Quote:PM's popularity drops as Thaksin's increases

Figures from the latest Abac poll show that the popularity of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has plummeted, while support for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra continues to creep up.

More people have begun to question the interim government's ability to handle ongoing corruption cases and ensure social stability.

Assumption University polled 4,334 people across 18 provinces and only 48.2% said they still gave their full support to the military-appointed prime minister _ down sharply from 70.5% in November.

However, the popularity of Mr Thaksin, who in recent weeks has appeared frequently in foreign newspapers and television news channels, rose from 15.8% to 21.6%.

Director of the poll centre Noppadon Kannika said the government had failed to get officials to work actively, and as a result had become the target of public criticism. They were seen as stuck in "neutral gear" and unresponsive to state orders.

Public concern over security has also rocketed since the New Year bombings in Bangkok and nearby Nonthaburi, with 63.1% of respondents saying they were no longer confident of their daily safety.

However, most respondents also disagreed with the recent political moves made by Mr Thaksin, who has continued to make high-profile visits to foreign countries and give interviews to foreign media organisations despite assurances that he would step away from politics.

Up to 64.2% of those surveyed said they wanted the former prime minister to cease his political activities. A large number of those surveyed who were also members of Thai Rak Thai _ the political party established by Mr Thaksin _ also said they would like to see the former party leader and twice-elected premier step down from politics.

And 48.2% of Thai Rak Thai members surveyed said Mr Thaksin, who remains in self-exile overseas, should cease his politically controversial movements.

Just under 45% of respondents also felt Mr Thaksin should remain overseas for the foreseeable future and not return to Thailand at the moment.

Source: Bangkok Post Feb. 5, 2007
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/05Feb2007_news091.php
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Quote:Poll found Thais and foreign residents here are less happy.

The survey on 'Gross Domestic Happiness Index' (GDHI) shows that both the Thais and foreigners residing in Thailand became less happy in January when compared to November and December.

Conducted by Assumption University's ABAC Poll, the survey covered 4,704 Thais and expatriates in 20 provinces between January 25 and February 10.

It showed that Thailand's GDHI last month edged down six points to 5.68 from 5.74 in the last two months of 2006.

According to the survey, the happiness level reduced because of several factors including New Year's Eve bomb attacks in Bangkok, so-called political 'undercurrents' that supported ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, bloody violence in the three restive southern provinces, economic problems and crisis at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Source: The Nation Feb. 12, 2007
http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews...d=30026559

Sure, but the clumsiness of the present government adds a lot to that feeling.
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Quote:According to the survey, the happiness level reduced because of several factors including New Year's Eve bomb attacks in Bangkok, so-called political 'undercurrents' that supported ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, bloody violence in the three restive southern provinces, economic problems and crisis at Suvarnabhumi airport.

There are quite a few ingredients there to make people apprehensive I would guess.

Quote:Poll: Thais lose trust in govt, CNS

More than 50 per cent of the Thais now believe the government and the Council for National Security (CNS) are no longer able to solve political problems, according to a university survey.

Some 53.7 per cent of 1,321 respondents living in Bangkok and major cities in the country including Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya feel the government and the CNS could not put an end to problems in the country.

The poll, surveyed between Feb 13 to 19 by Bangkok University, was conducted under the title "The Future of Thailand in People's Opinion."

Some 88.2 per cent of the respondents said they are concerned with political situations in the country.

About 17.5 per cent of them worry about the drafting of the new constitution, 16.6 per cent about a counter-coup, 16.5 per cent about political movements of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, 15.9 per cent about the work of the government, and 15.7 per cent about convicting Mr Thaksin and his cronies in alleged corruption charges.

When ask what they think about political situations in the next six months, after the drafting of the constitution is expected to be completed, about 35.3 per cent of them are uncertain that things will improve. A slightly smaller number, 31.9 per cent, think the situations will not be different from now. Only 24.6 per cent are positive and said the situations will likely to improve.

The majority of the respondents, or 69.8 per cent, do not want Mr Thaksin to become a prime minister again.

Bangkok Post Feb. 22, 2007
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