Thailand Almost Moved Forward

Recording on a smartphone
Taking a picture of her children
Playing music for “Donation for Education“
Thumbs up – city bike riders

Having lived and worked in Thailand for 27 years, 1988- 2015, I was elated when reading in the Online Bangkok Post of this year’s May 14 election results, the biggest winner was the brand new Move Forward Party. Like its name, the MFP wanted to start right away with moving Thailand forward but the country’s old guard reared its ugly head.

View from the World Trade Center – Bangkok
Singaporean TWG tea – and pastries, at the Emporium – Bangkok
Inside the World Trade Center – Bangkok
Making merit – a Buddhist tradition

The Move Forward Party, lead by 43-year old Pita Limjaroenrat, is a social democratic left-wing party that wants to sweep clean the old and outdated Thai Parliament dominated by the military and install fresh ideals, like a new and democratic constitution, doing away with business monopolies, reforming the military and the police, and more.

Music in the street – Bangkok
Neighborhood Basket ball – Bangkok
Waiting for ferries at the Chao Phraya river – Bangkok
Lotus in bud

The hot ‘sweet’ potato in the Move Forward Party’s program is its intention to amend the lese-majeste law (royal insult law) so it cannot be used as a political tool to get rid of individuals, jailing them for up to 15 years. A hot potato because it’s an issue deemed untouchable in Thai politics. Hence, MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat has come under the biased scrutiny of the conservatives who want to get rid of this Democrat.

Street vendor selling Lotus flowers
Reclining Buddha – Wat Po, Bangkok
Visitors at the Reclining Buddha
Buy a bird and set it free for making your merit – at the Erawan Shrine – Bangkok

In 2014, when the military seized power in a coup, I thought it was time for me to leave Thailand behind me. In those 27 years I have seen many governments come and go and most being unreliable and corrupt. While the younger generations are a living part of the rest of the world, many study abroad, the usual political scene remains as inert as ever.

A giant Yaksha at Wat Arun – Bangkok
Praying at the Erawan Shrine – Bangkok
A Buddha statue in the making
Buddha statue behind flowers

1OO Days after the May 14 general election, Thailand has chosen a new Prime Minster with a questionable coalition and the Move Forward Party in the Opposition. Not what the voters voted for. The biggest winner is still the Move Forward Party for its historic breakthrough in Thai politics, it has won the hearts of 14.1 million Thais and growing. It is only a matter of time and resilient Thailand will move forward decisively.

Bangkok University International Affairs Office – Left: my 4th Director Ratanasuda, Sirima, Tipa, Nisachol, Ravipa, Krid, and myself on a Sunday office outing waiting for the van
Bangkok University International Affairs Office – My 5th director, Panadda: second from right L-R: Tipa, Natha-orn, Nisachol, Ravipa, Sirima, and Krid, at Summer Palace in Cha-am
Happy Retirement – my colleague Tipa and myself on our retirement day 28 May 2015
Wat Phra Kaew – The Temple of the Emerald Buddha – Bangkok

All photos taken between December 2013 and June 2015

Photos Copyright © 2019-2023 August Timmermans – All Rights Reserved