Thai ex-PM Yingluck defies army with selfie and smiles tour

AFP, PHRAE, Thailand: On a “fighting with smiles” tour by ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra, selfies and symbols are the weapons of choice, showing adoring fans her family are still in Thailand’s treacherous political game—despite being hemmed in by the junta.
The Thai military has banned all political campaigning and Yingluck’s trips to the north and northeast are ostensibly billed as cultural tours to celebrate reaching five million Facebook fans.
But in a very Thai take on politics, each act on her tour is suffused with meaning, from ringing the “Bell of Freedom” at a Buddhist temple to speaking in the local dialect.
And the party faithful are lapping it up.
In Phrae, a lush, mountainous province in the Thai north a few hundred kilometres from the Shinawatra clan’s hometown, Yingluck was mobbed by legions of selfie-taking fans at every stop on Saturday—many wearing the ‘Red Shirts’ synonomous with her family.
There were tears, cheers and red roses given by supporters, many of whom ascribed their affection to Yingluck’s feminine qualities in a land where politics is broadly dominated by blustering middle-aged men.
“She’s beautiful and she has a good heart. I’m so happy to see her, hug her and take photos with her,” said Siriporn Thammawongsa, 59, at a lunch stop.
“I love how she managed the country as prime minister. If she can run the country again, it will go a long way,” she added.
But that is not on the cards anytime soon.
Yingluck was retroactively impeached after the May 22, 2014, coup and is banned from politics for five years. She could be jailed for a decade if an ongoing negligence trial over a costly rice subsidy policy that funnelled cash to the Shinawatra’s poor farming base rules against her.
A new junta-scripted constitution will also straitjacket any politicians that emerge from future elections. It is going before the Thai public in an August 7 referendum, although campaigning against it is banned in the bitterly divided country.
In that context Yingluck’s “yim su” tour—or fighting with smiles, as her aides dub it—carries a message of defiance to the hard-pressed northern portion of the country.
Not that she can admit it.
“No, this not a political moment,” the ex-premier told reporters after a blitz of photos with the party faithful at an ornate rural temple.

Thai ex-PM Yingluck defies army with selfie and smiles tour

AFP, PHRAE, Thailand: On a fighting with smiles tour by ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra, selfies and symbols are the weapons of choice, showing adoring fans her family are still in Thailands treacherous political gamedespite being hemmed in by the junta. The Thai military has banned all political campaigning and Yinglucks trips to the north and northeast are ostensibly billed as cultural tours to celebrate reaching five million Facebook fans. But in a very Thai take on politics, each act on her tour is suffused with meaning, from ringing the Bell of Freedom at a Buddhist temple to speaking in the local dialect. And the party faithful are lapping it up. In Phrae, a lush, mountainous province in the Thai north a few hundred kilometres from the Shinawatra clans hometown, Yingluck was mobbed by legions of selfie-taking fans at every stop on Saturdaymany wearing the Red Shirts synonomous with her family. There were tears, cheers and red roses given by supporters, many of whom ascribed their affection to Yinglucks feminine qualities in a land where politics is broadly dominated by blustering middle-aged men. Shes beautiful and she has a good heart. Im so happy to see her, hug her and take photos with her, said Siriporn Thammawongsa, 59, at a lunch stop. I love how she managed the country as prime minister. If she can run the country again, it will go a long way, she added. But that is not on the cards anytime soon. Yingluck was retroactively impeached after the May 22, 2014, coup and is banned from politics for five years. She could be jailed for a decade if an ongoing negligence trial over a costly rice subsidy policy that funnelled cash to the Shinawatras poor farming base rules against her. A new junta-scripted constitution will also straitjacket any politicians that emerge from future elections. It is going before the Thai public in an August 7 referendum, although campaigning against it is banned in the bitterly divided country. In that context Yinglucks yim su touror fighting with smiles, as her aides dub itcarries a message of defiance to the hard-pressed northern portion of the country. Not that she can admit it. No, this not a political moment, the ex-premier told reporters after a blitz of photos with the party faithful at an ornate rural temple.