How You Can Win All The Battles But Still Lose The War: Thai Talk

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THAI TALK

How you can win all the battles but still lose the war

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is supposed to run both the government and the ruling Pheu Thai Party. But she seems to try to portray an aura of being "above politics", even as the country is plagued by one political crisis after another. And in every one of the showdowns, her party is directly involved.

She said she had nothing to do with the reconciliation bills that created a storm in Parliament when opposition Democrat MPs clashed with Pheu Thai members - all the way up to House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranond. The premier was conveniently absent during the violent confrontations in the House. She was busy with flood-prevention inspections and activities totally unrelated to the crisis of the day.

Then came the new constitutional crisis, in which the Constitutional Court asked the House to put on hold the planned third and final reading of the constitutional amendment bill. Pheu Thai put up strong resistance, arguing that the court had no authority to accept any appeal for an interpretation of the propriety of the proposed charter changes. The court insisted on its constitutional authority in this regard. Both sides claim that their legal interpretation is the right one.

Premier Yingluck was once more busy touring provinces that might be threatened with flooding again this year. Her deliberate absence from the charter crisis was conspicuous.

She has been trying to govern without managing the country's politics, hoping to distance herself from any possible fallout from her brother Thaksin Shinawatra's remote-control manipulation.

At one point it might have seemed that she could have feigned political innocence, but things didn't go as planned. When he spoke to the red shirts in Laos, Thaksin thought he could come home by his birthday in July. He thought he had struck a compromise with the "elite". The reconciliation bill that was submitted by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the 2006 coup leader turned political ally, couldn't be rammed through as planned, despite Pheu Thai's overwhelming majority in the House. It proved more divisive than had been anticipated.

Then came the thunderbolt from the Constitutional Court, which ordered the House to suspend voting on the final reading of the charter amendments. This, too, was supposed to help propel Thaksin's return as a free man, also with the hope of getting back his Bt46 billion in frozen assets. But the legal challenge posed a major obstacle despite doubts over the court's authority to set up a roadblock on Parliament's right to proceed with the constitutional changes.

Pheu Thai, of course, could just ignore the court's "hold it" order, since it can easily outvote the opposition and produce some convincing arguments to get the bill approved so that elections can be held nationwide to appoint a panel to draw up a new constitution.

But the risk of splitting the country further is simply too high. Thaksin may win all the legal battles, but he could still lose the real war, which requires at least a certain degree of national reconciliation.

There are also the complications within the Pheu Thai Party and the red-shirt movement that could prove disastrous for Thaksin in the short term. The ruling party is far from unanimous on how to handle the reconciliation and constitutional amendment bills. Certain factions among the red shirts have expressed clear dissatisfaction with Thaksin's shift in stand. They seen him as having betrayed their grassroots cause by cosying up to the "elite" to ensure his safe return to the country and resumption of power.

This is perhaps the most worrisome issue for Thaksin. His compromise with his foes required him to disown the red movement. But he can "leave the boat to get in a car" to reach his destination - as he said in his controversial phone-in last month - only at his own peril.

The battles over the two bills have plunged the country into a new crisis. With House Speaker Somsak postponing debate on the two key bills until the next House session, he is simply buying more time. Thaksin may beat a retreat to regroup, but Yingluck can't afford to "play it safe" without putting the country on a collision course once again. She has to act - and soon - to defuse this huge time bomb that continues to tick even during this brief "ceasefire".

-- The Nation 2012-06-14

[Moruya]

Does Yingluck prefer playing with water to playing with boys? Possibly.

Is she trying to distance herself from controversy and potential legal action further down the line? Of course. But it won't work.

Is she trying to elevate herself above the position of PM? That's an interesting question.

[waza]

She is playing both side by doing nothing waiting, to see which sides wins. But her sitting on the fences means Thailand will loose as its torn apart by factional loyalty.

[crobe]

And conveniently a new indictment against Thaksin appears

Just enough trouble to keep everyone on their toes and brother in Dubai,

Not enough to mean real action and so in 3 years she can campaign on a record of "stability under enormous pressures"

Maybe more luck than planning but I would take luck every time...

Crobe

[gankusfarang]

We all knew this before she took office...completely unprepared for the job. Also, now that the AG has indicted Thaksin in yet another scandal, now we see more truth behind the real purpose of this PTP govt...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/562425-prosecutor-indicts-thaksin-in-state-bank-loan-scandal/

[TinoThailand]

I like the head line

[MikeThaison]

She is playing both side by doing nothing waiting, to see which sides wins. But her sitting on the fences means Thailand will loose as its torn apart by factional loyalty.

I don't think she is sitting on the fence or waiting to see which side wins. . . . I think it is pretty obvious who's side she is on. She just doesn't want to be outwardly open about the fact her brother is calling all the shots. Although, I think it is pretty obvious when he does more interviews and Q&A's than she does. . .

[bigbamboo]

Naturally Y wants to distance herself from any moves to help her fugitive brother in his plans. The idea is that it is others who want to instigate such moves in order than he regain power and a lot of money. It may be disingenuous but she is a politician now.

[silsburyhill]

Really. did anyone expect any other outcome than this from the election of Taksin's proxy.

And before anyone starts jumping up and down re yellow/red, I sincerely urge them to read an article headed 'Proving Plato Wrong' in The Other Paper. As cogent a summation as to why any view of european democracy continues to confound eurocentric perspecives of such 'democracy', ever being applied here any time soon.

