How Thailand might get its own Nelson Mandela
In reply to those who say that reforming either of the two political parties in Thailand would be impossible, I say anything is possible in politics.
John Kennedy won on votes filched from the Republican party, don’t forget, many conservatives voting for the Democrats for the very first time in their lives. And now many of the super-rich look up to social activists like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, while the poor support Mitt Romney all over the country!
The only two incorruptible prime ministers in Thailand since 1992 have been Democrats, don’t forget, and the only incorruptible party, Palang Dharma, was spun down the tubes by none other than Thaksin Shinawatra himself with Chamlong Srimuang, the purest or the pure, cheering him on. And of course Chamlong held Thaksin’s hand in court to hear the “hidden assets” verdict in 2001; how the great leadership-guru must kick himself now at having so misled everybody in that one!
But mysteries like that happen, to everybody!
The really powerful voice for reform is building in Thailand even though it has no voice as of yet, what’s more a party. The irony is that even Pheu Thai could morph into Thailand’s saviour if Yingluck actually got interested in developing herself as a legitimate and memorable Prime Minister, and by so doing decided to work to rehabilitate the Shinawatra name and at the same time put her own stamp on Thai history. Stranger things have happened – like what happened to Saul on the road to Damascus. Or the Rockefellers, from robber barons to Rockefeller Republicans!”
Or Thaksin voluntarily serving his time and emerging as Nelson Mandela – isn’t that what he was suggesting in Jakarta this week?
Lung Kip
Chiang Mai
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