Mr. Tahaksin being received by Mr. Hun Sen's family.By Somroutai Sapsomboon
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Nation
Published on November 18, 2009
Decline in Thaksin's popularity not worrisome because no polls ahead
It is clear that fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's recent actions seem to be bringing him and Pheu Thai Party down in the popularity stakes, because he is widely being seen as the main factor behind worsening ties between Thailand and Cambodia.
Though many key Pheu Thai members conceded that most people did not approve of their boss's friendship with Cambodian PM Hun Sen, they don't seem to be worried and are not looking for any methods to rebuild this sagging popularity. Many of the followers seem to think it does not matter if there are no elections coming up.
"When it comes to an election, the voters would consider the government's achievements. But the election is far away because this government is likely to stay until the end or until the House is dissolved," a Pheu Thai source, who asked not to be named, said. "Thais forget easily. They will forget this soon."
In the scheme of things, the source said, Thaksin did not really lose. At least, he has a safe haven where the government cannot hound him.
Another key Pheu Thai member said the party did not need to adjust any of its strategies because there were no elections coming up.
"We have to see who in the long run gains or loses this game," he said.
"At least, the reasons Hun Sen gave for not extraditing Thaksin to Thailand have attracted attention from the international community. No one had said that before. Hun Sen is the leader of a country with a shared border with Thailand, his words should have some credibility," the source said.
Still, he thinks Thaksin did not choose the right time for these moves.
"We were surprised when Thaksin took those steps unexpectedly. But frankly, he owns the party and has the right to do anything. Nobody can stop him. Nobody dare criticise him. We didn't even discuss the issue at the party meeting," the source said.
Caretaker leader of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, Chaturon Chaisang, who lost his voting rights just like Thaksin and many others, said the former PM might have made a mistake.
"We have to accept that the Democrat-led government took the chance of provoking patriotism and this affected Thaksin, Pheu Thai and the red shirts," Chaturon said.
Pheu Thai deputy leader Panpree Pahitthanukorn said the party's MPs acknowledged the adverse effect, but were not worried because elections were not due soon. Moreover, the party does not want a diplomatic row and hopes the relations would soon return to normal because there is not much point in neighbours fighting.
A Democrat source, who asked not to be named, said though Pheu Thai and Thaksin seem to be dropping in popularity in the short term, it is uncertain what will happen in the long run.
Pheu Thai and Thaksin were making a desperate "do-or-die" attempt to stage a comeback, the source said, and even though their approval ratings are sagging, Pheu Thai is quite happy to take the risk as long as they can topple the Democrat government.
However, it is clear that Thaksin remains very influential in the party, the source said.
"Popularity levels fluctuate greatly when a country is in crisis," the source said. "If the country enters a war or the House is dissolved, people will soon forget where the problems started."
Pheu Thai's "do-or-die" measures include affecting international relations, questioning the judicial system, humiliating the government on the international platform and obstructing Parliament, the Democrat source said.
It is clear that fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's recent actions seem to be bringing him and Pheu Thai Party down in the popularity stakes, because he is widely being seen as the main factor behind worsening ties between Thailand and Cambodia.
Though many key Pheu Thai members conceded that most people did not approve of their boss's friendship with Cambodian PM Hun Sen, they don't seem to be worried and are not looking for any methods to rebuild this sagging popularity. Many of the followers seem to think it does not matter if there are no elections coming up.
"When it comes to an election, the voters would consider the government's achievements. But the election is far away because this government is likely to stay until the end or until the House is dissolved," a Pheu Thai source, who asked not to be named, said. "Thais forget easily. They will forget this soon."
In the scheme of things, the source said, Thaksin did not really lose. At least, he has a safe haven where the government cannot hound him.
Another key Pheu Thai member said the party did not need to adjust any of its strategies because there were no elections coming up.
"We have to see who in the long run gains or loses this game," he said.
"At least, the reasons Hun Sen gave for not extraditing Thaksin to Thailand have attracted attention from the international community. No one had said that before. Hun Sen is the leader of a country with a shared border with Thailand, his words should have some credibility," the source said.
Still, he thinks Thaksin did not choose the right time for these moves.
"We were surprised when Thaksin took those steps unexpectedly. But frankly, he owns the party and has the right to do anything. Nobody can stop him. Nobody dare criticise him. We didn't even discuss the issue at the party meeting," the source said.
Caretaker leader of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, Chaturon Chaisang, who lost his voting rights just like Thaksin and many others, said the former PM might have made a mistake.
"We have to accept that the Democrat-led government took the chance of provoking patriotism and this affected Thaksin, Pheu Thai and the red shirts," Chaturon said.
Pheu Thai deputy leader Panpree Pahitthanukorn said the party's MPs acknowledged the adverse effect, but were not worried because elections were not due soon. Moreover, the party does not want a diplomatic row and hopes the relations would soon return to normal because there is not much point in neighbours fighting.
A Democrat source, who asked not to be named, said though Pheu Thai and Thaksin seem to be dropping in popularity in the short term, it is uncertain what will happen in the long run.
Pheu Thai and Thaksin were making a desperate "do-or-die" attempt to stage a comeback, the source said, and even though their approval ratings are sagging, Pheu Thai is quite happy to take the risk as long as they can topple the Democrat government.
However, it is clear that Thaksin remains very influential in the party, the source said.
"Popularity levels fluctuate greatly when a country is in crisis," the source said. "If the country enters a war or the House is dissolved, people will soon forget where the problems started."
Pheu Thai's "do-or-die" measures include affecting international relations, questioning the judicial system, humiliating the government on the international platform and obstructing Parliament, the Democrat source said.
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