Is karma gradually catching up with Thaksin?

[WorldFun]

I kinda like todays oppinion piece from Nation:

 

"SIDELINES

Karma gradually catching up with Thaksin

 

Ambiguity over his political future is the latest ploy of Thaksin Shinawatra to create confusion among friends and foes alike, prompting Thai Rak Thai Party members to reaffirm that their boss is definitely in the running for the premiership.

 

Was the ambiguity intended, or actually a reflection of Thaksin's uncertainty about his own future amid mounting pressure and adversity threatening his political survival and family business?

 

His eroding popularity among rural grass-roots villagers was evident from the much smaller gatherings at his pep talk rallies under the guise of routine inspection trips. It would have been tens of thousands of people giving rousing welcome to the man who excels in pork-barrel politics and populist policies.

 

Thaksin's incoherence is a mixture of bravado and daunting signs. Such mood swings have become more frequent with the growing pressure from all sides. The more notable of his setbacks was the declarations of several Cabinet members that they would opt out of government after the general election.

 

Such desertion has long been expected among Thaksin's cronies, who seek self-preservation rather than sharing a ruinous end to the Thaksin regime, now threatened by a series of legal charges against the man as prime minister and in his personal capacity. The prospects of survival are not rosy at all if the wheel of justice turns the way the law dictates.

 

The Thaksin regime is falling apart. It's just a matter of time. The only consolation for Thaksin could be the soothsaying of fortune-tellers, who want thick wads of banknotes in return for pleasing the ears of the beleaguered politicians. Apart from that his big money, billions of baht, is not of much help these days.

 

Blow after blow forcing him to retreat and accept the fact of a corroding power base is having a strong effect on Thaksin's nerves. He has to stay on simply because he has no other choice. Not even a graceful exit.

 

Quitting would certainly lead to a breakup of the Thai Rak Thai Party. Loss of power would surely invite reprisal and vengeance from those who have suffered from abuse of power and the exercise of dark influence. The souls of thousands and thousands of the victims of extrajudicial killings are crying for justice.

 

Thaksin is becoming more vulnerable as the days pass. Talk about desertion by his cronies and the strong likelihood of the party getting the axe for misdeeds in the previous poll are the main causes for extreme anxiety. If the October 15 general election is eventually postponed by several weeks, the fate of Thai Rak Thai and of the party's leader will be really critical.

 

Thaksin does not want any further delay. Time is crucial. He wants the remaining grass-roots support to carry him again to Government House with a mandate and legitimacy. This will enable him to deal with critics and those against his regime, not to mention providing more opportunities for wealth creation and other self-serving interests.

 

Remaining in power will also enable him to explore ways to survive criminal charges and civil cases, using unlimited resources to the optimum. If adversity disappears together with the pipsqueaks of protestors, Thaksin can rule with an iron fist, especially if he has no care about the international community.

 

Such a possibility during his peak period has now become merely wishful thinking. Despite his insistence on holding the general election so that the people can decide the future of the country, the signs are becoming clearer that October 15 will not be the day.

 

Karma is catching up with him, some people say. That's why things are not going the way he wants. The sale of Shin Corp stocks to Temasek Holdings of Singapore now stinks with evidence of serious lawbreaking, which could result in all concessions for TV, cell-phone and satellite business operations reverting to the state.

 

If that happens, the great fortune of the Shinawatra family will be reduced to nothing, except for the massive assets already stashed in safe places abroad to ensure a luxurious lifestyle if the clan has to leave the country in a hurry.

 

What's more, the Bt73-billion deal not been consummated, pending the second payment from Temasek. Top revenue officials are being hounded by the Auditor General to provide a credible explanation as to why no income was levied on the transaction.

 

Thaksin is in hot water himself as he faces a criminal case filed by an American businessman whom he wrongly accused. The man is back with a vengeance and wants Thaksin to lose his freedom of movement.

 

When all these things are added up, they are weighty enough to account for Thaksin's erratic and incoherent behaviour, plus the occasional mood swings with displays of increasing vulnerability. But don't count him out yet. He will be around for some more weeks, or months, though he faces a grave situation with waning credibility.

 

He might have lost some power, but surely not yet the flair for creating enemies, many of them converted from being friends and supporters. If his rogue cronies cannot stand him, who can?

 

Sopon Onkgara"