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Article: Status quo likely to persist in Thailand: Chavalit, while shifty, is an ally of the U.S.(World)(Briefing/Pacific Rim)(News Analysis)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- November 22, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The election of former army chief Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as prime minister of Thailand is a sign that the old guard of moderately corrupt military and political leaders continues to control the Southeast Asian economic tiger.
The main opposition political party - former Prime Minister Chuan Leepkai's Democrats - came in a close second but was buried when discredited politicians from the former government joined the victorious New Aspiration Party's (NAP) coalition.
The Democrats refused to engage in vote-buying and intimidation, while the other political parties, including Mr. Chavalit's NAP, were accused of widespread violence during the campaign, ...