Ms. Yingluck - Puea Thai Leadership role?

[ggh]

Thaksin’s younger sister (Ms. Yingluck) taking over the leadership of the Puea Thai party? I will in no way try to hide the fact that I am pro Thaksin. Since the fall of the Thaksin administration, In my opinion, I do not see where Thailand has advanced in any sector. Thailand is a relatively poor country in comparison to many countries of the world. Foreign investment is what is needed in Thailand to enable conditions to improve for Thai people. If there is more wealth, better education, and better paying jobs for Thai people, Thai people’s overall standard of living will get better. I believe Thai people will rally behind Ms. Yingluck for the upcoming general election. I believe the majority of Thai people, after experiencing the turmoil since the fall of Thaksin, will rally behind the Puea Thai to once again see Thailand on track for development. Everyone is concerned about Thaksin’s alleged corruption offenses. When the Puea Thai releases the information to the public of the questionable activities concerning the current administration, then we can all judge for ourselves where corruption charges may be appropriate. Like we say, everyone has an opinion. This is my opinion only. But as a 20 year resident of Thailand, I am also ready to see a change for the better.

[dutchboy]

I am neither pro or anti Thaksin, and can only count for being in Thailand for 7 years.

Thaksin was in power when I arrived here, and I saw him re-elected, ousted, airports occupied, business center occupied, people dying, buildings burning. A picture very far away from what Thailand wants to be believed to be abroad (for tourists of course mainly).

Looking at it as an outsider, I truly believe that Thaksin did very good things for the poor people in Thailand, which I personally feel will be very important for Thailands future. The bigger the gap between poor and rich gets (basically what the Yellow shirt front is after), the more unhappy and rebellious the "poor" will get.

And I fully agree that this country needs somebody in charge with a strong business/economical background. But also this person should have no affiliation with Red/Yellow/whatever colour shirts. Another pre-requisite will be that the military stops interfering in politics.

Appointing Thaksins sister as the future (given PT wins the election, which I think is a reasonable assumption) Prime Minister is however asking for trouble. When Thaksins brother in law (if memory serves me correct) was in that function the protests were already tremendous, never mind about a blood-relative.

Since every Thai in politics seems to be allied with Red or Yellow (to generalise), seems like the only option will be to appoint an independent Foreigner (Business man/woman - crisis manager) as the political leader of this country and give him/her an open mandate to do whatever to improve Thailands situation both internally and internationally.

A Thaksin relative? For me: no! I can see the whole cycle Yellow protests, ousting, Red protests, riots, deaths all over again.

[mutley]

How long would it be before Thaksin would be back at the helm if his sister won? Don't look at your watch!

[dutchboy]

Dear Mutley,

Guess you're not much of a Thaksin supporter.

What you prefer, Abhisit (the army/PAD puppet) back for another term.

No matter what, whomever gets chosen as PM, it will never work as long as:

1. The military doesn't keep there long fingers out of politics
2. The Yellows don't accept that the Reds won the elections
3. The Reds don't accept that the Yellows won the elections

Acceptance of what the majority of this country votes for is the start of the whole process.

[ggh]

The healthy numbers at the peaceful protest gathering in Bangkok on the 9th of January would indicate democracy in action. I think the outcome is inevitable. It’s only a matter of time.

[dutchboy]

Democracy at work? In Thailand?

Maybe I missed something, but as far as I've seen over the past years, Democracy only works to a certain extend in this country.

How did it work again?

Party wins the election, PM is Brother in Law of Thaksin..... unacceptable

Same party puts new PM, who presents a cooking show, oh yeah, is an ally of Thaksin ....... unacceptable

So this year, maybe, new elections which most probably are going to be won by the same party (or a new version of it).

New PM will be Thaksin's younger sister? I'm sure she will be acceptable to the rich and selfish that don't like anybody doing anything to undermine their position.

Now the demonstrations are peaceful, but after the elections.................?

[ggh]

The will of Thai people is inevitable. This is a principle of democracy. I believe additional answers are in your previous posts.

[kngdady]

Ms Yingluck is only in a situation that her brother the Snake put her in. Thaksin has been a disruptive force in Thai politics since his conviction and exile. The people he controls are the people who are drawing a paycheck while the poor are promised everything but actually get nothing. Ms Yingluck if you do read this post I hope you can see yourself as the puppet of your brother but without the strings. I have heard blood is thicker than water but if the blood is tainted is it really better than water?

