The view from abroad
December 25, 2007
Today, I think it might be interesting to see how a major international news agency reported the results of yesterday's general election to an international audience. Since most of the readers will not be familiar with the Thai political situation and the Thai electoral system, you'll notice there is a lot more background than you would find in a story written for a Thai audience.
Thai Election Leave Politics Unsettled
By GRANT PECKThe Associated Press
Sunday, December 23, 2007; 3:27 PM
BANGKOK, Thailand – Loyalists of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won nearly half the seats in Thailand's parliamentary elections Sunday in a striking rebuke to the generals who forced the billionaire populist from power in 2006.
The first vote since the coup appeared to be a recipe for continuing political instability: The failure of the pro-Thaksin People's Power Party to capture an absolute majority in the 480-seat lower house of parliament opens the way for his opponents to form a government despite the PPP's substantial mandate.
With more than 95 percent of the vote counted, the People's Power Party – established after Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party was disbanded by court order earlier this year – had won 228 seats, according to the state Election Commission. Complete results were due Monday.
"I would like to call for all political parties to join us in forming a strong government," PPP leader Samak Sundaravej said at a news conference. "I will certainly be the prime minister."
He said Thaksin, who was in Hong Kong, had telephoned to offer his congratulations after hearing the results.
The second-place Democrat Party took 165 seats.
"If the PPP succeeds in forming the government, the Democrat Party is ready to be in the opposition to protect the people's interest. However, if the PPP fails to form a government, the Democrat Party is also ready to form a government," said Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejajjiva.
The PPP got most of its support from the rural north and northeast, where Thaksin's programs, including universal heath care and generous village development funds, won a hard-core following.
The Democrats ran strongest in Bangkok, where the 2006 movement to oust Thaksin was centered. Only seven parties of 39 running won parliamentary seats. About 60 percent of 45 million eligible voters cast ballots for about 5,000 candidates.
unsettled – tending to change suddenly; not calm or stable ไม่สงบ ไม่ลงตัว
loyalists – people who strongly support a government or a ruler ผู้่จงรักภักดี
striking – very noticeable ชัดเจน
rebuke – an angry statement of disapproval ประนาม
populist – (often negative) representing or connected with the ideas and opinions of ordinary people ที่คนหมู่มากนิยม
recipe – a situation that leads to a particular result สถานการณ์ที่นำไปสู่
instability – uncertainty caused by the possibility of sudden change ความไม่มั่นคง ไม่สงบทางการเมือง
absolute majority – more than half the total number ข้างมาก, ส่วนใหญ่
substantial – large in size, importance or value เป็นส่วนใหญ่ สำคัญ
mandate – the authority given to an elected group of people อำนาจที่ได้จากการเลือกตั้ง อำนาจโดยชอบธรรม
disbanded – (of a group) officially ended; dissolved ที่ถูกยุบ (พรรค)
congratulations – praise and approval for someone who has experienced success แสดงความยินดี
rural – of the countryside outside towns and cities (opposite of urban) ชนบท ต่างจังหวัด
generous – larger than usual or expected มาก
oust – to force from a postion of power ขับ หรือ ปลดออกจากตำแหน่ง
eligible voters – people who have the right to vote in an election ผู้มีสิทธิ์เลือกตั้ง
cast a ballot – to vote, i.e., to put a marked ballot in a ballot box ลงคะแนน, หย่อนบัตรเลือกตั้ง, ออกเสียงเลือกตั้ง
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
Thai politics has been in almost constant turmoil since early 2006, when protests mushroomed demanding that Thaksin step down, despite his party's landslide victory a year earlier giving it an absolute parliamentary majority.
An April 2006 election was boycotted by the opposition and later declared invalid by the courts, leaving Thaksin's government in limbo until the September 19 coup last year. But the military-appointed interim government that succeeded it proved weak and indecisive, failing to restore public confidence.
Thaksin was abroad at the time of his ouster, and has stayed in exile, legally barred from office, having his party dissolved by the courts, and being charged with a slew of corruption-related crimes.
Despite having vowed retirement from politics, he burnished his image from afar, with such moves as the purchase of England's Manchester City soccer club, slyly buying into the sport's popularity in Thailand.
Thaksin's PPP allies announced last week that he would return to Bangkok early next year, after a new government is installed. Thaksin did not comment publicly on the election results.
Despite its victory at the polls, the PPP will probably face an uphill battle in trying to form a government.
The forces that helped unseat Thaksin – the military, Bangkok's educated middle class, and the country's elite, including elements associated with the country's monarchy – have worked hard to erase Thaksin's political legacy.
