Newspaper Review #1

Date: 3rd December 208
Title: Thai ruling parties dissolved
From: The Straits Times, Prime Page A1

Outline:
Basically, this newspaper article informs readers that Thailand's Constitutional Court dissolved three top ruling parties for electoral fraud, and banned the prime minister, Mr Somchai Wongsawat, from politics for five years after the 192-day campaign held by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on the 2nd December 2008. It states that the PAD's campaign will be ceased and the protesters will be pulled out of the airports in Bangkok, allowing them to resume operations today. It is the main article which is linked to 4 similar articles in Prime Pages A6 to A11. For more information, please visit: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_309701.html.

Reflections:
Before the ruling parties are dissolved, I have to admit that I admire the protesting Thais for courage to hold this 192-day campaign. They are very daring that I would say that they successfully took Thailand by storm. However, I feel that the protesters are self-centred as they caused so much problems for their motherland just to rid the People Power Party (PPP) and just to have things their way. A classic example is the recent airport siege. Knowing that preventing the airport from operating will cause a great turmoil which the government will be sure to react to, many protesters camped and even held performances there, thinking that this will serve good to the Thais. I feel that they forgot about the fact that many parts of the world are experiencing recession. By having their campaigns in the airports, many companies will face difficulties on the importation and exportation of goods, many tourist and citizens will have their flights canceled, confusion will arise, anger will be created, inconveniences caused etc. All these in turn will further impact Thailand's economy and tourism after the deadly effects of the recession. So, you could say that Thailand's growth rate and image will be greatly affected because of this. are all of these worth it for Thailand? I highly doubt so.

Instead of causing more harm, I feel that the protesters should use other forms of showing their displeasure. Plus, they can work hand-in-hand with the ruling parties by giving more realistic suggestions. Also, the government should think of ways to allow people to have their views heard through some form of medium. By doing so, the government will understand their people better, and the citizens will have a form of communication with the government as well.

Finally, I feel that the ban doesn't solve the root of the problem, in fact I think that it will cause more political problems to arise. But, what has been done has already been done. The best way the Thais can do is to find the main root of the problem, solve it peacefully and work together as a nation for a better future.

Posted by Kelly! (: