Article Abstract:
Young, middle-class Thais see professionals such as opposition parliamentarian Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda, as the best people to resolve Thailand's financial crisis. Many Thais, fearing that political in-fighting could drag the country further into economic ruin, are calling for a broad coalition government that would give Harvard-educated Tarrin and his fellows responsibility for economic policy. However, traditionalist prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who faces a vote of no-confidence in September 1997, remains intransigent and shows no sign of resigning.
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Article Abstract:
Thailand has made considerable political progress since 1976, when many students at Bangkok's Thammasat University were killed as they clashed with paramilitary forces and right-wing vigilantes. However, some observers claim that there is still a strong threat to political stability in Thailand in the form of the growing gap between rich and poor. Thailand no longer has a military government, but it is lacking a motivated student movement along the lines of that which was crushed in 1976.
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Article Abstract:
Thailand doctor Prawese Wasi heads a political reform movement of citizens with strong backing from professionals and academics in Bangkok. He wants to see a panel of 15 experts established to draw up a new constitution, in the hope of heading off violence generated by public anger. Such an overhaul would create more checks and balances, perhaps by separating executive and legislative powers. Thailand suffers from a recurring pattern of corrupt civilian govts broken up by military coups.
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