The irony of Prayuth's mission

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
The irony of Prayuth's mission
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Success would mean a coup will never be needed ever again

The legend of Grandpa In, Grandpa Na and Grandpa Yoo is normally used as a cautionary tale to calm down squabbling children. But the simple story of how a third party can take advantage of two friends-turned-rivals has taken on broader significance in light of recent events. If the red shirts are playing the role of Grandpa In and the People's Democratic Reform Committee is Grandpa Na, then the Thai military must be Grandpa Yoo. Many say political reform in Thailand is an incredibly complex issue, but the whole effort could boil down to how we reconcile Grandpa In and Grandpa Na in order to keep Grandpa Yoo at bay.

The jury is still out on the military, of course, but the fact that it has seized and is wielding power qualifies it for the role of Grandpa Yoo nonetheless. Coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha might hate the "Grandpa Yoo" name tag, but state power is like the choicest chunk of the fish in the folktale, and it's in the hands of the military now. Like it or not, Prayuth is holding what the politicians used to have, fight for and accuse each other of not deserving.

It seems that many are willing to give Prayuth time to prove his sincerity. We wait to see whether the end will justify the means. To shake off the Grandpa Yoo label, Prayuth will need to make the red shirts give up the role of Grandpa In and the PDRC quit being Grandpa Na.

Prayuth's key task is, therefore, quite ironic. He must spearhead efforts to reform Thailand's badly twisted political system to prevent the necessity for people like him to play Grandpa Yoo in the future. In other words, the reforms must make Grandpa In and Grandpa Na coexist peacefully, without corruption. Only when Thailand has political peace, transparency and integrity will Grandpa Yoo become redundant.

The current system leaves Grandpas In and Na fighting a cut-throat battle over one fish. Each thinks the fish - state power - is theirs alone and each insists its claim is justified and legitimate. In fact, political power needs to be shared if democracy is to be achieved. The truth is that Thailand's democracy has rarely been about sharing. It's about grabbing, abusing, retaking and then repeating the vicious cycle.

Prayuth has talked about getting the politically divided "colours" to blend together. The good news is that he appears to understand the situation. The bad news is that many others do, too, and still nothing can really be done about it. However, regardless of whether the rivals are urged toward reconciliation, they are essential parts of the system, and as such they will determine the success or otherwise of the reforms. No reform will work while politicians can treat democracy like a fight to the death over a single prize.

We want the ballot box to be truly meaningful. We want to empower election winners. But we also want them to make the best use of their mandate for the country's sake. The fish needs to be shared among Thais and not become any single group's trophy. It's in Prayuth's hands now and his responsibility is simple: He must declare that it won't be his forever, and that the only way for the others to have it is to learn the art of sharing and being honest.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

[terryp]

dream on this is Thailand the Hub of jealousy envy greed and corruption

[Roadman]

For jeez sake Nation writers. Are you lot the three monkeys in reality. A reasonably good analogy ruined by this monkey trite at the end:-

"He must declare that it won't be his forever"...what do you think he has been saying right from day one.

[noitom]

Isn't this cute? A Thai children's story to describe what's going on. How clever of the editors. Imagine this that they could dream this up over night. What an insightful, informative editorial.

[Chao Lao Beach]

dream on this is Thailand the Hub of jealousy envy greed and corruption

Is this the new TAT slogan ?

[Seastallion]

Next we will have the PTP and Dems squabbling over who is Grandpa In and who is Grandpa Na.

[UbonRatch]

Personally I'd say it's a load of shiite .

"Prayuth's key task is, therefore, quite ironic." On what grounds? No it's not. Irony is not even involved. His task is deliberate, pragmatic, and involves finding resolutions to garbage strewn across the country by the ousted government.

'Irony'... Ha! Did a reporter just discover the meaning, and try to incorporate it into a story to appear clever?

Edited June 14, 2014 by UbonRatch

[UbonRatch]

Next we will have the PTP and Dems squabbling over who is Grandpa In and who is Grandpa Na.

Classic!

[The stuttering parrot]

Grandpa in grandpa na and grandpa yoo!

