Thailand's political tough-guy back in the fray to support military as vote nears

By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat

 

Politician Suthep Thaugsuban gestures during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand, June 10, 2018. Picture taken June 10, 2018. REUTERS/Panu Wongcha-um

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The last time most Thais saw politician Suthep Thaugsuban was in 2015 when he entered the Buddhist monkhood and announced his retirement after spearheading protests that culminated in a military coup against a government he detested.

 

The military, after taking power, clamped a tight lid on politics, and the rivalry between the military-royalist establishment and new upstart political forces that had roiled the country for a decade was stifled.

 

But now a long-promised general election is on the horizon - due sometime between February and May - and old animosities are stirring and veteran political brawler Suthep, 68, is back.

 

Suthep, a one-time deputy prime minister in a pro-establishment government, has said he will contest the election under the banner of a new party he set up to sustain the work of the military government and to campaign for its leader, Prayuth Chan-ocha, to be prime minister of a civilian administration.

 

The return of Suthep, who has a record of mobilising crowds on the streets in support of the establishment, could be a big asset for the military which has made no secret of its aim to retain a grip over politics after the election.

 

The military and Suthep have common cause in their burning desire to rid the country of the influence of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his family, whose supporters have been biding their time and pinning their hopes on the election.

 

Suthep makes no secret of his support for former army chief Prayuth and his wish to see him return as prime minister after the vote, but says he must defer to his new party, the Action Coalition for Thailand, which has yet to spell out its position.

 

"He's a good guy, not corrupt, determined, and he has the trust of his people and is loyal to the monarchy," Suthep told Reuters in a recent interview.

 

"So I cheer him on, the more he can succeed, the better for the country," Suthep said, while adding he had no desire to take on any leadership role in a new government.

 

Suthep, for years known as a pugnacious deal-maker, has been a central figure in well over a decade of turmoil that began in 2000, when former telecommunications tycoon Thaksin became prime minister for the first time.

 

Thaksin fired up support in the provinces with pro-poor policies, and shook up politics with his brash, election-winning ways.

In the process, he made enemies in the Bangkok-based, military-dominated establishment, which accused him of corruption and buying election victories.

 

Suthep, a former shrimp and palm-oil magnate from Thailand's south, served as deputy prime minister in a pro-establishment government after Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup, and which oversaw a bloody crackdown on Thaksin's "red-shirt" supporters occupying Bangkok streets in 2010.

 

Suthep expects his party's support to come from Thaksin's main enemies, the Bangkok middle class, and he's keen to see that the party sets an example with transparent funding and the inclusion of women, to bolster that support.

 

'LEADERS GONE'

Suthep lead protests against a government formed in 2011 by Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, rallying pro-establishment crowds who tried to march on the government's offices to shut it down.

 

The turmoil eventually triggered the coup by then army chief Prayuth. Suthep and his allies celebrated the fall of another government loyal to their enemy, Thaksin.

 

Suthep said he expected Thaksin's party to see its support whittled down in its northern and northeastern heartlands in the next election, though the Shinawatras still commanded a significant block of votes.

 

But the people were slowly seeing the truth about them, he said.

 

"All their leaders are gone," Suthep said of the voters who have loyally stuck with Thaksin's parties.

 

"People can see that the brother and sister have fled, deserting those that served them, who are in jail, from cabinet ministers to ordinary folk," he said.

 

Thaksin has been living in exile since 2008 to avoid a graft conviction he said was politically motivated. Yingluck fled from the country last August during a criminal negligence trial that eventually sentenced her to five years in jail.

 

She also denied wrongdoing.

 

Suthep praised the military government for overseeing the introduction of a constitution that critics say enshrines the military's sway over civilian governments.

 

But he said the military government had not completed its work and he wanted his party to ensure the country would stay on the course the military had set, with no sliding back to what he described as the dangerous old ways.

 

A political rival said Suthep was making a fatal mistake by nailing his colours to the military's mast.

 

"This will be Suthep's last role," said Nattawut Saikua, a deputy prime minister in Yingluck's cabinet, who, like Suthep, is known as a fiery orator, though for the opposite side in Thailand's drawn-out political battle.

 

"Politicians who walk away from the democratic system and stand with a dictator have never been able to come back or be accepted by the people."

