Prayut needs to win the hearts of more red shirts

Apart from learning that recent economic stimulus measures by his government have been satisfactory in the lower Northeast, he also saw signs of possible reconciliation emerging. 

While in Ubon Ratchathani’s Don Mod Daeng district, Prayut met a red-shirt leader who promised to work with the government to restore peace and help push the country forward. 

Jamroonsak Jantaramai, who is affiliated with the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), offered this promise to Prayut, who was visiting to check out his government’s “Pracha Rat” stimulus measures. Jamroonsak also said he was trying to persuade other UDD leaders to join him in his efforts.

The premier met the man’s offer with a bear hug – a huge contrast from the PM’s first trip to a red-shirt stronghold, where he was furious most of the time. 

Prayut went to the red-shirt bastion of Khon Kaen in November last year, just after the May 2014 coup. The aim of his trip was to air policies aimed at solving local issues, including drought. 

However, while delivering his speech, Prayut was surprised by a group of student activists dressed in anti-coup T-shirts, who sneaked into the auditorium and flashed the three-finger democracy salute. 

Yet, while things seem to have become warmer, peace and reconciliation may still be a long way away. 

To start with, it may be difficult to find more red shirts who think like Jamroonsak, and Prayut will still have to work hard to win their hearts – especially since many of their leaders have yet to receive justice. 

One such case involves former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as Jamroonsak pointed out. She is being tried in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders over her government’s rice-pledging scheme, charged of dereliction of duty causing huge losses to the country because of her alleged failure to perform her duty to stop corruption in the scheme – much to the chagrin of her red-shirt supporters.

She may also be slapped with a massive compensation demand if the government chooses to go ahead with issuing an administrative order to claim for losses from the scheme. 

However, Pheu Thai and Yingluck’s supporters hope the government waits until the case goes through the courts before it slaps her with a compensation demand. 

Red-shirt-leader-turned-government-supporter Jamroonsak explained that the rice-pledging scheme was deep at the heart of the red-shirt supporters, which is why they are so hurt about the case and hope that rules of law are followed. He also hopes that this government will actually be able to tackle corruption as it has promised. 

Ironically, the junta is facing its first alleged corruption scandal related to the Rajabhakti Park project and allegedly involving one of its members. 

The project had been initiated by Army, with Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr, who is also a member of the National Council for Peace and Order, inaugurating the project while serving as Army chief. 

Udomdej confirmed last week that officials had intervened and got the foundries involved (making statues for the park) to donate money they had set aside for kickbacks to the Rajabhakti Park Foundation.

Eventually, after much pressure, the Army finally ordered an urgent probe into the alleged irregularities. 

This case could, more or less, affect public faith in the junta – especially since it has always promised to tackle graft and is attacking the former government for the very same reason. 

Prayut should take this opportunity to prove his ability to work without any double standards – that he will not protect his cronies and only go after his opponents. Because if he cannot be just and fair, he may get few more chances to hug red shirts.