Bitter Chalerm makes mockery of Cabinet reshuffle

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Bitter Chalerm makes mockery of Cabinet reshuffle
The Nation

Unhappy about his 'impending' demotion, deputy PM gives political insights into functioning of the govt

BANGKOK: -- In one characteristic outburst, Chalerm Yoobamrung may have given more insight into the state of Thai politics than a political scientist can ever tell his students in three lectures combined. In universities, democracy may be more cherished than it really deserves, or so Chalerm has made us all believe. He has all but given an affirmation that the ideal is for the young and the naive to have faith in, but reality is for him and the likes to create.

Facing intense speculation that he would be "demoted" in a Cabinet reshuffle, Chalerm painted a gloomy political system where the most powerful pulled all the strings, ministerial appointees are clueless about their assigned jobs but have to accept them anyway, and government politicians won't talk about massive corruption or major state policies in danger of breaking the laws until they are kicked out of key posts.

Chalerm, who over the past two years has been in charge of national security issues, voiced anger on Friday at an event at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, blaming his imminent transfer to conflicts with Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre chief Tawee Sodsong.

The alleged problems both men have had make us wonder why Chalerm kept it to himself for so long, as bombs exploded and people got killed on virtually a daily basis in the restive deep South. If Chalerm and Tawee had absolutely no respect for each other as claimed by the former, it was puzzling they remained two of the most senior officials tasked with tackling the deep South crisis over the past two years.

Chalerm suggested he was losing his job because Tawee was stabbing him in the back, but if Chalerm's allegations were true, it was the Thai people's backs that have been stabbed. Most of all, if we had resigned to the fact that government policies are mostly lukewarm and laden with childish politics, we had hope there would be a good degree of seriousness, determination and sincerity when the enormity of the situation in the deep South was concerned.

Chalerm said he was once given the post of public health minister, a job he practically had no clue about. "I didn’t know why [then PM Somchai Wongsawat] put me there, because all I saw was syringes and needles," he said in a tell-tale remark about how politicians got their ministerial posts and approached the assigned tasks. Public health is supposed to be extraordinarily important, and this is the mentality of the powers-that-be toward the issue.

Chalerm all but admitted that the government's controversial rice price-pledging scheme was "rotten", and that the water management mega-plan, whose implementation is facing legal problems, could in fact have legitimacy issues. Again, why now? If Chalerm really believed those serious troubles existed, didn't he owe it to the Thai public to speak out and tell the truth?

He was noticeably bitter on Friday. The man usually taunted government opponents but on this occasion he portrayed them as a big threat against a weak administration on the verge of a serious crisis.

Problems in the government were opening doors to a fresh conspiracy to overthrow it, he said, and it was not impossible that Thaksin Shinawatra's political party would be dissolved again.

How much credit should the man get? On one hand, it's typical of Chalerm when he's upset about his bosses and not getting what he wants.

On the other hand, this typical Chalerm tends to inadvertently give accurate accounts of what goes on behind the political scene. Is he happy with his new job? A much bigger question is, with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra insisting that the Cabinet reshuffle is in the country's best interests, "Should the Thai public believe her or Chalerm and should we be happy about it?

It doesn't matter what Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has tried to say about the Cabinet revamp. Chalerm has given us clearer information about the motives and sincerity of everybody involved.

He left no doubt that he was upset about having to leave his current, powerful job, so much for Yingluck's claims that changes in the Cabinet are for the greater good. It seems that Cabinet formation and rotation nowadays are all about putting men on jobs that don't want them and who don't want the jobs, either.


-- The Nation 2013-07-01

[theblether]

Chalerm is bitter?

That's my day made already

[NongKhaiKid]

Hell hath no fury like a Chalerm scorned !

I do believe he's telling the truth about a government and system that he has happily been part of and benefited from for many years and he of all people should know that telling the truth in Thailand can be hazardous to your health.

[theblether]

Yes I agree he's telling the truth but it didn't stop him filling his boots up for the last two years.

I've always wondered why politicians think they can run departments that they have no knowledge or experience of. It seems a recipe for chaos, and that's not just in Thailand.

[hookedondhamma]

The Fire of Chalerm: this lakorn will make history.

[nottocus]

He could always get Duangcharlerm in to blow away the competition.

