PM and Foreign Minister seen as ‘Dead and Buried’

BANGKOK (Opinion from The Nation): As far as the media were concerned yesterday, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama were “defeated” in the first day of the censure debate in the House of Representatives.

Headlines in almost all local newspapers, Thai and English, backed the opposition Democrat Party, saying Samak and Noppadon had lost the battle. The Democrat Party, like butchers, had chopped up the nominee government in Parliament, they said.

Evidence showed the government had lost national sovereignty to Cambodia in favour of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s business interests. Many columnists pointed out the controversial issue of the Preah Vihear temple was the killer point.

Many newspapers devoted the majority of their space in yesterday’s editions to the speeches and information provided by speakers from the opposition.

It is widely know that Samak’s government has no ability to communicate with the public, nor any ability to shape public opinion. Both Samak and his foreign minister Noppadon were seen in a negative light because of their connection to former Prime Minister Thaksin.

The public realised long ago they were doing everything to favour Thaksin. Foreign Minister Noppadon, who handled the Preah Vihear case, is a former legal advisor to Thaksin. His reputation as Thaksin’s defender was locked onto by the media.

Prime Minister Samak himself is a media unfriendly figure. He never offers moderate words. He was painted as a big-mouth politician. As usual, his behaviour in Parliament during the debate was aggressive and he never answered any questions.

He simply said: “I’m old, I know everything and nothing is wrong under my command.”