Historic election carries a strong message

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Historic election carries a strong message

Published: 5/07/2011 at 02:51 AM
Newspaper section: News

Like many Thais who voted, my Sunday afternoon was spent glued to the television, flicking through stations, witnessing history unfold. The significance of the day's event was blurred by rolling figures and numbers, as the stations competed for eyeballs - first with the exit polls and then the unofficial vote count.

A man reads a newspaper with the picture of election winner Yingluck Shinawatra on its front page.

When Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva conceded defeat and congratulated Pheu Thai's Yingluck Shinawatra, history was made.

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About the author

: Writer: Pichai Chuensuksawadi; Position: Editor-in-Chief

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whatajoke
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Discussion 21 : 12/07/2011 at 06:24 AM21
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This is indeed an historic election because so much hinged on the judgment of the people and frankly, they were presented with two awful choices and (to many of the more intelligent pundits) they went for the more lucrative of the two evils. As far as democracy is concerned, it's just a milestone or benchmark as to how low our farcical political system has sunk, and the latest charade isn't likely to solve much because the outcome is based on deception and an unsustainable or unreal result. I doubt the present govt will last 4 years.

Countless posts and comments reveal a divided opinion that see's a black and white scenario with 'charisma and popularity' on the one side and 'law and order' on the other, sometimes the two muddled (e.g. you can't argue about enforcing Thaksin's verdict without going after the coup leaders, and likewise - to the tax-paying urban public that drive this country forward, Abhisit is far more palatable leader than a Shinawatra, since they base their judgment on a different value system). Even if Thaksin had been tried under military court marshal, you really can't argue with the evidence presented, so however you fuddle the law, he's really not fit to lead this country in my book.

Ultimately, the middle ground that the two sides seek, is a charismatic leader who resonates with the rural masses, yet has an water-tight set of ethics. A combination of Thaksin and Abhisit would be good, but either by themselves really isn't good enough for Thailand's future direction. And it's a sad day when you settle for one or other and accept it warts and all with a blank cheque, simply because you entrusted the choice to 40 million under qualified people.
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ivyking
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Discussion 20 : 05/07/2011 at 10:55 PM20
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AV made the mistake of keep reminding Thais (again and again) of Thaksin in the last couple of weeks. Before that, most Thais have already forgotten about this sad old man in Dubai.

Thanks Mark. You have help to bring more vote to PT.
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ivyking
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Discussion 19 : 05/07/2011 at 10:47 PM19
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The Farang love AV because he speak good English in CNN/BBC interview plus Eton plus Oxford etc.

However, I wonder how many people North of Bangkok have access to CNN, BBC, etc. I wonder how many people have even heard of the program call HardTalk or surf TimeOnline.
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amazed
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Discussion 18 : 05/07/2011 at 09:14 PM18
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We will know in very short order what the true intentions of the PT are. In the selection of ministers, will true qualifications play a pivotal role in the selection of personnel or will certain people stake out their dream piece of the pie, Thailand?
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mphilips
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Discussion 17 : 05/07/2011 at 08:48 PM17
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I don't agree with the details of everything said, but generally a very fair comment.

Sadly, from recent comments and reports, it seems the Democrats may, yet again, have failed to heed the lesson of over a decade and will be adopting the exact same rhetoric, and possibly even the exact same leadership. If they do, then they fully deserve political obscurity. One can only hope that someone in the Democrat party has the courage to point out the obvious, or that there are enough people who are forward thinking enough to break away from the terminally obsessed dinosaurs, and start a real opposition party.
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jamjon01
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Discussion 16 : 05/07/2011 at 07:04 PM16
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Okay Now What? Perhaps a good idea might be to throw away your "colors" now and unite. It's like some "Gang" colors. This is no time to stand so tall as a "color" but to set a new pathway toward "oneness". You have to look no further than the USA to see how deep politics divide a nation and weaken it in all facets. We have a dictatorial/socialist leader now and nothing gets done. There cannot exist;socialism and democracy in the same house. You just removed a socialist thinker, that's good, Now What? Do you wish to stand and say--SEE!(?)--Or open your democracy once again and grow? Grow to the potential of your people-all people, not a select few that think they are "better" than others, "above" others. The ONLY outcasts that should exist in a democratic society, are the ones that attempt to dictate to the people instead of lead. I hope you lead, not many can these days, they appear to only crave power. God bless you all.
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swlh

Discussion 15 : 05/07/2011 at 06:35 PM15
As far as I am aware when Toksin was found guilty wasn't it his brother-in-law Prime minister at that time so how was it unfair ??????
from iPhone application.
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yuehanyao
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Discussion 14 : 05/07/2011 at 05:17 PM14
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wynner discussion 7: When were the laws passed that made a prosecution of Thaksin possible? When were they passed and by who?
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domdunnn
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Discussion 13 : 05/07/2011 at 03:31 PM13
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Wynner d 7.

You are wrong, Thaksin was only ever convicted by The Court for Holders of Political Office. The conviction was probably in accordance with the law but this was a test case, not involving any financial loss to the state and Thaksin's defence was also credible, so a nominal suspended sentence would have been fair. The decision was probably fair, the sentence was certainly political.

The asset 'trial' in the Supreme Court that you refer to was nothing of the sort. The government would not dare to call it a trial because there was no presumption of innocence and this would have contravened the law. It was an investigation in which Thaksin was presumed guilty unless he could prove he was innocent. It was wholly political.
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bencanuck
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Discussion 12 : 05/07/2011 at 01:46 PM12
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ricefield, discussion 11

"Abhisit has never admitted to himself, until now, that he just does not have any connection with the voting public."

I guess we are already seeing the influence of Yingluck's leadership display on Friday evening. She claimed to be able to read Abhisit's "heart" and what he thought, care about, and admitted deep-down. Now, so do others.
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