Will Yingluck Give Precedence To Reconciliation Over Politics?

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Will Yingluck give precedence to reconciliation over politics?

The Nation

The flood crisis is an opportunity for the government to pursue a growth agenda instead of political goals

It is clear what the Yingluck government should do when the flood waters recede, which may take more than a month for some areas. What is uncertain is whether the Pheu Thai-led administration will do it. Politics has given way to surging water for so long and it will surely try to reassert itself. Several potentially explosive agendas remain unfulfilled, namely a proposed amnesty for Thaksin Shinawatra, legal amendment to curb the military's power, or constitutional changes to perhaps make it all happen at the same time. It's interesting to see if the prime minister will find a real reconciliation opportunity in this crisis, or go straight back to the hot issues that her government tried to touch before water came cascading down the North of Thailand.

The "proper" priority is obvious. It must be about reconstruction and rehabilitation so that the country can be on the road to recovery as soon as possible. The government has set aside a sizeable amount of the budget for the purpose, which is a move in the right direction. Setting aside money, however, must be followed by honest action and political will. Also, over the next six months Thailand should be a country free from bad-blood politics that could hinder assistance or help to those who need it most. This may sound like a wishful thinking, but the truth is, consequences will be dire if the opposite happens.

As a government, the Yingluck administration is in a better position to dictate the course of Thai politics during the crucial post-flood period. No matter how its opponents may try to cook up destructive politics, much will depend on what the government really plans to do. As long as there is no real fire, whatever smoke the opponents try to create will just blow away.

This is probably too early to demand a post-flood national master plan from the government. But surely, there are issues that the prime minister and her team must start thinking about right now in addition to the obvious question of how to salvage a hard-hit economy. There are several real issues for real sufferers that need to be addressed, such as cheap food supplies, unemployment, hygiene and health care.

Post-flood social welfare will clash with the government's populist policies. For example, how can the government force a Bt300 minimum wage upon industries reeling from the flood without the scheme backfiring on the workers themselves? And, of course,

people may need a lot of new homes and new cars, but how can the government subsidise their purchases when there are other pressing needs that also require a lot of state money?

Then we will be confronted with the issue of water management, and how little time we will have to make things right. It will start raining substantially again as early as next May and the dams in the North could be filled up quickly again. This is not an issue because it will have to be addressed along with Thailand's seasonal farming and urbanisation.

To add to that, there are the long-standing problems that must be tackled once and for all: deforestation is chief among them. Coping with the consequences of this still unfolding natural disaster and preventing its repetition require a swift, comprehensive action and planning while time is not quite on the government's side. In fact, time is not on the nation's side, either.

In other words, a strife-torn Thailand will no longer have the luxury of letting political camps try to tear each other to pieces. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of all people must know what can start a new fire and make last year repeat itself. She simply cannot let it happen, as the real work before her is so enormous. Her present priorities have obviously been reset, and she will have to make sure her future ones will be, too.

-- The Nation 2011-10-23

[whybother]

This is probably too early to demand a post-flood national master plan from the government. But surely, there are issues that the prime minister and her team must start thinking about right now in addition to the obvious question of how to salvage a hard-hit economy.

I think you've been confused about government statements last week that "The worst is over".

I think it's a bit early to be worrying too much about getting the economy going again. Wait until after the high tides next weekend, and the flood situation starts to ease, before making plans for the economy. Who knows, by this time next week, Bangkok will be under a metre of water. Any plans will need to be completely different by then.

[hgma]

25 years ago i was living and working in Thailand.

i bought a newspaper on a daily basis...the nation.

What i read now, was written then......exactly the same "for crying out loud!" editorials!!!

names changed ...rest? the same!

hgma

[geriatrickid]

And will some vested interests stop using their media outlets to spread disunity, discord and pettiness?

[BigBikeBKK]

Interesting article in the Bangkok Post about a number of Thai civil aid groups that have withdrawn from working with the FROC due to a long list of complaints that are best summed up as " the government's flood command "not welcoming participation by civil groups"."

Chalk up yet another FAIL for the administration's terrible handling of this crisis.

[moe666]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

[hellodolly]

Is the Pope going to convert to Judaism?

[qualtrough]

Read in your best Gomer Pyle Voice "Well Suhprize suhprize, the Post and Nation don't have anything good to say about this government".

[sirchai]

Is the Pope going to convert to Judaism?

No, but he'll be a Hindu soon.....

[Buchholz]

Interesting article in the Bangkok Post about a number of Thai civil aid groups that have withdrawn from working with the FROC due to a long list of complaints that are best summed up as " the government's flood command "not welcoming participation by civil groups"."

Chalk up yet another FAIL for the administration's terrible handling of this crisis.

It's now a new thread:

Thaiflood Separated Itself From Froc

He strongly criticized the center’s works, citing that it needed to be well organized and ignore political influences in order to be able to achieve its ultimate objective of preventing flood or inform the public of it as soon as possible.

