TRT Faction Enlists Democrat Support

Denials have been issued by TRT party officials, including the PM, that there is any discord within the ruling party. However, the Bangkok Post reports that the Wang Nam Yom faction has turned to Democrat MP Vallop Thaineua for information that could incriminate current Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan in the 900 million baht Public Health Ministry computer procurement scandal, which took place while Mrs Sudarat was Public Health Minister. Dr. Vallop had been permanent secretary at the ministry but was removed by the minister over the scandal.

The move against Sudarat came after she raised suspicions about corruption in the Agriculture Ministry while it was the portfolio of Somsak Thepsuthin, a member of the Wang Nam Yom faction and currently Tourism and Sports minister. Perhaps Mrs. Sudarat never heard the one about people in glass houses.

Meanwhile, party official Vichit Plangsrikul has petitioned the TRT ethics panel to investigate deputy PM Pramual Rujanaseri, a Wang Nam Yen member, for writing a book seen as critical of PM Thaksin - exactly how being critical of Thaksin is something relevant to an ethics panel is apparently something on those inside the TRT can understand. The move by Vichit is salt in the wound inflicted in the earlier conflict between Wang Nam Yen and Thaksin loyalists when the PM removed faction leader Snoh Thienthong as chief party whip, naming him "honorary" chief party whip instead. Snoh said at the time that he found the title "insulting".

All this internal conflict may be encouraging to opponents of the Thai Rak Thai, but could it simply be a TRT plot to divert attention away from the real opposition (the Democrats). I can imagine Thaksin claiming that the country does not need an opposition party since there is so much debate and opposition within the TRT itself!

If not, Thaksin will need to enforce some discipline soon, before his creation starts coming apart at the seams.