No grandmas ?

Anyway it's a nice fairy tale and I especially like the part about the fish and the blending of the colours!

Off to eat my porridge now in the enchanted forest!

[IamNoone88]

Jesus wept. Is this the best The Nation can do to explain a failed political system, endemic corruption and massive failings in the application of the law? Try this - Grandapa Yoo takes a lesson from China's purge on corruption and ruthlessly pursues those responsible for systemic corruption and applies draconian prison sentences to Grandas In and Na and the rest of the relatives. And the rest of us can live happily ever after.

[chainarong]

I think the general direction will include , in the reforms, the military will not be able to interfere in politics and stage a coup, however the reforms will also include measures that will prevent what happened leading up to the coup ,from taking place again also.

[UbonRatch]

Jesus wept. Is this the best The Nation can do to explain a failed political system, endemic corruption and massive failings in the application of the law? Try this - Grandapa Yoo takes a lesson from China's purge on corruption and ruthlessly pursues those responsible for systemic corruption and applies draconian prison sentences to Grandas In and Na and the rest of the relatives. And the rest of us can live happily ever after.

How about simply try this?

Prayuth is doing nothing ironic. He is deliberating, taking advice from educated Thais who've been kept in the dark for years, by a suppressing previous government, and he's making headwaves like a Tsunami, at speeds faster than previous governmental/coup leaders could only dream of.

He's achieving on a major scale, in tremendously positive ways for Thailand and its people, and he's hell bent on eradicating corruption and all that goes with it.

Sod the fairy tales...

This man is for real, and doing an excellent job when considering the huge steaming turd he walked into!

[Tokay]

The moment the junta has given control back to whatever slime ball government that is coming, it starts all over again.

[Jip99]

Jesus wept. Is this the best The Nation can do to explain a failed political system, endemic corruption and massive failings in the application of the law? Try this - Grandapa Yoo takes a lesson from China's purge on corruption and ruthlessly pursues those responsible for systemic corruption and applies draconian prison sentences to Grandas In and Na and the rest of the relatives. And the rest of us can live happily ever after.

How about simply try this?

Prayuth is doing nothing ironic. He is deliberating, taking advice from educated Thais who've been kept in the dark for years, by a suppressing previous government, and he's making headwaves like a Tsunami, at speeds faster than previous governmental/coup leaders could only dream of.

He's achieving on a major scale, in tremendously positive ways for Thailand and its people, and he's hell bent on eradicating corruption and all that goes with it.

Sod the fairy tales...

This man is for real, and doing an excellent job when considering the huge steaming turd he walked into!

I get it.

Maybe if that editorial is translated into Thai, some of the Thai people who need to understand the message will get it as well.

In the meantime I hope the General keeps up the good work.

[Crushdepth]

Grandpa in grandpa na and grandpa yoo!

No grandmas ?

Anyway it's a nice fairy tale and I especially like the part about the fish and the blending of the colours!

Off to eat my porridge now in the enchanted forest!

Stay away from the magic mushrooms this time. Edited June 14, 2014 by Crushdepth

[Living in a cartoon]

I dunno, the OP wasn't offensive to me. I will have to look-up that Grandpa fable, but I imagine it's like the King Solomon splitting the baby parable. Prayuth is in the driver seat, and so far it looks like he's keeping the car on the road. He's pretty much in a unique position in Thai history, and I can see how he could change the rules of the game forever. We shall see.

Back in the Kingdom in six weeks! WooHoo!

[phutoie2]

Personally I'd say it's a load of shiite .

"Prayuth's key task is, therefore, quite ironic." On what grounds? No it's not. Irony is not even involved. His task is deliberate, pragmatic, and involves finding resolutions to garbage strewn across the country by the ousted government.

'Irony'... Ha! Did a reporter just discover the meaning, and try to incorporate it into a story to appear clever?

Irony is a difficult concept for foreigners. Most Americans think it is a country in Africa.

[kurnell]

The moment the junta has given control back to whatever slime ball government that is coming, it starts all over again.

