Witch hunt for traitors

Also available as ควานหาตัวผู้ทรยศ

In a story that is becoming more bizarre by the hour, the Bangkok Post (20 October 2009: “Report the rumourmongers, says PM”) reports that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has now called on “people who know of those who helped circulate fallacious rumours about His Majesty’s health that led to the stock market sell-off last week to come forward” and tell the investigators at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Abhisit makes the ludicrous claim that the rumor mongers “were a threat to the country’s security…”.

The anti-Thaksin Shinawatra and mostly appointed “group of 40 senators” stated that ” people whose names start with ‘Y’ and ‘W’ or ‘V’ were behind the rumours.” They were asked by some pro-Thaksin people to produce evidence as all the initials are assumed to be Thaksin family and supporters. This is because it was “alleged the instigators were big investors in the stock market and have close ties with brothers of a former leader of the country.”

According to the Post, the “prime minister said the government would not interfere in the SEC’s investigation.” Then Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij “said he has asked the SEC to report on its investigation this week.” He added: “If the SEC can’t find the source of the rumours, then it must explain why….”.  That doesn’t sound like interference does it? Just a threat?

Somehow Korn thinks that an “explanation of the source of the rumours” will ” help restore investors’ confidence.” Maybe he should be thankful that the Thai authorities now know what might happen when the king does die and they can prepare for this instead of acting stupidly at that time. Foreign investors are unlikely to be reassured by a government that engages in royalist witch hunts.

But this is about politics and attacking Thaksin and anyone who is a supporter. It seems no coincidence that the government’s hysterical response comes as  Chavalit Yongchaiyudh joins the Puea Thai Party.