THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Three octogenarians who should stop meddling in Thai politics

Three octogenarians who should stop meddling in Thai politics

Reports in Thai newspapers that a group of former MPs from the Northeast paid a visit to three of their party’s “respected elders” should be a cause for concern for democratic-minded Thais.

The first “elder” is a former prime minister and former Army chief. This man is now 86 years old. Twenty years ago, the government he led was responsible for the 1997 economic crisis that spread to many countries across the world.
This person is not known to have done anything good for the country, merely presiding over the tumultuous events of the 1990s.
The second “elder” (85), is the caretaker leader of Thailand’s biggest party. He is another elderly Thai who cannot say with pride that he has done anything good for society.
The last is a notorious politician (84) who came to political prominence by acting as a local boss in the Northeast – after becoming owner of a fleet of transport trucks operating in the region.
During his time as a Cabinet minister in the early 2000s, this person was alleged to have ordered that land belonging to a Buddhist temple be transformed into a privately owned golf course. Be that as it may, he could not be brought to trial for lack of sufficient evidence.
It looks like Thailand’s road to democracy is likely doomed if these three octogenarians keep interfering in politics time and again – instead of retiring to take care of their great-great grandchildren!
Chavalit Wannawijitr
Chiang Mai

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