Yingluck, please throw away your passport

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Yingluck, please throw away your passport
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- People of my age may be familiar with a song entitled "I've never been to me." Before some of you start screaming, no, it's not its sexual content that I'm associating Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra with.

I just need a reference point for my article, and this song has what I need, because it's about someone who's touring the world like there's no tomorrow and missing a lot in life in the process.

Yingluck is travelling like crazy - much more than the woman in the song. Should we have a problem with that? No, not if rubber planters aren't blocking roads and railways and burning their produce. And of course not, if she hadn't said repeatedly, here and abroad, that her government considers political reform to be vitally important.

Friendly countries are Yingluck's comfort zones. If she wasn't Thailand's leader, you couldn't blame a woman for wanting to get out of the kitchen when it gets too hot. But a political leader, male or female, cannot escape from domestic issues, especially if those domestic issues directly or indirectly involve his or her family.

Yingluck is working, the government and her supporters insist. Still, even if she is given the benefit of the doubt and the countries she has been to are her mobile offices, her sense of priority - or that of the people who advise her - is questionable. Every day we read news about world leaders cancelling foreign trips because certain things are happening in their own countries. And every day, when certain things are happening in Thailand, it's almost a foregone conclusion that our prime minister's passport is being stamped somewhere else.

Now you see her, now you don't. The tactic benefited Pheu Thai, especially in the early days of the Yingluck government, when her naivety rendered the Democrats helpless and her reluctance to address issues related to her big brother was forgivable. It's different now. The more Yingluck refuses to answer questions about amnesty, reconciliation and charter amendment bills, the more she is seen as an escapist, and the greater the public's mistrust. becomes Like it or not, she has to start facing the fire.

That she refused to be drawn into political mudslinging was a breath of fresh air, or so her supporters thought. That honeymoon is long gone and her elusiveness is becoming part of the problem. For Pheu Thai, it has left the matter of life and death - political reform - in the hands of zealots. To the opposition, it's proof of "See? It's all about Thaksin." To one side of the political divide, she's a runaway prime minister. On the other side of the polarity, she's a poor woman thrust into the political limelight and unfairly victimised.

To the politically neutral (trust me, they exist), let the song I mentioned speak for them:

"Please lady, please lady, don't just walk away,

'Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today,

I can see so much of me still living in your eyes,

Won't you share a part of a weary heart that has lived a million lies...."

Her opponents want her to be grilled in Parliament. Many of her supporters want her to stand up and fight. Neutrals want her to tackle head-on the allegations that her government's reform agenda is a thinly veiled scheme to win more power, whitewash Thaksin and get his money back. Only Pheu Thai strategists want her to keep trotting the globe.

We are not that stupid, the strategists may say, and we are not giving you ammunition for more jokes to circulate on the social media. Yingluck addressing a direct senatorial election or telling Parliament why her government is subsidising rice farmers but not rubber planters is, admittedly a tall order, but it comes with the job - because she is Thailand's prime minister.

Political trouble has infected all parts of Thailand, not just the "ideological" realms where people type angry words to relieve their stress or, better still, get paid for it. Rice farmers and rubber planters are among the innocents bearing the weight of the national divide; it is their plight and the government's decisions on whether to help them, with how much, and how quickly, that have thickened the political mud.

Yingluck may find herself abroad, but to many Thais, she has "never been to them". She can choose to keep on travelling, or she can confront political enemies here who ridicule her "reform" ideas that she often speaks of overseas, unopposed, describing them as Thailand's best chances for genuine peace.

Yes, the kitchen is overheated, but political leadership carries big price tags, and one of them is the type of confrontation that her trips abroad help her to avoid.


-- The Nation 2013-09-11

[angsta]

The Nation, please just stop. We get it and it's becoming embarrassing. The poor mans Fox News.

[Nooky2]

Not too bad. Much of that OP reflects many attitudes toward her.