They changed the constitution to limit the power of big parties and sought to demonize him as a corrupt destroyer of democracy. His return could undo their efforts and put their own positions in jeopardy.
Samak said that if possible, the PPP would grant amnesty to Thaksin and 110 other executives of his now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, who were barred from office for five years.
"They didn't do anything wrong," he said.
tension – a feeling of fear or anger between groups of people who do not trust each other ความกังวล ระแวง
turmoil – a state of confusion, uncertainly or lack of order ความไม่สงบ
mushroomed – grew rapidly ผุดขึ้น แพร่ไปอย่างเร็ว
landslide victory – a victory in an election by a very large amount ชนะขาดลอย
boycotted – refused to participate in something คว่ำบาตร
invalid – not legally or officially acceptable เป็นโมฆะ
in limbo – being in an uncertain situation that you cannot control and in which there is no advancement or improvement อยู่ในสถานการณ์ที่ไม่แน่นอน
coup (d’etat) – the seizure of power in a country by a small group of people, usually members of the military การทำรัฐประหาร
interim – intended to last for only a short time until something more permanent can replace it รักษาการ
succeeded – followed and replaced ที่ตามมา ที่มาแทน
exile – the condition of being kept away from your own country, especially for political reasons เนรเทศ
barred – not allowed to do something ห้าม
slew – a large amount or number มหาศาล
vowed – made a serious promise to do something สาบาน
burnished – improved and made more attractive ปรับโฉมใหม่
slyly – very cleverly อย่างเจ้าเล่ห์
allies – two or more groups, countries, organisations that agree to work together to achieve a particular purpose พันธมิตร
uphill battle – having a very difficult time to succeed in doing something ที่ยากลำบาก ที่หนักหน่วง
elite - ชนชั้นสูง
monarchy – the system of government with a king or queen as the head of state ระบอบการปกครองที่มีพระมหากษัตริย์เป็นประมุข
legacy – something which stays from an earlier time ตำนาน
demonize – to try to make someone or a group of people seem like they are completely evil ใส่ความว่าเป็นมารร้าย คนชั่วร้าย
in jeopardy – in danger ตกอยู่ในอันตราย
grant amnesty – to allow someone to not be punished for wrongdoing or crimes they have committed นิรโทษกรรม ละเว้นการลงโทษ
Thailand's long-term prospects for political stability are also poor. PPP leader Samak Sundaravej, a veteran right-wing politician who has served in several Cabinets and as governor of Bangkok, has been a divisive figure for decades.
The blunt-speaking 72-year-old Samak "doesn't have a conciliatory personality. He is aggressive and uncompromising," said Narong Phetprasert, an economist at Chulalongkorn University.
Critics say Abhisit, 43, British-born and educated at Eton and Oxford, may lack the toughness necessary to keep together a coalition of parties out to get the biggest share of power they can grab.
In Washington, the State Department, which had criticized the coup against Thaksin, said it welcomed reports that the polls were held in a free and fair manner and congratulated the Thai people "on taking this crucial step toward a return to elected government."
Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the U.S. calls on all sides "to respect the results, and for a fair and transparent process for the adjudication of any disputes or fraud claims."
tally – total ทั้งหมด
investigate – to examine something (a crime, problem, statement, etc.) especially to discover the truth สอบสวน ตรวจสอบ
hawk-eyed – watching and noticing something very carefully จับตามอง
irregularities – things that aren’t correct or acceptable ความผิดปกติวิสัย
disqualification – stopping someone from doing or participating in something because they are unsuitable or they have done something wrong ไม่มีคุณสมบัติเพียงพอ
coalition – a government formed by two or more political parties working together รัฐบาลหลายพรรค
prospects – possibility of being successful มีอนาคตไกล
veteran – having a lot of experience doing something ผู้อาวุโส (ทางการเมือง)
divisive – causing great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement among people แตกแยก ไม่ลงรอยกัน
decade – a period of ten years ทศวรรษ
blunt – saying what you think without trying to be polite or caring about people’s feelings อย่างขวานผ่าซาก
conciliatory – ending a disagreement or someone’s anger by acting in a friendly way or slightly changing you opinions ไกล่เกลี่ย
aggressive – behaving in an angry way; determined to win or succeed and using forceful action to achieve success อย่างก้าวร้าว
uncompromising – unwilling to change your ideas or behaviour ไม่ยอมลงให้ใคร แข็งกร้าว
grab – to take คว้า
crucial – extremely important or necessary วิกฤต
transparent – open and easily understood; having nothing hidden โปร่งใส
adjudication – the process of deciding something in the courts กระบวนการพิจารณาคดี
fraud – the crime of cheating การฉ้อโกง