On 17 March 2009, PPT reported on an alleged political campaign that involved an opposition strategy to bring down the government, co-ordinated with the foreign media in a to restore the “Thaksin regime”. A Democrat Party spokesman was cited in The Nation: “Thaksin himself was working with foreign individuals and organisations in his campaign for a political comeback. Moreover, mainstream and underground media were being used to undermine the country’s credibility, said the spokesman. He said the working group was particularly concerned about the use of foreign media in questioning Thailand’s justice system and infringement on royal power.”
Now this claim has been taken up by the military. The Bangkok Post (19 March 2009: “Army to root out Taksin plan”) reports that the army is investigating a so-called “Taksin plan” (the name being taken from the king overthrown and killed to establish the current Chakri dynasty) that aims to create chaos.
Army chief, former coup conspirator and midwife of the current Democrat-led government General Anupong Paojinda said he “knew of the plan, which was exposed by the Democrat party, but he did not know the details.” The Bangkok Post adds that the “Taksin plan is said to be a conspiracy aimed at overthrowing the government, the army leadership and important institutions in the country.”
Further, it is reported that Anupong “said those who had thoughts of doing anything bad to the nation, its religion, the royal institution or the people were certanly not good people. They should immediately put a stop to their plans and actions for the sake of the country…”.
Meanwhile, spokesman for the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Nattawut Saikua said he had “no knowledge of any Taksin plan. He did not undestand why the claimed plot should be be linked to the UDD and its red-shirt supporters. He also questioned Gen Anupong’s investigation of the so-called conspiracy.He wondered just why the army commander-in-chief was taking so much interest in the plot when there was so still no information at all about it.”
While this recalls the People’s Alliance for Democracy’s story of a so-called Finland Plot, one of the interesting aspects of this situation is that while Prime Minister Aphisit Vejjajiva has been going around to the international media (allegedly part of the “plot”) telling them that things are under control and calm in Thailand. For domestic consumption the line seems to be that there are plots and schemes to overthrow the government. The press is full of such stories and allegations and the political temperature remains high.
At the same time, Abhisit has claimed numerous times that he is opposed to inappropriate uses of lèse majesté law, his own party continues to use the specter of republicanism and plots against the monarchy for political purposes.
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