Of secrecy, deception and camouflage

December 25, 2009
By Thanong Khanthong
The Nation

In the past, whenever there was political turmoil in Cambodia, the country's king would come over to Thailand to seek shelter or protection. Thaksin, as a former Thai leader, is now seeking protection under Hun Sen's armpit. Many Thais are wondering whether Thaksin's proxy party is Pheu Thai or Pheu Cambodia.

SO, General Surayud Chulnanont, the former interim prime minister and a member of the Privy Council, would like to act as a mediator in the conflict between Thaksin Shinawatra and the government, would he?

However, he did deny that he had ever given any impression to Bangkok Post reporter, Vassana Nanuam, that he would be willing to serve as the mediator. He only said that if - a theoretical if - Thaksin were to call him, he would accept the call and talk to him. There was no further truth beyond that, he said, as he had talked to Thaksin several times in the past.

Vassana, who became famous with her book, "Lap, Luang, Phrang" (Secrecy, Deception and Camouflage), stood her ground. She wasn't quite sure what was real or deceptive. Could she have fallen into her own trap of lap, luang, phrang - which, like a spy thriller, chronicled the military coup of 2006?

The Daily News, the number two daily, for two days played up Surayud's high moral ground as a potential mediator. Surayud's relationship with The Daily News is exceptionally cordial.

Then General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh came out to tango with Surayud by supporting the idea of reconciling with the peripatetic Thaksin.

Thaksin took the bait. He Twittered back that he was ready to negotiate.

But then Surayud come out to deny that he had any intention of acting as a mediator. "Got you!"

Thaksin's dream of a truce has been snatched away yet again. How many times has he fumbled and been forced to act like a fool?

As a fugitive, Thaksin has been given enough rope to tighten around his neck. But before he loses his breath, the rope is released. No, it is not time for him to die yet. But Thaksin will never accept that he is no longer master of the universe.

Earlier this week, Thaksin, as "economic adviser" to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, wanted to join the Cambodian leadership in greeting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who visited Phnom Penh to boost bilateral relations. But the Chinese politely denied the request. Thaksin's photo opportunity with one of the senior leaders of China - another ploy to boost his status - was dashed.

The recent spy fiasco surrounding Sivalak Chutipong, the Thai airport engineer in Phnom Penh, has in net effect led to a deteriorated status for both Hun Sen and Thaksin. Many inside Cambodia are unhappy with Hun Sen's meddling in Thai internal affairs. Internationally, Cambodia is being looked upon as a country without ISO 9000 certification.

Thaksin's rating is also falling like a stone. He has also rewritten Thai-Cambodian history.

In the past, whenever there was political turmoil in Cambodia, the country's king would come over to Thailand to seek shelter or protection. Thaksin, as a former Thai leader, is now seeking protection under Hun Sen's armpit. Many Thais are wondering whether Thaksin's proxy party is Pheu Thai or Pheu Cambodia.

It is now more difficult for the red shirts to spark off a political rally to gain mass support. Their December 10 rally ended up like a dead battery.

Thaksin originally planned the showdown rally on November 28 (two plus eight equals ten), which was delayed out. So watch out again for his lucky number 10.

Thaksin belonged to class 10 of the military cadet school. His schedules are arranged around the auspicious number 10. The red shirts will try to re-ignite the political fires and will rally again on January 10, 2010.

The bigger drama will be played out when the Supreme Court rules on the Bt76 billion assets seizure case against Thaksin, some time in February or March. Thaksin has lost a lot of his overseas investments. He definitely does not want to lose this Bt76 billion.

But by the time the Supreme Court rules on this case, his status will have fallen so low that he will garner little sympathy.

That's how a tiger is strangled.