By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE GOVERNMENT’S ALLEGED FAILURE to give clear-cut response to the sustained controversy over the handling of de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra could probably trigger a crisis of confidence in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government, said Move Forward leader Chaithawat Tulathon today (Dec.29).
Such a crisis of confidence could probably emerge and aggravate as soon as next month if the Pheu Thai-led government still failed to shed light on scandals surrounding the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict who has been staying at Police Hospital for more than four months now without schedule for a return to Bangkok Remand Prison where he had been destined since he came back from self-exile abroad in August, according to the Move Forward leader.
Given the fact that many people have been considerably puzzled by the way in which the Corrections Department and Police Hospital have been handling the “sickly” Thaksin whilst legal loopholes and undue privileges have been allegedly used, the government is obliged to respond in unambiguous fashion or else a crisis of confidence could probably loom sooner than later, Chaithawat said.
Central to the controversy surrounding the deposed prime minister who has been earlier convicted of wrongdoings during his previous rule and sentenced to an eight-year jail term which was curtailed to one year are the allegations that double standards have been practised by both the Corrections Department and Police Hospital to keep him from literally spending a single day behind bars and grant him special privileges outside of the prison, Chaithawat commented.
It remains to be seen whether and how soon the billionaire, politically powerful Thaksin, accused of practically flouting the country’s rules of law since his return from 17 years in self-exile abroad, will be transferred from a tight-security, private ward at Police Hospital to some living quarters to stay in “house arrest” fashion before members of the House Committee on Police Affairs pay him a visit at the hospital on Jan.12 as planned.
House committee chair Chaichana Dejdecho had earlier shrugged off a stern warning against his committee’s planned visit to the “sickly” Thaksin at the hospital, saying his panel will merely be doing their job as representatives of the people and be protected by the constitution for doing it.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin who had warned that nobody other than family members can literally visit the deposed prime minister at the hospital if he disagrees to being visited and that damage lawsuits could probably be filed against anyone who might possibly divulge the symptoms and details of his secrecy-shrouded “illnesses” recently said he has been finally relieved of a burden which he compared with “hot taro” being taken off of his hands.
At the order of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the outspoken deputy prime minister is no longer in charge of the Ministry of Justice to which the Corrections Department is attached.
Somsak had earlier taken the department’s executive officials to task for allegedly performing in belated manner and failing to clearly respond to questions about its latest regulation allegedly designed to literally keep the “sickly” Thaksin out of jail.
Nevertheless, Thaksin who is largely speculated to be released on parole by the upcoming February is invariably known to not only remain powerful to the Pheu Thai rank and file led by his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra but the leadership of other coalition partners, highlighted by his alleged power play over the setup of the Pheu Thai-led government and allocation of cabinet portfolios among coalition partners.
CAPTION:
Move Forward leader Chaithawat Tulathon with de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, above left, and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Front Page right. Both photos: Matichon
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