paulg
March 3rd, 2006, 07:02
from Bangkok Post website friday 0100 GMT
TRT looks poised to cruise to victory
Only 5 parties show up to register candidates
TUL PINKAEW PIYARACH CHONGCHAROEN
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party looks poised to cruise to success in the April 2 election. Lesser-known political parties were present at yesterday's registration for party list candidates, and even their supporters were cheering for the ruling party.
With the opposition coalition of the Democrat, Chart Thai and Mahachon parties deciding to boycott the election, only five parties including Thai Rak Thai showed up to register their party list candidates for the election, and draw the numbers which will be used to represent them on the ballot.
Shouts of ''Be courageous. You're the best, Thaksin, and we were not hired to come because we truly love him'' were echoed throughout the area surrounding Nimitbutr stadium, where the registration took place.
Streamers and balloons also flew the party's logo high in the sky.
The registration for party list candidates ends today. Registration for candidates running in constituencies runs from tomorrow until Wednesday.
Even followers of the other four small parties, who could be recognised by their small banners with their party's initials written on them, also waved the Thai Rak Thai flag with the name of Bangkok MP Wattana Saengpairor on it. They also chanted the Thai Rak Thai theme song and held up Mr Thaksin's picture in support.
''We also like Mr Thaksin and we want to support him too, and there's nothing wrong with that,'' said a Kaset-trakorn Thai [Thai Farmers] party supporter.
The four other parties present were Kaset-trakorn Thai, Prachakorn Thai, Palang Prachachon and Pandin Thai.
Mr Thaksin drew the number two slot on the ballot and to show his delight he gave a two-fingered 'V for Victory' salute to the crowd as a sign that he was ready to fight on.
After the event, Thai Rak Thai MP Sutham Saengpratoom helped escort Palang Prachachon party supporters who were holding banners saying ''We are ready to become the opposition'' out of the stadium.
Meanwhile, a television camera crew member's mobile phone went off, with the ring tone ''Thaksin Get Out'' in media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul's voice, during an interview with Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan. She turned and said to the crew member: ''Don't you have any other ring tones or do you want me to help you find one?''
Outside Bangkok, in provinces like Kanchanaburi, a little known party also prepared to field candidates in the contest.
The Kanchanaburi-based Puen Kasetthai party will field only constituency candidates in Kanchanaburi and other provinces. Its leader, Itthipol Sukkham, anticipated that the party would gain only one place in the 500-seat lower house.
The party claims to have about 20,000 members nationwide, with half that number living in Kanchanaburi.
Its head office at Ban Thasao village in Muang district reportedly bears no resemblance to a formal-looking political party headquarters. With a fence around it, the office has a signboard showing the party's name at the entrance. It consists of two-storey houses, one of which is made of wood, covering four to five rai of land on the bank of a river.
Since its inception, the party has been recruiting new members and holding meetings to educate its members on political affairs, Mr Itthipol said
One-horse race gets underway
TRT 'plans to take power for six months'
POST REPORTERS
Academics yesterday questioned Thai Rak Thai's use of political reform as an election platform, saying caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the party leader, lacked the legitimacy to spearhead such changes. The academics raised the question as the ruling party prepared for a rally today at Sanam Luang, as it kicks off its campaign for the April 2 snap election widely seen as a one-party contest. Mr Thaksin is expected to speak early in the evening.
''Mr Thaksin has lost his legitimacy and lacks ethics. So the election on April 2 will be just a laundering process. The one who lacks ethics and legitimacy cannot right any wrong,'' said Assoc Prof Somkiart Tangmano of the web-based learning forum Midnight University.
Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, dean of the faculty of public administration at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), said 1,500 university lecturers had signed up for Mr Thaksin's resignation because they thought he lacked legitimacy to lead the country. However, he not only refused to resign but had dissolved the lower house, thus complicating matters.
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is due to address rallies in Hat Yai and Satun today, said the party was right to boycott the election. The boycott would ''expose'' the Thaksin regime, and make people decide for themselves what the system was worth, he said.
