PHUKET: A large team of Rak Phuket (Love Phuket) supporters is touring Phuket to drum up the protest against Deputy Prime Minister Dr Plodprasop Suraswadi.
Broadcasting through a loudspeaker as they move around Phuket, the Rak Phuket people say that ''Dr Plod'' will not be allowed on Phuket because of his foolish comments.
At the weekend in a television interview he said that Phuket did not win an exhibition and conference centre because people on Phuket failed to vote for the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.
'It's not our fault, it's their fault that they didn't vote for us,'' Dr Plodprasop said.
The comments have angered people throughout Thailand, but especially on Phuket where most people historically vote for the opposition Democrat Party.
Dr Plodprasop, considered to be a weak link in the government, has not done his chances of staying in the job much good.
A protest is planned for Sunday at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City. Although organised by the White Mask group who are anti Pheu Thai party, many other people are expected to turn out.
Similar protests are being organised in other spots around the country, but much of the heat is likely to be generated on Phuket with its commitment to the opposition.
For Dr Plodprasop to sound off in such a fashion reminded many of the tactics of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, whose populist politics included pork barrelling and vote bonuses.
According to Phuket MP Anchalee Vanich Thepabutr, Phuket generates 188 billion baht a year for Thailand and does not deserve to be treated so badly.
Broadcasting through a loudspeaker as they move around Phuket, the Rak Phuket people say that ''Dr Plod'' will not be allowed on Phuket because of his foolish comments.
At the weekend in a television interview he said that Phuket did not win an exhibition and conference centre because people on Phuket failed to vote for the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.
'It's not our fault, it's their fault that they didn't vote for us,'' Dr Plodprasop said.
The comments have angered people throughout Thailand, but especially on Phuket where most people historically vote for the opposition Democrat Party.
Dr Plodprasop, considered to be a weak link in the government, has not done his chances of staying in the job much good.
A protest is planned for Sunday at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City. Although organised by the White Mask group who are anti Pheu Thai party, many other people are expected to turn out.
Similar protests are being organised in other spots around the country, but much of the heat is likely to be generated on Phuket with its commitment to the opposition.
For Dr Plodprasop to sound off in such a fashion reminded many of the tactics of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, whose populist politics included pork barrelling and vote bonuses.
According to Phuket MP Anchalee Vanich Thepabutr, Phuket generates 188 billion baht a year for Thailand and does not deserve to be treated so badly.
He first caught our attention with the idea back in the floods that everyone with a boat in Bangkok and north get all the buckets they can, fill 'em up and sail south and dump them in the Gulf. Now he's a Dep PM. Promotions, promotions for a "weak link". Maybe says it all.
Posted by juswunderin on June 6, 2013 19:50