Is Thaksin Wounded by Political Jockeying?

[Guest fountainhall]

Well, it seems electioneering has begun in earnest, with one key player up to his old tricks. The wily Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, retired general and former Prime Minster who led the nation and the region into the 1997 economic crisis, in the process wiping out Thailand’s foreign exchange reserves and ushering in several years of austerity, seems to have pulled the plug on his association with Thaksin’s party, of which he was Chairman. The news was contained in a 3-line fax sent to Pheu Thai’s headquarters. On the eve of what is widely expected to be a General Election announcement, Thaksin finds himself and his political ambitions in a bind.

 

The announcement in The Nation suggests this may not on its own affect Pheu Thai’s chances in the Election. But it adds, interestingly, this could be the start of something “bigger and more worrisome to the man in exile.”

 

Other rumours in the article suggest Chavalit may be about to start yet another new political party, along with disaffected Pheu Thai leaders and soon-to-be Pheu Thai defectors. More on this link -

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/04/19/national/Is-old-schemer-part-of-a-big-new-scheme-30153367.html

 

Is this the reason Thaksin seems to have issued instructions for Pheu Thai MPs to distance themselves from the Red Shirts – at least as far as rallies are concerned?

 

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered Pheu Thai MPs not to take part in rallies organised by the red shirts in the wake of the resignation of Pheu Thai chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, legal adviser Noppadon Patama said.
 "Thaksin has been informed about and respected Chavalit's decision to quit Pheu Thai," Noppadon said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Thaksin-orders-MPs-to-distance-from-red-shirts-30153393.html

 

Fasten your seatbelts! This was never going to be a smooth ride, but it just got a whole lot more interesting!

[Guest anonone]

 

Fasten your seatbelts! This was never going to be a smooth ride, but it just got a whole lot more interesting!

 

Has a date been set for the election? I can't seem to locate a definitive answer from google-ing. I did find a reference that the election has to be held by June, but no more details.

[Guest fountainhall]

No date fixed as yet, but the Prime Minister has said many times that it will be June or July. It has to be before the end of the year - barring yet another coup.

[Guest fountainhall]

There

[TotallyOz]

Are you expecting mass rallies starting this summer?

[Guest anonone]

Are you expecting mass rallies starting this summer?

 

Also wondering the same thing, which is why I asked about election date.

 

I will be back in country this summer for a bit, might be an exciting time.

 

As I usually hang out in Pattaya, I can't imagine there would be much to worry about, unless BKK airport gets affected somehow.

[pong]

Are you expecting mass rallies starting this summer?

depends what you name mass-and for which city. At least those redshirts have promised to hold at least a monthly ''remembrance'' protest/demo (that is named MOB in Thai-without the meaning the English attach to it) in their favorite spot in BKK- along Ratchdamnern, hindering about as much traffic as possible can. Every now and then one of their main sponsors opens his resort in Khao Yai national park-near Khorat and near the ChokeChai dairy farm/horse shows- for another demo-then the poor reds do not need to travel that far from their Isan base. When I am in BKk (not now-too hot) I tend to stay around there-it is mainly very annoying overloud music and speeches with communist undertones.

[Guest fountainhall]

I can't imagine there would be much to worry about, unless BKK airport gets affected somehow.

I cannot believe there is any chance whatever of that happening. The airport closures were a one-off. The effects were so major that no-one is going to allow it to happen again - in my view! We saw during the demonstrations a year ago that the army beefed up its presence with 3 major checkpoints on the 2 or 3 kms before you reach the terminal.

[Guest fountainhall]

Seemingly more woes for Thaksin. He now appears to be facing at least a mini-rebellion from the party’s northeastern MPs, who say his close ties to the red shirts is alienating voters. The Bangkok Post today reports that about 40 Puea Thai MPs have banded together to ask the fugitive to stay out of the party’s election campaign.

 

The party had decided to campaign on the slogan "Thaksin". But in the wake of a government campaign to portray the red shirts as disloyal to the monarchy, some party MPs are urging Thaksin to keep his distance . . .

 

The Puea Thai source said Thaksin's association with the red shirt movement had unnerved MPs, who face a growing backlash from voters questioning the party's loyalty.

 

Even though Thaksin had barred party candidates from addressing red shirt rallies, some hard-core red shirts accused of insulting the monarchy are placed high on Puea Thai's party list.

 

"We want the party to keep its distance from the red shirts. We want them to think about the consequences if the party is embroiled any further in this debate.

 

"Thaksin and hard-core red shirts can't seek to please themselves at the party's expense," said the source.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/232900/thaksin-faces-party-rebellion

[Guest anonone]

I cannot believe there is any chance whatever of that happening. The airport closures were a one-off. The effects were so major that no-one is going to allow it to happen again - in my view! We saw during the demonstrations a year ago that the army beefed up its presence with 3 major checkpoints on the 2 or 3 kms before you reach the terminal.

 

I tend to agree. Seemed like a LOT of military / police presence occurring at the airport any time there is a possibility of demonstrations.

 

I will keep an eye out for updates on election news....regardless, it should be an exciting time to be in Thailand.

[pong]

A-I tend to agree. Seemed like a LOT of military / police presence occurring at the airport any time there is a possibility of demonstrations.

B-I will keep an eye out for updates on election news....regardless, it should be an exciting time to be in Thailand.

Re A-there is always an enormous lot of police standing idle and eating rice with about any demo. That says nothing. Look at last year reds-unable to be stopped by anyone. Looi at the yellows at the other side of ratchdamnern-since monthes-also unable to be shifted away to a more fitting place with less hindrance to traffic. (BTW-it is very apparent the airport occupation was done inj cooperation with hihg-ups at the airport-and nothing was damaged). Plus: why does anyone keep so upset about that-any strike in France by airtrtaffic or baggagehandlers in any US airport leads to same- a blocked airport.

re B-no, not exciting at all. Unless you like to see about any lantern and busstop being plastered with boards with those big-jawed dinosaurs in official uniforms who tend to dominate Thai politics. (you do not vote for that Thaksin's cute daughter nor for that cute Abhisit-you vote for the dinosaur of your own district)-about same-same as in the UK). If you read the promises Thaksin dares to make from his foreign post-instant walhalla and a creditcard for anyone and his return too in a week or 6-8 after the glorious victory........

Some time ago someone on this forum commented about possible influence of the various Arab revolutions on Thai politics (at that time the Tunisian and Egypt). Now that was an interesting thing: in the march issues of the red pamflets/magazines, there were intellectual analysys of that impact. But apparantly DUbai sent a message this was not wished for (that revered cherished dear leader always showing his benevolence) and in the april issuies it was all deaf silence on that. Since then I read the peaceful revolutions over there were in fact taught by a Serb (serbia-former Yugoslavia, Beograd) institute who gives instructions on how to do that (from their own experience). This probably has not reached out to Lybia. As to Syria-anyones guess.