Abhisit is duty-bound to meet leaders in Chiang Mai

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Abhisit is duty-bound to meet leaders in Chiang Mai

Published: 26/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Cabinet members are trying to persuade Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to drop his plan to visit Chiang Mai this weekend, even as ordinary MPs back the visit.

At the cabinet meeting yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, ministers from the Bhumjaithai Party and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa tried to convince Mr Abhisit to abandon the plan, which they say could only lead to trouble.

Cabinet members argued Mr Abhisit would only give the red shirts, also known as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, an excuse to drum up resistance, which could turn violent.

Violence would hurt tourism, the province's chief cash spinner. Mr Abhisit plans to visit Chiang Mai to speak to a Thai Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Even as ministers waiver, MPs from Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party, however, are encouraging him to go ahead with the trip.

They say Mr Abhisit cannot afford to pass up the opportunity to visit Chiang Mai and boost his party's support base in the province, a bastion of the red shirts. Mr Abhisit received a warm welcome during his recent visit to the lower North and the scenario could be repeated in Chiang Mai.

Thais are fed up with political divisions, and stirring up trouble will cost the UDD support.

A further bout of civil unrest will also undermine economic confidence in the country.

Mr Abhisit should go ahead with the visit, even at the risk of provoking red shirt unrest.

At the national chamber of commerce meeting, the prime minister gets to talk to business leaders and gains the chance find out where the economy is headed.

It is also a valuable chance for the prime minister to introduce government policies to the business sector. Mr Abhisit's decision whether to attend the meeting will be a test of his leadership.

He must be seen to have the ability to carry out business as usual and to exercise rule of law in the province where many people may be hostile to him.

Red shirt supporters have the freedom to rally against the prime minister as long as they do not resort to violence.

If political chaos breaks out, however, it will be a sad day for Chiang Mai. Political rivalry will again take centre stage, in a power struggle where neither side cares for the consequences of winning or losing.

Mr Abhisit's visit will be a test of whether security authorities can protect the national leader.

They have spent days monitoring the red shirt movement and so they must be trusted to have effective security measures in place.

His attendance will convey the message that different political groups can coexist and that there is room for the national leader to work for the national interest.

But if the prime minister cancels the visit, his leadership will take a battering which will hinder national reconciliation.

Red shirt people will be upbeat, continue to launch more protests, and stop the national leader from meeting people.

There is no turning back for Mr Abhisit now. He must go to Chiang Mai.

About the author

: Writer: Pradit Ruangdit; Position: Reporter

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Looking Inn

Discussion 1 : 26/11/2009 at 07:05 AM1
Again, this column needs to be retitled to "Opinions, Without Thinking".

Despite other parties to the political conflict taking a step back from the edge of the abyss, Khun Pradit insists that the PM must go forward with a provocatory visit, as a test of leadership.

As far as 'business as usual,' the mere fact that these discussions are taking place are indications that, while it may be business as usual for Thailand, it is not general practice in the developed world (the alleged target audience of all these 'confidence' and 'good of the country' arguments) to require military intervention for addressing the Chamber of Commerce. In fact, military forces of many developed nations are proscribed, by law, from acting in a law enforcement role domestically.

The 'rule of law' argument is laughable as well. The laws are made by those who rule, and enforced against those who don't. In this same BP issue, we have concerns being voiced directly to the PM's ear by the banned (by law) politicians without whose support there would be no Abhisit government. Actual criminal activity conducted by the folks who paved the way for the new rulers goes unpunished. The invocation of the ISA against the mass gathering of one group and not doing so with another, even though both have instigated violence and damaged the economy or reputation of the country, merely denigrates the idea that the 'rule of law' here is anything but another political tool.

So Khun Pradit, if the PM wants to show real leadership, I suggest that he follow the advice of the military, the opposition, and some of his own cabinet and refrain from his visit into the lion's den. Combined with the backdown of the UDD in Bangkok, this could demonstrate that there is a glimmer of hope for reconciliation and accommodation across the political chasms that divide the country.

Deliberately following through with a provocative act, merely to demonstrate that he his either not scared or in charge, is not a sign of leadership.

Looking Inn

Discussion 1 : 26/11/2009 at 07:05 AM1

Again, this column needs to be retitled to "Opinions, Without Thinking".

Despite other parties to the political conflict taking a step back from the edge of the abyss, Khun Pradit insists that the PM must go forward with a provocatory visit, as a test of leadership.

As far as 'business as usual,' the mere fact that these discussions are taking place are indications that, while it may be business as usual for Thailand, it is not general practice in the developed world (the alleged target audience of all these 'confidence' and 'good of the country' arguments) to require military intervention for addressing the Chamber of Commerce. In fact, military forces of many developed nations are proscribed, by law, from acting in a law enforcement role domestically.

The 'rule of law' argument is laughable as well. The laws are made by those who rule, and enforced against those who don't. In this same BP issue, we have concerns being voiced directly to the PM's ear by the banned (by law) politicians without whose support there would be no Abhisit government. Actual criminal activity conducted by the folks who paved the way for the new rulers goes unpunished. The invocation of the ISA against the mass gathering of one group and not doing so with another, even though both have instigated violence and damaged the economy or reputation of the country, merely denigrates the idea that the 'rule of law' here is anything but another political tool.

So Khun Pradit, if the PM wants to show real leadership, I suggest that he follow the advice of the military, the opposition, and some of his own cabinet and refrain from his visit into the lion's den. Combined with the backdown of the UDD in Bangkok, this could demonstrate that there is a glimmer of hope for reconciliation and accommodation across the political chasms that divide the country.

Deliberately following through with a provocative act, merely to demonstrate that he his either not scared or in charge, is not a sign of leadership.

Abhisit is duty-bound to meet leaders in Chiang Mai