General Prayuth keeps walking on the tightrope

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
General Prayuth keeps walking on the tightrope
The Nation

Army commander has perhaps the toughest job of all and has been attacked by both sides

BANGKOK: -- Not everyone wakes up everyday not wanting to know what Jatuporn Prompan and ASTV have been saying. Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha is one of the few. Red shirt leader Jatuporn has pulled no punches with Prayuth, and while opinions on the ASTV channel and website might be less aggressive than Jatuporn's, they can hurt the general all the same. It's fair to say that Prayuth is a man torn by both sides of the political conflict.

The red shirts have accused Prayuth of doing everything short of staging a coup in order to undermine the caretaker Yingluck administration. The other side has accused him doing too little.

The western media obviously do not like him. And Thailand's pro-government media have never trusted him. To the anti-government media, he's anything but a hero.

Friday's Constitution Court decision to invalidate the February 2 general election has not made it any easier for Prayuth. He can be consoled by the thought that if nobody likes you, you probably are doing the right things.

According to a patriotic song that many soldiers hold to their hearts, the greatest honours may never be acknowledged, but you must strive to get them and never ever doubt your ways. Like every key figure in the Thai political divide, Prayuth's image may have become too murky to romanticise. According to one side, the fact that a coup has not happened already after months of massive street protests reflects nothing but cowardice. But the other side believes that just because a coup has not happened yet it does not mean it won't.

This latter camp believes that Prayuth is just buying his time, and in the process trying to weaken the caretaker government as much as he can.

Maybe just a few people know Prayuth's true motives and agenda. But the bottom line is that military force has not been used to overthrow the caretaker administration and Prayuthmust have played a significant role in that.

Some may credit Prayuth for helping preserve the "last shred of life" of Thai democracy, while others may blame him for democracy's comatose situation or the political dead-end that is helping nobody. Prayuth has been particularly outspoken regarding some red shirt leaders' threat to "divide up" Thailand. His aggressive response might have something or nothing to do with the speedy manner in which the issue has subsided. Again, some may thank Prayuth while others must loathe him.

The Thai crisis has created enigmatic generals. Prayuth's predecessors have been deeply involved in the turmoil or have even been directly blamed for it.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has gone from being a coup-maker to a "pro-reconciliation" advocate and has not gained much credit for the transformation.

General Anupong Paochinda was taunted as "two-faced", and similar doubts, albeit not as strong, have clouded Prayuth.

Having to politically choose a side or walk a tightrope has become an integral part of the Army's job now. Thailand's problems have become too complex to pinpoint whether the men in uniform love to intervene in politics or are often dragged into it.

It has to be noted that before the Army ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 coup, his cousin Chaiyasit Shinawatra had been the Army commander-in-chief.

That nobody is wholeheartedly thanking Prayuth for the fact that Thai democracy is scraping through, at least for now, speaks volumes about the myth involving the Thai military and Thai politics. This myth will continue no matter what he says or how he acts. And even if he leaves the tightrope and does things more decisively, he will still be a curse to some and a blessing to others.


-- The Nation 2014-03-24

[expat888]

This man has way too much power. He is unelected and yet he can tip the balance anytime he wants.

[kurtgruen]

It all will become clear, when the "Fat Lady Sings'

[Luk Mhee]

"The western media obviously do not like him." Is an incorrect statement, he is well-respected and admired in the military circles throughout the world including the superpowers for his patience and restraint

Edited March 24, 2014 by Luk Mhee

[SABloke]

This man has way too much power. He is unelected and yet he can tip the balance anytime he wants.

Yet he does not. With great power comes great responsibilty. I think he deserves more credit than he's given.

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[BlueNoseCodger]

"The western media obviously do not like him." Is an incorrect statement, he is well-respected and admired in the military circles throughout the world including the superpowers for his patience and restraint

That's not true, most of the media abroad knows him before for the GT200 'bomb detecting dowsing rods' purchase. Even after they'd been exposed as an obvious scam , Prayuth said "the GT200 will continue to be used by the army in the far South".

Some choice quotes:

Prayuth: "I affirm that the device is still effective. Other armed forces are also using it,” the army chief said. (…) The army chief said the GT200 has proven to be effective in the army’s operations in the past. But he would respect any scientific test if it proves otherwise."

I remember seeing the device on the news, it was a plastic box with a plastic spiral cord to two downsing rods, and a plastic cart is inserted into the box and works by magic.

Now he's seen as the military front for this coup attempt, posing as neutral while actually undermining the police and government. Even Nation here is pretty much stating the reality.

I guess he wants to pretend to be neutral because he's retiring and wants an easy life, but on the other hand he has his old loyalties. It's difficult to believe those army special forces soldiers, with 1900 bullets and a few guns that were arrested did so off their own backs, and the suspicion abroad is that he's up to his eyeballs in this coup attempt.

Edited March 24, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[MGP]

Am I the only one who sees some resemblance?

