• Ginola
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A Man's Random Walk
politik, economik, foreign affairs
Permalink : http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola
Monday , December 22 , 2008
Abhisit-1 Cabinet: Are You Happy?
Posted by Ginola , Reader : 817 , 16:19:47  
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A few days ago, Matichon had a headline that read something like this:

Coalition Parties, Military, Capitalist and PAD dominate the Democrat's Cabinet

What a great headline that captures the formation of the cabinet very well!

With the Commerce and Industry Ministry seats both given to clearly under-qualified and inexperienced individuals (former air stewardess Porntiwa and the inexperienced Charnchai) from coalition parties, the public especially the business sector have reacted to the new ministers with skepticism, criticisms and even outright disapprovals. In times of economic troubles, we do need experienced and qualified ministers to solve the problems.

With the Defense Minister seat negotiated inside a military camp even before the formation of the government and given (well in advance, although they tried to make it look like the deal was not done until later) to General Prawit, closely linked to the 2006 coup leaders, the Democrat leadership has clearly allowed the military to continue to intervene in politics.

With the son-in-law of the mightily wealthy CP Group given a Ministerial seat, it is clear that the Democrats are returning favor to the CP Group, a move which contradicts the Democrats' strong stance against Thaksin's conflict of interests.

With the Foreign Minister post given to someone who has been a strong supporter of the PAD and who has justified the undoubtedly illegal and highly costly seizure of the airports as a piece of "new innovation" in public participation, it is doubtful how the image of Thailand could be restored.

In sum, another quite "yi" (yucky) cabinet has been formed! Of course, there are some good, well-qualified ministers like Khun Kalaya, Peerapan and perhaps Korn (although I think he's not experienced enough for the job). It will be interesting if someone does a comparison between this cabinet and the last one - minister by minister - and try to see which one is more competent.

PM Abhisit and Secretary Suthep accepted these criticisms, citing the difficult political situation and the need to please the coalition parties in order to form the government as reasons for the not-so-good caibnet.

Well, it is ironic that the Democrats are saying this although in the past they have criticized recent cabinets of the Thaksin camp without even mentioning the difficult political situation or the need to please the coalition parties.

It's like "If you do it, it's bad. If we do it, well, it's just necessary." A clear case for double standards indeed.

The Democrats have shown that they are willing to do anything - buying MPs, engaging the military, pleasing the big capitalists, approving illegal protests - that would enable them to become a government.

Clearly, Abhisit and the Democrats have their own interests before the country's, not so different from the PPP or Thai Rak Thai. If the Democrats really want the best for the country, they should have called for a national unity government which can focus on reconcialition, or dissolve the house now to return power to the people.

In short, so many good principles and values have been thrown away by the Democrats just so they could become the government.

I'm just unhappy with the new cabinet in particular and Thai politics in general.

Read comment

comment 23
Seven date : 23/12/2008 time : 23.45
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/truethai
Sao Grabrong Hian

As long as we do not have a Thaksin nominee as Prime Minister I do not care who gets the job.
A liar, a convicted criminal has got to stay away from politics!
It is as simple as that. Return power to the people, yeah right, return power to a criminal. No way!
comment 22
Ginola date : 23/12/2008 time : 13.49
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola
ginola

Please refer to my new blog for discussion on whether Abhisit's rise to power is constitutional and democratic:

http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola/2008/12/23/entry-1
comment 21
naive date : 23/12/2008 time : 10.03
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/naive
Narrow and wide by "Naive" point of view. ...................................*v*....................................................................For Thai reader visit http://www.oknation.net/blog/wickedgirl

Let's say...I'm okay until they start to do something wrong.

Really sick and tired about unstable politics
Pause the expectation for a while.. wait and see.
comment 20
Ian date : 23/12/2008 time : 09.20
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/anterian36

In theory, someone like Bill Gates, or a consortium of Arabic oil barons, could buy up every MP in Thailand and then control Thailand. Thailand is up for sale
comment 19
Ginola date : 23/12/2008 time : 08.19
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola
ginola

Peacefulness:

Let me explain how Abhisti's rise to PM, although perhaps constitutional in your view, is detrimental to democracy as it violates the key democratic principle. It even violates a principle that the 2007 Constitution tries to prevent. Please consider my argument below:

First of all, when people vote, it is undeniable that they look at BOTH individual candidates and their respective political parties. For example, if an MP is running for your district, you probably consider whether he is from Thaksin camp or other camp when voting.

Now, Article 106(7) in the Constitution states that if an elected were to resign from membership of a party, his MP status would cease to exist.

What is the rationale of this very important clause? It is intended to prevent "buying of MPs" after elections. If MPs can resign from a party and switch to another party after being elected, then parliament would be full of "MP buying" and election results wouln't matter since a party can buy MPs after elections anyway (like the "Cobra" case).

