Yingluck must not cry for herself

[webfact]

STOPPAGE TIME
Yingluck must not cry for herself
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- "Strangulation" is the word used in some Western media to sympathetically describe what's happening to the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

She again projected the image of a victim after the Constitutional Court last week killed her administration's audacious plan to borrow Bt2 trillion to overhaul the country's transport infrastructure. The besieged political leader asked how Thailand could achieve peace when laws were being used to hunt her and her people down.

Let's forget about peace for a while, as it won't come easily, no matter what. Let's consider whether and/or how she can practically get out of this. The relentless protests on the streets are her political dead-end. Last week's Constitutional Court veto and a few other judicial matters are becoming her legal dead-end. And with the Bt2 trillion mega-spending plan dead in the water, an economic dead-end is looming.

They are combining as one big dead-end. Western sympathy alone won't be enough to save Yingluck. And sympathy is looking less and less likely to come from foreign investors. If her government does somehow manage to stay in power - improbable, of course - who would want to bet on its projects? Who would provide more computer tablets? Who would buy Thai rice? Who would supply high-speed trains or lay down the new railroads?

The threats to "divide Thailand up" - whether or not they were made out of frustration or of malice - stemmed from this extreme desperation, the realisation that another Yingluck-led administration would not be just a political lame duck, but also a bad one to do business with. Suthep Thaugsuban's supporters, unpaid farmers and the anti-corruption mechanism have targeted where it hurts - key economic agencies and policies.

Was it just one blunder, the amnesty bill, that led Yingluck to this point? If we look at it carefully, the bill shared the same traits as other legal problems besetting this caretaker government. The amnesty bill, the attempt to change the Constitution so that most international treaties would be spared parliamentary scrutiny, the transfer of former National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri, the Bt2 trillion borrowing plan: all reflect "democratic empowerment" gone crazy.

And if we are to look farther back, the Ratchadapisek land scandal and the aforementioned cases also have a few things in common. Politicians in power ignored serious warnings about what they planned to do, thinking the "democratic mandate" allowed them to do it or would shield them from drastic consequences. When things went bad, they never blamed themselves - the conspiratorial opponents were always the culprits.

It was the same with the tax-free sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek. Ditto when Thaksin Shinawatra was accused of hiding a massive amount of shares in nominees' accounts. Everything was because the rule of law was being used to persecute a popularly elected man, and it was never about whether that popularly elected man should set an example by diligently upholding the law.

The question of whether the all-out street campaign against Yingluck is justified or has gone way overboard is a good one. But equally important is the question of whether Yingluck could have avoided it. As many people said after her "They use laws to hunt me down" complaint, the ultimate question is whether she has broken the law or not.

Being "picked on" is bad, but it's different from being "persecuted". The latter involves genuine victimisation while the former implies guilt and the unfortunate act of getting caught. That the same laws may not have been enforced against other people is bad, but that doesn't mean penalised offenders should call themselves "hunted". And especially not if they hold other state powers or wield major political influence. If all election winners were legally untouchable, the world would be a much messier place. What has befallen Yingluck, her brother Thaksin, late Democrat bigwig Sanan Kachornprasart, ex-Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin or even current Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra is democracy exercising its own restraints. It is democracy emphasising that checks and balances are as important as results at the ballot box.

And how many times can the law hunt "innocent" people down? One violation of the law could be an honest mistake. Two could be a bad mistake. Three could be a very bad mistake. But violations repeated again and again? Such a scenario begs the question of whether the lawbreakers are being defiant due to a misunderstanding of their "mandate".

"Every time she cries, I feel sad for Thailand," read a Facebook post. Yingluck the person is entitled to sob her frustration away, of course, but Yingluck the prime minister has bigger priorities than herself, her party or her family. If she is to cry, it must be for a system flexible enough to let her become a national leader in spite of her brother, but flawed enough to blur the line between breaking the law and being its victim.


-- The Nation 2014-03-19

[speedtripler]

crocodile tears ............

[NongKhaiKid]

You've got to love it, ' laws are being used to hunt her and her people down '.

Rich coming from people who use the law to suit their own ends, just ask Chalerm and Tarit, yet make it clear if a court returns a finding they don't like it will simply be ignored.

[namatjira]

Let her have a good cry, nobody else is going to cry for her.

[smedly]

if they didn't lie cheat steal and break the law then there would be no need to take any court action and there would be no protests on the streets - it really is that simple

[Chupup]

Cry in public.........Laugh in Private, but its not going to goi away its time to pay the piper ...........................

