Shinawatras take grip on Puea Thai

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Shinawatras take grip on Puea Thai

Published: 4/02/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

The opposition Puea Thai party has embarked on a new strategy to strengthen internal solidarity, appointing members of the Shinawatra family to lead members in each of the three regions where the party has influence.

A Puea Thai executive said yesterday the new strategy calls for Yaowapa Wongsawat, sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and wife of former premier Somchai Wongsawat, to lead Puea Thai members in the North.

In the Northeast, the leader would be Payap Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger brother.

In the central region and Bangkok, Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of Thaksin, was entrusted with the leadership.

The executive said the party wanted a Shinawatra family member to lead each of the three regions as a symbol of the party's close connections with Thaksin.

The presence of the Shinawatra siblings in itself will be a message to the constituents that the party has a clear goal to "bring Mr Thaksin back home", he said.

However, the three will not replace the party's existing regional presidents.

They will only oversee the party's overall policies as well as support the party's activities in each region, the executive said.

Pongpan Sunthornchai, a Puea Thai MP for Nong Khai province, said during the party's Sunday seminar in Khao Yai that Mr Payap's appointment would enable northeastern MPs to relay their views and decisions straight to the "big boss".

In the past, northeastern MPs did not have access to the party's core leaders to express their opinions privately.

Mr Pongpan said northeastern Puea Thai MPs had also agreed to merge their factions to reduce faction-related problems.

He said Thaksin's remarks during his latest phone-in - that if he has the people's support he would not hesitate to lead the country again - had boosted his confidence in Thaksin's leadership.

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Writer: AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

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chang nai hong

Discussion 48 : 05/02/2009 at 08:18 PM48
Anyone is who still hates Thaksin after what the democrat-supported PAD have done to this country is simply a moron deprived of all critical-thinking faculties.

I love talking to anti-thaksin people because they all passionately hate the man, but when asked what he has done wrong, the answer is usually a vague 'Checks and balances, dictator, corruption' diatribe devoid of any EVIDENCE.

Thaksin got done up the arse without a drop of lube by the military and propaganda mouthpiece puppets. I wish him all the luck in getting back to where he left off – the democratically-elected leader of the Kingdom.
Thaksin Assassin

Discussion 47 : 04/02/2009 at 05:24 PM47
Well said Des. Very well said.

To Thaksin he sees no difference between friend and enemy. He sees only an ocean of potential usurpers to his power. He could literally build a mansion in every country he fancies, and spend the rest of his life traveling the world from one mansion to the other.

Yet he is a megalomaniac fascist, building UDD as a cult of personality, he is so deep in it he probably couldn't leave if he wanted to. An addict to the extreme. He's going to have to either be destroyed or destroy himself.

Comparing himself to Nelson Mandela? Wow! How insulting. Anyone else he'd like to belittle? He's already wiped himself with the ideals of democracy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JHs3GsS724
QDT

Discussion 46 : 04/02/2009 at 05:08 PM46
Just think about this, if Taksin is not rich, no politician will be doing all this.

All these supporters are for money and not love of the country.
bee

Discussion 45 : 04/02/2009 at 04:03 PM45
so was PAD's claim that the Samak and Somchai administration were puppets for Thaksin?
wtf

Discussion 44 : 04/02/2009 at 03:42 PM44
Again, very good point Ray, gave me something to think about.

Foreign loans are not always a bad thing I guess, but Germany and Japan both had extraordinary domestic industry and educational systems. Any money pumped in would be returned by way of innovation, research, development, and production.

Thailand and America seem to be borrowing money and plowing it into the ground in populist schemes and bailing out failed companies. That seems to only prop up a consumer bubble, perpetuate fiscal irresponsibility top down, and feeding a habit rather than making an investment.

Again, I'd like to believe Abhisit's government is protecting Thailand, and not simply pulling an IMF sellout part II. I'm even withholding a forgone conclusion for another month or so to see where this all leads.
isara

Discussion 43 : 04/02/2009 at 03:25 PM43
It is not the Puea Thai Party but the Puea Thaksin Party. All is clear now!!! and the Puea Thai MP are thaksin puppets§
aha

Discussion 42 : 04/02/2009 at 03:18 PM42
Here's Thailand not Shinawatr's Corp. what we have to concern is the benefit of our country not for this family.We all recognize that only one thing that can interest him is money so do we have to pay any attention to his spit? Let him bark whatever he want.Be more concentrate on our lives guys.
Abdul

Discussion 41 : 04/02/2009 at 03:01 PM41
WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEM NOW ESPECIALLY THE GLOBAL RECESSION AND OUR PEOPLE HAVE NO JOBS AND NO MONEY.

THIS PROBLEM WAS BEEN CREATED BY THAKSIN DURING THE THAKSINOMIC AFFAIR WITH ALOT OF CORRUPTION (STEALING OUR COUNTRY'S MONIES AND ASSETS).

WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE SHINAWATRA FAMILY, WE (THE THAI PEOPLE) HAVE SUFFERED.

WE MUST BRING THESE PEOPLE (THAKSIN, POJAMAN, YIPLUCK, PAYAP, YAOWAPA, SON AND DAUGHTERS) DISLOYAL, CORRUPTED AND CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE.

PUEA THAI PARTY REPRESENT SHINAWATRA FAMILY AND THEY ARE FOR "DICTATORSHIP".

WE MUST CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS UNKIND PEOPLE AWAY FROM OUR THAI JUSTICE.
Ray

Discussion 40 : 04/02/2009 at 02:55 PM40
One thing you can always depend on from politicians, they always go back on their promises. I remember a man saying "I have wash my hands from politics. I just want to be a citizen". Then, when it suits him, want to become PM again. How can anybody believe anything this deceiving maniac has to say. I dedicate this song to you Mr. Dr. Leutenant. King of the world Thaksin. "Meglomaniac-by Incubus"
Ray

Discussion 39 : 04/02/2009 at 02:39 PM39
WTF- I think Thailand is in worse financial trouble than we are led to believe. Economics 101- Monetary and fiscal policy. The Govt needs to inject money into the economy but doesn't have it. So they borrow. Simple. The Germans did it after WW2. The British created jobs using up huge chunks of the Govet budget in their post WW2 universal health care scheme. Why can't we use the same principle and apply it.
It seem too many think borrowing from world banks and Asian development fund or IMF is a Taboo. I wish more would realize that its just a means to an end. Not selling out the country to foriegn entities.

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Shinawatras take grip on Puea Thai