This makes a lot of sense in terms of democratic principles as well. Why? When an MP is elected in a constituency, the people in that constituency voted for that MP taking into account the party he/she belongs too. So if Mr.A is elected as a PPP MP, then it makes sense that if Mr.A switches party later on, his or her MP status would cease to exist. This is to preserve the decisions made by the voters during the elections.

There should then be a re-elections in that constituency and people could vote again. That MP who switched party could still run and might be re-elected but with a different party. The point is voters choose an MP based on his/her political party. As such, if he/she changes party, his MP status must cease to exist.

It is thus clear that the Constitution, through Article 106(7), aims to prevent party switching and post-election MP buying. But isn't what is happening now clearly party switching and MP buying?

The case is very clear for Party List MPs. It makes no sense that a Party List MP can switch party and remain as MP since he/she has been elected solely because of the name of the party. This is so clear because when someone loses her Party List MP status (for whatever reason), the Constitution does NOT require a re-election. The parliament will simply has one less Party List MP.

The case is also very convincing for constituency MPs because, as I explained above, people vote for MPs based on their personal characteristics as well as their respective politicial parties.

If you think this Abhisit's case is ok, consider what will happen in the future. If Party A, with a lot of elected MPs, gets dissolved, then Party B can just buy off the MPs of Party A and form a new government. Just like Abhisit just did. This destroys a very important principle of parliamentary democracy: that governments should come from elections which reflect the will of the people.
comment 18
FelixQui date : 23/12/2008 time : 01.14
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/FelixQui

The BBC's sober report on the swearing in of the new cabinet is probably a fair assessment of what the world is now finding amazing in Thailand: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7795055.stm
comment 17
FelixQui date : 23/12/2008 time : 01.06
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/FelixQui

I'm sure Abhisit's cabinet v.1.0.0 is loved by many: his enemies, who can now justly label him a self-serving hypocrit who is there to do as he's told and make it look pretty.

Unfortunately, not even his own party seems uniformly thrilled with "his" cabinet choices.

And not everyone will be impressed by prettiness forever.

I sort of agree with Ian's c.13.
For a short time, I would even have agreed with peacefulness (Yes, really!) that he was the best of an awful bunch, but he's looking more and more like a hollow puppet who is strong on denying and pretty vacuous on solid policies to repair the damage done by the people who put him in power.

He has a very short time to start proving himself, but I'm less and less sure that he will be able to. Simply being better educated and more intelligent than all the rest is not enough, and actual leadership ability and strength to do what is needed would count for more.

peacefulness is of course right that no one is perfect, but others might in fact have been less imperfect than Abhisit is increasingly coming to seem. His chosen (or was it dictated?) cabinet is not a good augury.

He might still prove himself, but he'd better start getting his act together and showing that he isn't owned and isn't just a pretty face with an expensive education that he can't use to effect the changes needed. Will he promptly take the strong action needed against those who put him where he is? That's what the rest of teh world is waiting to see, along with all those Thai citizens still suffering the disastrous consequences of teh PAD's criminal antics.
comment 16
peacefulness date : 22/12/2008 time : 22.53
Nationmultimedia.com

comment10 ginola young man ---- just fyi,

the process of selecting a new prime minister pls refer thai constitution 2007, chapter IX (nine) section 180/182/172 ... and all the related.....

and since the constitutional court dissolved ppp/chart thai/machima for their executive members committed electoral fraud on 02dec08, all ptys hv to merge with other pty and all the mps hv to switch to a new pty within 60days, that is why some fraction of the ppp pty change sides and they hv the right to vote any mp to be a new pm , that is the result mr abhisit got 235 votes and gen.pracha got 198 votes.

at this stage i would say that mr abhisit is democratically elected pm acrdg to the thai constitution2007.

hopefully u hv some idea of it.

thai constitution 2007.
http://www.thailaws.com/law/t_laws/claw0002b.htm
comment 15
Pat date : 22/12/2008 time : 22.18
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/pat

Ginola: Thank you for your input. My comments are only based on what the media has presented.

K. Lalida: That at least makes two of us. We're among those who are lost in this political scenario.

What I don't understand is this: The PAD were raving about 'capitalists taking over the country...etc.' If what Ginola has mentioned in the Matichon newspaper is true, then why arn't the braves of the PAD out in full force?
comment 14
CMSteve date : 22/12/2008 time : 21.39

"I think he is himself clean (but surrounded by dirty people)".....is this possible? Even though his "hands may be clean" in that there is no act of corruption, but the moment he shakes hands with "so called corrupt individuals" and is benefited personally by these individuals, surely his hands are sullied in that association.
This is the part I don't get...

