The national election in Thailand was held four weeks ago. The country's Electoral Commission has now finished its process of approving the electoral results and so today the new Parliament will be sitting for the first time with a new government, led by the Pheua Thai party.
From here it is to see the backing of Yingluck Shinawatra as the new Prime Minister. We will then see what happens next.
Having seen the recent performance of US politicians in Washington, it does make you wonder who is anyone to act as the judge of the Thailands of the world for their politics. The whole world seems to be crying out for good, strong, ethical leadership. It is so needed in a fragmented world.
I am John Murray, an Australian, Catholic priest of the Order of St Augustine. I live and work in Thailand and have been here since October 2005. I have many stories from my life journey and would simply like to share some of them. So hope you enjoy and go away sometime with a smile or a helpful little insight.
We gather
to give thanks for my 25 years.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Government still to be formed
While one side in the election may have the big win, my time here would tell me that anything could happen yet. I would hold that we will know the outcome once the new government is formed, and only then.
Then yesterday's news showed Yingluck, the Pheu Thai leader and the future PM at present, cooking noodles at an election rally. The question posed was - is this a case of corruption? Buying votes with noodles?
Anything is possible in these places. Nothing is ever as it seems. So who knows what next? Yingluck and the Pheu Thais are the object of much talk and stories from the other side. It makes you wonder what is happening and is unsettling. I guess as they say - just keep watching this page.
Then yesterday's news showed Yingluck, the Pheu Thai leader and the future PM at present, cooking noodles at an election rally. The question posed was - is this a case of corruption? Buying votes with noodles?
Anything is possible in these places. Nothing is ever as it seems. So who knows what next? Yingluck and the Pheu Thais are the object of much talk and stories from the other side. It makes you wonder what is happening and is unsettling. I guess as they say - just keep watching this page.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Election Update
40 parties fielded candidates in the Thai election held on Sunday. Of these, only 11 were able to gain any seat in the Parliament.
Pheu Thai won 265 seats and holds a firm majority for government with the support of four minor parties, having 299 seats in the new Parliament. One of these parties, the Mahachon Party, has only one seat.
Abhisit, the leader of the deposed Democrats has stood down as leader. He was the Prime Minister but his government was never elected by the people. The Democrats had won government through a parliamentary vote.
In following post-election commentaries, I see that there are some major lessons being named from this election. These include:
1) The people want to elect their own government and not have it chosen for them by politicians or other elites.
2) Politicians and political forces cannot operate divorced from the people.
3) The people want politicians who will act for the good of all people in Thailand.
4) All people want to enjoy the benefits of their society and not just see them enjoyed by the few.
5) The established power bases of Thai society need to recognise that the general Thai population is saying they want their voice to be heard and respected in Thailand and not have decisions made for them by powerful others.
Pheu Thai won 265 seats and holds a firm majority for government with the support of four minor parties, having 299 seats in the new Parliament. One of these parties, the Mahachon Party, has only one seat.
Abhisit, the leader of the deposed Democrats has stood down as leader. He was the Prime Minister but his government was never elected by the people. The Democrats had won government through a parliamentary vote.
In following post-election commentaries, I see that there are some major lessons being named from this election. These include:
1) The people want to elect their own government and not have it chosen for them by politicians or other elites.
2) Politicians and political forces cannot operate divorced from the people.
3) The people want politicians who will act for the good of all people in Thailand.
4) All people want to enjoy the benefits of their society and not just see them enjoyed by the few.
5) The established power bases of Thai society need to recognise that the general Thai population is saying they want their voice to be heard and respected in Thailand and not have decisions made for them by powerful others.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Pheua Thai in
Yesterday saw the Thai elections held with a defining win for the Opposition. This means the end of the Abhisit government. To say this is too simply describing what happened and what may seem to be happening.
The Pheua Thai Party with Yingluck Shinawatra as its leader is the winner but this statement does not tell the story.
You see many parties standing for election but in the end they all go behind one or the other of the two major parties. This means that you have two blocks in the Parliament and no real Independents.
Then there is another interesting fact that I just learnt. Ministers of the government are not allowed to vote in the Parliament. So you might have the majority but with the loss of ones who are ministers you still need the support of minor parties.
Both these factors allow for ongoing division along the two side model and for instability as minor parties hold much sway.
Of course, the factor we don't know about is just how much dirty play is involved. The Democrats played the card of reminding the people of the demonstrations and destruction of last year in Bangkok due to the Red Shirt demonstration but there was no mention of 91 Thais killed at the end of the same demonstrations. I live in a country where 91 citizens were murdered and nothing substantial has been done over a year later to see justice done.
We really don't know the whole story nor is the whole story being told.
The Pheua Thai Party with Yingluck Shinawatra as its leader is the winner but this statement does not tell the story.
You see many parties standing for election but in the end they all go behind one or the other of the two major parties. This means that you have two blocks in the Parliament and no real Independents.
Then there is another interesting fact that I just learnt. Ministers of the government are not allowed to vote in the Parliament. So you might have the majority but with the loss of ones who are ministers you still need the support of minor parties.
Both these factors allow for ongoing division along the two side model and for instability as minor parties hold much sway.
Of course, the factor we don't know about is just how much dirty play is involved. The Democrats played the card of reminding the people of the demonstrations and destruction of last year in Bangkok due to the Red Shirt demonstration but there was no mention of 91 Thais killed at the end of the same demonstrations. I live in a country where 91 citizens were murdered and nothing substantial has been done over a year later to see justice done.
We really don't know the whole story nor is the whole story being told.
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