High time for Surayud to show strong leadership
Thepchai Yong
The Nation
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the broad-based movement that was instrumental in bringing down the Thaksin government, believes there shouldn't be any compromise in the fight between the forces of good and evil.
That's why they want to see former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his cronies brought to justice at all costs. After all, wasn't that part of the rationale behind the September 19 coup?
But Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont apparently has a different idea. The once battle-hardened former Army commander-in-chief seems to be allowing his softer and more religious part to get the better of him. Even the worst of all thieves, he believes, can be won over and made to repent - just like the brutal murderer who was out to kill Lord Buddha but was eventually converted and became his faithful disciple.
In short, the PAD leaders believe that Thaksin's political sins are beyond redemption, while Surayud is convinced that he can somehow make the former prime minister see the light. The pro-democracy movement obviously wants the Surayud government to help finish what it started. It paved the way for Thaksin to be dragged out of power by the military, and now it wants him and his political machine wiped off the political map. But for once Surayud is taking a stand: he wants to handle Thaksin his own way.
Of course, the whole matter is more than a subject for philosophical debate. We are talking about a man who is accused of plundering his country and undermining its democratic systems to perpetuate his political control and buttress his family's business interests. Worse still, we are talking about a political leader who allegedly sowed the seeds of unprecedented political division and blasphemed the Monarchy to increase his own political leverage.
Allegations don't equal guilt.
Continued
I'm not going to dwell on this column because it sounds just like Sophon's Sunday column.
These Nation columnists just regurgitate the same shit over and over again. This is the millionth "Surayud is running out of time column" in the last few months.
The thing I am curious to know is what does strong leadership look like.
I don't know how you can dismantle the Thai Rak Thai/Thaksin political apparatus without actually charging these people with crimes they committed during the Thaksin era.
The government can't shut down protests(nor accuse them of being sinister undercurrents) just because they like Thaksin or are against the junta.
What do these Nation columnists want? What kind of fight are they itching for?
If The Nation wants to go after the Thaksinistas who are part of the bureaucracy and are covering up crimes, then the reporters at The Nation should be investigating and reporting on the cover-up. The Nation has a cable channel. It can spend 24 hours a day reporting on Thaksin's nefarious empire. But it doesn't. Why don't some of the Thaksin haters out there ask what has the media done to bring Thaksin to justice? Instead of giving me a hard time, start demanding some evidence from your allies in the Thai media if you guys want this guy locked up.
Also, to refute The Nation's conspiracy theory, I don't think TRT leader Chaturon and the PTV Thaksinistas have the type of cash to wage a rigorous anti-government campaign that will bring in thousands of protesters and the subsequent tanks.
I think people are disillusioned with the Surayud government and the junta, but I have yet to meet one person itching to bring Thaksin back and go back to the way things were before. I don't know anybody who wants to bring down this government so Thaksin and his family can get off on the charges against them, as The Nation keeps alleging.
I think The Nation columnists are suffering from bouts of hysteria or they are just working hard for a slice of the CNS propaganda slush fund and more air time on Thai TV.
8 comments:
Well, PAD is full of immature ppl,atleast their public resolutions seem to be just...along with the blinded anti-Thaksin whackos who see everything happening because of this "Demon". Reading from 2bangkok the "Result of the PAD's meeting "...Man... Their public opinions are just not very intelligent sounding. Only point that sounds intelligent is about corruption. Reform media? I hope that includes encouraging independent media, privatly owned...Seen comments on Nation or was it Post that almost sounded like some ppl want more control from government over media so that media wont attack King and so worth (but cant now vow to this as I cant find the article that I think reading, so dont call me on this :)))...
You spew out nonsense like a broken record _ show me evidence and what has Thaksin legally done wrong? etc etc. If things had been that simple there wouldn't have been a coup. Thaksin had serious moral shortcomings, which made him a dangerous, unfit national leader in a country where the military always waits in the wings and jump at any chance to take power from "corrupt" politicians. Don't you get it? Thaksin was a cheater. He was corrupt. He was very greedy. He was very selfish. He didn't even understand the real merits of democracy. Condemn the military, The Nation, Bangkok Post and others if you like, but who's the worst. Who brought the tanks out? He was corrupt? He didn't respect human rights? He was greedy? Who failed to strengthen Thai democracy despite having great chances? Who weakened democracy to a point where the generals were emboldened enough to intervene?
