Prayut not qualified to helm Asean

By The Nation

 

 

Parties must offer a strong vision for regional leadership as Thailand heads into year of reckoning

 

As Thailand prepares take the helm of Asean for 2019, you would expect political parties to be promoting their platforms for regional leadership ahead of the upcoming election.

 

Surprisingly, no party has offered clear policies on how to steer the half-century-old regional grouping – which was born in Thailand – forward. All of them recognise that Asean sits at the core of Thai foreign policy, and all want Thailand to play a significant role in international affairs. But how?

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who appears desperate to retain power post-election, is deemed the weakest factor for Thailand’s foreign affairs’ ambitions. As an unelected head of state, his standing is already low in the eyes of the diplomatic community and international media.

 

Prayut’s performance chairing several international forums, including for the Group of 77 and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, hasn’t helped his cause. Rather than using summit press conferences to offer incisive ideas on Thailand’s role in foreign affairs, Prayut has wasted valuable time in the global spotlight ridiculing political opponents, media representatives and critics.

 

The PM has shown little interest or vision in international affairs, an oversight also exhibited by the political party that now supports him. Instead, that party, which is almost certain to nominate Prayut as a candidate for prime minister, has focused on spending the national budget in a campaign tantamount to buying votes in advance. It is exploiting the very populist policy it claimed to disdain in order to secure political support.

 

Prayut’s government has indeed made preparations for taking the Asean chairmanship next year, but these are simply routine. The same bureaucratic groundwork could be laid with or without a government in place. The theme of the Thai chairmanship – “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability” – sounds both grand and empty. 

 

Prayut’s words on being handed the Asean baton in Singapore last month were equally banal. Showing no special insight on global affairs, he spent most of his speech explaining the meaning of the Thai symbol for Asean chairmanship. The Phuang Malai, or flower garland, is commonly used in Thailand to welcome and honour our guests, he said.

 

His statements since have mostly been on the same theme, telling Thai citizens to be good hosts to their Asean guests. If he did manage to retain the government top job, Thais should not humiliate him with protests, he said.

 

In fact, Asean badly needs to reassert its relevance amid an era of growing geo-political turbulence. A raft of tough pending issues demand strong leadership. The Rakhine crisis, a code of conduct for the South China Sea, and negotiation for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are all at a critical stage, requiring Asean to take action for the benefit of the whole region.

 

International and Asean affairs have never been a focus of political campaigning in Thailand, but that should  change as we prepare to take the regional helm.

 

 Granted, policies on Asean have never generated many votes for the parties, but things could be different if millions of Thai voters were given the knowledge of what’s at stake.

 

It is crucial that Thai voters and the wider international community are shown a vision for Asean by the parties that are now seeking to lead it and Thailand.

 

Prayut has given ample proof that he is not up to that job. It’s time for other parties to step up to the plate.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30361133

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-26

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who appears desperate to retain power post-election, is deemed the weakest factor for Thailand’s foreign affairs’ ambitions. As an unelected head of state, his standing is already low in the eyes of the diplomatic community and international media.

 

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayut has given ample proof that he is not up to that job. It’s time for other parties to step up to the plate

Prayut must be aware of the above noted concerns. If he was truly concerned about the good of the country and its people, he would consider his job of bringing peace to the country done and bow out now while he's "on top".

And please scrap the 20 year plan on your way out the door !

Nothing much positive coming out for p nowadays even with article 44 and guns to control hearts and minds. Maybe even the puppet masters are seeing the writing on the wall?

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The PM has shown little interest or vision in international affairs,

the heart of the matter; and why would an arbitrary thai military general have Any skill in international affairs ?

There's a good case in place to throw out of Asean any country that's ran by dictators or toss pots, only trouble without naming names I can only think of two Asian countries that would cut the grass.

The PM has shown little interest in international affairs, why?

Because international leaders have little interest in him, no international skills, in fact no skills in anything except bullying, threatening people.

1 minute ago, YetAnother said:

the heart of the matter; and why would an arbitrary thai military general have Any skill in international affairs ?

