Thai editorial: Get involved or get out of office

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Get involved or get out of office
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The prime minister seems to regard foreign trips as more important than debating the highest law of the land; she must attend Parliament and demonstrate that she is indeed the country's leader

As deliberation of constitutional amendment goes on in Parliament, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is on a trip to Tajikistan. It is not the first time she has prioritised other activities over parliamentary business. The premier has missed several important debates that have led to critics calling into question her capability to lead the administration.

So far Yingluck has been absent from debates on the amnesty bill as well as the budget. Deliberately or not, this time it's amendment to the Constitution. The highest law of the land might be amended and she is outside the country. Moreover, the debate on constitutional changes to the method of electing senators was initiated by her own Pheu Thai Party. Certainly this should deserve the attention of the premier.

Her absence from the House and her professed ignorance about various controversial issues were perhaps understandable during her first year in the office. She was new to politics and the public continues to accept and overlook her poor public-speaking skills. Things are different now that she has been premier for over two years, heading five cabinets. She has had more than enough time to learn about her role and obligations.

Yingluck has said she wants Parliament to find a solution on the amnesty issue, and she has correctly emphasised the status and importance of Parliament and the magnitude of the issue. But the fact that she doesn't fully take part in the process contradicts her own statement. The amnesty bill demands her attention in the House. It directly involves the reconciliation process, which has been one of her party's banner policies since Day 1 of her premiership. The House deliberation also involves members of her government and her exiled brother Thaksin Shinawatra, making it doubly important that she attends and participates. Despite all this, she has instead spent time meeting diplomats and chairing a meeting of the Women's Empowerment Fund.

If the amnesty bill doesn't seem to fit into her idea of a leader's obligations, the budget bill didn't capture her attention either. Again, she let the public down with only a brief appearance at that debate. It is as if she weren't even partially accountable for the government's spending. Her absence also shuts off opportunities for her to learn more about administering the country, and leaves her completely ignorant on the opinions of the opposition. Her lack of will to participate makes her look irresponsible. She is among the few world leaders who shrug off such responsibilities.

Her ignorance and lack of participation will become even more of a millstone as she enters her third year in office. The more she remains absent from the democratic process, the more it shows her failure to prioritise as leader of the country. She can remain tight-lipped on highly controversial issues when meeting the press, but deliberately avoiding significant parliamentary sessions is different. As head of the executive branch, she must fully understand her duties and responsibilities and assert herself in that role. She need not give eloquent speeches in the House in a bid to impress. All she has to do is to demonstrate willingness to be part of the process, especially when critical issues dictate the direction of the country.

Silence might have been golden during her honeymoon period, but she has reached the point where she can no longer justify passivity with Thailand at a political crossroads. The more she tries to stay beyond the problems, the more the public will cry out for her to either lead or resign. No country in the world can survive if its leader has no idea what direction their country is heading. If the charter amendment proposal is not important enough for her to attend parliament, what issue is?


-- The Nation 2013-08-21

[NongKhaiKid]

We all know she is PM in name only and her own actions couldn't make it any clearer.

The country has a whole raft of major problems but she's never involved with any of them, however calls for her to stand down are wasted as her position is assured until such time as her brother decides otherwise.

[Siripon]

The government have been in power 2 years and still haven't announced to Parliament their first year's achievements.

Could it be they have none?

[Chittychangchang]

She is an ambassador for the country in her fetching, tight red satin suit.

PM is another question

CCC

[ramrod711]

Wake up, The Nation, she is not the leader of Thailand, never has been, never will be. She is a puppet, and so are the voters who blindly support this sham of a government.

[theblether]

I've always been of the opinion that she was quite clearly bullied into the job. It would be acceptable for her to be merely a figure head as CCC points out if she had a competent government behind her.

That's clearly not the case.

[MaxLee]

Hawaii, Hawaii, here I come

[noitom]

We all know she is PM in name only and her own actions couldn't make it any clearer.

The country has a whole raft of major problems but she's never involved with any of them, however calls for her to stand down are wasted as her position is assured until such time as her brother decides otherwise.

Sad state of affairs but true.

[dcutman]

If the charter amendment proposal is not important enough for her to attend parliament, what issue is?

Getting her fugitive brother back to Thailand. Duh!

[pedro01]

She cannot get involved with any issues that directly benefit her or her brother. That will be used against her.

As there's really nothing else on the agenda, she stays almost permanently out of Dodge.

