All those double standards

When special deals are done in the judicial system, with high-level influence, the double standards become glaringly obvious. There’s been lots of attention to the buffalo manure piled high in the Thaksin Shinawatra deal.

We guess that one of the thoughts that Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a Move Forward Party MP and chairman of the House committee on military affairs and Jirat Thongsuwan, another MFP MP may be to highlight double standards. As the Bangkok Post reports, Jirat is “calling for access to film Gen Prayut[h Chan-ocha]’s [taxpayer-funded, military supplied] residence to see how he is living now his time as prime minister has ended.”

The MFP had previously criticized Gen Prayuth’s use of the luxury villa in a Bangkok military compound when the general was unelected prime minister. Entitled to such pampering when army chief, he has “remained there despite leaving the premiership [to be made a privy councilor], citing security reasons.”

Wiroj’s committee is set to discuss this. But, of course, the suggestion “has drawn a backlash from critics.”

The United Thai Nation Party, created for Prayuth and soundly trounced in the election, but still a part of unelected Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s coalition, accused Jirat of “running the panel into disrepute for overstepping his mark.”

A Defense Ministry spokesperson went to the protection offered by the monarchy, and “said he was afraid it would not be appropriate to grant filming access to Gen Prayut’s residence as he now serves on the privy council and is a highly respected figure in the country.” That royal protection has been predicted.

Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a UTN deputy leader “insisted Gen Prayut should be left alone as he is no longer involved in politics.” Thanakorn also raised the politicized Constitutional Court’s ruling that the then “premier was rightfully occupying the house.” He says nothing about a former general, prime minister, and now privy councilor doing this.

The army continues to assert that Gen Prayuth “had complied with regulations governing the occupation of a military house.”

Is he? That seems to be the question. Reader’s will, of course, recall that Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, also a former general, prime minister, and privy councilor occupied a taxpayer-funded residence for much of his life from the 1980s. After he croaked, the military “gave” that house to the king who promptly had it demolished.