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Red Rally and the Democrats...war of attrition

What's wrong? The protestors think "hijacking" MPs from the pro-Thaksin camp was wrong. This morning, the red-shirted protestors were surrounding the Parliament House to make their dissatisfaction known.

Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva was holding out at the Democrat Party headquarters, saying he could wait until the protestors could ensure the safety of MPs to enter the Parliament building to attend the session that will hear him deliver the new government's policy statement.

"I won't walk over blood-soaked bodies to deliver my statement," he declared, apparently referring to the Oct 7 incident in which many yellow-shirted protestors were injured at the same site when they tried to prevent the Somchai Wongsawat government from delivering the policy statement.

The protest leaders, however, said they won't block the entrance to the Parliament House. "We will let the MPs in but they have to enter on foot," one of the protest leaders said.

Will Abhisit make that walk through the protestors this morning?

Not very likely. Suthep Thuaksuban, the deputy premier, told reporters this morning: "No, we won't take the risk. On Dec 15, when the House met to vote on the prime minister, some MPs' cars were smashed. How can we be sure?"

Keep waiting. Democracy means freedom to express your views. It also means you have to be very patient indeed.

Biggest challenge in his political life

Abhisit Vejjajiva is due to deliver his policy statement to Parliament for the first time as prime minister tomorrow, amidst a rally being organized by the "red-shirted" protestors who are on the side of Thaksin Shinawatra.

No violence is expected. Abhisit has announced that police won't use tear-gas or any kind of weapons to confront the protestors. The Oct 7 incident, in which many yellow-shirted protestors were injured by police action, won't be repeated, he said.

The protest leaders have vowed not to surround the Parliament building. They simply want to show the world that the Abhisit government had been formed illegitimately, by "hijacking" MPs from the previous pro-Thaksin alliance.

The opposition has threatened to grill Abhisit on his alleged "draft dodging." Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will be questioned about his role in support of the People's Alliance for Democracy and Defence Minister Hen Pravit Pongsuwan will be asked about his role in helping to cobble together the Abhisit government.

It's not his rhetoric or even his policy that resembles Thaksin's "populism" that's the problem. It's how he can keep his fragile coalition government together in the wake of constant political horse-traing that is the main threat to his survival.

Abhisit knows how vulnerable his position is. He said the other day that if he can't deliver on his promise, "I will let somebody else take over."

And that "somebody else" is ready to cut him down every minute of the day.

How long will Abhisit govt last?

Are you ready to take up the challenge?

Foreign Minister Kasit's first faux pas

Kasit Piromya was quoted yesterday in the Daily Telegraph as saying that the protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy, including the occupation of the Suvarnbhumi and Don Muang airports were "a lot of fun."

The new Thai foreign minister, I assume, didn't want to sound so flippant about the incidents that had received some very bad press abroad. He was talking to a group of foreign diplomats and journalists soon after he took office.

"The food was excellent, the music was excellent," he was quoted as saying.

The British paper said the audience was "astonished" to hear that. Kasit of course did make some serious comments about the PAD protests, which he attended regularly while they lasted. He was also quoted as saying:

"Look at (the PAD protests) as pushing the process of democratisation forward..."

He also said: "You should be happy that for the first time ordinary people came out in full force to oppose corruption. If society has to be changed, it has a price."

But what caught the Telegraph's reporter's real attention was when Kasit said:

"People said we were armed. My wife used to go every evening. What was she armed with? only food and medicine."

But the headline declared: "BANGKOK AIRPORT PROTESTSW WERE FUN, SAYS THAILAND'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER."

Morals of the story: Never get light-hearted at the wrong time, about a wrong subject.

Come on, Abhisit, you certainly could produce a better team than this.....

One would have thought Abhisit Vejjajiva could have done better in cobbling together a more "presentable" Cabinet line-up.

But as it turned out, it was quite a disappointment, especially for those who had expected him to come up with a more impressive group of ministers in charge of economic affairs.

