TALK OF THE TOWN
The fugitive
By The Nation
Published on August 19, 2008
The fugitive
By The Nation
Published on August 19, 2008
The decision by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to flee into exile in London continued to receive wide coverage in the local press. Matichon's edition yesterday featured at least three analysis pieces assessing the consequences of Thaksin's departure.
Niti Eawsriwong said in his column that "I can't predict whether Thaksin will have his day as he said in a statement again. But I believe that things will never be the same again".
Niti said the fact that Thaksin had escaped and snubbed the Thai judicial process would politically handicap him forever. And it will be a serious problem for his people to turn the situation around.
Although many Thai politicians had sought exile in the past, Thaksin is the first politician to seek exile with pending legal cases against him.
Niti described the changing situation in the Thai political system, with the rural sector gaining more say in politics amid widening divisions between the urban middle class and the farmers upcountry. He predicted the situation would continue to be turbulent for a while because politicians failed to respond to social changes.
Matichon's editorial piece said Thaksin should respect the rules and the court. Instead of stubbornly refusing to accept the 2007 Constitution and the agencies set up by the coup, Thaksin and his wife should instead try to clear their names in court. Thaksin should understand that political interference is unacceptable in a legal trial. Otherwise, people will think of his claims as a desperate effort to get away from the responsibility that he is supposed to show.
Thai Rath's editorial piece on the same day criticised the People Power Party's claim that the National Counter Corruption Commission was unlawful. The paper's article was headlined "What's the difference between a gun and money?"
The PPP attacked the NCCC by saying that it was the product of the coup. But Thai Rath said in fact there were a number of agencies and groups born out of the coup, including the Constitution Drafting Assembly, the new Senate and the MPs who were elected via the rules of the Constitution which was drafted by the committee established after the coup.
"The politicians tend to claim that their 'origin' is more sanctified than other agencies because they came from the election. But if the other agencies have been duly appointed, they should accept that.
What would be the difference between the elected politicians and these appointed committees if the latter were formed through money and the abuse of power - which is comparable to the coup in another form?
The only difference is that while one side uses tanks and guns, the other uses money and abuses the government's power," Thai Rath said.
Niti Eawsriwong said in his column that "I can't predict whether Thaksin will have his day as he said in a statement again. But I believe that things will never be the same again".
Niti said the fact that Thaksin had escaped and snubbed the Thai judicial process would politically handicap him forever. And it will be a serious problem for his people to turn the situation around.
Although many Thai politicians had sought exile in the past, Thaksin is the first politician to seek exile with pending legal cases against him.
Niti described the changing situation in the Thai political system, with the rural sector gaining more say in politics amid widening divisions between the urban middle class and the farmers upcountry. He predicted the situation would continue to be turbulent for a while because politicians failed to respond to social changes.
Matichon's editorial piece said Thaksin should respect the rules and the court. Instead of stubbornly refusing to accept the 2007 Constitution and the agencies set up by the coup, Thaksin and his wife should instead try to clear their names in court. Thaksin should understand that political interference is unacceptable in a legal trial. Otherwise, people will think of his claims as a desperate effort to get away from the responsibility that he is supposed to show.
Thai Rath's editorial piece on the same day criticised the People Power Party's claim that the National Counter Corruption Commission was unlawful. The paper's article was headlined "What's the difference between a gun and money?"
The PPP attacked the NCCC by saying that it was the product of the coup. But Thai Rath said in fact there were a number of agencies and groups born out of the coup, including the Constitution Drafting Assembly, the new Senate and the MPs who were elected via the rules of the Constitution which was drafted by the committee established after the coup.
"The politicians tend to claim that their 'origin' is more sanctified than other agencies because they came from the election. But if the other agencies have been duly appointed, they should accept that.
What would be the difference between the elected politicians and these appointed committees if the latter were formed through money and the abuse of power - which is comparable to the coup in another form?
The only difference is that while one side uses tanks and guns, the other uses money and abuses the government's power," Thai Rath said.
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