Thanks to his unarmed troops (not to the Police), my neighborhood, not far from Makhawan Bridge, has been safer during the last weeks.

Edited March 24, 2014 by MGP

[Artisi]

Lets face it, he doesn't have to be liked by anyone let alone care what they say, his job is in charge of the military which is to protect the country etc., mainly from external threats. At the moment, it would seem that a camel herding criminal fugitive is trying to undermine the country from an external location -- so it is more than reasonable to assume this constitutes an external threat and falls directly under his control.

[BlueNoseCodger]

Lets face it, he doesn't have to be liked by anyone let alone care what they say, his job is in charge of the military which is to protect the country etc., mainly from external threats. At the moment, it would seem that a camel herding criminal fugitive is trying to undermine the country from an external location -- so it is more than reasonable to assume this constitutes an external threat and falls directly under his control.

He won't be head of the army forever, and he has no legal basis for going against the democracy, so he'll have to hope Thailand can stay a dictorship (and a dictatorship friendly to him no less) for at least the next 20 years.

On the other hand, he could side with the constitutional democracy, tell Suthep to let the Democrats go to the polls, and this matter ends and you lot can all go back to your endless droning Thaksin propaganda.

His soldiers could return to their barracks and that would be the end of the matter,

[Artisi]

Lets face it, he doesn't have to be liked by anyone let alone care what they say, his job is in charge of the military which is to protect the country etc., mainly from external threats. At the moment, it would seem that a camel herding criminal fugitive is trying to undermine the country from an external location -- so it is more than reasonable to assume this constitutes an external threat and falls directly under his control.

He won't be head of the army forever, and he has no legal basis for going against the democracy, so he'll have to hope Thailand can stay a dictorship (and a dictatorship friendly to him no less) for at least the next 20 years.

On the other hand, he could side with the constitutional democracy, tell Suthep to let the Democrats go to the polls, and this matter ends and you lot can all go back to your endless droning Thaksin propaganda.

His soldiers could return to their barracks and that would be the end of the matter,

And if he decided to side with a constitutional democracy, the red-boiler room typing pool would have to ensure their collective efforts were concentrated to maintain the endless droning of "we were robbed", the elected government was overthrown by a coup, the PTP are the legitimate government, etc.

Can you just imagine the hundreds of posts being churned out by the few well know T.V. red supporters all regurgitating the same thing over and over. And with Thaksin finally off the scene there would be no need for "you lot" to mention Thaksin ever again, therefore no "endless droning".

Edited March 24, 2014 by Artisi

[lomatopo]

Must ... hold... out until his brother can step in, and he can move on to the CPB, or maybe even the PC?

Not sure why such a powerful military is needed? To keep regional neighbors from invading? Other than killing Thai citizens over the years, and staging coups, I don't think they've had much to do? Fascinating that he doesn't seem interested in addressing the issues in the "troubled south"? Oh right, too complicated and messy.

Prayuth – Thailand’s Thin-skinned Anti-Democratic General

"Like much of the rest of Thailand’s military, Prayuth has never seen or taken part in combat. The main target of the leadership of the Thai Army is Thailand’s own population, a group for whom it seems to have very little respect, despite this population funding the military’s existence."

[chainarong]

This must be incorrect, the pro-government media and the PTP don't like General Prayuth . this would not have happened in Thaskins time ,he would have he's mates in the top job, but lets revisit General Prayuth, firstly he is not walking any tight rope , he favours nor fears either side and he will take he's final instructions from big daddy in the big house , down by the river, end of story.

[chainarong]

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Am I the only one who sees some resemblance?

Thanks to his unarmed troops (not to the Police), my neighborhood, not far from Makhawan Bridge, has been safer during the last weeks.

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Yeah the guy on the right is not John Wayne , America's former joint Chief of staff.

[lovetotravel]

I have no love for the army, but think they have done a good job considering the situation. It is a no win situation for him. At least there has been no coup. That should quell the "coup monger" comments, though it doesn't seem to have. They are trying their best to protect the protesters, since the police will not. Protesters should all be protected, regardless of their political convictions. It is a part of being a democratic nation, as long as it is done legally.

[Blackmirage2013]

Prayuth is the only person who is holding this country together by refraining from doing stupid, childish things, such as what Natthawut, Thada and Suthep are doing.... without a guy like Prayuth in charge of the military, Thailand would have bombed itself back to the Stone Age a long time ago....

He is not perfect, but he sure beats the crappy leaders who are driving this country into the ground as I type.

[Halion]

To walk the tightrope you have to be balanced which is a quality that eludes most Thai's in public life..

Just think for a moment , if those in government had his power would they show the same restraint.

Having such power and yet showing restraint in such difficult times is the actions of a balanced man.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"The western media obviously do not like him." Is an incorrect statement, he is well-respected and admired in the military circles throughout the world including the superpowers for his patience and restraint

He is respected for his military professionalism and modernization of the Thai military. But having no accountability to the Government or the public except the King, he does lose respect by most democratic nation militaries. He shows that in Thailand he is a powerbroker, a role not respected by most democratic nations. I am sure Egypt, Russia and China admire his position of power and we know how tenuous democracy is in those countries.

