Why Suthep, Prayut slowly drifted apart

[webfact]

Why Suthep, Prayut slowly drifted apart

By SOMROUTAI SAPSOMBOON 
THE NATION

 

Suthep Thaugsuban

 

Once a staunch supporter of junta chief, ex-democrat now cooling off on backing prime minister’s return at govt helm.

 

VETERAN POLITICIAN Suthep Thaugsuban, once a staunch supporter of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, appears to be viewing the junta chief differently now, compared to the days when they were “friends in arms”.

 

Likewise, Prime Minister Prayut is not likely to see Suthep the same way as he did when he came to power following the 2014 military coup that he led while serving as Army chief.

 

Their friendship – developed before Prayut became premier and leader of the ruling junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) – appears to be facing a tough test after almost five years. 

 

In June 2014, just a month after the coup, Suthep said he had communicated with General Prayut during the anti-government protests that culminated in power seizure. 

 

Suthep said this at a fundraising event for protesters injured during the anti-government rally organised by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). He was PDRC secretary-general at the time. 

 

Between November 2013 and May 2014, Suthep led street protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government after it pushed an amnesty bill that would benefit all people involved in political conflicts, including corrupt politicians and killers of protesters.

 

Suthep, who formerly held the powerful position of secretary of the Democrat Party, quit the party to lead the protests and – to convince protesters he had no conflict of interest – promised not to get involved in politics again for the rest of his life.

 

He announced at the fundraiser that, through a phone chat app, General Prayut as Army chief had told him shortly before invoking martial law: “You and the PDRC people have become weary already. From now on, it’s the Army’s duty to take care on your behalf.” 

 

He also claimed that he had spoken to Prayut about getting rid of the so-called Thaksin regime after the red-shirt street protests against the Democrat-led government in 2010.

 

Now, the NCPO appears to be dismissing Suthep’s claims about the junta chief and the distance between Suthep and Prayut is getting wider.

 

In July 2014, the former protest leader became ordained as a Buddhist monk, but left the monkhood a year later.

 

In late 2017, Suthep returned to politics by announcing his support for Prayut to return as prime minister after the next election. He formed a new political party called Action Coalition for Thailand, but said he would take no executive position or contest in the elections, to partly keep his promise of not getting involved in politics again.

 

However, when a new pro-junta party Phalang Pracharat was formed specifically to back Prayut’s return to power, Suthep’s stance as his staunch supporter weakened. He said his support for Prayut was just his “personal view” and that his party would decide later whether to back Prayut.

 

A source, who is a Prayut backer, said they were treating Suthep’s party as an “uncertain supporter”, unlike Phalang Pracharat and former senator Paiboon Nititawan’s People Reform Party, which are both firmly backing Prayut as a top contender for the PM’s post.

 

According to sources familiar with the matter, Suthep initially wanted the Democrat Party to play a key role in supporting Prayut’s return to power. However, no deal could be reached, which is why he had to create his own party. 

 

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, a key figure in the government, also wanted to set up a party to back Prayut, so certain senior members of the junta had to step in and talk both Suthep and Somkid into creating a new party together.

 

However, no agreement could be reached as to who would be in charge of this party, so both of them went separate ways to create their own parties. 

 

Though Somkid has denied any involvement in Phalang Pracharat, four Cabinet members who are top executives of the party are his men in the government’s economic team. 

 

Suthep, meanwhile, failed to get General Prayut as his party’s prime ministerial candidate, because Phalang Pracharat appeared to appeal to the general more as it has drawn more than 100 former MPs and well-known politicians. 

 

The veteran politician, meanwhile, appears to be in a difficult position – suffering from an image problem and being criticised for going back on his word about staying away from politics. 

 

Maybe Suthep is among the people waiting patiently to get even with General Prayut.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30362594

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-21

[canuckamuck]

Two humble and selfless servants of the people. I am sure they will find some way to get along.

[LomSak27]

Now they are turning their back on each other after all the good times. Breaking my heart.

 

[Chang_paarp]

One man suffering "Relevance Deprivation Syndrome" is not talking with another who has the  symptoms but is yet to develop the full blown syndrome. Maybe when they both have developed the full syndrome they can get together and talk about the old times when they felt they mattered.

[mok199]

Get a room !

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The veteran politician, meanwhile, appears to be in a difficult position – suffering from an image problem and being criticised for going back on his word about staying away from politics. 

he is a snake, a bad man; hope we never hear anything about this guy

[holy cow cm]

Not one better than the other. Fat heads.  And for the life of me, why do they think people like them? 

[HalfLight]

2 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Two humble and selfless servants of the people. I am sure they will find some way to get along.

If only. Two narcissistic and venal chancers would be a better description in my opinion.

 

 

 

[Hayduke]

 

Suthep probably feels cheated by his former buddy. After all, he and the general planned the coup and Suthep choreographed the demonstrations that would give the general an excuse to hijack the government. Afterwards, it seems the general refused to give Suthep a place at the trough and laughed all the way to the bank. Oh well...life sucks and then you die.

 

 

[grumbleweed]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In June 2014, just a month after the coup, Suthep said he had communicated with General Prayut during the anti-government protests that culminated in power seizure. 

But they didn't discuss a coup because that would be treason

[HalfLight]

1 minute ago, grumbleweed said:

But they didn't discuss a coup because that would be treason

 

And so very many people believe *that* fairy-tale.

 

Not.

 

 

 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

he is a snake, a bad man; hope we never hear anything about this guy

Unfortunately the guy seems to never dissapear, I agree 100% this is someone Thailand can do without. 

[yellowboat]

Just makes one want to cry.  Two divisive friends not getting on. 

[GinBoy2]

It's all so laughable it's worthy of a Lakorn

[overherebc]

My wife and me drifted apart but it happened after we bought a waterbed.

[billd766]

Perhaps back in those days they were working hand in glove to get rid of the "evil Shinawatras".

 

After being in power perhaps Prayuth felt that Suthep was becoming a liability and no longer needed him but kept stringing him along.

 

Now, unwanted and unloved by his former BFF, unwanted and unloved by the Democrats, unwanted and unloved by all the other political parties he has reached the logical conclusion that few people like or want him at all.

 

He seems to be all dressed up and ready for the ball and just waiting for the invitation (from anybody) to be his partner.

 

Just my thoughts and opinion.