Meeting With Prem Has No Political Significance: PM Yingluck

[webfact]

POLITICS

Meeting with Prem has no political significance: PM

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet yesterday discounted any political overtones to their upcoming meeting with Privy Council President Prem Tinsula-nonda at his residence on Thursday.

"He is a respected senior of the country," Yingluck said. Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha, a retired general, also ruled out any hidden agenda.

"Don't look at it from a political perspective. There's nothing special. This is an auspicious occasion to bring about reconciliation for the country," he said.

Yingluck said she would seek the elder statesman's blessing while offering a traditional rite of respect for him for the Thai New Year.

She had a busy schedule over Songkran so she and her deputies would visit Prem, a retired general, this week to thank him and ask for his blessing. Yingluck said that she would not seek any special advice from Prem, as she would welcome suggestions from all parts of society.

When asked if the meeting would have any implications for the government's push for quick political reconciliation, Yingluck said Prem was not involved with politics and that the matter of reconciliation was for the legislature and the government.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party's stance on reconciliation has been unwavering since the election campaign, she said.

Prem has been attacked by many Pheu Thai politicians as well as ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is believed to be the brains behind the ruling party. They suspect Prem of sponsoring the 2006 coup that brought down Thaksin's government.

However, Thaksin and his cohorts in Pheu Thai have recently offered an olive branch to Prem, although some leaders of the pro-Thaksin red-shirt movement remain critical of the chief royal adviser.

Yuthasak said the prime minister would inform the Cabinet at its weekly meeting today about her scheduled call with Prem and would disclose more details about it.

Deputy Premier Chalerm Yoobamrung said that although the meeting might appear to be coming at a time of political moves, such as the constitutional amendment, there was nothing to read into it.

"Don't think too much about this. Don't look at it as a political development. The meeting has no links to other issues. Privy councillors are not involved with politics, but the mass media seem to be trying to develop some connection," he said.

While it remained unclear who else in the Cabinet would join the trip to Prem's house, he would be pleased to go if he could, he added.

Government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said the PM and her deputy PMs would represent the entire Cabinet in performing the "rod nam dam hua" rite with Prem.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva from the Democrat Party said that if the ruling party wanted to reconcile with Prem, they should have their red-shirt leaders apologise to him for making false accusations against him.

An online opinion poll conducted by the pro-red website Thai E-News showed that most people opposed Yingluck's meeting with Prem.

About 55 per cent of the respondents "fully oppose" the meeting and 35 per cent of them believe "there could be something under the surface". Only 9 per cent said they "fully agreed" with it.

A group of red shirts plans to hold a remembrance on Thursday - the same day as Yingluck's meeting with Prem - to mark what would be the 27th birthday of the late volunteer nurse Kamonket Akkahad. She was shot dead in May 2010 during the political unrest and riots that followed the red shirts' street protests.

-- The Nation 2012-04-24

[Woodcaulk]

A group of red shirts plans to hold a remembrance on Thursday - the same day as Yingluck's meeting with Prem - to mark what would be the 27th birthday of the late volunteer nurse Kamonket Akkahad. She was shot dead in May 2010 during the political unrest and riots that followed the red shirts' street protests.

As well they should. After all it was they who got her killed.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

I think a positive step toward a better less divided future, every little bit helps.

[animatic]

And if anyone believes that line, look for the flying pigs too.

It is hugely political.

[tragickingdom]

That is an understatement it could be easily the last time she is meeting this in certain circles very respected senior.

[Tanaka]

It just shows that the PM and her cabinet members are incapable of speaking a word of truth.

[Jingthing]

What she says. The opposite is likely the truth. Simples.

[hyperdimension]

I wonder what gifts she / Thaksin is offering.

[hyperdimension]

Deputy Premier Chalerm Yoobamrung said that although the meeting might appear to be coming at a time of political moves, such as the constitutional amendment, there was nothing to read into it.

"Don't think too much about this. Don't look at it as a political development. The meeting has no links to other issues. Privy councillors are not involved with politics, but the mass media seem to be trying to develop some connection," he said.

This is in stark contradiction to contents of past U.S. cables.

[webfact]

Red-shirt leader admits supporters unhappy with PM's scheduled meeting with Privy Council chief but won't gather to protest the move /TANN

[waza]

Well what do the reds expect, they have served the purpose and were paid well for it, PTP is in power with a majority. Yingluck now needs Prems support for the Thaksin amnesty.

Edited April 25, 2012 by waza

[pimay11]

Well what do the reds expect, they have served the purpose, PTP is in power with a majority. Yingluck now needs Prems support for the Thaksin amnesty.

Hopefully sooner than later the reds will realize Thaksin only considers them as usful idiots.

[FreedomDude]

Why do we even bother to open up this article for discussion given the impossibility of having an open and honest one here and the topic that is PINNED PERMANENTLY at the top of the News Topics Forum section?

[hyperdimension]

Why do we even bother to open up this article for discussion given the impossibility of having an open and honest one here and the topic that is PINNED PERMANENTLY at the top of the News Topics Forum section?

We can still discuss it as long as we don't mention the monarchy or Royal Family.

[Skywalker69]

Meeting with Prem has no political significance: PM

I think it will. But I also think it will have big political concequence for the PTP.

the think the sit safe in the boat, but the Red Shirts going to rock it one day.