Tuesday October 21, 2008
Saritdet Marukatat
Bangkok Post
COMMENTARY
For Army chief General Anupong Paojinda, his main worry is not the border situation between Thailand and Cambodia. It is in fact the political warfare with Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
Now everybody wants to know what the most influential military officer has in mind, after the government leader turned a deaf ear to the general's remarks made on TV last Thursday. Although Gen Anupong alone spoke, the presence of all military and police leaders sitting side by side with him sent a signal to Mr Somchai that they were not on his side and that the premier should seriously consider what the Army chief was saying.
Gen Anupong's position is not really surprising. He had already made a gesture opposing the bloody crackdown on Oct 7. On that day, when PM Somchai came out for a press conference at the Supreme Command, Gen Anupong was with him. But the general decided not to stand too close to the prime minister. He kept a distance between himself and PM Somchai.
Days later, Gen Anupong called for the government to take responsibility for the police crackdown which had led to the deaths of two demonstrators with over 400 injured.
Now he decided to step up pressure on PM Somchai by making it quite clear to him that a resignation from the premiership was the best and only way to resolve the political crisis between the administration and the People's Alliance for Democracy.
Even before Mr Somchai succeeded Samak Sundaravej as prime minister, relations between the government and the armed forces were already "unusual". Gen Anupong decided to not make any move against the PAD after Mr Samak declared a state of emergency in Bangkok in the hope that soldiers would crack down on the protesters once and for all.
Mr Samak must have been quite upset when the army leader failed to act. With the result that demonstrators are still ensconced at Government House. Instead, it was Mr Samak who had to go, after he was no longer favoured by the People Power party to run the government.
Mr Samak might have been even more furious, given that he'd already given the armed forces a free hand to do what they wanted with the annual armed forces reshuffle list.
Now Mr Somchai might be feeling something similar, too; but he has decided to directly counter-attack Gen Anupong in refusing to step down or dissolve parliament. Do not forget that PM Somchai is the Defence Minister as well, and has the authority to punish the army leader. But he has not done so and instead has simply made clear his position that he wants to stay on.
The prime minister cited three key events he and his cabinet members are obliged to take full responsibility for: the Royal cremation ceremony of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana next month; the events celebrating His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5, and the Bangkok summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Thailand currently chairs.
The bottom line is, PM Somchai will not go as the army leader wishes; neither will he take any action against the general.
Mr Somchai is taking a big gamble on his position. His decision to hold on to power means he is passing the ball back to Gen Anupong's court. But it will be very difficult for the army chief to make further moves.
The army leader is caught between the pro- and anti-government camps. He still has a hangover from the coup two years ago. Gen Anupong and other top brass at the time were criticised for being "too nice" to their opponent, Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother-in-law of this prime minister. If he wishes to stage a coup again, Gen Anupong can expect street challenges from pro-government sympathisers as well as international pressure.
The PAD does not see him as its ally, either. The longer the PAD stays on the streets and at Government House, the uglier will be its attacks on Gen Anupong for ignoring its calls to have his soldiers and tanks bring down a government they claim is Mr Thaksin's proxy.
For Gen Anupong, finding a way to end the political battle with PM Somchai is not easy, indeed.
Saritdet Marukatat is News Editor, Bangkok Post.
Now everybody wants to know what the most influential military officer has in mind, after the government leader turned a deaf ear to the general's remarks made on TV last Thursday. Although Gen Anupong alone spoke, the presence of all military and police leaders sitting side by side with him sent a signal to Mr Somchai that they were not on his side and that the premier should seriously consider what the Army chief was saying.
Gen Anupong's position is not really surprising. He had already made a gesture opposing the bloody crackdown on Oct 7. On that day, when PM Somchai came out for a press conference at the Supreme Command, Gen Anupong was with him. But the general decided not to stand too close to the prime minister. He kept a distance between himself and PM Somchai.
Days later, Gen Anupong called for the government to take responsibility for the police crackdown which had led to the deaths of two demonstrators with over 400 injured.
Now he decided to step up pressure on PM Somchai by making it quite clear to him that a resignation from the premiership was the best and only way to resolve the political crisis between the administration and the People's Alliance for Democracy.
Even before Mr Somchai succeeded Samak Sundaravej as prime minister, relations between the government and the armed forces were already "unusual". Gen Anupong decided to not make any move against the PAD after Mr Samak declared a state of emergency in Bangkok in the hope that soldiers would crack down on the protesters once and for all.