[qualtrough]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

[jaidam]

Read in your best Gomer Pyle Voice "Well Suhprize suhprize, the Post and Nation don't have anything good to say about this government".

Its an outrage that the Post and Nation are so negative about this government. I mean when they covered the story about that lovely chap PTP MP Karun Hosakul organising the removal of flood barriers at 2am the other day with a backhoe, it seemed they just looked for the negative aspects. Why could they not say something like "his hair looked nice" or perhaps congratulate him for getting out of bed at 2am. Instead they just focused on his acts possibly causing chaos to a couple dozen million citizens of Bangkok. So uncalled for.

Similarly the confused statements from govt agencies about the flooding. One day its under control, the next Bangkok will be covered in a meter deep water for a month. Why is BP and the Nation so negative on these contradictory statements? If they just focused on praising Yingluck's fashionable Burberry boots, expertly applied make-up, and the genius of non allowed dissent in the red shirt villages it would be far better. Who cares about a bit of water? I mean some people are stuck in the godforsaken desert in Dubai. They would be grateful for some rain I'm sure.

Please BP and the Nation, can you not try to be more positive on PTP. Thanks

Edited October 23, 2011 by jaidam

[whybother]

Read in your best Gomer Pyle Voice "Well Suhprize suhprize, the Post and Nation don't have anything good to say about this government".

IS there anything good to say about this government?

[whybother]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

The red shirts have plenty of media that they control which they use to spread their propaganda. TV, radio, magazines.

[steveromagnino]

And will some vested interests stop using their media outlets to spread disunity, discord and pettiness?

Hear hear

Jatuporn should cease speaking. Sudarat has no place grandstanding now to support her future governor bid, various ministers in PT should learn to shut up and do some work rather than trying to run flood relief themselves using a media campaign. One PT minister allegedly illegally opening water gates should resign and apollogise for the damage he caused (and pay for it).

FROC is also doing a poor job, partly because it is spending 1/2 its time trying to undermine the BMA and NGOs rather than actually doing work. And also because they are inept.

300b must surely be off the table now. Let's hope for the sake of the farmers that crop pledging is replaced with the previous crop guarantee scheme. The rest of PT policies are best left not done as few of them are actually helpful longterm to the economy, instead let's hope a new period of cooperation means logical thought out policy without excessive upcountry giveaways results in a new longterm prosperity.

There should also be an enquiry; 300+ deaths probably were mostly preventable; let's use this as a learning experience. Both directly this time

- august rainfall was average, why wasn't action taken then

- how much has this boat scheme cost for what benefit

- what shortfalls in communication

- what shortfalls in providing aid

And long term

- how do we best manage a crisis

- who should lead it

- what resources are required

- how do accurately communicate what we are doing

Always easy to sit on the sidelines and complain. Reality is gov t has done a terrible job by any measure and should be responsible for that. If they are smart they will focus on actual work required to fix asap hereafter.

And that fixing will be easier in a less heated political climate.

[orchidlady]

And will some vested interests stop using their media outlets to spread disunity, discord and pettiness?

Hear hear

Jatuporn should cease speaking. Sudarat has no place grandstanding now to support her future governor bid, various ministers in PT should learn to shut up and do some work rather than trying to run flood relief themselves using a media campaign. One PT minister allegedly illegally opening water gates should resign and apollogise for the damage he caused (and pay for it).

FROC is also doing a poor job, partly because it is spending 1/2 its time trying to undermine the BMA and NGOs rather than actually doing work. And also because they are inept.

300b must surely be off the table now. Let's hope for the sake of the farmers that crop pledging is replaced with the previous crop guarantee scheme. The rest of PT policies are best left not done as few of them are actually helpful longterm to the economy, instead let's hope a new period of cooperation means logical thought out policy without excessive upcountry giveaways results in a new longterm prosperity.

There should also be an enquiry; 300+ deaths probably were mostly preventable; let's use this as a learning experience. Both directly this time

- august rainfall was average, why wasn't action taken then

- how much has this boat scheme cost for what benefit

- what shortfalls in communication

- what shortfalls in providing aid

And long term

- how do we best manage a crisis

- who should lead it

- what resources are required

- how do accurately communicate what we are doing

Always easy to sit on the sidelines and complain. Reality is gov t has done a terrible job by any measure and should be responsible for that. If they are smart they will focus on actual work required to fix asap hereafter.

And that fixing will be easier in a less heated political climate.

and verify is it true as reported on other media that PT supporters are getting relief first and separate distribution of relief supplies to red shirts who are asking a red flag be shown before receiving aid? I wonder if the people/countries donating decided to specify who could receive aid and who couldn't rather than what should be necessity/hardship if these same people would be screaming.

