Friday, 24th March, 2006

Politics in Thailand is making an interesting study for the world's democrats. There we have a Prime Minister under attack for personal impropriety who does the decent thing and prepares to let the people decide. The last thing that his opponents want, however, is an election they know they will lose. So they decides to boycott the election called for 1 April and keep protesting in the streets to have Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra replaced.

"We're in uncharted territory," said Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the opposition Democrat Party. "This is the first time we've seen mass protests concerning the legitimacy of a person who's been elected." And unchartered it certainly is. The educated middle class of Bangkok who have taken to the streets are outraged that Thaksin's family sold its controlling interest in the Shin Corp. telecommunications empire to a Singapore investment company for $1.9 billion. As the Washington Post reported, the critics believe Thaksin, already the country's wealthiest man, had improperly used his influence to enrich himself.

Out in the countryside Thaksin retains the support that saw him become the first Prime Minister in Thai history to be elected for a second term. They reportedly care little for the claims of personal enrichment. More important for them is the health program introduced by Thaksin that provides cheap medical care and the fund offering small loans to farmers. As the Post report concluded:

"I like his good heart," said Orn Pancharee, 67, as she and her sister sat outside their stilted wooden house, their faces deeply etched from years of rice farming.

"Because of him, if I go to the doctor, I don't have to pay much," said Orn's sister, Thongsai Yothanan, 73. "Since Thaksin became prime minister, we get compensated for damages when our rice paddies flood. Before him, never."

The sisters said they had heard little about the Shin Corp. sale and understood even less.

"For us, it's not important," Thongsai said as chickens pecked in the dirt nearby. "I watched the television news, and I feel pity for him."

Orn nodded in agreement.

"Previous prime ministers never visited the countryside," she said. "He's the best because he cares about the poor."