New bottle, old wine?
August 24, 2007
Photo: Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh airs his political views before reporters. Gen Chavalit yesterday gave a lecture on Thai politics to postgraduates at Ramkhamhaeng University. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
Last Wednesday, I mentioned there seemed be little fresh and exciting in the political manoeuvrings we have seen after the passage of the draft constitution. Clearly, I am not the only one to have that feeling. You can see that in the story below which details the negative reaction to the attempt of former prime minister to re-enter politics as the leader of an alternative party.
The feeling extends
to other old-style politicians. Yesterday, for example, Chai-Anan
Samudavanija (photo), said he was delaying his entry into politics
because of the re-emergence
of so many old faces.
‘‘I will wait two more years," he said. "I admit I am still interested in politics. But when I see the faces of those politicians, I think we belong to different cultures.’’
In the story below, read to find out why so many people are sceptical over Gen Chavalit's future in politics.
manoeuvrings – using clever, skilful ways of achieving your aims วางแผน ยักย้าย หลบหลีก เดินหมากdraft constitution – a constitution that has not yet been finally approved ร่างรัฐธรรมนูญ
alternative – offering an additional choice ทางเลือก ตัวเลือก
extend – to related to or include รวมไปถึง
re-emergence – to reappear; to become active again การกลับมา(สู่วงการการเมือง)อีกครั้ง
sceptical – having doubts about something, especially that something is true or something will happen เป็นที่น่าสงสัย
Activists, politicians sceptical of Chavalit
Former PM has little to offer, say criticsANUCHA CHAROENPO MANOP THIP-OSOD
Civic groups and politicians are sceptical about former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh’s expression of interest in leading an alternative party, dismissing the idea as ‘‘putting old wine in a new bottle’’.
The so-called third-choice party would probably combine the Ruam Jai Thai and Matchima political groups. Prominent members of both groups were previously in the defunct Thai Rak Thai party. The Thai Rak Thai group has now joined the People’s Power party (PPP).
With the PPP on one side of the political spectrum and the Democrat party on the other, a third choice would give voters a much-needed freedom of choice, its proponents say.
The two political groups have reportedly approached Gen Chavalit to head a new party after the groups merge and register it. Analysts agree that a third-choice party would probably be part of the new government, and that may allow him to flirt with the idea of returning as prime minister.
Gen Chavalit was prime minister from November 1996 to November 1997, when he resigned under pressure due to the financial crisis. Activists, academics and politicians said questions hung over his intention to regain an active presence in politics.
Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said Gen Chavalit must make it clear that any party he leads would not push for amnesty for the 111 Thai Rak Thai executives barred from political activities for five years by the Constitution Tribunal for electoral fraud.
Gen Chavalit had abandoned his own New Aspiration party to join Thai Rak Thai and was closely linked to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who founded Thai Rak Thai, he said.
Gen Chavalit did, however, have a strong following and could help mend the rifts in the country.
civic groups – groups made up of members of the public rather than the government or the military กลุ่มข้าราชการพลเรือน
putting old wine in a new bottle – trying to make something old seem new and fresh เหล้าเก่าในขวดใหม่ หมายถึง การรวมกลุ่มใหม่ของนักการเมืองหน้าเก่า
prominent – important or well known มีชื่อเสียง เป็นที่รู้จักกันดี
defunct – no longer existing, operating or being used เลิกดำเนินการ ในที่นี้หมายถึงพรรคไทยรักไทยที่ถูกยุบไปแล้ว
spectrum – a complete or wide range of related qualities, ideas, etc. ขอบเขต ความกว้างขวาง
political spectrum – all the different political parties and beliefs ขั้วการเมือง (ความคิดหรืออุดมการณ์ทางการเมือง)
proponent – people who support an idea or course of action ผู้สนับสนุน
approached – spoke to about something ทาบทาม
merge – to join together to form a single unit or thing รวมตัว
flirt – to think about or be interested in, usually for only a short time เกี้ยวพาราสี ระริกระรี้ หรือ คิดและเพลิดเพลินไปกับความคิดชั่วขณะ
amnesty – an official statement that allows people who have been found to have done something wrong not to be punished นิรโทษกรรม
barred – not allowed to do something สั่งห้าม
fraud – the crime of cheating การฉ้อโกง กลโกง
abandoned – left with no intention of returning ละทิ้ง
linked – connected เชื่อมโยง เกี่ยวพัน
ousted – forced to leave a position of power ถูกปลดออกจากตำแหน่ง
mend – to heal; to repair เยียวยา ประสาน รักษา
rifts – serious disagreements between people that stops their relationship from continuing ความแตกแยก
‘‘Gen Chavalit claims to represent a chain linking politicians together, but I think it’s more of a rusty chain that is ready to snap at any time,’’ he said.
