Yingluck Charms The Bureaucrats

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Yingluck charms the bureaucrats

By Avudh Panananda

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appears set to start her real work this week following the three-day policy debate.

Although Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung took the centre stage in rebutting the opposition's attacks on government policies, PM Yingluck made it clear she was the one in charge.

Right after presenting her policy statement to Parliament, Yingluck chaired a first meeting with permanent secretaries and top bureaucrats to translate policies into action plans.

According to those present, she made a good first impression. She is, no doubt, still being seen by senior civil servants as the clone of her brother, Thaksin. A number of policies are nothing but carbon copies of populist platforms spearheaded by Thaksin.

Her speaking style reflects that of her brother. When trying to get a point across, Thaksin had his "Roi Et model" as an analogy for an integrated approach to poverty eradication. Yingluck now has her "Bang Rakam model" as an analogy for an integrated management approach to tackling seasonal floods.

But the bureaucrats did notice a subtle difference between the two Shinawatras. While Thaksin is full of ideas, many of which are half-baked, Yingluck is reserved and cautious about revealing her thoughts.

When Thaksin assumed office in 2001, he was like a force of change unleashed to take down the old-world order and build anew. In contrast, Yingluck is like a new version of Thaksin, mellowed over the years.

Make no mistake, the unfolding political drama involving Yingluck is not a sequel to any earlier episode involving Thaksin. It is rather a reshoot of the same old production with a replenished cast.

Thaksin was ousted before he could complete what he set out to do. From 2001 to 2006 he alienated and antagonised a large number of top bureaucrats by trying to subdue them as "his" team.

Thaksin said she was his clone, and that's what Yingluck is. Her mission is to complete her brother's unfinished business, and in order to do that, she needs to keep the bureaucrats on her side.

In her first item of business, she has tried to ingratiate herself as a team player among the bureaucrats. Heads of government agencies were impressed that she was signing on "their" team instead of bringing in replacement players.

Of course, heads will roll in next month's reshuffle of bureaucrats. But top bureaucrats appear convinced by Yingluck's pledge that there will be no purge.

Mandatory retirements will see replacements in several key positions within a few years. The government has an advantage in the war of attrition.

At the heights of his power, Thaksin tried to administer the country like Thailand Incorporated. The Yingluck government is also geared for big business, starting with the reduction of corporate income tax.

Under Thaksin's leadership, selected businesses prospered. With Yingluck at the helm, investors are busy predicting which will be the sunrise industry.

Just like her brother, Yingluck is spearheading the concept of Thailand Inc, with several auxiliary terms like "Team Thailand", and CEO governors.

Thaksin and Yingluck have yet to spell out what Thailand will look like in the next four years. Unless they do this, doubts will forever linger that their populist policies are nothing more than a ploy to plunder the country.

Mere months ago, Thaksin was an outlaw and the red shirts were political villians. Today Thaksin is the government's darling and the red shirts have re-invented themselves as insiders at the seat of power

Yingluck, Thaksin and the reds are basking in the limelight. But will their glory be sustainable in the face of two unresolved issues - injustice and economic disparity?

-- The Nation 2011-08-30

[looping]

While Thaksin is full of ideas, many of which are half-baked, Yingluck is reserved and cautious about revealing her thoughts..

Roughly translated as "she's trying to remember what he told her to say"

Take her phone away for a week and let's see how well she does!

[siampolee]

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

Abraham Lincoln

Then after a while , "The truth " appears then the situation changes.

[hammered]

An interesting piece by the thoughtful Avudh. The final question being the critical point and one that is lost so often in the noise about other distractions.

[OzMick]

So there's no poverty in Roi Et?