Thida warns govt on cosying up to 'elite'
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Red leader says there could be negative consequences in disappointing supporters
The leader of the red shirt movement yesterday warned the government of the negative consequences of trying to appease the elite while disappointing its red-shirt supporters.
Thida Thawornseth said there are various groups of red shirts, and that the movement’s leaders – herself included – could not order red shirt supporters to do something they found unreasonable.
“The government is doing things it finds appropriate in running the country. The red shirts are doing what they think is right. Neither side depends on the other, and nobody owns anyone,” Thida said in an interview with satellite-based television programme Spring News.
She was commenting on a scheduled meeting tomorrow between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra – accompanied by some members of her Cabinet – and Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda at his residence.
Before they took power, politicians from the Pheu Thai Party and red-shirt leaders accused Prem of interfering in politics and being behind the 2006 coup that brought down the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin called Prem an elite who was his archenemy.
Thida yesterday said it appeared the government and the red shirts were “playing two different games”, independently of each other.
“The government is playing the game at the top of the pyramid, and the other game is about the masses,” she said.
Thida also said it appeared the government had carefully weighed the pros and cons before deciding to reconcile with the elites. “But if there is any ensuing problem, the government will be responsible for what happens,” she said.
Poll loss ‘is first consequence’
She said Pheu Thai’s loss in the by-election in Pathum Thani was among the first negative consequences for the government. “This indicates that many red shirts have independent minds.”
Many red-shirt leaders have connections to the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its “big boss”, ex-premier Thaksin. Some are now MPs of the party and members of the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit yesterday said four Cabinet members would meet Prem tomorrow to ask for his blessing for Songkran, the traditional Thai new year. In addition to himself and the prime minister, deputy prime ministers General Yuthasak Sasiprapha and Kittiratt Na-Ranong would attend, he said.
Yongyuth, also leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, denied any hidden political agenda.
“It’s improper for us to meet General Prem for our benefit. We will meet him with sincerity. It is unfair to him if we use him as a tool to make it appear that the government strongly wants reconciliation,” Yongyuth said in an interview with the Nation News Agency.
He said that although some Pheu Thai politicians and their red-shirt colleagues had severely attacked Prem, “Times have changed and people should act accordingly.” He added that, “Anything can happen.”
When asked if the red shirts would be upset by tomorrow’s meeting, Yongyuth said he did not think they opposed the tradition of seeking Songkran blessings, or Prem directly.
Regarding reconciliation, he took issue with calls by families of the victims that the truth about the political conflicts be known first, particularly the identities of those behind the killings of many people during the unrest and riots in 2010.
“It will be too late of we wait for the truth to be known before achieving reconciliation. If we have to wait for the perpetrators to be identified first, I don’t know when we can achieve reconciliation,” he said.
He added, however, that the criminal cases stemming from the conflict should continue while the reconciliation efforts were underway.
Yongyuth said the government would hold public hearings in each of the country’s regions about reconciliation.
In response to criticism that Thaksin would eventually benefit from the amnesty law expected to be issued as part of the reconciliation package, Yongyuth said the ex-leader would not benefit alone, as that would be unfair to others.
“Reconciliation is not intended to whitewash the wrongdoings of certain people. This is political reconciliation, and nobody will be singled out to be exempt from punishment or to be punished,” he said.
“If there are to be benefits, all people will have to receive them. No single individual will benefit alone. And I don’t think Thaksin would accept it. He would not be able to live in the country if a law was issued exempting him alone from punishment,” Yongyuth said.
