Same song, different keys

You don't get to see Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva in his singing mood too often. But he did pair up with well-known artist Pongsith "Pu" Khampi yesterday to sing his famous song: "Talod Waela" ("All the Time"), with Minister of PM's Office Ong-art Klampaiboon trying to chime in.

Perhaps, Abhisit wasn't too happy with his own performance. His explanation? "Pu and me were singing on different keys."

That happens quite often between him and some of his Cabinet members, especially with his coalition partners in Bhumjaithai Party, doens't it?

His intense silence has fired rumours about 'intensive care'

Is he in ICU (Intensive Care Unit)? Or is it just some wild rumour promoted by some of his foes?

Manager Weekly today put Thaksin Shinawatra on the cover again with a simple headline: "ICU"? The story inside repeats the speculation about Thaksin's health. But some Pheau Thai MPs who claim to have met Thaksin recently insisted that the ex-premier remains in good health.

One of the reasons that has fanned this rumour is Thaksin's recent low-profile. He has stopped tweeting. He doesn't make any "phone-in" or video links to his supporters here. Very few people have seen him. PM Abhisit Vejjajiva suggested to reporters earlier this week that Thaksin might have been in Brunei. But nobody has confirmed his presence anywhere.

Most conspicuous has been Thaksin's silence after the Cambodian government announced that he had resigned as adviser to Premier Hun Sen and his critics immediately said he had in fact been fired.

His silence has been deafening. Hence the rumours.

Prem wears orange, suggesting a reconciliation message?

Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, the president of the Privy Council, turned 90 on Aug 26. He tried to make it a low-profile affair. The top brass and senior officials who wanted to pay their annual homage had to get into his house through the side and back doors. No grand, open ceremonies like previous years. The official reason given was that the ex-premier didn't want to draw undue attention to his personal life.

But then he did send a message through the colour of his shirt. It was plainly orange. Reporters were quick to offer their interpretation.

It's not yellow. It's not red. It's a combination of both. Was Prem suggesting a compromise, a national reconciliation of sorts?

I am sure he won't comment on the interpretation. But then, I am sure he won't deny such a harmless -- even constructive -- suggestion, whether he wore that nice, colourful shirt deliberately or not.

Thai and Khmer ambassadors are back. But why so sudden?

Ambassador Prasart Prasartvinichai left this evening for Phnom Penh to resume his ambassadorial post in Phnom Penh. His counterpart will arrive in Bangkok tomorrow.
The question remains: What's behind this dramatic, abrupt resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries?

Did Thaksin Shinawatr "resign?" or was he politely asked to quit?

And even he had actually been requested to resign by Premier Hun Sen as had been rumoured here, it was still a "lightning" move, considerating the fact that Hun Sen and Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva were exchanging heated words, both submitting their angry letters of protest against each other to the UN.

Ambassador Prasart was said to have been told last Friday to make preparations for his return to Phnom Penh. That means behind-the-scenes moves had been on a few days before the official "resignation" of Thaksin was made public Monday.

Were the military officers on both sides of the border instrumental in convincing their respective political leaders to call a "political truce"? Was there intervention by a super-power or two to persuade Hun Sen to reach out to Thailand?

These questions and others remain unanswered as of now. Stay tuned. We will find out soon enough.

Pa Prem turns 90 this week with little fanfare

Privy Council President and Ex-Pemier Gen Prem Tinsulanonda celebrates his 90th birthday anniversary this Thursday (Aug 26) but he won't be celebrating with style -- for fear of drawing unnecessary attention.

In previous years, Prem threw open his residence's doors for senior military officers, bureaucrats, businessmen and the press on his birthday for well-wishing ceremonies. Not this year, though.

Yes, he made a public appearance for representatives of 3,221 students who had been granted scholarships by his Prem Tinsulanonda Foundation.

Gen Prem told them that he believes that Phra Siam Thevathiraj, the sacred spirit that protects Thailand, will ensure that good people are rewarded and bad guys are punished.

There is no doubt that Gen Prem, who has kept a low profile in the past few months since the eruption of street violence, has emerged in public again for one very crucial reason: to debunk rumours that he has been seriously ill.

Why Seksan agrees to leave his world of solitude

Seksan Prasertkul, former student activist, more recently university lecturer and writer, has been plucked out of his "solitude" by former Premier Anand Panyarachun to join the "Reform Thailand Commission."

In his first comprehensive interview published in Nation Weekender, Seksan said he had reluctantly left his self-imposed solitary existence because he was obliged when Anand asked him to do so.

"Besides, I have been writing about social injustices. The reform commission's role would complement what I have been doing and commenting upon all along. Also, the April-May events saddened me tremendously. That was what convinced me that I should contribute in whatever way I can to help society," he said.

Seksan insists he isn't interested in getting involved in politics, believe it or not.

"Since I left the jungle (with Communist Party of Thailand), I have been teaching, writing and doing arts. In the past ten years, I have spent time studying Dharma. All of these have nothing to do with politics. I don't why put the public seems to have expectations about my political role. In fact, if I had wanted to get involved in politics or sought political power, I wouldn't have waited until I am over 60," he said.

There is a personal sense of built involved too. "Today, the country's situation has deteriorated to a great extent. It's very worrying. That makes me feel reasonably guilty if I didn't offer help in whatever way I could..." Seksan added.

The worst-case scenario: What if the Democrat Party is dissolved?

Some Democrat Party's strategists are already working on the "worst-case scenario" if the party was to be dissolved by the Constitutional Court over one of the two cases of election law violations.

In that case, all the party's executive members could be banned for five years from politics. That leaves Chuan Leekpai, currently chairman of the party's advisory board, the most likely choice of becoming the prime minister to replace Abhisit Vejjajiva. Suthep Thuagsuban, the party's secretary general, would also be still active since he won't be on the list of the banned executives. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij would also be one of the handful party's senior members to remain active in politics.

That scenario, however, is possible on the assumption that the opposition Pheau Thai Party can't convince the current coalition partners such as Bhumjaithai and Pheau Paendin and Chat Thai Pattana Parties to abandon the Democrats to form a new coalition government.

Things remain fluid, of course. But nothing is impossibl in Thai politics.