Thai Pulse:
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chano-cha shrugged off the “song for you” that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra sang for her brother Thaksin as a birthday gift but used Section 44 to suspend president of Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) Boonlert Buranupakorn. The cover story of Siam Rath Weekly asked why.
Mr Boonlert’s suspension from duty followed a raid on six locations linked to him last Saturday, according to the story entitled “At Odds”.
In one of the locations — Chiang Mai Tusnaporn Co, a wood furniture manufacturer and exporter run by Mr Boonlert — police said they found letters containing distorted information about the draft charter including claims that the universal healthcare scheme, monthly payments to the elderly and free schooling will be cancelled.
Mr Boonlert’s nieces, Tasanee and Thantip, were also arrested by authorities over the document.
“The clampdown on the Buranupakorn family is undeniably an offensive against the Pheu Thai Party, especially its Chiang Mai stronghold,” the article said.
Thaksin’s sister Yaowapa Wongsawat has enjoyed close ties with the Buranupakorns for decades. Shaking up the Buranupakorns therefore is sending shockwaves through the Wongsawat and Shinawatra families.
One reading of the incident could be that it represents an attempt by the military regime to clear the way for the Aug 7 referendum. Another, however, is the seemingly fierce move against the Buranupakorns appears to belie some irregularities.
Pol Snr Sgt Maj Pichit Tamul, a member of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), observed the military regime could have rolled out a subtler plan if it really wanted to go after the Buranupakorn family.
Also, the raid occurred when Mr Boonlert, who has cordial relations with military authorities in the province, happened to be away on an overseas trip.
The article pondered whether the order to suspend Mr Boonlert from duty was a soft warning, as it could have been a dismissal.
The suspension seems like a precursor, an opening of a game to allow the powers-that-be to settle their differences before final action is taken, the article said.
Political observers have also started to notice how Gen Prayut and his deputy Gen Prawit Wongsuwon seem to be seeing things differently lately.
A proposal to enlist trouble-making vocational college students as military conscripts is one example. Gen Prayut disagreed with the idea saying the brawling students could behave badly and desert their fellow soldiers in times of need. Gen Prawit, by contrast, threw his full support behind the proposal.
A debate on the draft charter is another area where the two powerful men appear to be at odds. Gen Prawit assigned the Election Commission (EC) and provincial governor to make room for debates on the draft charter in every province and to make sure the discussions are under their supervision.
In February, however, Gen Prayut said he did not want any debates to be held as the referendum itself is a form of public hearing.
Despite the seeming incongruities, Gen Prawit has insisted he and Gen Prayut are on the same page when it came to doing things for the country.
He said they might appear to take on different perspectives at times but there were more occasions when both of them shared the same view.
Although it’s unlikely these differences will drive a wedge between the military leaders, it’s about time that Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit sort out their differences and communicate a harmonious message to the public.
Their inconsistencies will only benefit the Thaksin camp, the article said.