It’s going to be a jolly talk shop. The government has set aside tomorrow to announce its presumably long list of achievements after two years in power.
There will definitely be updates on mass-transit trains of various colours. It’s true we haven’t seen anything yet except construction sites and everlasting traffic gridlock that have put everybody’s bladders to the test. The government will likely guarantee that we will get to ride on some of them by, say, 2020. Hold your bladders.
The Thai-Chinese train project must be publicised even though its details do not seem so clear. Both governments are still at loggerheads over the terms of loans and interest rates. That’s the headway the project is making.
Don’t worry about the ever-sliding export figures, GDP and the pinch of the economic downtime you’re feeling now. A shining new era of the cluster economy, digital life, lucrative new start-ups and a single ID card for everything is coming.
You may press “Like” on your Facebook page now. The government is watching. It’s safe.
The public must be briefed about advancement on how many students have been able to recite by heart the Twelve Core Values brought in by none other than Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha himself.
Those who can’t memorise the values? The government should be so proud as to reveal the number of students and academics who have been arrested or summoned for attitude adjustment as well. Getting tough on members of the academia is a feat in itself.
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security Gen Prawit Wongsuwon can keep the public posted about how there have been no subversive activities during the past several months.
We had a case with the Uighur deportation and forced repatriation of Chinese dissidents which provoked condemnation from the international community, you say?
Check the news. The Miss Universe contestant from Thailand Aniporn “Nat” Chalermburanawong just won the Best National Costume Award for us in Las Vegas. This stage is not just international, it’s UNIVERSAL.
The tuk tuk dress might be a bit controversial, featuring an aspect of life from a class of Thai people who are not usually associated with a “national costume” concept, but it will do as a representation of how our country continues to be welcome on the international stage.
Some foreigners may condemn us about using “slaves” to peel shrimps but others will still ride our tuk tuks.
Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr can take the opportunity to tell the truth behind the Rajabhakti Park scandal — how he had the magnificent park built in an impossible time frame of a few months with nothing but public donations and how he bravely “cleared” the alleged graft payments by himself.
The military regime and government have been vehement about how they want to root out all kinds of corruption plaguing the country. Here is the perfect chance. The deputy defence minister and former army chief can tell all about the park and clear the lingering doubts once and for all.
Don’t forget the regime must have a complex story to share about how it tackles human trafficking so rigorously its chief investigator had to seek asylum in Australia.
As fascinating as these day-long yarns may be, however, the truth remains that they can’t be described as the government’s accomplishments.
The military regime came in to pave the way for a return to democracy, to foster reform and reconciliation. It has to be assessed based on these three issues, not other sideshows.
The regime failed to give the public an acceptable draft charter earlier. There is not much hope its new attempt will succeed. The roadmap to democracy has been vastly delayed and put on shaky ground. By allowing right-wing fervour to prevail over a more centrist, inclusive sentiment, the military regime has also failed in forging reconciliation.
Reform? If anybody has heard anything about it, pray tell me where it is going. One consolation is the initial three-day talk fest has been cut down to just one day. After that, we can celebrate the regime’s greatest achievement: a lottery ticket is selling at the designated price of 80 baht.
Atiya Achakulwisut is Contributing Editor, Bangkok Post.