Poor political timing for 'wear red' push: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Poor political timing for 'wear red' push
The Nation

Low turn-out should worry the Shinawatras

BANGKOK: -- It's easy to see why a "Wear red" campaign scheduled on November 1 failed to ruffle any feathers. Some pointed fingers at the military's stern warning, while the others cited the confusion caused by contradictory signals from red-shirted leaders themselves. And there are people in the anti-military movement who either think the time "isn't yet ripe" to instigate an uprising or have doubts themselves about the controversial rice-pledging scheme of the overthrown Yingluck government.

All the analyses are correct, one more than another, perhaps. The mili?tary remains in firm control and several key leaders of the red-shirt movement have been reined in. That partly explained why some red-shirt leaders either sounded sceptical about the "rendezvous" or were totally silent about it. But one theory that should not be overlooked is that the campaign fizzled out because it seemed to be attached too much to the rice scheme and the Shinawatras.

Although former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said publicly she didn't want her supporters to wear red on that day, her big brother was among those not complying. Thaksin made sure everybody knew what colour he chose to wear on November 1. Trapped by his own pro-peace rhetoric, he tried to convince his supporters and the rest of the world that he did it for the sake of Thai democracy. How many people believed him or whether his association with the campaign contributed to the low turn-out depends on each person's political point of view.

Thaksin recently instructed his supporters to "play dead". That may have had added to the confusing signals ahead of November 1. That also might explain his apparently awkward message to the Thai people and supporters a week ago. Thaksin said he wore red because it was Sunday and he also wanted to express support for justice seekers and democracy lovers in his homeland. Thailand's red-shirt movement shouldn't be controlled by guns or tough laws, he added, because fairness and mercy would easily win their hearts.

Thaksin's problem is that while he often seemed to say the right thing, when democracy was concerned, it was always doubtful that he was the right man to say such things. Accusations that he himself is a member of the "elite" who was clever at exploiting democracy always hounded him, but after the latest coup, they were given more weight by a hardcore leftist. In his most stinging attack against the Shinawatras, Somsak Jeamteerasakul in the middle of this year asserted that the clan was no different from those who the family's members claim are hell-bent on destroying them. Somsak didn't highlight the rice scheme, but his criticism of the Shinawatras lent credence to the impression that their "pro-democracy" initiatives usually came when their vested interests were at stake.

The "Wear red" campaign was partly dubbed a move to give moral support to Yingluck Shinawatra, who faces legal action for alleged failure to act against fraud in the rice scheme. The trial is some way from conclusion, but the military came under heavy criticism recently for applying a little-known law in a bid to force her to pay damages. The bottom line, though, is that the controversial programme deserves to be scrutinised.

Many among both pro- and anti-military people want the trial to be a stage to prove Yingluck's guilt or innocence. It's possible that the "Wear red" campaign flies in the face of such a wish and that could be a reason why what was supposed to be a major red tide on November did not quite work out. It was an obvious setback for some, most likely a famous man in political exile, but not quite for others.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Poor-political-timing-for-wear-red-push-30272532.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-09

[Thailand]

But he still warrants a whole editorial from the tame rag apparently?

[worgeordie]

Does this mean Thaksin is loosing his grip,maybe he needs

to throw more money at the problem.

regards worgeordie

[EricBerg]

Does this mean Thaksin is loosing his grip,maybe he needs

to throw more money at the problem.

regards worgeordie

Yes he may be losing his grip, but when elections come the voters up north may very well en masse vote for the shina-party again. They believe in ghosts after all...

[scorecard]

But he still warrants a whole editorial from the tame rag apparently?

'Warrants a whole editorial....' doesn't mean he's good.

[Searat7]

If the media stopped reporting about Thaksin completely then maybe his influence would further decline which would be desirable.

[Cuchulainn]

................but his criticism of the Shinawatras lent credence to the impression that their "pro-democracy" initiatives usually came when their vested interests were at stake..................

Starting to see sense, eh? This corrupt and blood-sucking family of leeches and its verminous brood of rat-like feral spawn's days are numbered.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Cuchulainn

[Eric Loh]

................but his criticism of the Shinawatras lent credence to the impression that their "pro-democracy" initiatives usually came when their vested interests were at stake..................

Starting to see sense, eh? This corrupt and blood-sucking family of leeches and its verminous brood of rat-like feral spawn's days are numbered.

This corrupt blood-sucking family can be voted out and has a short tenure of 4 years. While this junta government can't be voted out and their tenure is subjected to their willingness to relinquish power and wealth. Just making sense.

[Jimmpy]

I was extremely happy to see no red being worn that Sunday !

Congratulations to our PM for his determination, ability and focus on rebuilding Thailand's Status, Culture and position in the world.

Anyone who can tame or get rid of those vile and disgusting people, is OK in book.

[TooPoopedToPop]

But he still warrants a whole editorial from the tame rag apparently?

'Warrants a whole editorial....' doesn't mean he's good.

No, it doesn't mean he's good... but it does mean that he's still a force to be reckoned with.

[deckape]

A poorly written, poorly reasoned editorial with a boneheaded premise. There's five minutes I will never get back...

[Srikcir]

What is telling is that the PTP needs a more visionary leadership regardless of its political brand.

