Prayut risks derision at the United Nations

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Prayut risks derision at the United Nations
The Nation

The prime minister's case for democratic reform is being undermined by the practice of gagging and detaining government critics

BANGKOK: -- The contradiction at the heart of Thai government is deepening to the point of absurdity. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) claims the country is undergoing a reform process aimed at yielding "perfect democracy" and national reconciliation, yet citizens are being arrested merely for speaking their mind about the junta.

Meanwhile Thai citizens' tax money is used to fund a fool's errand undertaken by diplomats, who are seeking to persuade foreign powers that curbing the basic rights of citizens is a necessary measure. Both time and money are being wasted on this fruitless effort.

Last week, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha began preparing for his address to the United Nations General Assembly later this month, the junta detained former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan and Pheu Thai Party politician Karun Hosakul at undisclosed locations for "attitude adjustment". Rather than risking derision by seeking to convince his UN audience that reform is aimed at democracy, Prayut should give the international community a more accurate reflection of events in Thailand. At least that way, he might gain their respect.

Pichai and Karun were detained for voicing political opinions. Pichai had simply criticised the government's economic policies and performance, while ex-politician Karun merely said he regarded former premier Thaksin Shinawatra as a father.

A junta spokesman claimed Pichai had used partial information to provoke misunderstanding and a lack of confidence in the work of the government. The ex-minister had failed to comply with conditions set by the NCPO, he added.

Prime Minister Prayut weighed in by saying that Pichai and Karun were summoned for further attitude adjustment after repeatedly creating a "political disturbance", which could be considered a crime under current laws.

Noting that this was the seventh time Pichai had been summoned, Prayut warned there were limits to forgiveness.

In truth, these two politicians were detained for mild verbal opposition to the military-backed government. If even this is not tolerated, then the logical extension would be to round up most of the population of Thailand for a bout of mass attitude readjustment.

Karun might have been grandstanding in public, but his statements hurt nobody in this country. By detaining him, the junta has only further tarnished its already dubious reputation on civil liberties.

Instead, it should have listened to his criticism of economic affairs and considered whether implementing any of his suggestions might have brought improvement. Karun's words might have sounded harsh to the government, but he is far from the only person criticising economic policy and performance. Many prominent economists are saying the same thing.

Prime Minister Prayut has acknowledged there were shortcomings in economic management in his decision to change his Cabinet team. And the policies of his new economics tsar Somkid Jatusripitak are little different from Pichai's ideas, as both derive from the same root. If Prayut can listen to Somkid, why not Pichai?

All Thai citizens, no matter their past history or political allegiance, should have the basic right to criticise the government and its agencies on all matters that concern the nation's welfare. Even the 2014 interim charter, written to help further the ambitions of the military-backed government, enshrines a respect for human dignity, rights, liberty and equality that Thai citizens enjoyed under democratic rule.

If reform is to forge genuine democracy in Thailand, the government needs to incorporate the wide range of opinion that exists in Thai society.

Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent is a hallmark of military rule. It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Prayut-risks-derision-at-the-United-Nations-30268793.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-15

[Reigntax]

The derision will soon be realised as a mistranslation of delusion

[NongKhaiKid]

Even more than he gets at home ?

What to do, what to do as those UN delegates and the international media can't be summonsed for AA ?

[BSJ]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

[jaywalker]

"Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent ... It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people."

Neither is daily street protests like before the coup.

I agree Prayut is a buffoon though. He ranks right up there w/ Bush & Obama.

He'll fit right in.

[Seastallion]

I take The Nation's point and don't necessarily disagree, however the last sentence misses reality;

"Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent is a hallmark of military rule. It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people."

Thailand IS under military rule, wielding a stick, to try to force a milling rabble of truculent, corrupt, self-serving career politicians to reform.

A stick is the only thing they respond to. Reason and nice civil democratic votes don't work for them because they are corrupt and self-serving!

A bit of tough love is called for.

[Seastallion]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

I suspect The Nation is deliberately pushing the envelope in response to their senior journalist's apprehension.

Seriously, with the UN meeting coming up, how many journalists can they arrest?

This is the opportunity for media to be a bit more confrontational.

[Your Thainess]

I take The Nation's point and don't necessarily disagree, however the last sentence misses reality;

"Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent is a hallmark of military rule. It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people."

Thailand IS under military rule, wielding a stick, to try to force a milling rabble of truculent, corrupt, self-serving career politicians to reform.

A stick is the only thing they respond to. Reason and nice civil democratic votes don't work for them because they are corrupt and self-serving!

A bit of tough love is called for.

The military has a longer and more sinister track record of corruption. Easy to see why few people trust them to eradicate corruption in another segment of society.

