Andy, author of Changwat, Amphoe, Tambon — one of my all-time favorite Thailand-related blogs — has a thoughtful round up of Thai election posters.
You may recall that last year, Andy created an interesting map of Bangkok featuring district district names.
(Image: Changwat, Amphoe, Tambon.)
Today’s Bangkok Post has a chart of various Thai political parties’ policies:
(Image: Bangkok Post. Link via TTR.)
Bloomberg notes that rice prices here in Thailand could be set to soar:
Rice prices in Thailand, the biggest exporter, may jump 50 percent by the end of the year under a plan by the party favored to win the July 3 election to buy the grain directly from farmers, said millers and traders.
Yingluck Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai party plans to reinstate a policy introduced by her brother, fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, to buy unmilled rice at 15,000 baht ($496) per metric ton, twice the current level. That would raise costs for exporters and boost the price of shipments to about $750 per ton from $500, according to a survey of eight millers and traders.
(Emphasis mine.)
U.S. Senator John McCain was in Thailand yesterday ahead of a visit to assess the situation in Myanmar.
He addressed the media yesterday evening, and I filed a story for ABC News Radio. But I also wanted to share some notes from his remarks that I posted on Twitter (@newley) a few hours ago.
In addition, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney spoke about the case of the American citizen recently arrested on lèse-majesté charges.
Here goes:
1. Notes from U.S. @SenJohnMcCain‘s remarks to journalists here in Bangkok yesterday… (1/12)
2. @SenJohnMcCain will visit govt officials & then meet with Aung San Suu Kyi. Goal of trip is to assess the situation there. (2/12)
3. @SenJohnMcCain says there has been progress in recent years but he is realistic about the junta’s willingness to change. (3/12)
4. @SenJohnMcCain: “We should greet what’s happened so far in Myanmar with a healthy dose of skepticism.” (4/12)
5. ASSK has said she’ll tour the country in June. How trip goes will be strong indicator of whether govt is interested in reform. (5/12)
6. @SenJohnMcCain: China has significant influence in Myanmar. But China, too, should reform. Govt there shouldn’t block Web. (6/12)
7. @SenJohnMcCain: “In China you can’t Twitter.” He had meeting w/ high ranking Chinese official in Wash., DC a few weeks back… (7/12)
8. @SenJohnMcCain: “I said if you really want to convince us that you’re progressing then let your people Twitter. Let ’em tweet.” (8/12)
9. U.S. Ambassador @KristieKenney on arrest of U.S. citizen on lèse-majesté charges… (9/12)
10. @KristieKenney: We “take the arrest of this American citizen very seriously…” (10/12)
11. @KristieKenney: “We do also very strongly believe as Americans in freedom of expression…” (11/12)
12. @KristieKenney: “We are visiting with this American…and we are discussing the case with Thai authorities.” (12/12)
Today’s WSJ notes that:
Fugitive billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra’s bold move to name his youngest sister as a candidate for prime minister appears to be changing the complexion of Thailand’s coming elections–and might provide the controversial politician a ticket home after nearly three years in exile.
Initial opinion polls suggest Yingluck Shinawatra is now leading the race to form the next government. A Suan Dusit Rajabhat University poll released over the weekend shows her opposition For Thais Party gaining 43% of the vote—up from 41% a week earlier—compared with the 37% for the ruling Democrat Party.
(Emphasis mine.)
A Reuters story from yesterday says talk of potential perjury charges against Yingluck Shinawatra “deepens uncertainty” over the July 3 election:
Just days after Yingluck Shinawatra was chosen to lead Thailand’s opposition party in coming elections, she could be headed for a legal standoff over a case at the heart of a coup that toppled her twice-elected brother.
Kaewsun Atibhodhi, a former senator who pursued corruption cases against her brother Thaksin Shinawatra after the 2006 coup, said Yingluck could face perjury charges over testimony she gave during Thaksin’s asset concealment case two years ago.
Anti-government red shirt demonstrators rallied here in Bangkok yesterday to mark the anniversary of the May 19 army crackdown.
The CSM provides some details on the protest and looks ahead to the July 3 elections, noting that moderates will be key:
Thousands of opposition supporters in their trademark red shirts rallied Thursday in the Thai capital to mark the anniversary of a military crackdown on chaotic protests that left 92 dead. The rally was among the largest held in recent months and comes as Thai political parties kick off their campaigns for closely watched parliamentary elections on July 3.
And:
While the red shirts have built a strong base that helps the PTP, analysts say the election may hinge on the mood among nonpartisan voters, as well as local dynamics in constituency contests. A large number of voters have not picked a party, according to recent polls, and may be turned off by the partisan style of color-coded street protests.
Reuters says that “a year on, mystery shrouds Thailand’s deadly unrest”:
A 30-metre (98-ft) corrugated iron wall masks the remnants of a mysterious arson attack a year ago on Southeast Asia’s second-biggest shopping mall, a reminder of Thailand’s struggle to tame a crisis many fear could turn violent again during elections.
The Bangkok Post says 20,000 were in attendance:
Around 20,000 red shirt supporters yesterday attended a gathering at Ratchaprasong intersection to mark the one-year anniversary of the clashes between red shirt protesters and security forces on May 19 last year.
And the FT‘s beyondbrics blog asks, “After Thailand’s elections, what next?”
Elections are supposed to solve political conflicts, not exacerbate them.
Thailand’s bitter divisions are about to be tested at the ballot box, but the real fight for power is likely to take place after the vote rather than before it.
(Image: Bangkok Post.)
UPDATE:
The BBC also has a piece featuring Thai journalist Karuna Buakamsri. Worth a look. And here’s an AP story, as well.
A few stories from the international media on the shooting the Bangkok Post mentioned this morning:
The FT notes the timing: the attack came less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Abhisit dissolved parliament.
Bloomberg says:
A candidate for Thailand’s main opposition party linked to ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra was shot and wounded yesterday after a royal decree took effect to dissolve Parliament and hold an election on July 3.
AFP has more on the politician’s links to Thaksin:
A Thai opposition politician close to fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was shot in an attack that the government said on Wednesday appeared to be politically-motivated with an election looming.
And:
Puea Thai spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said that Pracha had intended to run for re-election in the upcoming vote.
The politician is a staunch supporter of Thaksin and has visited the telecoms tycoon-turned-premier overseas where he lives in self-imposed exile.
