NEWS Think
WASSANA NANUAM
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's meeting with Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda is part of the new premier's attempts to give his government a fresh lease on life.
Gen Prem has been the centre of respect from many quarters and all roads appear to lead to his Si Sao Thewes residence after important political events, including cabinet appointments.
Calling on the general has been virtually customary for new high-ranking appointees who go there to seek his blessing. Gen Prem has gained an image as a figure of prominence in the country with the power and connections to potentially bring about change.
Mr Somchai may have learned not to repeat what some have said was the mistake made by his brother-in-law Thaksin Shinawatra of not paying a simple courtesy call on Gen Prem after he took up the prime minister's post.
Mr Somchai must realise how politically fragile his government is as it is beset by problems within and outside the coalition. It would not hurt if dropping in on Gen Prem could put his government on a firmer footing, he may have thought.
Mr Thaksin's no-show at Gen Prem's residence soon after he took office as prime minister in 2000 was perceived as a challenge to Gen Prem's influence.
Criticism was heaped on Mr Thaksin who later decided to make house calls on Gen Prem, five times, in fact, during his five years as premier.
But Mr Thaksin suddenly became descriptive, insisting that an "extra-constitutional person of high stature" was interfering with his government.
Gen Prem also had a few words to say. On one occasion, he gave lectures to cadets of the armed forces and reminded them they were soldiers of the country and His Majesty the King, not of the government.
Mr Thaksin's political fortunes then began to roll downhill. He was ousted in the 2006 coup with the same "extra-constitutional" figure believed by some to have been behind the revolt.
Politics after the coup, however, did not remain placid for long. Ripples emerged after the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship of Thailand (UDDT) rallied near Gen Prem's residence, leading to riots.
When Samak Sundaravej became prime minister after the Dec 23 general election last year, he followed the example of Mr Thaksin - for whom he openly declared he was a proxy - by not visiting Gen Prem. Mr Samak also coined the term the "invisible hand" which rocked his government.
The tenures of both Mr Thaksin and Mr Samak did not end gracefully. Mr Thaksin fled into exile in England while Mr Samak lost his job as prime minister after the Constitution Court found him guilty of hosting a paid cooking show on TV.
Mr Somchai, however, has revived the house-call tradition to avoid making any unnecessary enemies. He called on the privy council president and extended the hand of friendship and goodwill.
His perceived submissiveness may be to his own cabinet's interest and could ultimately extend its lifespan.
Mr Somchai, a native of southern Nakhon Si Thammarat province, found a channel to smoothen his relationship with Gen Prem as both of them hail from southern provinces. Gen Prem is a Songkhla native, but his parents were from Nakhon Si Thammarat. During the meeting set up by Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Mr Somchai conversed with Gen Prem in southern dialect.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Next