You never addressed this. Someone cynically asked if you were "hired" by Thaksin, I couldn't imagine a writer selling his soul like that, but you know best. All I can say is the more I read, the more unbelieveable how you missed such crucial points in your "deconstruction" or "analyses" or "taking a stand" or whatever. My point is simple: If a democratic leader doesn't cherish the true values of democracy and try to protect them, having had great chances through landslide mandates, you can't expect military officers in the same country to love democracy that much. The first blame is on Thaksin. If you protect that man like a hero or a victim, the generals will always come back and you will be part of this damned cycle. Don't lecture democracy to the junta. Try doing it to Thaksin. If you can, then Thailand may stand a chance.
anonymous 2-
Your argument is moronic.
You can't accuse people of major crimes without evidence. Yes, in a civilized world, evidence is important. You obviously chose to live in a Nazi, Communist, Military Junta type of world where your personal politics and ideology supersede the laws.
If we applied your George Bush "Lets just lock them all up in Guantanamo without a trial" ideology everywhere, then the world would truly be a frightening place.
Whether Thaksin is my political benefactor or enemy, it is irrelevant.
He is entitled to due process, and so are his political allies.
Unless they have been prosecuted for major crimes, should we just disenfranchise a whole class of people just because of your own personal opinion? Until you provide evidence, anything you say is your personal opinion. And I don't think your opinion should be the basis of military coups.
In this day in age, after our world has experienced Communism, fascism, etc just a few decades ago that kind of bullshit just doesn't cut it.
In this argument, my political opinion doesn't matter. My likes and and dislikes don't matter. Neither do yours.
I chose to stand with the law and constitution and against the junta, regardless of my personal feelings for Thaksin. Yes, I can make a distinction.
You stand with the law of the jungle and a military dictatorship that has proven to be worse than the Thaksin government, at every single level.
You say I speak nonsense. But, unlike yourself, you won't ever finding me criminalizing your personal politics, and I won't ever advocate the military overthrowing your government.
So please don't lecture me about democracy and moral values like I am some idiot.
Fonzi or Ponzi - - sometimes calls himself RealPolitik but always gibbering pompously about his credentials as an outraged democrat! Hypocrite!
Fonzi or RealPolitik you are a fully paid Thaksin courtier. You continue on with your proctological defense of that extrajudicial monster Thaksin so clumsily camouflaged with snides at Thais who continue to demand that Thaksin should be judicially tried for his grievous crimes against the Kingdom of Thailand. - Matty
Fonzi: How come you got your cheque this month and I didn't? I only got a car, condo allowance, and first class tickets. We can discuss this at our monthly "paid bloggers for Thaksin" convention where we will plot the evil return of the Thaksin regime.
Actually, I had planned to do an April Fool's day post "confessing" to be paid by Thaksin, but wasn't sure that some of my commentators would have got the joke so decided not to. In hindsight, maybe it would have been good for a laugh.
Your clumsy attempt sd a clown Bangkok Pundit falls flat. You sound just like Thaksin making a joke that he was sure those thousands he had ordered to be extrajudicially are guilty because a Khmer voodoo shaman told him so!
But if I have to estimate . . Thaksin pays you Bangkok Pundit for your elaborate pro-Thaksin website than the pathetic Ponzi! Maybe New Mandala's Andrew Walker and his academic gang of liars at New Mandala may be paid by Thaksin slightly more.
Your clumsy attempt as a clown Bangkok Pundit falls flat. You sound just like Thaksin making a joke that he was sure those thousands of villagers he had ordered to be extrajudicially executed are guilty because a Khmer voodoo shaman told him so!
But if I have to estimate . . Thaksin pays you Bangkok Pundit slightly more for your elaborate pro-Thaksin website than theatpathetic Ponzi! Maybe Andrew Walker and his academic gang of liars at New Mandala could be paid by Thaksin slightly more.
Now Fonsi..."I chose to stand with the law and constitution and against the junta, regardless of my personal feelings for Thaksin. "
Read the Constitution on your own website seriously. Article 215 or so I don't remember, and tell me if you think one of its key spirits were destroyed by the servants' shares and Ample Rich scandal. Show me you don't "stand by" that Constitution only when it suits Thaksin. Lying about one's wealth is a big crime in that Constitution, Fonzi, because it led to all sorts of problems. And know what.. Thailand's current crisis started one someone lied about what he owned. If the spirits of the Constitution had been upheld, Ample Rich would have ended right there and the Temasek wouldn't have happened. This is what happened when a Constitution is not held dear to its true spirit. Like I said before, you blame or bomb the military. But before calling them the main culprit, take a look and check whether you had tried to defend the Constitution you so love.
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