AMARETTO-old
September 28th, 2006, 16:22
Hope in Thailand's impoverished northeast fades with Thaksin's demise
KALASIN, Thailand (AFP) -- There may be broad smiles and victory signs atop the tanks in Bangkok, but in Thailand's Issan province there is sadness at the ouster of the first leader to give voice to this underdeveloped region.
Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a bloodless coup last Tuesday, was accused by his critics of shamelessly touting populist policies in northeastern Thailand, the poorest region in the country.
Some even called his actions vote-buying, but people on the receiving end of policies including cheap medical care and a one million baht (2,700 U.S. dollars) rural loan scheme saw it as a chance to lift themselves out of poverty.
"Never before have people in the rural areas received services from the state," said a professor at Khon Kaen University, who asked not to be named because of the military's current ban on political activity. "Thaksin made them realize what they can get as citizens of this country, what they can demand."
Thaksin lavished money and infrastructure projects on the countryside, which proved the bedrock of his support in the elections.
He was a regular fixture at countryside rallies, enjoying the cheers and praise that often eluded him in Bangkok, where he was dogged by accusations of corruption and nepotism.
As well as welcoming the financial support, the deeply traditional northeasterners also backed his moral crusades, including his controversial war on drugs in 2003.
Right groups say that the drug war cost the lives of some 2,500 people in extra-judicial killings by security forces, but the campaign did stem the flow of narcotics locally.
"He got rid of the drugs and he helped poor people with the 30 baht scheme," said Noi, a 40-year-old farmer, referring to Thaksin's healthcare system allowing Thais to get any medical treatment for around 90 US cents.
Most Issan villagers spoke fondly of Thaksin, who they referred to as a "good person". But some expressed a creeping doubt about his character.
"I heard the rumors that he was corrupt, but I wasn't sure if that was true or not," said In Kaewthip, a 76-year-old weaver, who said he was saddened by Thaksin's ouster by the military.
But any hope Thaksin and his allies may have of this countryside support transforming into real protest are unfounded, say activists and analysts.
"They miss or they cry for Thaksin but they don't know what to do," said Bamrung Kayotha, a consultant for grassroots activist group the Assembly for the Poor.
"They are afraid because they need more loans from Thaksin and the military will stop giving loans... they are afraid if they speak about him they will be arrested by the military," he added.
There is certainly reluctance among activists to voice opinions against the coup. One grassroots activist refused to speak to AFP because of "safety reasons".
But others say that the people of Issan are not organized and are simply happy to accept the new government and get on with their lives.
"There is very little chance that there will be a movement initialized from the rural areas," said the university professor.
The military junta have also attempted to curtail dissent by banning all political activity at the village, district and provincial level and placing soldiers on rail and road links from the northeast into Bangkok.
They have been quick to distance themselves from rumors that the military would stop the loan scheme, but some say that maintaining Thaksin's rural policies will do little to help poor people in the long term. "(Thaksin) just made people in Issan borrow more," said Bamrung. "He was popular because he kept campaigning about reducing poverty, but he can't have succeeded because people are still poor and have more debt."
And many in Issan think the first step to solving the problems is to get rid of a deep-seated prejudice that Thais in urban areas hold about the northeastern people.
"The people in other regions, they look down on Issan people," said Decha Premrudelert, who works as an advisor to a rural development NGO. "I don't think we have hope," he added. "We're already poor for 50 years."
Source : http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description. ... at=4&Num=7 (http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=9/28/2006&Cat=4&Num=7)
KALASIN, Thailand (AFP) -- There may be broad smiles and victory signs atop the tanks in Bangkok, but in Thailand's Issan province there is sadness at the ouster of the first leader to give voice to this underdeveloped region.
Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a bloodless coup last Tuesday, was accused by his critics of shamelessly touting populist policies in northeastern Thailand, the poorest region in the country.
Some even called his actions vote-buying, but people on the receiving end of policies including cheap medical care and a one million baht (2,700 U.S. dollars) rural loan scheme saw it as a chance to lift themselves out of poverty.
"Never before have people in the rural areas received services from the state," said a professor at Khon Kaen University, who asked not to be named because of the military's current ban on political activity. "Thaksin made them realize what they can get as citizens of this country, what they can demand."
Thaksin lavished money and infrastructure projects on the countryside, which proved the bedrock of his support in the elections.
He was a regular fixture at countryside rallies, enjoying the cheers and praise that often eluded him in Bangkok, where he was dogged by accusations of corruption and nepotism.
As well as welcoming the financial support, the deeply traditional northeasterners also backed his moral crusades, including his controversial war on drugs in 2003.
Right groups say that the drug war cost the lives of some 2,500 people in extra-judicial killings by security forces, but the campaign did stem the flow of narcotics locally.
"He got rid of the drugs and he helped poor people with the 30 baht scheme," said Noi, a 40-year-old farmer, referring to Thaksin's healthcare system allowing Thais to get any medical treatment for around 90 US cents.
Most Issan villagers spoke fondly of Thaksin, who they referred to as a "good person". But some expressed a creeping doubt about his character.
"I heard the rumors that he was corrupt, but I wasn't sure if that was true or not," said In Kaewthip, a 76-year-old weaver, who said he was saddened by Thaksin's ouster by the military.
But any hope Thaksin and his allies may have of this countryside support transforming into real protest are unfounded, say activists and analysts.
"They miss or they cry for Thaksin but they don't know what to do," said Bamrung Kayotha, a consultant for grassroots activist group the Assembly for the Poor.
"They are afraid because they need more loans from Thaksin and the military will stop giving loans... they are afraid if they speak about him they will be arrested by the military," he added.
There is certainly reluctance among activists to voice opinions against the coup. One grassroots activist refused to speak to AFP because of "safety reasons".
But others say that the people of Issan are not organized and are simply happy to accept the new government and get on with their lives.
"There is very little chance that there will be a movement initialized from the rural areas," said the university professor.
The military junta have also attempted to curtail dissent by banning all political activity at the village, district and provincial level and placing soldiers on rail and road links from the northeast into Bangkok.
They have been quick to distance themselves from rumors that the military would stop the loan scheme, but some say that maintaining Thaksin's rural policies will do little to help poor people in the long term. "(Thaksin) just made people in Issan borrow more," said Bamrung. "He was popular because he kept campaigning about reducing poverty, but he can't have succeeded because people are still poor and have more debt."
And many in Issan think the first step to solving the problems is to get rid of a deep-seated prejudice that Thais in urban areas hold about the northeastern people.
"The people in other regions, they look down on Issan people," said Decha Premrudelert, who works as an advisor to a rural development NGO. "I don't think we have hope," he added. "We're already poor for 50 years."
Source : http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description. ... at=4&Num=7 (http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=9/28/2006&Cat=4&Num=7)