The importance of being Abhisit

COMMENTARY

Published: 6 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Take a second. Think about it. It's a bizarre world we live in. Stand back and look at today from the perspective of 15 years ago.

Abhisit Vejjajiva is being stripped of his military rank and facing criminal charges, deemed evil personified. Meanwhile Chalerm Yubamrung enjoys honours and adulation, rank and prestige. He's the face and voice of the government of the people of Thailand.

The golden boy now gets bullied, scorned and scared. The bully has become the nation's top politician, next to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. If someone had told me 15 years ago that this day would come, I would have said, "Yeah right, and Laos will surpass us in mobile telecommunications technology."

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mogy71
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Discussion 69 : 17 Jan 2013 at 07.1969
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Ringmaster 65: I think the reason he got away with it might be in his surname. Even as an outsider this was obvious.
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cockeral
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Discussion 68 : 08 Jan 2013 at 09.1768
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Spiceman, my point exactly, I don't disagree. Ringmaster, we can express opinions, but best to do so from a position of understanding. We might not agree or condone what we see, but if we don't understand the system then we might well be out of line with our opinions. I will never understand why politicians of all persuasions appear not to have the ability to work towards a common goal, being the good of the country, and instead spend so much time and energy on stupid rhetoric. But as I read in another post, people get the governments that they deserve. It's sad but it seems that these days only personal benefit matters .. to everyone
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Kee-nee-oh
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Discussion 67 : 08 Jan 2013 at 08.0867
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@saparod D21 An amazingly true synopsis of so much of what happens here. Now, that's well written and so true.
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spiceman
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Discussion 66 : 08 Jan 2013 at 06.2466
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Khun Cockeral #64, the US being "one of the most democratic countries...?" You got to be kidding me, right? If it is so, can you explain the fact why Al Gore didn't become the 43rd President of the United States, having more popular votes than GWB? It was the second time that this happened in the US history, and not by accident but by design. How's about that?
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ringmaster
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Discussion 65 : 08 Jan 2013 at 02.4865
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cockeral, I'm sure I'm unable to fully understand Thai politics but I should be able to make some judgments. Of course if what you say about Jeb Bush (who was elected Gov of Florida) manipulating election results was true and there was any substantial evidence then he would have been officially charged with a crime. Instead I can place such an accusation as political mud slinging.
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cockeral
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Discussion 64 : 08 Jan 2013 at 01.4764
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Ringmaster, I doubt we are qualified to understand Thai politics and make judgements, even though often it does appear to be very strange, weird and less than wonderful. But whilst comparisons are onerous, it is worth remembering the US election which somehow got George W Bush a second term, largely because of how his brother manipulated the Florida Election. So even the most democratic of countries is not beyond a bit of political gerrymandering.
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ringmaster
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Discussion 63 : 07 Jan 2013 at 23.4163
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No wonder why there was an "uprising" - what was Abhisit doing as PM in the first place when he can't even win an election for his party?
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democrazy
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Discussion 62 : 07 Jan 2013 at 22.0862
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On Jan. 6 another 4 people suspected of drug trafficking were killed in a clash with army rangers. Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung has been appointed director of the national drugs suppression centre, by PM Yingluck Shinawatra in Sept. 2011. We can expect very soon the DSI will take up this case and file murder charges against the rangers and Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung.
Because no double standards here. What is right for the 2010 mayhem, must also be right in this case in 2013. How many people killed since the new war on drugs started in Sept. 2011 ?
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brilliant
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Discussion 61 : 07 Jan 2013 at 06.5261
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apachepat - "now with over 90 deaths and all the other mayham on his CV I'm afraid his political career is finished"

Having close to 3,000 deaths on Thaksin's CV sure hasn't stopped reds supporting a murderer. How hypocritical.
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cockeral
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Discussion 60 : 07 Jan 2013 at 06.3460
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I am a little confused, but perhaps the BBC might be persuaded to ask some of the present power mongers about their legitimacy, how legitimate is a politician who is elected with the aid of bribery and intimidation? The BBC is not above politics and has been known to act from a position of ignorance. However whoever is right or wrong, and I suspect it can be shared equally by all, it is clear that TS never accepted AV, and there is good reason to believe that TS masterminded and funded a Red revolution that brought anarchy to the streets. Now how is that the legitimate act of a man who espouses to believe in democracy?
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The importance of being Abhisit | Bangkok Post: opinion