Scamper

What a welcome development. And long, long overdue.

The pathological need for Thaksin to remain in the limelight at all costs has not abated. And the messages have now become jarringly schizophrenic. Not only does he want to set up a government in exile - he sends his best wishes. He seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that it all started with his monumentally selfish amnesty bill. And then there's this -

" He urged the NCPO to treat all sides fairly and respect the human rights as well as basing its actions on the international practice and rule of law. "

This from Thaksin ? How many people apart from Thaksin found on Wikipedia have half of their biography devoted to scandal, human rights abuses and litigation ? And he has the temerity to release a statement like this ? He's bizarrely out of step with reality, and more sadly - with himself.

The business of running a country has started in earnest, and this collection of agencies and economists is a very, very good start - in fact, head over heals above the closed door methods of the Yingluck administration - get some relative in charge who doesn't know a single thing about what to do, get the release of huge amounts of money that is later " distributed " under a cloud of mystery, and see the economy go through the toilet. So yes, this sounds very good by way of contrast. In terms of the West, if they considered the alternative - seven more months of administrative paralysis with no path out, continued grenade attacks against sleeping protesters, continued attacks against the independent agencies and the judiciary, and an administration that was defiant in the face of Constitutional Court rulings, one of which removed the prime minister and nine cabinet ministers for abuse of power - and if they compared that to what is happening now - the violence has stopped, terror plots are being discovered and stopped, peace has come back to Bangkok, the farmers are being paid, and the first steps to getting the country running after seven months of legislative paralysis have been taken. All in just three days. The West is philosophically opposed to the idea of coups for any reason, and that will not change. However, once the country has been running peacefully and smoothly for an extended period, once truly positive reforms are in place, and last but not least - a national election that is free and peaceful - then the West will likely grudgingly take notice at that. And perhaps realize that that would not have been possible otherwise.

" The leader of the Pheu Thai Party, Charupong said he would not bow to a military that seized the people's power and he called the coup leaders rebels. He said he was hiding in the Northeast and was safe. "

Charupong is of course the former interior minister who endorsed a UDD platform that included secession on February 23. So he has good reason to hide.

This is certainly startling and unexpected. Prayuth is being far more sweeping that any might have anticipated. He has decided to go for broke with a move that risks much criticism. And yet, he is taking the argument to what would appear to be a natural extreme. He has conduced a coup. Therefore, he already and consciously has ventured outside the parliamentary system. Another likely factor in Prayuth's decision is that he wishes to take the quickest route possible to establishing control, and conducting fiscal management and social and political reform. The last two days have already set a dizzying pace. The fast route to farmers' aid is an example of this. He is clearly impatient to get things done. He has stated that his overarching goal is to institute reform before an election. If he is sincere in that, the pace he has adopted will likely achieve that more sooner than later. Prayuth is attempting something very sweeping and ambitious - on a number of fronts simultaneously. Replacing Tarit is hardly surprising, but neither is replacing police chief Adul - who very much represents the influence of Thaksin. Ridding the system of Thaksin's influence seems uppermost in Prayuth's mind.

Prayuth wants to bring peace, stability, and reform to the country in preparation for a free election. He loves his country and is unquestionably loyal to the monarchy. History will likely judge Prayuth more to the extent that he succeeds, than on the particular route he took to get there. Thailand has just experienced seven months of unprecedented strive and unrest. The Thai people needed relief from that. Prayuth provided that relief, but he has also provided hope. The Thai people have therefore very high expectations of him. Naturally, there are people who are opposed to the coup, and have protested it. But it is also true that many support it and have offered flowers to the soldiers to give them their best wishes. The people who support this coup do not support it because they like coups and curfews. They support it because they want Prayuth to succeed.

Prayuth's promise to pay the farmers in full within 20 days is a remarkable " coup " in and of itself. In one stroke he manages to alleviate the plight of the farmers, as well as strongly undercut Thaksin's core constituency. By this first legislative act, Prayuth takes the wind out of the sails of much of Pheu Thai and the UDD. It also is but the latest indication that things are going to be moving very swiftly.

There is no question that Prayuth is making real inroads regarding the dismantling of violent networks within the UDD. He clearly knows where to look, and he clearly knows what to do. The result of this is that much potential future violence is being stopped in its tracks, and that means that everyone is safer as a result.

More and more, it is becoming apparent that the Thaksin structure and underpinnings are being dismantled.

