EDITORIAL
Chalerm's 'insight' may be blind loyalty
The Nation

Former minister's claim that Pheu Thai will return misses vital factors about current situation

BANGKOK: -- There have been two statements that sum up Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's situation. The first was said by the man himself and the second by someone who knows a thing or two more about politics than him. Chalerm Yoobamrung, resurfacing to deny rumours about his death or grave illness, stated that every time the military asserts its might politically, Thaksin Shinawatra benefits. Love Chalerm or hate him, many will have to agree, to a certain extent at least.

Almost at the same time in Italy, Prayut tried his best to avoid the impression that Chalerm promoted. The interim prime minister, appearing at the Asia-Europe Meeting, suggested that his coup in May was to prevent a bloody crisis more than anything. He did not highlight shortcomings of the government he toppled and was content with portraying the coup as the only way to pre-empt what could be a civil war.

Putting Prayut's and Chalerm's statements together and we have the tightrope that the former is walking on. We can also see the dual-track campaign that could benefit the Shinawatras. If the coup was meant primarily to pre-empt a potential bloodbath, certainly the government that was overthrown was not that bad. On the other hand, if the coup was aimed to uproot the Shinawatras, it fit claims about an undemocratic conspiracy against the former ruling clan. Either way, some sympathy went to those who lost power, and scepticism went to their rivals.

So, Prayut has been besieged with these questions lately. Did he stage the coup to put away the Shinawatras? Or did he stage the coup to prevent the national divide from becoming something worse? Did he mean both or did he just use the potential "civil war" as a pretext to bring down the Shinawatra? Was he actually helping Thaksin as claimed by Chalerm?

According to Chalerm, Thaksin's political party can return whenever an election is held, thanks largely to the military. That's probably true, as the 2006 coup and the 2010 crackdown on the red shirts' protests could attest. But Chalerm was only telling half the story about the current political situation.

In predicting a Shinawatra return, Chalerm did not address the high possibility of a vicious circle of nominees, dubious policies, scandals, court cases, obstruction of justice or refusal to accept judicial verdicts and street protests. Chalerm also failed to see that while the Pheu Thai Party is far from finished, maybe the Shinawatras have been, not least because basically everyone knows that their return would take the country nowhere.

Thailand's problem is a combination of wrongdoing by a lot of people involved. Chalerm was in fact part of a big mess considering his roles in some controversial government agendas. Political reform will be a very delicate process in which a balance has to be restored whereas those causing any imbalance must be put on the sides. This is Prayut's extremely sensitive task, and a man with Chalerm's political expertise should have known the whole picture.

Prayut can be encouraged by recent opinion surveys, in which the Thai public seemed to be more at ease and hopeful than before the coup, although it has to be said that opinion polls in Thailand are never reliable indications of what happens next. Chalerm, meanwhile, foresees a return to the old days, when election results reigned supreme and little else mattered. The political veteran, too, appeared hopeful, although it's debatable what he based his hopes on - democratic principles or loyalty that could have blinded his analysis.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Chalerms-insight-may-be-blind-loyalty-30246268.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-27

Blind loyalty brought on by being blind drunk ?

Its Comical. All the conspiracies and talk of corruption...

Facts are, not a lot of corruption has been found since the Military Coup,.

Certainly nothing that the NAACP couldn't have dealt with as most of the "Investigations" were already underway.

The Coup was for control of Power.. Yes, believe it or not, these Coups don't happen to "Save the nation" on average every

7 years, they occur for the benefit of the Elite/Dems & Military. They all benefit by using the disguise of "Reform".

How many reforms can a group lead and still not "Get it right"? Jeesh.

As long as people see if for what it is. This is not about reform. This is about power for the Elite & Military.

Charlem, I am sure Thai Visa missed his "special" statements he had a habit of blurting out.

Chalerm has not one loyal bone in his greedy crooked and corrupt body, all his know is to follow

where the money and the influence is, history is full of 2 faced, me, me, me people that ultimately

ended in the cesspool of humanity...

The mere fact that people like Chalerm, Tarit, Yingluck, Jatuporn and others are not in prison supports Chalerms statement. Apparently the new government makes no effort to put those criminals behind bars. It means they will be back after new elections as their movement still has vast and unconditional support of millions of voters.

