Contrasting choices
December 19, 2007
Voters
deciding between the Democrats and the People Power party (PPP), the
two parties most likely to determine who becomes the next Thai prime
minister, certainly have a clearcut choice between the young and the
old. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva (left) is only 43 and could be
mistaken for being even younger. His PPP rival, Samak
Sundaravej is 72, and was himself once a prominent member of
Democrats, joining that party when Mr Abhisit was only four years old.What are the two party leaders saying to voters as Election Day approaches? This story will give you a taste.
rivals – people or groups competing for the same thing; opponents; competitors คู่แข่ง คู่ปรับ
prominent – very well known and important มีชื่อเสียง มีหน้ามีตา
taste – a brief idea or experience with something ความรู้สึก ความเข้าใจถึงรสชาติของสิ่งนั้นๆ
Abhisit, Samak say they're ready to lead
Rivals explain to voters why they should be PMMANOP THIP-OSOD
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and his main rival Samak Sundaravej of the People Power party (PPP) both declared themselves ready and able to be prime minister yesterday. With election day on Sunday, the two antagonists have little time left to convince voters of which of them is best-suited to head the first elected government since the Sept 19 coup last year.
''I'm real,'' Mr Abhisit told supporters at Siam Society, adding he would take all responsibility for any damage resulting from cabinet decisions if he is head of the next government.
One of the first things he would do was to call on ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to the country to fight all the charges against him in court, he said.
Mr Abhisit insisted there would be no compromising on his people's agenda with other parties if they wanted to join the Democrats in forming a government. He also rejected the idea that a coalition government would not be strong enough to solve the country's problems.
Mr Samak said in Nong Khai that he was also ready to lead the country.
He made it clear that one of his first missions would be to end the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) inquiry into alleged irregularities committed by Mr Thaksin and his cabinet ministers, and to give political amnesty to all 111 executive members of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party.
Many members of the ASC were not impartial and were actually opponents of Mr Thaksin, he said.
antagonists – rivals; opponents; people who are strongly opposed to each other ปรปักษ์
coup (d’etat) – the seizure of power in a country by a small group of people, usually members of the armed forces การยึดอำนาจ การทำรัฐประหาร
cabinet – a small group of the most important people (i.e., government ministers) in government, who make the main decisions about what should happen คณะรัฐบาล
ousted – forced from a position of power ที่ถูกยึดอำนาจ ที่ถูกขับออกจากตำแหน่ง
charges – formal accusations of wrongdoing ข้อกล่าวหา
insisted – stated forcefully ยืนกราน
compromising – weakening; allowing your ยอมอ่อนข้อ standards to be lowered
agenda – a list of aims or goals ระเบียบ วาระ
rejected – refused to accept ปฏิเสธ
coalition – a government of two or more political parties working together รัฐบาลผสม
mission – an important job or task ภาระหน้าที่
alleged – stated that someone has done something illegal or wrong with giving proof ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
irregularities – things which are not correct or acceptable ความผิดปกติ
amnesty – a fixed period of time in which people are not punished for having committed a crime or having done something wrong นิรโทษกรรม
dissolved – (of an organisation or group) ended ยุบ ยุติ
impartial – not supporting any side in an argument of competition ยุติธรรม เที่ยงธรรม
opponent - คู่อริ ฝ่ายตรงข้าม
PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said on a radio programme the PPP would not form a single-party government even if it won more than half the seats in the parliament.
The Democrats and PPP are using different strategies in their push for victory at Sunday's polls.
Mr Abhisit's party emphasises clean leadership and a chance for the young generation to lead the country, apparently wanting to remind voters of the problems Mr Thaksin caused when he was in power.
The PPP's message appeals to voters to support the party rather than individuals.
The PPP claims that having a majority in the lower House would enable it to solve the economic problems plaguing the country.
emerge – to appear at the end of a process or experience ผุดขี้น ปรากฏขึ้น
strategies – detailed plans for achieving success ยุทธวิธี กลยุทธ
polls – election การเลือกตั้ง
emphasise – to show or state that something is particularly important เน้นหนัก
appeal – to make a serious or formal request วิงวอน
enable – to make someone able to do something or to make something possible มอบอำนาจให้
plaguing – causing worry, pain or difficulty to someone or something over a long period of time ที่กำลังรุกราน ก่อกวน