[banmebkk]

I do not see Ms. Yingluck as a PT leader, or even a candidate to run for PM in the years to come. Yes she may be CEO of AIS, but its not due to her experience, its due to her connection. Ms. Yingluck has no qualification of being a politician, let alone any knowledge of present issues. She is simply thrust into the spot light because of his brother. She is highly unqualified, and in the past she has repeated stated that she has no interest in politics. So what makes a person with her background suitable to lead the Thai people?

I use to be a Thaksin supporter but after his two terms, you can see his agenda does not benefit the citizens of Thailand, but only himself. Yes, we all know he has done some good. 30 baht health care, 1 million baht village loan, what else?

Economic boom after 1997 crisis. Wait, do you think its because of Thaksin that is why there is an economic boom? No it was simply the effects of a recovering economy after a crisis, which many correlate it as Thaksins policies that improve the country.

Yes 30 baht health care raises the quality of life for Thai citizens, especially the poor. That may be the only good thing he did. Universal health care like this is always a dent in the governments budget, it is a debt the government will have to balance out forever. Same goes for any country with universal health care.

1 million baht health care is another popular policy that he introduce. Yes, it gives them money for a couple of years, but is it sustainable? This policy has been introduce for more than 7 years and less than 3% of the borrowers has paid back the loan, this debt will be pass on to the next generation. Most likely, these villages will never be able to return the loan. Less returns in longer debt for the Government.

I could be a Pro-PT supporter if they take out the Thaksin link. Fighting for the poors voices and rights. Yet they have to insist on Thaksin being their #1 priority during their recent campaigns. Haven't we heard enough lies?

Changing the laws of the country to benefit his business.
Thaksin failure to pay millions on tax on the sale of a billion dollar company.

His iron fist rule - "war on drugs", telling the UN they are not his father when they intervene. Yet during the UDD protest, he called on the UN to look at whats going on. 2500+ dead in a matter of month, it still questions me why he isn't standing trial in the World Court for extra judicial killings.

Thaksin loaning Burma Thailand's money to develop telecommunications facilities, including buying satellite broadband and fiber-optic products from the Shin Satellite Co.

Developing the lottery system, part of the income can be used by one of his government agencies on whatever they seem fit. You go figure where those money goes to. (He is doing the same by helping set up lottery systems in Africa)

Censorship - Do you think it was only the Dems who were censoring during the protest? Thaksin told opposition news media during his rule to tone done or get shut down. Thousands of opposition sites were blocked as well.

The list goes on, I do not understand why can't Pro-Thaksin supporter see all these serious offenses. This guy is scamming Thailand.

We are suppose to talk about Ms. Yingluck, but with Thaksin backing her, I fail to see why anybody would want to support any PT leaders at this point. Jatuporn making countless false claims, keep on saying he has evidence of this and that, yet he fails to show any evidence.

Yes I can go on with the Dems and PAD as well, airport closure, missing budgets. But at least none of them are notorious as Thaksin's actions. They do not have some one like Thaksin who scam so much of Thailands money in plain view, yet dare to stand up and try to defend his actions.

The military is another story, but if you want to compare the military - many people fail to see the influence of police on politics. Thaksin still can command a large police force when he chooses to. Example would be police who refused to act on UDD protesters. Therefore soldiers had to be called in. The police force gain power and rank when Thaksin became PM, if you look around Thailand, the majority of the illegal operations (massage parlors, bars, etc) are co-owned by the police. Not saying all of them are bad, but it makes you wonder where the police get their money driving mercedes, bmw, and sending their child to study at private schools in Thailand.

When people think the army is bad and corrupt, I would just like to say the police are even more corrupted - scamming and taking bribes, tea money, extortion, etc you name it. Only the higher up army generals are able to commit crimes like this, but the police are corrupted to the core from the lowest ranking all the way up to the highest.

[dutchboy]

Banmebkk,

Things always work 2 ways.

You say militairy had to act during the UDD protest, because police didn't because of Thaksins influence.

I say police had to act during the PAD airport and Government house blockade (although highly outnumbered) because the militairy didn't because of their ties to the "establishment" which at that time was backing PAD.

Personally, I don't think it makes any difference who the PT party sends forward as their "leader". Even if they totally abandon their Thaksin complex, and win the elections by a landslide, they'll be out of government before they can make even one decision.
Why, well because the militairy won't have it, and the militairy is in charge in this country.

Look at the latest example, Defence minister cannot go the Jakarta for JBC talks with Cambodia because the militairy won't have it.

And of course the militairy keeps saying there will be no coup, because it's not necessary. They are already pulling the strings.

Yingluck, Thaksin, Abhisit, Chalerm, whoever, it all doesn't matter. As soon as after the elections things don't go according to the militairy brass plans, thye will step in.