Why clock is probably ticking on Thammanat

[snoop1130]

Why clock is probably ticking on Thammanat

 

 

Thailand’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao gestures at Government House (File photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

 

As it turns out, the opposition’s censure attack, much taunted for its long delay, came about two weeks too early. Imagine the no-confidence debate taking place now, with half of the time devoted to grilling Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao. He would have been a wreck.

 

He is not far off at the moment, though. The man has been forced to deny all connections with an apparent, massive hoarding scandal involving face masks. This has come only a few days after he survived the censure session with the Democrats reportedly having to vote among themselves on whether their party, a key member of the Prayut coalition, should give him a vote of confidence.

 

The Democrats were among those who frowned upon Thammanat’s name in Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s Cabinet list. They must have felt somewhat vindicated, as the deputy agriculture minister has undoubtedly become the biggest liability in the ministerial line-up.

 

Charges varied during the censure debate, but the majority of them are divisive. Thammanat is now embroiled in an issue that directly concerns public well-being at a time of grave and realistic dangers. If the Democrats had been asked before not to “row the boat with bandits on it”, such calls would have divided opinions and Prayut would have laughed them off. The exacts calls are getting resounding now, and Prayut is obviously both annoyed and angered by them.

 

Political analysts and observers had regarded Thammanat as a lightning rod. Others in the Prayut coalition apart from the Democrats did not like it when he was appointed to the Cabinet. The foreign media and activists mentioned his shady backgrounds long before a big news story even came from Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he spent four years in a Sydney jail in the 1990s in connection with the trafficking of 3.2 kilograms of heroin into Australia. He was deported on his release, it was said.

 

In the wake of the Australian news report, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai was made awkward by a media question about Thammanat being stripped of a military rank when he (Chuan) was prime minister. For the opposition, he must be one of the first names on a censure list, although his past connections with the Pheu Thai Party might subdue some people and some issues.

 

But Thammanat was to Prayut what Newin Chidchob to Thaksin Shinawatra, someone Prayut can’t live with and yet someone he can’t live without. Thammanat is a shrewd power broker, who knew a lot about Pheu Thai’s strategies and logistics. He was said to be a reason why the pro-Prayut coalition won certain seats and edged past its rivals in the race to form a government.

 

One Democrat made an intriguing comment about Newin years ago: “You can’t help but like him, provided he’s on your side.” Thammanat is probably like that, which is underlined by the fact that he, like Newin, served Thaksin by doing dirty jobs and helping to solidify his party’s dominance in the northern parts of Thailand.

 

But Prayut had a major decision to make now. The prime minister’s popularity rating is on a decline, partly because of the normal anti-incumbent circumstances, partly because of the unabated ideological divide, and, last but not least, because of questionable figures in his Cabinet. Even ardent ideological supporters are saying they feel “tired” backing this Cabinet.

 

The way Prayut shaped up his Cabinet is unhealthily traditional. Controversial characters made their ways to high government posts because either Prayut had to return the favor or they are party executives who conventionally couldn’t miss out and who couldn’t afford to let less senior party members do a job that the latter group is probably more qualified for. Did Thammanat get into the Cabinet on merits or because Prayut succumbed to old political traditions?

 

Ironically perhaps, if Thammanat had to go in the next Cabinet reshuffle, it would probably be because of old-fashioned political expediency. Thailand’s democracy requires much advertisement, and, whether he is innocent or not, Thammanat is a bad poster boy in the Prayut Cabinet.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/why-clock-is-probably-ticking-on-thammanat/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-03-10

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[rkidlad]

He knows things. Very damaging things. He even made a thinly veiled threat when his drug trafficking conviction was exposed. 

[YetAnother]

22 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The way Prayut shaped up his Cabinet is unhealthily traditional.

but VERY traditional, no merit involved, relatives and cronies; the true thai failing; wrong people in important jobs

[ChipButty]

Im just glad I know nufink about politics

Edited March 10, 2020 by ChipButty

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Im just glad I know nufink about politics

What´s that?

[lemonjelly]

How does a political “power broker” operate in Thai politics? With his dodgy past in the military, would that involve intimidation, blackmail etc? Very shady bloke.

