Devolution: Thai Analysis

[webfact]

Devolution

Only a week into its actual work, the Yingluck Shinawatra government is already showing signs of resurrecting the deplorable habits of its predecessors. An example of this is the ongoing fuss over the annual police reshuffle. The recent shame brought about by Rak Thailand leader Chuvit Kamolvisit's uncovering of possible police complacence towards illegal gambling dens has put National Police Chief Police General Wichien Pojpohsri's future in question.

The revelation has provided plenty of ammunition for Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubamrung to attack the reshuffle list and mold it to his wishes. The deputy premier for justice has already shown that he is more than ready to hold the matter over the national police commander, implying that he could easily be transferred to an inactive post if not explicitly saying so to the press.

This bullying of senior civil servants is a trademark of the current administration's previous incarnations, dating back to the ousted government of Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra. Interference in military and police affairs was even cited as justification for the 2006 coup d'etat which deposed Thaksin.

Despite assurances by Yingluck that no senior civil officials will be transferred any time soon, the annual military and police reshuffles of September provide a prime opportunity for any Cabinet minister looking to shoulder in on the ever-important defense sector and integrate in more facilitating personnel, possibly those that share last names or owe favors.

Present members of Pheu Thai Party cannot deny that during their times in the Thai Rak Thai led government or People's Power administration, high ranking civil sector officials were swapped and rearranged with frequency, often adding individuals suspiciously accommodating of their Cabinet overseers.

Campaigning on a platform of progress, Yingluck cannot allow her government to devolve back into the acts that created such disunity in Thailand before. The Pheu Thai Party, populated by many of the people present during the 2006 military ouster, should know better now and avoid any movements that paint them as the same individuals the military could no longer allow to govern five years ago. There is no need to rehash the practices of Thai Rak Thai and People's Power, especially in the completely transformed landscape of a strife torn Thailand.

Kom Chad Luek, August 31, 2011

Translated and Rewritten by Itiporn Lakarnchua

Please note that the views expressed in our "Analysis" segment are translated from local newspaper articles and do not reflect the views of the Thai-ASEAN News Network.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-01

[huanga]

"Campaigning on a platform of progress, Yingluck cannot allow her government to devolve back into the acts that created such disunity in Thailand before. The Pheu Thai Party, populated by many of the people present during the 2006 military ouster, should know better now and avoid any movements that paint them as the same individuals the military could no longer allow to govern five years ago. There is no need to rehash the practices of Thai Rak Thai and People's Power, especially in the completely transformed landscape of a strife torn Thailand."

"Campaigning on a platform of progress" - is just one of their slogans. Besides just progress, democracy, welfare of the poor, reconciliation, etc. are some other platforms that they campaigned on. However, anyone can see through it that the only objective is to just get elected, and then they can do whatever they wish. I do not believe they care about devolving back into disunity as long as their final objective is met - Bring back the criminal mastermind. Everything that they are doing is working towards this goal - appointment of relatives and friends in key cabinet and ministerial positions, Reds in the government, re-shuffling of police and military etc. After all the chess moves are set and done. The final objective will be met.

Does anyone really think they have the welfare of the poor, national reconciliation, democracy, etc in the center of their mind? It's only about control and then personal gains. To accomplish this, cronyism, nepotism must be put in place to silence the opposition. Anyone voted for them and hoping for changes had been just used as pawns in their overall machination.

They just better hope devolution will not be turned into revolution. But then by that time, most of the plundering will be done. Their criminal mastermind already has a get-out-of-jail free card (Montenegro passport) but what do most of the poor Thai that they so passionately swore to help have???

Edited September 1, 2011 by huanga

[hammered]

While recognizing the political changes in the police force to favour PTP friendly characters, lets not also forget the context of how the previous government placed its own people in power positions throughout the civil service and at the top of the police and also not forget the cleansing of the military down to battalion level, which received scant criticism compared to this.

Either all agree not to continue this practice or all agree to when in power have the right to plant whoever they want, which is standard practice and has been for ages

Edited to add: are those that write such things really expecting to see PTP continue to keep in place all the overt political appointments of Dems and BJT who wont work for them, or just taking cheap shots that remain hypocritical considering the limited criticism over a far reaching campaign to cleanse every police, army and civil service post of even those possibly suspected of maybe possibly not disliking Thaksin?

Edited September 1, 2011 by hammered

[huanga]

While recognizing the political changes in the police force to favour PTP friendly characters, lets not also forget the context of how the previous government placed its own people in power positions throughout the civil service and at the top of the police and also not forget the cleansing of the military down to battalion level, which received scant criticism compared to this.