Skill set: 

Hmm has he;

Traveled many scenic countries?

Or met a myriad of interesting people's of other kinds? 

Or dropped bombs on them? 

Nah! And no more likelylikely to be a leader of peace than Rambuka  ... 

I would be skeptical that he is qualified to even formulate a battle plan for soldiers in a time of war, as the rank of general here is a somewhat loose term.. But on a more relevant note, this article is bang on

1 hour ago, neeray said:

 

Prayut must be aware of the above noted concerns. If he was truly concerned about the good of the country and its people, he would consider his job of bringing peace to the country done and bow out now while he's "on top".

And please scrap the 20 year plan on your way out the door !

If you don't agree with a "20 year plan" , what do you suggest?? To be planning major infrastructure requires a long term plan, not some "hit or miss" plan + needs to be bi-partisan, that would be a major obstacle for most countries....

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut not qualified to helm Asean

Of course he is -Asean's stated language of communication between member states is English, and Prayut is fluent in...err...err...Thai and bullshit.

Edited December 26, 20187 yr by bluesofa
misprit

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut not qualified to helm Asean

Half an hour at Khao San Road could remedy that!

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut has wasted valuable time in the global spotlight ridiculing political opponents, media representatives and critics.

That sort of behaviour exhibits serious international and diplomatic immaturity. 

Barking orders while waving his arms about and mocking others is where he excels while making promise that are almost impossible to fulfil is not far behind. Fixing Bangkok's traffic and pollution being some of the most recent examples. 

I hope he does not cause embarrassment to the Thai nation in his position of Chairman.

.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut not qualified to helm Asean

He is not even qualify to stand equal with the other constitutionally elected leaders in ASEAN. They see him as a general who seized power from an elected government and has no constitutional rights. Even socialist countries like Vietnam and Laos have a constitution process to appoint their leaders. Crooked Hun Sen was still an elected leader. Prayut will not be respected by other ASEAN leaders. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who appears desperate to retain power post-election, is deemed the weakest factor for Thailand’s foreign affairs’ ambitions. As an unelected head of state, his standing is already low in the eyes of the diplomatic community and international media.

Understatement No 1 that ..

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Instead, that party, which is almost certain to nominate Prayut as a candidate for prime minister, has focused on spending the national budget in a campaign tantamount to buying votes in advance. It is exploiting the very populist policy it claimed to disdain in order to secure political support.

Essence of hypocrisy then .. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut’s words on being handed the Asean baton in Singapore last month were equally banal. Showing no special insight on global affairs,

There is but one letter that seperates Banal from Anal and it might be said both apply .. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

His statements since have mostly been on the same theme, telling Thai citizens to be good hosts to their Asean guests. If he did manage to retain the government top job, Thais should not humiliate him with protests,

Goes with the turf .. Wanna play politician expect to get shot at ..

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has given ample proof that he is not up to that job.

Bullseye .. 

Most, domestic and overseas can clearly see that he, the dictator, is not the right man for the job. 

 

World leaders amaze me with their pathetic security excuses,  relentless power crazed ambitions topped with world domination.

 

The few individuals within Governments Banks and Religion, should serve the people, not the people serve them.

 

Humans can't get on with making life plus our home, the world, a better place for all to live, enjoy and prosper in.

 

SAD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is also a sad commentary of the elites of Thailand.  They are happy to have this buffoon run the country at the expense of the countries credibility and future.   Prayut does not look like a man that would usurp power without the nod of somebody in a higher place.   He does not seem to have the intestinal fortitude given his thin skin and fear of debate.  The lack of this man's abilities have been talked about for four years on this forum.

2 hours ago, eggers said:

If you don't agree with a "20 year plan" , what do you suggest?? To be planning major infrastructure requires a long term plan, not some "hit or miss" plan + needs to be bi-partisan, that would be a major obstacle for most countries....

He is only locking up all the finds to keep his little junta going. He plan to do exactly what Thaskin was doing, i.e., turn Thailand into a Singapore. I don't like either person. 

