Thai Govt Moves To Keep Prem On Side Amid Shaky Times

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BURNING ISSUE

Govt moves to keep Prem on side amid shaky times

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

Chief royal adviser General Prem Tinsulanonda is living testimony for an old saying: Silence speaks louder than words.

BANGKOK: -- Since the eruption of political turbulence in 2005, supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have branded Prem as the villain who wields the extra-constitutional power.

The red shirts have portrayed him as the "ammat". They blame him for being an outdated reactionary force against the tide of democracy. They also point an accusing finger at him for the 2006 coup to oust Thaksin.

For more than six years, the pro-Thaksin camp has put Prem at the centre of their political vendetta. All this time, Prem has kept his silence. He does not initiate any court battles to protect his reputation despite rude words and libellous remarks hurled at him.

On Friday, the government is scheduled to host a garden party, organised under the theme "Love Thailand, Forward Thailand". Prem is guest of honour at Government House to preside over the event, which is part of the campaign to rally international confidence in the country's commitment on flood control.

Today, the Cabinet is expected to approve the formation of a "super agency" headed by the prime minister to take charge of flood control. This will be followed by Prem's presence at the garden party and PM Yingluck Shinatra's inspection trip next week.

The government is putting utmost effort into shoring up its credibility to handle seasonal floods and prevent a repeat of last year's disaster.

Although Prem will be a guest of the government in connection with flood control, many still speculate about a hidden political message.

A number of Thaksin's supporters might be slack-jawed, as they may find it hard to believe the sudden shift in Prem's stature from chief villain to being a good guy.

In Thaksin's estimation, Prem is a target of political expediency. When Thaksin faced with turmoil plaguing his leadership, he singled out Prem as the culprit instead of reflecting on his flaws.

In 2008, Thaksin showed a first sign of seeking forgiveness for getting on the wrong side of Prem. He was seen rushing to apologise to Prem when the two met by chance at the funeral for the mother of former Army chief General Anupong Paochinda.

Later that year former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat sought and received permission to make a courtesy call on Prem at his Si Sao Theves residence. But Somchai's early exit put the fence mending on hold.

Following the 2010 political violence involving the red shirts, Thaksin appeared to have toned down his remarks in reference to the Privy Council, which he described as "the people surrounding His Majesty the King".

Last month Yingluck had a first public meeting with Prem during a social function organised by the Army. For months preceding the meeting, Thaksin abruptly stopped criticising the "King's men". A few weeks after the meeting, he voiced opposition to amending the lese majeste law.

As the government has adopted a hard-line stand on royal insults and Thaksin is distancing himself from those seen as being anti-royal, the rough patch between Prem and the pro-Thaksin camp seems to be over.

The change happening presently, and that which took place in 2005, seems to be evolving around Thaksin and not Prem.

Thaksin attributed his predicament to Prem. His sister Yingluck is now courting Prem as an ally while the government undergoes turbulence triggered by the two financial decrees designed to boost flood control measures, plus a controversial campaign to amend the lese majeste law and the government's push for charter change.

-- The Nation 2012-02-07