By Thai Newsroom Reporters
“THAKSINISM” WILL likely keep its presence felt in Thailand’s political landscape albeit with diminished bargaining power despite its founder/de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra being literally put behind bars, supposedly serving his one-year jail term, remarked a noted academic today (Sep.10).
Though Thaksin was yesterday sent back to jail for one year at the order of the Supreme Court, capping his Police Hospital escapade during which the former globetrotting convict had evidently managed to keep himself from being thrown behind bars upon his return from self-exile abroad a couple of years ago, “Thaksinism” was believed to be more or less politically involved even after his time in jail will have been served, according to Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation dean Suriyasai Katasila.
“Thaksinism” will still have more or less political influence and bargaining power under which its colossal, vested interests could be maintained and protected despite the fact that the nationwide popularity of its founder and his Pheu Thai as a whole has exponentially declined and that many Pheu Thai MPs and other partisan members may be looking to switch camps for the next general election following last June’s leaked, disreputable cellphone talk between senior Cambodian leader Hun Sen and Thaksin’s daughter/court-deposed prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Yellow Shirt leader-turned-academic pointed out.
The de facto Pheu Thai boss was believed to be well aware of his ending up in jail prior to his return from Dubai over the weekend and was more or less anticipating return to the political arena to pick up the pieces from whatever may be left of his previously ruling camp immediately after he has finished his jail term which might probably be shortened to only four to six months, given a likely parole and his old age, according to the Rangsit dean.
Meanwhile, Suriyasai forecast that the “Thaksinism” founder would manipulate to keep his neo-conservative camp contesting a general election to win a number of MP seats no matter if he himself may be either put behind bars or released on parole by the time of the next race to parliament.
To score an electoral success, one does not only need popular trends among constituents anywhere but “ammunition”, Suriyasai concluded. In Thai political jargon, “ammunition” refers to hard cash with which electoral contestants and canvassers may buy votes.
“He still has so much money which will definitely continue to be one of the most significant factors in politics,” he said, referring to the mega-billionaire power player.
Thaksin is largely known to have one of his resolute missions left undone – to bring his fugitive sister/former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra back home from self-exile overseas whilst criminal lawsuits could possibly be filed against his daughter Paetongtarn following last month’s ouster of her as head of government by the Constitutional Court due to a ruinous fiasco over her mishandling of Thai-Cambodian conflict, said former National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Patanathabut.
Nevertheless, the country’s powers-that-be would never be convinced of the possibility that the de facto Pheu Thai boss might ever have enough of politics even after he has finished his jail term, according to the ex-NSC chief.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra gives the thumbs up when being moved from Bangkok Remand Prison to Klong Prem Prison last evening (Sep. 9). Photo: Amarin TV
Insert: Academic Suriyasai Katasila. Photo: Thai Rath
Also read:
Supreme Court sends Thaksin back to jail for one year
Thaksin has returned from Dubai today
Prawit turns down defence portfolio offer
Anutin not bothered by Pheu Thai’s legal moves
Anutin voted Thailand’s 32nd Prime Minister with 311 votes
Cabinet nod for extending 7% VAT rate for another year
Police recall Venom ammunition after explosion
Two Cambodian journalists jailed for treason
