Hard-core fans of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who look forward to reunions of the central figures in the anti-government protests are finding other things to do to while away the time now that former leader Suthep Thaugsuban has joined the monkhood.
Suthep: Slipped quietly into saffron robes
While there is no official word about how long Phra Paphakaro, the monastic name given to Mr Suthep, will stay in the monkhood, the chances are that he will not leave the Sangha community before the three-month Buddhist Lent ends.
The former protest leader was ordained during a low-key ceremony at Wat Ta Sai in Kanchanadit district of Surat Thani on Tuesday. He is expected to stay at Wat Than Nam Lai, also known as Wat Suan Mokkh Kapanaran, in Samet sub-district of Chaiya district, Surat Thani.
His decision to enter the monkhood came as a surprise to most people including his wife, Srisakul Prompan, who was unaware of his plans.
Several academics who work closely with the former protest leader on national reform were caught off guard. They claim they and Phra Suthep had already made some arrangements regarding reform proposals.
According to Phra Suthep’s close aides, the protest leader is overwhelmed with sadness. Seven months of street protests against the Yingluck administration were marred by violence and loss of life.
Even though he has set up a foundation that is raising funds to help the families of the victims of the violence, he is struggling with the fact that innocent people died, were injured or are now forced to live with disabilities.
In fact some PDRC leaders had discussed ordination while the protest was still under way. They thought about a mass ordination as a gesture to make merit after the protest ended.
However, the protest was cut short by the May 22 coup and the leaders were preoccupied with fighting charges and lawsuits.
Akanat Promphan, the PDRC’s spokesman, was the first of them to enter the monkhood for this purpose. His ordination ceremony which took place at Wat Chonprathan Rangsarit in Nonthaburi was witnessed by several hundred die-hard PDRC followers who saw it as an opportunity for a little reunion.
Mr Akanat, who received the monastic name “Prammawangso”, has since left the monkhood.
While Mr Akanat was informing supporters of his decision, the PDRC secretary-general was keeping his own plans close to his chest. PDRC supporters did not learn about it until a picture of him wearing the saffron robes was released on social media.
His ordination was attended by Alongkorn Setcheao, Phra Suthep’s cousin, the only relative present.
According to close aides, Phra Suthep is no stranger to life in the monastic community.
When he was in his 20s, he was ordained at Wat Suan Mokkh Kapanaran after he returned from graduate studies in the United States. As a son of an influential kamnan, his ordination was anything but simple.
His second ordination came after he became embroiled in the Sor Por Kor 4-01 land reform scandal.
For his third and latest ordination, Mr Suthep reportedly turned up at Wat Ta Sai on the night of July 14 with a single relative and asked to be ordained. He had his head shaved that night and the ordination was performed the following morning.
A picture of Phra Suthep collecting morning alms was one of the most shared photos of the day.
Diplomatic affair
This year’s theme for France's national day revolved, as expected, around peace, friendship and fraternity — even though guests included political figures loyal to the previous government.
At the party, French ambassador Thierry Viteau delivered a speech that highlighted the core principles of democracy and human rights, which are universal values.
Viteau: The right values
Mr Viteau spoke of great minds like Montesquieu, who championed the principle of separation of power 325 years ago, and Voltaire, remembered for his timeless phrases on freedom of speech and expression.
Voltaire’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, passed by the French parliament in August 1789, was made into an ice replica placed in the middle of the entrance to the function room for all the guests to see.
The ambassador said the values that France has inherited since the revolution form the basis of French democracy and human rights which his countrymen believe are the collective rights of all.
Like US Independence Day celebrations on July 4, members of the National Council for Peace and Order were not invited to the French function.
However, senior politicians and former ministers showed up, as did Privy Councilor MR Thepkamol Devakula, and Democrat Party stalwarts of the likes of Kiat Sittheeamorn and Sakontee Phattiyakul.
