ABOUT Politics
Never far from the limelight, Yingluck now wants to go to Europe Pressure mounts on the army to answer all questions on the Rajabhakti project Advisers are a dime a dozen, but some are worth their weight in gold
They seek her everywhere ...
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has not been overseas in a while and is counting on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to let her accept an invitation to join a discussion in Europe.
Her critics say that just because Ms Yingluck is out of job, it does not mean she is out of everyone’s mind. She pops up here and there — a merit-making, lotus-tossing festival in Samut Prakan; a kathin robe-giving rite in Ubon Ratchathani; another kathin ceremony in Phichit — and into the welcoming arms of her supporters.
In Phichit, she presided over a religious rite to mark the end of Buddhist Lent in the company of supporters who showered her with roses.
Among the participants were students of local schools who returned home at end of the ceremony with a bag of rice each. Others were given T-shirts with the message, “How is my family doing without the rice-pledging scheme?”. They lost no time in slipping on the shirts and flaunting them.
It was reported some of Ms Yingluck’s opponents came out with a counter tactic, producing T-shirts printed with the words, “My family on the day we were cheated of our rice”.
The former premier — impeached earlier this year in the National Legislative Assembly for dereliction of duty as prime minister after she allegedly failed to stop corruption in the controversial rice-pledging scheme under her government, and also indicted in the Supreme Court on the same charge — was greeted at the rite by Pheu Thai Party stalwarts in the shape of former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, former deputy finance minister Varathep Rattanakorn, former deputy interior minister Sermsak Pongpanich, and myriad others.
Some critics felt the Phichit rite was a “reunion” of politicians who are “between jobs”. However, Pheu Thai politicians insist there is no political undertone to Ms Yingluck’s recent upcountry trips.
Political activities are banned by the NCPO on the pretext of possible incitement of events that could return the country to the social unrest and violent confrontation of the precoup days.
The critics say Ms Yingluck’s presence could become a political rallying point as her supporters closely follow her movements. Since the May 22 coup last year, the NCPO has granted her permission to travel to France, Japan and Singapore on private trips.
Photos had spread online of Ms Yingluck and her elder brother and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra spending leisure time together and celebrating Thaksin’s birthday in Paris between late July and early August last year.
Now, Ms Yingluck could be planning another trip to Europe, again subject to the NCPO’s approval, after a letter circulated online signed by two members of the European Parliament inviting her to “an exchange of views on the situation in Thailand”, either in Brussels or Strasbourg, which is the official seat of the European Parliament, according a source close to Ms Yingluck. The date for the trip has not been fixed. The letter, however, has come under scrutiny by netizens who suspect it may not be from the European Parliament. They point to discrepancies in correspondence protocol, including how the letter addressed Ms Yingluck by her Thai honorific of “Khun” rather than “Ms”, and the fact that the letter was signed by two MPs and not someone of authority representing the European Parliament.
The letter mentioned concern by the signers about the latest political developments in Thailand and of her retroactive impeachment and trial in the Supreme Court.
The Foreign Ministry has confirmed the invitation was extended to Ms Yingluck by two European members of parliament, and not in the name of the European Parliament.
It won’t go away
The Rajabhakti Park scandal has not been put to rest, even though the army has issued a stamp of transparency.
Last week, army commander Theerachai Nakvanich held a press briefing and confirmed the park project, with its now landmark giant statues of the country’s great kings, was above board. Nothing was amiss with the newly-registered Rajabhakti Park Foundation’s accounts, and there were no “leaks” that could have caused any money to be unaccounted for.
Gen Theerachai insisted there was no need for the National Anti-Corruption Commission to step in and investigate.
Observers said many army figures, including deputy premier Prawit Wongsuwon, were most eager to see the case closed after the briefing. However, some questions remain unanswered.
One question from the media is why former army chief Udomdej Sitabutr, now deputy defence minister and chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation, has not come out and shed more light on the commission money allegedly collected by an amulet dealer from the foundries commissioned to cast the statues.
Arrest warrants were also issued for two of Gen Udomdej’s close aides, Col Khachanart Boondee and Maj Gen Suchart Prommai, who were involved in the park project that was financed mainly by public donations.