If it is selfdestruction that Thais want, then they will get it. The Kingdom will have to sink much deeper before real change can start in some far future. By that time the country will be robbed clean by those that were in power.

Of course it may not be blind loyalty but paid loyalty.

I see it reported elsewhere that the PT ex MP's are complaining that they are no longer being paid by the party (Thaksin) as they are no longer working as MP's.

This payment, reported to be 100,000 b per month for elected MP's and 50,000 b per month for list MP's, was it seems over and above their salary paid to them as MP's.

Could it be that Chalerm is indeed still on the pay role and his little outburst was part of the job and written by the PR department.

A nonsense baiting post has been removed.

Just a reminder that posts using derogatory nicknames or intentional misspelling of people’s names will be removed. If you don’t want your post to be removed, spell people’s names correctly.

Chalerm is, in large part responsible for the rise of Thaksin. It was his influence that allowed Thaksin to obtain the telecommunications contract with the RTP. He has been in bed with Thaksin for so long that he doesn't see any other way.

Its Comical. All the conspiracies and talk of corruption...

Facts are, not a lot of corruption has been found since the Military Coup,.

Certainly nothing that the NAACP couldn't have dealt with as most of the "Investigations" were already underway.

The Coup was for control of Power.. Yes, believe it or not, these Coups don't happen to "Save the nation" on average every

7 years, they occur for the benefit of the Elite/Dems & Military. They all benefit by using the disguise of "Reform".

How many reforms can a group lead and still not "Get it right"? Jeesh.

As long as people see if for what it is. This is not about reform. This is about power for the Elite & Military.

I would say plenty has been found. None has been addressed.

Whether it will be addressed is yet to be seen.

But there has been a trillion baht mishandled, that happens to be twice the value of the UK's 310 tonne gold reserve. If that just gets shrugged off, then Thailand is a lost cause and headed into a total meltdown in the near future when China's bubble bursts.

That is guaranteed no matter who takes over the running of the country.

Greed and corruption are just too entrenched in the Thai phsyche. A bit like a child who knows it is wrong to steal from the cookie jar, but they just can not stop themselves...... Because it is a child.

Chalerms loyalty lies with Chalerm, no one else , the man is a negative vibe that gives off enormous amounts of static discharge and this is where the rank N File should be included in the nomination process, this person gets nominated because he is elected by the elite Shinawatra brigade , these former politicians should be prevented from entering politics , however to do this unless one has a criminal record ( New Reforms Ha Ha Ha) anybody can nominate , unless there are strict guidelines on nominations the same will develop again and Thailand will have its 20th coup in the making.

Of course it may not be blind loyalty but paid loyalty.

I see it reported elsewhere that the PT ex MP's are complaining that they are no longer being paid by the party (Thaksin) as they are no longer working as MP's.

This payment, reported to be 100,000 b per month for elected MP's and 50,000 b per month for list MP's, was it seems over and above their salary paid to them as MP's.

Could it be that Chalerm is indeed still on the pay role and his little outburst was part of the job and written by the PR department.

I wouldn't doubt for a minute that he's still on the payroll.

Thaksin owes him big time....and his debt to Chalerm will be ongoing.

No doubt we'll be hearing more from this oaf from time to time and as Thaksin orders.

Police Captain Chalerm is well-known to having a problem regulating his doses of 'ear medicine' and he has had one brain hemorrhage already; he is not long for this world. He will not be the beneficiary of any return to power of Dr. Thaksin. I never put much store in anything Pol. Capt. Chalerm says unless he is predicting violence, in which case he is nearly always right.

My prediction is: As long as there is any threat that a Thaksin nominee government could return to power in an election, there won't be any election; no matter what reforms are in place. If PM Prayuth can stay the course and prevent Dr. Thaksin from returning to power in any form, General Prayuth's future will be sitting on the Privy Council when he retires in a few years as PM. General Sondthi was weak; he sold out and joined Thaksin and his future is tied to Thaksin's. If General Prayuth can beat Thaksin, his future is as bright as 'Pa' Prem's was. Thaksin was a one-in-a-lifetime aberration and not likely to be duplicated. Within five years, at the outside, it will be too late for Thaksin. In the mean time, many Puea Thai politicians will have to seek honest work to survive as they will never be allowed to return to power. I hope my prediction is 100% correct.

