'Tis not the season to be jolly for Yingluck

'Tis not the season to be jolly for Yingluck

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted a message on her Facebook page last Friday wishing Thais would treat one another with honour regardless of sex, race or origin and to respect human dignity. She said she felt saddened because Thai people treated one another with contempt and took sexual advantage for personal or political gains. Then she pleaded for cooperation and understanding of the role of women and vowed to restore the honour and dignity of Thai women.

Businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr’s points to his bruised face aftermeeting Forensic Science Institute directorKhunyingPornthip Rojanasunan last week. MrEkkayuthwasattacked on the day he sawPrime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, far left, at the Four Seasons hotel.Ms Yingluck says shewas meeting Sansiri Plc boss Srettha Thavisin, left, amongothers.

Although the prime minister did not mention it, her message was seen as a response to former pyramid scheme operator Ekkayuth Anchanbutr who exposed Ms Yingluck's wor ha ("secret") meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel on Feb 8 and the Democrats who have played up the meeting allegedly to paint her in a negative light.

By chance or by design, the mysterious man who was at the "secret" meeting broke his silence on the same day that the prime minister posted her message on the Facebook social media. It was exactly 10 days after the meeting became public knowledge and has since become the hottest talk-of-the-town topic for more than a week.

The man in question, Srettha Thavisin, president of listed property developer Sansiri Plc admitted to Thai Rath Online that it was him who met with Prime Minister Yingluck at the Four Seasons Hotel but he insisted there were six or seven other people also at the meeting.

Mr Srettha claimed his team and the prime minister discussed several topics. Then he pleaded with all parties to have respect for Ms Yingluck, saying she is a lady and the prime minister of Thailand.

From the man's own mouth and also from the prime minister's earlier statement that she did not do anything damaging and that the meeting took place in a public venue, it should be presumed that the meeting was purely business and there was nothing indecent about the encounter between the two of them as wildly suggested by many gossipmongers in the social media.

Even if the meeting was purely business, Ms Yingluck still owes the doubting public a clarification about how important was that meeting that it justified her skipping a House meeting which she, as the prime minister, should be duty-bound to attend.

Like any other MPs who may miss some House meetings because they have to tend to other public business deemed more important, the prime minister can do so but only occasionally in order not to set a bad example for the other lawmakers.

Democrat Party deputy spokeswoman Mallika Boonmeetrakul last Friday called on the prime minister to clarify the business talk between her and the real estate tycoon to clear up any suspicion of conflict of business.

The opposition has also demanded an investigation into the assets of Mr Srettha and Ms Yingluck for the past seven months to find out if there are any business links between the two of them.

This move by the Democrats for the truth about suspected business links which may amount to a conflict of interest is justified. Besides, this will help clear any misunderstanding of the prime minister's alleged indecent conduct as widely rumoured. Any attempt by the Pheu Thai MPs to block the Democrats from doing their job to find out the truth about the real nature of the claimed business talk will amount to an obstruction of the opposition's work. This is not about dishonouring the female gender or disrespecting the dignity of the women as suggested by the prime minister in her recent Facebook message.

After all, this wor ha secret meeting should not have been an issue nor degenerated into widespread juicy gossip in the first place had the prime minister personally told the truth to the public instead of evading the issue and thus allow gossipmongers to hold sway.

Also, this should serve as a valuable lesson for the prime minister that the next time she wants to set up a secret meeting with someone it should be at Government House and have the meeting room swept to make sure there are no listening devices or hidden cameras.

It should not be held at a hotel where, as the wisemen used to say, there are holes in the window and ears in the door.


Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.

Veera Prateepchaikul

Former Editor

Former Bangkok Post Editor, political commentator and a regular columnist at Post Publishing.

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