Mr Thaksin denounced the move, contrasting the boycott by the Democrat, Chart Thai and Mahachon parties with that of Aung San Suu Kyi, the icon of the pro-democracy opposition in Burma.
While Mrs Suu Kyi had been obstructed in her efforts to get elected and take office, ''some political leaders in our country don't want elections. I think they have to consult with Aung San Suu Kyi.''
In a stinging reply, Chuan Leekpai, Democrat party adviser and former prime minister, advised Mr Thaksin to consult the late Adolf Hitler.
''Since he has suggested consultations with Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi, I would suggest that he consult Hitler some time in the future, in the late morning or afternoon.''
Prommin Lertsuridej, the prime ministry's secretary, said Mr Thaksin will focus on political reform, notably constitutional amendments, during the rally at Sanam Luang.
A TRT source said the party would return to power as an interim government for about six months to amend the constitution and organise celebrations of His Majesty the King's 60th anniversary on the throne. After that, the House would be dissolved and power ''returned to the people'' once more, the source added.
The prime minister would also use the rally to talk about government achievements, and address accusations on several issues, the source said.
TRT expects a turnout of about 200,000 supporters from provinces close to Bangkok. For its supporters in remote provinces, TRT is preparing to beam live telecasts.
Mr Sombat said Mr Thaksin was trying to mobilise supporters to counter his opponents, thereby widening rifts in society. ''The longer Mr Thaksin is prime minister, the wider the rift,'' he said.
At the National Health Foundation in Chatuchak yesterday, senior doctors showed up to call on the prime minister to step down and take a break from politics. ''Resignation and a pause from politics does not mean a defeat [for Mr Thaksin] ... or victory for the other side. We would see it as a mark of courage and sacrifice by the prime minister,'' said Banlu Siripanich, former permanent secretary for public health.
Dr Banlu's group included national researcher Dr Aree Walayasevi, former public health permanent secretaries Dr Pairote Ningsanont and Dr Mongkol na Songkhla.
A group of senators called on Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua to call a meeting of seven former prime ministers to discuss solutions to the crisis.
TRT looks poised to cruise to victory
Only 5 parties show up to register candidates
TUL PINKAEW PIYARACH CHONGCHAROEN
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party looks poised to cruise to success in the April 2 election. Lesser-known political parties were present at yesterday's registration for party list candidates, and even their supporters were cheering for the ruling party.
With the opposition coalition of the Democrat, Chart Thai and Mahachon parties deciding to boycott the election, only five parties including Thai Rak Thai showed up to register their party list candidates for the election, and draw the numbers which will be used to represent them on the ballot.
Shouts of ''Be courageous. You're the best, Thaksin, and we were not hired to come because we truly love him'' were echoed throughout the area surrounding Nimitbutr stadium, where the registration took place.
Streamers and balloons also flew the party's logo high in the sky.
The registration for party list candidates ends today. Registration for candidates running in constituencies runs from tomorrow until Wednesday.
Even followers of the other four small parties, who could be recognised by their small banners with their party's initials written on them, also waved the Thai Rak Thai flag with the name of Bangkok MP Wattana Saengpairor on it. They also chanted the Thai Rak Thai theme song and held up Mr Thaksin's picture in support.
''We also like Mr Thaksin and we want to support him too, and there's nothing wrong with that,'' said a Kaset-trakorn Thai [Thai Farmers] party supporter.
The four other parties present were Kaset-trakorn Thai, Prachakorn Thai, Palang Prachachon and Pandin Thai.
Mr Thaksin drew the number two slot on the ballot and to show his delight he gave a two-fingered 'V for Victory' salute to the crowd as a sign that he was ready to fight on.
After the event, Thai Rak Thai MP Sutham Saengpratoom helped escort Palang Prachachon party supporters who were holding banners saying ''We are ready to become the opposition'' out of the stadium.
Meanwhile, a television camera crew member's mobile phone went off, with the ring tone ''Thaksin Get Out'' in media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul's voice, during an interview with Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan. She turned and said to the crew member: ''Don't you have any other ring tones or do you want me to help you find one?''
