Who Died? Significance?

[FarangBha]

On Thai news TV last night a story covering a local funeral was on.

Guests of honor included both Prem and Thaksin. They were seated just a few pews from each other - with Thaksin behind he often looked towards Prem; Prem never turned around. Ex PM Suryad was seated somewhere in between.

So who was it that died? (Best i could hear from the TV was someones daughter had a significant connection to the whole thing).

And is there any significance in said parties being in the same room together?

[GWR]

General Anuphong's mother.


[Photos: Manager Online]

This rather strange 'test' piece turned up on my newsfeed late last night. I suspect the main significance was that Anuphong, Prem, Surayud, Thaksin and Prem were all in the same room. Samak had already been earlier in the afternoon/evening.The video seems to suggest that they didn't do much else other than shake hands and disappear after the ceremony, however. (1st evening of the funeral.) The manager pointedly says it was raining hard when thaksin arrived. Prem was already sat down in the front row at that point. I suppose thaksin was a bit late for the monk's prayers, so he snuck in at the back, and then waied Prem at the end.

Apparently, Thaksin's sister Yingluk turned up first to test the water so to speak. That led folks to think Thaksin wouldn't come. But he did! the photo above hides the fact that Thaksin is making a very humble 'wai' to Prem.

Here's that 'test video'. It works in my newsfeed, but the video doesn't appear to work in Firefox for some reason. I got it to work in Internet Explorer:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...l_30074370.php

See also this article which has lots of pictures from the funeral:
http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/Vi...=9510000062845

[GWR]

[Photo: Bangkok Post - Thaksin Shinawatra gives Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda a wai at the funeral rites for the mother of army commander Gen Anupong Paojinda Thursday night. It's the first time the two have met since the Sept 19, 2006 coup.]

General Anuphong's mother.


[Photos: Manager Online]

This rather strange 'test' piece turned up on my newsfeed late last night. I suspect the main significance was that Anuphong, Prem, Surayud, Thaksin and Prem were all in the same room. Samak had already been earlier in the afternoon/evening.The video seems to suggest that they didn't do much else other than shake hands and disappear after the ceremony, however. (1st evening of the funeral.) The manager pointedly says it was raining hard when thaksin arrived. Prem was already sat down in the front row at that point. I suppose thaksin was a bit late for the monk's prayers, so he snuck in at the back, and then waied Prem at the end.

Apparently, Thaksin's sister Yingluk turned up first to test the water so to speak. That led folks to think Thaksin wouldn't come. But he did! the photo above hides the fact that Thaksin is making a very humble 'wai' to Prem.

Here's that 'test video'. It works in my newsfeed, but the video doesn't appear to work in Firefox for some reason. I got it to work in Internet Explorer:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...l_30074370.php

See also this article which has lots of pictures from the funeral:
http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/Vi...=9510000062845

[GWR]

A rare photo-op
Published on May 31, 2008

A picture is worth a thousand words and that is certainly true of the "picture of the day" in local newspapers yesterday of a rare meeting between former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, taken at the funeral of Army Chief Anupong Paochinda's mother.

Thai Post not only used the photo of Thaksin giving Prem a wai on its front page, but also reported on the incident in its lead story.

It said that Thaksin unexpectedly showed up at Anupong's mother's funeral. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and former prime minister Surayud Chulanont and top military people were also present at the funeral.

Prem arrived at the temple at 6.50pm. A team of Thaksin's security people came in advance and informed those attending the funeral that Thaksin would be arriving shortly.

Thaksin arrived at around 7pm. Yingluck Shinawatra, who was already in the temple and sitting next to Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, went to greet him. Thaksin later entered the pavilion, greeting both Prem and Surayud with a wai. Later, Thaksin spoke with Prem, who responded with a few words.

After the funeral, reporters asked Thaksin if everything was okay. Thaksin didn't reply.

The picture was played up on the front page of several key newspapers. Thai Rath's caption read, "Thaksin talked to Prem and Surayud for five minutes". Matichon's caption read, "The incident was the first meeting between Thaksin and Prem since the coup in September in 2006". Naew Na said "Thaksin 'wais' Prem".

Coincidentally perhaps, most newspapers ran the photo of Prem and Thaksin alongside big stories on PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair's fate following the controversial remarks he made at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand last year. Naew Na said in a lead story that Jakrapob could be subject to a maximum jail term of 15 years if convicted of lese majeste. Matichon and Thai Rath predicted that Jakrapob would have to resign after the police charged him with this crime.

