Category: Thailand

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Thai politics Thailand

“What will the U.S. Reaction Be to Thailand’s Election?”

That’s the question Joshua Kurlantzick asks on the Council on Foreign Relations’ Asia Unbound blog. The post begins:

In the run up to Thailand’s national elections on July 3, most U.S. officials have said very little about the country and its poll…

And continues:

Unlike in 2006, the U.S. cannot this time even tacitly tolerate a coup, since the Thai military already has shown, in 2006 and 2007, that a coup will only set back the country’s economy and democratic progress badly…

And adds:

What’s more, the administration should be prepared to warn Puea Thai, as well, if it wins the election and immediately tries to use a mandate to launch its own cycle of recriminations against the judges, bureaucrats, and army officers it believes have made life tough for Thaksin supporters over the past five years…

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Thai politics Thailand

Democrats say they’ll rally at Rajaprasong on Thurs.

Today’s Bangkok Post reports that the Democrats plan to rally on Thurs. at Rajaprasong intersection, but have pledged not to block traffic.

According to Democrat candidate Ong-art Klampaibul:

…the main reason the party chose Ratchaprasong for the campaign rally was to remind voters that this was the location of the main stage for last year’s red shirt protest which damaged the country’s reputation so severely.

On Twitter, @terryfrd notes that Thai TV Channel 9 says:

There are rumours that some red shirts are planning on attending the Dems’ Ratchaprasong rally dressed as ghosts / Ch9

Stay tuned.

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Thai politics Thailand

A few images from today’s PAD protest in Bangkok

Red shirt “mobile rallies.” Remember those?

Well, today the yellow shirts, also known as the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD), took to the streets.

Here are a few cell phone snaps of what appeared to be the latter stages of a rally that began at the UNESCO Bangkok office and made its way down Sukhumvit Road.

I took these images in the Asoke area around mid-day.

As I tweeted, the demonstrators carried “Vote No” signs, encouraging people not to vote for anyone, since the yellows are unhappy with politicians — all of them.

There were also placards saying the Preah Vihear temple — that’s the UNESCO connection — had been “stolen by Cambodia.”

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Thai politics Thailand

Economist on Yingluck’s campaign

The Economist‘s Banyan columnist says that Yingluck is charming, her campaign is well-executed, and that the Democrats are in trouble:

In sum, the naturalness and easy manner that Thais appreciate in Ms Yingluck is authentic—but the fact that it comes over so well is the result of a lot of sweat and forethought. I have covered many campaigns now both in rich and in developing countries, and Ms Yingluck’s campaign is among the best choreographed and organised that I’ve seen. And, of course, it helps enormously that she is pretty (“hot” in Thai political-science jargon) and has a big smile—which is just the sort of thing that newspaper editors look for to brighten up their front page every morning.

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Thailand

Tweet of the day

2011 06 16 TAN tweet

Tweet of the day, from the Thai-ASEAN News Network (TAN). It says:

Cyber picture of monk planking on a stair railing has stirred up criticisms among Thai Internet users.

Yes, that would be planking. And no, I haven’t seen the image.

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Thai politics Thailand

Thai army chief on upcoming election

2011 06 16 prayuth

Yesterday I tweeted about his comments, which appeared in a Bangkok Post story:

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has called on the electorate to turn out in force for the July 3 general election and vote “good people” into parliament to protect the monarchy and change the country for the better.

The WSJ says:

The gloves are off in Thailand’s hotly contested election, with army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha stepping into the ring to indirectly discourage voters from electing the younger sister of the man he helped oust in a military coup five years ago, Thaksin Shinawatra.

The story appears on page three of today’s print WSJ Asia, and includes a “Key Players in Thailand’s Election Drama” sidebar, which is also online here. The item features Prayuth, Thaksin, Yingluck, and Abhisit.

Meanwhile, the AP says:

Thailand’s powerful army chief, who helped oust former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has urged voters not to repeat the outcome of past elections in next month’s balloting — an apparent warning against supporting Thaksin’s allies

VOA also has a story.

(Image: Bangkok Post.)

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Thai politics Thailand

FT: “Abhisit warns of threat to Thai stability”

In a Financial Times story from yesterday, Thai Caretaker PM Abhisit talks about the upcoming elections, his administration’s successes, Puea Thai’s proposed policies, and the risk of instability should the opposition win.

Also, don’t miss the full text of the lengthy interview.

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Thai politics Thailand

Reuters: “Thai PM fears instability if opposition wins vote”

According to a Reuters story today, Thai Caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit says the Democrats can still win, but worries about the opposition “ruining the rule of law” if it wins:

Asked to elaborate on what he saw as the risks if the opposition prevailed, he said: “Ruining the rule of law, causing instability and therefore a loss of economic opportunity.”

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Thai politics Thailand

NYT story on Yingluck in Nakhon Phanom

The NYT has a story about Yingluck Shinawatra from the campaign trail in Nakhon Phanom, northeastern Thailand. The lede says:

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup more than four years ago, is back at the center of Thai politics in the guise of the person he calls his clone: his younger sister Yingluck, who is a candidate for prime minister herself as the leader of the main opposition party.

There’s also a slideshow.

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Thai politics Thailand

Aljazeera interview with Abhisit

Aljazeera English yesterday ran an interview with Thailand’s caretaker prime minister (that’s his official title now), Abhisit Vejjajiva. He talks about last year’s violence and the upcoming elections.

The video is online and embedded below: