Putting aside the past? | Bangkok Post: learning

General news

Friday night's gala dinner at Government House yielded some impressive pictures of apparent reconciliation, but political observers are not convinced it's the real thing. Photos by Chanat Katanyu.

 Please join us on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Click button to listen to Gala and rightclick to download

Gala makes baby step to heal divide

Political foes mix at govt's B10m dinner

Pradit Ruangdit
Pakawat Sunpituksaree 
Mongkol Bangprapa

Political reconciliation may have taken a small step forward last night as privy councillors mingled with cabinet ministers in a carefully staged 10-million-baht gala dinner orchestrated by the government to give thanks to those assisting last year's flood efforts.

But political observers played down the significance of the event, which marked the first time in years that Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda has attended an event hosted by a government tied to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Gen Prem and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra commanded all eyes from the gallery of senior politicians, diplomats and business leaders at Government House. Other privy councillors included Amphon Senanarong and ACM Kamthon Sindhvananda. 

As guests feasted on a menu featuring smoked salmon and red wine while violins played in the background, more than 100 protesters chanted metres away to protest about the perceived waste of taxpayers' money.

Gen Prem has often been the subject of fierce attacks from the red shirt supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, a group of pro-Thaksin supporters formed after the 2006 military coup. In 2007, thousands of red shirts rallied outside Gen Prem's home to call for his resignation.

But several former red shirt leaders, including newly appointed deputy agriculture minister Nattawut Saikuar and Pheu Thai MP Apiwan Wiriyachai, hailed Gen Prem's appearance at the party as a true sign of progress towards national reconciliation.

Mr Nattawut, who appeared briefly at the party, had said earlier that while he would not apologise to Gen Prem for the UDD's comments in the past, he personally held no grievances against the elder statesman.

Political observers played down the significance of the event, with political scientist Sukhum Nuansakul saying it was way too early to say that reconciliation had truly advanced.

"But it may be true that we won't see the red shirts go and rally outside Gen Prem's residence again," he said.

You can read the full story here: http://bit.ly/y4Vi6g

gala – a special public occasion at which there is a lot of entertainment, usually in the form of different types of performances งานกาลา, งานรื่นเริง
heal – to make people stop fighting and have a better relationship ทำให้คืนดีกัน
foe – an enemy or opponent ศัตรู
reconciliation – the process of creating a new and friendly relationship again with someone you argued with or fought with การปรองดอง
Privy Council – the group of appointed advisors to the King of Thailand   สภาองคมนตรีไทย
privy councillor – a member of the group of appointed advisors to the King of Thailand   องคมนตรี
mingle – to move around in a group of people สมาคมกับ
cabinet minister – a member of the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy รัฐมนตรี
stage – to organise an event or activity จัด
orchestrate – to plan and organise a complicated event or activity จัดการ
observer – a person who watches and analyses a situation ผู้สังเกตการณ์
play down – to discount; to try to make something seem less important or serious than it really is ลดความสำคัญ
significance – importance; the importance that something has because it affects other things ความสำคัญ
host – to provide the space and other things necessary for a special event ทำหน้าที่เป็นเจ้าภาพ, เป็นผู้จัดรายการ
tied – connected พัวพัน
ousted – forced out of a position of power ขับออกจากอำนาจ
command all eyes – to be the centre of people’s attention เป็นจุดสนใจ
gallery – a group of people watching something; spectators คนดู, ผู้ชม
diplomat – an official whose job is to represent their government in a foreign country นักการทูต
feast – to eat a large amount of food, with great enjoyment กินเลี้ยง
chant – to keep shouting or singing a word or phrase many times โห่ร้อง
perceived – thought of or understood in a particular way ได้รับการมองว่า
fierce – very strong รุนแรง, ดุเดือด
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which led the fight against the Abhisit government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
coup (d’etat) – the seizure of power in a country by a group of people, usually members of the armed forces รัฐประหาร
rally – to join a public meeting that a lot of people go to in order to support someone or protest against someone or something ชุมนุม
resignation – the act of leaving a job, position of power, etc., permanently การลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
hail – to praise; to say good things about ชื่นชม 
progress – the process of developing or of getting nearer to achieving or completing something ความคืบหน้า
apologise – to say you are sorry for doing something wrong or for causing a problem ขอโทษ
grievance – a complaint about being treated in an unfair way ความคับข้องใจ
elder statesman – an experienced political leader that many people respect รัฐบุรุษ
advance – to move forward ก้าวหน้า, เคลื่อนไปข้างหน้า
residence – a place where someone lives ที่พำนัก ที่อาศัย

Relate Search: Thai government gala dinner, reconciliation, Prem Tinsulanonda