So true. Until that terrible moment that everyone is dreading occurs and the kaka will hit the oscillating blades. My Thai colleague predicts civil war. Sure.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Jesus wept. Is this the best The Nation can do to explain a failed political system, endemic corruption and massive failings in the application of the law? Try this - Grandapa Yoo takes a lesson from China's purge on corruption and ruthlessly pursues those responsible for systemic corruption and applies draconian prison sentences to Grandas In and Na and the rest of the relatives. And the rest of us can live happily ever after.

Maybe this is what is happening

[Chao Lao Beach]

The moment the junta has given control back to whatever slime ball government that is coming, it starts all over again.

Very Likely.

[NongKhaiKid]

The moment the junta has given control back to whatever slime ball government that is coming, it starts all over again.

Isn't this the unfortunate, dare I say inevitable, truth ?

It won't take the politicians but a moment to get back into their stride and it will be like they've never been away.

[leggo]

And the little bear said.......

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[scorecard]

Well some nice points.

But near the bottom "................ We want the ballot box to be truly meaningful. We want to empower election winners. But we also want them to make the best use of their mandate for the country's sake."

What's IMHO missing in this sentence / paragraph and is absolutely critical to meaninfull reforms which really takes Thailand forward and into the real world are words such as: accountability and transparency plus recognition and total respect for the rule of law.

A further critical point which needs to be said often and with laws developed and implmented is appointment to the job and promotion by clearly being the best person for the job by proven capability and proven past high performance, and proven equal opportunity, all with a totally transparent selection process and with an open regular audit process.

Edited June 14, 2014 by scorecard

[snottgoblin]

I don't see anything ironic about it. Must have been a new word that the editor found in a game of scrabble.

[scorecard]

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Isn't this the unfortunate, dare I say inevitable, truth ?

The moment the junta has given control back to whatever slime ball government that is coming, it starts all over again.

It won't take the politicians but a moment to get back into their stride and it will be like they've never been away.

Yes, and all the more reason to give the good general the time and the support to reform various laws to outlaw the past practices of the scaly politicians and to even make them totally unattractive / make them irrelevant to the future.

Unless this is done then the good guys (and there are plenty of good guy highly capable Thais) will never step forward and take Thailand forward.

A tall order? Yes.

But is can be done.

In fact we must never say it can't be done.

[leggo]

And the little bear said 'roll over.........................................................'

[Chris Lawrence]

Grandpa Yoo is really Chicken Little

[scorecard]

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Jesus wept. Is this the best The Nation can do to explain a failed political system, endemic corruption and massive failings in the application of the law? Try this - Grandapa Yoo takes a lesson from China's purge on corruption and ruthlessly pursues those responsible for systemic corruption and applies draconian prison sentences to Grandas In and Na and the rest of the relatives. And the rest of us can live happily ever after.

How about simply try this?

Prayuth is doing nothing ironic. He is deliberating, taking advice from educated Thais who've been kept in the dark for years, by a suppressing previous government, and he's making headwaves like a Tsunami, at speeds faster than previous governmental/coup leaders could only dream of.

He's achieving on a major scale, in tremendously positive ways for Thailand and its people, and he's hell bent on eradicating corruption and all that goes with it.

Sod the fairy tales...

This man is for real, and doing an excellent job when considering the huge steaming turd he walked into!

Well said, well said, well said.

[rabas]

The moment the junta has given control back to whatever slime ball government that is coming, it starts all over again.

So true. Until that terrible moment that everyone is dreading occurs and the kaka will hit the oscillating blades. My Thai colleague predicts civil war. Sure.

Ask your Thai colleague about quantum leaps.

[wealth]

Personally I'd say it's a load of shiite .

"Prayuth's key task is, therefore, quite ironic." On what grounds? No it's not. Irony is not even involved. His task is deliberate, pragmatic, and involves finding resolutions to garbage strewn across the country by the ousted government.

'Irony'... Ha! Did a reporter just discover the meaning, and try to incorporate it into a story to appear clever?

sure the writer read iron into irony. Iron-fists he think it is ...