Comments on: Thai Rak Thai 3.0

By: Angelo Michel

Angelo Michel — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:06:06 +0000

As a foreigner here, I do not have any prejudice against TRT/PPP or any other avatar of the same party.

What is happening is the second “hand-wash” of corrupt and fraudsters in that political movance, and it should be hailed !

A strong political current exists in the slot named “populism”, and Thaïland is not the only country to be like that, it is an indiscutable fact.

The stake here is not (should not be) to eliminate it by any means, but to eliminate the corrupt and those who use fraud as a way to get to power.

By: NoDorm

NoDorm — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:40:57 +0000

PAD stands for People’s Alliance for Democrat (Party).
There is no way they form a party because there is simply no point as voter will vote either way (eg. The Democrats will get the same number of votes even if PAD and Democrats merge). As such, PAD will remain a proxy for the Democrat Party.

Abhisit reminds me of Nick Leeson of Barrings Bank UK. A young lad trying to prove something, but eventually destroys the institutions that nurtured him. It cannot be disputed that he has shifted from the principles of Democracy to a silent advocate of tyranny.

By: nic

nic — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:13:18 +0000

is it “POPULIST” the right definition for the TRT social politic?

By: David Brown

David Brown — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:50:11 +0000

hi Tony…

as a farang (like me) maybe you dont know how bad the drugs problem was becoming….

the Thaksin drug war was successful in its objectives of substantially suppressing the drug trade generally and drug taking in Thailand

and it really inconvenienced and annoyed some of the rich that were making money from the trade

so, how much of the tragedy is a beatup by the rich and powerful and how many deaths should legitimately have been pursued as unnecessary outcomes?

since that drug war, the drug trade has grown again, notably over the CNS period, which is why there have been further attempts early this year and just lately to try to suppress it again

drugs as you should know are a despicable problem and Thailand is in the centre of supply so especially vulnerable… i think instead of whingeing, people should ask themselves and propose what they believe should be done about the problem?

Do you have suggestions or only criticisms?

What can i say about the South, the problem continues… i think the same question applies…

for Sondhi (the master of blaming other people for his own faults) its really easy to criticise… i keep waiting to hear any positive suggestions from him!

By: Tony Loader

Tony Loader — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:39:51 +0000

A little introspection and an admission to its shortcomings on behalf of TRT and its proxies would do nothing but good for the party’s successor. It might even win back some of the support it lost over the conduct of its despicable anti-drug and far-South campaigns for example.

This would then establish a clearer choice for Thai electors, many of whom now neither support PAD or TRT proxies (that is, those whose wardrobes are strictly neutral).

As I have posted elsewhere on NM, the onus is then on PAD to admit to its own failings (a forlorn hope?) and form a legitimate party of its own, pushing its own agenda, particularly as the Democrats remain as indecisive as ever.

As a farang who should probably shut up and mind his own business, I write here in hope!