Thai analysis: The real reasons behind setting up Prawit's strategic taskforce

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ANALYSIS
The real reasons behind setting up Prawit's strategic taskforce
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- MANY PEOPLE have been wondering why Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha decided to set up a strategic taskforce led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, when the premier himself and his government have assumed full authority since the May 22 coup.

Why did Prayut just realise he needed the taskforce as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) as the junta called itself has seized the power since May 22 and the government under Prime Minister Prayut took the helm in the administration more than three months.

Analysts, however, say Prayut needs this taskforce for two reasons - first to give his senior colleague Prawit a significant role in the administration, and second, to increase the role of Somkid Jatusripitak in guiding the country's economy. Somkid is getting a boost because economic tsar Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula has done little to prove himself.

Since the junta took over the country's administration, it has failed to boost economic growth, particularly for the poor, as the price of farm products such as rice and rubber have only been heading down. Exports are also dropping, while the dropping price of petrol has yet to have any major effect.

The other problem is that Prayut may be reluctant to issue instructions to his deputy Pridiyathorn, because, after all, he had helped with the May 22 power seizure. Also, Prawit might be in a better position to tell the truth to the deputy PM in charge of economic affairs due to his seniority and their close relations. The two used to work together at Five Eastern Forestry Provinces Conjunction Foundation, with Prawit as the chief and Pridiyathorn as his deputy.

Though Prayut might want someone like Somkid to oversee the country's economy, the former minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra government is serving a ban from politics. Also, the junta's interim constitution prohibits persons like Somkid from holding any political positions, which explains why he has been working behind the scenes as an adviser to the junta.

Now, with Somkid as part of Prawit's taskforce, he might be able to use his own abilities to drive the economy and bypass Pridiyathorn.

A meeting between the government leaders and the private sector recently indicated that the economy is still struggling to recover, and the government has failed to jumpstart the economy by injecting capital through regular channels in the bureaucracy.

Prayut said on Tuesday that he hopes Prawit's taskforce, along with Somkid, would be able to mobilise forces to drive all state mechanisms to run the country and the economy.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/The-real-reasons-behind-setting-up-Prawits-strateg-30252008.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-16

[smutcakes]

Prayuth does what his big brothers Prawit and Anupong say anyway. They have been the driving force behind this from the very begginning imo. Prawit has had designs on the premiership for years, and no doubt it is still in his mind.

[NongKhaiKid]

Nothing is ever quite what it seems and we can be sure if the task force is needed to move things along that reason will be tarted up to remove the suggestion that deal leader and his handpicked staff aren't getting it right.

There's a lot more to govt than stifling free speech and opposition or false ' gifts ' to the nation, a fixation with bike lanes and fake popularity polls.

[arthurboy]

Cronyism and unfailing incompetence has dogged Thai politics and the fair and efficient running of the country for decades.

No change.

[NongKhaiKid]

Cronyism and unfailing incompetence has dogged Thai politics and the fair and efficient running of the country for decades.

No change.

I remember when Mr. T was PM in residence half of his old classmates at the military academy were advanced outside of the usual pecking order prompting the other half to publicly complain it wasn't fair and what about them as they were in his class too.

[seajae]

we have to wonder when it will dawn on people in Thailand that the prices of commodities(rice, rubber etc) are not set by the thai govt, they are directly correlated to the international market that the thais are selling to. If the farmers only sold their products to other thais then they might have a say but if they want to compete internationally then they have to put up with what the market prices are set at internationally, they cannot demand they get more but then entitlement is ingrained in some people and they simply cannot accept it.

[AleG]

we have to wonder when it will dawn on people in Thailand that the prices of commodities(rice, rubber etc) are not set by the thai govt, they are directly correlated to the international market that the thais are selling to. If the farmers only sold their products to other thais then they might have a say but if they want to compete internationally then they have to put up with what the market prices are set at internationally, they cannot demand they get more but then entitlement is ingrained in some people and they simply cannot accept it.

Well, that's not quite right, Thailand can affect the price of international commodities; for example by selling large amounts of rice at a loss to try to get rid of it before it rots they can drive the price of rice down.

Then of course one would need to explain to the Thai people the concept of being hoisted by their own petard...

[Don Aleman]

Rumor has it that he set up this task force, ( Task Force 3,628 ), as changes recently made cut him and associates out of the previously enjoyed free travel & free lunches,

[Caveat Emptor]

Nothing is ever quite what it seems and we can be sure if the task force is needed to move things along that reason will be tarted up to remove the suggestion that deal leader and his handpicked staff aren't getting it right.

There's a lot more to govt than stifling free speech and opposition or false ' gifts ' to the nation, a fixation with bike lanes and fake popularity polls.

Yes tart it up to look as if it's another brilliant idea for the good of the country and happiness of course.

No suggestion that the PM and his people aren't up to the task and in over their heads.

[KhnomKhnom]

Task forces and committees and study groups are set up for the primary purpose of DEFUSING and SPREADING responsibility for unpopular or failed actions. I continue to be shocked at the political naivete of typists here. The NATION newspaper has its own agenda.

[Eric Loh]

Dr. Pridiyathorn does have a rather poor track record even when he was the FM for the previous junta government. His capital control policy sent the SET down record depth.

[JAG]

The Thai Military is running the country. There are a lot of generals. They need to be kept in "the circuit" otherwise they may revert to their favorite Officers Mess habit, plotting against whoever is in the top job. This task force should keep a number "onside".

[schietkop]

"and the government has failed to jumpstart the economy by injecting capital through regular channels in the bureaucracy"

Is that the tea money people always talk about?

[Rhys]

closing ranks..

[Suriya4]

Dr. Pridiyathorn does have a rather poor track record even when he was the FM for the previous junta government. His capital control policy sent the SET down record depth.

Becareful when you write about Pridiyatjorn. He is part of THE FAMILY. You can go to jail for showing disrespect.

[visionchaser45]

Saying you are working selflessly for the benefit of the country is all just talk if your efforts do not actually benefit the country. All global indicators indicate the country is much worse off. The economy thrived under more "selfish" leadership.