire trucks ordered by the late Samak so as we are able to extinguish any potential financial wild fires that could result from any accounting accident.

Of course we would have to get others to sign the letters of credit and the chickens that went with the deal that was inked by Samak so as to mitigate any possible damage from any possible scandal wouldn't we ?

Wasn't Samak somewhat closely connected to the puppet master as is Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, who was picked on Sunday as the Pheu Thai Party’s candidate for Bangkok’s governorship.?

Edited January 15, 2013 by siampolee

[rubl]

Tonight the taxi driver I had mentioned TWO police officers in the running. One fielded by Pheu Thai, one an independend candidate (from a minor, less known party as by election rules any candidate seems to need to be a political party member).

Today I also noticed more election posters, both the Dem's and the PT candidate. The Dems poster seemed a wee bit smaller, but theat's probably because they asked for a receipt with VAT explicitly specified :-)