[Podborodok]

After i posted part two of the interview with the PAD guy, he called me back to explain that i had mis-quoted him on the 70% elect thing. He explained that it had only been an idea proposed on the PAD stage, but had not been decided to implement it in any future govt.

I wouldn't therefore, go into too much of a frenzy about this 70% thing as it was only a possible 'idea' (according to him anyway!)

Below is a link to an excellent page on PAD's New Policies:

http://www.prachatai.com/english/pri...ion.php?id=692

Yes, I read elsewhere that the "70%" is just a starting point and could be anywhere form 0-100%.

What does "political officeholders" mean? If I read it in a local newspaper I would assume it was talking about civil servants (people who work for the government). In the context of the articles I have read it as meaning Members of Parliament. In the original Thai what does that phrase mean?

The English Wikipedia "Politics of Thailand" page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politic...nt_of_Thailand) says that members of the cabinet do not have to be Members of Parliament. Interesting concept. Does this cause conflict, I can imagine people may not like some people in power who were not elected?