Rift between Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties re-emerges

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Rift between Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties re-emerges

Published: 9/02/2010 at 04:49 PM
Online news: Politics

The rift between the Democrat Party and its major coalition partner Bhumjaithai re-emerged on Tuesday when a spokesman demanded the prime minister's party explain just why it wants to review his party's dust-free roads project.

Bhumjaithai spokesman Suphachai Jaisamut said the Democrat Party must produce acceptable reasons before his party will agree to a deferral of the project.

Mr Suphachai was responding to comments by Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs Trairong Suwannakhiri that the 24.5 billion baht project to seal a network of provincial roads would be reviewed.

Mr Trairong said the dust-free road project, a part of the Thai Khem Kaeng economic stimulus package worth 800 billion baht over the next five years, would neither bring in revenue nor strengthen the country’s trade competitiveness.

He said the nation should spend the money it borrows on large projects which benefit the people in the long run.

“I believe that was only Mr Trairong's personal opinion," Mr Supachai said.

"But if the project is to be scrapped, the deputy prime minister must provide good reasons. The dust-free road project is aimed at building a foundation for the country. It is not aimed at boosting the country’s gross domestic product,” the party spokesman said.

Mr Suphachai said a review of the projectwould not lead to conflict between the two parties.

Bhumjaithai leader and Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul said he had not yet discussed the matter with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

However, if development projects were to be put on hold, it should not be only the projects under the supervision of the Bhumjaithai Party that are affected.

Projects backed by the other coalition parties should also be reviewed, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit said he was unaware of any plan by coalition partner Chart Thai Pattana Party to join force with the opposition Puea Thai Party to form a new government with Maj Gen Sanan Kachornprasart as prime minister, as speculated by news reports.

“I have no idea about this and do not think Mr Banharn (Silpa-archa, chief adviser of Chartthai Pattana) will try to change the political,” Mr Abhisit said on Tuesday.

He also denied he had discussed the proposed charter amendments with some key figures of the junior coalition partners while having lunch at the 55th birthday party of Suwat Liptapanlop, a key member of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party, this afternoon.

Mr Abhisit said the leader of Social Action leader and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti would arrange a meeting of all key members of the six coalition partners soon to discuss the charter issue.

The luncheon meeting was held at Mr Suwat’s Bangkok residence. It lasted about two hours but no key figures from the Chart Thai Pattana or Bhumjaithai parties attended the event.

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Bubba

Discussion 12 : 10/02/2010 at 11:21 PM12
SUPATTANA #11: Please correct me if I misunderstand you. Basically I hear you saying "everybody should just shut up, do as they are expected to do and everything will be fine and dandy."

It may not be productive to have politicians bickering and fighting over money and who will get bigger slices of cake. But nor is democracy what you suggest, the total absence of confrontation.

The latter is what the coup makers now want, for everyone to just shut their mouths and pretend all is well in the kingdom.
supattana

Discussion 11 : 10/02/2010 at 03:16 PM11
The Cabinet should decide on which projects should be viable and not being dictated by political parties. Such greedy and selfish practices would continue to dog political differences and disagreements to the detriment of the people,the country and monarchy they represent.What is the point of having a democracy,when politicains are always at each other throat all the time.
Bubba

Discussion 10 : 10/02/2010 at 03:05 PM10
F V #9: 'Every project or assignment must be backed up and supported by valid statistics and data'

FV this is Thailand, not Sweden...

Projects are undertaken when the right people get their palms greased, not for the sake of the people and, as you put it, the sake of the kingdom.

If the so-called coalition parties revoke their support for the current democrat-run (in other words military puppet) government, it would fall like a house of cards.

BTW the Bhumjaithai is a party of turncoats that betrayed their voters by voting in the democrats, in return for being awarded high (lucrative?) governmental positions.

Do not though confuse this issue to mean the democrats are "democratic". They may had some democratic ideals but chucked those out the window when deal-making time came around.
Frequent Visitor

Discussion 9 : 10/02/2010 at 01:12 PM9
Every project or assignment must be backed up and supported by valid statistics and data. The end results should see benefits going to the people and the kingdom. So it should not be Mr. Trairong to justify the review of the project but more on Bhumjaithai to convince us with relevant statistics and data that the project brings benefits to the people and the kingdom.
Bubba

Discussion 8 : 10/02/2010 at 12:27 PM8
SOMBOON #6: 'Yes, building a foundation for the country. But what kind of foundation? Corruption foundation? We Thais do not need anymore of that.'

