Yingluck denies Thaksin is 'mastermind' of govt; shrugs off 'stupid' comment

[webfact]

Loaded salvos hit PM on first day of censure
Hataikarn Treesuwan,
Chanon Wongsatayanont
The Nation



Yingluck denies Thaksin is 'mastermind' of govt; shrugs off 'stupid' comment

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday responded to persistent claims her administration is run by her brother, the former PM Thaksin, saying: "There is only one Thai Cabinet and it's led by me."

As for remarks from opposition MPs that she was "stupid", Yingluck said: "People who work with me know what I am." This is the first time that she has responded to this accusation.

The censure debate against Yingluck and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan kicked off yesterday with a barrage of allegations from Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva over alleged mismanagement and abuse of power.

Abhisit claimed the level of corruption under the Yingluck government had more than doubled - and the problem meant the country lost as much as Bt235 billion per year.

He said huge level of graft had become a crisis of faith and that people had no choice but to take their grievances to the streets.

Abhisit came up with a long list of measures he said were dubious, namely the rice-pledging scheme, the Bt350-billion water-management scheme, Bt2-trillion loan bill for infrastructure and government moves to "destroy the checks and balances" by failing to set up median prices. He also slammed the government for trying to push through the controversial blanket amnesty bill.

Abhisit condemned the Yingluck government for its show of defiance against the Constitutional Court's ruling on the charter amendment draft seeking to have a fully elected Senate.

"If we do not do anything now, the country will go to chaos and eventually end up being a failed state."

He also alleged that assets Yingluck declared upon taking office were in conflict with what she had told a court earlier.

When testifying in her brother's Bt46-billion asset seizure case, Yingluck said she had had her niece purchase a Bt2.5 million watch for her. However, in her asset declaration, she only reported nine watches worth a total of Bt1.8 million, he said.

She also failed to present to court evidence of her assets and spending, he said.

"I cannot trust the PM. She should make a decision on the behalf of the Thai public once the censure debate is over. People have no time for this government," he said.

In response, Yingluck thanked House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont for providing details of the opposition's allegations, and then went on to say that questions about her competence, leadership and blaming her for interfering with the legislature were not fair.

"I affirm that the government respects the three branches of sovereign power," she said.

She also refused to comment on the seizure of Bt46-billion worth of assets from Thaksin, saying that the court's ruling on that was final. "In the assets declaration case, the court ruling was final and the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions had already ordered seizure of the assets. The court had listened to the defence, it cannot be said if it was true or false, and doing so [saying it was true] would be useless because [according to] the country's [accepted] rules, the court's ruling is final," she said.

She said the blanket amnesty bill did not indicate any return of seized assets and the Senate had rejected the bill anyway.

Democrat MP Chinnaworn Boonyakiat also took to the floor yesterday to allege that Yingluck failed to keep election promises such as lowering the cost of living. He also attacked her for nepotism and failing to take responsibility by attending House meetings.

Yingluck responded by saying all appointments had been made according to regulations.

-- The Nation 2013-11-27

[Thai at Heart]

"People who work with me know what I am"

Finally. A comment, unscripted, off the cuff. Now just have to find if she's done any work with anyone else around.....

Edited November 27, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[Hawkman]

So she basically avoided the questions then.

Why do the poor vote for her, when she can get herself a 2.5 million baht watch!!!! Who needs a 2.5 million baht watch? Can you imagine if David Cameron suddenly got one?

I'm baffled why people can't see through this government.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[jonclark]

"People who work with me know what I am"

Finally. A comment, unscripted, off the cuff. Now just have to find if she's done any work with anyone else around.....

"People who work with me know what I am" - Yep and i think it's called........ 'stupid'

[Tatsujin]

"I affirm that the government respects the three branches of sovereign power," she said.

Except when they don't agree with us, in which case we do what we want anyway. The lies coming out of their mouths are just the norm for them.

[JRSoul]

It is almost universally true that stupid people are too stupid to know that they are.

[EricBerg]

"People who work with me know what I am"

Finally. A comment, unscripted, off the cuff. Now just have to find if she's done any work with anyone else around.....

"People who work with me know what I am" - Yep and i think it's called........ 'stupid'

That name-calling and insulting is far from constructive. It doesn't help a bit to get out of the deplorable state the country is in. Because of it the intellectually challenged PM cannot deal with matters of state.

[jonclark]

She is a total lame duck in the water. The sooner PTP dumps her the better their chances of getting more MPs in the next election.

Unfortunately for YL, Thais, like most of the worlds voting public, are very fickle and she is last year fashion. Other than a few forum posters, she has been well and truly 'dumped' by the public; notice how few people are leaping to her defense - The UDD? Are they still at Rajamakala stadium in their tens of thousands? They have been very quiet, which is unusual as they normally want attention! Whats going on there?

