Thaksin tour of Northeast begins amid criticism

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (TNA) - Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Monday began a trip to the country's poverty-plagued Northeast amid criticism that the tour is aimed at seeking inappropriate political gain ahead of the upcoming general election set for October 15.

Mr. Thaksin, who also leads the ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, together with an entourage of six cabinet members including Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana flew from Bangkok on what they claimed is part of their 'job'.

The three-day whirl through Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, and Roi-Et provinces August 7 to 9 started Monday and will be followed by a similar tour of the North next week, has provoked an uproar among
government critics and opposition parties, especially the TRT's arch-rival Democrat Party, which claims the trip is to distribute land and cattle to poor people and aimed at winning votes on the run-up to the October 15 general election.

TRT leader Thaksin, however, earlier insisted that his planned activities both in the Northeast and the North were not related to election campaigning but were in fact part of the caretaker government's continuing work.

The giveaways of land and cattle, the prime minister said, are simply the continued implementation of projects previously launched in the past. The purpose of the tour is to readdress people's problems and to follow up the progress of anti-poverty projects in the region.

Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said the prime minister's scheduled visits and activities were not different from those planned for election campaigns.

"Even worse than that, the state budget--from taxes paid by the people--is being used for the political gain as the prime minister is well aware that the royal degree setting the election date will be effective in the next few days," he said.

Mr. Ong-art said what the prime minister is doing now is politically unethical and may even violate election law.

"The nation's leader shouldn't act in this way. He should be fair to others," the spokesman said.

TNA

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra combs his hair before watching local traditional dancing at Sutraram Temple in Khon Kaen.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is greeted by a group of admirers during his tour of Khon Kaen province yesterday.

Phra Boonma Apinantho, left, blesses caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra when they met in Roi Et on Wednesday during Thaksin’s tour of the Northeast. Seven years ago when he was a layman, the monk offered Thaksin encouragement that inspired him to run for the top office.