Bangkok (AFP) – Betrayal is a beverage best served chilled in Thailand, as an innocuous chocolate-mint iced concoction takes the limelight — an unlikely symbol of the kingdom’s deep political divisions following May’s election.
Issued on: 03/08/2023 – 05:04
3 min
The country is deadlocked after the Move Forward Party (MFP), buoyed to victory by promises to end nearly a decade of army-backed rule, failed to get its reformist candidate elected PM, forcing it to bow out and allow coalition partner Pheu Thai to try to form a government.
But only last week Pheu Thai leaders were seen in talks with pro-military party figures, with an image of them toasting iced chocolate-mint drinks going viral.
Local media immediately dubbed it a “friend-betraying beverage” and some cafes and shops announced boycotts, even as interest in the drink soared.
Devotees excitedly snapped pictures of the goopy green concoction at the ThinkLab cafe in Pheu Thai’s Bangkok headquarters.
Expertly drizzling chocolate over the minty liquid before topping it off with whipped cream, barista Pob Rujikiatkhachorn said the 90 baht ($2.60) drink had never been so popular.
“It’s our best-selling item since it became the talk of the town on social media,” he told AFP.
He was initially surprised by the drink’s popularity but thanked the politicians for his increased sales, saying he has sold roughly 150 a day.
“In the end, it’s just a delicious drink that attracts a lot of customers and spreads happiness.”
‘Hurt your friend’
MFP supporters might disagree.
In the wake of the viral image, several cafes have joined a mint-choc boycott, removing it from the menu and describing it as a “hurt-your-friend” drink.
“I was suspicious of Pheu Thai when I saw that photo. Why did they hold talks with them?” Sasichom Krudhnark Pongphrom, who owns a cafe in Samut Songkhram, southwest of Bangkok, told AFP.
The 42-year-old, wearing MFP’s signature orange colours, said she had removed the beverage from the menu.
“I don’t have anything against the choc-mint drink, but I just wanted to show that I stand by the pro-democracy side of politics,” she said.
Thai politics has a long history of embracing colour coding.
About 10-15 years ago the country was deeply split between royalist “Yellow Shirts” and “Red Shirts” who supported Thaksin Shinawatra, founder of Pheu Thai’s forerunner party.
Some critics have condemned the moves by the junta-appointed senate to block MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid for prime minister.
FREDERICTON – A look at David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick:
Born: Oct. 28, 1956.
Early years: Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, he spent about three decades as an environmental advocate.
Education: A trained biologist, he graduated with a bachelor of science from McGill University in Montreal in 1978.
Family: He and his wife Janice Harvey have two daughters, Caroline and Laura.
Before politics: Worked as an environmental educator, organizer, activist and manager for 33 years, mainly with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
Politics: Joined the Green Party of Canada in May 2006 and was elected leader of the New Brunswick Green Party in September 2012. Won a seat in the legislature in 2014 — a first for the province’s Greens.
Quote: “It was despicable. He’s clearly decided to take the low road in this campaign, to adopt some Trump-lite fearmongering.” — David Coon on Sept. 12, 2024, reacting to Blaine Higgs’s claim that the federal government had decided to send 4,600 asylum seekers to New Brunswick.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
FREDERICTON – A look at Blaine Higgs, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.
Born: March 1, 1954.
Early years: The son of a customs officer, he grew up in Forest City, N.B., near the Canada-U.S. border.
Education: Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1977.
Family: Married his high-school sweetheart, Marcia, and settled in Saint John, N.B., where they had four daughters: Lindsey, Laura, Sarah and Rachel.
Before politics: Hired by Irving Oil a week after he graduated from university and was eventually promoted to director of distribution. Worked for 33 years at the company.
Politics: Elected to the legislature in 2010 and later served as finance minister under former Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward. Elected Tory leader in 2016 and has been premier since 2018.
Quote: “I’ve always felt parents should play the main role in raising children. No one is denying gender diversity is real. But we need to figure out how to manage it.” — Blaine Higgs in a year-end interview in 2023, explaining changes to school policies about gender identity.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.
The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.
The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.
Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.
Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.
The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