[ldiablo]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

Don't you worry. He will be called in very shortly

[baboon]

Can you imagine the blow to his fragile ego should he discover the leaders who do not deride him simply aren't particularly interested in him or Thailand? That it is not at the forefront of their thoughts? He would really end up with his tail between his legs then...

"Excellency, the Prime Minister of Thailand"

"Oh right. Showaddywaddy. Anyway, as you were saying, Sven. Yes, the peas were a little salty...."

[selftaopath]

Thailand will NEVER ever have " government of the people, for the people, by the people."

AND Thailand can forget about democracy. Why? Mainly because without Rule of Law there is NO democracy....

Thais can speak all the crap to whom ever i.e. UN, but behavior and facts speak LOUDER. It's a ME society first and foremost.

[EnzoRippo]

I'm sorry, The Nation, but to write a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people." falls under LM law.​ Junta does NOT plan : " a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people.". Not an unfair critic, just the facts, read the projects.

[eldragon]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

We'll see. Might be time to throw another journalist in the kilnk.

[MaxLee]

Thanks to technology and modern social media the world knows everything about Thailand already

[chainarong]

Prayut - O will get the official cold shoulder meeting only functionaries and maybe the UN secretary for a photo op , the Coup , their human rights record , trading in wild life, labour laws, fishing fiasco ,DCA audit failure, all have been condemned by the UN , so it would be great to be a fly on the wall.

Edited September 15, 2015 by chainarong

[jaywalker]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

Yeah. HAHA! They AA must mean sticking them in a soapy parlor with free tickets w/ orders to the bouncers that that can't leave until they're going nuts.

[MZurf]

I take The Nation's point and don't necessarily disagree, however the last sentence misses reality;

"Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent is a hallmark of military rule. It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people."

Thailand IS under military rule, wielding a stick, to try to force a milling rabble of truculent, corrupt, self-serving career politicians to reform.

A stick is the only thing they respond to. Reason and nice civil democratic votes don't work for them because they are corrupt and self-serving!

A bit of tough love is called for.

The military has a longer and more sinister track record of corruption. Easy to see why few people trust them to eradicate corruption in another segment of society.

Indeed. Having people with mysteriously large fortunes going after other people with mysteriously large fortunes is breathtakingly hypocritical and an exercise in futility.

The loonies are indeed running the asylum.

[ChrisY1]

Will be interesting to see how the local media reports his successes or failures while at the UN, compared to the international press........and with the threat of local journalists being sent for AA, there should some interesting reading.

[LannaGuy]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

We'll see. Might be time to throw another journalist in the kilnk.

They just arrested Pravit Rojanaphruk from The Nation for 'attitude adjustment'

[johna]

China, Cuba, and Saudi Arabia, 3 of the worst human rights violators on the world are members of the United Nations Human Rights Council. When Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1979, the Khmer Rouge who had been accused by the USA of killing 2.5 million people were welcomed into the UN. Prayut has nothing to worry about from a UN that embraces countries like these.

[saakura]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

I think, not sure, that it is tolerated only in the english press.

[Seastallion]

I take The Nation's point and don't necessarily disagree, however the last sentence misses reality;

"Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent is a hallmark of military rule. It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people."

Thailand IS under military rule, wielding a stick, to try to force a milling rabble of truculent, corrupt, self-serving career politicians to reform.

A stick is the only thing they respond to. Reason and nice civil democratic votes don't work for them because they are corrupt and self-serving!

A bit of tough love is called for.

The military has a longer and more sinister track record of corruption. Easy to see why few people trust them to eradicate corruption in another segment of society.

A totally corrupt military wiping out corruption in the rest of the country before handing over to democracy is better than what Thailand has ever had.

If all the general's horses and all the general's men raped and pillaged and filled their pockets while eradicating corruption and elite-serving charters in the rest of society, I would say Humpty would get back together quite adequately.

[LomSak27]

Can you imagine the blow to his fragile ego should he discover the leaders who do not deride him simply aren't particularly interested in him or Thailand? That it is not at the forefront of their thoughts?

Right, with a refugee crisis in the EU, Russia going all in with Syria with Assad to defeat the IS, the Korea's just cooling off after an artillery exchage, Obama trying to get through his deal with Iran and Nukes through the US houses .... are the assembled delegates going to use his speech for a bathroom break ... and chance to get something to eat?

The Thai media at least will cover most of this over and for the rest of the world, they won't know it even took place because it is so so unimportant

[Lovekorat]

This will all be fixed in advance.

Yes, he will be derided , scorned , mostly ignored and probably laughed at for what he is, but Thai people will never hear of it.

