The government's latest efforts at reconciliation are exciting few observers v The cabinet faces sustained opposition to its approval of plans to 'bomb' the Mekong v Ex-inmate Chuvit is set to pop up on our screens as a news anchor
Mending thebroken fence
National reconciliation is back in the spotlight after a prolonged period during which other, more pressing, issues took centre stage.
The National Reform Steering Assembly's (NRSA) political reform committee recently unveiled a proposal to foster reform and national unity. One element involves suspending court proceedings and convictions against certain groups of political offenders during the political unrest over the past decade as part of efforts to bring about national unity.
The junta is following suit, setting up a committee for national administration under the framework of national reform strategies and reconciliation chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha himself to promote harmony.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is in charge of the unity effort. He has formed a basic organising committee to tackle reconciliation issues chaired by Defence Ministry permanent secretary Gen Chaicharn Changmongkol.
While the unity building plan is welcomed across the political spectrum, the panel in question has come immediately under fire because it is made up largely of military personnel.
Suriyasai Katasila, deputy dean of Rangsit University's College of Social Innovation, is full of praise for the junta's attempts to promote reconciliation which is crucial to a successful general election expected to take place late this year or early next year. In his view, the polls will be pointless and the past will surely come back to haunt the country if political divisiveness remains unresolved.
"It is a good start because the prime minister is leading the effort. Gen Prawit is also taking this matter seriously," he said.
Mr Suriyasai, like others, has some observations concerning a unity agreement initiated by the regime. He considers the regime-backed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on reconciliation to be rushed.
"People have started asking if those who have fled overseas will have to sign to ensure that it will work. If there is no clear answer, then it may turn out that the MoU has been pushed out too soon," he said.
The challenge for the junta is that Kasit Piromya, a former foreign minister in a Democrat-led government and currently a member of the NRSA, is calling on the military to sign the MoU and to promise not to stage any more coups.
His reasoning is the military played a key role in perpetuating the conflict which has split Thailand down the middle since the 2006 coup that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.
"The version of the MoU which the Thai people want," Mr Kasit wrote on Facebook, "must include the military not staging coups and tearing up the constitution."
Gen Prawit has rejected outright the call for the military to sign. "I can assure you that nobody wants to stage a coup, except when the country is mired in conflict and a lack of understanding. No soldier wants to do this."
Mr Suriyasai has suggested that procedures to establish the facts must first be initiated before any amnesty or legal measures can be adopted to help people arrested or put on trial in connection with political violence.
He has also agreed with critics that the military has seized more than its fair share of the seats on the directing committee to foster reconciliation.
The composition of the panel prompts some to believe that the junta will flex its muscles and pressure stakeholders to join the reconciliation efforts.
According to the activist-turned-academic, if the peace-building process succeeds it will be short-lived.
He has stressed a need for the junta to bring in more specialists and make use of proposals that cater to a smooth and peaceful transition to a democratically elected government after the junta's time in power is over.
River plan sparks anger
To many environmentalists and local communities, the Prayut administration made a serious mistake by giving the nod to the Development Plan for International Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong River (2015-2025) last December.
The cabinet decision, which will aid China's plan to use the international waterway to ship goods from its southern province of Yunnan to Luang Prabang in Laos, has sparked uproar as it involves blasting away islets to ensure easy passage for large cargo ships.
The plan, being pushed by China, has two phases. The first phase, which runs from 2015 to 2020, involves a survey, a design and an assessment of the environmental and social impacts of the project. These have to be approved by the four countries involved.
The navigational improvements will cover a 631km route from China-Myanmar boundary marker 243 to Luang Prabang in Laos to make it passable for 500-tonne cargo ships. Three cargo ports and three passenger ports will be built along the route.
The second phase (2020-2025) involves navigational improvements along the river, from China's Simao to the China-Myanmar boundary marker 243, covering a distance of 259 kilometres. For this phase, four ports that can handle 500-tonne cargo ships and another nine ports serving 300-tonne boats and passengers would be constructed. A new bridge across the river will also be built.