If PTP has one gram of sense in it, they need to do dump her. Otherwise it will be a case of the ship going down with the captain, as opposed to the captain doing down with the ship. Otherwise it's checkmate with Suthep the victor.

[Yunla]

I don't think she is stupid, she seems to have average intelligence. That isn't the problem. The problem is that she gets orders beamed down to her from the Death Star.

[SpokaneAl]

She was attacked for failing to keep an election promise to lower the cost of living?

Wow.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ballpoint]

As for remarks from opposition MPs that she was "stupid", Yingluck said: "People who work with me know what I am."

They sure do. It's why she got the job. Samak showed to Thaksin that he couldn't afford to put someone who thinks for themselves in the position.

[bigbamboo]

Unfortunately, rather like in the Bible where it states there is only one God and he created the Earth in six days and then took Sunday off, her credibility is immediately compromised when she states that there is only one cabinet and it is led by her.

And in both cases however many times you repeat it doesn't make it any more believable.

[waza]

"People who work with me know what I am"

Finally. A comment, unscripted, off the cuff. Now just have to find if she's done any work with anyone else around.....

The guys she met at the Four Seasons Hotel room certainly do.

She is so stupid she says thank you three times

She certainly sounds stupid

Psss he's talking about you

Dohhhh

Edited November 27, 2013 by waza

[WhizBang]

Your actions, speak louder than your words, madam.

[jaltsc]

Perhaps if she expressed herself in English, we could see how "not stupid" she really is

[englishoak]

Problem is there isnt any party that isnt totally corrupt and out for what they can grab, Thais have no patience for elections or democracy hence the 22 or so attempted or successful; coups in the last 100 years rather than fight it out at election time.... no patience at all.

Politics are a joke in Thailand, always have and for the foreseeable future always will be.

[JoeThePoster]

I had some hopes for this censure debate. But an extra undeclared watch? Almost like Samak's cooking show that.

[cloghead]

Normal brain...

Yunglicks brain...

My brain...

[Thaddeus]

I'm baffled why people can't see through this government.

A total lack of transparency maybe?

[ChrisY1]

I might be wrong, but I can't see anything changing here....I see the PT continuing....the Dems will have their tails between their legs.....and in a few weeks, things will be back to the old ways....

Just can't see TS allowing a disolution of the Govt.....after all, it may be his last stance even though he may never be able to return.

[lemoncake]

I hope someone from the Dems, will ask her to explain the slogan "Thaksin thinks PTP does" or something along the lines

I also hope they raise the question of issuing new passport and hand delivering it.

After all, since Thaksin is NOT a mastermind, that would mean Yingluck herself issued an order to give new passport to wanted criminal on the run

[ramrod711]

My wife was watching coverage of the hearing yesterday.There was a point where the cameras showed Chalerm standing in front of a seated Abhisit, chalerm didn't look happy but Abhisit had a wry smile. I would love to know what they were talking about, probably wasn't the weather.

[lemoncake]

My wife was watching coverage of the hearing yesterday.There was a point where the cameras showed Chalerm standing in front of a seated Abhisit, chalerm didn't look happy but Abhisit had a wry smile. I would love to know what they were talking about, probably wasn't the weather.

Discussing Chalerms possible position in the new government

[JRSoul]

My wife was watching coverage of the hearing yesterday.There was a point where the cameras showed Chalerm standing in front of a seated Abhisit, chalerm didn't look happy but Abhisit had a wry smile. I would love to know what they were talking about, probably wasn't the weather.

Discussing Chalerms possible position in the new government

As the Democrats have a head, it would have to be at the other end of the alimentary canal. OTOH I'm sure they already have candidates for that position.

Edited November 27, 2013 by JRSoul

[mrtoad]

"People who work with me know what I am"

Finally. A comment, unscripted, off the cuff. Now just have to find if she's done any work with anyone else around.....

I believe she is a clone, Caddied by her Criminal brother. Don't quote me, quote the DL.

[Thaddeus]

"Thaksin thinks PTP does"

[mrtoad]

My wife was watching coverage of the hearing yesterday.There was a point where the cameras showed Chalerm standing in front of a seated Abhisit, chalerm didn't look happy but Abhisit had a wry smile. I would love to know what they were talking about, probably wasn't the weather.

Maybe the tax rates on ear medicine.

[saltandpepper]

And she is the one who is supposed to defend her government and to keep peace in the country????

[Thaddeus]

"Thaksin thinks PTP does"

To deny one, proves the other.

[Swiss1960]

This is not astonishing. What else could she say without admitting that she is only the puppet of her brother?