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Technology Thailand

Where Thais and technology clash

by Jesada Chandraprasert, Thailand


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Thai poli-twitter

Aug 7, 2009 12:51

What would you do if you've been ousted by the military, have your political party disbanded, and wanted by the bureaucracy which you used to oversee? If you're Thaksin Shinawatra, then you hit the ground running and keep on running. 

Next month will mark the third anniversary of the coup which ousted Thailand's ex-media mogul and sent the nation spiraling into political discourse and general confusion as supporters of the ousted Thaksin clashed with supporters of the opposing "yellow shirts" which contributed to the military action. Though now far back in many Thais' memories, the PR war still rages sucking in more and more people to the fight, like a black hole engulfing unsuspecting stars at the center of a distant galaxy.

After tit-for-tat maneuvers with local radio stations being raided, satellite TV stations license revocations, streaming propaganda being blocked, it would seem that this story is nearing an end. Not so, as the political struggle between current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra battle for public sympathy on Facebook and Twitter. While not quite as high-profile as the CNN vs. Aston Kutcher battle for 1 million followers, the struggle between these two is more symbolic than meaningful in the "real world".

Even if Thaksin manages to out-"twit" Abhisit and eventually ends up with more followers, it will be only a bitter-sweet victory. This is an almost meaningless PR war echoing recent events in Thai politics where a man who led a party to become Thailand's first one-party majority Government, and who still claims to have more supporters country-wide during this period of self-imposed exile, has yet to stake his claim on the the coveted title of PM of Thailand.



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    Talkback
psi says...
Khun jeseda needs to get his facts and English sorted out...

Thaksin was not a Media moghul - try Telecoms...

and " yet to stake his claim on the the coveted title of PM of Thailand."

He has been PM, perhaps you might have used the word, again...

Aug 07, 2009 17:45
 
 
aweysham says...
I'd like to comment but being a Farang I'd better just keep quiet and watch. I love the people of Thailand and just hope for the best government for them.

Aug 08, 2009 09:50
 
 
Jesadac says...
Hi PSI,
I stand corrected on my bad wording and thank you for pointing that out. He started his empire with telecoms and then went into media with his IBC tanking over UTV to form UBC. And yes, he was PM and that should have read "again stake his claim".

Thanks!

Aug 10, 2009 23:28
 
 
Jesadac says...
@aweysham
Native Thai or Farang we all pay our dues when living in this country either directly or indirectly so any opinion, good or bad, would be greatly respected. :)

Aug 10, 2009 23:30
 
 
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About Jesada Chandraprasert

A firm believer that he/she who dies with the most toys wins.

 
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