The cabinet approval comes despite strong opposition from activists and locals living in river provinces who fear that the Mekong River basin's ecological system will be affected by China's plan.
China sits in the upper part of the Mekong River that flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. When it builds a dam or blows up more islets for commercial navigation, countries downstream are affected in different ways.
With a large dam in Chiang Rung, China can control the water level in the Mekong River. During a dry spell, it releases water into the river allowing its fleet of cargo ships to cruise back to China. Previously, large vessels were unable to navigate the international waterway during drought periods.
Local business operators are also up in arms over the plan because it offers little benefit to them or the people. They agree that the government must negotiate with China to protect the country's interests.
"Most cargo ships cruising the Mekong River are Chinese, so China alone stands to gain from this project," said a source.
"The business sector wants the government to negotiate with China, especially over imports and exports of goods. The downstream countries have been taken advantage of all these years," said another business operator.
Academics have weighed in, saying the country stands to lose more than it gains from the decision to join China in blowing up rapids in the Mekong River to ease the passage of large shipping.
It is believed that the "regular" protesters are not the only ones opposed to the development plan for the Mekong. Security agencies including the Mekong Riverine Unit (MRU) are not happy with the latest development.
Some are believed to be working with local communities in opposing the plan by supplying information for use in a campaign to raise public awareness about impacts on the country. The campaign is expected to be widened to include Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam as stakeholders.
However, political observers are sceptical that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will proceed with the plan.
They believe that the premier is playing along with China to maintain the Thai-China alliance, but will eventually back down due to local pressure and order a review of the cabinet decision.
News under 'the hammer'
Chuvit Kamolvisit has had quite a career, from running massage parlours where sex was for sale, to serving the public as an MP. Now he is to become the host of a television show.
After paying respects at the San Chao Pho Suea (Tiger God shrine) in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district this week, the business tycoon-cum-politician, sometimes known as "The Hammer", revealed his new career as a moderator of a news programme.
He was approached to host the show to be broadcast on a digital TV channel. The show will look at the economy, politics and social issues based on his first-hand experience.
The TV channel is widely assumed to be Thairath TV, based on a prophetic incident: Chuvit drew a fortune telling chi-chi stick No.32 from the shrine, the same channel number of ThaiRath TV. The guessing will be over when the show starts airing on Jan 30, and Chuvit begins his Monday to Friday appearances.
Chuvit was absent from the public eye for about a year when he was in jail. The Supreme Court last January sentenced him to two years in prison for the demolition of bars and shops on the Sukhumvit Square night strip in 2003.
He was released under a royal pardon last month after His Majesty the King issued a royal decree on Dec 10, granting a pardon to minor offenders and those with health problems to mark his accession to the throne.
However, the public caught a glimpse of him in June last year when newspapers published a photo from a press conference at the Corrections Department's hospital, which was staged to raise funds for patients.
Chuvit, sporting shorts and a polo shirt, was spotted observing the event. He was working as an assistant to the prison warden at that time.
Many wondered if he would make a return to politics, but they did not have to wait long for the fiery former Rak Thailand Party leader to spring into action.
Following his release, the sharp–tongued former politician announced his intention to become part of the media, and he pledged an oath at the shrine not to get involved in politics again.
Those who are impressed by his outspoken style are no doubt going to be delighted to have him as a TV host. Chuvit is known for creating controversy, and his new role may make some people squirm.
However, some people are disappointed that Chuvit has chosen journalism as his new job. To those who take journalism seriously, they doubt that Chuvit is qualified for the job which may be used just to "whitewash" himself.
Critics are concerned that he will end up being exploited and used as a mouthpiece for certain groups of individuals.
The former politician seems like a fresh personality in the face of fierce competition in the digital TV industry. It remains to be seen if his new endeavour, Chuvit Tee Saek Na [A slap in the face], will be a hit or a flop.
Chuvit, who said he will have a wooden baton as one of his props, has insisted that he knows what he is doing and his programme will be informative, not just entertaining as some might imagine.