Much has been said about the Abhisit I government being a plagiarism of the recent shadow governments of Thaksin who remains at the center of it all.
Not only will Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva continue with Thaksin’s weekly Sunday address on TV – will he grant a slot to the opposition as he demanded under Thaksin? -,
Abhisit will extend the populist stimulus measures drawn by Thaksin’s proxy government, such as free water and electricity and subsidized bus and train rides for the poor.
Meanwhile Abhisit’s cabinet has approved an additional economic stimulus package valued at about 300 billion baht to be spent on increasing agricultural prices and supporting free education programs.
300 billion baht by the way is a whiff more than the damages caused by the yellow airport blockades, as a study by the Bank of Thailand reveals.
That tells you what the blockade means in real economic terms. 300 vs. 290 billion baht, a rather accidental, but nevertheless telling parallel.
300 billion baht by the way is a whiff more than the damages caused by the yellow airport blockades, as a study by the Bank of Thailand reveals.
That tells you what the blockade means in real economic terms. 300 vs. 290 billion baht, a rather accidental, but nevertheless telling parallel.
Have I missed something? I’m still waiting for something truly original coming out of the Abhisit government who has to compromise himself alongside old forces and faces we know from the previous governments.
Abhisit is furthermore copying his predecessors Samak and Somchai who had to flee the yellow sea: The “switch” (read: escape) of the Asean summit to Hua Hin to a location of royal convalescence and retreat is not a shrewd move, it’s a worrying move. I have the feeling the summit’s circumstances offer all the ingredients to becoming a major embarrassment for Abhisit.
Abhisit is furthermore copying his predecessors Samak and Somchai who had to flee the yellow sea: The “switch” (read: escape) of the Asean summit to Hua Hin to a location of royal convalescence and retreat is not a shrewd move, it’s a worrying move. I have the feeling the summit’s circumstances offer all the ingredients to becoming a major embarrassment for Abhisit.
The opposition will seize the chance of the limelight. Again, I’m still more repulsed by the old than the new beast. Let’s not forget how difficult life was for so many under Thaksin. But how do we call the new beast we ended up with? Abhisin? Thaksit? A marionette maybe?
Again, what’s different between then and now? I’m mainly seeing one and a similar thing. Old wine in a new bottle, really, the Democrat’s seven-point policy. Inheriting in essence a copy of Thaksin’s populist policies.
Abhisit simply extend what the previous governments introduced – governments who were toppled to the Democrat party’s silent delight. Now they’re even more Catholic than the pope – while denying that they are promoting Thaksin’s populist policies.
The sacrifices we all had to make in the name of democracy are not worth it. So far.Politics around here have become a massive double standard, now represented by a prime minister who is haunted by the very vulgar ghosts he promised to exorcize.
The yellows demand from the reds what they were never willing to give to the reds, while the reds counter the yellows with uncreative yellowish tactics.
The yellows demand from the reds what they were never willing to give to the reds, while the reds counter the yellows with uncreative yellowish tactics.
On top of it those in power now and some military leadership ask for reconciliation – something they were not even willing to consider just some weeks ago.
Nothing can come as a surprise anymore in a country where some throw ping pong bombs to voice political dissatisfaction and nothing happens, while others pelt eggs and have to fear prosecution – because Thai police say an egg is a weapon. I’m not saying. I’m just smiling.
No comments:
Post a Comment