[garrfeild]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

It is interesting how he seems to have kept his mouth such these past couple weeks. I wonder if Yingluck's problem is she is a woman, Knowing how this is a male dominated society, you have to wonder how others feel about taking orders from her? I can't help feeling there will, at the very least be an internal PT power struggle once the floods are over. No one else in her government seem to be coming up with useful or constructive solutions, realising that there are no points to be gained. But are maybe waiting to kick the T clan out of power?

Even the people who are badly effected by the floods may come to realise that they are on their own once the floods are gone. I just don't see how the government here will be able to re-build homes that need to be replaced or give people new cars for those written off by flooding etc (as per the report). The biggest question is, will the foreign manufacturers really want to re-build factories or replace equipment damaged to get up and running again only to possibly face the same situation naxt year. It will cost any Thai government a huge amount of money just to persuade them to stay in Thailand!

So where will the money come from? How much will be skimmed off into someone elses pocket? The reporter is right when he says the populist vote buying plans for increased wages etc will have to take second place to getting the country back on it's feet. How many years will this have set back the progression which Thailand was enjoying?

As in any situation like this you have to feel sorry for the people, the elite will always look after themselves first.

Edited October 23, 2011 by garrfeild

[qualtrough]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

The red shirts have plenty of media that they control which they use to spread their propaganda. TV, radio, magazines.

Let me see if I understand you. What the red shirts say is propaganda, but what the democrats and yellow shirts say is the gospel, unbiased truth. Do I have that right?

[qualtrough]

Read in your best Gomer Pyle Voice "Well Suhprize suhprize, the Post and Nation don't have anything good to say about this government".

Its an outrage that the Post and Nation are so negative about this government. I mean when they covered the story about that lovely chap PTP MP Karun Hosakul organising the removal of flood barriers at 2am the other day with a backhoe, it seemed they just looked for the negative aspects. Why could they not say something like "his hair looked nice" or perhaps congratulate him for getting out of bed at 2am. Instead they just focused on his acts possibly causing chaos to a couple dozen million citizens of Bangkok. So uncalled for.

Similarly the confused statements from govt agencies about the flooding. One day its under control, the next Bangkok will be covered in a meter deep water for a month. Why is BP and the Nation so negative on these contradictory statements? If they just focused on praising Yingluck's fashionable Burberry boots, expertly applied make-up, and the genius of non allowed dissent in the red shirt villages it would be far better. Who cares about a bit of water? I mean some people are stuck in the godforsaken desert in Dubai. They would be grateful for some rain I'm sure.

Please BP and the Nation, can you not try to be more positive on PTP. Thanks

I am not by any means a red shirt, but you clearly have the issue with a double standard that irritates so many Thais. When 'Mark' visited a flood area he was dressed nicely and was very careful not to get his feet wet. But I am sure you were not here commenting about that. Instead, you focus on the fact that the PM, like 99% of the other women in this country, wore make-up, and had on a pair of boots that you think were Burberry's. Boots! Imagine wearing boots in a flood! Heaven forfend! As if Mark ran around in a t-shirt and shoes from Big C and was indifferent to the way he looked. That is so relevant isn't it? The other thing is that you appear to feel that incompetent and corrupt governance is the purview of one party here. Oh man, if you believe that I have a couple of bridges you might want to buy. Of course, the thing you are really upset about is the criminal mastermind, the personification of all evil in the world, controlling things from afar, a man who is worse than Hitler and Pol Pot combined. Ooh,ooh,ooh.

Edited October 23, 2011 by qualtrough

[hellodolly]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

The red shirts have plenty of media that they control which they use to spread their propaganda. TV, radio, magazines.

Not being able to read and understand Thai I can only trust in others who can and do read and understand the Thai media.

That being said what percent is red shirt controlled.

After all 200 is a lot but if there is 2000 it is just a minor issue.

If it reaches 50% of the people it is not a minor issue if it only reaches the existing red shirts it is not a issue.

What I am trying to say is it important in the over all scheme of things in relation to the current situation here in Thailand?

[serenitynow]

Read in your best Gomer Pyle Voice "Well Suhprize suhprize, the Post and Nation don't have anything good to say about this government".

IS there anything good to say about this government?

I'm game. Let's start with the fact that they haven't shot 90+ unarmed citizens dead in the street. Over to you.

Their witholding of factual information and provision of outright false information to the public and their undercounting of those killed by the flooding they created, I think helps buoy the nation's spirit's. Afterall these people couldn't possibly handle the truth. Well Done!

[KKvampire]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

This is an English Language forum, if you don't know or believe there is mass Red Shirt Media, TV channel, Thai Language newspapers and magazines then you are not in the country or living a sheltered life in Thailand.

[AngelofDeath]

I will start off with the pretense of reconciliation before trying to shift as much blame to my political opponents as much as possible.

