The VCD controversy
December 11, 2007
News
stories often become topics of discussion for our readers who take the
time to write to our letters to the editor section entitled Postbag. Today, you will see an
example from regular Postbag contributor Burin Kantabutra.
I think you will find his ideas to be very reasonable and helpful,
especially since his topic – the Thaksin VCD
controversy – is a divisive one.First, however, we'll look at a news story that gives us the latest information on the controversy itself. If you are a supporter of the People Power party (PPP), the successor to the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party (TRT), you will probably see this as an attempt by the anti-Thaksin forces to find a way to stop the rise of the PPP. There have been long been rumours that something like this would happen and now you have concrete evidence of a plot to have the PPP dissolved like the TRT before it.
If you are a PPP opponent, however, you will likely see things very differently. To you, it seems like the PPP is trying to find ways to enlist the help of Mr Thaksin in the campaign. That, of course, is illegal since Mr Thaksin has been barred from participating in politics for five years. Thus, the authorities are perfectly justified in cracking down on the party.
Read the story and decide which side seems to have the stronger case. Do you think the PPP may actually be dissoved? Then read Mr Burin's letter to Postbag.
controversy – a disagreeement, especially about a public policy or moral issue that people have strong feelings about
divisive – likely to cause arguments between people อันจะก่อให้เกิดความแตกแยก
successor – a person or thing that comes after someone or something and takes their/its place ผู้สืบทอด, ดำรงตำแหน่งต่อ
defunct – no longer existing, operating or being used ถูกยุบ
rumour – a piece of information, or a story, that people talk about, but that may not be true ข่าวลือ
concrete – based on facts and information ที่แน่นหนา ที่แน่ชัด
evidence – facts, statements, or objects that help prove that someone has done something wrong หลักฐาน
plot – a secret plan to do something bad, made by two or more people แผนการณ์
dissolved – officially ended ยุบพรรค ยุติ
enlist – to ask for someone’s help or support ขอความช่วยเหลือ
dissolved – officially ended ยุบพรรค ยุติ
barred – not allowed to do something สั่งห้าม
cracking down – starting to deal with someone or something much more strictly ดำเนินการอย่างเฉียบขาด
Democrats file complaint over Thaksin VCDs
PPP denies giving out video of former PMDemocrat party candidates in Nakhon Phanom have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC), alleging fraud by two People Power party (PPP) candidates, one a party executive, for distributing VCDs featuring a speech to voters by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee insisted his party did not produce or distribute the VCDs, but conceded that the person who produced the VCDs is a politician linked to the 111 banned executives of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party.
‘‘Should we [PPP] be held responsible if some slanderers have handed out the VCDs to the public?’’ said Mr Surapong.
The VCDs, featuring the deposed prime minister urging voters in the Northeast to support the PPP, could lead to the dissolution of the party if it is proved it distributed the recordings. Mr Thaksin is among the 111 Thai Rak Thai party executives banned from politics for five years and it is illegal for the PPP to allow him to campaign for the party.
The EC will today discuss the distribution of the VCDs. Veera Somkwamkid, the secretary-general of the People’s Network against Corruption, raised the issue on Friday and said he would file a complaint with the EC today.
Mr Veera said yesterday there is another video being circulated featuring Mr Thaksin’s interview in Hong Kong with a satellite TV station.
In the clip Mr Thaksin urged people to vote for the PPP, he said. Mr Veera claimed the videos were produced by former TRT executives linked to the PPP.
The EC is waiting for complaints about the controversial VCD before setting up a committee to look into the case.
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim
alleging – saying that something is true or that someone has done something wrong or illegal, even though it has not yet been proved
fraud – the crime of cheating การฉ้อโกง
deposed – forced out of a position of power ที่ถูกปลด หรือขับออกจากตำแหน่ง
conceded – admitted, often unwillingly or reluctantly ยอมรับอย่างไม่เต็มปากเต็มคำ
linked – connected โยงใย
banned – officially not allowed to do somethng ที่ถูกห้าม
slanderers – saying things that are not true about someone and damaging their reputation การหมิ่นประมาท ใส่ร้ายป้ายสี
urging – advising someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take วอนขอให้
circulated – continually sent or passed around แพร่กระจาย
clip – a short part of a video or film บทย่อ ตอนสั้นๆ ของวิดีโอ
Mr Suksan also handed over a copy of a VCD titled Nung Pee Tee Hai Pai (One Year Away), featuring Mr Thaksin’s speech encouraging people to vote for the PPP and also speeches by PPP leader Samak Sundaravej and PPP proportional representation candidate Chalerm Yubamrung, to the provincial EC as evidence.
