Thailand needs a strong leader not a 'nice guy' PM

By Thepchai Yong

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was noted for his professionalism while he was in the armed forces.

He was a rare example of a military man who his subordinates and members of the public could look up to for integrity.

So, when he was chosen by the coup-makers to head a transitional government more than three months ago there were high expectations for him.

As a leader unbound by personal interests or ambitions, people expected he would energetically lead a clean-up of the country's political and bureaucratic messes that piled up during the five years that Thaksin Shinawatra and his ruling Thai Rak Thai Party were in power.

Surayud may not have the mandate of an elected prime minister, but he certainly has all the executive power necessary to push through programmes or changes that would help pave the way for the country's return to political normalcy. However, it is obvious that the interim government is not behaving with the sense of urgency and priority that is required during such a politically extraordinary time.

Instead, there seems to be a sense of drift and Surayud, despite his experience and commitment, doesn't look like someone in charge. His hands-off style of management could explain why he prefers to see each of the ministries under him pursue its own agenda. The result so far, however, has been an overall lack of vision concerning where the country is heading.

A lot of time and energy has been wasted by the unnecessary bickering over such issues as the proposed ban on alcohol advertisements, and whether the underground lottery should continue to remain legal. Surayud's apology to the southern Muslims for the mistakes of past governments has not been followed up with a coordinated effort to address the root causes of the insurgency.

Prasong Soonsiri, a former national security chief and a fervent anti-Thaksin crusader, best summed up the sentiments of many who feel disappointed with the Surayud government last week when he said, "Honesty - it's meaningless if it cannot be translated into work". A subsequent opinion poll that gave a general thumbs-down to the performance of the Surayud government only confirms this sense of disappointment.

Compounding the problem are the so-called "undercurrents" - active supporters of Thaksin - who are continuing to shake the political stability of the administration with their street protests and other less visible anti-government activities. The blasts that rocked Bangkok on New Year's Eve, which were blamed on "political losers" also resulted in a big blow to the public's confidence in the administration and the military.

Leadership is best tested in times of crisis and there seems to be a general consensus that Surayud's handling of his first crisis since he came to power was far below expectations. The bombings are the first fatal terror campaign that Bangkok has experienced in years.

While the investigation into the real motives behind the blasts is far from arriving at a conclusion, its immediate effects are evident. For the first time, Bangkokians do not feel safe. Some people are shunning the underground trains and department stores, which they fear may be potential targets for further violence. Their fears have been heightened by a spate of bomb hoaxes.

In times of crisis, people tend to rally around their leader, but it looks like frightened citizens now are having difficulty choosing who to turn to during this most distressing time.

Besides, the finger-pointing and subsequent verbal skirmishes between the Council for National Security (NSC) and former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, there has been little assurance that steps are being taken to make the public feel safe. And it doesn't help that Surayud last week came out to warn of more possible violence in the next two months without spelling out what his government would do to deal with it. Hence, the substantial plunge in the confidence that people have in his leadership.

The bombings should have provide Surayud with an opportunity to unite the people in the fight against the threats facing his administration, but he obviously failed to seize it.

While Surayud's three months in office have left much to be desired, it doesn't mean that he cannot change course and assert his leadership so that the remainder of his term will be more meaningful for the country's future. The prime minister still has enough credibility and the trust of the people required to get things done.

However, time is running out fast for the former Army commander-in-chief.

He has the choice of being remembered as a prime minister whose leadership was crucial in helping Thailand through its most difficult period, or as one whose integrity and past experience served only as good points on a resume.