PM Yingluck downplays 'Thaksin' audio clip

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POLITICS
PM downplays 'Thaksin' audio clip
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that Deputy Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha had spoken to her by phone about the audio clip in which it is alleged he and Thaksin Shinawatra discussed a plot to bring the former prime minister back to Thailand.

Yingluck said Yuthasak had not offered many details about the clip and did not mention he would be quitting his job. She added that agencies would check the audio clip, but she was confident relations between the government and the military would not be adversely affected.

She declined to comment on whether the clip was leaked by politicians disappointed at not getting a Cabinet seat in the recent reshuffle and refused to say if the voice heard in the clip was her brother Thaksin's.

Yuthasak also declined to respond to media reports about the clip.

Pheu Thai Party leaders have ordered their MPs to refrain from commenting on the issue, saying their comments would only create negative consequences, as Yuthasak had already called the PM to discuss the issue.

Interior Minister and Pheu Thai Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan said he had not listened to the clip but had read detailed accounts about it. He believed no damage would be caused to the country by the conversation in the clip.

"Even if the conversation was real, which part of it caused damage to the country? From what I have read, I didn't see anything that would harm the country. If some people interpret it as wrong, that's a personal issue," Charupong said.

Pheu Thai party-list MP Cherdchai Tantisirin called on the Information Technology and Communications Ministry to trace who leaked the clip, saying he believed the incident could delay Thaksin's return to Thailand by a further two or three years.

Worachai Hema, Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan, said the clip was not real but made by a group who wanted to sabotage the government by causing confrontation with the military. The group also made the fake clip to prevent Thaksin from returning home, Worachai said. He said the opposition, government opponents, and independent agencies have teamed up to bring down the government, which must fight against extra-constitutional power.

Dithaporn Sasasamit, Internal Security Operations Command spokesman, and a Defence Ministry aide, declined to comment on this issue or any relating to his superiors. However, he said what had happened would not affect the work of the military, which was a disciplined organisation.

Moreover, it would not hurt national security, as Thais and people in all neighbouring countries knew the military and its work record well, he said.


-- The Nation 2013-07-09

[Robby nz]

So it has now gone from deny to downplay.

Some of them know its fake even though they haven't listened to it.

And they want the IT ministry to trace who LEACKED the clip.

That would be as close as we will get to an admission that it is true.

But it wont hurt the country.

Well not if we don't talk about it.

What a load of contradictory BS.

[Scully]

Sounds like they are all singing from a different sheet, if a government wants to at least sound credible then it should all be united.

Well (in any country) at least pretend to be united, not contradict each other.

[givenall]

This not the first or last BS comes from the part or the government

Sent from my ST18a using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NongKhaiKid]

She can't recognise her brother's voice unless it's on Skype

[Songhua]

She .... refused to say if the voice heard in the clip was her brother Thaksin's.

If it isn't, wouldn't she be saying so?

[Tatsujin]

Sometimes (in fact most times) saving "face" just goes too far. I don't think any of these people could or would tell the truth with a gun to their heads.

[nachiket]

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that Deputy Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha had spoken to her by phone about the audio clip in which it is alleged he and Thaksin Shinawatra discussed a plot to bring the former prime minister back to Thailand.

Something is cooking here.

[Ricardo]

So did Khun Yuthasak offer to resign, as previously reported, or "did not mention he would be quitting his job", as PM-Yingluck now asserts ? No porky-pies ... Just tell the truth !

And the Interior Minister says "I didn't see anything that would harm the country" ? So having a fugitive criminal running the country isn't harmful, or is it harmful only to PTP, they are not-at-all the same thing !

The whole thing is a farce, and harms the country's international reputation, but the government only care about relations with the military ?

[Markaew]

Yingluck has reached a new level of stupid. She isn't even bothering to lie to cover her tracks. Instead she is saying let's not talk about this because it could appear negative. <deleted>

[OzMick]

There is one aspect of this that no-one wants to touch (AFAIK) - is it LEGAL for government MPs and Ministers, sworn to uphold the laws of the nation and work to its benefit, to meet with criminals and discuss ways to subvert the legal system?

Does Thailand not have laws against associating with criminals, vote selling, conspiracy to break laws? do they not apply above a certain wealth/income level?

[wxpwzrd]

There is one aspect of this that no-one wants to touch (AFAIK) - is it LEGAL for government MPs and Ministers, sworn to uphold the laws of the nation and work to its benefit, to meet with criminals and discuss ways to subvert the legal system?

