タイ政権交代 安定化へ国民和解の実現を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 8, 2011)
Thais should welcome chance for reconciliation
タイ政権交代　安定化へ国民和解の実現を（7月7日付・読売社説）

Recent developments in Thailand present an opportunity to end the antagonism and disorder that have hitherto divided the country and to realize national reconciliation. Thailand should take this opportunity.
　タイ国内を二分した対立と騒乱に終止符を打ち国民和解を実現する契機とすべきだろう。

The Puea Thai (For Thais) party, with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sister Yingluck Shinawatra as its candidate for prime minister, won a majority of the votes in the latest general election.
　先の総選挙でタクシン元首相の妹、インラック氏を首相候補とした「タイ貢献党」が過半数を制して勝利した。

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva conceded his Democrat Party's defeat and made clear his intention to resign as party leader.
　民主党のアピシット首相は敗北を認め、党首辞任を表明した。

Puea Thai has formed a coalition with four other parties, excluding the Democrat Party, with Yingluck certain to be appointed as the country's first female prime minister shortly by a new parliament.
　貢献党は民主党以外の４党と連立を組むことになり、インラック氏が近く新国会でタイ初の女性首相に就任するのは確実だ。

Yingluck is a businesswoman and political novice.
　インラック氏は実業家出身で、政治経験がない。

She calls herself Thaksin's "clone," but whether she shares his political ability is unknown.
「兄のクローン」と表現しているが、政治手腕は未知数だ。

In her election campaign, she advocated national reconciliation.
公約に国民和解を掲げた。

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Thaksin should stay away

We hope the new prime minister will try to achieve political stability, while not following Thaksin's style, which was criticized for heavy-handed methods and money politics.
強権と金権体質で批判された元首相の手法は踏襲せず、政治の安定を図ってほしい。

The focal issue for the time being will be whether or not Thaksin, who is in self-imposed exile abroad, will return home for a political comeback.
　当面の焦点は海外亡命中の元首相が復権を狙って帰国するかどうかだ。

The former prime minister currently has a two-year jail term for corruption hanging over him.
Should he return to Thailand under amnesty, it will almost inevitably lead the country into turmoil.
汚職罪で禁錮２年の刑が確定している元首相が恩赦で帰国すれば、混乱は避けられまい。

While in office, the former prime minister moved ahead with various reforms, including efforts to mitigate poverty and to reorganize government ministries and agencies.
　元首相は在任中、貧困軽減や省庁再編などの改革を進めた。

But when he was questioned over alleged tax evasion by a relative, he dissolved the House of Representatives. だが、一族の脱税疑惑を追及されるや、下院を電撃解散した。

The abrupt dissolution caused resentment among middle-class urbanites and groups with interests in the status quo, such as financial combines, bureaucrats and the military. All of this led to a coup d'etat in 2006.
これに都市の中間層や、財閥、官僚、軍など既得権益層が反発し、２００６年のクーデターに至った。

This time, the country's military has indicated it will respect the outcome of the latest election.
　軍は今回、選挙結果を受け入れる方針を示した。

They should not repeat their intervention in politics.
政治介入を繰り返してはならない。

Even during Abhisit's 2-1/2-year administration, the country's turmoil continued.
　２年半余りのアピシット政権時代も混乱は続いた。

Last year, a large number of people were killed or wounded in clashes between the military and pro-Thaksin protesters who had occupied part of downtown Bangkok.
昨年はタクシン派によるバンコク占拠事件で多数の死傷者が出た。

There has been growing public disappointment with Abhisit over his lack of leadership for failing to bring the turmoil swiftly under control, and also over price increases.
騒乱を早期に収拾できなかった指導力不足に対する国民の失望感や、物価上昇への不満が強まっていた。

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Deep divisions persist

The victorious Puea Thai has garnered support from poor farmers and low-income city dwellers.
　勝利した貢献党は、貧しい農民や都市の低所得者層から支持を集めた。

Divisions between it and the interests who support the Democrat Party are becoming ever more entrenched.
しかし、民主党を支える既得権益層との分断は、一段と固定化しつつある。

Whether or not these anti-Thaksin forces respond favorably to calls for national reconciliation will be key to the stability of Thailand.
　これら反タクシン勢力が今後、国民和解に応えるかが、タイ安定化の重要なカギとなる。

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has served as a mediator at times of national crisis, is now 83 years old and is in poor health.
　国難に際し、調停役を演じて来たプミポン国王も８３歳と高齢で、健康問題を抱えている。

Democracy in the kingdom is now at a major transitional stage.
タイ民主主義は大きな転換期にある。

Thousands of Japanese companies and local affiliates are operating in the country, with Japan's investments representing the largest share of foreign capital.
　タイには数千規模の日系企業が進出しており、投資額も日本が最も多い。

The rising wages of workers have become the biggest issue for the Japanese companies.
最大の課題となっているのは上昇する労働賃金だ。

Puea Thai pledged during the election campaign that it will drastically raise the minimum wage across the country. 　貢献党は最低賃金を全国的に大きく引き上げると公約した。

Japanese companies and their affiliates may thus have a harder time in securing workers.
日系企業は労働者の調達に、ますます苦労するおそれがある。

Efforts to legally hire workers coming from such neighboring countries as Laos and Cambodia have made little progress due to restrictions imposed by the Thai government.
　ラオスやカンボジアなど周辺国からの合法的な労働者の雇用はタイ政府の規制でなかなか進まない。

We hope the new administration will realize an improvement in the country's labor market, including the relaxation of regulations.
規制緩和を含む労働市場の改善も次期政権には望みたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7, 2011)
（2011年7月7日01時30分 読売新聞）