ABOUT POLITICS
Padet Puripatipan, a columnist who uses the pseudonym Phaya Mai in Khao Sod newspaper, has come to terms with the fact that strong ties with someone in power could not help him keep his television programme on state-owned NBT.
To keep his show on the air, he would have to follow the prime minister's agenda, he said.
Apparently, he has failed to do so.
As a result, his programme, Khao Na See (Page Four News), which used to air every week on NBT, was on Monday replaced with a new programme, Khwam Jing Wannee (The Truth Today), run by the Phuean Phong Nong Phee Co (Friends and Brothers Co).
The company is controlled by Veera Musikhapong, Jatuporn Phromphan and Natthawut Saikua, the figures behind the pro-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
The abrupt replacement was made after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej announced on his "Pood Ja Phasa Samak" (Samak-Style Talk) weekly TV programme on Sunday that he would assign state-run TV stations to counter criticism of the government broadcast on ASTV, the satellite television station founded by a key leader of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
Mr Padet was taken aback by the change. A few hours before his programme was taken off the air he was still confident his connection with a certain khunying, who is the wife of the "old boss", would secure his television slot.
The khunying had originally given the green light for New Time Television Co to run Khao Na See on NBT.
But the programme was pulled from the slot despite assurances to the contrary from the khunying.
Mr Padet said he believed the show was taken off the air because he had been unresponsive to Mr Samak's policies.
"He's dissatisfied that we didn't follow his instructions," said Mr Padet.
Observers said Mr Samak did not want to challenge the power of the khunying, but he was aware that he needed to mobilise all resources to counter the mounting political pressure he was confronting, and all available communication channels must be employed to compete with the PAD in a bid to win support from the general public.
Mr Padet said Mr Samak appeared intent on weakening the PAD's popularity and had counted on Khao Na See to be critical of the PAD.
"But I disagreed because it wouldn't look good for us," he said.
As for Mr Veera, who leads the team which produces "Khwam Jing Wannee", Mr Padet said: "He's a friend of mine."
But Mr Padet has disassociated himself from Mr Veera, insisting the new programme will do more harm than good for the government's image.
Mr Padet also questioned Mr Veera's qualifications for hosting the show. Mr Veera was a leader of the UDD, whose core members, former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair and Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, have also been charged with lese majeste.
Mr Veera's one-hour programme could not hope to counter the influence of ASTV, which airs anti-government contents around the clock, said Mr Padet.
Anupong: Keeps them guessing |
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Army chief back in favour
Army chief Anupong Paojinda's composure amid the political confrontation between the government and People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is keeping political observers guessing about where he stands politically.
Many have tried to figure out whether he has already sided with what some refer to as the "nominee" government, or if he's stuck to the choice he made when he joined the Sept 19, 2006 coup.
Some have arrived at the conclusion that he's already switched allegiance largely because he has developed a cordial relationship with Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej since Mr Samak came to power and took over the helm at the Defence Ministry.
He has also refused to bow to pressure from the PAD which renewed its street protests to bring down the Samak administration and demanded the military come out of the barracks again.
The army chief also became a target of the PAD demonstrators when he did not respond to their demands. PAD criticism, especially from core leader Sondhi Limthongkul, became more venomous when a report emerged that Gen Anupong and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a close aide of Thaksin Shinawatra, were forging closer ties.
However, those who have made up their minds about Gen Anupong might have to think twice. He has voiced serious concerns about the government's bid to rewrite the constitution and warned about a political backlash and potential violence from modifying the charter.
Yet his warning did little to deter the People Power party (PPP) MPs, some of whom have been turning against independent agencies and trying to impeach the National Counter Corruption Commission and the Election Commission.
Gen Anupong's swift action involving Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, alias "Da Torpedo", might have made them regret their hasty rush to judgement.
The army chief was the first to send a letter to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, urging it to speed up an investigation into Ms Daranee, a key leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), whose speeches at a UDD rally late last week were deemed as lese majeste.
His letter was prepared when he joined a delegation in Sa Kaeo province led by Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit to discuss the Preah Vihear temple dispute with Cambodia. His latest move appears to have helped mend the rift with the PAD. Mr Sondhi toned down his criticism of Gen Anupong on the PAD stage, and urged the crowds to give him a round of applause for his handling of the Preah Vihear temple controversy.
It was reported that Gen Anupong had earlier cleared the air with Mr Sondhi. So, it would not be a surprise if the PAD leaders and Gen Anupong begin meeting more often and start talking in unison despite the different roles they play.
Prateep: NCCC an illegal body |
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In quest of a quiet life
The way ahead for judges and members of independent organisations is far from smooth, with attempts to end the strong role they have taken on in the handling of major cases - a role that leaves many of the accused feeling distinctly uncomfortable.
Drawn into issues ranging from complicated corruption allegations against politicians to the shaken relationship with neighbouring Cambodia, they are facing a spate of attacks aimed at discrediting their prestigious institutions.
The so-called snackbox case at the Supreme Court is the biggest scandal.
Three lawyers working for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra were jailed for contempt after a bag containing two million baht cash was given to a court staff member. Attempted bribery charges are pending.
This was enough to create unease in the court, whose judges will rule on corruption allegations against Mr Thaksin.
The court cannot just shrug this off and the selection of the judges to hear the cases, and the trial proceedings, will be closely watched.
The Administrative Court is also a target. It initially drew applause when it put the brakes on the privatisation of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. More recently, its injunction against cabinet's support for Cambodia's proposal to list the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site has been questioned by some law experts.
They questioned whether the judges were authorised to decide the issue.
At the Constitution Court, some judges are said to be wondering if they should resign from the bench and return to their former positions, as more and more people view it as a "political court" because of its active role in deciding cases involving politicians and political parties.
Some of the judges have even been accused of being unqualified for the job, with critics suggesting some of them have connections with members of the old power clique.
Members of independent organisations such as the Election Commission and the National Counter Corruption Commission also find themselves in strife.
The role of the EC in disqualifying both candidates and elected MPs found to have cheated has drawn both applause and anger. Some commission members were accused of not being transparent in doing their duty.
The NCCC recently took over most of the Assets Scrutiny Committee's cases and is the latest agency to come under fire. Its role to further the investigation of corruption charges against the Thaksin government has hit a bumpy stretch. A group led by Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, a former core member of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship, says the commission is an illegal body because it was set up by the coup leaders in 2006.
The NCCC and the other institutions will have to take special care.
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