I read most of that article and have come to the conclusion that it is another pile of complete (<deleted>) nonsense from the Nation

who writes this garbage

Its Comical. All the conspiracies and talk of corruption...

Facts are, not a lot of corruption has been found since the Military Coup,.

Certainly nothing that the NAACP couldn't have dealt with as most of the "Investigations" were already underway.

The Coup was for control of Power.. Yes, believe it or not, these Coups don't happen to "Save the nation" on average every

7 years, they occur for the benefit of the Elite/Dems & Military. They all benefit by using the disguise of "Reform".

How many reforms can a group lead and still not "Get it right"? Jeesh.

As long as people see if for what it is. This is not about reform. This is about power for the Elite & Military.

The coup was not to stop corruption, it was to stop violence, you can see that since the coup people have stopped being killed over politics; which leads to the following point:

So, Prayut has been besieged with these questions lately. Did he stage the coup to put away the Shinawatras? Or did he stage the coup to prevent the national divide from becoming something worse?

The problem is that Thaksin and his band have divided the country on purpose for political gain, so trying to stop him and trying to stop the national divide are the same thing.

The coup was not to stop corruption, it was to stop violence, you can see that since the coup people have stopped being killed over politics; which leads to the following point:

The problem is that Thaksin and his band have divided the country on purpose for political gain, so trying to stop him and trying to stop the national divide are the same thing.

absolutely 100% correct which make the OP a pile of <deleted> nonesense

Chalerm was in fact part of a big mess considering his roles in some controversial government agendas.

Free speech and freedom of the press is one thing I personally adhere. On the other hand I believe statements of Thaksin and Chalerm should not make the headlines in the media anymore for the sake of the country.

Does Chalerm have an alarm clock, or does someone poke him with a stick.

Drunken, corrupt idiots like this should get no Media attention whatsoever along with Thaksin, Yingluck or anyone connected to the last Government.

What bothers me most now is the apparent blind eye that is being turned to the crimes they committed whilst in power, which gives the impression that the Guys now running the country don't want to rock the boat too much in case everyone starts spilling the beans and they all end up in the dock. I've still got that nasty feeling that we will all be back to square one within a year or two and the same cycle will begin all over again. There seems to be a roundabout of filth at the top that can never be stopped from turning unless someone has the balls to blow it off its pole and despite all the 'Hard Talk' from the dear General about this, that and the other, there is no indication that certain power bases are going to be systematically destroyed, which is what is required for real change and reform to occur.

Thailand's Jim Lahey.

Chalerms loyalty lies with Chalerm, no one else , the man is a negative vibe that gives off enormous amounts of static discharge and this is where the rank N File should be included in the nomination process, this person gets nominated because he is elected by the elite Shinawatra brigade , these former politicians should be prevented from entering politics , however to do this unless one has a criminal record ( New Reforms Ha Ha Ha) anybody can nominate , unless there are strict guidelines on nominations the same will develop again and Thailand will have its 20th coup in the making.

So your guys: Suthep, Abhisit, Korn, Surin, Sondhi, they are all squeaky clean??

Chalerm ("the b***ards back") claims the whole lock stock and 2 smoking M79 barrels situation that has occurred here over the past year, was simply some grand design by the General and the Hiso to kick out Thaksin and his foul tribe. BS!!! to the power of 10. Earlier Charlerm in another pearl of wisdom announcement claimed that the Amnesty bill caused this all to happen. Surprise Surprise He's correct ( a broken clock is right twice a day) It was not a vast conspiracy, it was THAT BILL which motivated Thais of all stripes and colours to oppose it and consequently the numbers of people at the protests grew daily and as a result a certain Suthep Theuksaban saw a window of opportunity and dived head first through it and turned the Amnesty bill protests into a full blown anti-govt protest movement. It was NOT A CONSPIRACY it was that bloody bill that acted as the catalyst to everything that went after it and Peua Thai and Thaksin especially have only themselves to blame for trying to ram that criminal piece of s**t bill through parliament.

"Insight", through the bottom of a glass.

regards Worgeordie

Chalerms loyalty lies with Chalerm, no one else , the man is a negative vibe that gives off enormous amounts of static discharge and this is where the rank N File should be included in the nomination process, this person gets nominated because he is elected by the elite Shinawatra brigade , these former politicians should be prevented from entering politics , however to do this unless one has a criminal record ( New Reforms Ha Ha Ha) anybody can nominate , unless there are strict guidelines on nominations the same will develop again and Thailand will have its 20th coup in the making.

