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 Politics
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23 Feb 09 20:28
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Two-headed eagles inside Puea Thai
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Puea Thai, de facto boss, Thaksin Shinawatra has admitted there are still several
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But his reluctance to get rid of these elements is seen as a testimony of his declining power in the Puea Thai party.
But his reluctance to get rid of these elements is seen as a testimony of his declining power in the Puea Thai party.
Exile, fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appears to be still very resentful with his once right-hand man, Newin Chidchob, who led the defection of the 'Friends of Newin' faction from the Puea Thai party to join the Democrat-led government.
At a meeting held over the week-end in Hong Kong with some Puea Thai MPs, Mr Thaksin reportedly told his loyalists that Mr Newin has ambitions and wants to be the PM himself. He also admitted that the defector had left behind within the Puea Thai party several traitors whom he called "two headed eagles". But he would not get rid of these traitors for fear that it might break up the party but he believed that once he was able to solve the "big heachace" these "two headed eagles" would switch side and return to the Puea Thai party.
Mr Thaksin's admission of his reluctance to get rid of Mr Newin clique in the Puea Thai party, numbering about a dozen, for fear that it will hurt the party already damaged by factionalism and sans leader sounds realistic. But, at the same time, the admission clearly shows his declining influence in the party in the face of the open disobedience by the "Friends of Newin" faction. How can Mr Thaksin be assured that these rebel MPs would not turn against him and stab him in the back before he is able to solve the "big headache"?
hese insurgents will pose a thorn in the flesh for the Puea Thai party. Imagine a scenario in the parliament following the censure debate against the government when these rebel MPs vote for the government. It will definitely render a big blow to the opposition Puea Thai party and especially to Mr Thaksins powerful ego. That may sound bizarre, but it is not impossible.
The Puea Thai party will have a field day grilling Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and some of his cabinet ministers in the forthcoming censure debate due in the middle of March. Heading the attack against the government is maverick, veteran politician MP Chalerm Yubamrung whose nomination to assume the task was supported by Mr Thaksin.But the likelihood that the opposition will be able to overthrow the government is remote despite their claim of a knock-out blow. It remains to be seen whether the scandal involving the 250 million THB donation money claimed to be given to the Democrats by Prachai Leophairatana, former owner of TPI Polene Corporation, will deliver the knock-out.
Meanwhile, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship is expected to intensify its street politics tactics to put pressure on the government and to gain media attention. The planned protest tomorrow which is likely to last a couple of days was timed to correspond with the ASEAN Summit with the hope that the demonstration will attract the attention of international media. Although UDD leaders promised that the group would not stage a protest in Cha-am by the sea where the summit will take place, some break away 'red-shirt' group may hold their demonstration there. This will be just another show of force by the red shirts for publicity sake. Like the censure debate, the UDD leaders are well aware that the street demonstration politics stands little chance of overthrowing the Democrat-led government.
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