Chalerm Does Not Deserve Role In Thai South

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Chalerm does not deserve role in South
Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Violent attacks in the Muslim-majority South have continued unabated despite an ongoing "peace process" between the Thai authorities and the separatist group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (National Revolutionary Front) being brokered by Malaysia.

Although the attacks have focused less on "soft targets" - such as civilians - the perpetrators appear to have shifted their attention to high-ranking state officials, with Yala's deputy governor Issara Thongthawat being killed in a bomb attack targeting his motorcade last week. Another senior provincial official was also killed in the bombing.

It appears that some insurgents are unhappy with the ongoing peace process and want it to collapse. It is also likely that some separatist groups that have been excluded from the talks want to get involved in the process and are simply "flexing their muscles" to increase their bargaining power.

Some officials estimate that about 20 per cent of the insurgents do not want the peace talks to succeed. But other officials have denied any connection between the rise in attacks and talks with the BRN.

The government should not ignore any assumption or possibility in this matter, in order to ensure that the talks will be able to restore peace in the deep South, as expected.

Also, the government should summon all the help it can from the Cabinet members involved. PM Yingluck Shinawatra has often said that integration is needed.

However, judging from the way Cabinet members involved are performing, it appears that the government lacks integration in tackling the problems of the far South.

Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is assigned to oversee the matter, has not been very keen on dealing with the issue. He has left the burden to permanent officials, while he uses his rhetoric to evade criticism.

The government has had no Cabinet member dealing with this issue since General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, former defence minister and deputy PM for security affairs, was removed in a Cabinet reshuffle last year.

None of the remaining deputy prime ministers have a background in security affairs, and Yingluck has not appointed any expert in the area to oversee the matter.

Chalerm got the assignment, even though he had admitted publicly that he was "not adept" and didn't want to be responsible for the job. However, since has been officially appointed, Chalerm should take the job seriously, and his lack of skills or interest in this area should not justify his not doing the job. Judging from his obvious lack of interest in dealing with the insurgent problem, however, it is clear Chalerm's claim was serious.

Calls have grown for Chalerm to tackle the insurgent problem and critics say he should start with visiting the restive border region to get first-hand information.

Chalerm appears to have avoided going to the deep South. Even when Yingluck went to the border province of Yala this past weekend, Chalerm was absent. According to some reports, he was overseas at the time. When asked about Chalerm, the prime minister said she had instructed him to visit the deep South and expected him to go there soon.

The deputy PM often comes up with excuses for putting off visits though. In the run-up to the Bangkok governor's election in early March, he said he had to help with the campaigning of Pheu Thai Party candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen. After the election, he said he had to attend the parliamentary debate on the government's plan to borrow Bt2 trillion for infrastructure projects.

On Tuesday, before attending the weekly Cabinet meeting, Chalerm pretended not to hear a reporter's question about when he intended going to the deep South. He repeated, "What's that?" a few times before saying, "I won't tell you."

It is now clear that Chalerm is really not interested in dealing with the insurgent problem although he has been assigned to do so by the prime minister herself. If Yingluck is serious about tackling this problem, then she should not place this responsibility on someone who does not care about it.

As the government chief, she should dismiss Chalerm from the job and appoint someone who is more interested in doing the job. He has repeatedly disappointed the prime minister by ignoring her instruction to him to go to the South.

Keeping him in the job will not only prevent the progress of efforts to tackle the insurgency problem, but also tarnish the prime minister's credibility.


-- The Nation 2013-04-11

[NongKhaiKid]

The man is a joke and would not survive without cronyism. He did this before and was sacked, apart from the situation in the south it's proving Yingluck isn't the " Real PM, which we all know anyway as how can she tolerate a minister who will not do his job or what he's told ? She really needs to run and tell her big brother but it's questionable who he would back

[ThaidDown]

The last three words of the topic title should be removed for the sake of accuracy.

[maidu]

Admittedly, it's a tough assignment - because solutions are remote. Yet, it's a sad commentary on Thailand, when the best person they can send to a diplomatic mission is a buffoon. He's had problems with drinking, has problem sons, has problems telling the truth, and finds it difficult to speak on any topic without first checking with the Master of Deception in Dubai. Is the Thai gov't in Bkk so lacking in able statesmen - that Chalerm is the best they can send to the troubled southern region?

[reiltin]

This BRN cabal have little or no sway in the south-the people who should be at the table are the ones supplying targets and cordite to the bombers.-as for Chalerms involvement about as useful as tits on a bull.