With the Theerachai briefing being far from decisive, Gen Prawit has said another army-run team will look into the scandal.
The Defence Ministry has agreed to launch a fresh probe into alleged irregularities in the one-billion-baht project to clear up any lingering doubts.
Gen Prawit said he had ordered a factfinding committee to re-investigate the park project in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district. “The panel will probe every military officer implicated in the case ... not only the army, but the investigation will cover civilians,” he said.
However, the panel will forward any cases of irregularities involving civilians to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further investigation, he said.
Political watchers are waiting to see the outcome of the second team’s inquiries after Gen Udomdej reportedly changed his mind at the last minute not to speak publicly about the project.
A source in the army said Gen Udomdej was called to a meeting with the second team this week. He spent three hours being grilled.
So far, no corruption charges have been pressed against anyone involved with the Rajabhakti project, which has been an instant hit with tourists. The police said no individuals have lodged a complaint.
However, t he Rajabhakti issue has generated theories about alleged irregularities in the project’s budget spending with government critics having a field day digging into the project.
Even the government’s perceived ally, the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT), is urging the army to set the record straight, saying the force should provide more information for the sake of transparency even though an internal probe — a reference to the Theerachai investigation — has found no irregularities.
The organisation has indicated that keeping mum over the issue will only lend credence to allegations of irregularities, which bodes ill for the government.
ACT secretary-general Mana Nimitmongkol said information which might have helped the public understand what happened has been scarce. He said the questions surrounding the scandal range from overpriced palm trees, to expensive banquet seats to the alleged commission fees related to the casting of the giant statues of former kings.
Mr Mana said these questions should be addressed one by one as prices may vary depending on conditions and specifications.
A word to the wise
In times of need, a government turns to the horde of advisers it employs on matters of national significance, and it is those same advisers who take the blame when important decisions go wrong.
Noted figures in any government are surrounded by advisers who are usually specialists, both in official and non-official capacities. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the “big brother” of the military elite Burapha Phayak circle, is no exception when it comes to being served up with a dose of advice every now and then.
Among his advisers is former senator Paisal Puechmongkol who is openly supportive of the government. His apparently progovernment political stance is evident in his Facebook posts and in the column he writes regularly for NaewNa newspaper under the pen name of Siri-anya.
His column and his Facebook opinions touch on security issues which he writes as though he is setting off an alarm for Gen Prawit, with implications for national security.
In his latest article published in NaewNa, he outlines several potential threats to Thailand evolving from the highly-fluid political situation, which the former senator insists are events to watch.
He made a reference in his column to a security intelligence report mentioned by the press about the arrest of several individuals who have allegedly confessed to plotting against important people in the government.
His comments came as Gen Prawit, receiving word of impending unrest, ordered an immediate security beef-up across Bangkok for upcoming festivities.
Gen Prawit said authorities had discovered that a group of ill-intentioned people in the Northeast were planning to instigate unrest in Bangkok during the Loy Krathong festival this week, the King’s birthday, the “Bike for Dad” event and the New Year celebrations.
The security authorities claimed they had found a handwritten message about their plans sent via the Line chat app and arrested those behind the plot. The deputy premier said the investigators were looking deeper into the case and more warrants will be issued soon.
Mr Paisal also observed a rapid increase in the arrival of certain groups of foreign nationals in recent months, and that there could be an implication for security. He said the authorities concerned should keep their fingers crossed that the foreign nationals in question were bona fide tourists with the genuine intention of enjoying themselves here. “Otherwise, there could truly be a cause for concern,” he writes.
He also theorised the Rajabhakti Park scandal is being politicised by government opponents who see a chance to whip up hype to discredit the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
The opponents, according to political sources, are trying to link Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr to the scandal as they figure that by implicating the general, the NCPO will be dropped into the hot seat because he is one of the council’s founding members.
However, Mr Paisal said government figures know of the plan to capitalise on the scandal at the NCPO’s expense and managed to mitigate the effects on the council.
Mr Paisal — an expert in law and adviser to former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, as well as the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee — said the supposed unrest being instigated by the government’s opponents is intended to create a climate of fear, which undermines the NCPO’s credibility.