OPINION

Some questions in response to the PM’s six questions

By Suthichai Yoon 
The Nation

 

Have you responded to the six questions posed by Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha?

 

If not, you could be branded unpatriotic. If, though, you faithfully and dutifully replied, you risk being labelled a naïve sucker.

 

It isn’t easy to be a good citizen these days. If you take a public position on certain political issues, you the stand a chance of being thrown under the bus. If you keep quiet, you could be accused of being an irresponsible member of the public. If you start your argument with the line that goes “on the one hand … but on the other…”, nobody will have the patience to hear you out.

 

This is the era of “if you are not with us, you are against us” all over again.

 

It should come as no surprise that the six questions have drawn strong criticism from politicians of all shades and types. 

 

They have countered with legitimate questions of their own. These include:

 

Is the military trying to cling to power?

 

Is the prime minister trying to create more confusion?

 

Why hasn’t the PM posed questions for the public to evaluate his government’s performance instead?

 

Is Premier Prayut or the National Council for Peace and Order trying to set up a political party – or form a proxy party to run in the upcoming election to continue its hold on power?

 

What has Prayut got against politicians, when he himself has in fact been playing the role of a politician anyway?

 

No matter how hard you try, there is no way to avoid the topic these days. So, when my friends asked me the other day whether I had officially responded to the prime minister’s six questions, I initially dodged the inquiry. When they insisted I give them some kind of answer, I finally relented. I told them that before I could answer those questions, I had some questions of my own for the PM.

 

Well, if the prime minister has the right to pose questions to me, under the edict that everybody is equal under the law of the land, it should be my right to ask questions back before trying to answer his.

 

Here, then, are his questions followed by my answer-questions:

 

1. Do we need to have new political parties or new politicians for people to consider in the next election, and can the old politicians and political parties form a government that pushes forward reforms or the national strategy?

 

My question: Do we really need another coup?

 

2. Does Prayut or the junta have a right to support any party?

 

My question: Are you suggesting you will support a “new” party? Will you have anything to do with the “new” party? What if the “old party” comprises “old faces”? 

 

3.  Do people see a better future thanks to the government’s work over the past three years?

 

My question: How should we feel, sir?

 

4. Is it appropriate to raise the idea of going back to the administrative style of previous governments in the current context?

 

My question: Sir, are you talking about 1923 or 1970 or 2014?

 

5. Have democratic governments or politicians been effective in the past and shown enough effective governance to drive the country’s growth in a sustainable manner?

 

My question: Are you suggesting, sir, that the next “democratic government” won’t be “sustainable”?

 

6. Why are politicians lining up to attack the government?

 

My question: Why are you lined up to attack the politicians?

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30331702

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-16

Some good questions...

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Is the military trying to cling to power?

Yes, I believe it is.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Is the prime minister trying to create more confusion?

Yes, I believe he is.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Why hasn’t the PM posed questions for the public to evaluate his government’s performance instead?

He hasn't asked for an evaluation because it would be very negative and he would lose face.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Is Premier Prayut or the National Council for Peace and Order trying to set up a political party – or form a proxy party to run in the upcoming election to continue its hold on power?

Yes, I believe they are.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

What has Prayut got against politicians, when he himself has in fact been playing the role of a politician anyway?

He does not like politicians because they achieve legitimacy through fair elections and he has/can not. 

 

Hmm.. That wasn't too hard...

 

Suthichai Yoon, I salute you...

Many many signs that people and elite is getting tired of Mr. SuperEgo...

 6 Answers

 

No, No, No, Yes , Because of you, Because of you

3 hours ago, webfact said:

If not, you could be branded unpatriotic.

Interesting how the junta has bestowed themselves as the moral compass custodians of Thailand.  

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

3.  Do people see a better future thanks to the government’s work over the past three years?

Please.  What work ?  If talking is considered work by the junta, no.  Talk, like promises from the current government, is cheap.   

No I have not as what I say counts for nothing here, although the history of my country says corruption and lies in the modern age do not work, say no more.

1. Do we need to have new political parties or new politicians for people to consider in the next election, and can the old politicians and political parties form a government that pushes forward reforms or the national strategy?

 

Why does an unelected Junta have the audacity to tie a democratically elected government to a Junta strategy?

 

2. Does Prayut or the junta have a right to support any party?

 

 So you are prepared to make fools of yourselves ?

 

3.  Do people see a better future thanks to the government’s work over the past three years?

 

Are you taking the Piss?

 

4. Is it appropriate to raise the idea of going back to the administrative style of previous governments in the current context?

 

What are you talking about all governments have a form of administration?

 

5. Have democratic governments or politicians been effective in the past and shown enough effective governance to drive the country’s growth in a sustainable manner?

 

'Will you allow them to do it this time as you never did it before?

 

6. Why are politicians lining up to attack the government?

 

Are you as thick as shit ?

Does not matter. The next government - if not the military shirts - will be replaced very quickly as they will be broke with all the debt of military purchases. Step in PM to save the country - again

Gutsy retort from an editor known for his condescending views of the military. Once call politicians as nasty. Junta is losing its support base. Farmers are desperate, politicians are starting to stir and the general public finding hard to make ends meet. Something got to give now that October has passed. 

Quick Prayut.

You need a populist diversion - Lower the VAT to 3%.

Happy New Year.