Dr Ukrit denies all possible suspicious motives in new role

Dr Ukrit Mongkolnavin, who has just been appointed by the Yingluck government to head a new "National Rule of Law Independent Commission," wants to make it clear that his 12-member panel won't touch any issue that is related to Thaksin Shinawatra.

The veteran academic-cum-lawyer-cum-politician, who turns 78 this year, of course realizes how sensitive his new posting could be, especially to those who immediately cast doubt on this move which could be seen to eclipse the work of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission headed by Dr Kanit na Nakhon.

Dr Ukrit was also quick to stress that is committee's work won't overlap that of Dr Kanit's. But it isn't clear what exactly would this new independent body will be doing apart from the general statement from th Cabinet that the panel will look into all legislative aspects to ensure that the rule of law is enforced whether in the executive, judicial or legislative branches. A very challenging tall order indeed!

Dr Ukrit realizes that critics will point to his close relations with Thaksin in the past. But he was quick to emphasize that he had decided to take up the offer "because the country has problems that need to be sorted out."

He will name the other 11 members of his commission, suggesting that politics won't be dictating his work. The former House Speaker is apparently trying very hard to impress upon all concerned that he intends to demonstrate how independent he is in carrying out this new task that has yet to be clarified to the public.

The rumours were good, the real news is bad

At first, there were reports that Cambodia will release Veera Somkuamkid and Ratri Pipatwongpaibul from Khmer jail when Thaksin Shinawatra flies into Phnom Penh as a token of friendship from Cambodian Premier Hun Sen to the new Thai government.

Then, there were further reports that the "release" could take place sooner -- tomorrow (Sept 15) when Premier Yingluck flies in.

But it was with great disappointment that many Thais must have felt when the official word from Phnom Penh just now said that all those were unfounded rumours. Cambodia has no intention of doing so and the two Thais will have to serve at least two-thirds of their jail term before amnesty could be sought.

The two Thais were sentenced to 8 years in jail for allegedly trespassing into military sensitive areas.

So, in the end, Hun Sen, despite his nice gesture towards Thaksin and Yingluck hasn't really conceded on any point for Thailand. We haven't heard that Yingluck can get any assurances during her one-day visit tomorrow from Cambodia over the Khao Phra Vihear issue. Nor is there anything clear about whether the various border issues will get any closer to resolving some long-standing problems.

Hun Sen's brand of diplomacy is unusual in the first place. He decides whether to be nice or not with personalities not governments. He chooses to side with a political party over another in a neighbouring country openly. But then, you can't blame him. The serious conflict within Thailand has simply delivered Thailand to Hun Sen on a platter.

Why can't YIngluck meet her brother in Phnom Penh?

Premier Yingluck Shinawatra will be Phnom Penh on Sept 15. Her brother Thaksin will be there from Sept 16 until Sept 24.

Why can't they arrange to meet under the auspices of Cambodian Premier Hun Sen?

It's a locally sensitive issue, of course, If Yingluck, as PM, meets Thaksin, the fugitive wanted by the law-enforcement officials back home, she would have to have him arrested and sent home. Thaksin is ready to come home, but not as a convict. He wants to return home as a free man, either amnestied or a hero without any legal cases awaiting him.

If the premier meets the former premier with no legal action being taken, she could be accused of violating the famous Article 157 of the Criminal Act which punishes officials who "fail to perform their duties."

That's why Premier Yingluck told reporters yesterday that she knew nothing about Thaksin's visit to Cambodia at all. She isn't supposed to know anything about her brother's whereabouts. Legally, for now at least, she can't know and not do anything.

So, Thaksin will be Hun Sen's guest and will be speaking about Asean's economic future. Hun Sen told reporters that he won't be discussing with Thaksin the question of Thai-Cambodian joint exploration of gas and oil in the overlapping areas in the Gulf of Thailand because he will only raise the issue with the Thai government, and not Thaksin.

So, Hun Sen also knows where to draw the line between Yingluck and Thaksin, at least publicly anyway.

Then, there is the football match between Thailand's red shirts and Hun Sen's team on Sept 24.

Will Thaksin be there? In fact,it would be quite a scene to have Thaksin and Hun Sen in their full soccer gear kicking it up in Phnom Penh.

What a pity, PM Yingluck can't be there to cheer up her brother to beat Hun Sen's team. But there is nothing wrong for her to be there in spirit, anyway.

Anybody home?

