We choose defiance over image: Democrat Chuan Leekpai

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We Choose Defiance Over Image: Democrat Veteran



BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister and senior Democrat MP Chuan Leekpai said the Democrat Party has chosen to sacrifice its good image for the sake of opposing tyrannical power of the government.

Mr. Chuan spoke to the press after hectic weeks in the Parliament which saw Democrat MPs heckling at the House Speaker, fist-fighting with the police, and throwing a chair.

A recent opinion poll has claimed that the public viewed the Parliamentary chaos in negative ways, especially the latest incident which involved a chair, while a number of analysts warned that the Democrat Party is risking its long-tended image as a polished political party.

However, Mr. Chuan, who also serves as a prominent advisor to the party, said his party is viewed as a bad guy because the public had not followed the Parliamentary debates in their entirety.

"They only saw the parts when troubles happened, like the chair-throwing, but they had not realised how much pressured [Democrat MPs] had been," Mr. Chuan explained.

He viewed the chaos as a necessary method to challenge the power wield by influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra via his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

"I acknowledge that what happened might mislead the public to think the Democrat Party is troublemaker of the Parliament," Mr. Chuan told the reporters, "But to work in the Parliament without tarnishing the party′s image is to be obedient like a good kid".

"That is not the way of the Democrat Party. We do not want that," he insisted.

Mr. Chuan added that the Democrat Party is the only group that Mr. Thaksin fails to control. "Although what the party is doing might open it to attacks, but we must inform the public about the root cause of the situation" the former leader said.

He also invoked the speech given by His Majesty the King as a guideline to stop abuse of power by the government. According to Mr. Chuan, the King had urged everyone to reconsider what their duties are, and do their best in their duties, instead of demanding others to perform their duties.

"It is like when we hear puu yai [adults, influential people] saying that corruption is bad, but they end up engaging in corruption themselves. Or like talking beautifully about democracy but end up buying votes and cheating elections," Mr. Chuan said.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM09EZzVOVGcwTkE9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-09-12

[MaiChai]

At least someone is standing up to the Taksin dictatorship. Everyone else has either been bought or worries about their safety or position if they voice opposition.

[15Peter20]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

[NongKhaiKid]

The Democrats have to waken up to political reality that they are up against PTP led by a ruthless leader who will not let anyone or anything stand in his way and keeping a polished, nice people image isn't going to do it for them.

I'm not suggesting they descend to the level of red shirt thuggery and chair throwing isn't the way to go as it is the type of incident that gives a quick news clip and that's what the media wants. Childish playground politics isn't beyond them, or any Thai politician for that matter.

Being polished and reasonable is only one aspect of projection but they need to remember what's supposed to be kept inside that velvet glove.

[jaidam]

Do these inept democrats not have anyone in their ranks light fingered enough to filch a few trillion baht with which to hire Baker Botts, Amsterdam and Peroff, buy a few tv stations and newspapers etc to do a full cult of personality drive? Defiance is all very well, but in this age of certain politicians reaching for deity it will be another lackluster failure. Fight fire with fire if you want to see concrete results, although with every passing day the Shinawatra clans tentacles are tightening and its likely too late to stop the hereditary familial dictatorship that Thailand will be suffering under for the next 30-50 years.

[whybother]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

The Samak post-coup government?

[boomerangutang]

Thai politicians are a reflection of the Thai people. If they lie and cheat, if they have temper tantrums, if they can't think innovatively (because of a stifling educational regime) - .....is it unbecoming? Who is surprised?

[LomSak27]

No one has believed in the democrats image in a decade, sigh. Thaksin is all they got - Hope he doesn't die on them or they have nothing

[ggold]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

And soon the country will pay the price of Thaksins folly!

[ggold]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

And soon the country will pay the price of Thaksins folly!

[boomerangutang]

I liked Chuan. He was PM when I 1st came to Thailand to reside. I think he's now getting a bit old and rusty.

[thaicbr]

I liked Chuan. He was PM when I 1st came to Thailand to reside.  I think he's now getting a bit old and rusty.  

Aren't they all. Most politicians here are over 60 some are into their 80's. They have been screwing Thailand a long time.

Sent from my phone with the app thingy.

[thaicbr]

Personally I think politicians should retire same age as every one else. Get rid of the dinosaurs

Sent from my phone with the app thingy.

[gamini]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

Did Taksin pay you to write such rubbish?. Or have you not lived long enough in Thailand to have seen many previous goverments come to power or changed in exactly the same manner as Abhisit came to power. The army-coup makers had nothing to do with him coming to power. All the MP's who voted for him had a free vote all transparantly shown on TV in spite of the huge bribes Taksin was offering for the support of his nominee. The choice of Abhisit with his integrity and fine education and expertise against a policeman!! Many chose what was best for Thailand. Taksin told his supporters that that it was the army and coup makers who put him in powers and unfortunately they beleived him.

[Spare]

I could be wrong, but could it be that Yingluck threw the 1st punch?

[15Peter20]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

Did Taksin pay you to write such rubbish?. Or have you not lived long enough in Thailand to have seen many previous goverments come to power or changed in exactly the same manner as Abhisit came to power. The army-coup makers had nothing to do with him coming to power. All the MP's who voted for him had a free vote all transparantly shown on TV in spite of the huge bribes Taksin was offering for the support of his nominee. The choice of Abhisit with his integrity and fine education and expertise against a policeman!! Many chose what was best for Thailand. Taksin told his supporters that that it was the army and coup makers who put him in powers and unfortunately they beleived him.

"Did Taksin pay you to write such rubbish?."

Nope. My opinion is worth exactly the same as yours. Zero.

