webfact Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 EDITORIAL2016 could be a ROCKY RIDE for PrayutThe NationPrime minister bracing himself for a year likely to pose significant challengesBANGKOK: -- Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has scraped through 2015, thanks largely to special powers his government commands, and lingering fears of "what might have been" - be it uncontrolled political violence or a return to "fake democracy". But even these two factors must be stretched to their limit if he is to successfully endure 2016.The general is not going through a normal "incumbent" syndrome that often hits ordinary political leaders. A coup leader and much-criticised flag-bearer of reform, he has been under tougher-than-usual scrutiny, which may increase exponentially next year.The Rajabhakti Park controversy is capping what has been a largely troublesome year for Prayut. Since last January, contentious issues involving foreign refugees have undermined his government's image on human rights, and some policies, although eventually aborted or toned down, were decried as stemming from an autocratic mentality. His relationships with Western governments remain stalled and even many domestic supporters have begun to question several things, not least after the military-installed legislative appointees shot down a charter blueprint worked out under his regime. The Erawan Shrine blast earned him some sympathy, but Prayut would be very ill-advised to translate the "Stronger together" message, prevalent after the terrorist bombings, as a green-light for an indeterminate stay.Next year will see the culmination of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's trial for alleged corruption, as well as the new constitutional drafting process. Both are potentially political dynamite. To add to that, the Thai econ?omy is unlikely to bounce back next year and Thailand's neighbours will enter the era of Asean Economic Community (AEC) better prepared than the Kingdom. Through all this, Prayut's post-coup pledge that "it [the suspension of democracy] won't take long" will be irking everyone including himself.Prayut's temperament is also a big question. Given the high possibility that next year will be a lot harder than this one, critics are rubbing their hands and supporters are holding their breath. His always-controversial remarks, however, may pale in comparison with other developments that many fear could materialise. Government politics can be a slippery slope, and administrations that originate from the seizure of power are more prone to switch to full-scale, self-protection mode. In short, the urge to tighten control will get stronger and stronger.The "reform before election" campaign, which benefits Prayut's political status, has received some support in 2015 despite strong resistance by its opponents. But if he fails to deliver anything substantial in 2016, the "election now" movement could become formidable. Prayut may find himself caught between hardcore supporters, who don't want the return of the "Thaksin regime", and those determined to have democracy settle all of Thailand's problems.Ironically, what could protect Prayut is his sincere demonstration that he doesn't need to be protected. Prayut's proclaimed mission, taunted by many, is his own self-sacrifice as he leads Thailand towards genuine reform. A charter draft, deemed central to the national reform project, was killed in a contentious manner in 2015, but further turmoil was pre-empted, just barely, by claims that the country was not ready for an election. A further delay, however, will not be greeted by a similar uneasy silence.All in all, 2016 could make 2015 feel like a stroll in the park as far as Prayut is con?cerned. Much evidence suggests that he anticipated this when he staged the coup against the Yingluck administration. But just because he knew what would happen doesn't necessarily mean he will successfully cope with it. The coup took him into uncharted waters, and 2016 could be their most treacherous. Only true patriotism, sincerity and selflessness can get him through the year.Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/2016-could-be-a-ROCKY-RIDE-for-Prayut-30275341.html-- The Nation 2015-12-21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaiLai Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I wish the people of Thailand the best of luck and fulfillment of aspirations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Could be ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharecropper Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 What has he really reformed? And where is the reconciliation - I'm just not seeing it. This government has achieved virtually nothing of importance in its time. We all know it's just marking time anyway, but they could fix the police, the courts, the prosecutors office, the appeals system, the bail system and go after Hiso fugitives from justice just to make people feel like they ARE doing something useful in the meantime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
never me Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 "fake democracy" I like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrowsdawdle Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Sincerity and selflessness can get him through.....? The little guy doesn't have a prayer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inn Between Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Hope it all works out eventually and the people of Thailand get a voice in their situation soon. Edited December 21, 2015 by Inn Between Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plutojames88 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) This article is either tongue in cheek ,written by someone who wishes not to go to the ""adjustment thought crime camps" or go missing. Via the special powers they refer this government as having. Article 44 is also known as Absolute power. So lets not be flowery about those quaint endearing dark forces..you choose to gloss with the word ""thanks to....." The gist and title of article is not so much a crystal ball prediction given the circumstances at hand. To call them significant challenges would be an understatement . The Fake democracy you pretend to fear is non descriptive. 