[yoshiwara]

He is making a big noise hopefully for some re-consideration to keeping him inside the tent. In short he is singing for his supper.

[PoodMaiDai]

So does this mean he won't be completing all the things he said he could fix in 3 months?

[Thait Spot]

This is like Jilted John

[winstonc]

Chalerm is bitter?

That's my day made already

in with the blether,,on this i love them losing face,,children the lot of them,pathetic people,,,,,,

[Bellweather]

Chalerm is bitter?

That's my day made already

in with the blether,,on this i love them losing face,,children the lot of them,pathetic people,,,,,,

Lovely isn't it, break time in the school playground. . A Thai specialty, " I'm angry, I can spit my dummy further than you ".

[OzMick]

In 1991, Chalerm has B32 million of assets seized after a coup. I await history repeating itself, then he'll understand "bitter".

[gemini81]

Yes I agree he's telling the truth but it didn't stop him filling his boots up for the last two years.

I've always wondered why politicians think they can run departments that they have no knowledge or experience of. It seems a recipe for chaos, and that's not just in Thailand.

& it didn't stop him from 'fillin' up with booze' either! Despot should be on the hit list.

[rametindallas]

There was a video posted on this forum last week that was taken in Hong Kong where Dr. Thaksin was meeting with mendicants wanting this or that. As Dr. Thaksin's car was pulling away, Mr. Chalerm appeared on the video, staggering and having to be pulled back to the curb. I believe Mr. Chalerm has let the demon 'ear medicine' control his life, loosen his tongue, and ruin his health. I believe the Big Boss noticed this and became afraid that Mr. Chalerm was losing his grip.

Mr. Chalerm cannot admit to himself that he has a 'ear medicine' problem so he is looking around for other reasons for his demotion and the person who probably stands up to his unreasonable behavior the most is Gen. Thawee. Gen. Thawee is a serious man with a hell of a lot of responsibility, with soldiers and teachers dying regularly under his jurisdiction. He probably had many arguments with Mr. Chalerm but who, on this forum or in Thailand, believes Gen. Thawee has the clout to unseat Mr. Chalerm from power.

Having scared Dr. Thaksin with his excessive drunkenness, big mouth, and failing health, Mr. Chalerm should be very careful in the future how he bad-mouths Dr. Thaksin's government. Mr. Chalerm is a loose cannon and may have to be permanently retired for everyone's safety as he is jeopardizing the entire operation.

[A Member]

Yes I agree he's telling the truth but it didn't stop him filling his boots up for the last two years.

I've always wondered why politicians think they can run departments that they have no knowledge or experience of. It seems a recipe for chaos, and that's not just in Thailand.

& it didn't stop him from 'fillin' up with booze' either! Despot should be on the hit list.

If he doesn't watch his mouth he may well be.

[A Member]

There was a video posted on this forum last week that was taken in Hong Kong where Dr. Thaksin was meeting with mendicants wanting this or that. As Dr. Thaksin's car was pulling away, Mr. Chalerm appeared on the video, staggering and having to be pulled back to the curb. I believe Mr. Chalerm has let the demon 'ear medicine' control his life, loosen his tongue, and ruin his health. I believe the Big Boss noticed this and became afraid that Mr. Chalerm was losing his grip.

Mr. Chalerm cannot admit to himself that he has a 'ear medicine' problem so he is looking around for other reasons for his demotion and the person who probably stands up to his unreasonable behavior the most is Gen. Thawee. Gen. Thawee is a serious man with a hell of a lot of responsibility, with soldiers and teachers dying regularly under his jurisdiction. He probably had many arguments with Mr. Chalerm but who, on this forum or in Thailand, believes Gen. Thawee has the clout to unseat Mr. Chalerm from power.

Having scared Dr. Thaksin with his excessive drunkenness, big mouth, and failing health, Mr. Chalerm should be very careful in the future how he bad-mouths Dr. Thaksin's government. Mr. Chalerm is a loose cannon and may have to be permanently retired for everyone's safety as he is jeopardizing the entire operation.

Permanently Retired, could that be with Extreme Prejudice ?

[Siripon]

Is he sure he can trust his driver not to take him on any unwanted journeys down south?

