Thailand's new Prime Minister to serve jail time?
By Jon Fernquest |
Newly elected Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was sentenced to two years in jail last year for criminal defamation (See bio diagram on right).
He is currently released on 200,000 baht bail while the case is under appeal and while he serves as Prime Minister of Thailand.
Being Prime Minister must mean he's going to win the appeal, I would guess.
Many are predicting a short life for the new government:
Samak Sundaravej's pugnacious character and his ties with the so-called old power clique have been seen by voters as the most problematic elements which could unsteady his premiership and the stability of the People Power party-led government.Mr Samak's weak performance as Bangkok governor eight years ago was also on the minds of many city residents, who said the 72-year-old was unlikely to achieve much, judging from his previous work at City Hall.
The new Prime Minister has enthusiastic endorsements from people on the street:
The vendors interviewed around Bo Bae market shrugged off his outspoken and rather aggressive personality, while appearing optimistic that the veteran politician would be able to perform his duties efficiently.Yun Chingsorn, 48, a food vendor, said the country is in urgent need of a prime minister, no matter who he is.
However, she urged Mr Samak to be careful in his speeches.
"I would like him to think carefully before speaking," she said.
Others insist that beauty is in the eye of the beholder:
Taweesak Kulchanapisit, 47, a staff member of a hotel near the Bo Bae market, said: "Nobody is perfect.""Mr Samak might have some weak points, but overall, I believe he'll pass the test."
Maybe all is not as hopeless as it seems, according to government civil servants who used to work for him:
Although conceding he had not seen much great work from him while he was Bangkok governor, Mr Charoen remained optimistic that Mr Samak and the PPP's economic team would be able to lead the nation through its current economic problems. ..Meanwhile, a senior official at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration who used to work with Mr Samak when he was city governor said he was glad his former boss had been selected as prime minister.
"He is a keen administrator with clear vision in his work. We worked comfortably under him and he is not as aggressive as people think," said the official, who declined to be named.
A transport official who worked under Mr Samak when he was transport minister agreed, saying that Mr Samak always respected his subordinates and was easy to work with because he was a down-to-earth person.
(Source: Bangkok Post, general news, 29-01-08, temp-link)
Vocabulary:
serve jail time - spend time in jail for a crime
do time - spend time in jail
defamation - when someone says or writes something not true that harms the reputation of another person
criminal defamation - untrue statements that harm another person's reputation that are punished by fines or jail time
released on bail - pay money so that you can live outside of jail while court is deciding your case (in this case, in the Prime Minister's mansion)
case is under appeal - case already decided, but higher court is reviewing decision to see if it should be changed
win the appeal - decision by a lower court on a legal case changed or reversed by a higher court
pugnacious character - fighting all the time, trying to start fights [Thai: ha reuang]
ties with - connections with people, friends with, have shared interests with (for example, business partners or related by marriage)
so-called X - people call it X, but you don't completely agree that this name is correct
a clique - a small group of friends who work together for their own gain (unfriendly to those outside the group)
old power clique - small group of people who have had political power for a long time
problematic - has problems associated with it, so it cannot be easily accepted
on the minds of - people are think about all the time
endorsements - a statement that shows your support and approval of something
shrug off X - treat X as not important, ignore X
outspoken - speaks what he thinks even if it shocks and offends
aggressive personality - when a person's behaviour is forceful, determined, and eager to succeed (See glossary)
in urgent need of Y no matter Z - need to get Y now, even if Z is bad
beauty is in the eye of the beholder - the definition of beauty can be very different different depending on who you are
conceding - admit the truth of a fact that you don't agree with or that goes against your argument
optimistic - hopeful about the future and the success of a project
remain optimistic - remains hopeful about the future (even when there is reason not to be)
declined to be named - does not give name to reporter (wants to share information but fears reprisal or punishment, perhaps)
subordinates - people who work under you (for example, the staff who works under or "reports to" a manager)
down-to-earth person - approve of someone because they are concerned about practical things rather than abstract theory
