Comments

c5

“Finally, 65% voter participation, there about, and PTP though a majority, not much of one out of 500 seats – so in reality how many people are actually giving PTP a mandate? Even half of Thailand’s eligible voters?”

Good grief….. ever more desperate. Try 75+% voter “participation” – not “65%…. there about” (and you claim to value verifiable facts so much?) So, in your reality, just what do you think constitutes a mandate under the Thai multi-party system? Oh – and do tell us more of your first-hand (fully documented, of course) experience of “Weng’s indoctrination schools”.

Andrew Walker – 27

Does the low no-vote signal the end of PAD? It was always clear that they had very little electoral pull.

Do we know what the ‘no vote’ got. If it’s still around 3-4%, although it’s nothing for the PAD to crow about, it does represent damage to the two main parties.

For the Democrats it’s vote lost that would have put them a bit closer to Phue Thai. Maybe even have got them a couple more Bangkok constituencies. (Glad to see where I live stayed Democrat.)

For Phue Thai it’s shows there is still a significant size of the group of people who may not accept any amnesty plan. Maybe even people who would be in the streets if this happens. Then again the PAD the leadership could accept the amnesty plan for themselves, but somehow I don’t think this is on the cards.

Internet connections? A pretty irrelevant and baseless conclusion, wouldn’t you say? Like saying the average skirt length has shortened in correlation with Democrat’s shrinking popularity – not really sure they are related. Such are the shenanigans I find here at ANU’s New Mandala.

I’d bet most of those connections are found where PTP has performed horribly, and having spent time in Issan and understanding the “information desolation” there eagerly filled by Weng’s indoctrination schools and “community radio,” I think your conclusion is actually backwards.

Most of the PTP supporters I talk to don’t even own a computer, even in Bangkok, let alone an Internet connection – the people that generally do, aside from a handful of nihilists do not support PTP and in fact, don’t really support the Democrats either.

Finally, 65% voter participation, there about, and PTP though a majority, not much of one out of 500 seats – so in reality how many people are actually giving PTP a mandate? Even half of Thailand’s eligible voters?

Now Andrew, you do a survey of PTP supporter who have gotten Internet access over the past 10 years and show us some real stats – my hypothesis is you will find PTP’s popularity depends on a lack of information, not access to it.

Just some things to think about.

There’re many ballot paper that crossed on PT logo.

A joke by Chuwit comparing ‘someone’ with Pla-Lai (eel with its slippery skin) who always gets to be part of the government.
http://lockerz.com/s/116620822

Now our new PM ought to make a few signal moves to define her new administration.

It would be nice to hear her order Thai troops away from the Cambodian border, to demonstrate her commitment to treating neighbors as friends; and to allow the people on the ground on both sides of the border to come up with a plan for longterm peace between the two nations, to demonstrate her commitment to grass roots democracy and decentralization; and to allow the Royal Thai Army a rest, now that there is a competent civilian regime, to demonstrate the reality of civilian rule in Thailand. After the past five long years.

As well if would be good if she would order a real, impartial investigation of the death of Pvt. Wichien to demonstrate her commitment to human rights; and to back that up with a real, impartial investigation of the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphijit, and the administration of justice to those who ‘disappeared’ him, to demonstrate the fair-handedness of her commitment.

Other such signal moves are possible as well… strike while the iron is hot and flush of victory, the joy at the first female Thai PM, are still generally shared, and the opportunity for thinking new and doing new is ripe.

Yingluck wins in a landslide.

Checkmate . The election results demonstrate how Aphisit’s crackdown on Red protesters in 2010 was excessive, shameful, and a complete strategic failure. All the Dems had to do is establish a reasonable time for new elections to end the protests. Instead, they chose brinksmanship and violence.

Some interesting questions: Would the Dems have been so resoundingly defeated had they just called for elections initially, before the crackdown. Would Yingluck have emerged? Would there have been the pre-election backdoor deals involving Thaksin directly? Aphisit’s tenure has been a political failure on many levels.

Nobody can out-think Thaksin in a chess match. He’s a brilliant chess player. His opponents will forever doubt every move they try against him going forward. Who is eager to challenge him now?

Thaksin mentioned in VoiceTV that the establishment and those who have tried to obstruct PT to power should reconsider their attempt and respect people’s voice.