[backtonormal]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

Did Taksin pay you to write such rubbish?. Or have you not lived long enough in Thailand to have seen many previous goverments come to power or changed in exactly the same manner as Abhisit came to power. The army-coup makers had nothing to do with him coming to power. All the MP's who voted for him had a free vote all transparantly shown on TV in spite of the huge bribes Taksin was offering for the support of his nominee. The choice of Abhisit with his integrity and fine education and expertise against a policeman!! Many chose what was best for Thailand. Taksin told his supporters that that it was the army and coup makers who put him in powers and unfortunately they beleived him.

What a load of borlocks. The coalition was formed in an army base with the invisible hand alledgedly making offers the Chart Pattana political party "simply could not refuse" to join the coalition. Newin made his infamous "its all over boss" phone call to Thaksin and jumped ship purely for cash promises but he learnt his lesson and Thaksin cut the Bhum Jai Thai party adrift into the political wilderness at the next election.

Integrity...jumping conscription. If you write nonsense I may be here to challenge you again

[backtonormal]

I liked Chuan. He was PM when I 1st came to Thailand to reside. I think he's now getting a bit old and rusty.

Like him you may but his government was just as corrupt as this one. Land scandal brought his political career as PM to an abrupt end.

[gamini]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

Did Taksin pay you to write such rubbish?. Or have you not lived long enough in Thailand to have seen many previous goverments come to power or changed in exactly the same manner as Abhisit came to power. The army-coup makers had nothing to do with him coming to power. All the MP's who voted for him had a free vote all transparantly shown on TV in spite of the huge bribes Taksin was offering for the support of his nominee. The choice of Abhisit with his integrity and fine education and expertise against a policeman!! Many chose what was best for Thailand. Taksin told his supporters that that it was the army and coup makers who put him in powers and unfortunately they beleived him.

What a load of borlocks. The coalition was formed in an army base with the invisible hand alledgedly making offers the Chart Pattana political party "simply could not refuse" to join the coalition. Newin made his infamous "its all over boss" phone call to Thaksin and jumped ship purely for cash promises but he learnt his lesson and Thaksin cut the Bhum Jai Thai party adrift into the political wilderness at the next election.

Integrity...jumping conscription. If you write nonsense I may be here to challenge you again

It is your right to be a red shirt supporter and love Taksin. I guess you must have about the same level of education (or lack of) as the red shirts to beleive the high powered propaganda that Taksin paid for and spread to destroy Abishit. And your dislike of him is because he has all the qualities you lack.

[thaicbr]

 

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

 

Did Taksin pay you to write such rubbish?. Or have you not lived long enough in Thailand to have seen many previous goverments come to power or changed in exactly the same manner as Abhisit came to power. The army-coup makers had nothing to do with him coming to power.  All the MP's who voted for him had a free vote all transparantly shown on TV in spite of the huge bribes Taksin was offering for the support of his nominee. The choice of Abhisit with his integrity and fine education and expertise against a policeman!! Many chose what was best for Thailand. Taksin told his supporters that that it was the  army and coup makers who put him in powers and unfortunately they beleived him. 

 

 

What a load of borlocks. The coalition was formed in an army base with the invisible hand alledgedly making offers the Chart Pattana political party "simply could not refuse" to join the coalition. Newin made his infamous "its all over boss" phone call to Thaksin and jumped ship purely for cash promises but he learnt his lesson and Thaksin cut the Bhum Jai Thai party adrift into the political wilderness at the next election.

Integrity...jumping conscription. If you write nonsense I may be here to challenge you again

 

What <deleted>. BARNHARN Silpar Archa and said party has been in EVERY government since the year dot there are ALWAYS offers.

<deleted> Thaksin has one of the coup generals in his fold of bought and payed for Mp's.

And they may have been cut adrift but BJT still managed to get 35 Mp's elected.

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[hellodolly]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

The Samak post-coup government?

You have to forgive Peter he wasn't here. He went to a red shirt school on democracy and was given false information.

[hellodolly]

Personally I think politicians should retire same age as every one else. Get rid of the dinosaurs

Sent from my phone with the app thingy.

I like the idea of retiring at 60. It would open the door to new comers and lock out people like Thaksin. He would be unable to buy that many people and still they would have time enough to learn and practice the business of running the country.

Yes there would still be corruption but at least Thailand would be open to newer ideas.

Hopefully not on how to improve the take in corruption.

[hellodolly]

No one has believed in the democrats image in a decade, sigh. Thaksin is all they got - Hope he doesn't die on them or they have nothing

That would be a step up from having Thaksin.

It is to bad the press chooses only to print the violence and completely ignore the ignorance that the PTP is trying to shove down the throats of the Thai public.

In my opinion it was a good thing to show the voters that they are not just a bunch of gentlemen who don't really care about the people. The shame is the press hides the corruption and inept abilities of the PTPredshirts.

It is a long up hill battle fighting city hall and the press.

[johna]

I like Chuan, but as PM he was spineless, allowing other members of his coalition government to dictate policy and budget spending, he cancelled the army’s secret budget which at the time stood at approx. 235 million, shortly after separatist fired at a train in the south killing one passenger and Chuan restored the army’s secret budget.

The secret budget was money the army was given over and above their regular budget, ostensibly to fund secret military operations, the army did not have to explain to anyone what happened to this money.

[15Peter20]

They lost their 'good' image the moment they colluded with the coup-making army generals to form the only post-coup government possible. Not that they had much of a choice at the time, I'd imagine. I blame the army's meddling in politics for all of this turmoil. Made a complete martyr out of Thaksin.

The Samak post-coup government?

You have to forgive Peter he wasn't here. He went to a red shirt school on democracy and was given false information.

Am I allowed to fabricate things about your personal life as well? Man, I could have some fun with that...

[Rooo]

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