Ministers must resign

There is no significant disagreement that the next general election, whether in February or later, must be free and fair. But the military regime seems blind to the fact that it must be seen to be impartial, by all Thais and foreign friends alike. This is why Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha must release government ministers directly and actively aligned with political parties. This must start with the four cabinet ministers who took up leading roles within the Palang Pracharath Party (PPP) last week.

The government veered off course on this vital question of credibility less than a month ago. Ironically, it was Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam who set the ball rolling in the wrong direction. He is a non-military man who has been at the right hand of Gen Prayut since the coup of May 22, 2014. He is a lawyer and often introduced as the best legal mind in the current cabinet by a wide margin. On this issue, however, Mr Wissanu’s legal advice merely provided a loophole, instead of good governance.

Last month, Gen Prayut hired savvy politician Buddhipongse Punnakanta as an adviser at the PM’s Office. A former Democrat and enthusiastic Bangkok Shutdown organiser during that protest’s 2013-14 lifespan, Mr Buddhipongse knows his politics. The media asked Mr Wissanu what would happen if the newly appointed adviser decided to throw his hat in the political ring before the next election. The deputy PM answered that he would keep his position and pay packet, and be allowed full freedom to pursue political goals, including as a member of an election-contesting party.

Last Friday, at Impact Muang Thong Thani, the media witnessed the official birth of the PPP. The PPP was formed in March of this year, with the specific task of backing Gen Prayut to remain as prime minister. This was reportedly done with strong encouragement from the so-called Sam Mitr (Three Allies, aka Three Amigos) group, one of whom is believed to be Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Gen Prayut’s economy czar.

Mr Somkid’s economic team was prominent at the PPP’s inauguration. Uttama Savanayana, Ministry of Industry, was selected as party leader. Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee, Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong and PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool all are party executives. The least shocking selection among this unsurprising list was Mr Buddhipongse. This seemed to confirm media speculation that he was put on the public payroll to help to run a political party.

All of these men should resign from the government immediately. Mr Wissanu’s misguided advice that they have the legal right to be ministers, stumping campaigners and election candidates is both politically and morally wrong.

In the first place, any elected government, as soon as an election is called, becomes a caretaker. By both law and tradition, it cannot pass any important new legislation. This specifically prevents actions like the so-called “mobile cabinet” meetings that the prime minister continues to hold upcountry where he spreads largesse among local officials and private groups.

Arguably more importantly, Gen Prayut is treading a dangerous political path. He is providing declared politicians with an inside track to information, access and direct power that no one else, from any party, has or will have. Mr Wissanu’s advice that this is legal directly contradicts every notion of fair play. Even if he eventually allows free speech and grants freedom to campaign to hold rallies, Gen Prayut is openly encouraging a few government cronies to enjoy electoral advantages unavailable to other parties.

It is not possible that an election campaign and polling can be fair under these circumstances. Gen Prayut has strayed too close to crossing the line of fairness too often. But to encourage his inner cabinet circle and his taxpayerfunded Government House officials to openly campaign for a certain political party is far beyond the bounds of acceptability. Allowing all these politically active men to show some honour and resign immediately would go a long way towards convincing the Thai people, and world at large, that this election can really be both free and fair.