Prem, Yingluck seen side by side for second time

The Nation

The media spotlight was focused on Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as they met publicly for the second time yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Prem was a guest of honour at the gala dinner hosted by the Yingluck administration at Government House last evening. Held under the theme "Love Thailand, Move Thailand Forward", the Bt10-million event was held to thank people and organisations for helping the government with its flood-relief efforts, sources said.

Yingluck and Prem were first seen publicly last month at a function held to celebrate the Army's 420th anniversary.

The chief royal adviser, accompanied by fellow Privy Council members, was greeted by the prime minister and Deputy Premier Yongyuth Wichaidit upon arrival at Government House at about 5.45pm. Yingluck and Prem then sat down in the Ivory Room at the Thai Khufa building for a brief chat in the company of Yongyuth, some privy councillors and Cabinet members.

About 10 minutes later, Yingluck and Prem left the room together and walked over to the Santi Maitri building to listen to the Youth Orchestra of Yala Municipality perform. They then greeted other guests before stopping once again to listen to the orchestra perform the song "Rak" (Love), which was composed by His Majesty the King and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Prem has previously been attacked by politicians from the ruling Pheu Thai Party and their red-shirt supporters for allegedly being behind the 2006 military coup that overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's older brother.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua, one of the leaders who had also attacked Prem during the red-shirt protest, was also seen speaking to the Privy Council chief.

Yesterday's event was broadcast on the state-run Modernine TV and NBT.

Foreign diplomats, top bureaucrats, business leaders, privy councillors and military commanders were among the more than 500 guests attending the event, which also featured the Thailand Philharmonic and the Royal Thai Armed Forces Symphony Orchestra.

Meanwhile, opposition Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalsut said yesterday that he and other Democrat MPs were in black because they were "in mourning" for the government's decision to hold an event like this.

About 200 people, led by activist Chaiwat Sinsuwong, gathered at the Misakawan Intersection, not far from Government House, yesterday evening to protest against what they said was a waste of taxpayers' money.

-- The Nation 2012-02-11

Maybe the Dems apparent isolation from all the kiss-and-make-up going on just might make them do some serious focusing on their relevance to the current realpolitik. Thailand needs a proper opposition as much as it ever has. Wake up Dems!

Anyway, Geriatric Kid and Jayboy have both been slaughtered on this forum time and again recently for suggesting that the biggest players in Thai politics are being entirely pragmatic, and have been for some time. Any of the motorheads who did the slaughtering big enough to apologise?

Maybe the Dems apparent isolation from all the kiss-and-make-up going on just might make them do some serious focusing on their relevance to the current realpolitik. Thailand needs a proper opposition as much as it ever has. Wake up Dems!

The Democrats were not invited, perhaps just as well, the event is seen to be in poor taste with many flood victims still not having received compensation from the government.

Thaksin put General Prem in a spot, turn down the invitation and he looks negative, go and he's seen to be making up to the government. Personally I wish he had turned down the invite, citing the waste of 10 million baht for the party which could have been used to help the flood victims, or at least the rank and file soldiers and volunteers who worked so hard. Not the bigwigs who compounded error after error.

Maybe the Dems apparent isolation from all the kiss-and-make-up going on just might make them do some serious focusing on their relevance to the current realpolitik. Thailand needs a proper opposition as much as it ever has. Wake up Dems!

The Democrats were not invited, perhaps just as well, the event is seen to be in poor taste with many flood victims still not having received compensation from the government.

Thaksin put General Prem in a spot, turn down the invitation and he looks negative, go and he's seen to be making up to the government. Personally I wish he had turned down the invite, citing the waste of 10 million baht for the party which could have been used to help the flood victims, or at least the rank and file soldiers and volunteers who worked so hard. Not the bigwigs who compounded error after error.

Well, I think you're wide of the mark. And I think the Dems are being left behind. Which, imo, is not good for democracy. I really hope they can be intuitive and intelligent enough to catch up

Anybody see the bunched fists of Prem in the pic? I don't think he is exactly comfortable in Cinderella's company.

Prime Minister Yingluck The Unaware.

The Democrats were not invited, perhaps just as well, the event is seen to be in poor taste with many flood victims still not having received compensation from the government.

Thaksin put General Prem in a spot, turn down the invitation and he looks negative, go and he's seen to be making up to the government. Personally I wish he had turned down the invite, citing the waste of 10 million baht for the party which could have been used to help the flood victims, or at least the rank and file soldiers and volunteers who worked so hard. Not the bigwigs who compounded error after error.

Well, I think you're wide of the mark.

What exactly from Siripon's post was wide of the mark?

Maybe the Dems apparent isolation from all the kiss-and-make-up going on just might make them do some serious focusing on their relevance to the current realpolitik. Thailand needs a proper opposition as much as it ever has. Wake up Dems!

How is it the Dem's or RPP's fault that they are not invited?

It just shows how little reconciliation really means to PTP outside their press-releases.

And the Dems and RPP being an effective opposition, using the legal channels to challenge the government, is most likely exactly why they were not invited.

Maybe the Dems apparent isolation from all the kiss-and-make-up going on just might make them do some serious focusing on their relevance to the current realpolitik. Thailand needs a proper opposition as much as it ever has. Wake up Dems!

Do you mean a proper opposition such as the TRT when the Democrats were in power?

I must have been asleep as I cannot remember a single positive thing they did in opposition.

Perhaps you could enlighten me using verifiable facts.rather than fairy tales.

Anybody see the bunched fists of Prem in the pic? I don't think he is exactly comfortable in Cinderella's company.

Prime Minister Yingluck The Unaware.

Didn't notice the fists. Was too busy gawking at his awesome jacket.

And who's the girl in the picture... haven't I see her on an airplane at some point?