House Battle Breaks Out As Democrats Question PM Yingluck's Hotel Meeting

[webfact]

POLITICS

House breaks out in battle as Democrats question PM's hotel meeting

The Nation

Photo: Sakol Sandhiratne

BANGKOK: -- A House meeting had to be adjourned yesterday after a war of words broke out after the opposition started asking why Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had visited the Four Seasons Hotel during working hours last week.

In fact, things became so disorderly that the Speaker had to call on the security to escort defiant MPs out of the chamber, and about an hour later, the chairman adjourned the meeting.

The battle started when Democrat Samut Songkram MP Rangsima Rodrasami asked what the premier was up to at the hotel when she should have been attending a House meeting.

House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont responded by saying that Yingluck could not answer because she was away on a mission and that her deputy General Yuthasak Sasiprapha would speak on her behalf.

The prime minister is on a five-day tour on flood prevention and mitigation in the lower North and Central region, which will wrap up today.

Rangsima, seeming reluctant to pose the question, said Yuthasak might not be able to answer on Yingluck's behalf, especially if the meeting in question had resulted in a conflict of interest or if it did not directly concern the country.

Somsak then said that queries brought up on the House floor should not be of a personal nature and that Rangsima already knew that Yingluck had excused herself from the House meeting.

The House Speaker then said that Rangsima had been informed from the very start that Yingluck would not be present to answer queries on the agenda, so it was pointless arguing about the premier's presence.

A battle of words started when government chief whip Udomdej Ratanasathien said that Deputy House Speaker Visut Chainaroon had told him that Rangsima already knew that Yingluck would not be attending, yet she insisted on raising the question.

The Democrats immediately rose in defence as Rangsima insisted that her question was not of a personal nature. She also stated that she would not go to a hotel alone like Yingluck had done.

Somsak then asked Rangsima to withdraw this comment, but the Democrat MP refused.

"If Rangsima does not withdraw [the comment] and does not pose a proper question, I will have to drop this line of query," the Speaker said.

Many Democrat MPs then stood up to voice their disapproval of Somsak's co-mment, and refused to sit down when ordered. The Speaker then called on security officials to escort the defiant MPs out of the chamber.

However, the Democrats continued attacking Somsak, with party-list MP Issara Somchai shouting: "If you do this, then it becomes a dictatorship. This is the House, not a party meeting room."

In an attempt to calm the situation, Somsak ordered a 15-minute break.

An hour later, Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol adjourned the meeting saying the government and opposition whips should discuss the issue and resolve the problem.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

[Bakseedaa]

Its a fair question...But why is Yinluck almost Never in Parliment..? And Im sure we all would like to know just what she was doing at The Four Seasons...?

[chrisinth]

Storm in a teacup! If the PM has already delegated someone to stand in for her for the House meeting, that should be the end of it.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Cinderella does not like to be asked awkward and confrontational questions, that is why she is rarely in the House.

[Misterwhisper]

Yingluck receives a monthly salary out of public coffers and as prime minister is employed by the people of Thailand. It is only fair if the employers want to know what she was doing during working hours at a downtown hotel in an apparently private capacity when in fact she should have attended an important parliamentary session.

If she was at the hotel in an official capacity, the public likewise have the right to know what her official business was there.

Yingluck has to finally comprehend that she is no longer a director at one of her brother's companies and can leave her office for a shopping spree or private lunch whenever she pleases to do so.

[rubl]

House breaks out in battle

Democracy in action

[CalgaryII]

This headline reminds me of a previous Parliamentary debate confrontation.

I recall early in this Governments mandate, Abhi and Suthep tangled with Jatuporn and Nathawut about R'song protest details.

Jat. and Nat. had Abhi. and Sut. for lunch in that debate.

I wondered how the Opposition would spin that embarrasment.

I didn't have to wait long.

They avoided it by characterizing it as 'bickering', not mentioning the substance and nature of the exchange.

The Parliamentary session was described as a debate about this or that, but when it came to the Jat/Nat - Abhi/Sut confrontation, the debate descended into 'bickering', according to them, with no details provided.

It was a quick and neat little side-step.

Edited February 17, 2012 by CalgaryII

[jonclark]

This headline reminds me of a previous Parliamentary debate confrontation.

I recall early in this Governments mandate, Abhi and Suthep tangled with Jatuporn and Nathawut.

Jat. and Nat. had Abhi. and Sut. for lunch in that debate.

I wondered how the Opposition would spin that embarrasment.

I didn't have to wait long.

