Every Prime Minister in Thailand has his/her own very unique challenges. After the controversial Thaksin Shinawatra was forced out of power by a coup more than 6 years ago, politics has been topsy-turvy in this Kingdom. The Democrats, with the backing of the generals, successfully put Abhisit Vejjajiva at the helm, only to be disturbed by a massive Red Shirt protests that put to test his mantle as a statesmen.
The handling of the Red Shirt protests and the assassination of the former military officer leading them sunk Vejjajiva and his Democrats' popularity. Another election followed and it was time for the Red Shirts, known alternatively as Thaksin's thugs (or band of brothers), to take a revenge. The newly-formed Phuae Thai party (after Thaksin's party was dissolved due allegedly for election violations) fielded Thaksin's loving sister Yingluck. And the rest was history. She is Thailand's first prime minister. It was not because the Thai people were ready to have a female leader. It was more of Thaksin's influence (and his money) rubbed on her.
The pro-democracy movement, also known as the anti-Thaksins, are now occupying the streets where the Red Shirts where once before. They no longer wear the royalist yellow colour but are garbed in white mask ala V for Vendetta.
Supalak Ganjanakhundee, a veteran political journalist with The Nation newspaper (which is known as anti-Thaksin paper--Thaksin bullied the paper when he was in power so there's reason for the antipathy), wrote a sobber explanation on what's happening recently. He said instead of sitting in the park in front of the Royal Palace protesting against the prime minister, why do these protesters start to campaign not to elect Thaksin's annointed next time.
The handling of the Red Shirt protests and the assassination of the former military officer leading them sunk Vejjajiva and his Democrats' popularity. Another election followed and it was time for the Red Shirts, known alternatively as Thaksin's thugs (or band of brothers), to take a revenge. The newly-formed Phuae Thai party (after Thaksin's party was dissolved due allegedly for election violations) fielded Thaksin's loving sister Yingluck. And the rest was history. She is Thailand's first prime minister. It was not because the Thai people were ready to have a female leader. It was more of Thaksin's influence (and his money) rubbed on her.
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| Yingluck Shinawatra: The Loving Sister |
Supalak Ganjanakhundee, a veteran political journalist with The Nation newspaper (which is known as anti-Thaksin paper--Thaksin bullied the paper when he was in power so there's reason for the antipathy), wrote a sobber explanation on what's happening recently. He said instead of sitting in the park in front of the Royal Palace protesting against the prime minister, why do these protesters start to campaign not to elect Thaksin's annointed next time.
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