First Hmong MP in Thailand

ณัฐพล สืบศักดิ์วงศ์

ณัฐพล สืบศักดิ์วงศ์ "Nuj Nplhaib" yog thawj tug Hmoob Thaib raug xaiv los ua nom sawv cev pej xeem nrog pab nom Future Forward - Hmong and Politics Source: Hmong and Politics

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Nattaphone Seupsakvong (ณัฐพล สืบศักดิ์วงศ์) aka "Nuj Nplhaib" is the first Hmong member of parliament elected to Thai parliament with Future Forward Party.


Nattaphon Seupsakvong was elected Member of Parliament with Future Forward surprised Hmong communities across the world. 

It is the first time in history that Hmong community in Thailand is taking a more active role in Thai politics after last year historical win for Hmong US senators from the US mid-term election.

Most Hmong candidates are known to be with Prachachart Party and the Local Power Party (Phalang Thongthin) which have high hope however end up fruitless.

Mr. Seupsakvong said during Future Forward Party's campaign that:
"I have grown up during the time that communist ideology was still strong in Thailand. Fighting and bloodshed were ongoing and we live our lives in a stricken situation. Thai people are being taught since they were young to believe that Thai ethnics and minorities are those who chop down trees from the forests and doing illegal drug trafficking. But in reality, it is those amenable big corporations and those unanswerable people in cities that are the real culprit. Minorities were seen as trouble makers-comparing to rubbish bins where everything dirty is thrown in. We will not ask other officials to represent, to help, to deal or to refer our problems in parliament on our behalf anymore. I will represent all of you and deal with our problem directly in parliament. No more future of the past but the new true future that is awaiting us, and I know that the party with a triangle symbol, the Future Forward can do just that."
After 2014 that Thai military has launched a coup d'etat to overthrow its civil government. It then established itself as the government ruling Thailand ever since, who has promised that there will be a democratic election.

During its administration, legislations are enacted, constitutions amended. Article 44 was being implemented to restrict and to crack down gathering, freedom of speech and social unrest. As a result,  many Thai protesters were either arrested or jailed, where many Western countries maintained it is undemocratic processes. However, the Thai junta government sees it as an effective option to put on hold to Thai political turmoils, therefore peace, stability and security and prosperity sustained.

Listen more to some of the world's endangered alphabets including Phahauh Hmong here:

After the official election on the 24 March 2019, the first time in 5 years after a couple of elections was postponed, Thai citizen finally has the rights to vote once again. 

Both major parties like the Phalang Pracharat and Pheu Thai have claimed victory on their own terms. While Prayut Chan-Ocha says his party has won a more popular vote, therefore, he should form Thai new government, the Pheu Thai, on the other hand, claims the party with a majority of seat won should be respected. 

Ms Sudarat Keyuraphan, the leader of Pheu Thai said that the new constitution junta government amended allows senate to a popular vote is questionable and unfair. 

Dr Thaksin Chinawatra, former Thai Prime Minister who says he doesn't want himself to involve with Thai internal political affairs isn't shy away to tell the New York Times that:
''whether the junta government allows pro-democracy parties to form the new government or not, it will still have influence over them. It has no shame and it will still want to do everything it can to stay in power. He has also accused the junta leaders and the election commission (EC) of manipulating the vote for their own political gain,'' reported Bangkok Post.
However, Prayut Chan-Ocha administration says, the popular vote has indicated Thai citizen's wishes, therefore, his party (Phalang Pracharat) should be the legitimated party to form the new government.

Future Forward is the new hope for Thai new generation who wants an end to the junta government and put Thailand to the international stage, has also gained its ground. Prachachart has lost some of its former seats to Phalang Pracharat.

Out of 750 seats in both houses, 500 of lower house seats are elected and 250 are unelected seats in the Senate. Therefore for a member of parliament candidate of a party to win, he/she must get an addition of almost 130 votes from the Senate according to Bangkok Post.

Last Wednesday (27.03.2019), 7 pro-democracy parties have formed a coalition party expecting to get over 500 seats to stop junta government from forming a new government. They claimed it will have a huge impact on Thai people, its development and its future if the junta gets its way. However, EC indicates that by 09 May, the election results should be publicly published.

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