Pavena Hongsakula
Promises to unveil platform on July 10

Anjira Assavanonda

Pavena Hongsakula

Pavena Hongsakula is confident she will completely change the face of Bangkok in four years if she wins the city election.

Ms Pavena insists she is a capable candidate despite criticism that she is too focused on raiding brothels and rescuing abused victims.

The independent candidate has been in politics for 16 years now, serving the public as an MP for five terms during that time. She has supervised two ministries _ labour and tourism.

Before entering politics, she was a bank manager responsible for a huge amount of funds, and also gained experience as a hotel executive.

Her ``Pavena Foundation'' has served victims of abuse and other vulnerable Thais for 10 years.

``With all my experience, I am 100% confident that I'll be able to work for the people of the city and give Bangkok a new face within four years,'' she said.

Ms Pavena quit Chart Pattana party to run in the city polls in a move that was criticised by the rival Democrat party as a ``political circus'', performed as a prerequisite for Chart Pattana's merger with the Thai Rak Thai party.

Rumours were rife that Thai Rak Thai would throw its support behind her and provide her with a team of deputy governors.

Without confirming or denying the accusations, Ms Pavena said that as an independent candidate she welcomed assistance from all quarters, including Chart Thai or even the Democrats.

She said if she could get along well with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai administration, the benefits would be felt by the electorate as city projects would easily win support and funding from the government.

``How can a Bangkok governor work if he or she is at odds with the government?'' Ms Pavena said, insisting she would hand pick a team of deputy governors herself. These would be her own people who would have the ability to work with everyone from district councillors through to the government, she said.

In response to criticism that she has failed to appear at any of the various forums for candidates in the city election, Ms Pavena said she was good at working, but not speaking, particularly when competing against others. The time provided at such forums was too short to allow her to express herself properly or describe her platform adequately, she said.

Ms Pavena's platform and policies are being worked out at present, and would be unveiled to the general public on July 10. The emphasis would be on social problems and economic development, she said.

Ignoring human and social aspects would bring society to a collapse, Ms Pavena said, citing previous national, social and economic development plans.

``From July 10, I will campaign hard to ensure the details of my platform reach every household in Bangkok. It will be down-to-earth, and cover all groups of people,'' she said.

Asked how she felt about former Bangkok governor Chamlong Srimuang's campaign to search for a ``dream governor'', Ms Pavena said she was not worried, even though Mr Chamlong did not feel she was qualified for the post.

``That's his opinion and I still respect him. But I don't think he will be able to influence the whole Bangkok electorate. It's the people who will decide.''