Opportunity Washed Away: A Confidence Debate Post Mortem

[webfact]

GUEST COLUMN

Opportunity washed away: A confidence debate post mortem

Korn Chatikavanij

Bangkok

The national suffering as a result of the floods should have been an excellent opportunity for the Thai people to have come together after years of political conflict.

This was not to be. There was certainly plenty of spontaneous outpouring of goodwill towards those suffering from the floods but, in the end, lack of leadership meant that this was not sufficiently forceful to counter the social schism already in existence.

In this environment, it is natural to blame every usual suspect, other than ourselves of course, for the failure. In truth, however, one could see that the buck not only stopped with the political leadership, but started there as well.

The problem was simply that Pheu Thai and the red shirts were not yet used to the fact that they were in power, with esponsibilities, rather than the radical political movement they had been in the three prior years.

This meant that they ignored real problems for too long once they were in power; focusing rather on the delivery of political goals, much of which had to do with Thaksin. This mentality can be understood in the context of Thaksin himself. With political power back in his hand after years of effort and huge financial investment; obsessed with his personal goals and because of distance, Thaksin was not attuned to the sentiments and needs of the public. As Pheu Thai pointed out during the campaign, what Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does. So, as he wasn't thinking much about the floods, Pheu Thai spent its first two months in government doing other things Thaksin considered more important.

The real problem came when they did begin to focus on the flood, because even then they were still hung up on scoring political points they no longer needed (they already had a majority government!). It was notable that Pheu Thai itself was almost invisible during the flood crisis, but that the red-shirt movement was dominant in all government activities. This was not the right approach if you wanted reconciliation. If winners should be generous in their victory, then the red shirts were clearly still of the opinion that they remained the self-styled oppressed losers.

I was by accident in Ban Buathong handing out food packages to isolated households on the day PM Yingluck came to open the "Government Kitchen". What struck me was how everything was literally in the colour red. The banners of ministries involved were all red, as were T-shirts worn by civil servants. There were banners from red groups from all round the country. This signal was clear: this is a Red government, with a Red agenda.

Tag that together with red-shirt domination in the FROC and the general disbursement of donated goods, it is clear the government played a key role in imprinting an even greater image of a colour-coded split, rather than use the crisis to tone down colour denomination.

What of the opposition? Well, I can confirm that we tried our very best to play a constructive role throughout. When we had to eventually come out to defend our position, it was only because Pheu Thai and the red shirts forced our hand. They tried to lay the blame on us with bogus accusations regarding water levels in dams; they brought out political players such as Ying Sudarat in an early attempt to make political gain in the capital and, eventually, once the waters reached Bangkok, the government started to blame the BMA

directly, even though they knew full well that the BMA was operating entirely within the framework of the FROC.

I think back to the day I went to the FROC in Don Muang with opposition, leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. The famous photo of him in consultation with Prime Minister Yingluck was on the front page of all newspapers and magazines. The public wanted to see politicians working in harmony to help alleviate the situation. We understood this, which was why we went, uninvited. Much later, word came that the prime minister would be seeking to meet with Abhisit again, and she even gave an interview to that effect. But the invite never came. Clearly the government made a calculation that it stood more to lose politically. It was a major opportunity missed.

The rest of what we did was the minimum requirement of what we needed to do as the opposition, and we did our work within parliamentary confines. There were no organised mobs, no street protests, nothing outside the parliamentary process.

I would have to say that our efforts were mostly directed towards charity work through flood relief with the Seni Pramoj Foundation. Abhisit and all party members were visiting flooded constituencies practically every day for over two months and were more attuned to the pending disaster than the government itself. So, all in all, any charge of attempting to opportunistically use the floods for political gain would be entirely unfair on the Democrats.

I believe the government needs to act more maturely and responsibly. It has a historic mandate but so far it has fallen way short of expectations. Most importantly, it needs to be magnanimous in victory; it needs to put aside personal agendas and do everything to ensure that the political and social situation returns to normal. With its overwhelming election victory, it needs to settle down and get on with the job. Expectations remain high. Do not disappoint.