They avoided it by characterizing it as 'bickering', not mentioning the substance and nature of the exchange.

The Parliamentary session was described as a debate about this or that, but when it came to the Jat/Nat - Abhi/Sut, the debate descended into 'bickering', according to them, with no details provided.

It was a quick and neat little side-step.

I remember that too - actually quite funny.

But what everyone wants to see is Yingluck debate Abhi. After all if Nat and Jatu can beat him she should have no problems, so why is she never there to answer in person - cat got her tongue??

[animatic]

House breaks out in battle

Democracy in action

More like Dumbocracy in traction.

[animatic]

This headline reminds me of a previous Parliamentary debate confrontation.

I recall early in this Governments mandate, Abhi and Suthep tangled with Jatuporn and Nathawut.

Jat. and Nat. had Abhi. and Sut. for lunch in that debate.

I wondered how the Opposition would spin that embarrasment.

I didn't have to wait long.

They avoided it by characterizing it as 'bickering', not mentioning the substance and nature of the exchange.

The Parliamentary session was described as a debate about this or that, but when it came to the Jat/Nat - Abhi/Sut, the debate descended into 'bickering', according to them, with no details provided.

It was a quick and neat little side-step.

I remember that too - actually quite funny.

But what everyone wants to see is Yingluck debate Abhi. After all if Nat and Jatu can beat him she should have no problems, so why is she never there to answer in person - cat got her tongue??

It's far from the truth that those to nabobs beat Abhist in any debate.

[Siripon]

We can only assume that the person who wanted a meeting with Yingluk at the Four Seasons doesn't wish for their name to be known in association with her, whether it's for professional\financial reasons or romantic.

But that name has been circulating in the Thai media for over a week now!

[gemini81]

This headline reminds me of a previous Parliamentary debate confrontation.

I recall early in this Governments mandate, Abhi and Suthep tangled with Jatuporn and Nathawut.

Jat. and Nat. had Abhi. and Sut. for lunch in that debate.

I wondered how the Opposition would spin that embarrasment.

I didn't have to wait long.

They avoided it by characterizing it as 'bickering', not mentioning the substance and nature of the exchange.

The Parliamentary session was described as a debate about this or that, but when it came to the Jat/Nat - Abhi/Sut, the debate descended into 'bickering', according to them, with no details provided.

It was a quick and neat little side-step.

I remember that too - actually quite funny.

But what everyone wants to see is Yingluck debate Abhi. After all if Nat and Jatu can beat him she should have no problems, so why is she never there to answer in person - cat got her tongue??

She doesn't wanna be hung by the tongue.

[Gary A]

Yes, it's a tempest in a tea cup. What difference does it make that she was at a fancy hotel? Is she not permitted to have any life outside of government? If this is an example of Thailand's greatest problems, Thailand is indeed in serious trouble. Gossip seems to be the democrats main agenda.

[webfact]

Democrats slinging mud at PM: Natthawut

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Democrats brought disgrace to the House by mudslinging at the prime minister who is working tirelessly on flood control, Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua said on Friday.

"The Democrats are trying to politicse everything and party leaders are indifferent to their disgraceful behaviour," he said.

Natthawut was commenting on the Thursday's House row in which the Democrats tried to query why Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra took personal time to visit the Four Seasons Hotel last week.

He said the prime minister was not obligated to answer such question because it had no bearing on any public interests.

PM Yingluck worked hard in the past four to five days inspecting flood control projects but the Democrats were busy slinging mud instead of working for the country, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

[LPCustom69]

Terrorist cells active in Thailand, but the pressing business is who was Yingluck with, and what did they do?

[whybother]

Yes, it's a tempest in a tea cup. What difference does it make that she was at a fancy hotel? Is she not permitted to have any life outside of government? If this is an example of Thailand's greatest problems, Thailand is indeed in serious trouble. Gossip seems to be the democrats main agenda.

I don't think she should have a business life outside of government.

[Thaddeus]

Yes, it's a tempest in a tea cup. What difference does it make that she was at a fancy hotel? Is she not permitted to have any life outside of government? If this is an example of Thailand's greatest problems, Thailand is indeed in serious trouble. Gossip seems to be the democrats main agenda.

I don't think she should have a business life outside of government.

And even if it was allowed, it shouldn't be on government time when she should be in parliament.

[ratcatcher]

Yes, it's a tempest in a tea cup. What difference does it make that she was at a fancy hotel? Is she not permitted to have any life outside of government? If this is an example of Thailand's greatest problems, Thailand is indeed in serious trouble. Gossip seems to be the democrats main agenda.

