Anti-Yingluck hysteria versus Prayut's 'respect'

JC Wilcox is uncertain whether my expressions of sympathy for Yingluck Shinawatra were tongue in cheek, but no, I meant exactly what I said. I do agree with him that, like all politicians, Yingluck is by choice in the firing line, but among decent people that should not extend to slurs on her and her family, and there have been some very unpleasant ones. Nor should there be idle speculation or unsubstantiated accusations of wrongdoing on their part.
Indeed, Mr Wilcox is guilty of precisely such a lapse when he states that Ms Yingluck “oversaw armed violence by her supporters”. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “oversee” as follows: “Supervise, especially in an official capacity: be in charge of: be responsible for”. He is thus accusing Ms Yingluck of supervising and directing the murder of innocent people, including children. That is an appalling allegation, particularly as I am certain that Mr Wilcox has not one shred of credible evidence to support it.
Despite removing Ms Yingluck’s party from power, I have never heard General Prayut Chan-o-Cha utter an ill word against her, other than criticising her political performance and judgement. Indeed, he recently stated that he respected Ms Yingluck as a former prime minister. The general is a blunt, plain-speaking and sometimes short-tempered soldier, but he also gives every impression of being a gentleman. In that respect, he sets an example which some others would do well to follow.
Robin Grant