Korn Chatikavanij is the deputy leader of the Democrat Party and the shadow deputy prime minister. He can be reached via twitter at @korndemocrat.

-- The Nation 2011-12-03

[virtualtraveller]

Sigh! What a pity more of our MPs couldn't argue their case as eloquently as this, no shouting, no BS finger pointing, no abrasion, I parricularly agree with this;

The problem was simply that Pheu Thai and the red shirts were not yet used to the fact that they were in power, with esponsibilities, rather than the radical political movement they had been in the three prior years.

now compare this man's way of being a well behaved opposition to that of Chalerm and Jatuporn and decide which is less detrimental to the future of our leadership.

[jayboy]

Sigh! What a pity more of our MPs couldn't argue their case as eloquently as this, no shouting, no BS finger pointing, no abrasion, I parricularly agree with this;

The problem was simply that Pheu Thai and the red shirts were not yet used to the fact that they were in power, with esponsibilities, rather than the radical political movement they had been in the three prior years.

now compare this man's way of being a well behaved opposition to that of Chalerm and Jatuporn and decide which is less detrimental to the future of our leadership.

I'm an admirer of Korn but I certainly don't agree that the article is not highly politicised.There are a number of areas in the article particularly the latter part which are debatable.Not relevant to go into details now perhapsd but there is plenty of evidence to suggest the Democrats were not always "constructive" and above party politicking in the crisis.Still it is, as one would expect, a well written piece and I think perfectly legitimate for an opposition leader - and a number of points are well made.Democracy is a rough and tumble game and the ruling government must be prepared to take hard criticism.

[hammered]

I take it that the Nation will give a guest column piece to a member of the government in the name of balance. This is an overt poltical piece cherrypicking what one parpticular side wants to say. In the name of fairness the other should be allowed the same. Failure to do so leaves the Nation exposed as no different from a the red or yellow publications which are shamelessly but at least honestly open about their political agendas unlike most of the equally bias but less honest and thereby more subversive mainstream media that tries to hide behind a veneer of respectable professionalism and balance that doesnt really exist (excepting the honestly super yellow Naew Na)

[TAWP]

I take it that the Nation will give a guest column piece to a member of the government in the name of balance. This is an overt poltical piece cherrypicking what one parpticular side wants to say. In the name of fairness the other should be allowed the same. Failure to do so leaves the Nation exposed as no different from a the red or yellow publications which are shamelessly but at least honestly open about their political agendas unlike most of the equally bias but less honest and thereby more subversive mainstream media that tries to hide behind a veneer of respectable professionalism and balance that doesnt really exist (excepting the honestly super yellow Naew Na)

What do you mean, they have repeatedly given column space to a Red Shirt and Thaksin appologist (Pravit)?

[Buchholz]

I take it that the Nation will give a guest column piece to a member of the government in the name of balance. This is an overt poltical piece cherrypicking what one parpticular side wants to say. In the name of fairness the other should be allowed the same. Failure to do so leaves the Nation exposed as no different from a the red or yellow publications which are shamelessly but at least honestly open about their political agendas unlike most of the equally bias but less honest and thereby more subversive mainstream media that tries to hide behind a veneer of respectable professionalism and balance that doesnt really exist (excepting the honestly super yellow Naew Na)

The Nation should get the current Finance Minister to compose an opposing piece in English.

.

[phiphidon]

What struck me was how everything was literally in the colour red. The banners of ministries involved were all red, as were T-shirts worn by civil servants. There were banners from red groups from all round the country. This signal was clear: this is a Red government, with a Red agenda.

Tag that together with red-shirt domination in the FROC and the general disbursement of donated goods, it is clear the government played a key role in imprinting an even greater image of a colour-coded split, rather than use the crisis to tone down colour denomination.

Ahem,

[ratcatcher]

What struck me was how everything was literally in the colour red. The banners of ministries involved were all red, as were T-shirts worn by civil servants. There were banners from red groups from all round the country. This signal was clear: this is a Red government, with a Red agenda.