15 million people voted for the last government compared to 11 million for the losers. It was representative Government by the people. Certainly preferred to the ""special powers "" otherwise known as dictatorship. As for reforms , we just see a worsening human rights record being played out. Its pointless listing them . But the writer is correct in observing triggers that might make the this leader endure as they call it 2016. Not only domestic trials and tribulations but external pressures financially and politically. The tier of 3 is not a bankable human rights tier to promote ones self on or ask for special understanding. In fact the time is approaching that their xenophobia and egotistical view of their place internationally is becoming troublesome. Passive treatment of this nation is likely to abruptly end. Once you make light of envoy's in a negative way as has happened recently. The patience slowly evaporates and is replaced with even more Frank observations. The leader and his responses are the thing most likely to unravel this military government. They demand and expect obedience compliance not only from a frightened oppressed populace but from western envoy's and governments. And that is not even an approximate chance of happening. Not while people are being handed down sentences for freedom of speech. Many decades long. Not while graveyards of slaves are uncovered and military implicated. Not while democracy languishes and elected PMs are prosecuted by men who took the country by force and gun. Thailand in particular the military will as you say be in for a rocky ride. Whether they endure it is another thing. Edited December 21, 2015 by Plutojames88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRinPDX Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Sincerity and selflessness can get him through.....? The little guy doesn't have a prayer. I agree... he hasn't been able to keep his emotions in control so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 The PM had originally promised to return power to democracy, by the end of 2015, but events mean that he has to wait, until the major event. However he could show willing, and permit the resumption of a limited amount of normal political-party activity, in 2016. And the courts might find that, while the former-PM was responsible for the rice-scheme, she wasn't criminally-negligant and liable to pay compensation. The investigation into the possible park-corruption could produce some culprits, the DCA might get their act together, there should be a determined effort to stamp out people-smuggling and forced-labour in export-industries. 2016 could be merely bumpy, or it might become more-rocky, it's up to the current government. One hopes that it will at least remain peaceful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Loh Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Missing in the article is the wealthy elites supporters who will turn on him when their pockets get hurt. Afterall, they put in there and they can put him out too. Amarts like Khun Pridiyathorn and Sukhumbhand were also slighted by his bluntless and none too please with him. Watershed year in 2016 for Prayuth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taony Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Just have to keep up the pressure on him by asking questions and he'll implode. It can come from many different people, no one person has to put their neck on the line. Want to speed it up? Just use the most dirty word in Thai, it pisses everyone off: Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baboon Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Just waiting now for a certain individual to start posting links to geological and transport based websites in an attempt to disprove the title of this thread... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneday Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 2016 could be a ROCKY RIDE for Thailand because of Prayut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetime Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 That's a long article to say one basic thing; he bit off more than he can chew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pib Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Frequent use of Article 44 has been Prayut's leadership style which has been authoritarian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LannaGuy Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 arrest 5 students for a political gathering but not 200 ultra-nationalists? surely not 'rocky' as everyone know that's more than fair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 "some policies, although eventually aborted or toned down, were decried as stemming from an autocratic mentality" I'd say it is becoming more of a fascist mentality with Prayut's almost daily use of Article 44 to force his policies against all critics and opposition - no matter how trivial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denim Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 What has he really reformed? And where is the reconciliation - I'm just not seeing it. This government has achieved virtually nothing of importance in its time. We all know it's just marking time anyway, but they could fix the police, the courts, the prosecutors office, the appeals system, the bail system and go after Hiso fugitives from justice just to make people feel like they ARE doing something useful in the meantime. Well according to newspapers a lot of real reform has been achieved. Elected officials have been replaced by military nominees who in turn have been able to find lucrative employment for their previously hard up wife's and children. Moreover , these nominees are still also collecting their military salary and are in no way accountable for their less than transparent projects. Nearly a million patriots took to the streets presumably because they expected and wanted these exact reforms which put good people back at the trough. As for reconciliation...... it appears that all these patriots and quality people are more than reconciled to the new order of things and anyone who isn't is by now reconciled to the obvious facts that it is dangerous to criticize and futile to protest. So there you have it. Reforms and reconciliation in spades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmac10 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Using force is what the military are trained to do to achieve their objectives. Fine in times of war defending against foreign invaders, but hardly a way to govern your own people.This is the fundamental issue here. Unfortunately, when you have been indoctrinated by a lifetime of giving orders and having subordinates do your bidding, it's very difficult to adjust to compromise, conciliation and negotiation. Prayut is also in debt to his paymasters who gave him the go ahead, without whom he would still be in the barracks. He is is a very difficult position, the supporter base he intially had has been shrinking as the economy has failed to kickstart as he promised. The very powerful elite family cliques are doing ok but average Thais are disilusioned by the lack of progress and his rhetoric. The more he uses force against his oponents, the more discontentment will grow within the Thai populace, even amongst those who might have supported him in the beginning. This is a zero sum game for him now. The best thing he could do is get out now before there is blood shed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somtamnication Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 About as rough as a ride on a wild mustang while suffering from bursting haemorrhoids and a leathered horse seat with porcupine quills sticking out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenixdoglover Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Phrases from the article: The Rajabhakti Park controversy ... foreign refugees ... image on human rights... relationships with Western governments... appointees shot down a charter... Erawan Shrine blast... Shinawatra's trial for alleged corruption... Thai economy is unlikely to bounce back... Thailand's neighbours ...