[Yunla]

I will save my sympathy for the farmers afflicted by her rice scheme, and for the many people who have died or been terribly injured in the recent factional violence. Yingluck had a gold-plated opportunity to reform the infrastructure of the nation, and make progress on many critical issues, when she first came to power. But she devoted her time to passports-for-crims, amnesty-for-crims, and shady experiments in personal enrichment. She could have made a big and positive difference as PM, but she failed to do this. I will save my tears for the poor unfortunate people who needed a selfless and industrious leader with progressive vision, and who ended up with this catalogue of failings instead.

[chainarong]

The systematic failure of the PTP is inherited from the past , formed with a group of people on a social ideological pursuit to suit themselves , the PTP is a clone of the Thai love Thai , the principal as we all know is in Dubai, it only stands to reason that the in- experience and the inaptitude would catch up , these fly by political parties crop up in all countries, last about ten years if lucky and contribute nothing at the end of the day, except disappointment for their followers, they have very few scruples or policies, power is the ultimate success and corruption blend into a mixture for disaster the Thai Democracy inherited , begs to be circumvented at every turn.

[mmh8]

yeah love, what about the people who believed you were trying to help them and find you were just lining your own pockets just like big bro? what about those killed through your association with certain violent groups? crying for being caught out like a spoilt child

[binjalin]

problem is the 'other' paper cannot be quoted and so we get a daily stream of yellow articles (not TVF fault)

[thesetat2013]

Surely her tears were never for the wrongs she commited along with her party. More than likely they are because she got caught and knew a severe scolding would be pending from her big brother. Also, her tears genuinely touch the hearts of those poor misled souls who believe she is persecuted simply because of some simple mistakes. Mai pan rai and leave her alone as it is plain to see through those tears she is a good sympathetic woman who only cares about true democracy and helping all thai people heheeee ;-) . Too bad it is all a facade made to make her supporters think she is a good leader albeit a weak one.

Her tears be they real or crododile are done purposefully. Like a child who got caughy with his hand in the cookie jar yet through the childs tears convinces you he wasnt really goin to take a cookie. YL and her party have not only been caught tapping many cookie jars but it seems weekly more is added. Its time she stood up abd told her people she is responsible. Not only for her actions, but for her inaction to her subordinates whom she carries responsibilty for. Her dilema will not end for a very long time and history (if not twisted) will show her as an irresponsible and weak leader among other things.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited March 19, 2014 by thesetat2013

[Tatsujin]

problem is the 'other' paper cannot be quoted and so we get a daily stream of yellow articles (not TVF fault)

Khaosod, Matichon and Prachachat are not "red" affiliated propaganda machines then after all?

[Tatsujin]

Surely her tears were never for the wrongs she commited along with her party. More than likely they are because she got caught and knew a severe scolding would be pending from her big brother. Also, her tears genuinely touch the hearts of those poor misled souls who believe she is persecuted simply because of some simple mistakes. Mai pan rai and leave her alone as it is plain to see through those tears she is a good sympathetic woman who only cares about true democracy and helping all thai people heheeee ;-) . Too bad it is all a facade made to make her supporters think she is a good leader albeit a weak one.

Her tears be they real or crododile are done purposefully. Like a child who got caughy with his hand in the cookie jar yet through the childs tears convinces you he wasnt really goin to take a cookie. YL and her party have not only been caught tapping many cookie jars but it seems weekly more is added. Its time she stood up abd told her people she is responsible. Not only for her actions, but for her inaction to her subordinates whom she carries responsibilty for. Her dilema will not end for a very long time and history (if not twisted) will show her as an irresponsible and weak leader among other things.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Can't remember ever seeing another "leader" of a Nation crying on TV quite so much. I'm pretty damn sure Maggie Thatcher never did lol

[GuestHouse]

The only person forcing her to do the job of Puppet PM is her Puppet Master brother.

He simply does not trust, cannot trust anyone else but a Shinawatra to look after his interests.

[edgarfriendly]

whats the thai word for responsibility?

or the thai word for integrity?

[HonestQuietBob]

"The relentless protests on the streets"

Wrong!

Should read:

"2000 paid guards in Lumpini ripping off the local prostitutes".

[fab4]

"Strangulation" is the word used in some Western media to sympathetically describe what's happening to the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra."

I've not seen it described as such, more than likely wishful thinking on behalf of tulsathit. No, a more accurate description would be , Judicial Coup.

