Now The Thai Govt's Real Battles Begin

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Now the govt's real battles begin

By PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

The Democrat Party has successfully concluded the internal war in the coalition over draft constitutional amendments on the electoral system and on requirements for international agreements passing second reading in the House.

It is not clear whether the drafts received approval because of benefits offered to the coalition parties related to share in the midyear budget or ministerial seats in the next government or because of threats to dissolve the House.

It is clear, however, that the coalition parties have decided to stick together as the government.

With the internal squabbling settled, the government's remaining battles are now external, and all of them are huge: the violence in the South, the yellow shirts' rallies around Government House, and the border conflict with Cambodia.

Daily incidents in the restive South have erupted again. Nine people were killed and two others injured by a roadside bomb in Yala's Yaha district, and people in Narathiwat remain in fear after a deadly attack against an Army camp in that province's Rangae district last week.

The political situation also became hotter when the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) started protesting on Tuesday. Its three demands to the government are scrapping the Thai-Cambodian boundary agreement signed in 2000, withdrawal from the World Heritage Committee on management of the Preah Vihear Temple, and pushing Cambodian soldiers and civilians out of the disputed areas along the border.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban who is in charge of national security, naturally agree that it is impossible to meet these demands, even though the PAD vows that the rally will expand and persist.

Initially, the protest will cause traffic problems, as the camps of the mainstream PAD and the Thai Patriots Network splinter group together completely block the roads around Government House.

"When a hardliner like Chamlong Srimuang leads the protest, we can believe that the rally will be prolonged," a security analyst said. "Otherwise, the PAD can hardly mobilise people, because Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who formerly led the group has been arrested." The other yellow-shirt leaders have joined the New Politics Party.

Suthep is worried about a long siege of Government House, the symbol of the administrative branch. The PAD seized the government's seat of power for 193 days in 2008. Abhisit and Suthep announced that Government House must never be seized again. They ordered national police chief Wichean Potephosree to secure government and other prominent places, including Parliament.

Chamlong, warning that the protest might be escalated, said he would wait to see the government's reaction first. "If it's beyond our patience, we will visit Government House," he said.

Police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said the recent arrests and seizure of weapons could be a sign of violence to come. Intelligence agencies will keep a close eye on the movements of protest groups.

On the territory issue, PAD leaders said they had ordered a legal team to prepare a malfeasance lawsuit with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders and the National Anti-Corruption Commission against Abhisit, Suthep and others. The protest leaders said the five Thais released from Cambodia last week had said that Thailand had lost some sovereignty to Cambodia.

However, the PAD's movements may have some connection with the Cambodian court's scheduled February 1 ruling in the case of Thai Patriots Network leader Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon.

It is something to watch, as accepting that ruling might be taken as support for Cambodia's right over the disputed land.

That's why the government must prepare itself carefully to face these challenges.

-- The Nation 2011-01-27

[asiawatcher]

If the coalition is now allowing the country to be governed then take control and remove the external threat of colour separation!

For the South - that is a harder solution but a complete ban on weapons down there may be a beginning.

The temple - just give it to Cambodia but limit the amount of surrounding land - after all it is only a pile of rubble with some shape left in it. 1 less temple from the 100,000 (reportedly) in Thailand won't make any difference - will also clear the way for better trade and ties with Cambodia, your neighbour.

[jayjay0]

If the coalition is now allowing the country to be governed then take control and remove the external threat of colour separation!

For the South - that is a harder solution but a complete ban on weapons down there may be a beginning.

The temple - just give it to Cambodia but limit the amount of surrounding land - after all it is only a pile of rubble with some shape left in it. 1 less temple from the 100,000 (reportedly) in Thailand won't make any difference - will also clear the way for better trade and ties with Cambodia, your neighbour.

Correct me if I am wrong but dosen't Cambodia already have the temple itself it is the land adjacent to it that is in contest.

From my point of view the south is the real problem. I can see no real solution. Muslims the world over are seeking to destroy the societies they live in unless it is already a Muslim society. The Problem in the south is not a political one It is a religious one.

If you give in to there demands it is not long before they have another list of demands. they can not be appeased or talked to. With them it is give me on a on going basis.

[junglist]

If the coalition is now allowing the country to be governed then take control and remove the external threat of colour separation!

For the South - that is a harder solution but a complete ban on weapons down there may be a beginning.

The temple - just give it to Cambodia but limit the amount of surrounding land - after all it is only a pile of rubble with some shape left in it. 1 less temple from the 100,000 (reportedly) in Thailand won't make any difference - will also clear the way for better trade and ties with Cambodia, your neighbour.

It’s about pride and power not common sense.