[DrTuner]

I've had this idea of government, especially the executive branch, should consist of convicted criminals. Thailand seems to be doing that, except for the one thing that I envisioned: if they screw up, they'd be shot. Balance of terror, you know. 

[Mung]

Most high ranking politicians are corrupt and shady the world over. Billy boy Clinton was involved in trafficking huge amounts of coke before be became president as example.

[geriatrickid]

17 minutes ago, Mung said:

Most high ranking politicians are corrupt and shady the world over. Billy boy Clinton was involved in trafficking huge amounts of coke before be became president as example.

That is an outright lie and without any substantiating evidence. Why post such a  fabrication? Need attention or do you just get your jollies spreading lies?

Edited March 10, 2020 by geriatrickid

[BigBadGeordie]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Im just glad I know nufink about politics

At last the "Masked PM" lurker has unveiled himself on Thai Visa.

We know who you are Uncle (General PM) Too.

 

Just waiting for Steven100 to come out of the box and admit he is "Toad the watchman".

[klauskunkel]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Did Thammanat get into the Cabinet on merits or because Prayut succumbed to old political traditions?

Is that a rhetorical question? (mine certainly is)

and did Prayut really "succumb", or rather embrace said traditions practices?

[phkauf]

14 hours ago, rkidlad said:

He knows things. Very damaging things. He even made a thinly veiled threat when his drug trafficking conviction was exposed. 

Very true, but that guy has a history of disappearing people.

[mtls2005]

Time for another name-change?

 

 

[Pedrogaz]

Hopefully it is two seconds to midnight for this self-serving, incompetent b'stard.

[scorecard]

15 hours ago, YetAnother said:

but VERY traditional, no merit involved, relatives and cronies; the true thai failing; wrong people in important jobs

And therefore severe lack of capability and sincerity towards the work each ministry should be active on. Plus further down there may be capable and sincere people but they wouldn't dare to discuss or be active on anything not directed by their scaly ministers. Thailand loses and goes backwards.

Edited March 11, 2020 by scorecard

[Wullie Mercer]

12 hours ago, Mung said:

Most high ranking politicians are corrupt and shady the world over. Billy boy Clinton was involved in trafficking huge amounts of coke before be became president as example.

Did you mean to say cock not coke?????

[PETERTHEEATER]

12 hours ago, Mung said:

Most high ranking politicians are corrupt and shady the world over. Billy boy Clinton was involved in trafficking huge amounts of coke before be became president as example.

Yes, but be fair, come is a much cleaner burning fuel than coal......

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, rkidlad said:

He knows things. Very damaging things. He even made a thinly veiled threat when his drug trafficking conviction was exposed. 

There is a limit, even among friends... which he is stretching to breaking point, to be fire-proof you also have to be bullet proof!

[billd766]

15 hours ago, Mung said:

Most high ranking politicians are corrupt and shady the world over. Billy boy Clinton was involved in trafficking huge amounts of coke before be became president as example.

Really? Do you have any links or posts to confirm what have posted?

[thequietman]

15 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

That is an outright lie and without any substantiating evidence. Why post such a  fabrication? Need attention or do you just get your jollies spreading lies?

Hillary (and Bill) Part Two of the Clinton Trilogy: the Drugs Volume Paperback – 2008

by Victor Thorn  (Author)

[curlylekan]

With all the negativity surrounding him, if he were a member of FFP, he would be in font of the EC for the rest of his life, but since he is a friend of Prayut, the EC could care less

[BobbyL]

Just imagine the things about him that we don't know. 

[Brigand]

I can only guess that this guy Thammanat is the same as Suthep, as in he knows where too many skeletons are buried regarding the junta and it's path to the present. Both of these two are rotten to the core.

[phkauf]

26 minutes ago, Brigand said:

I can only guess that this guy Thammanat is the same as Suthep, as in he knows where too many skeletons are buried regarding the junta and it's path to the present. Both of these two are rotten to the core.

Not only the Junta's skeletons, think a little bit higher.

[mikebell]

On 3/10/2020 at 6:14 PM, snoop1130 said:

Controversial characters made their ways to high government posts because either Prayut had to return the favor or they

would spill the beans on the other dubious characters in high positions.  The flour dealer just knows too much to be sacked.