Good news and bizarre irony

One piece of potentially good news has come out of the election campaign. Yet there’s also bizarre claims.

To the possibility of some good: The Nation reports that Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader and prime ministerial candidate of the People’s Party, has responded on political prisoners during a campaign speech:

Natthaphong

During the speech, someone in the audience shouted: “Free all political prisoners.” Natthaphong responded: “It’s in my heart. If I have power, I will definitely do it — I mean political prisoners, I will definitely do it.”

In royalist Thailand, that’s a very brave declaration, and even if elected, it will agitate the ultra-royalists.

The campaign has also seen plenty of bizarre stuff. Leaving aside simply bonkers statements about extraterrestrial marriage by micro-party candidates, the most eye-opening statement comes from the reasonably well-known Paveena Hongsakul.

She’s hitched her political wagon to the gangster Kla Tham Party, led by convicted heroin trafficker Thammanat Prompao. In a report at the Bangkok Post, Paveena has called for firm policies tackling Thailand’s drugs problem. She added:

Thammanat from Pavin’s FB page

“We need a clear and systematic approach that separates dealers from users. Traffickers must face strict and serious prosecution, while users should be given genuine opportunities for long-term rehabilitation.”

We assume she’s serious and prepared to ignore her own party’s gangster background.

Apparently, there was not a single blink about the irony of this political blindness or the irony involved.

Nor did the Bangkok Post comment on such a mad statement.