I Am No Puppet, Yingluck Tells Foreign Correspondents' Club Of Thailand (Fcct)

[webfact]

I am no puppet, Yingluck tells FCCT
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Showing considerably improved English-language skills as compared with her appearance last year, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra used the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) annual "Dinner with the PM" to deny she was a mere puppet of her brother, fugitive former premier Thaksin.

"If I relied on him, I don't think I could come here and answer your questions [for] the second time."

Yingluck showed that not only has she survived in power for the past 18 months, she now exudes greater confidence as Thailand's first female leader. Also at the dinner was the FCCT's new woman president, American journalist Anasuya Sanyal.

Yingluck handled several tough questions during the evening. Asked about the possibility of autonomy for the deep South, the premier side-stepped the question and said the government was willing to talk to all parties in search of peace.

She said negotiations had not started yet, and that to involve all groups would be a "long process". She added that 30-per-cent more budget is being allocated to the area to help improve education and infrastructure, and she would work with her Malaysian counterpart as a "facilitator" to seek peace. She denied that Thaksin was involved in the deep South dialogue.

Yingluck was asked by Thai-German freelance journalist Saksith Saiyasombut whether the government would do something about the controversial lese majeste law and the Computer Crimes Act (CCA), which are seen by many here and abroad as limiting freedom of expression. She replied that freedom of speech in Thailand had to be "in line with the constitution".

"The lese majeste law is intended to uphold the monarchy as the pillar of stability," the premier stressed.

When The Nation asked Yingluck why millions of Thais dislike or even despise Thaksin and herself, Yingluck again side-stepped the question, or perhaps failed to completely understand its English phrasing.

"No one can get [the] support of the whole country," the premier replied, not differentiating between "lack of support" and the political hatred that has consumed much of Thai politics over the past seven years or more.

Meanwhile, Yingluck said yesterday that the government would not get involved in the amnesty issue, which is under the purview of Parliament.

"The legislative process to grant amnesty is up to the [party] whips to decide," she said.

Yingluck was responding to remarks made by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema in regard to his push for the draft bill on amnesty.

The government would focus on addressing the people's grievances and economic issues, while the legislature's duty was to enact laws, she said.

She dismissed speculation that her brother Thaksin was trying to speed up the passage of the amnesty draft.

"There is no pressure [from Thaksin] as issues like reconciliation and amnesty are being discussed in the legislature in order to find an amicable settlement," she said.

She said the debate on contentious issue like amnesty would not impact on the government's stability so long as all sides abided by the rule of law.


-- The Nation 2013-03-13

[DLock]

You certainly have a lot in common with a puppet.

You both have fist for brains and someone else is pulling the strings.

But you keep telling yourself that.

[HeavyDrinker]

When a hot lass tells me owt, I believe her because I'm not really listening to her but looking at her knockers...

[rixalex]

[Huayrat]

so she didnt answer all of them.. no surprise

[hellodolly]

"Yingluck showed that not only has she survived in power for the past 18
months, she now exudes greater confidence as Thailand's first female
leader. Also at the dinner was the FCCT's new woman president, American
journalist Anasuya Sanyal."

Of course she is showing more confidence. 18 months of getting away with it is bound to make her feel more confident. Also more able to do Photo Ops while her brother calls in to the cabinet and party meetings with instructions.

[tomross46]

She might not be a puppet, but the whole of the PT and the loyal Red Shirts march to the command of Big Brother. Not there are Red Shirts that are loyal to the doctrine of Lenin, and there are those that follow Big Brother, do not confuse the two.

[Payboy]

I am no puppet, Yingluck tells FCCT

"My best creation yet", said Geppeto proudly.

[bigbamboo]

She is no more a puppet than the rest of the cabinet. They all have the ability to walk and talk, some even at the same time, so long as they remember to do and say what the Big Boss has told them to.

[seajae]

HMMM, 30% more to be spent on.........graft of course, we just heard that is now the going rate and if your not a puppet what it that hand stuffed up your back.......

[dundee48]

"If I relied on him, I don't think I could come here and answer your questions [for] the second time."
Asked about the possibility of autonomy for the deep South, the premier side-stepped the question and said the government was willing to talk to all parties in search of peace.
When The Nation asked Yingluck why millions of Thais dislike or even despise Thaksin and herself, Yingluck again side-stepped the question,
So from this sample thats 2 out of 4 questions sidestepped.