[BeforeTigers]

Thai politics are so bizarre.
"To one side of the political divide, she's a runaway prime minister. On the other side of the polarity, she's a poor woman thrust into the political limelight and unfairly victimised."

Those are the two choices? Really?

I wish the People here could see this circus from an outsider's point of view.

[Tatsujin]

Thai politics are so bizarre.

"To one side of the political divide, she's a runaway prime minister. On the other side of the polarity, she's a poor woman thrust into the political limelight and unfairly victimised."

Those are the two choices? Really?

I wish the People here could see this circus from an outsider's point of view.

They see it, they just don't get why we make such a fuss about things.

[Nickymaster]

The Nation, please just stop. We get it and it's becoming embarrassing. The poor mans Fox News.

What do you get and what is becoming embarrassing?

[Ianatlarge]

Did someone say "poor mans Fox 'News' "? This reads as a light fluff peice. So, the PM travels to other countries, is that bad? Not really. To claim or imply that she is not performing her duties because she is abroad is rediculous. There is also a clear attack on the PM because she is a woman. The closest to worthwhile journalism is the question as to why rice is subsidised, but not rubber? Fair question. Why not stick to those? I could name a dozen issues the PM and the Reds can be grilled over, unfortunately, for the opposition, most of these also apply to them.

[Pib]

Easier to hide from duties and responsibilities (and the press) when outside of Thailand.

[soi41]

After seeing the photo in the OP, no more wet dreams !!

[jeff2258]

In a country not only the PM works, but they have minister and deputy minister in charge in different things. Do the owner of the company does all the job by himself/ herself? Why do a country needs so many minister for if the PM has to do all the work? If there is a problem in the country and it is related to global economy, can we solve it by just staying back? The minister or PM needs to go out there to get help , support and relationship with other countries. Business people should be able to understand this, it is not a political issue now but an economic issue. Hope politition do not manipulate a global economic issue into a political issue.

[angsta]

Not too bad. Much of that OP reflects many attitudes toward her.

For 'many attitudes' please read' the miserable old men who frequent this website/sit in your local farang bar' as they have nothing better to do than moan and complain.

Sadly your description of 'many' is nowhere near everyone else's description of 'majority.'

[Nickymaster]

Easier to hide from duties and responsibilities (and the press) when outside of Thailand.

She loves going abroad and give speeches. Just read from a piece of paper, walk around with your nose in the air, smile and don't answer any questions . In democratic Thailand it's a bit more difficult (but as she has proven not impossible) to avoid answering questions and having a good old debate with people who have a different view/opinion.

[JoeThePoster]

I blame Ricky Gervais for starting this trend.

[phitsanulokjohn]

Don't know much, and don't care too much about any countries politics,but the song mentioned in the above article is my beautiful Thai wife's favourite farang song. Here we are with lyrics please enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvgtcuQed98

[jackr]

Who cares? It doesn't make a blind bit of difference whether she's here or mincing about on the moon.

[Pimay1]

Not too bad. Much of that OP reflects many attitudes toward her.

For 'many attitudes' please read' the miserable old men who frequent this website/sit in your local farang bar' as they have nothing better to do than moan and complain.

Sadly your description of 'many' is nowhere near everyone else's description of 'majority.'

Ah yes another intellectual post casting aspersions. You left out the if you don't like it here go home part.

[Nooky2]

Not too bad. Much of that OP reflects many attitudes toward her.

For 'many attitudes' please read' the miserable old men who frequent this website/sit in your local farang bar' as they have nothing better to do than moan and complain.

Sadly your description of 'many' is nowhere near everyone else's description of 'majority.'

So you represent "everyone else"? Maybe, but I contend you represent a minority.

[bigbamboo]

I'm not sure why so many criticise the PM when she is simply following orders from the boss. She was chosen as the face of PT for a reason...... just look at the chamber of horrors that passes for the cabinet.

In the normal course of events there would be no need for a PM to visit countries like Montenegro when you've got a Foreign Minister thumbing through his empty passport wondering if he'll ever get to use it again but as we all know Thai politics is anything but normal.