Tag that together with red-shirt domination in the FROC and the general disbursement of donated goods, it is clear the government played a key role in imprinting an even greater image of a colour-coded split, rather than use the crisis to tone down colour denomination.

Ahem,

15 -- LOVE . PPDon Not quite Cambridge blue from an Oxford guy.

[whybother]

What struck me was how everything was literally in the colour red. The banners of ministries involved were all red, as were T-shirts worn by civil servants. There were banners from red groups from all round the country. This signal was clear: this is a Red government, with a Red agenda.

Tag that together with red-shirt domination in the FROC and the general disbursement of donated goods, it is clear the government played a key role in imprinting an even greater image of a colour-coded split, rather than use the crisis to tone down colour denomination.

Ahem,

What? No pictures of the Democrats loading their trucks at FROC?

There is a difference with Democrat supporting volunteers wearing blue, and Ministry people wearing red.

[phiphidon]

I'm an admirer of Korn but I certainly don't agree that the article is not highly politicised.There are a number of areas in the article particularly the latter part which are debatable.Not relevant to go into details now perhapsd but there is plenty of evidence to suggest the Democrats were not always "constructive" and above party politicking in the crisis.Still it is, as one would expect, a well written piece and I think perfectly legitimate for an opposition leader - and a number of points are well made.Democracy is a rough and tumble game and the ruling government must be prepared to take hard criticism.

I have no feelings one way or the other about Korn but I'm pretty dam_n sure I wouldn't get on with his wife.

An extract from her interview with the Nation published 12th December last year. If you think I'm cherry picking read the full article here

http://www.asiaone.c...212-252300.html .......................................it doesn't get any better.

For some reason the Nation lists the article but the link doesn't work (for me at least).

"Anytime I'm free, I log on to Facebook."

She adds that she's never approached anyone on Facebook and accepts a friend request only when she's sure the person does not have psychological problems or a tendency towards violent behaviour. (Do people list these traits under "hobbies"?)

"I 'unfriended' a friend of 40 years on Facebook as lots of her friends are red shirts who post extremely harsh criticisms of the government. I'd rather not see their posts," she says. (A bit harsh herself there, 40 years of friendship down the drain, Thida must have been devastated )

"The rally in the Rajprasong area affected people greatly. People could not hang out so they spent more time on Facebook. (So that's why they sent the army in)

Some posted complaints as to why the government did not act against the protesters. I passed the complaints on to Korn. But we realised that these were part of a plan to provoke and force the government to take action so they could accuse the government of using violence," she says. (More disgruntled Facebook users - obviously Red Shirts this time as part of their cunning plan)

[jayboy]

I have no feelings one way or the other about Korn but I'm pretty dam_n sure I wouldn't get on with his wife.

An extract from her interview with the Nation published 12th December last year. If you think I'm cherry picking read the full article here

http://www.asiaone.c...212-252300.html .......................................it doesn't get any better.

For some reason the Nation lists the article but the link doesn't work (for me at least).

"Anytime I'm free, I log on to Facebook."

She adds that she's never approached anyone on Facebook and accepts a friend request only when she's sure the person does not have psychological problems or a tendency towards violent behaviour. (Do people list these traits under "hobbies"?)

"I 'unfriended' a friend of 40 years on Facebook as lots of her friends are red shirts who post extremely harsh criticisms of the government. I'd rather not see their posts," she says. (A bit harsh herself there, 40 years of friendship down the drain, Thida must have been devastated )

"The rally in the Rajprasong area affected people greatly. People could not hang out so they spent more time on Facebook. (So that's why they sent the army in)

Some posted complaints as to why the government did not act against the protesters. I passed the complaints on to Korn. But we realised that these were part of a plan to provoke and force the government to take action so they could accuse the government of using violence," she says. (More disgruntled Facebook users - obviously Red Shirts this time as part of their cunning plan)

You are right.His wife is an embarrassment and on a point of detail if Korn ever aims for the highest office he will have to explain away his earlier PAD enthusiasm.Having said that the crazy hate filled ideas of his wife are not uncommon among the Thai upper and upper middle class.They often dress it up as loyalty to the supreme institution but in reality it's pure class politics, selfishness and fear of the unknown - made toxic by (sometimes) ethnic tension and that odd upper class Thai brand of hysteria when confronted by opposition from what they consider to be their inferiors.Even now Korn is happily marketing the Nazi style Good Web initiative when the LM farce of Ah Kong is winning some unlikely converts for that law's complete abolition.