Does Thailand not have laws against associating with criminals, vote selling, conspiracy to break laws? do they not apply above a certain wealth/income level?

As well as political position, level of power, etc.

[thhMan]

I wonder if Thailand will ever stop being so immature and careless

[givenall]

She .... refused to say if the voice heard in the clip was her brother Thaksin's.

If it isn't, wouldn't she be saying so?

Let's put the clip on the YouTube if it is not that bad and let the public decide

[waza]

Lies, deceit, corruption, nepotism, debt and maybe the hint of assassination the hallmarks of the Yingluck administration, same, same but different as Thaksins.

[gl555]

There is one aspect of this that no-one wants to touch (AFAIK) - is it LEGAL for government MPs and Ministers, sworn to uphold the laws of the nation and work to its benefit, to meet with criminals and discuss ways to subvert the legal system?

Does Thailand not have laws against associating with criminals, vote selling, conspiracy to break laws? do they not apply above a certain wealth/income level?

It's the PTP we're talking about here. The law doesn't apply to them unless they intend to sue someone or jam them up for a crime.

[Bagwan]

Let's not talk about it? What's next? A return of the yellow and red cards?

[smutcakes]

There is one aspect of this that no-one wants to touch (AFAIK) - is it LEGAL for government MPs and Ministers, sworn to uphold the laws of the nation and work to its benefit, to meet with criminals and discuss ways to subvert the legal system?

Does Thailand not have laws against associating with criminals, vote selling, conspiracy to break laws? do they not apply above a certain wealth/income level?

If politicians were not allowed to speak/discuss with other criminals, there would be even less debate in the house.

[BuddyPinkham]

Worachai Hema, Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan, said the clip was not real but made by a group who wanted to sabotage the government by causing confrontation with the military

TIHS-LLUB!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bluespunk]

"Pheu Thai Party leaders have ordered their MPs to refrain from commenting on the issue, saying their comments would only create negative consequences"

Those consequences being the truth coming out?

[Bluespunk]

Worachai said. He said the opposition, government opponents, and independent agencies have teamed up to bring down the government, which must fight against extra-constitutional power.

Yes, because only the red stormtroopers must be allowed to attempt to bring down governments and then only by force, not the truth.

[Bluespunk]

Pheu Thai party-list MP Cherdchai Tantisirin called on the Information Technology and Communications Ministry to trace who leaked the clip, saying he believed the incident could delay Thaksin's return to Thailand by a further two or three years.

Good

[belg]

i guess the countdown to a new coup has started

[bigbamboo]

If the Defence Minister can't even control her deputies what chance does she have with all those military types?

[PhilipCook]

if he promises to do good things for the country might as well bring him back with a slap on the wrist. its been done for so many others who did worse, mentioning those individuals here wouldn't add value to the suggestion, suffice it to say he could improve government provided that oversight is transparent and independent and relentless.

[waza]

if he promises to do good things for the country might as well bring him back with a slap on the wrist. its been done for so many others who did worse, mentioning those individuals here wouldn't add value to the suggestion, suffice it to say he could improve government provided that oversight is transparent and independent and relentless.

Good point let forget any pretence of rule of law and joyfully accept a Thaksin dictatorship

[Bluespunk]

if he promises to do good things for the country might as well bring him back with a slap on the wrist. its been done for so many others who did worse, mentioning those individuals here wouldn't add value to the suggestion, sufufice it to say he could improve government provided that oversight is transparent and independent and relentless.

Satire?

[klauskunkel]

Moreover, it would not hurt national security, as Thais and people in all neighbouring countries knew the military and its work record well, he said.

And to top it all, nothing would hurt Thailand, as Thais and people in all neighbouring countries knew our police force and politicians and their work record well, he did not say.

[Thait Spot]

if he promises to do good things for the country might as well bring him back with a slap on the wrist. its been done for so many others who did worse, mentioning those individuals here wouldn't add value to the suggestion, suffice it to say he could improve government provided that oversight is transparent and independent and relentless.

You're having a larf!!!!!!

He is in charge and look at the mess!!!

[OzMick]

if he promises to do good things for the country might as well bring him back with a slap on the wrist. its been done for so many others who did worse, mentioning those individuals here wouldn't add value to the suggestion, suffice it to say he could improve government provided that oversight is transparent and independent and relentless.

"provided that........." and if he was caught out by that oversight, as he has been now, should he be given another chance?