The commerce minister (Ms Porntiva Nakasai) and industry minister (Chanchai Chairungruang)'s only qualifications were that they represent the interests of two coalition partners -- former Machima and Pueau Paendin. No experience. No record. No professional acceptance by the public.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij may have had some experience in the private financial sector. But this is also his first major assignment at the national level. Tourism Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa was put in this post only because the core leadership of Chat Thai Party has been banned from politics for five years by the Constitutional Court.

The only reason that Premier Abhisit's first Cabinet setup is such a poor show is political. Abhisit admits that he has to "strike a proper balance" to maintain political stability. In other words, he has to turn a blind eye to inefficiency and political expediency in order to be able to stay in power.

But didn't he say that although numbers may count in politics but it's the quality of work and popular acceptance that is the ultimate proof?

Well, he had better start proving that he means what he says before he gets into more turbulence that lies ahead.

Abhisit tells CNN: I am not happy with the way things are

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thailand's new prime minister isn't mincing his words on the state of the economy.

ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND: I'm telling the people now it's going to be tough, but it's not impossible to overcome.

RIVERS (on camera): So, when you say tough, what do you mean?

VEJJAJIVA: I mean that, you cannot expect, for instance, the rates of growth to hold up to the rates that we've experienced maybe in the last couple of two, three years. There's going to have to be a slowdown. There will inevitably be problems in terms on employment. And that it's not going to be easy to completely stabilise the political situation in the short space of time.

RIVERS (voice-over): And he acknowledges the political horse trading with former allies of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wasn't an idea way to come to power.

VEJJAJIVA: I'm not happy with the way things are. If I could choose my own path, I would love to get into power after elections. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. But, I do come through a democratic, constitutional system, according to parliamentary rules. And I intend to use that majority now to work for the Thai people and to do my best for the country. And when things stabilise, then it's time for the people to have another position.

RIVERS (on camera): Thaskin Shinawatra and his allies would say, look, we're the most popular show in town. Any way you cut it, irrespective of any electoral fraud, we would still win a landslide --

VEJJAJIVA: Let me ask you again. Why have opinion polls put us ahead of them?

RIVERS: Well, why won't call an election if you think you're going to win?

VEJJAJIVA: Because at this time, people expect a fast recovery of the economy and to stabilise the political situation.

RIVERS: I mean, they would say you're running scared because you know if you hold an election tomorrow, you'll lose.

VEJJAJIVA: I don't think I would.

RIVERS: How did you persuade Newin Chidchob's faction -- a politician who was loyal -- not just loyal to Thaskin, he was one of his right hand men, for goodness sakes. How did you persuade his group of MPs to come over to your side?

VEJJAJIVA: Basically, they felt that Thaskin had raised the various political contracts to levels that were no longer acceptable to them.

RIVERS: And so they were honestly doing this for the good of the nation?

VEJJAJIVA: If people were to speculate about the various deals, let me tell you outright that there are no deals made concerning the interests of groups of people. Rather, what we talked about was that this was a real chance for the country to achieve stability and to move the country out of the crisis. Let's do it together.

RIVERS: Why then did senior democrats and other politicians go and visit the army commander General Anupong? What has he got to do with this political situation?

VEJJAJIVA: I'm not aware of that kind of meeting. But, the army chief has said, that he has expressed views on how the country should move forward. And he wasn't partisan.

RIVERS: But, did you consult with General Anupong?

VEJJAJIVA: I have never consulted.

RIVERS: Never? You've never consulted with him in the last few weeks about the situation?

VEJJAJIVA: No. No.

RIVERS (voice-over): He also acknowledged that Thailand's strict les majeste laws stopping criticism of Thailand's revered king were being used as a political weapon by rival politicians to attack one another.

VEJJAJIVA: There are cases in the past where this law has been abused for political purposes. And I agree that that has to stop.

RIVERS: And he denied he tacitly supported yellow-shirted anti-taxing protestors who'd occupied government buildings and Bangkok's airports.

VEJJAJIVA: We had a common cause, in terms of fighting injustices. We don't always have common objectives. For instance, when they suggested that a new political system should be put in place with some appointed offices, we disagreed. And certainly, our methods are different and I express opposition to the way they decided to occupy
both Government House and also the airports.

RIVERS: The big question is, how long will he last? The fifth prime minister is just over two years. His main battle now may simply be clinging onto power.