[spidermike007]

Well, lets see. A former soapy massage maven, is not adept at negotiating a settlement to a century old problem, with a variety of very complex issues. Surprise, surprise. If Yingluck would just get serious and appoint some qualified people to solve problems, so,e problems might actually get surprised. Now, that would really surprise the nation! Chalerm is unqualified for nearly any task he undertakes. There are fewer men in Thailand with less talent and capabilities.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[LuckyLew]

Chalerm is showing is true colors

He answers to no one

PM assigns him responsibility for the South ...

Chalerm has done slim to none to help the situation, and slim has left the building

This person is embarrassing to Thailand and the PTP and whatever might be

good about Thailand is being overshadowed by the weak leadership shown by

people in charge.

I guess if it does not add to the feeding through their is little interest

[saltandpepper]

Chalerm is showing is true colors

He answers to no one

PM assigns him responsibility for the South ...

Chalerm has done slim to none to help the situation, and slim has left the building

This person is embarrassing to Thailand and the PTP and whatever might be

good about Thailand is being overshadowed by the weak leadership shown by

people in charge.

I guess if it does not add to the feeding through their is little interest

Why is he an embarrassment to PTP? I think he is quite within their spec. If he were so much of an embarrassment, they would have sacked him by now...

[FarangTalk]

Admittedly, it's a tough assignment - because solutions are remote. Yet, it's a sad commentary on Thailand, when the best person they can send to a diplomatic mission is a buffoon. He's had problems with drinking, has problem sons, has problems telling the truth, and finds it difficult to speak on any topic without first checking with the Master of Deception in Dubai. Is the Thai gov't in Bkk so lacking in able statesmen - that Chalerm is the best they can send to the troubled southern region?

He's the perfect role model for this electorate.

And yes, they are lacking in able statesmen.

[JoePai]

Quite simply he's a coward

[Nickymaster]

Chalerm is chosen by Thaksin to protect Thaksin. Don't expect anything else from this guy.

And yes, Chalerm does deserve a role in the south. Let’s start by making him a paratrooper and see if he still has a big mouth.

[moe666]

PTP talking to BRN hum talking to themselves I think

[Mampara]

Actually, he does not deserve a role anywhere in the government, in my opinion he is all bark and no bite.

[JetsetBkk]

Title should read:

Chalerm does not deserve role in Government

[anon467367354]

What role in the south? Doesn't having a role mean doing something, or am I missing something here?

[arthurboy]

An hour or so ago , the other newspaper reported that Chalerm flew to the South yesterday.

[tomross46]

An hour or so ago , the other newspaper reported that Chalerm flew to the South yesterday.

Yes he did, and he took extra ear medication also.

[Skywalker69]

An hour or so ago , the other newspaper reported that Chalerm flew to the South yesterday.

Yes he did, and he took extra ear medication also.

Will he be able to step out of the aircraft?

[GentlemanJim]

Chalerm Does Not Deserve Role In Thai South Land.

[khunken]

So he flew to Pattani. Wonder who dragged him on to the plane?

[ggold]

The heading should read, Chalerm doesn't want a role in the south! Must be a slow day at the nation, why bother writing such an article when its obvious Chalerm isn't interested.

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[ggold]

So he flew to Pattani. Wonder who dragged him on to the plane?

Did he get off at Pattani? Or stay in the plane?

Sent from my GT-P6200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[hellodolly]

I would like to propose another reason for his appointment.

The article said

"It is now clear that Chalerm is really not interested in dealing with
the insurgent problem although he has been assigned to do so by the
prime minister herself. If Yingluck is serious about tackling this
problem, then she should not place this responsibility on someone who
does not care about it."

I would propose she is not serious and Thaksin is not either so he instructed her to assign the job to a buffoon.

In any settlement that could possibly come from what ever means the insurgents would be demanding that Thaksin be punished for his hand in renewing a long history of difference of opinions and turning it into a bloody deadly one.

As we can see this would be a very good thing for Thailand if Thaksin had a massive heart attack.

[rubl]

What did the South do to deserve get stuck with Chalerm?

[youngXpat]

Saw him on the news last night in talks with the military and looking very official. One couldn't help amazing at how red his face looked!

[sunshine51]

Chalerm does not deserve role in South....

The only thing Chalerm deserves is a hefty size 12 boot slammed into his arse.

[hellodolly]

Chalerm does not deserve role in South....

The only thing Chalerm deserves is a hefty size 12 boot slammed into his arse.

He might like it

[sunshine51]

Chalerm does not deserve role in South....

The only thing Chalerm deserves is a hefty size 12 boot slammed into his arse.

He might like it

I occasionally wear size 12 combat boots.....hmmmmm....