Thai Rath Newsman Quits University Over Dusit Poll Row

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CONTROVERSY

Newsman quits university over poll row

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan,

Chuleeporn Aramnate

The Nation

Manit

Alleges Suan Dusit conducting polls to please govt

BANGKOK: -- A veteran journalist from the mass-circulation Thai Rath has resigned as president of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University Council. He said he was dissatisfied that the university allegedly conducted opinion surveys to please the government.

newsjsManit Suksomchit, a senior editor of Thai Rath and former member of the constitution drafting assembly (CDA), said that he decided to resign as the council president because he had a different stand from the university.

Manit has been the president of the university council since 1987.

He said he had a difference with the university after Suan Dusit Rajabhat was hired by the government to organise 108 hearings on charter amendments. Aside from the fact that a university should not get involved in politics, he said he disagreed with the efforts to amend the 2007 charter.

"I took part in drafting the 2007 Constitution and I think it is a good charter because it plugged loopholes in the 1997 charter to prevent businessmen from reaping benefits through corruption. Several points that would have allowed politicians to abuse [authority] had been prohibited," Manit said.

"The 108 hearings on charter amendment would mobilise people to tear down the Constitution. The interior minister had also said he would recruit people to attend the hearing, adding that, 'The fool should not join in the hearing'.

"So I can't agree with any effort to annul this charter," he said.

Manit rejected media reports that he was angry with Dusit Poll as it was "hired" to conduct polls, saying he had never said so.

He said the last straw for him was an opinion survey by the university, announced on December 20. In the survey, respondents were asked which politicians they would like to survive if the world ended. Manit said the survey brought widespread criticism that the poll was conducted to please the prime minister.

Manit said the university rector asked him to reconsider his resignation. "But I replied that had I wanted to stay, I would not have resigned. I announced my resignation at the council meeting and all applauded me, but I don't know if they like me or not. So far, no one has followed suit."

He said the university continued to conduct strange surveys, but he did not read the survey questions in detail.

Assoc Prof Dr Sukhum Chaloeysup, who is in charge of Suan Dusit Poll, said Suan Dusit always conducted opinion surveys based on academic principles.

He said the university did not conduct surveys to please the government and it had been holding this kind of survey since the tenure of the Democrat-led government.

Sukhum had been assigned by the government committee in charge of following up on reconciliation proposals to select sample groups for conducting public hearings on charter amendments.

He said the public hearings were definitely not a reason behind Manit's resignation. The government committee had suspended the hearing plan after the government began contemplating whether to hold a public referendum on charter amendments or not, he said.

-- The Nation 2013-02-06

[siampolee]

Assoc Prof Dr Sukhum Chaloeysup, who is in charge of Suan Dusit Poll, said Suan Dusit always conducted opinion surveys based on academic principles.

No doubt based upon the policy of , ''No Fail,'' so beloved by the education ministry and Thai educational (?) establishments.Face saving and excellent P.R. at any cost.

[Melyn]

So there are people with morals here

[Lite Beer]

Government asserts no interference in Bangkok governor surveys

By English News

BANGKOK, Feb 6 - Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan on Wednesday insisted that there is no government interference in any opinion polls on Bangkok's gubernatorial election following controversial university polls.

The interior minister reacted following the resignation of a veteran journalist Manit Suksomchit from the presidency of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University Council citing his disagreement with recent university polls which he described as biased in favour of the Pheu Thai-led government.

Independent Bangkok governor candidates also urged the Bangkok election commission to take action against the pollsters concerning the upcoming gubernatorial election as the poll results could influence voters' decision-making.

Mr Charupong admitted that the opinion polls somehow influence the voter's mind, but they can also be useful information for voters' consideration on which candidate they should vote for.

The minister, who is also Pheu Thai party leader, expressed confidence that the voters will decide who to vote for upon the policies. He pledged that the Pheu Thai Party will not intervene in any opinion polls.

Suan Dusit polls earlier showed former deputy police chief Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, a Pheu Thai Party candidate, led Democrat party candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra prior to the March 3 Bangkok governor election.

The Bangkok Poll, conducted by Bangkok University and released today, found 35.2 per cent of 1,586 respondents are impressed with the Pheu Thai candidate's promised policies which they viewed as practical, followed by Sukhumbhand with 28.3 per cent and former police chief Seripisut Temiyavet at 7 per cent. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02-06

[waza]

I am shocked and appalled by this news! This, the banned TV show and blocked kiddies parade, How insecure and petty can one government be?

I am The Real PM

I wonder how much affect a corrupt public opinion pole result has on public opinion?

[tragickingdom]

Well each and any polling agency in Thailand is lying about the poll figures. They present the figures as requested by their paymasters. Anyone with a bit statistical or mathematical knowledge know that all Thai polls are bogus. FIrst only a handful of Central provinces are polled and the outcome is extrapolated for the entire country. Secondly the questions are manipulated to get the rights answers, polling sizes are too small and margins or error left out. The same people are polled over and over again and the poor, the factory workers and other people who can't be reached easily are never ever polled which makes the sample useless.

Thailand = Fraud country. The government does it, the opposition does it and all pressure groups are doing it. One example is the happiness measurement, which is always spiking after a royal birthday. Really? Is the establishment really thinking that a birthday of a high placed people have any impact on the sorrows of a poor bastard that need to make ends meet. Thailand is not North Korea.

[kimamey]

Government asserts no interference in Bangkok governor surveys

By English News

BANGKOK, Feb 6 - Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan on Wednesday insisted that there is no government interference in any opinion polls on Bangkok's gubernatorial election following controversial university polls.

The interior minister reacted following the resignation of a veteran journalist Manit Suksomchit from the presidency of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University Council citing his disagreement with recent university polls which he described as biased in favour of the Pheu Thai-led government.

Independent Bangkok governor candidates also urged the Bangkok election commission to take action against the pollsters concerning the upcoming gubernatorial election as the poll results could influence voters' decision-making.

Mr Charupong admitted that the opinion polls somehow influence the voter's mind, but they can also be useful information for voters' consideration on which candidate they should vote for.

The minister, who is also Pheu Thai party leader, expressed confidence that the voters will decide who to vote for upon the policies. He pledged that the Pheu Thai Party will not intervene in any opinion polls.

Suan Dusit polls earlier showed former deputy police chief Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, a Pheu Thai Party candidate, led Democrat party candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra prior to the March 3 Bangkok governor election.

The Bangkok Poll, conducted by Bangkok University and released today, found 35.2 per cent of 1,586 respondents are impressed with the Pheu Thai candidate's promised policies which they viewed as practical, followed by Sukhumbhand with 28.3 per cent and former police chief Seripisut Temiyavet at 7 per cent. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02-06

The minister, who is also Pheu Thai party leader, expressed confidence that the voters will decide who to vote for upon the policies.

But he also says.

Mr Charupong admitted that the opinion polls somehow influence the voter's mind, but they can also be useful information for voters' consideration on which candidate they should vote for.

I might be just me but don't these statements contradict each other?

Also how can poll results be useful in deciding who to vote for?

[Mitker]

Mr Charupong admitted that the opinion polls somehow influence the voter's mind, but they can also be useful information for voters' consideration on which candidate they should vote for.

How that?

Except if capitalizing on leader popularity is considered "useful". But definitely not for the voters..