EDITORIAL

The cult of Prayut Chan-o-cha

By The Nation

 

Support is growing for the general’s continued role as premier, but there’s a catch that’s being overlooked

 

They have turned to Prayut Chan-o-cha as though he was a movie hero, offering him their hearts and souls like teenagers drooling over a Korean pop star.

 

They are led by Paiboon Nititawan, a former member of the National Reform Council, who this past week reiterated his 

commitment to ensuring that Prime Minister Prayut is returned in (or soon after) the election as head of government.

 

Paiboon stood firm that his People Reform Party will join forces with other blocs and the 250 junta-appointed senators to back General Prayut as an outsider prime minister.  

 

According to the Constitution pushed through by the junta, if the House of Representatives cannot reach consensus on selecting a prime minister,  the Senate will effectively make the selection. Paiboon declared his party’s support for a candidate “who is not affiliated with any party – he should be neutral”. The logic is that politicians are fundamentally untrustworthy and are to blame for Thailand’s political division and other woes. 

 

On the surface, Paiboon and company are responding to something they don’t like. They are not basing their platform on any principle or ideology that could provide the nation with the much-needed moral compass and equilibrium that all of us, regardless of political affiliation, could utilise in resolving our differences. They are also presenting a glaring contradiction: that the people they support came to power by ripping up the previous constitution. 

 

And while the current constitution and the election arrangements favour the junta – the National Council on Peace and Order – it would be foolish of Paiboon’s party and other pro-junta parties to believe the military-appointed Senate will always and forever remain loyal to the armed forces.

 

If Paiboon properly understood Thai political behaviour and culture, he would see that the senators, once fully fledged as politicians with a mandate to rule, will likely develop the same appetite for clinging to power as their fellow lawmakers in Parliament display.

The real questions are who will (or who can) keep these 250 senators’ appetites sated, and who will provide them the financial means to keep their dreams alive?

 

Instead of relying on people who lack the courage to tell the general he is naked, why doesn’t the NCPO come clean and tell us what it has in mind for Thailand over the long term? If the junta wants a mandate from the people, it needs to be straight with the people, instead of relying on proxies to keep Prayut at Government House as premier. Soldiers speak of duty and honour, but we wonder where the honour is in misleading the country.

 

What is the junta’s platform? Surely it has to be more than the 20-year reform strategy foisted upon an electorate that was kept in the dark and thus ill equipped to consider the ramifications. The grand plan came into effect this past week and already is drawing criticism from various quarters.

 

The junta thinks it can force people, with the threat of further military intervention, to follow this reform strategy. It doesn’t recognise the Catch-22 in this way of thinking. It doesn’t understand that it cannot earn a mandate from the people and at the same time continue with the form of governance that puts the rulers above the law. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30342959

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-11

Hmmm...very bold.

 

The elites are stirring and getting a tad restless,I feel.

Biggest bunch of BS I have read in a awhile. More like the boot lickers are speaking up. As far as I know and hear from my kids and Thai friends, his popularity is not higher than a skid mark in the toilette. 

niTITawan....yes, a breast feeding government. I understand.

I'm surprised the Nation can get away with publishing this kind of criticism. People (myself included) have been given suspensions on Thaivisa for saying less.

i misread the second   word of the title, but thought it was very apt

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

The real questions are who will (or who can) keep these 250 senators’ appetites sated,

my concern is slightly different; these hand-picked junta , many of whom will Be junta, reflect the arch conservatism that will always be a concern for expats, they espouse ultra-nationalism (read: racism) and have a hand in legislation and laws that lean toward all-things-thai

The 250 "senators" are a biggest danger to the future of Thailand and any form of democracy than even the current incumbents.

Interesting editorial, but it misses the mark on several points. And it could not be more clear that it was written by an elite (er... ahem... Elite)! Nation, have you been hiring from the richest, most connected, most venal families again? 

 

Who can and/or will keep the Senator's appetite sated? What an elite way of thinking! How much money will I have to pay out to get what I want? How many perks will I have to offer to ensure that they obey? How many of their children will I have to find employment for to keep them in line? How much stuff do I have to buy to bribe them? Perhaps a better editorial might focus on their lack of legitimacy? Might focus on their un-representative backgrounds? Might focus on their venality in accepting a position like that? Might focus on their arrogance in assuming that they have some sort of mandate?

 

The second major point is that nowhere does it mention the illegitimacy of Prayut ruling without a mandate from the Thai people. In fact, it fails to mention anywhere that a mandate from the Thai people is needed. Hmm... Isn't that a wee bit arrogant and elitist? The editorial focuses on how the military and/or Prayut's cadre might support him or not. Perhaps a better editorial might focus on a fair election? Might focus on how to improve representative democracy? Might focus on on how better represent those voices in Thailand that don't get a fair say? Might focus on the less fortunate rather than the already powerful connected people?

 

Nation, you have had some good material recently, but this one sucks; it is elitist noise masquerading as reasonable political dialogue.

 

What happened to the editorial writer who focused on what is good for the Thai people rather than what is good for the Thai Elite?

 

Let's bring him back!