[Neilly]

As head of the executive branch, she must fully understand her duties and responsibilities and assert herself in that role.

Best laugh I've had this morning

[Zolt]

If the charter amendment proposal is not important enough for her to attend parliament, what issue is?

Getting her fugitive brother back to Thailand. Duh!

It's actually better for her not to get personally involved with this one subject. OTOH, the negotiations with insurgent groups in the South, that could use some attention.

[Pikeybkk]

bringing thai business interests to other countries and increasing bi-lateral ties and commercial agreements are part of her job too.....or is the trollvisa

[tingtongteesood]

The premier has missed several important debates that have led to critics calling into question her capability to lead the administration.

Herein lies the problem - SHE HAS NO CAPABILITY ! She should never have been voted into office, she should never have even run for office. BUT as people keep saying here, the country gets what it deserves, the Thai populace decided 500 baht in their pockets was more important than voting for the better politician so YOU ALL SCREWED YOURSELVES ! Som nam na and hope you have started to learn your lesson from it. Roll on election time, let's hope the right decision is made next time....

[klauskunkel]

I think the headline needs to be shortened...

[ratcatcher]

The premier has missed several important debates that have led to critics calling into question her capability to lead the administration.

Herein lies the problem - SHE HAS NO CAPABILITY ! She should never have been voted into office, she should never have even run for office. BUT as people keep saying here, the country gets what it deserves, the Thai populace decided 500 baht in their pockets was more important than voting for the better politician so YOU ALL SCREWED YOURSELVES ! Som nam na and hope you have started to learn your lesson from it. Roll on election time, let's hope the right decision is made next time....

"She should never have been voted into office, she should never have even run for office"

Was she voted into office?

Did she ever run for office? NO!

"On 16 May 2011, the Pheu Thai party voted to name Yingluck as the party's top candidate under the party-list system (and presumably be the party's nominee for Prime Minister) for parliamentary election scheduled for 3 July. However, she was not made party leader and she did not join the executive board of the party. The ultimate decision was made by Thaksin. "Some said she is my nominee. That's not true. But it can be said that Yingluck is my clone... Another important thing is that Ms Yingluck is my sister and she can make decisions for me. She can say 'yes' or 'no' on my behalf," Thaksin noted in an interview."

Wiki.

Thaksin runs Thailand.

[PhilipCook]

Create an atmosphere so toxic as to force the masses to beg for TS' return. He can return anytime but he prefers to come back as the savior. clever boy.

[Maggusoil]

We just got rid of one of these in Australia. Replaced her with another one. A male one. It looks like we'll soon be replacing him with another male one wearing no doubt a different coloured shirt.

They don't have any influential brothers or sisters, but it doesn't matter. Someone else is always jerking their strings.

They're always happy.

Pay is good and the super is fantastic.

[ratcatcher]

Create an atmosphere so toxic as to force the masses to beg for TS' return. He can return anytime but he prefers to come back as the savior. clever boy.

I see what you're getting at, but I'm wondering just how much more toxic things can get.

Thailand has been likened to the Titanic and it seems what is going to sink it is the growing riceberg.

Of course Captain Fantastic will go down with the ship, and if that happens he may reincarnate as the salvor.

Not a clever boy really.

[Bagwan]

She is an ambassador for the country in her fetching, tight red satin suit.

PM is another question

CCC

Is this an example of Thai tailoring? Looks like a 300 baht job for Pattaya Tai market. Does she she ever wear the overpriced 'creations' she buys in 'salons'?

[Chittychangchang]

She is an ambassador for the country in her fetching, tight red satin suit.

PM is another question

CCC

Is this an example of Thai tailoring? Looks like a 300 baht job for Pattaya Tai market. Does she she ever wear the overpriced 'creations' she buys in 'salons'?

The wife saw her buying of the peg in Marks and Spencer, think there was a sale on.

CCC

[Bagwan]

Tajikistan was the poorest republic of the Soviet Union and is the poorest country in Central Asia as well as in the former Soviet Union today. The current economic situation remains fragile, largely owing to corruption, uneven economic reforms, and economic mismanagement. With foreign revenue precariously dependent upon remittances from migrant workers overseas and exports of aluminium and cotton, the economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks. In FY 2000, international assistance remained an essential source of support for rehabilitation programs that reintegrated former civil war combatants into the civilian economy, thus helping keep the peace. International assistance also was necessary to address the second year of severe drought resulted in a continued shortfall of food production.

Well worth a visit then and redolent with trade opportunities. Doh!