Outside Bangkok, in provinces like Kanchanaburi, a little known party also prepared to field candidates in the contest.
The Kanchanaburi-based Puen Kasetthai party will field only constituency candidates in Kanchanaburi and other provinces. Its leader, Itthipol Sukkham, anticipated that the party would gain only one place in the 500-seat lower house.
The party claims to have about 20,000 members nationwide, with half that number living in Kanchanaburi.
Its head office at Ban Thasao village in Muang district reportedly bears no resemblance to a formal-looking political party headquarters. With a fence around it, the office has a signboard showing the party's name at the entrance. It consists of two-storey houses, one of which is made of wood, covering four to five rai of land on the bank of a river.
Since its inception, the party has been recruiting new members and holding meetings to educate its members on political affairs, Mr Itthipol said
One-horse race gets underway
TRT 'plans to take power for six months'
POST REPORTERS
Academics yesterday questioned Thai Rak Thai's use of political reform as an election platform, saying caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the party leader, lacked the legitimacy to spearhead such changes. The academics raised the question as the ruling party prepared for a rally today at Sanam Luang, as it kicks off its campaign for the April 2 snap election widely seen as a one-party contest. Mr Thaksin is expected to speak early in the evening.
''Mr Thaksin has lost his legitimacy and lacks ethics. So the election on April 2 will be just a laundering process. The one who lacks ethics and legitimacy cannot right any wrong,'' said Assoc Prof Somkiart Tangmano of the web-based learning forum Midnight University.
Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, dean of the faculty of public administration at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), said 1,500 university lecturers had signed up for Mr Thaksin's resignation because they thought he lacked legitimacy to lead the country. However, he not only refused to resign but had dissolved the lower house, thus complicating matters.
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is due to address rallies in Hat Yai and Satun today, said the party was right to boycott the election. The boycott would ''expose'' the Thaksin regime, and make people decide for themselves what the system was worth, he said.
Mr Thaksin denounced the move, contrasting the boycott by the Democrat, Chart Thai and Mahachon parties with that of Aung San Suu Kyi, the icon of the pro-democracy opposition in Burma.
While Mrs Suu Kyi had been obstructed in her efforts to get elected and take office, ''some political leaders in our country don't want elections. I think they have to consult with Aung San Suu Kyi.''
In a stinging reply, Chuan Leekpai, Democrat party adviser and former prime minister, advised Mr Thaksin to consult the late Adolf Hitler.
''Since he has suggested consultations with Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi, I would suggest that he consult Hitler some time in the future, in the late morning or afternoon.''
Prommin Lertsuridej, the prime ministry's secretary, said Mr Thaksin will focus on political reform, notably constitutional amendments, during the rally at Sanam Luang.
A TRT source said the party would return to power as an interim government for about six months to amend the constitution and organise celebrations of His Majesty the King's 60th anniversary on the throne. After that, the House would be dissolved and power ''returned to the people'' once more, the source added.
The prime minister would also use the rally to talk about government achievements, and address accusations on several issues, the source said.
TRT expects a turnout of about 200,000 supporters from provinces close to Bangkok. For its supporters in remote provinces, TRT is preparing to beam live telecasts.
Mr Sombat said Mr Thaksin was trying to mobilise supporters to counter his opponents, thereby widening rifts in society. ''The longer Mr Thaksin is prime minister, the wider the rift,'' he said.
At the National Health Foundation in Chatuchak yesterday, senior doctors showed up to call on the prime minister to step down and take a break from politics. ''Resignation and a pause from politics does not mean a defeat [for Mr Thaksin] ... or victory for the other side. We would see it as a mark of courage and sacrifice by the prime minister,'' said Banlu Siripanich, former permanent secretary for public health.
Dr Banlu's group included national researcher Dr Aree Walayasevi, former public health permanent secretaries Dr Pairote Ningsanont and Dr Mongkol na Songkhla.
A group of senators called on Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua to call a meeting of seven former prime ministers to discuss solutions to the crisis.