Rumours And Smokescreens To Divert Attention: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Rumours and smokescreens to divert attention

The Nation

Whenever they come under pressure, ministers and red-shirt leaders come up with allegations about plots to topple the government

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's political scene is awash with rumours, which have caused confusion for the public. Most of the time, these rumours originate with politicians to serve their political purposes. Almost all of them lack any substantiated evidence.

Again this week, rumours about alleged plots to topple the government swirled around. Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told reporters about an alleged plot to rock the government's stability. They said four groups of people had pooled money amounting to Bt3 billion and were plotting to overthrow the government. The Pheu Thai spokesman said these conspirators recently held a meeting at a safe house in the Buddhamonthon area. The report was dismissed by Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat, who said the allegation was groundless. But some in the Pheu Thai camp, like Jatuporn, have not given up spreading the rumour.

While this plot, as claimed by Pheu Thai, lacks any evidence, it is interesting to consider the time context and the current political situation. The timing of this and other rumours coincides with political challenges the government is facing. For instance, in September last year, when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was trying to dodge questions regarding her brother Thaksin's role in her government, Jatuporn told reporters in front of the Parliament building that there was a conspiracy to topple the government. Jatuporn said the conspiracy was similar to earlier efforts to topple the administrations of Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat.

But when reporters asked Jatuporn who the alleged conspiritors were, Jatuporn replied ambiguously, "They are the same faces. You can search for their names on the Internet. My intelligence reports have never been wrong."

In October last year, Jatuporn went further by telling reporters he had received information from security officials that a group of people who had lost political power were again planning to topple the Yingluck government via a nine-step plan. The allegation managed to take headlines from the reshuffle at the police department.

Later in the same month, while many places in Thailand were inundated with water, Jatuporn again told reporters of a plot to incite demonstrators to topple the government. On November 20, he claimed he had learned of a conspiracy in which influential politicians with the initials "S" and "N" were meeting with a general with the initial "N" at a hotel in the Pratunam area to discuss the toppling of the government. That fresh conspiracy theory came as the government was under pressure because of its plan to issue an executive decree to pardon Thaksin.

In December last year, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung claimed that he knew the identity of perpetrators behind a bomb attack in front of the Government Lottery Office on December 6. He said that the person's name started with the letter "P". But so far, Chalerm has failed to pursue the case in spite of the lead he told reporters about. The allegation came just as the Foreign Ministry admitted it had re-issued Thaksin with a passport.

The latest rumour came last week. Jatuporn said that the four groups of alleged plotters comprised businessmen, academics, a group of military officers and some journalists. Anusorn Iamsa-ard, another red-shirt leader, backed up Jatuporn's allegation. This allegation came as the Yingluck government is defending its debt transfer plan.

In all of these cases, if politicians have even the slightest lead or information about a plan to topple the government, they should ask the police to pursue the case and make the result clear to the public. Allegations of plots to topple the government are serious, and if conspirators are real, they must be brought into the light. However, Jatuporn and Chalerm have left these allegations hanging. They have provided no answers in any instance. And they have started fresh rumours again.

At the same time, if these politicians are found to be spreading unfounded rumours to serve their own political purposes, without considering the impact upon the public, they must be held accountable and punished. These politicians use their political status to their advantage. Of course, few people, if anyone, would listen to such allegations if they came from ordinary people. But Prompong, Jatuporn and Chalerm's statements are backed by their status in Parliament.

Thai society is already confused and riven by rumour and speculation. Some of the rumours have been taken seriously by the foreign press, further tarnishing the country's reputation. Nonsense statements not only harm the reputation and credibility of the rumour-mongers themselves, they also erode the credibility of the parliamentary system.

-- The Nation 2012-02-03

[tominbkk]

How long before the govenment calls in their faithful red shirt army to camp out around the parliament, for 'protection'?

[whybother]

How long before the govenment calls in their faithful red shirt army to camp out around the parliament, for 'protection'?

Do you mean that the red shirt group that beat up the guys laying "the wreath" are no longer there?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

Edited February 3, 2012 by whybother

[Buchholz]

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told reporters about an alleged plot to rock the government's stability.

Wolf!

in September last year, when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was trying to dodge questions regarding her brother Thaksin's role in her government, Jatuporn told reporters in front of the Parliament building that there was a conspiracy to topple the government

Wolf!

In October last year, Jatuporn went further by telling reporters he had received information from security officials that a group of people who had lost political power were again planning to topple the Yingluck government

Wolf!

Later in the same month, while many places in Thailand were inundated with water, Jatuporn again told reporters of a plot to incite demonstrators to topple the government

Wolf!

[Buchholz]

On November 20, he claimed he had learned of a conspiracy in which influential politicians with the initials "S" and "N" were meeting with a general with the initial "N" at a hotel in the Pratunam area to discuss the toppling of the government

Wolf!

In December last year, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung claimed that he knew the identity of perpetrators behind a bomb attack in front of the Government Lottery Office on December 6. He said that the person's name started with the letter "P". But so far, Chalerm has failed to pursue the case in spite of the lead he told reporters about

Wolf!

The latest rumour came last week. Jatuporn said that the four groups of alleged plotters comprised businessmen, academics, a group of military officers and some journalists. Anusorn Iamsa-ard, another red-shirt leader, backed up Jatuporn's allegation

Wolf!

Thai society is already confused and driven by rumour and speculation.

With this many times crying Wolf!, it's not surprising.

[alstaxi]

This government, and I use the term loosely, must realize they are useless , that is why they are so worried about being replaced. Stumbling, bumbling, and .........

[animatic]

There are 100% legal and morally correct avenues to "topple a government"

and there are those that are not. The amount of money pooled to do so is irrelevant

if the plans are in the 100% legal area.

Sure there is a group planning to take back the government, but that doesn't make it illegal, it means they will likely use the governments mistakes to make them fall. How remains the question. Having a meeting to plan that, or have a budget to pursue that isn't illegal either. But making false unsubstantiated rumors might be.

It is most likely political slight of hand, don't look at the man behind the curtain pulling the levers,

look at the fire and brimstone shown that is being created to distract you from reality.

Edited February 3, 2012 by animatic

[virtualtraveller]

So, mr Journalist, next time Jatuporn opens his mouth, go looking for the real news that they're trying to distract from, and give them no space in the headlines.

[metisdead]

Discussion over news links is off-topic. If you want to criticize the journalists who wrote the article, contact the source and discuss with them. If you wish to discredit the source of information, feel free to provide your own source. Posts deleted.

[ozzieman05]

So, mr Journalist, next time Jatuporn opens his mouth, go looking for the real news that they're trying to distract from, and give them no space in the headlines.

So your saying the newspapers are in reality helping Jatuporn to create a smoke screen

This means the media are heavily responsible

Mhhh No argument from me

If the Media are not dumb the next time he mouths off, go looking for the real story on the front page

And put the rumours on the last page in small print

[zzaa09]

How long before the govenment calls in their faithful red shirt army to camp out around the parliament, for 'protection'?

I believe it might be unwise to associate any such red camp factions with the current government.