The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), which is to manoeuvre the country into reform mode, is up and soon to be running. The list of names would appear to have the Democrat Party quite nervous.
Of the 200 people in the assembly, 63 were members of the former National Reform Council (NRC), including 42 who voted down the previous draft constitution.
Thawil: On the way out
Aside from the ex-NRC members, the appointees include retired civil servants, active civil servants, police and military officials, academics, lawyers, public relations professionals and economists, politicians and media professionals, along with 19 assorted experts. Seventeen are women.
The appointees who have connections with the Democrat Party include Kasit Piromya, Witthaya Kaewparadai, Kreangyot Sudlapha and Wannatham Kanchanasuwan. Pheu Thai-affiliated politicians include Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit, Suchon Chaleekruea, Sompong Sakawi and Pol Maj Gen Pisit Pao-in.
At first glance, the proportion of Democrat to Pheu Thai politicians looks fine. But a closer look tells a different story.
While the Democrat Party is encouraging and supporting members interested in working on the NRSA, Pheu Thai has required its members who want to engage with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to resign.
However, this resignation step is merely procedural. All of them appointed as NRSA members are known to have close ties with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, believed by some to be the de-facto leaders of the party.
Pol Gen Chidchai, for example, was once backed by Thaksin for national police chief. But the post went to Pol Gen Kowit Wattana on seniority grounds. But months later Pol Gen Chidchai became a minister in the Thaksin administration.
Mr Suchon, a former speaker of the House of Representatives and a former senator, once served as an adviser to ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
According to political sources, Mr Kasit seems to be the only person who really represents the Democrat Party.
Mr Witthaya, despite his high profile in the party, is considered to be more of a representative of Muan Maha Prachachon for Reforms Foundation and the voice of its founder, Suthep Thaugsuban. Mr Kreangyot, a former Democrat candidate, is believed to have been nominated because of his direct connections with the military.
Mr Wannatham, a former deputy-secretary general to the prime minister in the Abhisit administration, was nominated by the Mahavajiravudh Songkhla School network whose members include Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
However, the number of seats on the NRSA is the least of the Democrat Party's worries, according to political sources.
Of greatest concern is the absence of Thawil Praison from the NRSA.
The Democrat Party officially nominated Mr Kasit and Mr Thawil for the NRSA but only Mr Kasit was selected.
The Democrats wanted Mr Thawil to help steer reform and push decentralisation of administrative power to give greater control of spending and budget plans to local administrations, a policy championed by the party. It also selected a number of party members to help Mr Thawil push this agenda.
According to the sources, Mr Thawil’s absence from the NRSA is seen by the Democrats as a bad sign for decentralisation and other related issues such as energy reform, which demands greater public participation in decision-making.
Filled with technocrats, the Democrat Party is worried that the NRSA could stray off the reform path, particularly in regard to decentralisation.
‘War games’ in the ranks
Conflicts between incoming and outgoing military leaders are not uncommon, but they usually go to extremes to keep their problems from the public view. Gen Theerachai Nakvanich, who goes by the nickname “Big Moo”, did not take long, after becoming the boss, to make history as the first army commander to adopt a no-holds-barred approach to his predecessor’s accomplishments.
Theerachai: Making his mark
The ink had barely dried on his appointment as army chief, replacing Gen Udomdej Sitabutr at the beginning of this month, when Gen Theerachai moved to begin undoing several of Gen Udomdej’s achievements. The general started dismantling a wall behind the King Rama V statue at the Royal Thai Army headquarters, closing down the compound’s front fountain, and suspending advertisements calling for donations to build Ratchapak Park, to name just a few.
His actions have drawn widespread attention, largely because Gen Udomdej, despite retiring from the army, remains a deputy defence minister and is technically Gen Theeracha’s supervisor. Moreover, both are also members of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
However, things are not much better at the NCPO where Gen Theerachai has succeeded Gen Udomdej as secretary-general after his rise to the army’s top post.
Gen Theerachai has restructured the work to shorten the chain of command and better respond to situations. In doing so he has made himself the commander of the NCPO’s peacekeeping task force — the post was formerly held by the 1st Army chief.
