Thailand's PM-elect Yingluck offers hope for nation

Radio Australia

July 29, 2011

Thailand's new parliament will formally open on Monday .. with the 500-seat lower house due to start work two days later.

The economy is also uppermost on the mind of Thailand's prime minister elect, Yingluck Shinawatra (pictured), of the Puea Thai party.

Ms Yingluck, who's the sister of the fugitive former PM Thaksin, will be the nation's first woman prime minister.

So, after five years of turmoil, will the Yingluck government finally bring much-needed stability to Thailand?

Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Sean Boonpracong, analyst and former international spokesman for Thailand's 'Red Shirts'

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SEAN BOONPRACONG: When Puea Thai got involved in this election, it was always one party against 40 parties, plus the elite they're competing against. The fact that they won 265 votes (seats) is a huge mandate and the parties that decided to join government know that by being a part of this, it will enable them to sell to those who vote for them, that they could get something back to their constituents, and I believe that it will be less of a problem compared to Abhisit Vejjajiva, when his Democratic party formed with the breakaway factions of the-then People Power Party, which has reincarnated into the Puea Thai party now. At that time, most people voted for People Party, but yet during the parliamentary manoeuvering, the Democrats were able to use roughly about thirty-five of our MPs and forced them with theirs, so therefore, the Democrats had a much weaker hand, when they formed government. But that would not be the case with the Puea Thai party.

LAM: And Yingluck of course said, shortly after victory, that her first task is national reconciliation. How challenging is that, for someone who's so closely linked to the vastly polarising figure, Khun Thaksin, the former prime minister?

SEAN BOONPRACONG: Well, you have to understand that this is not a new experience for her. Her father was a politician. She herself has been CEO of a big corporation, since she was thirty years old. And I've sat at the luncheon table with her, observed her poise. She's definitely a conciliator (sic) and that would be a huge plus. And of course, the Reds would want to demand that those ninety-two who perished last year - there should be some accountability. The Puea Thai has to address this...otherwise...

LAM: Indeed, as you say, more than 90 people died last year in the military crackdown on the Red Shirts. Of course, the Red Shirts would want some kind of closure, but how difficult a task is this for prime minister-elect Yingluck, to bring about justice but without alienating the military?

SEAN BOONPRACONG: The fact that she's already stated publicly that she would like to let the Reconciliation (Commission) appointed by Abhisit stay, and by accepting this, she's treating this issue delicately, within the military. But for now, I believe that she can do it, by allowing this Commission to continue, and addressing the issue wide in the open. It will not be an easy task, but it's doable. She has what it takes to get the job done - deal with this issue delicately. Of course, the army would huff and puff, but in the end, they have realise that it's part of the democratic process, that they have to listen to, and whether the Supreme Court, would decide in their favour, whether they would have to go to jail, that's up to the foreseeable future. But Yingluck has to address the issue for the Reds and the army has to stand by and take it.

LAM: Yingluck has stressed that the minimum wage for Thai workers is high on her list of priorities. What will Yingluck have to do, to narrow this rural-urban divide that has plagued Thailand these past many years?

SEAN BOONPRACONG: But of course, this is a huge, huge approach, to have 300 bahts, which is a huge increase. Philosophically, the average Thais, seventy percent of them, are quite poor. By bringing this to the equal level of perhaps neighbouring countries of higher wages, like in Singapore and Malaysia, it will enhance a lot of dignity and of course, her focus is to make sure that with the high cost of gasoline, which brought about the increased cost of living, it's a first step and of course, with 130 organisations, in terms of big corporations supporting us, I believe this would possibly be the first thing that she does, and I believe that it would enhance the closure of the gap between the Bangkokians and the provincial people.