Everything was clearly thought out well in advance by Prayuth. He also likely knew that a breaking of the impasse was not possible, and he decided to act decisively. He did, and the control he took was immediate. He had witnessed seven months of foot-dragging. There clearly is no foot-dragging now. By promising to make a swift and full payment to the farmers within 20 days as his very first priority, Prayuth has not only addressed the key social issue that had engaged the country, but he has also undercut Thaksin's core constituency. Distancing the country from Thaksin therefore is happening in ways both direct and indirect.

It's hard to imagine what some would have preferred as an alternative - another seven months of protests, grenade attacks, and administrative paralysis ? Prayuth wanted to put an end to the violence. He did. He wanted a peaceful end to the rallies. He got that. He wanted to hold all accountable, regardless as to political allegiance. That seems to be happening. He wanted an end to the administrative paralysis, and the formation of a functioning administration. He's on track to getting that. He wanted to get all the protest leaders off the streets - from both sides. He did. He wanted CAPO to end their sea of intimidation. They did. He wanted the Senate, independent agencies and the courts to be safe and free from provocation. They now are. His decision likely has saved lives. It also managed to sever Thaksin's strings - which is a great plus - because Thaksin brought about this very crisis himself with his monumentally selfish amnesty bill. Prayuth has provided the climate for a path forward. And he's done so peacefully.

This has been orchestrated in an extraordinarily methodical and actually civil way. The UDD and the PDRC leaders continue to be quarantined for the time being, but by so doing, it is shown that no deference or favouritism is paid to either. This sends a signal throughout the country of evenness in the handling of it. For Prompong to be included likely underscores the fact that he has distinguished himself as a particularly controversial figure, to say the very least.

Thaksin has been cut from the system in ways quite definitive. Ever since his amnesty bill - which was a great, cosmic blunder on his part - it was clear that he had inadvertently enabled the path of his own exit. Thaksin's exit was completely self-fashioned and self-orchestrated. All these people who are now being called upon to report - they are all the consequences of Thaksin's ambitions. They are the fallout. They've all stepped up to the plate for him. Yingluck showed up today with a measure of grace. In so doing she has taught her brother a thing or two.

Yingluck actually did show up, and she must be given credit for that. It seems she can indeed teach her brother a thing or two in this department. Doubtless, he won't notice, though.

" Meanwhile, sources from the former ruling Pheu Thai Party claim that the whereabouts of its spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, is currently unknown. Mr. Prompong is thought to have been detained by the military shortly after the coup was announced. "

Prompong was the most distasteful of all the Thaksin heavies, even more distasteful than Chalerm. His humourless presence was a continual joke, and it should be interesting if he's as full of spite now as he was before. Both Prompong and Chalerm were at the forefront as shameless spokesmen for Thaksin. Thaksin, of course, avoids having to report in. His sister reports in. All his long-time loyal heavies report in, while Thaksin basks in the sun.

Credit must be given where credit is due. She showed up, which is something her brother could learn a thing or two about.

A welcome development indeed. There was a stalemate in the country on a scale wholly unprecedented. It was going nowhere. It was all tangled up in knots. But that has changed. Completely. The rallies have stopped. There is peace on the streets of Bangkok. The violence, grenade attacks - all of that has ceased. The fiery speeches have ceased. Seven months of street protests have come to an end. The Senate, independent agencies, and the courts are fully functioning, and are operating safely and without intimidation for the first time in ages. And now a truly functional interim administration will be put in place, as opposed to the profoundly dysfunctional one that was the defining characteristic of the Yingluck administration. The Senate has been clear that they will choose someone acceptable to both sides. They are earnest in that. A bureaucratic administration will likely ensue. And then the process of talks will continue. Interim means, of course, interim - temporary. The goal of working towards a general election with a package of reforms that is the result of the pooled efforts and consensus of all parties will likely remain the primary goal. The Thaksin strings have been cut. What remains is much hope and a chance for a fresh start. It's as hopeful an outcome as one could have hoped.

The UDD has a lot of questions to answer. The calls for secession at the UDD rally on February 23 and the call for arms - all these things they will need to address in courts of law. Chalerm and Pheu Thai gave them a free pass, but that climate clearly has changed. Prayuth is serious in that he wants the violence out. The police were either unable - or unwilling - to do so. The army is serious about the preservation of the law, and that is a refreshing change. The courts, independent agencies, and the Senate are fully functioning. The judicial system is intact, and a future of stability will become more of a reality if the judicial process proceeds as it should.