The two Democrats claimed that PPP candidates, including PPP executive Dr Prasong Buranapong and Supachai Phosu, had the VCDs distributed to voters during their campaigns at Ban Chanod Yai temple in Nakhon Phanom’s Muang district on Saturday.
Mr Suksan said a local resident attending the PPP candidates’ speeches at the Ban Chanod Yai temple handed him the VCD he gave to the provincial EC.
constituency – a district that elects its own representative to parliament เขตเลือกตั้ง
encouraging – suggesting that someone does something that you believe would be good เชิญชวนให้
proportional representation (party list) system - a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
resident – a person who lives in an area ประชาชนในพื้นที่
‘‘After watching the VCD, it seemed that several parts of the speech could be considered as luring or soliciting support for the PPP. This could breach the election law by giving away valuables as incentives,’’ said the source.
If the EC has sufficient evidence that any party member colludes in election fraud in favour of any political party in any election zone, the EC has the authority to nullify ballots cast for the party’s proportional representation candidates in the zone, he said.
PPP leader Mr Samak yesterday denied his party’s involvement in the distribution of the VCDs and urged the EC to treat the allegation against his party the same as the secret paper controversy against the Council for National Security.
source – a person who gives information แหล่งข่าว
transcribe – to write, type, or record something exactly as it was said เขียนหรือบันทึกถ้อยคำตามจริง
luring – persuading someone to do something by making it seem very attractive to do so
soliciting – asking for support or money ขอความช่วยเหลือทางการเงิน หรือการสนับสนุน
breach – to break a rule or law ละเมิดกฎหมาย
incentives – things that make you want to do something เหตุจูงใจ
sufficient – enough เพียงพอ มากพอ
collude – to work secretly with someone to do something wrong or illegal คบคิด สมรู้ร่วมคิดกันกระทำการอันผิดกฎหมาย
nullify – to make something lose its legal effect เป็นโมฆะ
ballots cast – votes (ballots are voting papers) การลงคะแนนเลือกตั้ง
From today's Postbag
The Thaksin CDs
I fully agree with Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond’s decision to investigate how five million CDs with campaign speeches by ex-PM Thaksin, seeking to sway votes, came to be distributed. Even if made before the royal decree announcing the election, its distribution now seems to break the ban on Thaksin’s participation in the electoral process.But, given the Council for National Security’s strong anti-Thaksin stand and the huge stakes at risk in this election, the EC’s investigation and verdict must be above suspicion as to its impartiality.
We must not only have an election; it must be seen to be credible and represent the will of we, the people. This cannot be done if the PPP is dissolved based on what is perceived as flimsy evidence, or an incomprehensible ruling.
As in a court, the defendant must be judged guilty beyond reasonable doubt if he is to be punished. Let justice not only be done, let it be seen to be done.
BURIN KANTABUTRA
investigate – to try to find out the facts about something ตรวจสอบข้อมูล สำรวจวิจัย
sway – to influence or change someone’s opinion ครอบงำ มีอิทธิพลเหนือ
decree – an official order พระราชกฤษฎีกา คำสั่ง
given – because of a particular fact เมื่อพิจารณาจากข้อเท็จจริง
stakes at risks– things that can be gained or lost ผลได้ผลเสีย
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
above suspicion – having no doubts about ไร้ความกังขา หรือข้อสงสัย
impartiality – the condition of being fair and not improperly favouring one side or another in a disagreement ความยุติธรรม เที่ยงธรรม
credible – able to be trusted or believed ที่น่าเชื่อถือ
will – what someone wants to happen เจตจำนงค์ ความตั้งใจ
perceived – understood in a particular way เป็นที่เข้าใจว่า
flimsy – not very reliable or not very easy to believe; very weak (หลักฐาน) ที่อ่อน ไม่ชัดเจน
incomprehensible – very difficult or impossible to understand ไม่สามารถเข้าใจได้
defendant – someone who has been accused of a crime and is on trial จำเลย
guilty – someone who has committed a crime มีความผิด
justice – the legal process of fairly judging and punishing people ความยุติธรรม