Yingluck needs to take a stand if she wants to save her govt

Many opinion polls have indicated a lack of confidence in the government, while comments from the military’s top brass emphasise the administration’s shortcomings. Maybe the people who voted Yingluck and her Pheu Thai Party into power feel this way too.

And perhaps this is why the government is looking for a scapegoat – after all, Yingluck needs someone else to blame for her own failure.

This is also the reason why Pheu Thai Party’s associates and the prime minister’s men have started floating the idea that the massive flooding had been caused by Bhumibol Dam releasing too much water and the Irrigation Department mismanaging the water flow in the central region. Then there is the row with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administrative (BMA), led by opposition Democrat Party’s Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who has been accused of “playing politics”.

Those in power claim that the Democrats, the BMA and the governor have been unnecessarily blaming the government when they should be helping it to manage the flooding.

Now, Yingluck has another decoy to divert public attention. The ruling Pheu Thai Party is talking about a Cabinet reshuffle so “incapable” ministers can be dumped for failing to handle the situation.

Reports say that the “real” boss of Pheu Thai Party, Yingluck’s older brother and former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, is disappointed with many ministers for supplying inaccurate information and forcing his sister to make the wrong decisions.

In Thaksin’ view, the incapable ministers include Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit; Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, who is also chief of the Flood Relief Operations Centre; Social Development and Human Security Minister Santi Promphat and the minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office Kitsana Seehalak. Plus there are ministers from coalition parties, namely Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul from Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party and Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut from Chart Thai Pattana.

To rebuild confidence in her government and improve its image, Yingluck has wooed two prominent public figures to join her committees for national rehabilitation. Senior economist Virbongsa Ramangkura was brought in to lead the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development, and royalist Sumet Tantivejkul, who is secretary-general of the Chai Pattana Foundation, was made adviser to the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management.

It is believed that Thaksin called on these personalities to help restore confidence in his sister’s government. Virabongsa is known to have good relations with Thaksin for a long while and has worked as an economic advisor during Thaksin and Samak Sundaravej’s governments.

“Since one of three economic zones of the country is damaged by floods, it is every Thai citizen’s duty to help save the country,” Virabongsa was heard saying.

Sumet, meanwhile, has strong links with the palace and having him work closely with the government would be an asset for Yingluck.
Yet, no matter how many committees she puts together and no matter how many powerful men she has behind her, if Yingluck continues being indecisive in her response to disasters, she will not be able to save her government.