The UN have got more pressing concerns than to worry about him, even though he seems convinced he is a world player. Like how to make it look like we are actually doing something to sort out a world in crisis and turmoil.

Thailand and him are an irrelevance.

I expect someone will say 'sort your life out' to him and that's it.

The headlines are written, by a controlled press, and he will ride back like King Arthur to his Camelot.

Few people here any the wiser for the reception or non-reception he really got.

Bit like the North Koreans returning 'triumphant' from the World Cup but without a win.

[aussieinthailand]

Nice Article, but I don't think the current government has any fears or concern as they will do as they please and say foreigner's should stay out of Thai politics.

which is all good but then they shouldn't p*ss and moan if country's decides they will not buy goods from it and only when this hit's the pockets of the powers that be will they start to care what those bad FALANGS think.

Also I wouldn't be surprised if the editor and author of the OP are "invited" for "Attitude Adjustment"

I'm just wondering when the first Falang will be denied re-entry due to their opinions?

[Muirton]

What I'd like to know when the head of the current administration "addresses the United Nations" is how many nations will be in the large hall listening. The room is so high, it really impresses. It would be a hoot for any such photo to be shown on Thai telly. ASEAN will dutifully be in the hall, any other countries besides China? The hall will be 90% empty, yes?

[robblok]

I take The Nation's point and don't necessarily disagree, however the last sentence misses reality;

"Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent is a hallmark of military rule. It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people."

Thailand IS under military rule, wielding a stick, to try to force a milling rabble of truculent, corrupt, self-serving career politicians to reform.

A stick is the only thing they respond to. Reason and nice civil democratic votes don't work for them because they are corrupt and self-serving!

A bit of tough love is called for.

The military has a longer and more sinister track record of corruption. Easy to see why few people trust them to eradicate corruption in another segment of society.

A totally corrupt military wiping out corruption in the rest of the country before handing over to democracy is better than what Thailand has ever had.

If all the general's horses and all the general's men raped and pillaged and filled their pockets while eradicating corruption and elite-serving charters in the rest of society, I would say Humpty would get back together quite adequately.

Indeed, its far from perfect, but at least now some people get convicted for corruption. I rather have 1 side going after corruption and getting a few then everyone getting off free.

During the PTP time they went after Democrat corruption, and got a few (happy they did) and now the army goes after the PTP and they are getting a few (also happy). Now if in the future they go after corrupt army officials I would be even more happy.

But all of this is better as everyone getting a free pass just like the YL amnesty wanted.

[FangFerang]

If you can openly write an article like this one and not get 7 days AA the situation can't be all bad!

A senior Nation reporter is in AA custody right now.

The news industry, justifiably, is pissed. This article is a shot across the bow of the good ship Lollipop.

The contradiction at the heart of Thai government is deepening to the point of absurdity.

[FangFerang]

I take The Nation's point and don't necessarily disagree, however the last sentence misses reality;

"Refusal to tolerate opposition or dissent is a hallmark of military rule. It has no place in a society that wishes to embody the ideal of government of the people, for the people, by the people."

Thailand IS under military rule, wielding a stick, to try to force a milling rabble of truculent, corrupt, self-serving career politicians to reform.

A stick is the only thing they respond to. Reason and nice civil democratic votes don't work for them because they are corrupt and self-serving!

A bit of tough love is called for.

The military has a longer and more sinister track record of corruption. Easy to see why few people trust them to eradicate corruption in another segment of society.

A totally corrupt military wiping out corruption in the rest of the country before handing over to democracy is better than what Thailand has ever had.

If all the general's horses and all the general's men raped and pillaged and filled their pockets while eradicating corruption and elite-serving charters in the rest of society, I would say Humpty would get back together quite adequately.

Indeed, its far from perfect, but at least now some people get convicted for corruption. I rather have 1 side going after corruption and getting a few then everyone getting off free.

During the PTP time they went after Democrat corruption, and got a few (happy they did) and now the army goes after the PTP and they are getting a few (also happy). Now if in the future they go after corrupt army officials I would be even more happy.

But all of this is better as everyone getting a free pass just like the YL amnesty wanted.

More arrests and convictions took place during Yingluk's last year than in the entire time the junta has been in power, and may have been instrumental in galvanizing the PDRC. At least use facts instead of feelings to describe reality.

[laocowboy2]

The timing makes me wonder. Was arresting (with maximum publicity resulting) a Nation reporter just ahead of the Generalissimo's day on stage just simply a demonstration of military incompetence and insensitivity or is someone trying a subtle bit of sabotage? Either way, the first three questions should be about the reporter, the next three about people trafficking and then the final three about illegal fishing and the vanishing Phuket trawler.