Introduction

The main political strategies of the coalition government led by the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) during the first two years of the Thaksin administration (2001–2002) have evidently included both the neutralization of domestic political challenges and the consolidation of Thaksin's political power base within the Thai polity. Relying on his party's multi-pronged populist policies and initiatives, Thaksin's determination to dominate Thai politics has remained unabated, and unchallenged by the opposition. He openly declared that his TRT ruling party will remain in power for the next twenty years. The year 2003 provided him with golden opportunities to flex his political muscle through grandiose political initiatives both at home and abroad. He launched wars on the chronic problems of drugs, terrorism, and poverty. The implementation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) concept at both the provincial governorship and ambassadorship levels, and the initiative for the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) served his political objectives. Thaksin was praised by some circles as the most visionary leader in Southeast Asia, even though it was too early to come to such a conclusion. Others have contended, however, that only fortuitous circumstances have made Thaksin a regional leader.

Thaksin and Domestic Politics: Thinking the Unthinkable

Throughout 2003, the Thaksin government was preoccupied with new domestic social and political agendas. His confidence bolstered by the success of his previous populist policies like the rural debt moratorium, the revolving village fund, and the 30-baht healthcare system (per hospital visit), Thaksin's slogan “Think Anew and Act Anew” was again put into practice by his declaration of wars on drugs, poverty, shanty towns, and illiteracy. On the surface, the Thai public generally showed support for ridding society of these social problems. What remained a matter of great concern, however, was how the state authorities tackled these problems. Moreover, the rigid time-frame set to win these “holy wars” raised the eyebrows of almost every-one in Thai society.