So your guys: Suthep, Abhisit, Korn, Surin, Sondhi, they are all squeaky clean??

Maybe not, but they are preferable to the organized criminality of the Shinawatra Clan.

They don't call Chalerm Bhak Mah (dog mouth) for nothing. And keep an eye on the interactions between he, Jatuporn, Nattawut and the Red Shirts.

Bob A.

Can't even trust one's classics anymore, can we, 'In vino veritas' they said, and wrong, wrong that is this time, as no genuine truth did or will ever come out of this alcoholic's mouth. What a pity that statue of limitation, otherwise this criminal could have gone on forever getting drunk in muslim Malaysia, where he had run away too to avoid a deserved sentence. Do the people remember about this, and other shady activities of this whole family, or do they only keep the one son in mind, who got acquitted after shooting a policeman dead at pointbalnk range and is now a RTP Captain 'shooting instructor'?

Chalerms loyalty lies with Chalerm, no one else , the man is a negative vibe that gives off enormous amounts of static discharge and this is where the rank N File should be included in the nomination process, this person gets nominated because he is elected by the elite Shinawatra brigade , these former politicians should be prevented from entering politics , however to do this unless one has a criminal record ( New Reforms Ha Ha Ha) anybody can nominate , unless there are strict guidelines on nominations the same will develop again and Thailand will have its 20th coup in the making.

So your guys: Suthep, Abhisit, Korn, Surin, Sondhi, they are all squeaky clean??

What does that have to do with a the post?

Usual attempt to divert from the subject, namely the illustrious Chalerm his comments.

Several members of the Shiniwattra family have been convicted for fraud. How many of those you accuse have been convicted of anything?

Oh, that's right, the courts are only against the Shin crooks.

Its Comical. All the conspiracies and talk of corruption...

Facts are, not a lot of corruption has been found since the Military Coup,.

Certainly nothing that the NAACP couldn't have dealt with as most of the "Investigations" were already underway.

The Coup was for control of Power.. Yes, believe it or not, these Coups don't happen to "Save the nation" on average every

7 years, they occur for the benefit of the Elite/Dems & Military. They all benefit by using the disguise of "Reform".

How many reforms can a group lead and still not "Get it right"? Jeesh.

As long as people see if for what it is. This is not about reform. This is about power for the Elite & Military.

So not having the elite and military what have you ?? democracy

Chalerms loyalty lies with Chalerm, no one else , the man is a negative vibe that gives off enormous amounts of static discharge and this is where the rank N File should be included in the nomination process, this person gets nominated because he is elected by the elite Shinawatra brigade , these former politicians should be prevented from entering politics , however to do this unless one has a criminal record ( New Reforms Ha Ha Ha) anybody can nominate , unless there are strict guidelines on nominations the same will develop again and Thailand will have its 20th coup in the making.

So your guys: Suthep, Abhisit, Korn, Surin, Sondhi, they are all squeaky clean??

What does that have to do with a the post?

Usual attempt to divert from the subject, namely the illustrious Chalerm his comments.

Several members of the Shiniwattra family have been convicted for fraud. How many of those you accuse have been convicted of anything?

Oh, that's right, the courts are only against the Shin crooks.

JOC, Do not mention Korn in any derogatory way you will get lynched---he is one of Thai peoples most loved men. and as bearboxer said in other words stop posting off topic. Your version of Propaganda/opposition is embarrassing to the rest of them.

Gen. Prayut can be encouraged by recent opinion surveys ...??? They all point to over 95% approval by the public on everything he has done and will do, if they are to be believed. In fact I'm sure 100% is just a matter of time and then he'll be as popular as Kim Jong-un.

So why does he:

- continue martial law?

- avoid any public referendums and public debate on his proposals for reform in lieu of his handpicked NLA, NRC, and CC?

- deny Thais their freedom of speech , freedom of press, and elections?

Maybeit is for the same reason he is willing to appear in public in Mynamar and Italy but not in Northern/Eastern Thailand. It is FEAR from a population that might not stand behind him - a place from where he can't see them.