(in AEC) better prepared... Prayut's temperament ... always-controversial remarks... Soon, we will have 3 days of the government touting its accomplishments for 2015. What could be in that list that could compensate for the items above? Let me give it a shot: Partial sale of rice stockpiles... Arrest of low level people-smugglers (and one General) in the South... Announcement and deferment of submarine purchase New rules for fishing vessel registration... Announcement of rural financial assistance programs... Arrest of 2 suspects in Shrine bombing... Announcement and possible delay in "Great Firewall"... New rules for alcohol sales near schools... Groundbreaking ceremony for unfunded train line... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainarong Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Without being too picky I'd say the title," Rocky Ride " , say's it all.............................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plutojames88 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Afraid the picture is messy. It's now just charitable politeness at best to concede any appreciation or talent. Much the same a parent will smile approvingly at a Down syndrome child who has painted their bedroom wall and placed the corpses of the bowl fish dead Center and says "" look Mummy I painted the sea !"" The damage done is significant but the moment must pass with empathy and kindness of intent. The reality is though the artist must be gently assigned to a smaller canvass in future. Such is this military. The powers that be in elite Thailand now realise what a mistake it was to allow them to paint the scene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelonius Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Phrases from the article: The Rajabhakti Park controversy ... foreign refugees ... image on human rights... relationships with Western governments... appointees shot down a charter... Erawan Shrine blast... Shinawatra's trial for alleged corruption... Thai economy is unlikely to bounce back... Thailand's neighbours ...(in AEC) better prepared... Prayut's temperament ... always-controversial remarks... Soon, we will have 3 days of the government touting its accomplishments for 2015. What could be in that list that could compensate for the items above? Let me give it a shot: Partial sale of rice stockpiles... Arrest of low level people-smugglers (and one General) in the South... Announcement and deferment of submarine purchase New rules for fishing vessel registration... Announcement of rural financial assistance programs... Arrest of 2 suspects in Shrine bombing... Announcement and possible delay in "Great Firewall"... New rules for alcohol sales near schools... Groundbreaking ceremony for unfunded train line... and the deckchairs, don't forget the deckchairs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaywalker Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Phrases from the article: The Rajabhakti Park controversy ... foreign refugees ... image on human rights... relationships with Western governments... appointees shot down a charter... Erawan Shrine blast... Shinawatra's trial for alleged corruption... Thai economy is unlikely to bounce back... Thailand's neighbours ...(in AEC) better prepared... Prayut's temperament ... always-controversial remarks... Soon, we will have 3 days of the government touting its accomplishments for 2015. What could be in that list that could compensate for the items above? Let me give it a shot: Partial sale of rice stockpiles... Arrest of low level people-smugglers (and one General) in the South... Announcement and deferment of submarine purchase New rules for fishing vessel registration... Announcement of rural financial assistance programs... Arrest of 2 suspects in Shrine bombing... Announcement and possible delay in "Great Firewall"... New rules for alcohol sales near schools... Groundbreaking ceremony for unfunded train line... You forgot the rewards for the cops. That was a good thing...Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plutojames88 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) And don't forget the Chinese quality tourists Edited December 21, 2015 by Plutojames88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orac Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I am not sure the article is correct in saying that Prayut has come under tougher than usual scrutiny - a lot of it has been banned and stifled not to mention there is no parliamentary opposition to highlight many issues in a formal environment. The most glaring omission from the issues facing the government in the coming year is their handling of a potential drought with too little being done too late since having 'patriotism' and 'sincerity' will not replace competence if people are suffering through poor administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrrizzla Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I believe that the PM is going to face a lot more political unrest next year and I can only see a very heavy handed way of how he will deal with it. Hold on to your hats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldiablo Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 What has he really reformed? And where is the reconciliation - I'm just not seeing it. This government has achieved virtually nothing of importance in its time. We all know it's just marking time anyway, but they could fix the police, the courts, the prosecutors office, the appeals system, the bail system and go after Hiso fugitives from justice just to make people feel like they ARE doing something useful in the meantime. Don't worry, English John and Djjamie will be along any time to enlighten us mortals on the reforms and reconciliation of this Dictautototal government. 555555555555+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now