 

 

 

I guess this cult following fills the hole that Charles Manson left!

1 minute ago, PatOngo said:

I guess this cult following fills the hole that Charles Manson left!

I am no political expert but I think I know which hole you are referring to...

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Soldiers speak of duty and honour, but we wonder where the honour is in misleading the country.

Thugs who wear green not honorable men.  Nothing remotely honorable has happen under the general's time as self appointed PM.  

More of a sect, I would guess. See how they´ve done with sect-leaders trough time. 

2 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Biggest bunch of BS I have read in a awhile. More like the boot lickers are speaking up. As far as I know and hear from my kids and Thai friends, his popularity is not higher than a skid mark in the toilette. 

I'm guessing we have different types of Thai friends.The Isaan working class is important but it doesn't have the final say.Among  the educated middle class there is a great deal of support for Prayuth as a non elected PM.Don't forget he won a national mandate for his constitution - which if nothing else demonstrates a level of support it's important not to underestimate.

 

I doubt whether your views on Prayuth are much different from mine.But we should be careful not to pretend there aren't strong winds blowing in his favour.That said I think the course being plotted is exceedingly dangerous as anyone with knowledge of Thai history would understand.But it's Songkran now and my coffee awaits.The future can be considered on another day.

Try reading the headline without glasses on.

Ego Ego Ego!

Arrogant elite.

A cult here being a bunch of snivelers following someone with the hope of financial gain in the future!

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

The second major point is that nowhere does it mention the illegitimacy of Prayut ruling without a mandate from the Thai people. In fact, it fails to mention anywhere that a mandate from the Thai people is needed.

Did you actually read the article?

Paiboon Nititawan has for years been a military die hard acolyte. He has never been elected to any position and has consistently been put in cushy jobs by military Governments. He is the epitome of all that is wrong in Thailand. The irony of this man to sit there and talk about reform etc when he himself is the living, breathing proof of nepotism and doing the cheering for certain things, knowing he has done and will no doubt in the future 'benefit' from doing so with more soft jobs on various committees and all that entails.

 

In addition he is basically coming straight out and admitting that they will try and instigate the situation where the lower house cannot elect the PM and thus the appointed Senate get to be involved in the selection of the PM. This is the type of person who constitutes a good person? Its enough to make you sick.

I love the lack  moral compass line,

3 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Biggest bunch of BS I have read in a awhile. More like the boot lickers are speaking up. As far as I know and hear from my kids and Thai friends, his popularity is not higher than a skid mark in the toilette. 

This forum would be so much better, if the posters actually cared to read the OP before hitting the keyboard....

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

Thugs who wear green not honorable men.  Nothing remotely honorable has happen under the general's time as self appointed PM.  

No honour among organized thieves with their own immoral conducts. 

A legend, in his own mind.

regards worgeordie

2 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

A legend, in his own mind.

regards worgeordie

What mind??

2 hours ago, HLover said:

I am no political expert but I think I know which hole you are referring to...

and many in the so  called  "govt"  will bend over backwards to get in

3 hours ago, Get Real said:

More of a sect, I would guess. See how they´ve done with sect-leaders trough time. 

Let's hope his "cult" followers and he take a lesson from Jim Jones and Jonestown!

5 hours ago, kannot said:

i misread the second   word of the title, but thought it was very apt

A typo on The Nation's part? Maybe you didn't in fact misread it...

2 hours ago, jayboy said:

I'm guessing we have different types of Thai friends.The Isaan working class is important but it doesn't have the final say.Among  the educated middle class there is a great deal of support for Prayuth as a non elected PM.Don't forget he won a national mandate for his constitution - which if nothing else demonstrates a level of support it's important not to underestimate.

 

I doubt whether your views on Prayuth are much different from mine.But we should be careful not to pretend there aren't strong winds blowing in his favour.That said I think the course being plotted is exceedingly dangerous as anyone with knowledge of Thai history would understand.But it's Songkran now and my coffee awaits.The future can be considered on another day.

My middle class Thai friends fit into two categories: Those who were behind the junta until the watch and the panther scandal, and those who will say things depending on which way the wind blows and whether or not they are in Thailand.  There are plenty of gutless people with room temperature IQ's who will vote for a gutless PM with no virtue.  I have written off Thailand after the coup and some of my educated Thai friends are seeking better opportunities outside the country as well.  It was such a lovely place.  Now it is dull and uninspired. 

 

Also I do not read too much into the constitution vote.  The options were: 1. Have the junta in power for a long time  2. Have the junta in power for an even longer time if the constitution is not ratified.   A choice made under a certain amount of duress, which would be a legal bases for nullification in a place with rule of law. 

5 hours ago, kannot said:

i misread the second   word of the title, but thought it was very apt

yes i get my "l" and "n"'s mixed up very often :-)

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Instead of relying on people who lack the courage to tell the general he is naked

A vain emperor and his close friend who wares watches, believe they are chosen for greatness and gets his tailor to make new clothes that are invisible. The crowd does not dare to admit to being stupid goes along with the pretence. A child in the crowd eventually says they are naked, one not silly as he has no willy. Adaptation of a H.C. Anderson story