Veera Prateepchaikul
Bangkok Post
Even before the censure debate against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his nine cabinet members is due to start tomorrow, the prime minister has already been subjected to harsh criticism by leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, his former ally.
The PAD makes nightly addresses to its supporters from their protest site on Makkhawan Rangsan bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue _ and as the election draws closer, the attacks are picking up steam.
In an address last Tuesday night, the PAD leaders discussed two issues championed by opposition party Puea Thai as it seeks to make headway against the government _ Mr Abhisit's dual nationality, and the government's attempts to help tobacco giant Philip Morris Thailand in an alleged tax evasion case.
These matters are likely to be raised during the no-confidence debate.
PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul accused the prime minister of being a traitor for "selling out" territory to Cambodia; and cheating the country by letting the US cigarette manufacturer off the tax hook.
PAD spokesman Praphan Koonmee was even harsher in his criticism.
He branded Mr Abhisit as the worst prime minister Thailand has ever had.
Thailand lost about 68 billion baht in potential revenue from taxes on Marlboro and L&M cigarettes, imported by Philip Morris Thailand, from 2003 to 2009, he said.
Mr Praphan accused the prime minister and his close aide, Kiat Sitthi-amorn, the Thai trade representative, of improperly helping the company.
He claimed the prime minister had instructed the PM's Office to invite representatives of the Department of Special Investigation, Office of the Attorney-General, Revenue and Customs departments for a meeting to discuss the case, despite the fact that a probe team led by then DSI chief Thawee Sodsong had decided to take the matter to court.
The investigation team was set up under the Thaksin government. After Mr Abhisit intervened, the public prosecution decided to drop the case, though all parties deny that anything improper occurred.
Puea Thai chief MP Chalerm Yubamrung, who exposed the Philip Morris case, said last week that the repercussions could deliver a knockout blow to the government.
It is not yet known whether he will take up this matter for debate.
Apparently disappointed that he was not picked to lead the censure debate _ the job fell to list MP Mingkwan Saengsuwan instead _ he said he would fill in the gap left by some speakers, but still leave Mr Mingkwan to run the show.
However, Mr Chalerm will miss a golden chance to show his worth _ and also to prove to his boss that he is a more fearsome adversary in parliament than Mr Mingkwan _ if he does not deliver the knockout punch himself.
It would be unthinkable a year ago that the PAD, on one side, and Puea Thai and its red shirt allies, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, on the other, could end up speaking the same language, and sharing the same common enemy _ the Democrat-led government.
The PAD's discontent with the Democrats can be traced back to the time when the Democrats and its junior partners entered power after the last coup. The PAD, which helped set the scene for the coup with its protests against the past government, was left out in the cold.
PAD leaders have always held the view that the Democrats owe them a favour for their pivotal role in the overthrow of the Thaksin Shinawatra regime. They are still waiting for them to return it.
The border conflict with Cambodia over the disputed area around Preah Vihear temple put the PAD's relationship with the government under further pressure.
The PAD has demanded the army use force to push out Cambodian troops and civilians from the disputed areas and that Thailand withdraw from Unesco's World Heritage Committee. What little is left of the strained relations between the two unravelled when Prime Minister Abhisit refused to intervene to help PAD key member, Veera Somkhwamkid, after he was arrested with a group of Thais, including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, on the border last December.
The PAD has always held Mr Abhisit responsible for Mr Veera's plight because he was the one who approved Mr Panich's inspection trip to the border, in which he was accompanied by Mr Veera.
The prime minister also admitted that the group had encroached on Cambodian soil.
Now that the PAD, Puea Thai and UDD share the same common enemy, is it possible that they could forge a partnership, along the lines of that old saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my ally"?
The red and yellow shirts are such implacable foes that they are unlikely ever to want to sit around the table and talk. Yet this strange turn of events, and now an election coming up...
Nothing is permanent, Buddhist teaching tells us _ and nothing is too bizarre in the world of Thai politics that such an unlikely alliance could ever be ruled out.
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Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.
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