Pavena
Hongsakul
 Pavena
Hongsakul is hugely popular in Bangkok. An advocate for women and
children's rights, she founded the Pavena Foundation, which was established
to rescue troubled women and children. She ran for the governship
in the last Bangkok election where she came in third. She declared herself a candidate for the governor’s seat at the beginning of the year, while she was still the secretary-general for the Chart Pattana party. At that time she pledged to tackle Bangkok’s traffic, environment, street urchins and safety problems. She would become Bangkok's first woman governor if victorious. Mrs Pavena is a five-time MP who has twice held a cabinet portfolio. Ms Pavena joined Chart Pattana from the Prachakorn Thai party headed by incumbent Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej. She said the decision to leave the party and her posts as its secretary-general and a member of parliament was the result of an ``inner calling'' for her to pursue the Bangkok governor position. In late April 2004, Mrs Pavena resigned from her party to run for Bangkok governor as an independent candidate, with the Thai Rak Thai party reportedly set to declare its support for her because it agreed the Bangkok governor should be non-partisan. She said she now believed her chances of victory would improve if she ran for city hall as a non-partisan, if she was assisted by people who preferred to work independently. Her campaign slogan is “Pavena 24 Hours”, which is to highlight her tireless efforts on behalf of less fortunate and abused people. Critics accused her of leaving Chart Pattana in order to secure the support of the Thai Rak Thai party, which was willing to back her even though the Chart Pattana has yet to rejoin the governing coalition. Upon leaving the Chart Pattana party, her absence on the national scene has cost her media exposure. The media appears to have lost interest in her even though complaints of abused women continue to come into her foundation. She is still without a team of campaign administrators and directors but has chosen running one running mate, the socialite MP Janista Lewchalermwong of the Chart Thai party. Pavena is said to now be in the process of drafting policies, developing concepts, devising tactics to invigorate her public relations drive and opening a website to promote her candidacy. She will of course include in her campaign strategy, her work with the Pavena Foundation as proof that she knows how to help people. |
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