Edited March 19, 2014 by fab4

[Chang_paarp]

I know this is a strange concept, but, how about the government actually obey the existing laws.

They should be able to get fearless independent advise from people who actually know what they are talking about, not sycophants who just nod and say "Yes that can be done". This should be available from the bureaucracy, but that is not going to happen while they are beholden to the current government's whim for their position.

The concept of leading by example seems to be an anathema to the Thai political leaders of all persuasions. "Do as I say, not as I do" seems to be the motto of anyone who aspires to any sort of office.

[antimedia]

I think it is time to throw the whistles away and drive her and her cronies absolutley bonkers with the never ending simple phrase. "Farmers, farmers, farmers, what about the farmers" Talk it, yell it, sing it and display it. Keep it up and drive them insane. (or maybe that is a bit radical as most of them have flown over the cuckoo nest).

[JamesDean3]

Yingluck is not called "flower" in Thai for nothing. Like a flower that is beautiful but essentially dumb. Like a flower nice to the eye but essentially a decoration. But there are many kinds of intelligence and Yingluck has the intelligence for "acting" and for being "devious".

[Baerboxer]

"Strangulation" is the word used in some Western media to sympathetically describe what's happening to the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra."

I've not seen it described as such, more than likely wishful thinking on behalf of tulsathit. No, a more accurate description would be , Judicial Coup.

Or would a better description be impending impeachment.

Stop pretending being caught lying, cheating and possibly with fingers in the tell are not crimes if you happen to be in Thaksin's gang.

[SICHONSTEVE]

yeah love, what about the people who believed you were trying to help them and find you were just lining your own pockets just like big bro? what about those killed through your association with certain violent groups? crying for being caught out like a spoilt child

Yingluck - "yeh, what about them"???

[NeilSA1]

An old saying which has often proved itself true;-

" never trust a woman who cries too much, or a man who laughs too much"

[ramrod711]

"Strangulation" is the word used in some Western media to sympathetically describe what's happening to the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra."

I've not seen it described as such, more than likely wishful thinking on behalf of tulsathit. No, a more accurate description would be , Judicial Coup.

Rubbish! If a person, or a political party break the law, and are proven to have done so,it is not a coup of any kind, it is justice. It is supposed to be a universal principle, law and order, but to some close minded people that refuse to see that their party is capable of wrongdoing, it is a coup. Fortunately for the country and the populace, you don't get to define it.

[robblok]

problem is the 'other' paper cannot be quoted and so we get a daily stream of yellow articles (not TVF fault)

Poor baby just follow JL her example.

[PepperMe]

problem is the 'other' paper cannot be quoted and so we get a daily stream of yellow articles (not TVF fault)

Yep... not TVF's fault.

It is almost impossible to find good news for Thaksin supporters, because even Kahaosod seem to be delicately changing their stance.

I suppose it is Thanksin, YL and PTPs fault for all the mess and the inability of almost any press to print something supportive for you lot to enjoy reading.

[DrTuner]

whats the thai word for responsibility?

or the thai word for integrity?

Maibpenrai.

[winstonc]

problem is the 'other' paper cannot be quoted and so we get a daily stream of yellow articles (not TVF fault)

best you start a new forum for like minded people as yourself sir..a huge following garenteed ..and more likes than you can poke a stick at..good luck with your new venture i wish you well ..keep in touch you hear..typo.sorry

[MunterHunter]

Judicial Coup! Judicial Coup! Judicial Coup! We are under attack! Judicial Coup! Judicial Coup!

No Yingluck, you broke the law, plain and simple... you brake the law you goto court, get your judgement and serve the time if found guilty. If the laws broken warrent you getting thrown out of office, who's fault is that?

And stop being such a dumb cry-baby hypocrit. You ask everyone to stop persueing her under the current laws, and yet your rabid attack dogs are looking for/using any excuse they can find to throw the law book at anyone who isnt 'with' you.

Respect the law, respect the people, respect the consitution and you will find people cannot throw the law book at you.

If your looking for an adviser, there ive just given you something golden... for free.

[SheungWan]

The only person forcing her to do the job of Puppet PM is her Puppet Master brother.

He simply does not trust, cannot trust anyone else but a Shinawatra to look after his interests.

Actually he doesn't trust her that much. That is why he controls her through issuing statements through Facebook pronouncements. Thaksin has her trapped like a pig on a stick. No wonder she cries.