[animatic]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

The red shirts have plenty of media that they control which they use to spread their propaganda. TV, radio, magazines.

Let me see if I understand you. What the red shirts say is propaganda, but what the democrats and yellow shirts say is the gospel, unbiased truth. Do I have that right?

No.

What the Red shirts says is mostly propaganda with slivers of truth, just so there is something, and only if it fits their storyline.

What PTP says is a mishmash of facts and miscomprehension's, and wishful thinking, with a percentage of truth that is intended, but most often seems accidental. They also have great difficulty speaking with one voice or in organized ways

What the Dems say is partly truth, partly propaganda, but with more general accuracy. Also more likely fewer mis-spoken spokesmen, not always of course. They are not angels, but they get accused of horrendous things that are obvious as tissues of lies, to casual UNBIASED observers.

PAD is now so far out on planet fantasy their rantings are less and less reported. Which begs the question why Jatuporns irrationalities get so much press in ALL media outlets.

Each voice has it's full throttle, driven to the edge of reality, media sources, and each tries to limit the contact of the others to their core voters.

I read the paper every day and believe every word I read. NOT!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Newspapers are unable, seemingly to discriminate between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilization”

George Bernard Shaw

“Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for that rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge”

Erwin Knoll

“The first duty of a newspaper is to be accurate. If it be accurate, it follows that it is fair.”

Herbert Bayard Swope

“Governments always tend to want not really a free press but a managed or well-conducted one.”

Edited October 23, 2011 by animatic

[animatic]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

This is an English Language forum, if you don't know or believe there is mass Red Shirt Media, TV channel, Thai Language newspapers and magazines then you are not in the country or living a sheltered life in Thailand.

Exactly.

[Bakseedaa]

And will some vested interests stop using their media outlets to spread disunity, discord and pettiness?

There is nothing "Petty" about it..! Get a life and tell your wife to get her own Thaivisa ID..!

[gregb]

I for one am sick of hearing people talk of reconciliation. How can you possibly try and cure the disease without removing the cause? Until Thaksin is somehow eliminated, there will be no reconciliation except via civil war. So let's leave all this ridiculous nonsense about reconciliation until after the bullets start and subsequently stop flying.

No, Yingluck will not care about reconciliation, because it would mean going against her brother. And the very fact that she was elected means the population doesn't want reconciliation. The whole thing is just journalistic nonsense.

Civil war. That is what everyone wants. That is what will finally bring about the reconciliation of the country. Yingluck is irrelevant to the process.

[philw]

I for one am sick of hearing people talk of reconciliation. How can you possibly try and cure the disease without removing the cause? Until Thaksin is somehow eliminated, there will be no reconciliation except via civil war. So let's leave all this ridiculous nonsense about reconciliation until after the bullets start and subsequently stop flying.

No, Yingluck will not care about reconciliation, because it would mean going against her brother. And the very fact that she was elected means the population doesn't want reconciliation. The whole thing is just journalistic nonsense.

Civil war. That is what everyone wants. That is what will finally bring about the reconciliation of the country. Yingluck is irrelevant to the process.

Wow.

Bring on the barricades........

That's exactly what we need, a quick elimination followed by a short sharp civil war.

Civil war is "what every one wants " ???

Where the hell are you ?? Texas ??

Who should we eliminate oh great one ?? ( and please can I have some of whatever you are imbibing. )

[h90]

I for one am sick of hearing people talk of reconciliation. How can you possibly try and cure the disease without removing the cause? Until Thaksin is somehow eliminated, there will be no reconciliation except via civil war. So let's leave all this ridiculous nonsense about reconciliation until after the bullets start and subsequently stop flying.

No, Yingluck will not care about reconciliation, because it would mean going against her brother. And the very fact that she was elected means the population doesn't want reconciliation. The whole thing is just journalistic nonsense.

Civil war. That is what everyone wants. That is what will finally bring about the reconciliation of the country. Yingluck is irrelevant to the process.

right

[tlansford]

Since she is the Prime Minister in name only shouldn't you be asking what big T will do. Yes the Red Shrit controlled media should stop spreading disinformation

Please name the mainstream media here that is controlled by the Red Shirts. Names please. Also, please cite examples of the bias. Since you are so well informed of course you can read and understand Thai sufficiently to detect the bias, right?

The red shirts have plenty of media that they control which they use to spread their propaganda. TV, radio, magazines.

Hi Whybother - qualtrough did make a plea for names, examples, etc of mainstream media.

For my part, I'm not aware of any in English. The only media (Thai) which I am aware of are currently print or community radio and the 1 TV station controlled by the shin family - but none of these are mainstream media. The only English media controlled by the red-shirt side would be the Amsterdam blog(s) on the internet. Also not mainstream media.

But again, please do point out some names of the red mainstream media outlets. It is always good for people to understand when a news source like (The Nation) has an agenda.