THAksin & pheu thai party
Protests are very related to one person: Thaksin. Thaksin is one of the greatest political figures throughout history of Thailand. Why people are sensitive about Thaksin? Why are there people who love or hate Thaksin as politician?
Thaksin, as member of Pheu Thai party, was supported by many of supporters at the time when Thaksin was prime minister. There are some significant careers that Thaksin achieved throughout his time as a prime minister. Thaksin considered working class people more than any other class of people in Thailand. Income of people in northeast part of Thailand, which people are the poorest, rose by approximately 46% in five years from 2001 to 2006. On the other hand, working class friendly policies caused opposition from elites and high-class people in Thailand, which are mostly in Bangkok.
Also, economic growth is another reason why Thaksin was great prime minister. Poverty rate fell from 21.3% to 11.3%, and gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, fell from 0.525 to 0.499. Public sector debt fell from 57% to 41%, and GDP grew from 4.9 trillion baht to 7.1 trillion baht in five years, which is 1.5X growth. Thaksin made base line of Thai economy that gave Thailand great potential to develop and improve.
However, Thaksin government was criticized by its corruption and authoritarianism. Finally, citizens figured out that Thaksin controlled tax evasion, sold assets of companies in Thailand to international investors, and concealed his wealth. Coup made Thaksin to get out from Thailand. However, after won of Pheu Thai party in post-coup election, Thaksin came back to Thailand and supported “Red Shirts,” which is United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. Pheu Thai party supported his ideology and was at the side of working class people. Working class people and people in countryside buttressed Pheu Thai party and Thaksin, and protested against protestors of amnesty bill for their interests and rights.
Thaksin and Pheu Thai party are two important figures and causes of activism movements in Thailand. They can be seen as evil characters because the government pardoned Thaksin’s wrongdoings, and Pheu Thai party could be unfair for some portions of citizens in Thailand. However, Thaksin’s careers helped Thailand to grow economically and socially and cared low-class people or working class people.
Thaksin, as member of Pheu Thai party, was supported by many of supporters at the time when Thaksin was prime minister. There are some significant careers that Thaksin achieved throughout his time as a prime minister. Thaksin considered working class people more than any other class of people in Thailand. Income of people in northeast part of Thailand, which people are the poorest, rose by approximately 46% in five years from 2001 to 2006. On the other hand, working class friendly policies caused opposition from elites and high-class people in Thailand, which are mostly in Bangkok.
Also, economic growth is another reason why Thaksin was great prime minister. Poverty rate fell from 21.3% to 11.3%, and gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, fell from 0.525 to 0.499. Public sector debt fell from 57% to 41%, and GDP grew from 4.9 trillion baht to 7.1 trillion baht in five years, which is 1.5X growth. Thaksin made base line of Thai economy that gave Thailand great potential to develop and improve.
However, Thaksin government was criticized by its corruption and authoritarianism. Finally, citizens figured out that Thaksin controlled tax evasion, sold assets of companies in Thailand to international investors, and concealed his wealth. Coup made Thaksin to get out from Thailand. However, after won of Pheu Thai party in post-coup election, Thaksin came back to Thailand and supported “Red Shirts,” which is United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. Pheu Thai party supported his ideology and was at the side of working class people. Working class people and people in countryside buttressed Pheu Thai party and Thaksin, and protested against protestors of amnesty bill for their interests and rights.
Thaksin and Pheu Thai party are two important figures and causes of activism movements in Thailand. They can be seen as evil characters because the government pardoned Thaksin’s wrongdoings, and Pheu Thai party could be unfair for some portions of citizens in Thailand. However, Thaksin’s careers helped Thailand to grow economically and socially and cared low-class people or working class people.