- Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul
- Position: Former Editor
Published: 14/12/2009
Bangkok Post
The B-grade spying soap opera ended abruptly in the same amazing fashion that it started with the convicted Thai spy now out of jail and due to fly home this evening, but this doesn't mean the end of the show, as the Puea Thai Party is intent to making use of him for political gain.
In a news blog on Friday, Khmerization said the whole drama was played out like a soap opera on prime time television.
The blog said the script was written and directed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen himself.
According to the script, the Puea Thai party was supposed to play the hero’s role in securing the release of Mr Sivarak, who was found guilty of spying on former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and by the Cambodian court last Tuesday and sentenced to seven years imprisonment and a 10 million riel fine (about 82,500 baht).
It went on to say the drama was a political and diplomatic game set up to canvass political support back home for Hun Sen and for use as a diplomatic cudgel against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in retaliation for his action against Cambodia over the appointment of Thaksin as the government's economic adviser.
I could not agree more with the opinion expressed in Khmerization.
As earlier predicted, the whole drama, beginning with Mr Sivarak’s arrest and the charges against him, the replacement of his defence lawyer who was appointed by the Thai Foreign Ministry, the conviction by the Cambodian court, the withdrawal of his bail request and, the final act, the royal pardon for his freedom -- it was all scripted.
Whether it was scripted and directed by Hun Sen as claimed by Khmerization is beyond my knowledge.
But, somehow, the hero part for Puea Thai did not play out as scripted, probably because of a problem in coordination from the Cambodian side. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni granted a swift royal pardon for Mr Sivarak on Friday, three days after his conviction, while, in Bangkok, Puea Thai MPs were still unable to submit their letters seeking royal pardon.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Thaksin played a role in winning Mr Sivarak’s freedom by calling Hun Sen and asking for leniency. He added that Puea Thai chairman Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Mr Sivarak’s mother, Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, had submitted a request for a royal pardon to Hun Sen, who forwarded it to King Sihamoni.
Surprisingly, only a handful of Puea Thai members were on hand to attend a brief ceremony for the release of the convicted spy at Mr Hun Sen’s residence this morning. These included party spokesman Prompong Theparit and members of Mr Sivarak’s family. Gen Chavalit was conspiculously absent and thus missed the media limelight.
Even Thaksin, who flew into Phnom Penh on Sunday and met Mr Sivarak at the prison, was not seen at the ceremony. He was reported to have given a lecture to Cambodian businessmen and officials.
Given the recent opinion polls by Abac and Suan Dusit, which showed that more than half of the respondents believe the spy drama was just a political game, the Puea Thai Party might have realized that it would be too embarrassing to claim full credit for Mr Sivarak’s freedom.
Maybe this is why the party’s heavyweights avoided the photo-shoot which attended his release.
But the script writer and director of this soap opera, as Khmerization suggested, could not afford to miss out such a rare chance to bathe in the local and international media limelight.
As for Mr Sivarak, being out of jail does not necessarily mean the end of his misfortune. The Puea Thai Party appears intent on capitalising on his misfortune to discredit the Abhisit government, particularly his relationship with Kamrob Palawatwichai, the Thai diplomat to whom he gave the information on Thaksin's flights.
Indebted to the party for his freedom, he seems to have little choice but to go along with the show.
Bangkok Post
The B-grade spying soap opera ended abruptly in the same amazing fashion that it started with the convicted Thai spy now out of jail and due to fly home this evening, but this doesn't mean the end of the show, as the Puea Thai Party is intent to making use of him for political gain.
In a news blog on Friday, Khmerization said the whole drama was played out like a soap opera on prime time television.
The blog said the script was written and directed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen himself.
According to the script, the Puea Thai party was supposed to play the hero’s role in securing the release of Mr Sivarak, who was found guilty of spying on former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and by the Cambodian court last Tuesday and sentenced to seven years imprisonment and a 10 million riel fine (about 82,500 baht).
It went on to say the drama was a political and diplomatic game set up to canvass political support back home for Hun Sen and for use as a diplomatic cudgel against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in retaliation for his action against Cambodia over the appointment of Thaksin as the government's economic adviser.
I could not agree more with the opinion expressed in Khmerization.
As earlier predicted, the whole drama, beginning with Mr Sivarak’s arrest and the charges against him, the replacement of his defence lawyer who was appointed by the Thai Foreign Ministry, the conviction by the Cambodian court, the withdrawal of his bail request and, the final act, the royal pardon for his freedom -- it was all scripted.
Whether it was scripted and directed by Hun Sen as claimed by Khmerization is beyond my knowledge.
