Abhisit welcomes PM's identification as a politician

By The Nation

 

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva

 

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday expressed support for Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s decision to declare himself as a politician.

“When we talk about the military, it includes the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Their duties are not involved with politics. I think it is good to differentiate them from political arena,” Abhisit said during a radio interview.

 

“No grudge should be specially held against either politicians or military people,” he added.

 

“In principle, they both can serve the country.”

 

Abhisit was commenting after Prayut admitted his political status for the first time since assuming the premiership more than three years ago. The premier's comments also elicited another backlash against the recently embattled regime.

 

The retired general had repeatedly distanced himself from politicians, whom he often called the cause of the country’s “accumulating problems”.

 

The ruling junta has been seen by political observers as weakening traditional politicians and parties, including Prayut's most recent invocation of Article 44, requiring existing parties to “update” their entire membership lists.

 

While Prayut had confirmed that the election would be held “following the road map”, while stipulating further conditions in the order, he should also declare that the junta would ensure that the timeline would be followed strictly, Abhisit said.

 

“If there is any necessity [to postpone the election], it should be stated clearly so everyone can rest assured about [Prayut's] honesty,” he added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30335360

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-04

I see that he tried to put on a straight face. Underneath that, I think he fear that Prayut will undermine his party, pull away his members and hasten the party breakup.  

In his Ice Blue Silk Suit with a nice white cowboy hat on, he would also pass a country and western soi cowboy.

 

Or a Barman.

 

 

Looks like he enjoys his self inflicted downgrade.

As somewhat of a has-been himself, Abhisit could be considered an expert.

I consider my self to be a "hansum man" and I have some ladies to back that up...

I don't quite see how Abhisit can be pleased by Prayut's statement that he's a 'politician'. For there to be politicians there has to be some form of political dialogue between politicians. All there is at present is a General running a military junta, supposedly on behalf of the Thai people. This isn't politics it's dictate at the end of a gun barrel.

2 hours ago, joebrown said:

I don't quite see how Abhisit can be pleased by Prayut's statement that he's a 'politician'. For there to be politicians there has to be some form of political dialogue between politicians. All there is at present is a General running a military junta, supposedly on behalf of the Thai people. This isn't politics it's dictate at the end of a gun barrel.

Yep, but the article I read earlier today the PM apparently sees himself as a politician who was once a soldier. A politician holding meetings of more than 5? Maybe he should arrest himself eh?

9 hours ago, webfact said:

“In principle, they both can serve the country.”

But in practice it is the country that serves the military.

So far as the principle of both serving the country, the country exists for and by the people through the people's rule of laws. Without sovereign citizens there is no country.

 

Abhisit is probably just trying to keep the option open to make a deal with Prayuth. This is not the first time he will be doing a back hand deal in the barracks.

Abhisit is what we call an ar se licker Must have sore kneecaps crawling t the Pm all the time Gee cant his party find somebody with a bit credibility Rocko the clown would have more chance winning an election than this guy

With this clown, the Shins and Uncle Too, things are looking bright and rosy for Thai politics 

16 hours ago, joebrown said:

I don't quite see how Abhisit can be pleased by Prayut's statement that he's a 'politician'. For there to be politicians there has to be some form of political dialogue between politicians. All there is at present is a General running a military junta, supposedly on behalf of the Thai people. This isn't politics it's dictate at the end of a gun barrel.

I think Abhisit is giving the junta chief enough rope to hang himself but steering clear of having any retroactive laws invented especially for him. He is slowly turning up the heat and waiting for Prayuth to stew in his own bullsh!t. 

If Prayuth's party win the next (mythical) election, will the army still enforce his party's laws or will they see his party as the next on the coup list?

2 minutes ago, mikebell said:

If Prayuth's party win the next (mythical) election, will the army still enforce his party's laws or will they see his party as the next on the coup list?

A very interesting question. Although the Prayuth party will be the NCPO under another name and have the constitution rigged in their favour, they will be demolished in the debating chamber. These people do not do debates, they do threats and coercion. Without article 44 their future would be pretty bleak...