The limelight also shone on guests loyal to the previous Yingluck government, who were taken to a military camp to “cool off” in the aftermath of the May 22 coup. They included United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship core leader Tida Tawornseth, Nitirat members Worachet Pakeerut and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, and former State Railway of Thailand governor Prapat Chongsanguan. Some became the centre of attention with admirers asking to have their photos taken with them. Red-shirt sympathiser and socialite MR Malinee Chakrabhandu also mingled in the crowd.
Shortly before the party got under way, a few police arrived uninvited to check if everything was in order and warn that nothing was to go on that was against NCPO orders.
Several other guests were former senior members of the Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra cabinets; former foreign minister Kantathi Suphamongkol, former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt and former education minister Chaturon Chaisaeng.
Perhaps no one was moved more by the ambassador’s speech than the academics joining the event. Among them were peace advocate Gothom Arya from Mahidol University and Chulalongkorn University political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak and philosophy lecturer Kasem Phenpinant.
A few European ambassadors said they have yet to see progress in the country’s path toward restoring democracy.
They felt that the road map to restart the country’s administration announced by the military was welcome. Regardless of any promise of a highly functional and credible National Legislative Assembly, it was still far less satisfactory than representative democracy.
In the meantime, the coup critics who attended the party on Monday may have to wait until another foreign-organised function is held to find an excuse to “whine” and dine away from the watchful eyes of the military power holders.
Ready for the next step
Time is drawing near for a new government to materialise and speculation is intensifying about the possible cabinet line-up.
Many analysts believe it would not be unexpected to see key ministerial seats taken by men in uniform, particularly those in green.
Dapong: Tipped for Interior post
The speculated list of cabinet portfolios starts from the top. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) leader Prayuth Chan-ocha could become the prime minister as his name is highly likely to be put forward for the premiership by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) which is soon to be formed.
The 200-member NLA will include more than 50 incumbent and retired top brass.
ACM Prajin Juntong, the deputy NCPO chief in charge of economic affairs, has been approached by Gen Prayuth to “stay on” and assist the new cabinet. He could be offered the post of deputy prime minister.
Possibly set to occupy the Defence Ministry post is former defence minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the big brother of the powerful Surapha Payak (Tigers of the East) military clique to which Gen Prayuth belongs, according to a highly placed military source.
However, he could turn down the post as it is felt he would much rather remain as chairman of the NCPO advisory council.
The active organiser of the cabinet line-up is none other than Gen Dapong Rattanasuwan, the former deputy army chief and a close friend of Gen Prayuth. He is currently the NCPO’s advisory council secretary-general.
To the NCPO inner circle, Gen Dapong has all the requisites to fill the post of interior minister. An administrative powerhouse, Interior is among the A-list ministries with sweeping powers to oversee local and provincial administrations. Gen Dapong was the brain that engineered the May 22 coup.
One source, however, thinks Gen Dapong may bypass his chance to be a minister and let assistant army chief Gen Paiboon Kumchaya, who is also head of the NCPO’s legal and justice affairs division, take the Interior post instead.
Gen Paiboon is a close aide to Gen Dapong.
Another possible candidate for an important cabinet seat is Gen Chatchai Sarikallaya, an assistant army chief and NCPO deputy chief for economic affairs. He could be groomed for the post of commerce minister.
Gen Yodyuth Boonyathikarn, the former chief of the army’s air defence command and another of Gen Prayuth’s trusted aides, could make the cut for agriculture minister. Gen Yodyuth’s brother, Lt Gen Pichit Boonyathikarn, could also get a shot at becoming the next head of the Government Lottery Office.
In addition, Supreme Commander Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, who is due to go into mandatory retirement at the end of September, may be in line for the post of foreign affairs minister. He is currently deputy chief of the NCPO and the council chief for security affairs.
However, a source in the army said Gen Prayuth may also consider a civilian candidate to be foreign minister and the jackpot could land in the lap of former Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan.
In the meantime, well-known figures will be enlisted to join the new government’s economic team. Names which have popped up within the circles of people in the know include former central bank governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, former finance minister and deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak, and former commerce minister Narongchai Akrasanee.