[...]
A number of factors have contributed to Mr Thaksin's plight, said Simon Tay of the Singapore institute. "Many reformers and civil society groups feel Thaksin is undermining democratic institutions and free media ... They suspect he is moving towards a new form of autocracy backed not by military force but by influence, money and control of the media."
[...]
Which country could Mr Thaksin be trying to emulate?
While media and democratic freedoms matter to some, many more Thais focus on jobs and economic growth," Mr Tay said. "The different [opposition] groups are not united ... There seems no clear alternative to Thaksin."
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simon tay cant answer your question; talking about foreign governments and talking your own are different; you have to think which side butters your bread
ReplyDeleteSingapore root of all evil
ReplyDeleteOn principle, it's a move that indicates a disillusionment with the electoral process from the point of view of the opposition.
ReplyDeleteTactically, yeah, i agree with you antipathy - it may not be the most effective move.
Shamefully i know very little about the context in which the Barisan Socialis used this tactic in the 60s here, but it seems, in this context, that the Thai opposition is gaining much support from many sides (like the trade unions and business big-wigs: strange bedfellows). So regardless of whether the mainstream media is pro-government (which is the case in most countries anyway), this may just be the tipping point for Thaksin's fall.