The rest is history as Jakrapob announced his resignation yesterday.

..........

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...n_30074416.php

Did Thaksin Shinawatra's wai to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda have any political implications?
Published on May 31, 2008

"The wai is a Thai traditional way for a junior person to pay respect to someone senior.

I don't want to interpret his action. I'm no longer his adviser. It was traditional. There were no political implications."

Noppadon Pattama
Foreign Minister

"I don't feel there was any significance. They did not speak other than to give a common greeting. However, the public may see it as an attempt to improve his image, but I don't think it will have any effect on the country's politics. They are not related."

Banyat Bantadtan
Democrat Party Deputy Chief Adviser

"They should be able to leave their old scores behind. Time may help things to be better understood. We are Buddhists, so we should forgive each other. I don't mean who is right and who is wrong, but things that disturb their minds should disappear. "

Boonsrang Niumpradit
Armed Forces Supreme Commander

"It was good for them to meet each other. It shows Thaksin's modesty. You must show respect to senior figures. I don't know what they talked about, but it may not have been about politics, because Thaksin has clearly announced he will not return to politics."

Somchai Wongsawat
Education Minister

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...s_30074442.php

[GWR]

See pictures in earlier posts


[Photo: The Nation - Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, right, attended the funeral of Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda’s mother on Thursday evening. Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda is seated far left, next to former premier Surayud Chulanont.]

Read their lips
By Daily Xpress
Published on May 31, 2008

'Daily Xpress' chief photographer Thawechai Jaowattana gives us a first-hand account of the encounter between Privy Council head Prem Tinsulanonda and former PM Thaksin Shinawatra at Wat Sommanat

I was assigned to the funeral of the mother of Army chief Anupong Paochinda at Sommanat temple on Thursday.

There was speculation in the afternoon that former PM Thaksin might attend. Thaksin and Anupong were classmates. I was on tenterhooks to see if Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda came too, as it would be the first time they had met since the September 19, 2006 coup.

What tipped me off that Thaksin would come was his sister Yingluk arriving at the temple at 4pm for the Royal bathing rites.

After this she left and returned in the evening, bringing a wreath from Thaksin and his wife Pojaman.

Prem arrived at around 6.50pm, followed by Privy Councillor and former PM Surayud Chulanont, who carried the Royal wreath.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung arrived later. He immediately gave a chest-high wai to Prem. The two had a 15-minute conversation.

Testing the waters

I think Chalerm was Thaksin's advance man. Chalerm mentioned the two hadn't met this closely since 1989. Chalerm told Prem he looked young and healthy. Prem replied he was old and moved slowly. Prem teased Chalerm that he was as handsome as ever.

I was thrilled when Thaksin arrived at 7.05pm, five minutes after the monks had started chanting. I think he was waiting near the temple until Prem arrived and then followed.

I think Thaksin wanted to make sure he would meet Prem.

I was told someone had hinted to Prem that Thaksin would be there. Speculation had been rife since Yingluk's appearance.

Thaksin's guards were at the temple 10 minutes before he arrived. Anupong went to greet Thaksin as he took a seat in the second row behind Prem and Surayud in the pavilion. It convinced me that Anupong knew Thaksin was coming. I think Anupong was the middleman in arranging this meeting.

After the rites were over, Thaksin walked directly to Surayud and gave him a wai. Surayud had a brief conversation and tapped Thaksin on the arm before leaving.

The highlight of the night was when Thaksin walked directly to Prem and gave him a wai. They were together for no more than 15 seconds.

Thaksin maintained a wai all the time. Prem said nothing.

Looking for coverage

I think Thaksin wanted pictures of this meeting to be the talk of the town and wanted the news media to do the job. However, he failed.

About a hundred reporters and photographers were forced out of the pavilion. We had to wait outside and couldn't hear what they said. We saw what was going on through the glass, though.

From what lip-reading I could do I think Thaksin said: "Hello. I'm sorry."

I checked the next day with a military source, who said Thaksin had told Prem he was "sorry for everything".

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...s_30074453.php

WHISPERED APOLOGY TO PREM
'Easing of political tension'
By The Nation
Published on May 31, 2008

No implications now; analysts debate meaning of Thaksin's gesture

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra offered an apology to Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda during their brief meeting on Thursday evening at Wat Sommanat.