The question that makes the headline in The Nation tomorrow (Monday, Sept 12) has probably been raised in a lot of people's minds in the past few weeks since Yingluck Shinawatra took over as prime minister as of Aug 8, this year.

She will have to show her leadership in a more convincing way or else she would be stuck with the image, real or imaginery, that she is taking orders from her elder brother Thaksin and is being overshadowed by Deputy Premier Chalerm Yoobamrung while the red-shirts are waiting in the wings.

In other words, Yingluck must demonstrate that she is the prime minister herself.

Where is the annual military reshuffle list?

Where is the annual military reshuffle list? Has Premier Yingluck submitted it for royal approval? Or are last-minute negotiations still on?

Military affairs reporters are abuzz with questions on whether Thaksin Shinawatra, through PM Yingluck, has struck a compromise with Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa over some important military appointments.

The main issue seems to be who's going to be the new permanent secretary of defence. According to reports, the minister wants Gen Witawas Rajatanant, the current No 2, while the PM has told him that Gen Satien Permtong-in, currently the chairman of the armed forces advisory board. The latter is known to be closer to Pheu Thai Party. Nobody knows whether an agreement has been struck.

There are also the questions about the defence minister not being too happy with the fact that he doesn't seem to have any authority when it comes to the military reshuffle. The 2008 Defence Act stipulates that a seven-member committee comprising mostly the top brass make decisions on who goes where in the armed forces. The defence minister may chair the panel but he doesn't have the final say.

The law was designed to prevent political interference in the military appointments. Now, Defence Minister Yuthasak feels that he is powerless. He has therefore let it be known that he will seek a legal interpretation from the Juridical Council on his real power in the scheme of things.

From reports I get, the defence minister was willing to go along with the proposed reshuffle lists from all the top brass but he insists that his choice of the new defence permanent secretary must be respected.

Now, Thaksin can't be too happy that he doesn't have a say in this matter too. He may be willing to compromise for the sake of not rocking the boat in the armed forces too soon but there are some obvious changes he wants to make to the military line-up. But things don't seem to have run all that smoothly.And PM Yingluck isn't saying where the final list is now.

The law says the list must be approved in its final form at least 15 days before the new fiscal year begins on Oct 1. That means the deadline falls on Monday or Tuesday.

Stay tuned!

Thawil: If the police chief takes my post, where do I go?

Thawil Pliensri,the secretary general of the National Security Council, suddenly found himself without a job when it was announced by Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrun that the national police chief, Police Gen Vichien Poj-posri, was to be made the NSC's secretary general.

But where was Thawil going then?

There was no answer to that obvious question. Chalerm might have solved the Vichien issue but he created a new problem with Thawil.

Thawil's post comes under another deputy premier, Police Gen Kovit Wattana, who apparently hadn't been consulted about Vichien's move.

Thawil told reporters then that if he was moved unfairly, he would appeal to the Administration Court and an official committee that hears complaints about unfair treatment among bureaucrats.

That could spark another huge problem. After all, it was Deputy PM Kovit, when he was police chief and was to be transferred to another post by the then PM, Gen Surayud Chulanont, who had appealed to the court and managed to get a verdict in his favour. That meant that the PM could not move Kovit without him consent. He hadn't done anything wrong and political reasons alone can't be used to move senior officials around.

Thawil was thinking of following his current boss' path.

PM Yingluck Shinawatra seems to have come to the realization that if Thawil decided to take that action, more confusion could follow because a long list of transfers is in the works and Thawil could set the ball rolling.

So, PM Yingluck now says she will talk to Thawil about the latter's future.Why didn't she assign Chalerm to put out the fire?

Apparently, Chalerm is better at creating a storm than to put one out!

Who really makes the decision?

You aren't sure who is really making the decision. Premier Yingluck Shinawatra says she has left it to Deputy Premier Chalerm Yoobamrung to decide who the new national police chief is going to be.

Chalerm, on the same day, insists that the prime minister will decide. He will only propose names.

As of the time of writing (2.30 pm of Sept 1), Chalerm has indicated that he would comply with the wish of Police Gen Vichien Poj-posri to be transferred from the post of national police chief to become secretary general of the National Security Council.

It was earlier reported that Chalerm had proposed to Vichien to become permanent secretary of the tourism and sports ministry -- a proposal rejected by Vichien.

Premier Yingluck was again asked about this story this morning. She would only say: "No, we haven't discussed the issue yet."

This probably is the management style of PM Yingluck: Outsourcing decision-making to the next in line.