SIDELINES

SIDELINES
Surayud's self-styled 'moral' team more tainted
Like it or not, there is a growing perception and a certain degree of worry among some people that the faltering and uncaring Surayud government, with its incredible aloofness, is making Thaksin Shinawatra look increasingly like an indispensable saviour, and that those suffering in livelihood are yearning for his return.

Published on December 16, 2007


And this has become a distinct possibility with clearer signs that Thaksin's nominee team, People Power Party, is poised to win the highest number of seats in Parliament, though it may or may not achieve a simple majority.

The sloppy performance of the Surayud team is also making the country drift without clear direction. People who dread political uncertainty and possible turbulence with more economic problems are left without plausible hope for better days, judging from the candidates vying for House seats on December 23.

It would not be exaggerating to say right now that a lot of people, if not most with political orientation and awareness, are no longer hiding their deep concern and even hopelessness about the immediate future of the country.

Whichever party is slated to win the election and form a coalition government, there will be no smooth transition. There might be a chaotic scenario lasting weeks, if not months, as the House waits to get its quorum of 95 per cent of members, due to fouls expected to be caught by the Election Commission, which will lead to by-elections.

There have been blatant cases of violation of the election laws, with complaints filed to the EC, but as widely expected, no resulting energetic investigation. This failure alone has raised the question of whether the EC is really up to its task and possesses the political courage to deal with serious challenges.

The Surayud government is counting the days until its departure, with no more daily initiatives on how affairs of state should be managed for the proper transition of power. The Cabinet members are chair warmers and quite a few of them hardly blush at the realisation that they are not even known to the people in terms of their existence and performance in office.

Thaksin's political nominees are rubbing their hands in glee at the pathetic state of the government following a series of successful breaches of election law with impunity. Video CDs of Thaksin have been distributed to his admirers, especially the downtrodden rural grass-roots folk who still remember the days of pork-barrel policies and easy debts.

Some PPP candidates have been hitting the right target. They roam villages and ask the locals a simple question: "Are you suffering these days?" Naturally, the answer is "yes", because they always look for a helping hand.

The PPP candidates then display their schmoozing talent honed at charm school: "Just vote for us, then you will get Thaksin back to solve all your problems and get rid of your sufferings." Who would not fall for that expression of tender loving care? Simple psychology, but who can come up with a better trick to counter that?

Who is responsible for the country's present state, morally and in governance? Certainly, it is not the Surayud team, judging from their track record and public statements all along. The present Cabinet has been the most disappointing administration considering its origin and its mission following the September 19 coup.

The people had expected substantial - if not sweeping - political, economic and social reforms. Even more pressing was the remoulding of social attitudes and the sense of right and wrong, which had been distorted and twisted during the Thaksin years.

Part of that evil legacy were new catch phrases like: "It does not matter if politicians engage in cheating, as long as they do some work for the people" and "It is not necessary for a prime minister to be a good man". This followed Thaksin's philosophy of self-made wealth preached to the gullible poor: How can you become rich without first going into debt?

As of now, the self-perceived "moral Cabinet" is becoming tainted beyond all expectation. Several members have resigned due to failure to completely disclose their assets, stockholdings and private investments. A deputy finance minister has just quit after receiving a two-year jail sentence in a case stemming from his days as chairman of a state enterprise.

The energy minister is being asked to show his responsibility for his role in the privatisation of PTT, which the Supreme Administrative Court ordered, in its landmark ruling on Friday, to return state-owned properties to the Finance Ministry.

Prime Minister Surayud himself is no better. A House panel ruled that his controversial land holding in Nakhon Ratchasima is illegal. Instead of contesting this point, he responded by saying the panel's decision was not legally binding and the Forestry Department should decide the case.

In a nutshell, the thought of bearing more days with the current lame-duck administration in charge is a real horror. Business people have long resigned themselves to the fact that they would prefer the choice of a devil they are familiar with rather than the current prospect of a deep blue sea without any waves or movement.

What about the little people? General Surayud uttered more than once that it is the responsibility of the people to decide their own future by voting for the best candidates they know. His responsibility was only to organise the election.

What we all know with dreadful certainty is that not the best people will be elected to the House. It will be a long line of rogue politicians enjoying their turn again at going through the revolving door of the House of Representatives.

Never mind the periodic break due to a coup or House dissolution. They can always get in if they have enough money to buy the votes.

And lastly, how will the Surayud team go down in history? That's a problem again. Even the team leader might not know.

Sopon Onkgara