Research companies who provide public reports in Thailand are keeping a close look at their front (and back) doors today for government minders. ABAC POLL, an Assumption University polling unit whose polls on political and social topics are regularly cited by Thai and international newspapers have been "visited by uniformed and plainclothes offices from the police and the military to check on our information and to say their bosses wanted to know how they operate...". according to Thewin Khoniawklang, chief of Abac Poll's social and political survey division.

It seems that Thai coppers and the military have suddenly become research methodology experts.

Abac survey results have shown increasing dissatisfaction with the performance of various government ministers, and declining support for Thailand's ruling Thaksin government on several occasions following a landslide victory in the elections. The Thaksin government's Bureau of University Affairs recently expressed "scepticism" about research methodology. According to Thewin, "...the Bureau of University Affairs has explicitly tried to discredit any Abac Poll surveys to please those in Cabinet..."

Maybe PM Thaksin does not like the results (which is not uncommon for even clients of research after-all). Far beyond us to suggest that Thaksin is behind this "peer review" exercise, but it is very consistent with his combative style in face of criticism in politics to denigrate the source rather the information. Thaksin tends to offer withering criticism for any independent NGO's, constitutional bodies, academics or economists who dare to question his policies.

Abac we are sure, will be ensuring their research methods are valid and reliable, and subject to review and general standards of repeatability by other market research professionals. That, surely is enough. If it's not, they should re-train our field researchers to be soldiers and coppers. After all.. it pays better and you can end up being a Prime Minister...