Incidentally isn't weird that the insane Mallika (Democrat spokeswitch) and her campaign against impure thoughts and threat to close down Facebook/Youtube goes completely uncommented on this forum - when it is the talk of the town.There are some deranged people out there.

[lannarebirth]

I have no feelings one way or the other about Korn but I'm pretty dam_n sure I wouldn't get on with his wife.

An extract from her interview with the Nation published 12th December last year. If you think I'm cherry picking read the full article here

http://www.asiaone.c...212-252300.html .......................................it doesn't get any better.

For some reason the Nation lists the article but the link doesn't work (for me at least).

"Anytime I'm free, I log on to Facebook."

She adds that she's never approached anyone on Facebook and accepts a friend request only when she's sure the person does not have psychological problems or a tendency towards violent behaviour. (Do people list these traits under "hobbies"?)

"I 'unfriended' a friend of 40 years on Facebook as lots of her friends are red shirts who post extremely harsh criticisms of the government. I'd rather not see their posts," she says. (A bit harsh herself there, 40 years of friendship down the drain, Thida must have been devastated )

"The rally in the Rajprasong area affected people greatly. People could not hang out so they spent more time on Facebook. (So that's why they sent the army in)

Some posted complaints as to why the government did not act against the protesters. I passed the complaints on to Korn. But we realised that these were part of a plan to provoke and force the government to take action so they could accuse the government of using violence," she says. (More disgruntled Facebook users - obviously Red Shirts this time as part of their cunning plan)

You are right.His wife is an embarrassment and on a point of detail if Korn ever aims for the highest office he will have to explain away his earlier PAD enthusiasm.Having said that the crazy hate filled ideas of his wife are not uncommon among the Thai upper and upper middle class.They often dress it up as loyalty to the supreme institution but in reality it's pure class politics, selfishness and fear of the unknown - made toxic by (sometimes) ethnic tension and that odd upper class Thai brand of hysteria when confronted by opposition from what they consider to be their inferiors.Even now Korn is happily marketing the Nazi style Good Web initiative when the LM farce of Ah Kong is winning some unlikely converts for that law's complete abolition.

Incidentally isn't weird that the insane Mallika (Democrat spokeswitch) and her campaign against impure thoughts and threat to close down Facebook/Youtube goes completely uncommented on this forum - when it is the talk of the town.There are some deranged people out there.

Why don't you start separate thread on Korn's wife and the Democratic spokewoman?

[mrfarang]

Does TheNation reporter know what "post mortem" means? Or did he just thought it was a cool word to use?

[Orac]

Abhisit and all party members were visiting flooded constituencies practically every day for over two months

Seems to be missing the qualifier here of 'except when he went off to the Maldives with his family on holiday'.

[whybother]

Abhisit and all party members were visiting flooded constituencies practically every day for over two months

Seems to be missing the qualifier here of 'except when he went off to the Maldives with his family on holiday'.

That's why they said "practically" every day.

[Orac]

Abhisit and all party members were visiting flooded constituencies practically every day for over two months

Seems to be missing the qualifier here of 'except when he went off to the Maldives with his family on holiday'.

That's why they said "practically" every day.

Yep - I understand how spin works but, since he put the statement out there, I see it as fair game.

[jayboy]

Why don't you start separate thread on Korn's wife and the Democratic spokewoman?

Two reasons

1.Both are connected by the same hate filled and frankly somewhat bonkers mindset

2.Can't be bothered