A woman for governor?
Photo from left to right: (1) Independent candidate Leena Jangjanya, No 7, greets passers-by while campaigning for votes in the Pratunam area. THITI WANAMONTHA (2) Vachiraporn Aryuyuen, candidate No 14, who is standing for the Public party, makes a campaign speech at Chatuchak market. THITI WANNAMONTHA (3) Independent Thoranee Ritheethammarong, No 12, campaigns at the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women in Don Muang district.
The women covered in the story below are all far down in the polls that have been released so far. As you read the story, see if you can find anything about them that might cause you to change your mind and vote for one of them – assuming you have not already decided to do so. Can you think of any other woman that you would like to see campaigning for election?
candidate – a person who is trying to win an elected position ผู้ลงสมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
passers-by – people who are walking past a place on their way to somewhere else ผู้สัญจรไปมา
campaign – a series of things that a politician or political party does to try to win an election การรณรงค์
poll – a survey in which people are asked questions about things, such as who they plan to vote for in an election การสำรวจความคิดเห็นของประชาชน
release – (of information) to make known to the public ที่แถลงออกมา
assuming – believing that something is true, even though no one has told you คิดว่าเป็นจริง ยอมรับว่าเป็นดังนั้น
Three women with eyes for the top job
Unknown says she has a mandate from heavenPENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
KULTIDA SAMABUDDHI
Of the 16 candidates running for Bangkok governor on Oct 5, only three are women. But that is still higher than the last city election, when there were only two.
Pavena Hongsakula and Leena Jangjanja were the only women among the 22 candidates who ran for governor in 2004.
Ms Pavena came closer than any other woman has yet come to getting the city’s top job, winning almost 620,000 votes and coming in second to Apirak Kosayodhin, who won the election with over 900,000 votes.
It is still anyone’s guess who will be the first female governor of Bangkok, or when. But Leena Jangjanja (candidate No 7), Vachiraporn Aryuyuen (No 14) and Thoranee Rittheethammarong (No 12) are all confident they will be the one.
Of the three, Ms Leena is apparently the most popular. Not only because of her eye-catching costumes, heavy makeup and outspoken character, but also because she is not a new face.
The owner of a beauty products business and a law firm, she stood in the 2004 Bangkok governor election — she was disqualified — and the 2006 senate election — she failed.
She says putting women in the top jobs would change Thai politics for the better, and that’s why she will continue to stand in elections until she is elected or runs out of money.
‘‘Women generally have more of a conscience than men. Our morals are higher,’’ said the mother of two.
Ms Vachiraporn, at 39, is also not new to politics.
She contested the 2006 general election under the Pracharaj party’s banner, but lost. She later set up the Public party, which, she says, is a haven for new-blood politicians.
A finishing school for young women, a college to train young gentlemen, a playground for young street racers, a trainline running underneath Saen Saep canal, and a policy to ‘‘Plien sanam rob pen sanam rak’’ (change Bangkok from a political battleground to a love ground), are among her flagship policies.
‘‘I’m not selling dreams. These ideas are practical. Vote for me and I’ll show you [they are for real],’’ said Ms Vachiraporn, who is running as a candidate for the Public party.
With bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University, Ms Vachiraporn is confident she is the right person to succeed Mr Apirak. She is also studying for a PhD in the same field.
‘‘A female governor will accomplish what has been missing from the male governors’ administrations,’’ she said.
Women see things from a different angle and fix problems in a way that men would not think of, she added.
mandate – the authority to rule or take power คำสั่ง
it is anyone’s guess – no one knows ไม่มีใครรู้ได้
confident – certain that something will happen; believing in your own abilities มั่นใจ
apparently – seeming to be true, but not for certain ดูเหมือนว่า
outspoken – stating your opinions honestly, even if other people do not like it พูดจาขวานผ่าซาก
firm – a business or company บริษัท
disqualified – not allowed to do something because of having done something wrong ไม่มีคุณสมบัติที่เหมาะสม
stand – to compete, especially in an election ลงสมัครแข่งขัน
conscience – the ideas and feelings you have that tell you whether something your are doing is right or wrong ความรู้สึกผิดชอบชั่วดี
morals – principles of right or wrong behaviour that are generally accepted by a society ศึลธรรม
contest – to compete for a job or for success in a competition การแข่งขันชิงชัย
under the party’s banner – as a representative of the party ลงสมัครในนามของพรรค
haven – a place where people or animals can feel safe and happy ที่หลบภัย ที่พักพิง
flagship – the biggest, most important, or best thing in a group of things, in this case, policies ประเด็นสำคัญที่สุด
practical – involving or relating to real situations or events ที่ได้ผลจริง ที่นำมาปฏิบัติได้จริง
succeed – to replace someone in a job รับตำแหน่งต่อจาก
‘‘I am running because a ‘voice from above’ told me to do so,’’ Ms Thoranee said during candidate registration at City Hall earlier this month.
If she won, she would focus on creating a new politics and bring corrupt people to justice.
Ms Thoranee said she will not run an election campaign, since that was unnecessary.
‘‘If heaven wants me to win, then I’ll win,’’ she said.
Ms Thoranee has a bachelor’s and master’s in political science from Chulalongkorn University, and a master’s degree in management from Boston State College in the United States.
She is a founder of the Kes Amarin Foundation, working on the preservation of Thai culture and disseminating information about Thai traditional music.
Pasakorn Intoo-man, an academic specialising in gender studies, says the three female candidates have failed to come up with any policies that differentiate them from their male competitors for the job.
‘‘None of them can explain how they would apply a woman’s way of thinking to running City Hall and solving the city’s problems,’’ he said.
Mr Pasakorn said he disagreed with Ms Leena’s remark that women tend to commit fewer bad deeds than men.
‘‘Good or bad does not depend on gender,’’ he said. ‘‘And it’s not important what gender our new city governor is. Bangkok needs a governor who can see that most problems were generated by patriarchy and quickly solve them.’’
founder – someone who starts an organisation, school, company, etc. ผู้ก่อตั้ง
preservation – the process of working to protect something valuable so that it is not damaged or destroyed สงวนไว้ รักษาไว้
disseminating – making something such as information or knowledge available to the public เผยแพร่
gender – the fact of being male or female เพศ
gender studies – the study of the roles of males and females in society การศึกษาบทบาทของชายและหญิงในสังคม
differentiate – to see or show a difference between things จำแนกให้เห็นความแตกต่าง
deeds – actions การกระทำ
patriarchy – a society, system or organisation in which men have all or most of the power and influence (opposite of matriarchy) ระบบการปกครองแบบพ่อปกครองลูก