As the boss of this unit, Gen Theerachai can mobilise troops not only from the army, but also the navy, the air force and the police.
Holding all three of these core posts, Gen Theerachai is now being dubbed “Super Big Moo” by the media.
According to military sources, some of Gen Theerachai’s initial orders have cast him in a bad light among his subordinates and the public. Ordering the removal of the wall behind the Royal Thai Army headquarters and shutting down the fountain are a waste of taxpayers' money, regardless of whether it’s because of feng shui or any other reason.
Prime Minister and NCPO chief Prayut Chan-o-cha and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon are the only two individuals the new army chief “listens to”, according to the sources.
Between the two, if the army chief has to choose whom to listen to, his loyalty lies with Gen Prawit, who is believed to have engineered his appointment as the army commander.
Gen Theerachai is said to have known Gen Prawit since he graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and served on the Thai-Cambodia border in Sa Kaeo province. He respects Gen Prayut "as a brother".
Gen Theerachai’s actions have also sparked conjecture among retired generals who are watching him with great concern as the rift with his predecessor may spread to associates and close confreres of the two generals.
Supporters of the NCPO are also concerned that the rift might cause division within the military council and ruin its efforts to bring about reform and reconciliation.
So the pressure is on Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit who will have to keep watch and prevent any trouble in the NCPO.
Thais get the ‘bear’ facts
Thailand and China marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in July, with the official celebration setting the ball rolling for a series of activities to strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
Pinij: Panda-ring to China
According to a source close to the Thai-Chinese Council, China’s Ministry of Culture, through the Chinese Cultural Centre in Thailand, is planning to shoot a Thai-Chinese documentary film to solidify relations, especially in cultural and academic fields.
It is hoped the documentary, to be broadcast on China Central Television, better known as CCTV, will be as successful as Lost in Thailand, a box-office hit that has reportedly grossed more than US$200 million (7 billion baht) in China.
The 2012 comedy, directed and co-written by Xu Zheng, tells the story of two businessmen searching for their boss in the north of Thailand. It portrays the charms of the region’s natural beauty, and it has been responsible for drawing large numbers of Chinese tourists to Thailand ever since.
While the details of the documentary are not ready to be revealed just yet, it is known that it will feature leading Thai and Chinese actresses. The setting is likely to be in southwest Chengdu, Sichuan, where a non-profit research and breeding facility for giant pandas is located.
The location suggests the plot will revolve around giant pandas, which the Chinese have positioned as peace, goodwill and friendship ambassadors.
In 2003, Thailand received two giant pandas, Xuang Xuang and Lin Hui, who underwent artificial insemination and produced a female cub named Lin Ping. The panda family has achieved celebrity status and become a serious cash spinner for Chiang Mai Zoo where the animals have stayed since their arrival.
Xuang Xuang and Lin Hui became so popular that they were given their own reality show known as Panda Channel where viewers could see a round-the-clock broadcast of their lives. The show’s ratings peaked when Lin Hui gave birth to Lin Ping.
Fans of the panda family recently sighed in huge relief after it was confirmed the cabinet had reached an agreement with China to allow Thailand to keep Xuang Xuang and Lin Hui on loan until 2023.
The 10-year agreement, signed by Thailand’s Zoological Park Organisation and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, expired in October 2013 and the extended stay was agreed on a yearly basis.
Moreover, an agreement was also signed to allow Lin Ping to stay at Chiang Mai Zoo for a further 15 years from May 2014.
According to the source, the key man behind the panda documentary film project is none other than Pinit Jarusombat, president of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Relationship Council.
Mr Pinit, former chairman of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association, has been instrumental in promoting and deepening ties between the two countries.
The veteran politician will be busy coordinating with people in show business to audition and cast Thai actors for the project, while working with the media to ensure that the planned documentary film gains maximum publicity.
According to the source, the film is expected to be star-studded. Taksaorn “Aff” Taechanarong, Jetsadaporn “Tik” Pholdee, and Mario Maurer are said to be serious contenders for the cast.