[Nickymaster]

I'm not sure why so many criticise the PM when she is simply following orders from the boss. She was chosen as the face of PT for a reason...... just look at the chamber of horrors that passes for the cabinet.

In the normal course of events there would be no need for a PM to visit countries like Montenegro when you've got a Foreign Minister thumbing through his empty passport wondering if he'll ever get to use it again but as we all know Thai politics is anything but normal.

I'm not sure why so many criticise the PM when she is simply following orders from the boss. She was chosen as the face of PT for a reason...... just look at the chamber of horrors that passes for the cabinet.

Do I sense sympathy for Yingluck?, No need bigbamboo.

Yingluck always says that she is not a puppet and that she makes all decisions on her own. Therefor she deserves all the criticism.

[123thaibourbon]

The Honorable PM Yingluck is perhaps walking in the shadow of the late Dr. Puey Ungphakorn MBE. She is above the fray and seeking a 'Third Path' above the katzenjammer of Bkk karachakans... It would not be surprising if she goes on to write a memoir of her life in the near future. She is going places and will make Thailand shine like the glimmering temples in the light of dawn.

Only pray for another Magsaysay, cannot play Burger King and have it yourwayway

[northernjohn]

The Nation, please just stop. We get it and it's becoming embarrassing. The poor mans Fox News.

Exactly fox news and the republicans and The Nation and what ever happens to sell newspapers. In this case the PTP is such an easy mark.

You have it and don't want to hear any more about it don't open up any thing from the Nation problem solved. find a food thread.

[technologybytes]

Trying to follow or make sense of Thai politics is an exercise in futility in my opinion.

Too many expats want to express opinions on matters that they don't full understand and that frankly, are none of their damn business.

[northernjohn]

Thai politics are so bizarre.

"To one side of the political divide, she's a runaway prime minister. On the other side of the polarity, she's a poor woman thrust into the political limelight and unfairly victimised."

Those are the two choices? Really?

I wish the People here could see this circus from an outsider's point of view.

I agree with you on every thing except the word unfairly.

She may not be the smartest person in the world but she knows she was shoved into the position which she had and never will have qualifications for. She can always resign. It is not like she was qualified for the job. If she resigns unlike her last job they will replace her.

[marell]

As a...designated....head of state, does she even need one? A passport that is.

[Orac]

As a...designated....head of state, does she even need one? A passport that is.

Except she isn't the head of state.

[angsta]

Not too bad. Much of that OP reflects many attitudes toward her.

For 'many attitudes' please read' the miserable old men who frequent this website/sit in your local farang bar' as they have nothing better to do than moan and complain.

Sadly your description of 'many' is nowhere near everyone else's description of 'majority.'

Ah yes another intellectual post casting aspersions. You left out the if you don't like it here go home part.

I understand if it's a touch too close to the bone for some of our erghhhh 'established' members.

The majority I was referring to are the people of Thailand who voted for her and will do so again. It isn't all about you.

Of course if you don't, do. Your sort won't be missed.

[geriatrickid]

Not too bad. Much of that OP reflects many attitudes toward her.

All of it consistent with males aged 45-70, apparently bitter that women have gained some power and are not willing to be their playthings.

[AYJAYDEE]

Not too bad. Much of that OP reflects many attitudes toward her.

For 'many attitudes' please read' the miserable old men who frequent this website/sit in your local farang bar' as they have nothing better to do than moan and complain.

Sadly your description of 'many' is nowhere near everyone else's description of 'majority.'

So you represent "everyone else"? Maybe, but I contend you represent a minority.

a minority in this cess pool perhaps. but that was his point!

[thaibutty]

The Nation, please just stop. We get it and it's becoming embarrassing. The poor mans Fox News.

I always thought Fox News was for the poor man...

[rodroy]

Difficult to be held responsible for anything when you have a built-in excuse " I was out of the country and designated others to make those decisions"!