General (former PM) stages power play

[lonelywombat]

General stages Thai power play

Melbourne Age July 31, 2006


THE continuing political impasse in Thailand has captured headlines, but behind the scenes a more critical shadow play is being fought for the hearts and loyal minds of the military.

Thailand has had 17 coups in its 74-year modern history but none since 1991, and most observers thought the days of thunder for the men in green were over. But The Nation newspaper recently ran a page one headline asking: "Will it come to 'that'?"

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra brought the shadow play into the light late last month, accusing a "charismatic individual" of manipulating events. It is widely accepted Mr Thaksin was referring to General Prem Tinsulanonda, senior adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej and a former head of the army and prime minister.

General Prem struck back two weeks later. Dressed in full cavalry uniform, he spoke to military cadets about the role of the professional soldier.

"Soldiers are like horses, and governments are jockeys but not owners. You belong to the nation and his majesty the king тАж soldiers have to serve long-term goals not short-term gains," he said.

Pana Janviroj, president of the Nation Multimedia group, said a lot of people had thought "the military no longer has a role to play in Thai politics, at least in determining the fate of the government. (But) the way soldiers have been placed in various positions (from) Class 10 of the Prime Minister's generation, there are grumblings that these are people who are willing to serve politicians for their own benefit."

The Armed Forces Academy's preparatory school тАФ Mr Thaksin was a student in Class 10 тАФ is a high school for students planning to join the police and military. Mr Thaksin was a policeman before going into business and politics. He has since actively promoted his classmates.

The stakes are high as Thailand's democratic process has been under rising strain this year. Parliament was dissolved in February after huge street protests to oust then prime minister Thaksin, a poll on April 2 was declared void and new elections were set for October 15.

"There is definitely a power play going on, but I don't think it's new," a senior member of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party said last week.

Thitinan Pongsidhurak, assistant professor of international political economy at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, sees it as a struggle between Mr Thaksin and the king.

Mr Thaksin insinuated a charismatic figure was involved in trying to undermine the Government. General Prem hit back with a speech to cadets: "It was a muscle-flexing exercise."

This month General Prem's backers gained the upper hand with a reshuffle of 129 battalion commanders.

The officers, most seen as loyal to Class 10 senior officers, were transferred to inactive posts.

Mr Pana said: "The reshuffle is an indicator of how politics has infiltrated the military to the extent that it becomes problematic and could threaten the stability (of the country); the worst-case scenario is civil war."

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General stages Thai power play

Things are getting a little "spooky" now and I am FINALLY getting too nervous to comment.

Anyway for those non Thai-news-freak forum members I will c/p the Nation article on the jolly General's speech here ...

Gen Prem: don’t respect the rich who cheat

By ThaiDay 29 July 2006 01:52


Privy Council President Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, pictured, yesterday called on the public not to respect people who have become rich by cheating.

The pointed message was the highlight of a keynote address the respected elder statesman gave before a gathering of Royal Thai Navy (RTN) cadets and past and present senior RTN officers. The title of the address was: “Enhancing Leadership through Virtue, Sufficiency and Sacrifice.”

“It should be noted that our culture is an old culture, but there is something wrong [with it],” Gen Prem said. “Normally, rich people are respected, but whereas it’s okay to respect those who have grown rich through legitimate means, we should not wai [respect] those who have acquired wealth through cheating and corruption.”

Although Gen Prem did not name names, his remark struck a familiar cord and rekindled the all-too-familiar public resentment against the tax-free, 73-billion-baht Shin Corp share sale by the family of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier this year.

In no uncertain terms, the retired army general added: “Those who have grown rich by cheating do not deserve any praise. On the contrary, poor but virtuous people – be they samlor drivers or taxi drivers – deserve more praise.”

Gen Prem also reiterated another famous remark he made while addressing cadets at the Chulachomklao Military Academy earlier this month that likened soldiers to horses belonging to His Majesty the King and governments that come and go to jockeys.

“I want to emphasize clearly that soldiers belong to the nation and the King. The duty of the government is to look after us in accordance with its policy. The government in this case is just a common reference – it can be any government that comes into office,” he said.

The horses-and-jockeys remark prompted subtle expressions of resentment by some senior Thai Rak Thai party leaders and open criticisms by maverick politician and former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej, who is known to be a staunch Thaksin supporter.

Gen Prem also stressed that good superiors should possess virtue and ethics when dealing with their subordinates.

“People who are in positions where they have to deal with others – be they government officials, unit commanders – or any superiors – must have virtue and ethics, because without them, everything in their respective organizations will fail,” he said.