Despite The Talk, A Red-Yellow Alliance Is Not On The Cards

[webfact]

THAI TALK

Despite the talk, a red-yellow alliance is not on the cards

By Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

If you are utterly confused by conflicting reports on whether the red shirts and yellow shirts will come together to oust Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva from office, you should congratulate yourself on being among the majority of the country's political observers.

It all depends on whom you talk to - and whether the other guy admits to being a "genuine" or "hardcore" or "light" or "fake" red or yellow follower.

Chaiwat Sinsuwongse, a core leader of the so-called Thai Patriots' Network, has added to the state of political perplexity by revealing that he held talks in prison with such red leaders as Nattawut Saikua and Weng Tochirakarn about the possibility of the red and yellow shirts joining hands to force out Abhisit.

When he first made that disclosure, he sent a shockwave of excitement through political circles. A lot of people were led to believe that an unprecedented accord had been reached. Finally, that long-awaited and much sought-after "national reconciliation" had come to pass, even if it meant that such an agreement could be reached only when you had the arch-rivals behind bars.

Chaiwat was initially quite convincing because, behind closed doors, he even told a few reporters that his "negotiations" with the red-shirt leaders had gone so well that they even touched on the possibility of forming a "national government" once Abhisit was ousted.

But then he diluted his own words by adding: "I am waiting for their response to my proposal."

That, of course, means that nothing actually came of the "jail talks". He might have put on boxing gloves to spar with Nattawut but that didn't amount to anything politically concrete. It wasn't clear whether Nattawut was amused by Chaiwat's gesture. But his colleagues in the red-shirt movement outside prison didn't show any sign of appreciation. In fact, Thida Tavornset, the new acting chief, effectively dismissed the proposed red-yellow affiliation outright.

From the yellow-shirt mainstream headquarters, the reaction was at best lukewarm. Chaiwat together with Veera Somkuamkid, had in fact already distanced themselves from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to form the Thai Patriots' Network, to campaign over the Cambodian border issue.

The red shirts of course weren't unaware of the subtle split between the two groups. That Chaiwat's words weren't taken all that seriously by the reds shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone.

It's a pity though. I would have heartily welcomed any suggestion that the reds and yellows bury the hatchet and put an end to their long-standing conflict, so that real national issues could be discussed in an atmosphere of informed debate rather than the prevailing highly emotional confrontation.

But then, I have been warned that my "midsummer night's dream" will never materialise, not because of the personalities involved but basically because the real leaders of the two camps can never reconcile their highly divergent interests.

I take that with a big dose of salt, though. It doesn't matter what the public is being told about where the two sides stand on the nation's critical issues. If, for some reason, their interests converge - and ironically Abhisit may turn out to be both parties' "common enemy" - anything could happen in the name of national unity and reconciliation.

For now though, Chaiwat's dream of a red-yellow national government remains elusive, because the "common enemy" remains stubbornly resilient and the sense of disillusionment among the "colourless" middle-class grows with every self-serving activity undertaken by both leaders of both colourful shades.

My scepticism was confirmed when Jatuporn Prompan, a red-shirt leader, made his latest "revelation" earlier this week, with allegations that a number of people were plotting a new coup. He said General Prem Tinsulanonda was in Petchabun from January 29-30 with two powerful Army officers to plot a military takeover. He also claimed that a man with "a sharp face and black teeth" representing the yellow shirts was also present at that secret pow-wow.

Nobody could verify that claim, of course. But with that, any possibility of a red-yellow get-together, not to mention an alliance of convenience, has been shot down, perhaps for good.

But if every dog has its day, isn't every Thai citizen who isn't red or yellow entitled to his day in the sun, too?

-- The Nation 2011-02-03

[asiawatcher]

My scepticism was confirmed when Jatuporn Prompan, a red-shirt leader, made his latest "revelation" earlier this week, with allegations that a number of people were plotting a new coup. He said General Prem Tinsulanonda was in Petchabun from January 29-30 with two powerful Army officers to plot a military takeover. He also claimed that a man with "a sharp face and black teeth" representing the yellow shirts was also present at that secret pow-wow.

Jatuporn is just grabbing at media straws. The man has no credibility and neither do the red and yellow protestors who combined don't even add up to 5% of the votes if all Thai's actually voted. They are fractionalized and without any leadership, policies or credible people to allow the populace to trust.

[LindsayBKK]

Both sides are for and against different issues.

But if they did, it would be a case of the blind leading the blind.

Who are their leaders to stand for PM at the next election?

What will be their policies IF they Gov?

If this is how they wish Thailand to be seen by the world

just imagine what things would be like if any of them took office.

This is dad's house if you don't like it here leave.

Nobody is working harder than PM Abhisit Vejjajiva

Edited February 3, 2011 by LindsayBKK

[SomTumTiger]

My scepticism was confirmed when Jatuporn Prompan, a red-shirt leader, made his latest "revelation" earlier this week, with allegations that a number of people were plotting a new coup. He said General Prem Tinsulanonda was in Petchabun from January 29-30 with two powerful Army officers to plot a military takeover. He also claimed that a man with "a sharp face and black teeth" representing the yellow shirts was also present at that secret pow-wow.

Jatuporn is just grabbing at media straws. The man has no credibility and neither do the red and yellow protestors who combined don't even add up to 5% of the votes if all Thai's actually voted. They are fractionalized and without any leadership, policies or credible people to allow the populace to trust.

Funny, during those dates that he mentioned, Prem attended a concert at my school, wonder how he found the time, with all the Coup planning lol. He drove himself to the concert, coming by himself to enjoy the music.