That's right, Thais have had to live with corruption far too long; many decades of this.

So, if you want to live without "so much" corruption...you have a choice. Get rid of the generals or move to another country.

BTW I would image the concept of 'dust free roads', a concept, and not just roads free (or not) of dust.
Bubba

Discussion 7 : 10/02/2010 at 02:03 AM7
Ricefield I hope you are right. Although it promises another set of difficulties still it would be the slap in the face the current government deserves.

Hyperinflation: Absolutely right. A road network that would bring people together and make them more reachable is important. Their own physical access to the outside world i not to be ignored either.

But possibly (symbolically for sure but in fact, also) the current government now feels these remote poor have attained too much in way of communication and contact with the outside world. Keeping them stuck away in their inaccessible little villages probably makes the current government feel safer. They speak of uniting the people but in reality they only want the millions of poor to accept their lot and stay close to their fields.

A better road network actually would unite the people both symbolically and for practical purposes. But the majority are already making themselves heard and felt. I hope they will soon win the day and take their place within the nation and also receive their fair share of the wealth.
Somboon

Discussion 6 : 10/02/2010 at 01:29 AM6
"But if the project is to be scrapped, the deputy prime minister must provide good reasons. The dust-free road project is aimed at building a foundation for the country. It is not aimed at boosting the country’s gross domestic product,” the Bhumjaithai Party spokesman Suphachai said.

Yes, building a foundation for the country. But what kind of foundation? Corruption foundation? We Thais do not need anymore of that.

As a professional transportation engineer for 29 years and spent several years on roads, including a master thesis on road design and construction, I have never come across a "dust-free" road. There are 3 types of pavements/roads---concrete, asphalt, and composite (a mixture of both, even thoguh it is not really composite). I still do not know what a "dust-free" road is. I believe it is a fancy terminology to make Sohpon and his cronies at the Transportation Ministry look good.

Yes, it may be "dust-free," but for how long? Asphalt pavements/roads are "dust-free" also, but for not very long and they last about 10 years depending on specifications and quality controls.

I have repeatedly stated at the beginning of the Abhisit Administration that everyone have got to keep their eyes on the Transportation Ministry since this is where the Mega Baht is, I still state so.

The Bhumjaithai has been threatening to quit for quite sometimes now. Let them, please, but do not give them any more monies. All these coalition partners are waiting for the billion of baht from the Thai Khem Khaeng program. Once they got it, they would split.

The Bhumjaithai foundation is corrupt to the core!
Hyperinflation

Discussion 5 : 10/02/2010 at 12:20 AM5
Anyone who has ever had to drive to any of the myriad villages in the Northeast accessible only via dusty or muddy dirt roads knows how necessary this project is. Is there corruption involved? Almost certainly. But cancelling such a necessary project is extremely short sighted, especially at a time when the Democrats need to redouble their efforts to reach out to the traditional support base of the Puea Thai.

People living in these villages have been listening to false promises for decades from every government about how they are going to get paved roads, always to be given nothing other than more empty promises and hopes for "next year".

These poor people are running out of "next years" Do not be so stupid as to cancel this project. Minimizing corruption is always a worthy goal, but cancelling critical infrastructure projects to remote villages? That is just plain stupid.
ricefieldradio

Discussion 4 : 09/02/2010 at 11:52 PM4
The Democrats have done an about face on the coalition with the slow and non action on the constitutional changes that were part of their agreement. Now the Government is dragging it's feet on the dustless road handout (Which is payola to get votes) to the BJT but was also part of their agreement. The non confidence vote is looking much better all the time for the PTP. My feeling is that one or more of the coalition parties will vote with the PTP to bring down the government.
planes trains and automobiles

Discussion 3 : 09/02/2010 at 09:16 PM3
Yep first it was buses, then trains and now cars that bhumjaithai is trying to scam money. This is not a new story but one that was put on hold while other things were settled first.

The democrats know that the small parties need constitutional change to be successful in an election so they have the other right where they want them. They will find holes in the dust free roads budget and exploit them to gain voter confidence for when the government does fall to pieces.

This is a classic case of getting your come up pense. Flip flop from taksins cronies to the other side just so you can keep doing the same thing. Problem is the democrats are just to clever at the moment.