Yingluck stresses she's real prime minister

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 31 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today categorically denied an international news report that her brother, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, controls the cabinet remotely from abroad via various telecommunications channels.

The New York Times said Mr Thaksin, in self exile since 2008 and residing mostly in Dubai and London, newsjshas made important political decisions for the government via mobile phone and social media applications such as Skype, Line and Whatsapp.

Ms Yingluck stood firm that she is the genuine prime minister of Thailand and that she and her cabinet jointly and clearly run the country.

“Opinion polls show that my leadership and recognition among the people has increased. I have successively proved myself in the past year. I’d rather have people judge me from my performance,” she said.

“I can’t stop people’s thinking but I believe lots of people are fair to me. What a working person wants is moral support.”

She described as groundless the report which said Mr Thaksin participated in some cabinet meetings and ordered ministers through Skype, saying the cabinet conferences are off limits to telephones. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-31

related

How Thaksin Rules Thailand With Skype And Instant Messenger

http://www.thaivisa....tant-messenger/

Methinks she doth protest too mutt (sic) ...

She described as groundless the report which said Mr Thaksin participated in some cabinet meetings and ordered ministers through Skype, saying the cabinet conferences are off limits to telephones.

But not off limit to computers where most people use Skype.. She also didn't say it was off limits to Skype. But no one expects her to admit the truth. Business as usual.

So why do ministers and other faithful keep making the pilgrimage to the Middle East, whenever a reshuffle is in-the-offing, and how to explain her clone-brother's reported remarks in the New York Times article ?

Teddy/dummy and pram/pushchair throw!

She described as groundless the report which said Mr Thaksin participated in some cabinet meetings and ordered ministers through Skype, saying the cabinet conferences are off limits to telephones.

But not off limit to computers where most people use Skype.. She also didn't say it was off limits to Skype. But no one expects her to admit the truth. Business as usual.

The second thing is that the very need for her to publicly deny the truth about being the generic clone PM speaks volumns.

Trying to be a little fair, what do we expect her to say? Big brother pulls the strings. Aren't I a great PM! That would be even worse than what she is saying from a political or competence point of view. Thailand isn't the only country where truth from politicians is a fluid concept.

The louder she shouted her honour, the faster we counted the spoons!

ah well in that case because you said it !! lol

But the real point here is not whether we believe her or not. Its whether the Thais do. She will probably know the rest of the world will laugh at that but what is Joe Bloggs in the remote village going to think. That's anyone's guess I suppose but more than likely they will fall for it.

She will get away with it because she is not dealing with a sceptical and questioning population. Thai politics is about as deep as the puddle outside my door. Just need to get the price of rice, oil and eggs down and your a great prime minister ! In my opinion that's why Abhisit was always doomed. He was ahead of his time. He should of rocked up 50 years later !

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by rinteln

Trying to be a little fair, what do we expect her to say? Big brother pulls the strings. Aren't I a great PM! That would be even worse than what she is saying from a political or competence point of view. Thailand isn't the only country where truth from politicians is a fluid concept.

Of course she cannot admit it and I understand why she is denying it. I expect she gets tired of denying it constantly. I sure would.

I reckon most Thais who care don't believe her, and also don't care. This is a country with majority tolerance for corruption. What do you expect?

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by Jingthing

Thus spoke the clone..

I reckon most Thais who care don't believe her, and also don't care. This is a country with majority tolerance for corruption. What do you expect?

"Don't care" ! Yes I agree with that. "Most Thais don't believe her" .......well its a credit to you that you have such faith in the Thai peoples intelligence and awareness. Personally i dont think that many.

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by rinteln

Poor Yingluck

"It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect" Rodney Dangerfield

Next election time perhaps they could try "Yingluck Thinks, PTP Does" as their slogan, you know, to try and make things a bit less obvious.

Trying to be a little fair, what do we expect her to say? Big brother pulls the strings. Aren't I a great PM! That would be even worse than what she is saying from a political or competence point of view. Thailand isn't the only country where truth from politicians is a fluid concept.

Maybe she should keep her mouth shut sometimes or have someone who knows more about it than her answer the difficult questions!

Of course the truth appears to be from a Thai perspective that this is "a good thing".

He's not here and therefore not acting as a focus for in country disruption [despite being a news item every night] and for many here he's viewed as almost akin to a lucky talisman for the country.

Outsiders may look askance, but for many here, it's the right "deal", as even noted in the NYT article.

Her party was democratically elected in a free election. More Thai citizens chose her party over any other. And she doesn't have to shut down websites and media outlets or imprison people without due process to stay in power. If you believe in democracy, accept her and hope she does her best. If you don't believe in democracy, just keep posting your ridiculous crap. Thankfully most of the Thais don't care about your bigoted opinions.

Yingluck stresses she's real prime minister -- Don't tell my brother I said that though.

POLITICS

"I'm the real prime minister" : Yingluck

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra denied on Thursday in an international news report that her elder brother, ousted premier Thaksin, controlled the cabinet remotely from abroad via various telecommunications channels and that her daily job involved just cutting the ribbons and making the speeches.

