|
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Not even the autism of Thaksin Shiniwatra
By Romy Sabaldan
Davao Beat
GIVING more credence to the gathering of Asean leaders is Russian president Vladimir Putin's presence in the Asean plus Russia meet of the best of the best in the Southeast Asian region recently in Malaysia.
Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who went there fresh from a stirring success as host for the third time and over-all champion for the first time of the 23rd South East Asian (SEA) Games represented the Philippines.
Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shiniwatra, who sent the biggest delegation next to host country Philippines in the 23rd SEA Games, of course was present being a major Asean player in sports, trade, tourism and commerce.
There was nary a mention in the Kuala Lumpur meet on Thaksin's un-sportsmanlike statement of alleged government rigging on the results, which is hurting the integrity of the 46-year-old peninsular games.
The issue is left hanging and the Malayan people in the whole Asean community might think that the only honest nation in the region is Thailand considering that it was the only country that cried foul out of the 11 nations that included Timor Leste for the first time.
Although our boxers have completely outclassed the Thai tigers in the Bacolod side of the games, Thaksin's deputies have countered with an addendum of a jab that Thailand will be as fair and honest as the games go back to where the original South East Asian Peninsular Games took its roots.
The issue remains unsolved until the Thai Prime Minister himself ends his silence and not as cowardice in front of President Arroyo.
If I have my way, the issue must first of all be cleared before we can promised ourselves to defend the title by sending one whole RP delegation to the 2007 SEA Games scheduled to be hosted next in the Thai territory itself.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin Shiniwatra can only offer a wry, teasing smile in the different photo ops with the leaders in the Asean plus Russia Forum in Kuala Lumpur.
The issue cannot be solved with a wry smile, not even by Thaksin Shiniwatra's face that looks like the American Mr. Bean with the complimentary autistic smile that is abnormal as his uncalled for statement.
The statement that makes us wonder whether he was just joking or just trying to appease a Thai Princess who was badly beaten in badminton or it could be that the Thai Prime Minister is really of the opinion that the Thais now are the new Asean android athletes who Shiniwatra believes is unbeatable, not even if they are blindfolded.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 22, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
