PM in New York: Some reflected glory, some casual meets

Thailand, in the world’s eyes, is the same as it was last week when Prayut left home for New York.

During his attendance at the UN events, Thailand won its bid to chair the Group of 77, the largest inter-government body for developing countries in the UN system.

But the chairmanship could not be regarded as an international achievement for Prayut since his government did nothing to help win the position. The idea had been built up within the diplomatic loop in the Foreign Ministry for a considerable period of time. International credit, if any, should be given to the head of the Thai mission to the UN in New York, who put in the effort to gain the endorsement of the 77 nations in this 51-year-old UN bloc.

Judging from what he told reporters at the UN, Prayut is unlikely to have understood anything much about the Group of 77 and the role of the Chair. He said Thailand was elected as chair of the group because the country succeeded in development. However, taking the chairmanship had nothing to do with any stage of development at home.

But the chairmanship will be a test and challenge for Thai diplomats. If the Thai team can perform, it will elevate the country’s international status. Prayut can make a contribution to the role if he gives proper policies and instructions to the team working with the Group 77 during the 2016 term.

One good thing happened to Prayut in New York, but the junta at home almost ruined it. 

While Prayut took the stage to receive the Global Sustainable Digital Development Award from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), his administration at home was mulling the enforcing of a single gateway to control information from the digital world. If the Thai junta goes ahead with this idea, ITU might need to recall the award.

During his time in New York, the Thai premier was invited to join many UN functions and receptions, none of them very special. He did not perform well at his first reading speech delivered in Thai language at an interactive dialogue on ending poverty and hunger on September 25. His fan club in high society was a bit upset by his presentation style, although they were aware Prayut is not fluent in English. At home, Prayut used to look down on the previous premier for reading only from prepared speeches. 

Prayut held many bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts from small and not so well known countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, an island state in the Caribbean, Fiji of the South Pacific, the Czech Republic and Tajikistan – to introduce himself and ask support for Thailand’s bid for a seat as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Among major powers of the world, Prayut met only with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom he is already familiar, in a corridor of the General Assembly building. He had opportunities to see US President Barack Obama and Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe during reception parties. 

Prayut spent his time in New York mostly at the UN building and the hotel where he and his delegation stayed near the UN headquarters. He visited the 9/11 memorial in downtown New York on September 26 – but needed to float misinformation to deceive a Thai red-shirt group who gathered in front of the UN to protest against him.

His public relations team did not want the PM to be humiliated by the anti-government group. Prayut needed to order his favourite beef steak to his room at the hotel, rather than sit in a famous restaurant nearby the hotel. He wished to avoid public appearances as many Thais walk around these areas of New York City. Pro-government groups of Thais in the US helped to save him by organising a three-day demonstration of support in front of the UN. They were there to tell the world that while Thailand has a military regime, [for the time being] democracy does not matter.