"I am sorry for all that has happened," Thaksin was quoted by a military source as telling Prem.

Thaksin made a sudden appearance at Wat Sommanat, where a funeral ceremony was being held for the mother of Army commander-in-chief General Anupong Paochinda. He greeted Prem with a wai. Prem simply stood still with his face grim and listened to Thaksin. The only words that Prem said to Thaksin were: "Maybe later."

The meeting between Prem and Thaksin, with the Army chief acting as a moderator, signalled the hovering political tension might be easing somewhat, but Thaksin is still facing a big threat from the possible dissolution of the People Power Party (PPP) over alleged election frauds and from the seizure of Bt76 billion worth of his assets, not to mention additional corruption charges against him.

Thaksin's supporters have been attacking Prem for two years, accusing the statesman of masterminding the September 2006 military coup. However, Thaksin's meeting with Prem represents the latest twist in the political developments that most people earlier feared might take a turn for the worse.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has been rallying for the uprooting of the Thaksin regime, using the government's attempt to rewrite the Constitution, and now its failure to tackle the troubled economy, as a pretext. The PAD said the charter amendments were aimed at nullifying the agencies that were now working on the corruption cases against Thaksin.

Yesterday, eight members of Parliament withdrew their signatures on a motion filed to amend the Constitution, but a PPP meeting insisted it had decided to keep the option of amending the Constitution open, although it might have to wait for the results of a referendum first.

PM' Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair yesterday resigned from his office under pressure from the government and his party. The police will pursue lese-majeste charges against him.

Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the meeting between Thaksin and Prem carried no political ramifications, because Thaksin had announced he would not return to politics, while Prem himself was not involved in politics.

"So the meeting does not have any implications," he said.

At first, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama declined to comment on Thaksin's paying respect to Prem, saying he was still serving as Thaksin's personal lawyer. But when he was asked further whether Thaksin's wai had any political implications, Noppadon said: "No, there were no political implications, only cultural and religious ones."

A Democrat party executive, who asked not to be named, said: "When people meet at a funeral, they wai. That's normal."

However, Thaksin took the opportunity to show the performance to the public. He knew that everyone, including prominent public figures, would be there and that the media would certainly play up his display.

"It was Thaksin's show," he said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008...s_30074449.php

[Wisarut]

Ekkayut and teh gang weekly commentaries

Ee Phen has to resign in disgraceful manner due to the order from Ai Samak who see Ee Phen as a loose cannon. Ai samak also withdraw the constitution amendaments to save his own skin from being scarpled by PAD.

However, UDD men including AI Jatuporn still protects E Phenn at all cost. Furthermore, UDD men are tryign to reendorse constitution amendaments .. to please his big boss (Ai maew).

Now, Ai Maew was makign another show ... Initially, he would not go the funeral of Big Pok's mother (Ai Maew's friend). However, he changed his mind when he knew that Papa Prem was coming. Ai maew wanted to fool the public at large that he had made a reconcilation with Papa prem.

However, papa Prem has given Ai maew a Frigid Look -> a sure sign that Papa Prem NEVER forgive what Ai maew and UDD Men (Ai Maew's men) had done to him.

Nevertheless, Ai Maew has asked camera crews to take a photo in different angles to show that Papa prem has forgiven him.

For the case of PAD, Ekkayut has pointed out that soem of PAD heads want to end the demonstration ... by askign Ai Samak to pay for them ... at the price of 10-digit in Baht denomination (a billion Baht payment). However, Ai Samak said the governemnt can pay ONLy at 9-digit figure (a hundred million Baht payment).

Therefore, Ai Samak had made a talk show on Saturday morning that he will ask police to sent paramilitary to suppress those PAD demonstrators ... ready to fire M16 bullets to them.

So far, PAD demonstators has only about 10,000 demostrators ... but he tried to FOOL the public that there are 100,000 demonstrators - nearly rival to 14 October 1973 demonstration. ... by useing panoramic carama ..

FOr the case of Big Pok, he has reshuffled 98 Majors ... while Ai maew has whister that

Big Pok, after Papa Prem is GONE, I'm gogin to take care of you ...

However, the Frigid looks of Papa Prem would keep Big Pok to portect Papa prem for sure ... and Papa prem is going to ask Big Pok to CUT DOWN Ai Maew, UDD men and co. instead.

This will be possible in the next 2 weeks ...

http://thaiinsider.info/portal/content/view/8609/23/