Abhisit: Keen on Koh Kut

via CAAI

Former Bangkok governor's by-election success marks him as a politician to watch - Democrats at odds over location of annual assembly as Abhisit looks east - Cambodian strongman Hun Sen welcomes improved relationship with Thailand after border tensions

Published: 18/12/2010

The uneventful Dec 12 by-election in Bangkok's Constituency 2 launched a career as an MP for Apirak Kosayodhin, who is predicted to go far in national politics.

Apirak Kosayodhin, centre, stands on a pickup truck to thank voters after he won the by-election in Bangkok’s Constituency 2 for the Democrat Party. KOSOL NAKACHOL

The former Bangkok governor is seen as similar to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in terms of his political calibre and go-getting attitude. His election could set him on course towards the top seat in the national administration.

Mr Apirak accepted the ruling Democrat Party's ticket to contest the by-election to find a replacement for previous seat occupant Somkiat Chanthavanich, also a Democrat.

Mr Somkiat did not seek re-election, nor did he express any intention to field a member of his family in the race. Instead he stepped aside for Mr Apirak, which shows his respect for the former Democrat deputy leader.

Mr Apirak did not disappoint Mr Somkiat or the Democrats when he scored a resounding victory, garnering more than 70,000 votes to leave his opposition Puea Thai Party rival biting the dust.

However, he still has a major hurdle to cross. The National Counter Corruption Commission is preparing to file for his indictment in the Supreme Court in connection with the procurement of fire trucks and boats. He was embroiled in the scandal when he was Bangkok governor.

Observers believe the case could be a drawn-out affair and any trial would probably take at least a year to conclude, by which time Mr Apirak will have cultivated his experience and lifted his profile as a lawmaker and national politician.

Mr Apirak previously served as the first deputy leader of the Democrats. However, he still retains a prominent status in the country's oldest party which speaks volumes of Mr Abhisit's trust in him.

A party source said the prime minister is grooming Mr Apirak to be his choice as next Democrat leader in the event of a political crisis.

A close aide of the prime minister said Mr Apirak is almost the image of Mr Abhisit. The men have similar working styles and character with a strong determination to accomplish goals in office.

Even when compared with the current Democrat deputy leader and finance minister, Korn Chatikavanij, who is also poised to be a candidate for the party leadership, Mr Apirak appears to fare better.

The matter of determination places him some notches above Mr Korn.

Some observers had been tempted to believe Mr Korn would be a safer bet as future party boss in Mr Abhisit's eyes. After all, they were both attended Oxford University. However, this does not seem to be the case, according to the party source.

Mr Apirak is now waiting for endorsement of his poll victory from the Election Commission before he can get down to business in parliament.

The green light may take a few weeks or longer if there are election complaints to sort out.

A general election may be held in the middle of next year at the latest and, in the meantime, Mr Apirak has been urged to build up his reputation as an ethically responsible and capable MP by taking a leaf out of Mr Abhisit's book.

Mr Abhisit spent 16 years as a legislator and slowly earned respectability. Mr Apirak, on the other hand, has been cautioned against getting carried away by accepting a cabinet post in his first stint as an MP.

PM strays off beaten track

Democrat Party members are not always in agreement over many things, and picking a venue for their annual assembly has been another bone of contention.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva wants to hold the assembly next month on Koh Kut in the eastern province of Trat.

Abhisit: Keen on Koh Kut

The island coincidentally was thought to be a choice of holiday destination for his British counterpart David Cameron and his family. However, Mr Cameron and his wife cancelled their trip reportedly following intense pressure from human rights advocates upset with the government's clashes with red shirt protesters in the protests that came to a bloody end on May 19.

Mr Abhisit is said to have suggested that the Camerons spend their vacation on Koh Kut.

Koh Kut came to Mr Abhisit's mind again when the Democrats were exploring a choice of destination for their annual assembly.

Mr Abhisit's pick of Koh Kut is unusual as the decision on where to hold the seminar is always made by Democrat party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who prefers beach resorts in the South such as Koh Samui in his home province of Surat Thani and Patong Beach in Phuket.

The southern provinces are strongholds of the Democrats.

If Koh Kut is selected as the assembly venue, it will be the second meeting the party has held in the East.

During the Samak Sundaravej government in 2008, the then opposition Democrats' assembly took place in the resort city of Pattaya in Chon Buri.

Mr Abhisit's proposal to organise the meeting on Koh Kut has not received full support from all Democrat members. Some have suggested Chiang Rai, which is a stronghold of the opposition Puea Thai Party, as a meeting venue.

They reasoned that holding the seminar there would give the party an opportunity to gauge its popularity in the North and see whether it is ready for the next general election, which is expected some time in the first half of next year.

A party source said the Democrats will use what it terms a ''people's assembly'' to meet its canvassers and hear the people's grievances first hand.

Mr Abhisit will also take the opportunity to co-launch state development projects with local administration agencies.

The Democrat Party's assembly is expected to be held next month after a delay from its original schedule of early this month.

The party, which holds seminars twice a year during parliamentary breaks, was forced to postpone the event because of a rally by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Dec 10.

The UDD also plans another rally tomorrow at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Neighbours call welcome truce

The steady improvement in relations between Thailand and Cambodia lends weight to the saying that two steps forward and one step back are better than no movement at all.

It seems Cambodians and Thais are realising the two kingdoms can co-exist peacefully.

A free pop concert at the Hua Mak stadium last month drew huge crowds of migrant workers, including Burmese. The performance helped transcend ethnic and political divides.

Hun Sen: Praised Bangkok concert

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen praised the success of the Bangkok concert, suggesting that it was a sign that Thai-Cambodian relations were growing warmer.

The Cambodian strongman suggested that in light of the change, bilateral border issues should be returned to their status prior to July 15, 2008.

He was referring to the date when Phnom Penh captured three Thai para-military rangers while on a border patrol mission.

The incident intensified cross-border flare-ups near the Preah Vihear temple, which is still the subject of dispute.

Hun Sen hopes the old border markers in disputed areas can be replaced.

The People's Alliance for Democracy has postponed until Jan 25 a rally it called to oppose any perceived ceding of Thai territory to the Cambodians.

This has helped ease the worries of political pundits who fear the alliance could spark a new round of bilateral conflict.

The PAD is opposed to Cambodia's unilateral listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.

The PAD is also opposed to the possible parliamentary endorsement of minutes from meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee. The alliance claims this might undermine Thailand's territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, a concert in Phnom Penh is being staged tomorrow to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Thai-Cambodian diplomatic relations.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will head the Thai delegation in the Cambodian capital in toasting the two countries' relations.

A dozen Thai journalists have been invited to visit Phnom Penh for the celebrations next week, reciprocating a tour by the Cambodian information minister in October.

Visa-free travel for up to 15 days between the two countries, approved this week, will pave the way for a freer flow of people and trade and tourism.