The prime minister is still under big brother's orders
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Despite all the denials, it's clear that the real leader of this country resides in exile and has a clone and assorted proxies to do his bidding
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has on several occasions tried to deny she is a proxy of her brother Thaksin. But as the political rumour-mill grinds into gear around the looming Cabinet reshuffle, after the first year of the Yingluck government, the celebration, by some, of Thaksin’s 64th birthday becomes significant.
All roads led to Hong Kong, even before Thaksin’s birthday today. Pheu Thai Party MPs and Cabinet members have been scrambling to visit Thaksin in Hong Kong to wish him well. Thaksin’s supporters in Thailand are planning to hold a big ceremony at the Chao Fah Temple. The celebration will also mark 2,600 years of the Lord Buddha’s enlightenment, but the ceremony at the temple is aimed at seeking blessings for Thaksin. Buddhist monks will chant the Itipiso prayer 108 times to bless the fugitive former prime minister. The organisers will make 2.6 million Buddha amulets and host a political seminar on the topic of the dharma’s governance aimed at seeking justice in Thai society. They’ve chosen a picture of the Lord Buddha defeating demons as the logo of the celebration – to signal Thaksin’s political victory.
It is not difficult to see who is the real boss, judging from the dignitaries who plan to join the birthday event. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit will be at the celebration in Bangkok, to which Thaksin plans to make a video call to address his supporters simultaneously there and in Chiang Mai, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chon Buri, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen.
Red shirts will also hold birthday celebrations for Thaksin in several provinces. For example, red shirts in Ratchaburi will make merit by giving food to monks and hold a water-blessing ceremony at Chonglom Temple in Muang district.
Another event will be jointly held by red-shirt leaders Arisman Pongruangrong and Darunee Kritboonyalai; Jiradet Worapiankul, assistant to the finance minister; Songkram Kijlertphairoj, former deputy commerce minister; and Police Major General Piraphan Premputti, former secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office.
In contrast to all this, Prime Minister Yingluck earlier celebrated her 45th birthday in a more subdued fashion. She gave alms to monks at her house on Soi Yothin Pattana 3, together with her husband and son.
Although Yingluck is set to celebrate her first anniversary as prime minister soon, she cannot escape the shadow of her brother. The press, including the international media, often questions her leadership role in the government. Unfortunately, events suggest that her brother still has a huge impact on the direction of Thai politics. Thaksin has dispatched many of his key subordinates to help his younger sister. The former chief adviser to the Thaksin government, Pansak Vinyaratn, was appointed to the Cabinet in the same role early this month.
Recent speculation over the Cabinet reshuffle doesn’t help Yingluck either. Critics expect the reshuffle to wait until National Police Chief Priewpan Damapong retires at the end of September. Priewpan, a brother of Thaksin’s ex-wife Khunying Pojaman Na Pombejra, has been tipped as a possible deputy prime minister. Political strategist Phumtham Wechayachai is likely to make a comeback.
However, it is also reported that some in the government do not want to see a reshuffle until Yingluck’s economic plans and flood-prevention measures take shape. But she may not have the final say on this matter anyway. Thaksin himself said Yingluck would be his clone in the seat of power, not his proxy. “Yingluck will be able to make decisions on behalf of me. She can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on my behalf,” he said.
Thaksin’s actions over the past several years contradict his proclamations that he has washed his hands of politics. On the contrary, he still wields power, while Yingluck desperately tries to deny his influential role in her government. For instance, during a recent interview she gave to French newspaper Le Monde, she dismissed reports that Thaksin is behind her administration, saying, “It’s almost a year since I became prime minister. If I had to depend on my brother for everything, I wouldn’t have made it through.”
Yingluck’s supporters had high hopes that the country’s first female leader would become her own woman. Unfortunately the flurry of activity leading up to Thaksin’s birthday suggests otherwise.