[LuckyLew]

maybe if he did something useful he would not be thrown out

he was in charge of the south and for a long time he refused to travel there

He did zero positive

I hope he feels like he lost face

He is nothing but a big crying whining baby

waaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaa

[Ricardo]

The S-clan shows once more how it rewards extreme-loyalty, in their usual fashion, and Mr C is foolish enough to actually discuss it in public ?

Not good for one's health ! Remember what happened to a man with the initials S-D !

[jcb2001]

So does this mean he won't be completing all the things he said he could fix in 3 months?

And what about his statement that he will bring back Thaksin by the end of the year or be beheaded.

Edited July 1, 2013 by jcb2001

[GentlemanJim]

So does this mean he won't be completing all the things he said he could fix in 3 months?

And what about his statement that he will bring back Thaksin by the end of the year or be beheaded.

Maybe what he said was "I will bring Thaksin back by the end of the year or 'be headed' to the labour Ministry', I am sure that's a story he may stick to.

[TomTao]

The truth has a way of making itself known, whether through bitterness, chance or some other avenue, the truth will eventually rise over the lies.

[Tatsujin]

Poor baby is throwing a tantrum, I like it lol

I think I'm going to say this on a lot of threads today: The house of cards is falling apart one by one.

[bkkgriz]

This tantrum by Chalerm was really enlightening. I had no idea that ministers were put into positions they know nothing about. It is all starting to make sense to me now. I think Chalerm is really helping the country by telling the truth about political appointments. I just hope the PM hears this and puts only qualified people into the ministries to which they are appointed. I can see nothing but blue skies and clear sailing for Thailand now.

[bigbamboo]

I have to admit I was surprised that Thaksin took away his DPM position. The two go back a long, long way and must know all sorts of nasty secrets about each other. Chalerm desperately wants to be PM one day and with KY all over the shop he must of thought it was now or never. It would appear it might be never.

Hell hath no fury like a Thai man scorned.

Edited July 1, 2013 by bigbamboo

[waza]

"Chalerm all but admitted that the government's controversial rice price-pledging scheme was "rotten", and that the water management mega-plan, whose implementation is facing legal problems, could in fact have legitimacy issues.... The man usually taunted government opponents but on this occasion he portrayed them as a big threat against a weak administration on the verge of a serious crisis. Problems in the government were opening doors to a fresh conspiracy to overthrow it, he said, and it was not impossible that Thaksin Shinawatra's political party would be dissolved again."

At last an honest assessment from a Thaksin lickspittle.

Edited July 1, 2013 by waza

[tominbkk]

Hell hath no fury like a Chalerm scorned !

I do believe he's telling the truth about a government and system that he has happily been part of and benefited from for many years and he of all people should know that telling the truth in Thailand can be hazardous to your health.

He better be careful or his driver may strangle him with a shoestring.

[Moruya]

This is like Jilted John

Which one is Gordon?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[barryofpattaya]

Yep, that's what happened. The big Boss fired him. Put him in a safe position behind the scenes

There was a video posted on this forum last week that was taken in Hong Kong where Dr. Thaksin was meeting with mendicants wanting this or that. As Dr. Thaksin's car was pulling away, Mr. Chalerm appeared on the video, staggering and having to be pulled back to the curb. I believe Mr. Chalerm has let the demon 'ear medicine' control his life, loosen his tongue, and ruin his health. I believe the Big Boss noticed this and became afraid that Mr. Chalerm was losing his grip.

Mr. Chalerm cannot admit to himself that he has a 'ear medicine' problem so he is looking around for other reasons for his demotion and the person who probably stands up to his unreasonable behavior the most is Gen. Thawee. Gen. Thawee is a serious man with a hell of a lot of responsibility, with soldiers and teachers dying regularly under his jurisdiction. He probably had many arguments with Mr. Chalerm but who, on this forum or in Thailand, believes Gen. Thawee has the clout to unseat Mr. Chalerm from power.

Having scared Dr. Thaksin with his excessive drunkenness, big mouth, and failing health, Mr. Chalerm should be very careful in the future how he bad-mouths Dr. Thaksin's government. Mr. Chalerm is a loose cannon and may have to be permanently retired for everyone's safety as he is jeopardizing the entire operation.

[Halion]

Arrogant,ignorant and innefectual bully who is now throwing the toys out of the pram. In his new position regardless of his personal qualifications he will prove just as hapless and pathetic as he has done over his whole career.

The rats are starting to abandon the sinking ship.