The coming together of veteran politicians was ‘‘like putting old wine in a new bottle’’, he said. To be a true third choice, a party must be represented by people with a good knowledge of the country’s fundamental problems.
Such a party could well materialise in the future when participatory politics is in full swing, he said.
Tanet Charoenmuang, a political scientist at Chiang Mai University, said an alternative party needed clear policies and a leader with public acceptance and integrity. It was disheartening that old politicians were being ‘‘dug up’’ to become party leaders, he said.
Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said if Gen Chavalit’s intention in re-entering politics was to help Mr Thaksin, then he should have the decency to spell it out. He ruled out Gen Chavalit’s suggestion that the Democrats and the power clique loyal to Mr Thaksin should work together in the name of reconciliation. They pursued different goals and ideologies, he said.
He was also not convinced that Gen Chavalit would not eventually head the PPP, which is now without a leader. Gen Chavalit tended not to be reliable, he said.
Academic Chai-Anan Samudavanija, who was earlier asked to join the Matchima group, said Gen Chavalit was Mr Thaksin’s proxy and a new political party may be part of a divide-and-rule strategy.
grassroots – of the ordinary members of a group rather than their leaders สมาชิกพรรค
breath of fresh air – something new and positive สิ่งใหม่ๆ
recruiting – finding new people to join an organisation รับสมาชิกใหม่
triggering – making something happen, especially suddenly เป็นต้นเหตุ
rusty – (of a metal) covered with a reddish-brown substance formed by the action of water and air, often making the metal weaker ขึ้นสนิม
snap – to break suddenly หัก สะบั้น แตกออก
veteran – having a lot of experience in a particular activity ผู้อาวุโส ผู้มีประสบการณ์
fundamental – serious and very important, affecting the most central and important parts of something สำคัญ ลึกซึ้ง
materialise – to take place or start to exist จัดตั้ง (พรรค) เป็นจริงขึ้นมา
participatory politics – a political system where ordinary people are able to actively take part การเมืองแบบมีส่วนร่วม
integrity – the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles ความซื่อตรง ความซื่อสัตย์
disheartening – to cause someone lose hope or confidence หมดหวัง
have the decency – to follow accepted standards of behaviour; to do what is right มีจริยธรรม มีความประพฤติที่ถูกทำนองคลองธรรม
spell it out – to say something clearly; to explain something in detail ชี้แจงรายละเอียด
power clique – (negative) a small, tightly connected group of people, who hold power กลุ่มผู้มีอำนาจ ในที่นี้หมายถึง กลุ่มอำนาจเก่า
reconciliation – ending a disagreement and starting a good relationship again ประนีประนอม คืนดี
ideology – a set of ideas that an political or economic system is based on; a set of beliefs จิตสำนึก
eventually – at the end of a period of time or a series of events ในที่สุด
reliable – dependable; able to be trusted to do something น่าเชื่อถือ
proxy – a person who acts for someone else ตัวแทน
divide-and-rule – gaining or holding power by causing the opposition to be divided แทรกแซงอำนาจ