Ammart learns naked truths about politics

COMMENTARY

Ammart learns naked truths about politics

Published: 10/07/2011 at 02:44 AM
Newspaper section: News

Think back to the middle of last year. There were reasons why the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) did not take Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's offer of a general election in November 2010. One was they didn't believe, rightly or wrongly, they could win, which meant Thaksin Shinawatra wouldn't be able to come back.

At the end of last year's violence, the Democrat-led government had in its hands terrorism allegations and footage of the burning of Bangkok and provincial city halls. The red shirts were dispersed and on the run, their leaders in jail or in hiding, and the Pheu Thai Party marginalised.

A shrewder political machine would have buried their opponents in political Hades. The Democrats didn't capitalise. They did nothing. They could still have called an election in November 2010. Hindsight has it that the situation then was most ripe for a Democrat victory. It was perhaps their best chance. But perhaps they too didn't believe, rightly or wrongly, they could win.

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About the author

: Writer: Voranai Vanijaka; Position: Political and Social Commentator

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tommylee
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Discussion 23 : 12/07/2011 at 11:29 AM23
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Khun Voranai, remember Carlos Santana's "black magic woman"? Looks like Thailand got one now.
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paullane
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Discussion 22 : 11/07/2011 at 11:08 AM22
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"Many middle-class Bangkokians ended up casting their votes out of disdain for Thaksin, rather than any belief in the Democrats"

That may be true but one thing that many observers seem to be ignoring is the (so called) middle class swing to PT. It may not have been huge but it was certainly significant. Out of all my (Thai) friends who were open about their voting only one said they were voting Dem. These people are lawyers, doctors, HR manager etc. The over-riding feeling I got was that they were simply fed up with the Dems lack of action as opposed to any other strong factor. Many said the same thing to me " we dont like Thaksin, and we dont like all his policies, but at least he implemented them".
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amazed
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Discussion 21 : 10/07/2011 at 10:28 PM21
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It's hard to miss the similarity between the Democrat administration and the time following the coup - stagnation. Almost as though the same unimaginative figures were controlling things in the background. Now, PT must avoid the mistake many political parties make when they claim a mandate. The exuberance they feel prompts them to overstep what they take to be a blank check. Elections are won with many variables at play. It is seldom an overwhelming support for the individuals and party that wins. That fact is often discovered shortly after the victory celebrations when the most ardent of the players on the winning side decide to test their supposed power and push the most controversial of their platform before even addressing the most pressing problems of the country.
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peterd
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Discussion 20 : 10/07/2011 at 09:55 PM20
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... who rejected the peace offer in April 2010. Geoffo very funny as usual. But, amazing, Maybe the Yingluck effect, i see today he is OK to put the responsibles of the last years violences (since 2006) in justice, affirming he don't support double standards. a step...
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micklan
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Discussion 19 : 10/07/2011 at 06:54 PM19
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Thanks for a great read...

There's a lot of work to be done - let the magic begin. The Thais I know like the Thaksins and reckon the economy will be better..etc. etc.
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wantmyony
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Discussion 18 : 10/07/2011 at 05:51 PM18
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This probably thailand last hope to be a normal country again, there are many examples in the african states and middle east countries that violence within the country only destroy the country forever. Suddenly Burma look more safe than thailand.
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peterd
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Discussion 17 : 10/07/2011 at 05:15 PM17
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"Whether you love or hate Pheu Thai, the fact is they have the mandate from the people, by a wide margin _ and that is democracy". A lot of BP posters don't care as they like only the ugly dictatorship/censorship (the lowest level for a society). They want a civil war, the ugliest of the wars, when other want reconciliation. Are you sure they really like Thailand? or their self small interests? Despairing...
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geoffo
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Discussion 16 : 10/07/2011 at 03:20 PM16
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To D5 re your comment

# legal action against Mr Abhisit, Suthep Thaugsuban and the generals for the deaths in May and April last year"

"Legal proceedings should also be carried out against Coup Maker 2006 who decided to violate 1997 Constitution and misused power to take over civilian government.

D5 , dont forget legal action about the funder of the Red shirt, the person who called for a rebellion in 2009 and who paid and motivated the reds and who rejected the peace offer in April 2010.

You would not support double standards would you.
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SteveCM
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Discussion 15 : 10/07/2011 at 01:53 PM15
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"No honeymoon lasts forever."

There has been and will be no "honeymoon" for this PT-led government-to-be (IF it's allowed to be). It has been under relentless assault from most Thai media from the moment the results came out. Almost no hard news - but boundless creative speculation pegged on what "a source" is supposed to have said. All this and the results not even confirmed yet - how predictable.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 14 : 10/07/2011 at 11:32 AM14
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Englishbob: It doesn't matter what we say. The Thaksin Amnesiacs are 100% certain that Thaksin will herald in the Age of Democracy to Thailand; an Age in which poverty and drugs will be eradicated; peace, happiness, and harmony will be widespread; there will be no corruption; and it will finally be proved that the Red Shirts / UDD did nothing wrong and that everything is the fault of those bad ammart. It's fun listening to them. They will soon realize that this is all Jatu-Natthawut talk, who are motivated by a big pay-off.
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