The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) is carrying out its actions with the obvious intention of damaging the highest institution, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said in a statement released yesterday.
The statement was released to the press as Gen Surayud took his cabinet ministers to meet Gen Prem Tinsulanonda to extend moral support to the Privy Council president following Sunday night's riot involving the UDD outside his Si Sao Thewes residence.
Gen Surayud said in the statement that a certain element with an ulterior motive who had lost ''political advantages'' continually tried to discredit Gen Prem through mudslinging tactics. The group has set its sights on nothing but its own political ends.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his cabinet ministers leave the Si Sao Thewes residence of Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday. ''They have demonstrated their intention of undermining the highest institution on which the country and people rely,'' he said.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Jul2007_news01.php
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Surayud says UDD out to damage monarchy
Started by Sexpat, Jul 25 2007 11:53 AM
2 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 25 July 2007 - 01:07 PM
One of the unfortunate aspects of national political life here is the tendency of most politicians and generals, whatever hat they may be wearing at the moment, to mix the monarcy with politics when it suits their purpose to do so.
While most politicans around the world tend to wrap themselves in the national flag to advance their agenda, the Thais seem to have developed a cultivated habit lately of donning yellow shirts and dresses as their way of enlisting mass support.
I concluded long ago that calling Thailand a "constitutional morarchy" is a misnomer, judged by historic western standards. Constitutional monarchs in Europe lost most levers of real political power two centuries ago. Not so here.In Thailand, the monarchy has remained, in practice, more as a working branch of government, with formidable power to influence political events. On this chess board, command of the military remains the ultimate lever on power.
To a large degree, the battle being fought today in Bangkok is a continuation of the political struggle that began with the first Thai constitution in 1932 and continues 75 years and 19 constitutions later. It was not a struggle created by Thaksin Shinawatra, nor will it end with his political demise or restoration. With everyone wearing yellow, however, it does get hard to tell friend from foe in the ensuing fracas, especially with all that olive drab blurring the background.
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While most politicans around the world tend to wrap themselves in the national flag to advance their agenda, the Thais seem to have developed a cultivated habit lately of donning yellow shirts and dresses as their way of enlisting mass support.
I concluded long ago that calling Thailand a "constitutional morarchy" is a misnomer, judged by historic western standards. Constitutional monarchs in Europe lost most levers of real political power two centuries ago. Not so here.In Thailand, the monarchy has remained, in practice, more as a working branch of government, with formidable power to influence political events. On this chess board, command of the military remains the ultimate lever on power.
To a large degree, the battle being fought today in Bangkok is a continuation of the political struggle that began with the first Thai constitution in 1932 and continues 75 years and 19 constitutions later. It was not a struggle created by Thaksin Shinawatra, nor will it end with his political demise or restoration. With everyone wearing yellow, however, it does get hard to tell friend from foe in the ensuing fracas, especially with all that olive drab blurring the background.
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#3
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Posted 26 July 2007 - 05:22 PM
QUOTE
On this chess board, command of the military remains the ultimate lever on power.
I don't know that much about Thai history, but I am curious how the army got to play such a dominant position in politics. For sure you will never get a true democracy developed in Thailand if that situation does not change.
