Comments on: Chachoengsao: Chaturon Chaisaeng speaks again http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/12/23/chachoengsao-chaturon-chaisaeng-speaks-follow-up/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:28:26 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Michael H. Nelson http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/12/23/chachoengsao-chaturon-chaisaeng-speaks-follow-up/comment-page-1/#comment-281257 Michael H. Nelson Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:53:54 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/12/23/chachoengsao-chaturon-chaisaeng-speaks-follow-up/#comment-281257 Chaturon does have the ability to think for himself, I believe, but he does so in a rather strange and perhaps non-politician way. One should also not forget that he spent five years in the jungle after 1976, and that he has a decidedly local background, although he used to study in the US. Chaturon does not easily connect to broader phuak or factions, but has remained rather more isolated, except for certain long-time friends, such as Adisorn, with who he once wanted to establish a new party. He has not been able to move beyond certain confines. This can be even less expected from his younger siblings, whose worldviews are rather more limited. In addition, Chaturon has to turn a blind eye, or even support, the dark sides of his family's political success. Anyway, I can't give a political psychogramme of Chaturon here. On the elections, I am still mostly in the dark, having been concerned with local events, with no access to TV so far. There were two suprises in Chachoengsao. First, Phichet beat Itthi in constituency 1. This is a surprise, although one newspaper had predicted this, and the director of constituency 1 had also voiced this opinion before election day. However, it is expected that Itthi made it and not Somchai, his running mate. As for constituency 2, contrary to all expectations, Phanee Jarusombat did not come first, and in fact completely missed out, because Wuthipong and Thitima Chaisaeng came first and second. Chaturon does have the ability to think for himself, I believe, but he does so in a rather strange and perhaps non-politician way. One should also not forget that he spent five years in the jungle after 1976, and that he has a decidedly local background, although he used to study in the US. Chaturon does not easily connect to broader phuak or factions, but has remained rather more isolated, except for certain long-time friends, such as Adisorn, with who he once wanted to establish a new party. He has not been able to move beyond certain confines. This can be even less expected from his younger siblings, whose worldviews are rather more limited. In addition, Chaturon has to turn a blind eye, or even support, the dark sides of his family’s political success.

Anyway, I can’t give a political psychogramme of Chaturon here.

On the elections, I am still mostly in the dark, having been concerned with local events, with no access to TV so far. There were two suprises in Chachoengsao. First, Phichet beat Itthi in constituency 1. This is a surprise, although one newspaper had predicted this, and the director of constituency 1 had also voiced this opinion before election day. However, it is expected that Itthi made it and not Somchai, his running mate.

As for constituency 2, contrary to all expectations, Phanee Jarusombat did not come first, and in fact completely missed out, because Wuthipong and Thitima Chaisaeng came first and second.

]]> By: screwtheuselesselection http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/12/23/chachoengsao-chaturon-chaisaeng-speaks-follow-up/comment-page-1/#comment-280988 screwtheuselesselection Sun, 23 Dec 2007 07:36:47 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/12/23/chachoengsao-chaturon-chaisaeng-speaks-follow-up/#comment-280988 The trouble with the likes of Chaturon Chaisaeng in Thai politics is that they always head for the party with the most money. Essentially they are too lazy to build their own parties with real policies for local people. Thaksin treated Chaturon like shit in his last term, and Chaturon still wants to grayngjai the bastard. The unmistakable message - and forget all the folksy nice people pictures here - is that most Thai politicians almost completely lack the ability to act and think for themselves. They always head for the big finance and the fast fix- which always turns out to be a complete waste of time. Chaturon could be a half-decent politician if he could figure out a way to kick his terrible addiction to licking Thaksin's arse. The trouble with the likes of Chaturon Chaisaeng in Thai politics is that they always head for the party with the most money. Essentially they are too lazy to build their own parties with real policies for local people. Thaksin treated Chaturon like shit in his last term, and Chaturon still wants to grayngjai the bastard. The unmistakable message – and forget all the folksy nice people pictures here – is that most Thai politicians almost completely lack the ability to act and think for themselves. They always head for the big finance and the fast fix- which always turns out to be a complete waste of time. Chaturon could be a half-decent politician if he could figure out a way to kick his terrible addiction to licking Thaksin’s arse.

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