The NationGen. Anupong Paochinda (pictured), the Thai Army Chief, has been 'sidelined' in Songkran crackdown against the red-shirted protesters and Thaksin's supporters.
Thanong Khanthong chronicles the huge political upheaval that Thailand and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva faces. This is the first of a two-part report.
The streets of Bangkok have returned to normal since core leaders of the red-shirt protest called it quits on Tuesday. However, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cannot afford to relax.
He added two additional days to the Songkran break - today and tomorrow.
And it appears that he has locked Army chief General Anupong Paochinda out key roles, as we have yet to see his strong face.
After declaring a state of emergency on Sunday, Abhisit took full charge of the situation. He did not hand the task of maintaining security to Anupong. On TV broadcasts, Gen Anupong was seen sitting among other top generals - his grim face farthest away from Abhisit. You can surmise how much power a person has from their seating position.
Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan and Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban did not look very happy either.
It was not until Abhisit had to flee the doomed Asean Summit at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya on Saturday, that he realised he was the target of a dark plot.
Abhisit's mentor Chuan Leekpai had warned him security measures in Pattaya could not be trusted. However, the PM brushed Chuan's concerns aside, believing Suthep would be able to handle the situation.
The problem was Suthep is seen as being "too close" to faction leader Newin Chidchob for comfort. A picture published in the Thai-language daily Matichon showed Newin, casually dressed and riding on a motorcycle in Pattaya. What sort of business did Newin have down there?
Well, he was directing his blue-shirt protesters to clash against the red shirts and further complicate matters. The blue shirts presented a make-believe side-show.
As it turned out, the 4,000 to 5,000 troops and police sent to provide security for the PM, regional leaders and Thailand's guests allowed hundreds of red shirts, led Arisman Pongruangrong, to break into the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
Once Arisman was inside the hotel, he called for his group to go hunting for Abhisit.
"Go look for the prime minister. Go get him," he shouted.
The Asean Summit had to be cancelled.
After bidding goodbye to the regional leaders and foreign dignitaries, Abhisit hastily returned to Bangkok to reposition himself as national leader. He was about to lose power to a coup plot that ran side by side with the red-shirt protesters, who were creating enough turmoil for the military to intervene.
A day earlier, fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra had declared in his phone-in that the red shirts would launch a people's revolution and that he would return to lead his supporters if the military were to fire the first shot.
His former wife, Khunying Pojaman, and their children had already flown out of the country. They obviously knew in advance what was going to happen.
In the wake of the Pattaya incident, Abhisit hastily assembled a special command centre under his direction. Veterans and some retired generals came to his rescue. Anupong's troops and the police could not be trusted and were edged out of the scene.
Instead, Abhisit relied on security forces brought in from places like Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi and Lop Buri.
The red shirts later threatened to surround the Ratchadapisek Court where Ariman was being detained on criminal charges for ambushing the Asean Summit. Arisman had to be shipped out of the capital.
The political drama kept unfolding as Neptune appeared to magnify a dark omen over the City of Angels. It was eclipsing the Sun, symbolising the lakhana duang muang - that dark forces of Neptune may be with Thaksin.
The battle came to a climax on Monday - the start of Songkran, when the red shirts sort to set Bangkok ablaze.
The protesters, commanded by Thaksin from abroad and coup plotters in Bangkok, took over 15 key roads in the capital, while many remained stationed around Government House. They prepared to create an inferno so the military would have to step in, and blood would be shed, thus justifying a military coup that would work in Thaksin's favour.
We all know that the only way Thaksin can return home is through a coup.
However, in reality, things went a little differently.
Security forces descended upon Bangkok from the provinces incognito. Gen Anupong was taken off-guard. The police and the Army chief's troops were sidelined and effectively nullified by Abhisit.
The well-trained security forces brought in from the provinces zeroed in on the red-shirt crowds at all the 15 key points, even though each group of protesters was planning chaos and sabotage, equipped with explosive devices and other weapons.
2 comments:
hun sen will not go to war with thai at preah vihear that is because he respect Shinawatra and friends. see if khmer were in trouble like them thai. the thai probably keeep invadeing our territories.just like they kill 1000's of khmer at preah vihear during khmer rouge.you thai better not keep on takeing advantage of us because some day you might have to eat our shoes. and start treat us as friends and nieghbor so both of us can move on for better futures.and stop use preah vihear as a lunching pad to test khmer surin loyal to thai.yes, the yuon, we want koh tral back from you to.
You are right, the Khmer have respect for Thai by not causing further troubles with Thailand when Thailand having its own internal troubles. But when Khmer have our own internal troubles the Thai took advantage of us by encroaching more of our lands.
Post a Comment