Either all agree not to continue this practice or all agree to when in power have the right to plant whoever they want, which is standard practice and has been for ages

Edited to add: are those that write such things really expecting to see PTP continue to keep in place all the overt political appointments of Dems and BJT who wont work for them, or just taking cheap shots that remain hypocritical considering the limited criticism over a far reaching campaign to cleanse every police, army and civil service post of even those possibly suspected of maybe possibly not disliking Thaksin?

Understand your point. However, your proposed "an eye for an eye or keep the status-quo" will also not further this country. If PTP campaigned on progress, national reconciliation, democracy, etc, they would get more respect by filling out these positions in a "progressive" manner or be more "democratic". But yet, their moves so far are not furthering this country or the betterment of lives of people that they have pledged to help.

[animatic]

This presupposes that gamboling didn't continue during TRT and PPP days.

It surely did, the current Police Chief was just standing over the status quo, business as usual.

When new governments come in they look for excuses to winnow out those they deem uncooperative to their vested interests, plus it looks progressive if the New Broom Sweeps Clean. But this just means someone new will be taking the cut of the action when the gamboling dens return in a month or so when the story cools.

[Bakseedaa]

While recognizing the political changes in the police force to favour PTP friendly characters, lets not also forget the context of how the previous government placed its own people in power positions throughout the civil service and at the top of the police and also not forget the cleansing of the military down to battalion level, which received scant criticism compared to this.

Either all agree not to continue this practice or all agree to when in power have the right to plant whoever they want, which is standard practice and has been for ages

Edited to add: are those that write such things really expecting to see PTP continue to keep in place all the overt political appointments of Dems and BJT who wont work for them, or just taking cheap shots that remain hypocritical considering the limited criticism over a far reaching campaign to cleanse every police, army and civil service post of even those possibly suspected of maybe possibly not disliking Thaksin?

Really Hammered, do you ever place a post that makes sense to anyone but yourself and you wife... what the fluck are you on about... no...no explination needed.. must have been all the Dandy and Beanos you read as a child..!

[backtonormal]

While recognizing the political changes in the police force to favour PTP friendly characters, lets not also forget the context of how the previous government placed its own people in power positions throughout the civil service and at the top of the police and also not forget the cleansing of the military down to battalion level, which received scant criticism compared to this.

Either all agree not to continue this practice or all agree to when in power have the right to plant whoever they want, which is standard practice and has been for ages

Edited to add: are those that write such things really expecting to see PTP continue to keep in place all the overt political appointments of Dems and BJT who wont work for them, or just taking cheap shots that remain hypocritical considering the limited criticism over a far reaching campaign to cleanse every police, army and civil service post of even those possibly suspected of maybe possibly not disliking Thaksin?

Really Hammered, do you ever place a post that makes sense to anyone but yourself and you wife... what the fluck are you on about... no...no explination needed.. must have been all the Dandy and Beanos you read as a child..!

makes plenty of sense to me. Take your yellow goggles off it may read differently. After a year of reading and now posting I for one find hammered one of the more enjoyable, sensible reads on this forum. He does not clock on to post

[GazR]

This presupposes that gamboling didn't continue during TRT and PPP days.

It surely did, the current Police Chief was just standing over the status quo, business as usual.

When new governments come in they look for excuses to winnow out those they deem uncooperative to their vested interests, plus it looks progressive if the New Broom Sweeps Clean. But this just means someone new will be taking the cut of the action when the gamboling dens return in a month or so when the story cools.

Yes, there will no doubt be further selective transfers etc. based mainly on criteria such as loyalty, connections and political clout rather than merit.

Thaksin never tried to change this before and I don't believe he ever will: history shows he has always put his own interests ahead of Thailand's.

I wish it were otherwise, but as far as Emperor Wannabe goes, don't believe the hype:

he's still just a shameless old con-artist with delusions of grandeur and no clothes - just <deleted> naked greed for all to see.

Edited September 1, 2011 by GazR

[ES1]

Taking bets on the next military overthrow. I give it about a year. As soon as they try bring back Toxin it will boil over again. They learned from the last time and will do a much better job of it this time. Probably in ways that will make sure these people will not be around to get back in power ever again.

[GazR]

Taking bets on the next military overthrow. I give it about a year. As soon as they try bring back Toxin it will boil over again. They learned from the last time and will do a much better job of it this time. Probably in ways that will make sure these people will not be around to get back in power ever again.

Actually, history shows that they DON'T learn from the last time, so maybe Khun Anand was right not to accept the premiership this time: A quick fix like that entrenches the belief that 'a man on a white horse' will come to save the day.

Why did the job eventually fall to such a vulnerable old bumbling boob? Because he was obliged to take it.

BTW understanding what needs to be done is the easy part - knowing how to get it done is the hard part . Abhisit knew he needed those 250 seats he was never going to win to really get things done. Maybe next time...

[Thaddeus]

when the gamboling dens return in a month or so

Lambs to the slaughter?

(I don't make a habit of pointing out typos, but that was too Freudian to miss)