The difference IMHO is that Yingluck is the Prime Minister of Thailand. Suggesting that questioning her doings at The Four Seasons hotel is nothing to do with the public is akin to agreeing that it was alright for the captain of the Costa Concordia to be seeing to the needs of a Moldovan bimbo while his ship was meeting with a rock group.

Edited February 17, 2012 by ratcatcher

[rubl]

Like some others here, this reminds me of the interesting debate on government policies in August 2011:

"Yingluck must be relieved, but temporarily. The Thaksin visa issue was overshadowed by the "loyalty" issue and she has had one parliamentary session under her belt. Her performance was supposed to be a major point of scrutiny, but Democrat old stars Suthep Thaugusuban, Chuan Leekpai and Abhisit Vejjajiva along with Somsak, Jatuporn and Natthawut came to her rescue. Wednesday night's chaos on the House floor may not be good for Pheu Thai, but more or less it helped take some spotlight off Thailand's first female prime minister."

[SomTumTiger]

Of all the amazingly stupid things this government says and does - this issue merits no attention whatsoever. Lets talk about real problems, facing real people, and how the PTP are attempting to profit off them.

[animatic]

Yes, it's a tempest in a tea cup. What difference does it make that she was at a fancy hotel? Is she not permitted to have any life outside of government? If this is an example of Thailand's greatest problems, Thailand is indeed in serious trouble. Gossip seems to be the democrats main agenda.

I don't think she should have a business life outside of government.

But it's a family tradition!

[animatic]

Of all the amazingly stupid things this government says and does - this issue merits no attention whatsoever. Lets talk about real problems, facing real people, and how the PTP are attempting to profit off them.

Well if she was having a secret meeting with a major land developer just when the government will be buying up land for flood control ways in and around Bangkok, the stink of potential sweat heart deal is too great to NOT comment on.

Other than the potential for blackmail to manipulate public policy,

I could careless who she wants to sleep with if it's the same species.

Edited February 17, 2012 by animatic

[Derifo]

House breaks out in battle

Democracy in action

More like, "DEMALLCRAZY."

[rijb]

When are they going to battle about terrorism, flooding, corruption and the shaky economy?

[soundman]

Off topic posts removed from view.

[MaiChai]

So who was she alleged to have met? Since the media already know why doesn't someone tell here? Was it a naught hotel thing or a secret deal to corrupt money from the government? Someone please spill the beans...

Glad to see some democracy and accountability happening in this country.

Edited February 17, 2012 by MaiChai

[Mosha]

Google Yingluck hotel, and it's near the bottom of the list 1st page

[CalgaryII]

This headline reminds me of a previous Parliamentary debate confrontation.

I recall early in this Governments mandate, Abhi and Suthep tangled with Jatuporn and Nathawut.

Jat. and Nat. had Abhi. and Sut. for lunch in that debate.

I wondered how the Opposition would spin that embarrasment.

I didn't have to wait long.

They avoided it by characterizing it as 'bickering', not mentioning the substance and nature of the exchange.

The Parliamentary session was described as a debate about this or that, but when it came to the Jat/Nat - Abhi/Sut, the debate descended into 'bickering', according to them, with no details provided.

It was a quick and neat little side-step.

I remember that too - actually quite funny.

But what everyone wants to see is Yingluck debate Abhi. After all if Nat and Jatu can beat him she should have no problems, so why is she never there to answer in person - cat got her tongue??

It's far from the truth that those to nabobs beat Abhist in any debate.

They handed his head to him on a platter.

Natthawut and Jatuporn are a couple heavyweights, seasoned by powerfully leading and evolving the largest Political Movement in the country after the coup of 2006.

Abhi. is a minnow in that scenario.

Thida may be the titular head of the UDD/Red Shirts, but in fact Nathawut and Jatuporn are the power.

Edited February 17, 2012 by CalgaryII

[bigbamboo]

So who was she alleged to have met? Since the media already know why doesn't someone tell here? Was it a naught hotel thing or a secret deal to corrupt money from the government? Someone please spill the beans...

Glad to see some democracy and accountability happening in this country.

Or she could just end the speculation and tells us herself.

[rubl]

It is interesting to read the praise of MP Nattawut and Jatuporn as powerfull heavyweights and how usefull that is to them in a parliamentary debate. Oh, how I miss k. Arisman.

Physical violence is a sign of verbal incompetence.