 

(Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-02

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Suthep, a one-time deputy prime minister in a pro-establishment government, has said he will contest the election under the banner of a new party he set up to sustain the work of the military government and to campaign for its leader, Prayuth Chan-ocha, to be prime minister of a civilian administration.

bodes ill for thailand when this bad man is anywhere near politics

Well , it is becoming increasingly clear that any election that occurs in future is going to be one that can only have one possible outcome regardless of any voting.

 

The Thais are free to elect any leader they want ......as long as it's Prayuth.

 

The only other real alternative for the electorate is to boycott such a rigged election and deny the junta the thin veneer of legitimacy they crave.

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"He's a good guy, not corrupt, determined, and he has the trust of his people and is loyal to the monarchy," Suthep told Reuters in a recent interview.

 

The opposite of what he said is more accurate. He is a bad guy, corrupt, self serving, no accountability to the people and power crazy. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Suthep, a former shrimp

His chameleon superpowers have no boundaries.

I hope Thai people read this news story, and understand what these megalomaniacs are doing to this country, and will continue to do. 

They'll keep having coups until they get what they want.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The return of Suthep

 

There really is no cure.

Astounding!Who'd a thunk it??

Edited July 2, 20188 yr by Odysseus123

seriously, why would anyone listen to this idiot, he is in it for himself and his family, to him its all about personal wealth. When will they lock this cretin up, he really needs to be put away

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Suthep praised the military government for overseeing the introduction of a constitution that critics say enshrines the military's sway over civilian governments.

 

But he said the military government had not completed its work and he wanted his party to ensure the country would stay on the course the military had set, with no sliding back to what he described as the dangerous old ways.

And that sums up everything!!

These people must really hate 1932; 1992 and 1997.

This man wants Hun Sen's style of government here in Thailand forever. He doesn't give a <deleted> for the average person who followed him in his demonstrations against the Shins. They're all forgotten because he doesn't need them now. he's got what he wants and f&%$ the people.

I feel sorry for the people of Thailand now. They have fallen for a big scam!!

1 hour ago, 300sd said:

I hope Thai people read this news story, and understand what these megalomaniacs are doing to this country, and will continue to do. 

I doubt it, it's in English!

7 minutes ago, newatthis said:

And that sums up everything!!

These people must really hate 1932; 1992 and 1997.

This man wants Hun Sen's style of government here in Thailand forever. He doesn't give a <deleted> for the average person who followed him in his demonstrations against the Shins. They're all forgotten because he doesn't need them now. he's got what he wants and f&%$ the people.

I feel sorry for the people of Thailand now. They have fallen for a big scam!!

Do you think this is new??? Been happening for generations!

2 hours ago, Denim said:

Well , it is becoming increasingly clear that any election that occurs in future is going to be one that can only have one possible outcome regardless of any voting.

 

The Thais are free to elect any leader they want ......as long as it's Prayuth.

 

The only other real alternative for the electorate is to boycott such a rigged election and deny the junta the thin veneer of legitimacy they crave.

 

 

Completely agree with you, Denim. A boycott is the way to go - and it should include all politicians too, when they see how the game is being rigged from start to finish.

 

But if there are no voters in the elections, the junta will claim that the Thai people have been offered the chance of democracy and have rejected it, that they do not want it - but that instead, through their silence, they have shown that they want the junta to continue in charge as before (the militarists are such liars - they would say that!).

 

So: election = no change;

no election = no change;

no voters at election time = no change; 

The Thais standing up in their millions and taking their country and future back with their own hands = CHANGE!

 

(But they won't do it - you mark my words!).

36 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

I doubt it, it's in English!

Yes you're right Ongo, there really is not hope unless the underlings in the military decide not to follow these top maniacs.

 

I should have just said: "I hope Thai people understand blablbla", but it's very unlikely.

Edited July 2, 20188 yr by 300sd

32 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Completely agree with you, Denim. A boycott is the way to go - and it should include all politicians too, when they see how the game is being rigged from start to finish.

 

But if there are no voters in the elections, the junta will claim that the Thai people have been offered the chance of democracy and have rejected it, that they do not want it - but that instead, through their silence, they have shown that they want the junta to continue in charge as before (the militarists are such liars - they would say that!).

 

So: election = no change;

no election = no change;

no voters at election time = no change; 

The Thais standing up in their millions and taking their country and future back with their own hands = CHANGE!

 

(But they won't do it - you mark my words!).

 

32 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Completely agree with you, Denim. A boycott is the way to go - and it should include all politicians too, when they see how the game is being rigged from start to finish.