The PTP could use the next election that is still a minimum 12+ months off to rebrand the party's political ideology as more centralist while still being a champion of the low income and lesser educated classes. This was the appeal in 1992 for Clinton and in 2008 for Obama. As it stands now with the lack of an evovling political platform, the PTP appears to continue resting on its historical voter base.

PTP's lackluster political messages can be dangerous to party survival in the next election as Abhisit IS rebranding his political platform, albeit with the Junta taking the lead. In fact the MMA electoral system may provide a parliament coalition opportunity for Suthep should he decide to break away from his historical political partnership with Abhisit.

The PTP needs to be more proactive if it desires to rule, not only to preserve its previous voter base but expand its political attraction:

“The ruling power is always faced with the question, ‘In such and such circumstances, what would you do?’, whereas the opposition is not obliged to take responsibility or make any real decisions.” - George Orwell.

[sweatalot]

................but his criticism of the Shinawatras lent credence to the impression that their "pro-democracy" initiatives usually came when their vested interests were at stake..................

Starting to see sense, eh? This corrupt and blood-sucking family of leeches and its verminous brood of rat-like feral spawn's days are numbered.

This corrupt blood-sucking family can be voted out and has a short tenure of 4 years. While this junta government can't be voted out and their tenure is subjected to their willingness to relinquish power and wealth. Just making sense.

... but the difference is their behavior

and this ... family knows many tricks and Baht not to be voted out

[sweatalot]

What is telling is that the PTP needs a more visionary leadership regardless of its political brand.

The PTP could use the next election that is still a minimum 12+ months off to rebrand the party's political ideology as more centralist while still being a champion of the low income and lesser educated classes. This was the appeal in 1992 for Clinton and in 2008 for Obama. As it stands now with the lack of an evovling political platform, the PTP appears to continue resting on its historical voter base.

PTP's lackluster political messages can be dangerous to party survival in the next election as Abhisit IS rebranding his political platform, albeit with the Junta taking the lead. In fact the MMA electoral system may provide a parliament coalition opportunity for Suthep should he decide to break away from his historical political partnership with Abhisit.

The PTP needs to be more proactive if it desires to rule, not only to preserve its previous voter base but expand its political attraction:

“The ruling power is always faced with the question, ‘In such and such circumstances, what would you do?’, whereas the opposition is not obliged to take responsibility or make any real decisions.” - George Orwell.

the ptp is nothing but a highly financed instrument to work in favour of it's owner, t.

They are not interested in the people or helping the poor - this is just a PR trick to buy their votes

[tbthailand]

What is telling is that the PTP needs a more visionary leadership regardless of its political brand.

The PTP could use the next election that is still a minimum 12+ months off to rebrand the party's political ideology as more centralist while still being a champion of the low income and lesser educated classes. This was the appeal in 1992 for Clinton and in 2008 for Obama. As it stands now with the lack of an evovling political platform, the PTP appears to continue resting on its historical voter base.

PTP's lackluster political messages can be dangerous to party survival in the next election as Abhisit IS rebranding his political platform, albeit with the Junta taking the lead. In fact the MMA electoral system may provide a parliament coalition opportunity for Suthep should he decide to break away from his historical political partnership with Abhisit.

The PTP needs to be more proactive if it desires to rule, not only to preserve its previous voter base but expand its political attraction:

“The ruling power is always faced with the question, ‘In such and such circumstances, what would you do?’, whereas the opposition is not obliged to take responsibility or make any real decisions.” - George Orwell.

The PTP will not have any issues gaining support - that has been a constant for a decade ++

The immediate problem will be to stop the junta-constitution because it will be anti-democratic and make elected government in Thailand irrelevant.

The second, urgent problem is to decapitate the military so that they can never stage another coup.

After that rather difficult task, there will continue to be anti-democratic forces in Thailand which will want to steal back sovereignty from the Thai people.

[tbthailand]

What is telling is that the PTP needs a more visionary leadership regardless of its political brand.

The PTP could use the next election that is still a minimum 12+ months off to rebrand the party's political ideology as more centralist while still being a champion of the low income and lesser educated classes. This was the appeal in 1992 for Clinton and in 2008 for Obama. As it stands now with the lack of an evovling political platform, the PTP appears to continue resting on its historical voter base.

PTP's lackluster political messages can be dangerous to party survival in the next election as Abhisit IS rebranding his political platform, albeit with the Junta taking the lead. In fact the MMA electoral system may provide a parliament coalition opportunity for Suthep should he decide to break away from his historical political partnership with Abhisit.

The PTP needs to be more proactive if it desires to rule, not only to preserve its previous voter base but expand its political attraction:

“The ruling power is always faced with the question, ‘In such and such circumstances, what would you do?’, whereas the opposition is not obliged to take responsibility or make any real decisions.” - George Orwell.

the ptp is nothing but a highly financed instrument to work in favour of it's owner, t.

They are not interested in the people or helping the poor - this is just a PR trick to buy their votes

if that is the case, then the PR happens to be backed up by results which makes it more than PR, doesn't it...

here is just one example where the government dramatically increased access to health care (and to healthcare professionals, doctors, dentists, etc) to the provinces after 2001.

http://www.oecd.org/dev/asia-pacific/Thailand.pdf