But, somehow, the hero part for Puea Thai did not play out as scripted, probably because of a problem in coordination from the Cambodian side. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni granted a swift royal pardon for Mr Sivarak on Friday, three days after his conviction, while, in Bangkok, Puea Thai MPs were still unable to submit their letters seeking royal pardon.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Thaksin played a role in winning Mr Sivarak’s freedom by calling Hun Sen and asking for leniency. He added that Puea Thai chairman Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Mr Sivarak’s mother, Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, had submitted a request for a royal pardon to Hun Sen, who forwarded it to King Sihamoni.
Surprisingly, only a handful of Puea Thai members were on hand to attend a brief ceremony for the release of the convicted spy at Mr Hun Sen’s residence this morning. These included party spokesman Prompong Theparit and members of Mr Sivarak’s family. Gen Chavalit was conspiculously absent and thus missed the media limelight.
Even Thaksin, who flew into Phnom Penh on Sunday and met Mr Sivarak at the prison, was not seen at the ceremony. He was reported to have given a lecture to Cambodian businessmen and officials.
Given the recent opinion polls by Abac and Suan Dusit, which showed that more than half of the respondents believe the spy drama was just a political game, the Puea Thai Party might have realized that it would be too embarrassing to claim full credit for Mr Sivarak’s freedom.
Maybe this is why the party’s heavyweights avoided the photo-shoot which attended his release.
But the script writer and director of this soap opera, as Khmerization suggested, could not afford to miss out such a rare chance to bathe in the local and international media limelight.
As for Mr Sivarak, being out of jail does not necessarily mean the end of his misfortune. The Puea Thai Party appears intent on capitalising on his misfortune to discredit the Abhisit government, particularly his relationship with Kamrob Palawatwichai, the Thai diplomat to whom he gave the information on Thaksin's flights.
Indebted to the party for his freedom, he seems to have little choice but to go along with the show.
10 comments:
If King Sihamoni can grant a royal pardon for the alledged Thai "Spy" Sivarak, King Bhumibol can do the same for Thaksin...
This maybe the best solution for Thailand to quell political turmoil back home and to mend relations with Cambodia...
During his recent 82nd birthday speech, King Bhumibol emphasized unity among Thais for the sake of the country. Mr. Veera Prateepchaikul should have mentioned as well in his editorial section of the Bangkok Post that the whole Thaksin 2006 coup drama was staged as well by the Thai royal household.
What Thailand need is a real democracy and not a pretencious democracy and behave more civilized and less hostile to its neighbours.
Looking down on the people is not what Buddhism preach...
Congratulation to Khmerization for writing an article that was quoted by big media with large readership like the Bangkok Post.
It is good to see that Khmer opinion can be picked up by the Thai media.
Why is it a Big for Thaksin to become Hun Sen advisor? People work all over internationally. Thailand should be honored to have an Ex-PM advising a foreign country. Thaksin's view is great view about "co-existing" helping each other out...and "grow together"...
It seems like the Thai medias The Bangkok Post, The Nation etc. are government mouthpiece, not independent. Censored medias can be very dangerous propaganda. News should be told as is based on unbias facts.
The writer keeps expressing by saying scripted drama but his opinions look very scripted instead
I agree. The Bangkok Post, The Nation are pro Abhisit. Even when Thaksin were still in power, the Thai king's secret agents threaten all Thai media to write against Thaksin and his party.
Thai king was envy of Thaksin popularity with Thai rural poor. Only the king can be popular, no one else, not even a prime minister can be popular, if he does, he must be taking out at all cost. Thus the king instructed his henchman
general Prem to prepare and execute the coup that over throw Thaksin government.
After that when pro Thaksin party won the election, the king use the court to dissolve Thaksin political party many times. With this kind of misuse of power, and anti democracy, how can those who say they love democracy blindly call Thaksin a fugitive or criminal, in fact, those who over throw Thaksin government by military force are the real criminals.
Please, Khmers leaders, you are not Thais leaders.
Thais are able to do their job themself.
BUT you, your country ?
Come out from jungle.
Create job for Cambodians.
Create peace for Cambodia.
Why you kiss stanger asses and hurt Cambodians like you ?
Khmerization should be more cautious about his statements. He should not speculate things unless he has evidence to support them, otherwise he is shooting down his own credibility.
The writer Veera has acused others without evidence is an evidence of his ignorance and arrogant attitude like abbishit veggina who claims lost teritories in Cambodia and claims back preah vihear temple. Then thai invaded Cambodia and burnt a market nearby the temple. Aggressive neigbour. Elephant and ant war in Khmer fable does not mean being big always Amaterasu or the winner. Now after all that AbbiSHIT will get what he likes things that goes around and come around.
Rakthai
10:18 PM, I think it is just an opinion. However, the drama had been out in the public for everyone to see. So, may be Khmerization's opinion might be correct because everyone can see Hun Sen had played the drama already.
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