Thai PM Taksin announces snap election
As a friendly reminder that people DO have a voice, Thailand’s (seemingly) corrupt and lavishly rich Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra has been forced by mounting opposition to announce declare a snap election for April. And it’s about time. Taksin, in addition to being PM, is a major media tycoon and opponent of free speech and free press. Although it would be dangerous for any one man to have a monopoly on the media in Thailand, it’s especially so for that man to also have a political monopoly. And a media monopoly is exactly what he’s been working to build. Protest broke out a few months ago when Taksin’s media conglomerate attempted a hostile take-over of Thailand’s other major media source (television, newspapers, radio), Matichon. Fortuantely, stong public outcry prevented the takeover.
Taksin’s list of offenses is both long and grievous, ranging from a borderline-totalitarian and militaristic response to unrest in Southern Thailand, suppression of opposition by suppression of free speech to using his high position to avoid paying taxes.
The public response has been slow, but steadily mounting. I include this news item here not because many (any?) of you care about the political situation in Thailand, but rather because there has been a strong public response against Taksin that is forcing him to acknowledge the grievances against him. Rallies in the parks, petitions signed and signatures collected– they’ve had their effect. And if it works in Thailand, it could work in the United States. We have a thousand and sixty (1060) days left of the Bush regime. That’s way too many.
Oh, and I post this because, while in Thailand, I had the opportunity to participate in the Sondhi-lead anti-Taksin protests. Which is a cool feeling for me, to think that maybe I helped in some tiny small way the push for democracy in Thailand. =)
