Political Prisoners in Thailand

As deals are being done in a murky darkness of backrooms and party rooms, Abhisit Vejjajiva is being attacked by almost everyone for his proposal to end the political crisis, attention again turns to the grand old schemer, General Prem Tinsulanonda.

Abhisit has not publicly revealed much about his “plan” so far, but states, according to the Bangkok Post, he realized that “reform before election faces several legal restrictions. My stance is also clear that with an election before reform the crisis will resume…”.

He speaks of a plan that has support from unnamed backers. Or perhaps he speaks in the British toff style of the royal “we.” Who does back the “plan”? He also makes the extraordinary claim that: “This reform project I’m initiating has nothing to do with politics.”

His plan would seem to be no election for a time, while making an election part of reform processes. As might be expected, the Bangkok Post backs Abhisit’s “plan” even if it has little revealed substance:

The former prime minister tried hard to make his proposal positive. In an atmosphere of constant criticism, that is an excellent start. His “blueprint” is indeed essential to decent governance. Political reform, timely elections and adherence to rule of law, in this case the constitution, are necessary. Rather than “reform before election” or vice-versa, Mr Abhisit foresees a master plan enveloping both, while adhering to the supreme law.

This approach has led to claims that he and Oxford chum Korn Chatikavanij have done a deal with pro-Thaksin Shinawatra groups and relatives that would again make Abhisit premier.

These claims of a deal have come from anti-democrats ranging from unelected, yellow-shirted senators to a gaggle of PAD-related activists and followed a yes-no response from the Democrat Party on meeting Thaksin. They feel scorned by Abhisit who has long supported the anti-democrats. They are coming to the view that he is both a narcissist and a traitor.

If there was any truth to their claim that Abhisit has done a deal with the man he hates, then the fallout for the Puea Thai Party and Thaksin-related groups would probably more politically disastrous than the ill-considered amnesty bill. Abhisit is a tainted politician that the broad mass of Puea Thai supporters will reject.

Closer to the anti-democrats is a proposal by “a group calling itself Rattha Bukkhon (State Citizens)” led by Prem Army buddy Saiyud Kerdphol. They are claiming the support of the old schemer.

The Bangkok Post is reporting that the Privy Council president “only listened” to a “proposal to end the political turmoil by [the]… group…”.

Prem flunkey Lt Gen Pissanu Putthawong said his boss “did not agree with nor commit to any of their suggestions…”. Yet this hardly matters. Prem is deeply engaged in political shenanigans.

Pissanu was responding to a “remark after Gen Saiyud … told reporters that Gen Prem had agreed with his group’s idea of seeking His Majesty the King’s discretion in pulling the country out of the crisis and asked him [Saiyud] to draft a royal command to that effect.” Pissanu said Prem made no promises to Saiyud.

Yet Prem still “invited Gen Saiyud for talks because he wanted to hear his detailed proposal, know who were in his group and what was the group’s objective…”. That sounds like nonsense as Prem already knows all these old men and is a long-time Saiyud friend.

One thing that is clear in all of this scheming is that the political momentum is not with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Puea Thai as the old royalist elite gets motivated.