 

But if there are no voters in the elections, the junta will claim that the Thai people have been offered the chance of democracy and have rejected it, that they do not want it - but that instead, through their silence, they have shown that they want the junta to continue in charge as before (the militarists are such liars - they would say that!).

 

So: election = no change;

no election = no change;

no voters at election time = no change; 

The Thais standing up in their millions and taking their country and future back with their own hands = CHANGE!

 

(But they won't do it - you mark my words!).

It is rather too late for change now-the Thais have become habituated to their present political existence.The same as in Myanmar,Laos and Cambodia-and ,presumably, Vietnam as well.

 

 

Suthep is so full of it. He is a guy who should be in prison and not even close to a 1/16th of his sentence. Ultimate boot licker. 

5 hours ago, YetAnother said:

bodes ill for thailand when this bad man is anywhere near politics

Yes well thailand was a virtual lilleywhite land of goodness with the shinawatras

'... a long-promised general election is on the horizon - due sometime between February and May ...' 

 

And between 2562 and, err... 

 

'"He's a good guy, not corrupt ...'

 

That may or may not be the case, but he's done little to root it out. 

 

'Suthep, a former shrimp ...'

 

Yes, there is a definite similarity there. 

4 hours ago, 300sd said:

Yes you're right Ongo, there really is not hope unless the underlings in the military decide not to follow these top maniacs.

 

I should have just said: "I hope Thai people understand blablbla", but it's very unlikely.

The Thai folk I know are all well aware of the current goings-on and are cautious about vocalising knowing full well the possible repercussions. They (after-all) have been dealing with this system all their lives. Silent maybe, but certainly not ignorant. Just my opinion, of course 

Edited July 2, 20188 yr by Dap

If you believe anything this guy says, contact me urgently, I have a bridge to sell you.

 

It's a very nice bridge...

But he said the military government had not completed its work and he wanted his party to ensure the country would stay on the course the military had set, with no sliding back to what he described as the dangerous old ways.

 

Translation, the Thai electorate should not have a say in whom they deem fit to run the country. That right is only applicable to educated people such as himself. 

 

Remember his "reforms before elections" . No person that calls himself a democrat should ever vote for this person. 

 

And yes, I agree he belongs in jail, as he was instrumental in the disruption of the 2014 general elections, a criminal offence. 

7 hours ago, lemonjelly said:

They'll keep having coups until they get what they want.

Its called  a coup operative.

And reuters, as usual, as before, less than totally honest /correct on many points in this article. 

deleted post

Edited July 2, 20188 yr by CanuckThai

25 minutes ago, scorecard said:

And reuters, as usual, as before, less than totally honest /correct on many points in this article. 

Actually pretty much everything is factual in this article. The quotes from Suthep that are downright lies cannot be atrributed to Reuters, for the rest they are as usual spot on. 

 

The only inaccuracy I saw was the suggestion that Abhishit's government was installed directly after the coup, whilst it was the third government after that coup. 

Title to this report should be "Thailand's polarizing political lying worm back in the fray to kiss military arse as vote nears"

 

Vile man.

The sweet smell of a filling trough brings the swine back home.

Stand by now for a sustained campaign to establish the "fact" that he has the support of the people (remember the "great movement"); this will make an actual election irrelevant - just a couple of mass meetings to install the government by acclamation.

"Hands up who wants Prayut as PM! The motion has been unanimously carried".

 

Well it worked for British Leyland, amongst others. Sort of...

Edited July 2, 20188 yr by JAG

17 minutes ago, JAG said:

Stand by now for a sustained campaign to establish the "fact" that he has the support of the people (remember the "great movement"); this will make an actual election irrelevant - just a couple of mass meetings to install the government by acclamation.

"Hands up who wants Prayut as PM! The motion has been unanimously carried".

 

Well it worked for British Leyland, amongst others. Sort of...

Spot on JAG. It already happened once. Suthep didn't just lead a factional group ; he led "Muan Maha Prachachon", The Great Mass of the People who loved religion, monarchy and the mythical people, and  that Mass of the People (millions on the streets one still hears) made the 2014 election irrelevant. Prayuth can do the same; already even from his liberal opponents, we hear that he brought peace and stability and that his regime was initially popularly accepted, but maybe they should tone things down a little bit, ease back on the attitude adjustment and let some free speech happen, Not of course to the he extent that it would cause any problems, of course. That seems to me to be the attitude of the English language press at least and associated entities such as Thaivisa - beg for small indulgences but never impolitely demand freedom.