A disgruntled former member of the Future Forward Party has come forward to puncture the pro-democracy hype surrounding its leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, claiming she was sidelined as a constituency candidate despite winning an internal vote.
Nidchapat "Aun" Paenkaew says she won the primary vote for constituency 1 of Lampang province giving her the right to contest the poll on behalf of the party. However, a party chief stepped in and installed another candidate in her place, saying cryptically the party's deputy secretary was afraid of "losing face".
Ms Nidchapat, who has since quit the party, says she wonders where Future Forward's much-vaunted pro-democracy credentials have gone if she can be treated in such a shabby manner. She and her family were faithful party workers who had signed up many members back in its early days when Future Forward was struggling to raise the 100 local members needed to stand candidates across the province.
From left: Nidchapat ‘Aun’ Paenkaew; Thipadee Paweenasathean
The candidate eventually chosen to run, Thipadee Paweenasathean, is a hit on social media, with netizens enthusing about her youthful appearance despite her 50 years. However, Ms Nidchapat said she had rarely turned up at party headquarters, joined meetings or taken part in party activities. Ms Thipadee, meanwhile, urges voters to look beyond her appearance to her accomplishments, which include a master's degree in political science.
Similar praise for his good looks is heaped on the party's charismatic leader, former business mogul Thanathorn, a net idol popular with the young who is riding a new wave of popularity based on a line from an old TV soap, Fah Rak Por. In the soap, Fah is a poor girl who goes to bed with a sugar daddy in return for a promise to lift her from poverty by making her an air stewardess.
The Thanathorn buzz comes as the military regime, threatened by his sudden rise to prominence, pursues legal action against him and his party which could result in Mr Thanathorn being banned from politics for 20 years.
Given the battles he is facing on the national front, Mr Thanathorn might be forgiven for overlooking skirmishes in a local seat. However, Ms Aun ruefully recalls a comment he made at the party's Lampang office when he visited before the primary vote to choose the party's local candidate last December. She said the leader told them that all party members would have equal rights to be selected.
"The reality is someone from the party called the local committee and said they wanted someone else. At first they cut me off the list of those taking part in the primary vote, but the committee asked for my name to stay," Ms Aun recalls.
"On day one of the primary vote my name still wasn't there, just that of one other candidate. It was finally added on the second day of the two-day vote which I won by 37-7.
"After the vote, we had to wait for party to ask the committee's views on the selection, but no one called. Close to the day the candidacy was to be announced, the party secretary called to tell the committee that, regardless of the vote, they would have the other candidate stand.
"The local committee told my family they didn't agree with the move but could do nothing about it."
Ms Aun said her rival is well qualified, if lacking in enthusiasm for supporting the party in its hour of need. "It's no surprise that she should be chosen ... but my family were members of Future Forward from the start. The local office wasn't even in place yet, and no one had applied to stand. On the last day for receiving nominations, the committee asked me to run, as they could see how hard my family had worked for the party," she said. "I think those who put all the work in should have a right to be considered. Most of the people my family and I signed up were from Pheu Thai."
Ms Aun said she would like to know if Mr Thanathorn knew what was happening in the seat, and if this is the party's idea of "democracy". One news story, playing on the "Fah Rak Por" hashtag on social media, in which Mr Thanathorn is portrayed as a rich young man who can solve the poor's problems, headlined its story about Ms Aun's woes as "Fah is crying."
Candidate Ms Thipadee, meanwhile, said she wasn't interested in standing for politics before, but supports the party's policies in favour of economic equality and the environment. "I am not young any more, but still have a new point of view. My two children are grown up and both support the party and my decision," she said, without mentioning the selection row involving Ms Aun. Mr Thanathorn has yet to comment.
I retract that pout
A young candidate for the Thai Local Power Party is putting a positive spin on her raunchy past as a "pretty" product presenter, saying she would like to push the profession so it gains wider acceptance.
Ploypilin Rattanasatian, who is representing constituency 1 in Maha Sarakham province, and is also a former model, says she is happy to take on the mantle as public voice for "pretty" presenters should she win a seat in the House. However, she admits she was disappointed with reaction from some netizens who say it is inappropriate for someone who has displayed so much flesh to take on the job of MP.
Ploypilin Rattanasatian
Media profiles of Ms Ploypilin, 25, who holds a bachelor's degree from the College of Politics and Governance at Mahasarakham University, delight in dragging up her sexy modelling images.
In some she wears underwear with her bottom pointed provocatively at the camera. In other pouty shots she wears the briefest of cut-down shorts and a sports bra, with long, flowing locks cascading down her back. They contrast starkly with the demure image she portrays on the campaign trail, with her hair pulled up and owlish-looking spectacles prominent.
Like many young candidates apparently chosen for their looks in this social-media driven election, but who claim to have hidden assets they can call on to serve the public as MPs, Ms Ploypilin and her party ask the public to look beyond "surface appearances" at her other qualities, such as youthful determination.
"I would like to help reduce inequality and ensure development reaches the provinces, in line with the party's policies. However, I also want people to view the profession of pretty product presenters as an honest one. I would like them to be registered and for them to enjoy equal rights like anyone else," Ms Ploypilin said about her old calling.
"I am just another kid who turned to this line of work to support her family, though I have never been a sideline girl [a woman who sells her body to supplement her income]. In the past I have also sold goods online. I want to push online commerce too as another avenue for young people to support themselves," she said.
Asked about criticism of her racy past as a model and presenter, she said: "I was disappointed at first, but now getting second wind. I have had to push myself hard to get to this point, and party has given me this chance."
'Song' grieves loss of Dad
Bassist for the band Paradox, Chakrapong "Song" Siririn is thanking fans for their support after his father committed suicide.
Rattanathibet police answered the call after Song said he found his dad, Sompong Siririn, 70, dead in a Toyota at the family's two-storey townhouse in Piamsuk housing village, soi Rattanathibet of Nonthaburi, on Tuesday.
Chakrapong ‘Song’ Siririn
Song said his father was in the driver's seat with a small smoking oven and anti-allergy medicine by his side. The bassist said his Dad had suffered an accident two years ago when he fell while jogging. He injured his hip, which affected his walking and caused him constant pain.
Rescue workers who retrieved the body for autopsy estimated Sompong had been dead six to eight hours. Song suspects his father had sat in the car and lit the oven about 1am, after everyone else had gone to bed. He found his Dad after getting up the next day, along with a note which told his family not to bother trying to revive him. After netizens sent their regrets, Song thanked them briefly for their support.