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

He is not even qualify to stand equal with the other constitutionally elected leaders in ASEAN. They see him as a general who seized power from an elected government and has no constitutional rights. Even socialist countries like Vietnam and Laos have a constitution process to appoint their leaders. Crooked Hun Sen was still an elected leader. Prayut will not be respected by other ASEAN leaders. 

Hun Sen eliminated all his competitors and keeps the people scared. 

Really him using article 44 all of the time should be a clear point to nominate him for a section 8.

  "Granted, policies on Asean have never generated many votes for the parties, but things could be different if millions of Thai voters were given the knowledge of what’s at stake"........Therein lies the problem. Thai voters are kept in the dark regarding that which may advance their knowledge and understandings of possibilities outside their own country. From day one they have it drummed into them that the world revolves around Thailand. And God forbid they question their supposed betters. 

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

the heart of the matter; and why would an arbitrary thai military general have Any skill in international affairs ?

probably bugger-all in military skills as well.

Well without worrying about some Computer Crime claim against me since I no longer reside in Thailand.

 

Prayuth is nothing more than a tinpot General, akin to hosts of South American Generalissimo's who have come and gone, with little more than footnote in history.

 

If he's lucky Thai's won't wake up and, unlike their South American brethren, finally hold leaders of military coups criminally liable for their actions.

 

It's funny how when South American's woke up to that latter fact, and the Generals ended up in prison, sorta stopped military coups in their tracks!

 

I like to hope that maybe, just maybe this is time that Thai's have the same epiphany and Prayuth doesn't find himself as PM, but residing inside some Hell Hole Thai prison for the rest of his life.

 

That would be the 'good' result from the latest coup.

 

However I wait with bated, if unexpected, breath!

6 hours ago, webfact said:

In fact, Asean badly needs to reassert its relevance

So, even the very relevance of Asean is questionable, according to the OP.

While Thailand's primary concern, rather, is peace, cohesion, and stability. It had seen years of mayhem before Prayut, and who knows how long will it take before it slides back into the same sort of troubles once "democracy" prevails...

33 minutes ago, MaksimMislavsky said:

So, even the very relevance of Asean is questionable, according to the OP.

While Thailand's primary concern, rather, is peace, cohesion, and stability. It had seen years of mayhem before Prayut, and who knows how long will it take before it slides back into the same sort of troubles once "democracy" prevails...

You meant those troubles that were manufactured by the elites and the military. Leave democracy alone to sort out the troubles. Thailand don’t need a nanny especially from the military. 

38 minutes ago, MaksimMislavsky said:

So, even the very relevance of Asean is questionable, according to the OP.

While Thailand's primary concern, rather, is peace, cohesion, and stability. It had seen years of mayhem before Prayut, and who knows how long will it take before it slides back into the same sort of troubles once "democracy" prevails...

Jest lurve a good Authoritarian...always banging on about "cohesion and stability"

 

Very popular concepts in the 1920's and 30's too..

 

Boot polish by any other name is still boot polish.

8 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Leave democracy alone to sort out the troubles. Thailand don’t need a nanny especially from the military. 

Probably possible in few exotic countries like Iceland. We could all witness how it worked in Thailand before 2014.

 

 

Edited December 26, 20187 yr by MaksimMislavsky

9 minutes ago, MaksimMislavsky said:

Probably possible in few exotic countries like Iceland. We could all witness how it worked in Thailand before 2014.

 

 

2011 will be a better reference year where the scheming for the coup started. 

16 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Jest lurve a good Authoritarian...always banging on about "cohesion and stability"

 

Very popular concepts in the 1920's and 30's too..

 

Boot polish by any other name is still boot polish.

Would be a valid point if there were an effective, prosperous democracy ruthlessly devoured by an authoritarian usurper. Such things had happened in history, indeed, but I'm not sure if it is the case with Thailand.

12 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

2011 will be a better reference year where the scheming for the coup started. 

This is probably too much of conspiracy theory