[jollyman]

what about the workers

[expat888]

This man has way too much power. He is unelected and yet he can tip the balance anytime he wants.

Yet he does not. With great power comes great responsibilty. I think he deserves more credit than he's given.

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yet

[Fat Haggis]

Generals are not supposed to be liked, they're supposed to be ruthless, after all, when the he has to send his men into harms way.

[bigbamboo]

The general is probably right to no want to get involved in a coup.

With clowns to left and jokers to the right who would want to be stuck in the middle in charge of this basket case country at the moment anyway?

[antimedia]

This man has way too much power. He is unelected and yet he can tip the balance anytime he wants.

But the question must be asked, why the hell are both sides trying so hard to make him tip.

[Emster23]

Every circus should have at least one tight rope walker.

[Scamper]

This is an exceptional article and analysis of Prayuth. He has indeed been placed - as are all Thai generals - in a very difficult position. He has done extremely well. He chooses his words carefully, and is very purposeful when he is being more direct. Despite all that the UDD has talked about in their conspiracy theories in the last five years - there has been no coup. This stalemate as of late has seemed to be dragged out - but it's been dragged out constitutionally. The legal system is slowly catching up to the misdeeds and to the corruption. It must be allowed to do its work. The last few weeks have been exceptionally interesting from a number of standpoints. One is that there is a growing acknowledgment among Pheu Thai that they do not have any power. This has come rather late, one could argue, but it is clearly happening. At this stage, the appearance of power and control has taken centre stage. At some point, that too will relent to reality. In a way, Prayuth has been waiting for Pheu Thai to wake up to reality. But he is also waiting for the legal cases to proceed. Prayuth is a very cautious man. He truly doesn't want to intervene. He truly wants what's best for the country. He still believes the system will sort itself out. If it's allowed to, it will.

[bigbamboo]

Every circus should have at least one tight rope walker.

Plus lots of clowns and a ringmaster.

[bigbamboo]

Generals are not supposed to be liked, they're supposed to be ruthless, after all, when the he has to send his men into harms way.

But Thaksin did that and he's supposed to be liked.

[Artisi]

Every circus should have at least one tight rope walker.

Plus lots of clowns and a ringmaster.

not forgetting the high-flyers, the fire eaters and the lion tamers each with their roles to play.

[JoeThePoster]

Rope's just 2 inches off the ground. He can step off anytime he wants.

[laocowboy2]

This man has way too much power. He is unelected and yet he can tip the balance anytime he wants.

Yet he does not. With great power comes great responsibilty. I think he deserves more credit than he's given.

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I agree - when both sides are criticizing him, it seems indicative that he has just about got things right. I do not believe that he wishes the army to become involved unless it becomes absolutely necessary. As regards 'necessary', I believe it would take either major violence or the specter of economic collapse. And we are not near to either yet. If nothing has been resolved by the end of June however, I think things might change - but only in the form of the army stepping in to force an election to be allowed to take place, and supervising the polling process. Not really a coup - more a grown-up forcing two squabbling toddlers to 'play nicely'.

[lomatopo]

An interesting read on last year's military re-shuffle...

Thai army: new line-up, same fault-lines

By John Cole and Steve Sciacchitano

Oct. 1, 2013

BANGKOK - Thailand's main annual military reshuffle list went into effect today, the first rotation of the armed forces overseen by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra while serving concurrently as defense minister. Although the reshuffle has wide-reaching implications for political direction and stability due to the military's strong role, it has so far attracted scant public attention or critical media scrutiny.

By some critical intra-military readings, Prayuth has recently stepped back from his earlier strong opposition to Thaksin. That assessment is based largely on a secretly taped conversation allegedly between Thaksin and deputy defense minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa where the former premier is heard speaking of a supposed quid pro quo arrangement with Prayuth that would allow Thaksin to return from self-imposed exile unopposed.

In exchange, Prayuth was supposedly guaranteed a prestigious position at the royal Crown Property Bureau upon his retirement next year and the unhindered promotion of his younger brother Lt Gen Preecha Chan-ocha. At this year's reshuffle, Preecha retained his powerful post as commander of the 3rd Army Region Corps, responsible for security in the country's northern region. Military insiders expect him to remain in that post until next April's smaller mid-year reshuffle, at which he will likely be promoted to a full four star general and posted to assistant army commander-in-chief.

The Thai military now has more than 1,750 flag officers (generals and admirals), a bloated number for a military of its size. Many of these officers - perhaps most - do not perform duties commensurate with their rank and many literally have no job at all. What they do have, however, is the rank, high salary and status among the rank and file that comes with the position of a flag officer.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-011013.html

Edited March 24, 2014 by lomatopo