คลิป How Thai tycoon Thaksin bought his way to power

Buying The Way To Power - Thai telecommunications businessman is accused of corruption and vote-buying in an attempt to become the next Prime Minister.

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9 January 2001

We tell the story of the billionaire who bought the top job.
His landslide victory in last year's election followed a lavish campaign and proven vote-buying.

Thaksin Shinawtra, whose Thai Rak Thai party won an unprecedented majority in Saturday's elections, now faces allegations of vote-buying. In a secretly filmed conversation, we hear how villagers were offered money in exchange for their ID cards and signing up for Thaksin's new party. Turn up for a political rally and get a free T-shirt - and a 100 Baht note thrown in as a sweetener... Enough to feed an average family for a few days. For months the richest man in Thailand waged a lavish campaign featuring fireworks and laser shows. But Thaksin's pyrotechnic pitch for the Prime Ministership could blow up in his face. He is also accused of breaching Thailand's new constitution by stashing millions of dollars behind the names of his household staff. "If found guilty he will be banned from any political position for five years", says a Counter Corruption official. We reveal a system of ingrained corruption where the media and the police are bought off. But with the stock market rallying, could Thaksin's financial acumen assure a turnaround in the Thai economy?

Produced by ABC Australia. Ref - 899

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