"thaksin Cant Sleep "

(The Nation) Why Thaksin can't sleep

,Jul 10 2005

Subject: (The Nation) Why Thaksin can't sleep

SIDELINES: Some sleepless nights in Bangkok

Published on July 10, 2005

By Sopon Onkgara

The Nation

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has complained about having some

sleepless nights in the past week. One reason given in candid remarks

to news reporters was that he missed his wife, who was away in London

with one of their daughters.

It was not due to anxiety over their security during the bomb attacks

by terrorists. The lack of pillow talk might have been the true cause,

because we all know that his wife has always been a reliable adviser

and confidante. Nobody could ever take her place, particularly during

crucial moments.

But one suspects the CEO is troubled by worries and tension caused by

growing adversity on all fronts and having to face some unfavourable

events alone. Any ordinary politician in the same situation would have

cracked by now under such formidable pressure.

The public may be speculating that the irreversible plunge of

Thaksin's popularity could be the prime cause for his sleepless

nights and the frequent mood swings that have resulted in his bad

temper and unkind remarks for his critics.

That's understandable. His chronic failure in suppressing the

escalating terrorism in the three southernmost provinces and the

worsening economic situation have resulted in a quick erosion of public

confidence in his crisis-management skills.

What else? His soft sell via his radio programme every Saturday morning

has gradually become excuse sessions and at times an opportunity to hit

back at critics.

But the most disturbing turn of events has been his staunch allies and

supporters from the early days of his premiership either distancing

themselves from him or turning against him with acidic comments, if not

outright bashing, directed at perceived political arrogance,

mismanagement, rampant corruption and full-blown cronyism.

Dr Prawase Wasi and fellow senior physician Dr Sem Pringpuangkaew came

out in full support back when the CEO was forced to defend himself in

the Constitution Court against an assets-concealment charge. Widely

revered monk and key patron Luangta Maha Bua had heaped praise on the

unique qualities of Thaksin's leadership.

All of these people and others have since become harsh critics of the

CEO. In their minds, they must have felt their trust in the man

bitterly betrayed. Thaksin had presented lofty ideas about helping the

poor and saving the nation from adversity. But as time passed, the man

with the grand design and noble mission proved not to be the man he

claimed he was, but instead actually the shocking opposite, so to

speak.

In going from deep disappointment to anger, they must have observed

gradual signs and eventually unmistakable displays of hypocrisy, double

standards, half-truths and true lies in regard to the excessive

corruption that could end up dragging the country down into an

unfathomable abyss.

Blatant corruption and authoritarian tendencies due to political

arrogance are, along with certain acts of mischief-making, major causes

for the eroding popularity. Recently, Luangta Maha Bua gave him a

strong dressing down instead of preaching to him with a benevolent tone

like he normally would do, stopping just short of calling him a foul

name.

That was shocking enough. The senior monk has a big grass-roots

following in the Northeast, as well as some urban disciples. Losing the

support of this monk could accelerate the decay of public faith in

Thaksin's leadership.

And what was Thaksin's response? Typically negative. The monk has

complained to his disciples that somebody sent a police officer to warn

him not be too harsh in his bashing of the national leader. The monk

became indignant and issued forth with even more criticism.

From now on, expect more unfavourable factors and causes for tension.

Increased hardship for the people, due to rising oil prices and a

general decline in the national economy, will further darken

Thaksin's down time. Together with his teams of strategists and

political marketing gurus, he must launch more gimmicks and freebies in

an attempt to stave off widespread public discontent.

Oh yes, he'll still be around for some time to come. The corruption

scandal might have caused political rumblings, but his Teflon quality

of self-preservation will help him weather the prevailing adversities.

But if this downward trend cannot be reversed, then we will surely hear

some more complaints about his sleepless nights.

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