absolutelyBangkok archive · Politics
Originally published May 20, 2008
The honorable Democrats, marginalized since Chuan Leekpai’s all-too-polite resignation in 1995, impressed with some wily tactics over the past few weeks. The Democrats look as feisty as I haven’t seen them in years. One pinprick after another makes a dig at the Samak government. Many pinpricks start hurting. The first real bleeding is not too far away.
Just to mention Democrat Party’s Songkhla MP Sirichok Sopha who cynically asked Samak if he’s still fiercely loyal. Fiercely loyal to the kingdom’s highest institution it is to say. Or to Thaksin/Jakrapob. Sirichok criticized the prime minister for refusing to look into the lèse majesté allegation against PM’s Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair.
Jakrapob still seems to view himself the mouthpiece of a certain silent movement. But to rebut accusations of anti-royalist undercurrents Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung had to give in to demands of the Democrats and — following the wish of the Democrats — hinted at possibly blocking 29 websites with content deemed insulting the monarchy.
Then there are the economic hardships of the people and the inability of the Samak government to change the economy’s course.
Burma’s Nargis tragedy comes as a welcome distraction for Samak & Co. to divert attention from domestic problems. The Thai government loves the chance to portray itself as a patron and promoter of humanity.
Nobody should ever dare to criticize the official Thailand’s most generous efforts to help the suffering people of its neighbor. But for themselves the Thai people expected much more from a Thaksin shadow government.
A government “limping past its first 100 days in office,” as The Nation writes.
The Democrats were quiet for a long time. We didn’t hear of the Democrats even when the people were impatiently asking for their voice. Slowly, but unmistakably, the Democrats seem to have ended their hibernation.
The Democrats are no longer wasting time as the nation sinks. They’re preparing the field, letting PPP play their self-destructive tendencies. Knowing that the only way to get back to power is to allow the Samak government to get burried slowly but steadily by more and more own failures.
The Democrats don’t have to become too proactive to enhance the PPP’s decline. So far they’re playing the perfect waiting game. They’re enough alert to point the finger at new PPP failures. And wise enough to let the government slip first.
So far the government muddles through quite professionally, in the great tradition of other Thai governments being more preoccupied by themselves than their duties. Granted, the rice crisis the government handles very wisely, knowing only too well that the loyalty of the rural masses is the key to everything. But the inflationary pressure and receding buying power are not about to vanish.
Not that the government is at its wits’ end. But the Democrats seem to finally learn that Thailand’s political landscape is made up of much rougher terrain than a gentleman’s democratic model.
Maybe they can even lower themselves to tar and feather an opponent for not playing fairly.
At the moment they don’t even have to play dirty politics. All they have to do is to continue with those pinpricks and rub some salt into the government’s growing wounds.
And wait.
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