Suthep's vow of support for govt: Boon or bane?

[webfact]

THAI TALK
Suthep's vow of support for govt: Boon or bane?
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If Suthep Thaugsuban, head of the newly formed Muan Maha Prachachon for Reform Foundation, can hold a press conference to air his opinions about national reform, then Nuttawut Saikuar of the red-shirt movement should also be able to meet the press to talk about the situation of a particularly popular bird called nok krong hua chook.

Of course, it's a tongue-in-cheek counter-statement by those attached to the former Yingluck government who view Suthep's new move as a thinly veiled plan to keep the current military-backed government in power for as long as possible.

With Suthep having ended his 13-month period in the monkhood to launch his "civic movement" and pick up where the People's Democratic Reform Committee left off just before the May 22 coup last year, confrontational politics has reared its ugly head yet again, although both sides have refrained from threatening to hold rallies, which the military leaders of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) have insisted are still strictly prohibited.

Suthep has vowed that his new activities won't involve organising protests. Rather than turning out on the streets, the movement will submit written recommendations to the authorities. Its official position is clear: No election without reform - and there should be no deadline for the completion of reforms. That, inevitably, raised eyebrows in most quarters: Is Suthep pushing for an indefinite postponement of the election date?

With Suthep's declaration, several vital questions have emerged, to which no satisfactory answers can be obtained without Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha first making his position clear over where he stands on Suthep's latest announcement.

The questions being thrown around include: What does "reform" really mean in this context? Who defines "reform?" How long does "real reform" take? Who decides when the supposed reform is "completed?"

Another crucial question is, how does Suthep's "reform agenda" fit in with the proposals being drawn up by the National Reform Council, which is due to be dissolved once the 250 members vote on the constitution draft in early September?

There is also a lingering question over Muan Maha Prachon's links to the Democrat Party. Officially, both Suthep and party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva insist they are two separate entities, but most observers take those claims with a pinch of salt.

Faced with overwhelming scepticism, Suthep's deputy, Ekkanat Prompan, has come up with a new statement, asserting that the Muan Maha Prachachon movement isn't trying to derail the upcoming election or to press for its indefinite postponement. "We are simply saying that reform must be speeded up to fit the government's road map."

Yet even with that new, revised version, things remain vague since nobody can predict with any certainty how the government's road-map plans will proceed. For one thing, whether the NRC will endorse the draft charter in early September or not remains uncertain. For another, even if the draft is passed, there is no guarantee it will receive the required majority vote in the national referendum.

In other words, anything could happen along the way. And the return of Suthep and his supporters to "alternative politics" will undoubtedly add spice - if not dynamite - to the already fragile political landscape.

General Prayut will have to tread very carefully in at least appearing to keep a proper distance from all political factions, if he is to avoid being branded as biased or, worse, accused of trying to manipulate the warring groups to prolong his grip on power.

The imminent large-scale Cabinet reshuffle will determine whether he can boost public confidence in his government. The tricky details of the draft constitution on several controversial issues will shape the new political landscape. The unrelenting pressure to follow the road map and hold a general election no later than the end of next year will continue to guide his next steps.

The real challenge isn't whether the red shirts should be allowed to talk about the birds and the bees. Rather, it is whether Suthep's vow to support the current government is in effect a boon or a bane.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Sutheps-vow-of-support-for-govt-Boon-or-bane-30265993.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-06

[Bluespunk]

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Edited August 5, 2015 by Bluespunk

[waitforusalso]

You have to give it to them, it's a very well hatched plan. But I suppose they did have from 3/7/11 to come up with it.

[smedly]

I am at a loss as to why the reds don't voice their proposals for reform, they have been invited to do so many times, as long as it doesn't involve amnesty I can only view it as a constructive step

[Muhendis]

Reform could be construed as never ending evolution. From this it is most certainly required that an agenda be set out to clarify the term "reform". It need not be time limited but the tasks should be clearly defined.

[bamnutsak]

I am at a loss as to why the reds don't voice their proposals for reform

D'oh! Because they'll be thrown in jail for "creating conflict". Did you just get off the boat?

[Eric Loh]

"Suthep has vowed that his new activities won't involve organising protests. Rather than turning out on the streets, the movement will submit written recommendations to the authorities"

Satit Wongnongtaey, the foundation's vice chair, is among those who have not yet ruled out the possibility of a demonstration,

2 contrasting statements matter of days. Can you trust any of them and that include Suthep vowed not to re-enter politics.

[dbrenn]

Bane, but the government lacks the insight to see why.

[ChrisY1]

He wants to be the PM eventually..........he's not doing this for the general nor Abhisit.

[smutcakes]

I am at a loss as to why the reds don't voice their proposals for reform, they have been invited to do so many times, as long as it doesn't involve amnesty I can only view it as a constructive step

I would first invite the PDRC and the Government to say what their reform proposals are, given they are the ones who instigated the coup for reform. We are 16 months in and any reform proposals are yet to be mentioned.

Perhaps the PTP, like anyone else with an ounce of common sense have known since the beginning that this is absolutely nothing to do with so called 'reform'.

[Emster23]

With friends like Suthep, who needs enemies?

[empireboy]

This little terrorist could not lie straight in bed if his life depended upon it!

He should be behind (iron) bars!

[GeorgesAbitbol]

Wikileaks diplomatic cables from the US embassy revealed that many members of his own party have long complained of his corrupt and unethical behavior.

And yet some still think he is the man they need to save LOS...

[Mudcrab]

I am at a loss as to why the reds don't voice their proposals for reform, they have been invited to do so many times, as long as it doesn't involve amnesty I can only view it as a constructive step

And the return of Suthep and his supporters to "alternative politics" will undoubtedly add spice - if not dynamite - to the already fragile political landscape.

That could be a hint right there!

[phoenixdoglover]

The questions being thrown around include: What does "reform" really mean in this context? Who defines "reform?" How long does "real reform" take? Who decides when the supposed reform is "completed?"

"reform" is code for "regress"

[BuckBee]

Suthep is possibly the most corrupt ex dem politician ever, why anyone would want this scum heading reform I have no idea. The only orange this man should be wearing is a prison jump suit, even i'm more of a buddhist than him & i'm an atheist.

[MZurf]

Funny how quiet the cheerleaders have become lately....

[englishoak]

Pffft nothing Suthep does is without the Junta approving or allowing it....

Weve got the military propaganda and now the civillian foundation of propaganda swings into action... neither want the people to decide their own future

Likely outcome just gets worse and worse.

[JAG]

Wikileaks diplomatic cables from the US embassy revealed that many members of his own party have long complained of his corrupt and unethical behavior.

And yet some still think he is the man they need to save LOS...

But, but, but, he is the Mandela of the East!

[lildragon]

Wikileaks diplomatic cables from the US embassy revealed that many members of his own party have long complained of his corrupt and unethical behavior.

And yet some still think he is the man they need to save LOS...

But, but, but, he is the Mandela of the East!

I remember replying to one of Jamie's posts where he was spouting his "right honourable Mandela of the east" nonsense with lots of links of how dirty suthep is (including this wiki one). Never did get a reply, more fool me for bothering to feed the troll I guess.