Edited June 14, 2012 by silsburyhill

[Paangjang]

Maybe ever so slightly off topic, but did anybody else see that interview with her the other day? She said she was trying to open a Thai area in the country of Sydney! The Interviewer corrected her, Sydney is a city in the country of Australia! That confused her! She just gets better and better! Did the Thai's really vote her into power?

Edited June 14, 2012 by Paangjang

[gand]

There is a war?

[rubl]

Now, now, guys, mind your manners. Don't tread her like one of the boys, she's lady

[RubbaJohnny]

Meanwhile the energy ,agriculture,water management issues are ignored.There will be floods as usual and as folks wade through N Bangkok again no doubt talk of reconciliation,coups and rallys like an endless merry go round.Asoke's karmic wheel there are workers in the field and coolcats in the Aircon.

The entire society is infantilsed in a "hello Kitty way" from an early age,blind unquestioning belief in venerable ideals and yet sexist sanook,horrific planning,health and safety ,assauged by endless shopping,consumerism and debt.A bit like Greece without the democratic interlude.

Have nice day the scenery is lovely the country folk couldn't give a flying frog about all this and imagine returning to wherever you abandoned for living the dream

[geriatrickid]

Now, now, guys, mind your manners. Don't tread her like one of the boys, she's lady

As many of the forum's Yingluck bashers do not have much experience with ladies, you may be asking for too much.

[OzMick]

Now, now, guys, mind your manners. Don't tread her like one of the boys, she's lady

As many of the forum's Yingluck bashers do not have much experience with ladies, you may be asking for too much.

it is pointless to defend a woman's honour whe she sells it freely.

[somtumlion]

Now, now, guys, mind your manners. Don't tread her like one of the boys, she's lady

As many of the forum's Yingluck bashers do not have much experience with ladies, you may be asking for too much.

Fortunately, they do have a lot of experience with sock puppets, which is why they are able to deal with Yingluck effectively.

[Paangjang]

Meanwhile the energy ,agriculture,water management issues are ignored.There will be floods as usual and as folks wade through N Bangkok again no doubt talk of reconciliation,coups and rallys like an endless merry go round.Asoke's karmic wheel there are workers in the field and coolcats in the Aircon.

The entire society is infantilsed in a "hello Kitty way" from an early age,blind unquestioning belief in venerable ideals and yet sexist sanook,horrific planning,health and safety ,assauged by endless shopping,consumerism and debt.A bit like Greece without the democratic interlude.

Have nice day the scenery is lovely the country folk couldn't give a flying frog about all this and imagine returning to wherever you abandoned for living the dream

Letting off some steam are we? Great post, well said

[Moruya]

Now, now, guys, mind your manners. Don't tread her like one of the boys, she's lady

As many of the forum's Yingluck bashers do not have much experience with ladies, you may be asking for too much.

In a country that brings us oranges that aren't orange, girls that aren't girls and smiles that aren't smiles is it any wonder that we also have politicians that aren't straight?

Ian Dury - I wanna be straight......

[waza]

Now, now, guys, mind your manners. Don't tread her like one of the boys, she's lady

As many of the forum's Yingluck bashers do not have much experience with ladies, you may be asking for too much.

Ms Yingluck is 1.72m tall, which is above the average height for Thai women. She is slim but not skinny, elegant but not over-dressed. She is often seen dressed in monochrome, in a plain shirt and dark-coloured jacket.

Ms Yingluck knows how to display her womanly side and it is not through her dressing; indeed, her public image has been sexed down, in line with constructing her reputation as a credible and serious leader.

Thai historian Chris Baker recently wrote: “Yingluck’s hair … it’s long, and lush, and sensuous. It’s been lifted a little at the peak with gel and swept at the tips, but it’s designed to look natural, in contrast to the clipped, sprayed and regimented bonnets of senior bureaucrats and army wives. Very feminine.”

Undisputedly, Ms Yingluck is a beautiful lady. And she seems to intelligently combine the best of Thaksin and Mr Abhisit. Like Thaksin, she is personable and folksy, remarkably likeable; like Mr Abhisit, she is good-looking, intellectual and urbanite. What the two men failed to do while in power, she may do well as she will be able to learn from their mistakes. http://web1.iseas.edu.sg/?p=4740

[lannarebirth]

Now, now, guys, mind your manners. Don't tread her like one of the boys, she's lady

As many of the forum's Yingluck bashers do not have much experience with ladies, you may be asking for too much.

Ms Yingluck is 1.72m tall, which is above the average height for Thai women. She is slim but not skinny, elegant but not over-dressed. She is often seen dressed in monochrome, in a plain shirt and dark-coloured jacket.

Ms Yingluck knows how to display her womanly side and it is not through her dressing; indeed, her public image has been sexed down, in line with constructing her reputation as a credible and serious leader.

Thai historian Chris Baker recently wrote: “Yingluck’s hair … it’s long, and lush, and sensuous. It’s been lifted a little at the peak with gel and swept at the tips, but it’s designed to look natural, in contrast to the clipped, sprayed and regimented bonnets of senior bureaucrats and army wives. Very feminine.”

Undisputedly, Ms Yingluck is a beautiful lady. And she seems to intelligently combine the best of Thaksin and Mr Abhisit. Like Thaksin, she is personable and folksy, remarkably likeable; like Mr Abhisit, she is good-looking, intellectual and urbanite. What the two men failed to do while in power, she may do well as she will be able to learn from their mistakes. http://web1.iseas.edu.sg/?p=4740

A little "vagina envy" piece from Khun Pavin? Say, who funds his "think tank".?

Edited June 17, 2012 by lannarebirth