THANATHORN UNVEILS ‘FUTURE FORWARD PARTY,’ PLEDGES
FRESH BEGINNING
Co-founders
of the newly formed Future Forward Party pose for a group photo Thursday morning in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — A new political party led by a multi-billionaire and a prominent law lecturer formally launched Thursday in a bid to win support from those fed up with the decade-long political paralysis.
The newly established “Future Forward Party,” or Anakot Mai, led by auto parts billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Thammasat law lecturer Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, wants to offer itself as a choice for people – particularly the young generation tired of political division – to break the long-running political impasse.
“Thailand has been caught in a deep political rift for more than a decade, causing enormous economic and social damage. Political polarization has hindered dialogue and consultation, while dictatorial politics have suppressed the rights and liberties of citizens, putting under lid all the problems and being incapable of ending the division,” the party said in a statement released before the press conference that formalized its establishment.
Thanathorn, 39, who presented the party as the voice of the young and the progressive, said during the Thursday morning press conference in Bangkok that barbaric laws and unjust manners have been used “to shut the mouth of those who think differently.”
Thanathorn and other party executives plan to register their party name with the Election Commission after the early morning press briefing concluded.
Until recently Thanathorn sat on the executive board of Matichon Group, which owns Khaosod and Khaosod English. He resigned from the board yesterday.
Co-founder Piyabutr vowed that the party will become a new choice and prove to the public that democracy can work and “is normal and that people alone can solve problems by themselves.”
Piyabutr talked about people who will not give in to the problems of Thai society, and about social welfare and equality.
“Future Forward Party has every citizen as owners. Thai politics will not be about destroying enemies but creativity,” Piyabutr said, adding that the party’s politics will not be about self interest but public interest, and will not be limited to the elites.
“The past will not be determine the future. … Thais must have better livelihoods,” the co-founder said, adding that this was a “historical moment” and that “if we don’t walk away from the lost decade, we will suffer more damage and it may be too late to redeem.”
Chamnan Chanruang, a Chiang Mai-based former law lecturer said he became one of the 26 co-founders of the party because he wanted to see genuine decentralization. Electing provincial governors and ensuring that 70 percent of the local taxes are kept in the provinces and not sent to Bangkok.
“I have been waiting for Future Forward Party for my whole life,” Chamnan said.
Other party co-founders include university lecturers, a freelance translator, a filmmaker, a craft beer brewer, a “digital agriculturist” and a number of activists campaigning on a variety of issues, from women’s welfare and the environment to rights for the LGBT community and the disabled.
The news conference was held a day after a junta spokesman publicly warned Thanathorn not to violate the ban on political activities imposed by the regime.
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My
Reflection
According
to the news, a new political party named “Future Forward Party” debuted on
March,15 2018. As we saw in social media and many news agencies reported this
news, the party got a lot of interest from people over the country not
only politicians but also people who never interest in politics. After they
knew about this, they gave the feedback to this news.
So
do I. I am the one who are not interested in politics but I have a chance to
see this news on my facebook. Then I search for more information about this
news and thinks it’s quite interesting. This party is remarkable because it is
collaboration of new generation that has a new interesting idea and political
aspect to develop the country. There are three main purpose of the party. First
of all, they want to encourage people to realize about democracy in Thailand.
As we know, now, our country doesn’t rule by democracy. People try to call for
the election but it’s not work. Democracy is that people can choose what they
want depend on constitution law but the power is no in our hands as it should
be. It will be great if this party can solve this problem and bring democracy
back to Thai. The second is to change and develop Thailand to be better and
create new creative thing for country. This purpose is also interesting because
Thailand need to be improved in many ways like education or poverty problem.
And the last purpose is changing the visual of politics.
In
my opinion, the reasons why Thai politics has not developed yet are from many
causes. The obvious one is corruption. Thai people, especially adult, are
always adhere to the old parties that have won the election and have had a
chance to be a group of person who are the representative to develop country.
When the election comes, there will be only 2-3 parties that are popular such
as Democrat party or Pheu Thai party. If you open your mind and give the
opportunity for the the new party, it might be another good result.
In
the Future Forward Party includes the founding members who are from the divers
background. Thanathorn
Juangroongruangkit co-founder
of the newly-registered Future Forward Party, has been unanimously voted the
party leader. A total of 474 members voted for Thanathorn to become party
leader at the party's first public meeting. He received 473 votes to appoint
him as leader -- the only vote he did not receive being his own. I have
read some of his personal information. He is interested in politics since he
was teenager. He always learns about politics and that would be a good thing
that he use what he has learnt for developing country. As he said, I have
travelled to 18 provinces to meet locals and listened to their problems. I
promise that Future Forward will travel to all 77 provinces to ensure we spread
our message as widely as possible. It is
necessary that we have to pay attention in every region in Thailand because to
develop country we should focus on every provinces not only Bangkok, the
capital city.
Another
important person of the Future Forward Party is Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, Thammasat University
law lecturer, another co-founder, was appointed secretary-general. He is the
one of the core and the main supporter of this party. He decided to quit his
work as law lecturer and became a politician because his reason that he want to
let Thais out of dictator.
Moreover, the another reason that
this party is interesting is the members are from different fields of work. Nalutporn
Krairisksh, a disabled journalist and founder of the Thisable.me news website
about disabled people. Kath Khangpiboon, a trans lecturer and LGBT rights
activist. Alisa Bindusa, a Muslim trans and environmental activist. Kritthanan
Ditthabanjong, a 20-year-old HIV activist. I like the way that the party gather
the members from several fields in the party. Absolutely, there will be
equality in Thai social in many ways. Disabled people, the LGBT, the Muslims,
and HIV infected should be accepted by other people. They also should be
treated like normal person. I believe that if this group of people has a chance
to express their feeling and their thought by the members of the politician
party I mentioned above will be the representative, people may be more interested
and change their opinion.
So, I mean that the old political
party is not that bad, but I want Thai people open their mind to the new thing.
Having many political parties is also being an advantage because it will be our
opportunity to study the pros and cons of each party. Sometimes, the problems
in our country cannot be always solved by expert.
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My reflection to this work :
The reason why I choose this news to write an
essay because I am interested in the new political party name “Future Forward
Party”. After the government declared that there will be an election next year,
this party attracts me because it was a new party which include the leader of
many organizations that place an importance on human right. Moreover, to do this
work made me know more about the party. It’s important to know the information
of the parties before we vote.
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