An article in The New York Times, "In Thailand, Power Comes With Help From Skype", published on January 29, said Thaksin, in self-exile since 2008 and residing mostly in Dubai and London, has made important political decisions for the government via mobile phone and social media applications such as Skype, LINE and Whatsapp.

The article said "the day-to-day governance of the country is carried out by Ms Yingluck, who is genial, photogenic and 18 years younger than Mr. Thaksin. She cuts the ribbons and makes the speeches."

Yingluck on Thursday stood firm, insisting that it is she who is the genuine prime minister of Thailand and that she and her cabinet jointly and clearly run the country.

"Opinion polls show that my leadership and recognition among the people has increased. I have successively proved myself in the past year. I'd rather have people judge me on my performance," she said.

"I can't stop people's thinking but I believe lots of people are fair to me. What a working person wants is moral support."

She described as groundless the report, which said Thaksin participated in some cabinet meetings and ordered ministers through Skype, saying the cabinet conferences are off limits to telephones.

In his article, Thomas Fuller quoted Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan as saying "we can contact him (Thaksin) at all hours.

"The world has changed. It's a boundless world. It's not like a hundred years ago when you had to use a telegraph."

-- The Nation 2013-01-31

"saying the cabinet conferences are off limits to telephones."

so he has to speak out of the laptop.....

BANGKOK, Jan 31 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today categorically denied an international news report that her brother, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, controls the cabinet remotely from abroad via various telecommunications channels.

The New York Times said Mr Thaksin, in self exile since 2008 and residing mostly in Dubai and London, has made important political decisions for the government via mobile phone and social media applications such as Skype, Line and Whatsapp.

She described as groundless the report which said Mr Thaksin participated in some cabinet meetings and ordered ministers through Skype, saying the cabinet conferences are off limits to telephones.

Rather than the paper said these things, it was Pheu Thai Party members and those close to her brother, in direct quotes and during face-to-face interviews, that are saying and demonstrating these things.

Perhaps being such an absentee PM, she's completely unaware of what those around her are saying and doing.

Pheu Thai Party Secretary-General and Yingluck's Interior Minister:

“We can contact him at all hours,” said Charupong Ruangsuwan, the Interior Minister and Secretary-General of Mr. Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party. “The world has changed. It’s a boundless world. It’s not like a hundred years ago when you had to use a telegraph.”

To illustrate the point during an interview, Mr. Charupong took out his iPhone and scrolled through a list of phone numbers for Mr. Thaksin. (Mr. Thaksin gives different numbers to different people, often depending on seniority, party officials say.)

“If we’ve got any problem, we give him a call,” Mr. Charupong said.

Thaksin's lawyer/spokesman and Pheu Thai Party Adviser:

“He’s the one who formulates the Pheu Thai policies,” said Noppadon Pattama, a senior official in Mr. Thaksin’s party who also serves as his personal lawyer. “Almost all the policies put forward during the last election came from him.”

When she finds time, she should get in touch with these interviewees.

As the article accurately summarizes:

For the past year and a half, by the party’s own admission, the most important political decisions in this country of 65 million people have been made from abroad

Still, she should find solace in her appointed role:

Ms. Yingluck, who is genial, photogenic and 18 years younger than Mr. Thaksin. She cuts the ribbons and makes the speeches.

Sorry Yingluck, but your strained protestations on this issue add up only to:

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by Buchholz

Her party was democratically elected in a free election. More Thai citizens chose her party over any other. And she doesn't have to shut down websites and media outlets or imprison people without due process to stay in power. If you believe in democracy, accept her and hope she does her best. If you don't believe in democracy, just keep posting your ridiculous crap. Thankfully most of the Thais don't care about your bigoted opinions.

No it was an election with massive vote buying......but even without Thaksin is very popular. Stealing money and handing part of it out again works....But it has nothing to do with Democracy.

Her party was democratically elected in a free election. More Thai citizens chose her party over any other. And she doesn't have to shut down websites and media outlets or imprison people without due process to stay in power. If you believe in democracy, accept her and hope she does her best. If you don't believe in democracy, just keep posting your ridiculous crap. Thankfully most of the Thais don't care about your bigoted opinions.

What part of using a photogenic sock puppet to rule by proxy fits in anyone's definition of a Democratic system of government?

Yingluck Stresses She's Real Prime Minister

Too much stressing is not velly goose for her health.

Trying to be a little fair, what do we expect her to say? Big brother pulls the strings. Aren't I a great PM! That would be even worse than what she is saying from a political or competence point of view. Thailand isn't the only country where truth from politicians is a fluid concept.

She should say nothing on the issue and continue to simply cut ribbons at grand openings.

Everyone already knows the score on this issue. Denying it just makes her look ___________ .

.

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by Buchholz

The most important thing is sincerity. If you can fake that you've got it made.

--George Burns

Suuuuuure you are cupcake, we all believe you... now here is a lollipop go back to your corner and play with your toy bricks.

Yingluck Stresses She's Real Prime Minister

Too much stressing is not velly goose for her health.

and makes wrinkles. The latest pics I saw from her brother were scary, I hope she won't end with a face like him.

'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes I'm the real Shady

All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating

So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up,

please stand up, please stand up?