"Let's say my dad is a mafiosi....and he dies and I inherit his business empire built by lies, deceits and violence. Even if i have not committed any crime, surely I could not consider it a legitimate business?
comment 13
Ian date : 22/12/2008 time : 21.29
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/anterian36

I find myself pulled two ways at the moment, part of me wants him to fail badly because he got to his position by what I deem unfair means. But another part of me wants him to succeed because Thailand desperately needs it. Thus I find myself in a strangely neutral position.
comment 12
CMSteve date : 22/12/2008 time : 21.27

Can anyone shed light on the business experience of the new Minister of Commerce. Some blogs are suggesting a former Airline Hostess with business experience in the "Entertainment Industry" some others have mentioned a specific business name. Anyone know the details?
comment 11
FOS date : 22/12/2008 time : 21.10
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/Dom

Pat,

As I always say, the problem in this country is all Q and A is under individuals and never as a whole, but nevertheless, as many say that particular individual influence or the cause of the rest.

Frankly, I am lost in this present political situation....
comment 10
Ginola date : 22/12/2008 time : 20.43
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola
ginola

Pat: I'm not quite sure I can agree with your statement about Abhisit being a "clean, highly educated, forward thinking, polite, humble and charming gentleman".

I think he is himself clean (but surrounded by dirty people) and is highly but not most highly educated. He is unproven in terms of forward-thinking though.

Is he polite? Depends on what you mean by being polite. If you have listened to his words during censure debates, sometimes I think it's quite sarcastic and even rude. Humble? I don't really think so.

I see Abhisit like most other politicians. He is an opportunist and also someone who is willing to leave good principles aside to achieve goals like becoming a PM. I don't really admire him much as a politician and I don't think he has the gust or gist to be a great PM, only an average one. He should make a good professor though.

Peacefulness:

Yes, noone is perfect. But if you want to use that as a reason, I could also say Thaksin/Samak is not perfect too.

The difference is that Abhisit didn't even become PM from democratic elections. The elites and powerful people just want him in power, so shall he.

This whole thing is a step backward in Thai democracy and I don't think most Thai people even realize it.
comment 9
Pat date : 22/12/2008 time : 20.27
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/pat

K. Lalida: Kudos to you for making a very good point about the previous prime ministers that we had. None were even given a standing chance and I think it would also be unfair for those in position today to ask the same from the public. They will just have to make do with what opportunities open to them.

Coming back to my earlier comment on c7, it was a 'tongue-in-cheek' comment really. I question why so many are banking on this one singular person. A government is composed of a cabinet and all the members in both houses, so on and so forth. This leads to my next question: Do we have just this one person who is deemed good and acceptible by all? Sad to think further, honestly.
comment 8
FOS date : 22/12/2008 time : 19.35
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/Dom

OH WOW Pat,

I'm Shock: "it is so unfair to place all the burden upon a single person's shoulder." I wonder if it was fair to the last 2 or 3 PM.

Hey! he wants the heat right as it is now winter time, so he's getting it.
comment 7
Pat date : 22/12/2008 time : 19.03
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/pat

It gets sadder by the day to think that an entire nation is now dependent upon one clean, highly educated, forward thinking, polite, humble and charming gentleman to lead the country. Even if the cabinate line-up is not perfect (if there ever is anything perfect in politics), it is so unfair to place all the burden upon a single person's shoulder.
comment 6
peacefulness date : 22/12/2008 time : 18.48
Nationmultimedia.com


h.e.abhisit vejjajiva is the best choice to be a pm of thailand. eventhough some cabinet members are not so wellknown to the public. competent or not pls wait and see.

u guys hv u ever heard that " nobody is perferct even the god himself". "nothing is impossible under the sun".

we encourage abhisit/v and his team to tackle all the uphill tasks that face this country with ease for the well being of all thai people.
comment 5
sven date : 22/12/2008 time : 18.40
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/sven

Seems to me that he is no good poker player (nor am I :-)

If elites wanted to have him there, he might have put up some more conditions and waited a little longer, putting them under pressure.
comment 4
FOS date : 22/12/2008 time : 18.25
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/Dom

Abhisit is doing evrything wrong when he should be doing it right. He had gone all out against his own words. There's more to come..........
comment 3
Ginola date : 22/12/2008 time : 18.01
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ginola
ginola

A Thai Rath columnist pointed out an interesting point:

"The Democrat Party used to criticize Samak and Somchai that they appointed many ministers who were incompetent.

They allocated ministerial posts based on "quota" of coalition parties.

They gave ministerial seats to representatives of capitalist groups.

Even those who were banned for politics for 5 years, their wives were appointed as "nominee" ministers, challenging the authority of the Elections Commission.

Alas... Today, the Democrat Party is doing the exact same things!"
comment 2
sul date : 22/12/2008 time : 17.08
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/sul


jump the ship

the cabinet has been hijacked
comment 1
twodogs date : 22/12/2008 time : 16.47
http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/twodogs

They should share power because they done alot work to fight out last three prime ministers so far.

Regret for thailand, now all in one.... Autocracy under democracy label...
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