Mr Samak must have been quite upset when the army leader failed to act. With the result that demonstrators are still ensconced at Government House. Instead, it was Mr Samak who had to go, after he was no longer favoured by the People Power party to run the government.
Mr Samak might have been even more furious, given that he'd already given the armed forces a free hand to do what they wanted with the annual armed forces reshuffle list.
Now Mr Somchai might be feeling something similar, too; but he has decided to directly counter-attack Gen Anupong in refusing to step down or dissolve parliament. Do not forget that PM Somchai is the Defence Minister as well, and has the authority to punish the army leader. But he has not done so and instead has simply made clear his position that he wants to stay on.
The prime minister cited three key events he and his cabinet members are obliged to take full responsibility for: the Royal cremation ceremony of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana next month; the events celebrating His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5, and the Bangkok summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Thailand currently chairs.
The bottom line is, PM Somchai will not go as the army leader wishes; neither will he take any action against the general.
Mr Somchai is taking a big gamble on his position. His decision to hold on to power means he is passing the ball back to Gen Anupong's court. But it will be very difficult for the army chief to make further moves.
The army leader is caught between the pro- and anti-government camps. He still has a hangover from the coup two years ago. Gen Anupong and other top brass at the time were criticised for being "too nice" to their opponent, Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother-in-law of this prime minister. If he wishes to stage a coup again, Gen Anupong can expect street challenges from pro-government sympathisers as well as international pressure.
The PAD does not see him as its ally, either. The longer the PAD stays on the streets and at Government House, the uglier will be its attacks on Gen Anupong for ignoring its calls to have his soldiers and tanks bring down a government they claim is Mr Thaksin's proxy.
For Gen Anupong, finding a way to end the political battle with PM Somchai is not easy, indeed.
Saritdet Marukatat is News Editor, Bangkok Post.
11 comments:
just resign and go on vacation. who cares? you have enough money general.
yeah Anupong....make sure your porng can stand the pressure from the forces and not burst....the thais people don't want your tadpoles to penetrate and pregnate them.....
There is nothing Somchai can do against Anupong. He has the gun, so he shoot and blame.
MARK MY WORDS: THE DAY THAT PRIME MINISTER SOMCHAI LEAVES FOR CHINA IS THE DAY THAT ANUPONG STAGES THE COUP...CNN AND BBC CAN USE THIS AS HEADLINES..
Anupong will enter history book with the most coups d'Etat under his belt.
Democracy at its purest state!
Somchai is smart enough. I think he is also prepared for the coup as well. It could be a time to show off, which one is strong military or elected government. If Somchai wins this war, democracy in Thais will get stronger. But, if he loses, Junta government will take power and stay forever or until a junta-style government is born.
Somchai is smart enough. I think he is also prepared for the coup as well. It could be a time to show off, which one is strong military or elected government. If Somchai wins this war, democracy in Thais will get stronger. But, if he loses, Junta government will take power and stay forever or until a junta-style government is born.
Military is annoying. When they don't like the government, they'll make a story and coup ... The government does the job for the majority, not military. They are very annoying. Somchai, you can make a new history.
Now wait! Somchai is a PM and also head of the Defend Minister. Correct? So, if Boss says no and Anupong can just proceed to please the PAD? No way! Somchai seems way more than Samak. He must do something to stop the bleeding of Thai economy which will starve them in a very near future, if not careful. To be able to do this, a better General must come to play or Anupong must find other means to convince the PAD to stay together with their government rather than trying to fight some more. If not Thailand just have to go to hell like everybody else on globe that was affecting by those evil finacial cricis. Thailand should know by now that time is running out to play fool with changing the Premier. IF Anupong don't see this or cann't do the job of getting everybody together than he perhaps should go.
By the way, Thailand can only prosper by getting along with her neighbors. How in hell can it happens when Thailand choose to see negative from almost everyone around her?
Give the job to Somchai and go right ahead producing whatever you want to produce and sell baby! See his smiling customers? staring with a L and C and V and B and soon. Sorry....it looks that way.
Real soon the junta will govern Thailand, there nothing Somchai can do. Nobody can say word to Anupong, not event dying Bhumibol.
Then all hells will have to break loose for Thailand. You know what a damm Junta will do to its people. Bhumibol and The US will burn at the devil's place to see that happens. 9:54am is full of shit.
Who is the most powerful guy in Thailand?
Anupong my friend. He the next king of Thailand, junta power.
Yea baby, he will rocks!
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