[whybother]

She replied that freedom of speech in Thailand had to be "in line with the constitution".

Is she saying that she doesn't want to change the constitution?

[Pimay1]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck..............

[virtualtraveller]

Read 'Being There' by Jersey Kozinski, it's a thin-volumed classic farce on politics. Note how the simple gardener in the story resembles Yingluck with his hollow answers and seamingly thin intellect. A ribbon cutter type leader.

[whybother]

She denied that Thaksin was involved in the deep South dialogue.

Thaksin seems to think he's involved.

[EyesWideOpen]

" The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

Shakespeare

[Buchholz]

I am no puppet, Yingluck tells

.

of course you're not, dearie... now run along.

.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Yingluck was asked by Thai-German freelance journalist Saksith

Saiyasombut whether the government would do something about the

controversial lese majeste law and the Computer Crimes Act (CCA), which

are seen by many here and abroad as limiting freedom of expression. She

replied that freedom of speech in Thailand had to be "in line with the

constitution".

"The lese majeste law is intended to uphold the monarchy as the pillar of stability," the premier stressed.

Any other answer would have landed her in very hot water. There are some ultra conservatives who even consider critizising or attempting to amend art.112 as a violation of same article.

I forgot to check the FCCT agenda lately, otherwise I would have gone.

[Buchholz]

She denied that Thaksin was involved in the deep South dialogue.

She's calling the Prime Minister of Malaysia a liar? Not to mention herself?

12 days ago on March 1, 2013

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak expressed his appreciation to Mr Thaksin for pushing ahead with negotiations and said he hoped it will lead to enduring resolutions and peace in Thailand’s Muslim-predominant far South.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra confirmed her brother’s involvement which led to the signing of an agreement between Thailand and a southern militant group in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/622698-thai-malaysian-leaders-say-thaksin-involved-in-peace-process/

[Buchholz]

Yingluck said yesterday that the government would not get involved in the amnesty issue

More blatant and obvious falsehoods... her government is at the heart of at least a half dozen amnesty proposals.

,

[diddums]

The more you say no...the more you mean yes..

[rubl]

"If I relied on him, I don't think I could come here and answer your questions [for] the second time."

Surely our PM has become more political wise and experience. She said this without blinking an eye or blushing and without too many present understanding she didn't deny the accusation, she just said "I don't think".

In the mean time our criminal fugitive skyping in to her cabinet to pass some more orders.

[473geo]

Well the nation surely nailed its colours to the mast when it asked this question....."When The Nation asked Yingluck why millions of Thais dislike or even despise Thaksin and herself"...............nasty

[chainarong]

Anyone coming into politics and as Prime minister at that, need about a decade of fine tuning, so who's pulling who's leg

[Pimay1]

Well the nation surely nailed its colours to the mast when it asked this question....."When The Nation asked Yingluck why millions of Thais dislike or even despise Thaksin and herself"...............nasty

Should they have asked her why do the red shirts love you so much?

[AleG]

Anyone coming into politics and as Prime minister at that, need about a decade of fine tuning, so who's pulling who's leg

Not Yingluck the Immaculate, like Athena she sprouted fully formed from Thaksin's an... forehead.

[473geo]

Well the nation surely nailed its colours to the mast when it asked this question....."When The Nation asked Yingluck why millions of Thais dislike or even despise Thaksin and herself"...............nasty

Should they have asked her why do the red shirts love you so much?

If that is the best you feel they could offer maybe better to stay silent......

[rubl]

Oh boy, nasty questions from journalists. What next, quoting what a politician said more than a day ago?

[dcutman]

Oh boy, nasty questions from journalists. What next, quoting what a politician said more than a day ago?

Maybe nasty cartoons.

[Pimay1]

Well the nation surely nailed its colours to the mast when it asked this question....."When The Nation asked Yingluck why millions of Thais dislike or even despise Thaksin and herself"...............nasty

Should they have asked her why do the red shirts love you so much?

If that is the best you feel they could offer maybe better to stay silent......

It is the job of real journalist to ask tough questions. Although after Thaksin sued some journalists for millions of Baht they have been rather delinquent in their duty.