The Aphisit Wetchachiwa Government has announced that it successfully passed the test of performing the administrative work when it declared its achievements in the first six months in office last week.
As the smell of success still persisted in Government House, rumors and speculation were rife and destabilizing the Government.
"Have you heard that the military will stage a coup against the Aphisit Government?" "Is the prime minister really going to remove the Army commander-in-chief?"
"Does Deputy Premier Suthep (Thueaksuban) really support General Phatcharawat (Wongsuwan, the national police chief), or is he just double-dealing to please General Prawit (Wongsuwan, the Defense Minister who is Phatcharawat's brother)?"
"Are the petition by the Red Shirts and the intervention into the police appointments going to be the proverbial single drop of honey for the Government (a small incident leading to a catastrophic consequence)?"
"The Sufficiency Community Project is having fallout, with other coalition parties pressuring for removal of Kopsak (Saphawasu, deputy prime minister)." And so on.
Magnitude of Possible Consequences
Those are just part of something that is viewed only as small "undercurrents". But the Government should not underestimate the magnitude of possible consequences, particularly an expansion of resistance against the Aphisit Government , namely the Red Shirts, the parliamentary opposition, and even the fellow coalition partners. In addition, a wedge is likely to be driven between the Government and the security side and the police.
When those undercurrents are reinforced by some political crisis, there will be a direct and inevitable impact on the longevity of the Aphisit Government .
A current of thought may be treated just that, but it cannot be completely ruled out. There is a possibility that it will be expanded into a mainstream and actual phenomenon.
It appears that a main figure like Aphisit Wetchachiwa, the Democrat Party leader and Thailand's prime minister, is busy and happy with interfering into the international affair of the permanent officials, particularly the Royal Thai Police. Amidst reports of intervention into the transfer lists of police generals and less senior commanders, there was some loud talk at the Thai Khu Fa Building (the PM's Office) that Prime Minister Aphisit's current main task is to take a close supervision of the police force.
Public Image
The Government of Aphisit Wetchachiwa commands a better public image than those of Samak Sunthorawet and Somchai Wongsawat. It is viewed as clean and honest. But as time passes, its behavior is pointing to its actual self. While the Government is denying interference in the police transfers, it has kept General Phatcharawat away from the line of command and appointed the caretaker police chief to do something behind his back.
Always maintaining that it abhors corrupt people, but when the Sufficiency Community Project scandal emerges, the Government limits the blame within the local level, preventing the damage from being linked to its cohorts and MPs.
There are more and more "smelly and fishy" projects, which makes one to wonder if people are getting fed up with "the Clean Boy" and "Mister Neat".
Over the past week, the Government was busy with trying to defeat the opposite side about the issue of royal petition. And there were claims by people of different political colors about the numbers of supporters to their signature campaigns. To announce aid measures too early, with insufficient reasons to support, may land the Government in a dead end.
Social Welfare System
The expansion of benefits for employees in the social welfare system to cover their children and spouses is creating confusion to those involved. The policy that the Government bills as "a party policy" aimed at taking care of people may end up being a double-edged sword.
The desire to hastily create an achievement has forced someone to prematurely announce a policy without careful consideration. With the Ministry of Labor's decision to host the project, it remains unclear if Labor Minister Phaithun Kaeothong discussed the matter carefully with the people involved. There could once again be confusion similar to that taking place during the distribution of the Government 's cheques to poorer employees.
To stay in power for a long term, the Government needs to be good in its work. Its style of working must not be something known as "NATO" by some groups of people. The slang term stands for "No Action, Talk Only."
Impact of Economic Crisis
One measure after another to aid people and to ease the impacts of the economic crisis, in addition to political ploys to expand the scope of the "mega-populism" aimed at winning the hearts of people from the middle class to the grassroots level, all point to the Government 's desire to continue running the country for a long time.
The mass media are pleased to be used by the Government as a channel to present its achievements. That is in addition to the state media that already is serving as the Government 's mouthpiece.
However, it is surprising for the Government to feel that its communication with the public is not good enough and there is an idea to find a new spokesman to do the job. Is it because the information sent by the Government through the media is just political rhetoric?
It is worrying that if the Government focuses on finding words to attack its rivals without working for added value for itself, it will eventually end up having no concrete work for the public. Thai people are getting sick of the "NATO-type politics.
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