With A Little Help From My F(r)iends

Politics in Thailand makes strange bedfellows. We wish Abhisit Vejjajiva well, should he become the latest – howmanieth? – prime minister of Thailand. We all know that Thai heads of governments of the Democrat Party don’t really have a record of fulfilling their terms in office. Abhisit as the exception that proves the rule?

Some years ago I would have cheered for Abhisit to becoming prime minister. This time around, his name is ingloriously linked to the anarchy of the PAD mob. The only true democratic move Abhisit has made over the past few months was when he agreed on a joint session of parliament to prepare for the upcoming, meanwhile postponed Asean summit.

Abhisit in bed with Newin Chidchob is about as opportunistic as one can get. Not only would Newin grotesquely side with Chamlong, Sondhi & Co. (what a thought …), he will set tough demands by offering Abhisit his Northeast. Finally the amnesty? Taking over at the height of such a political, economic and financial crisis is no mean feat. The Democrats become proactive at the wrong time.

Abhisit could make it the right time if he makes good for the wrongs committed over the past weeks and months by enforcing the rule of law and not rewarding criminality. But hey, that would mean to bite the hands that feed him. Abhisit has become the servant of too many masters without having shown true leadership and independence of action and thought.

He intellectually and aristocratically talked the talk so far, but refused to walk the walk. By allowing himself to become a silent accomplice of the PAD mob he faces the impossible task of gaining the trust of the silent majority. He’d be in an easier position if he’d let the Puea Thai to completely wreck the nation first before offering himself as a saviour.

Even with a little help from powerful friends you can only achieve that much.




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Related posts on absolutelyBangkok.com:

  1. Suthep, Our Yes-Man’s No-Man
  2. Abhisit – Hun Sen 0:0
  3. Poll: Kasit A Terrorist?

December 7, 2008 | Filed Under On Our Own, Politics 

Comments

4 Responses to “With A Little Help From My F(r)iends”

  1. Pete, FrogBlogger on December 8th, 2008 10.06 pm

    It is a worrying situation all round. To the farang observer we see an elite that appears impervious to fears and criticisms expressed by foreign governments, in a similar manner to the Burmese junta. I hope that the similarities will go no further, but an increasing schism is evident in Thai society – one which may not be patched over by this transparent “coup in disguise.”

    Those accustomed to holding the reins of power are clearly finding it difficult to come to terms with the idea of a popularly elected government, and are backtracking by all and any means possible. A sad time for Thailand and Thais.

  2. ThaiCrisis on December 8th, 2008 11.36 pm

    Opportunistic? It might be an understatement …!

    I share your disgust. It’s revolting.

    With such pathetic trick, leading to a “Frankenstein Coalition,” the thai democracy is nothing more than a political whore.

    And Abhisit is its pimp (well, one of them).

  3. Chris on December 9th, 2008 8.50 am

    In the same week that the occupiers of Thailand’s gateway airport walked away without anyone being arrested or fined …

    From THE NATION, Thailand’s “leading” English language newspaper, comes the following urgent news bulletin …

    Two German tourists have been arrested for having sex in an ancient Ayutthaya temple.

    Dateline: Ayutthaya – Two German tourists were caught in the act and fined Bt500 each for having sex inside an ancient temple in this central province Monday.

    The couple were found by an official of National Historical Park of Ayutthaya having sex on a wall of the Srisanphet Temple at 12:30 pm.

    They stopped when the park official, Phaithoon Puengthong, blew his whistle while running toward them.

    The couple were handed over to police and were fined Bt500 each before released

    (I hope none of the PAD crowd at the airport had sex while they were there because if they did, they are in for some big trouble!)

  4. JJ on December 9th, 2008 8.58 am

    The most honorable thing to do would be to delete the word “democracy” in the context of Thai politics altogether.

    The losers never accept the outcome of an election anyway.

    Using the word “democracy” around here is a misleading overkill.

    Call it a pseudo-democracy, an oligarchy, and you’re fine.

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