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Thaksin's motives a tangled web
Source - Bangkok Post (Eng)
Monday, January 29, 2007 10:43
In the latest instalment of Thaksin Shinawatra's well-planned and
well-calculated political drama to make a comeback into Thai politics, Mr
Thaksin's legal counsel, Noppadon Pattama, held a press conference on Jan 20
publicly denying that Mr Thaksin had hired US-based lobbying firm Barbour,
Griffith and Rogers (BGR) to counter statements made by Prime Minister
Surayud Chulanont's government.
Mr Noppadon further claimed that Mr Thaksin's motive for hiring one of
America's most influential lobbying firms was simple: the ousted leader
wanted the firm to assess news and information concerning the situation in
Thailand after the Sept 19 coup.
So the implication was, in fact, that Mr Thaksin had hired the firm after
his fall from grace on Sept 19.
Not being one who takes the words of Mr Thaksin and his cronies with much
seriousness, I decided to do some research of my own.
Unsurprisingly, I unearthed a lobbying registration form filed by BGR under
the US Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and received by the secretary of
senate of the US Office of Public Records. Although the record was received
by the office on Nov 10, the effective date of the registration document was
in actual fact Sept 7 _ a full 12 days before the coup that brought Mr
Thaksin down.
More importantly, the document states BGR was hired by Mr Thaksin to
"provide guidance and counsel with regard to Thaksin's interest in
Washington, DC and abroad".
The form also lists an Ambassador Robert Blackwill _ a deputy national
security adviser and deputy assistant to President George W. Bush _ as one
of three lobbyists working for Mr Thaksin... Alas, the plot thickens.
The information thus far reveals many discrepancies in Mr Noppadon's
statements and even more obscurity in Mr Thaksin's real motives.
The following questions need to be asked in order to make transparent Mr
Thaksin's latest political plan.
First, why was there a need for Mr Thaksin to hire a US lobbying firm to
represent him while he was still serving as prime minister of Thailand?
As the effective date of the lobbying registration document was dated Sept
7, it can only be concluded that Mr Thaksin had sought the help of BGR to
defend his political interest at a time when his political career was most
vulnerable and not after his political demise, as Mr Noppadon has asserted.
Second, what was the nature of the work and service rendered by BGR and do
BGR's operations conflict with Thailand's national interests?
As it is clearly stated that the scope of BGR's work would be in Washington,
DC _ the US centre of power and influence _ one has to wonder what specific
interests Mr Thaksin was guarding so zealously. Why did a Thai prime
minister have to go to the trouble of hiring foreign lobbyists to represent
him?
Worse, what if the interests that Mr Thaksin was guarding were in conflict
with Thailand's national interests? Given Mr Thaksin's past record with
conflicts of interest, it would be wise to be especially suspicious of his
motives in such circumstances.
Third, why was there a need for Mr Thaksin to hire one of the most expensive
and well-connected lobbyist firms in the US?
One of BGR's co-founders, Haley Barbour, widely recognised as one of the
best-paid lobbyists in the country, is also a former chairman of the
Republican Party. However, since Mr Barbour is currently serving as governor
of Mississippi he is legally prohibited from representing Mr Thaksin.
This brings us back to Ambassador Blackwill, one of the three principals at
BGR who have been detailed to Mr Thaksin.
Prior to lobbying for Mr Thaksin, Ambassador Blackwill, as well as serving
as deputy assistant to the president and as deputy national security adviser
for strategic planning, was ambassador to India and presidential envoy to
Iraq under President Bush.
It is widely believed that Ambassador Blackwill shared seats with Mr Bush on
Air Force One during the 2004 presidential elections and at one point even
challenged Condoleezza Rice for the position of national security adviser.
It is important to identify some of the personalities behind BGR in order to
speculate on the nature and significance of the work they have been assigned
to do for Mr Thaksin.
One would need a very wild imagination to picture Ambassador Blackwill
collecting news clippings about Thailand's political situation from the
Washington Post's international section, as Mr Thaksin's proxy shamelessly
claimed.
In conclusion, it is the responsibility of the Thai government to provide
the public with full disclosure on this matter. The Thai government must
also use its diplomatic channels to appeal for information from the US
embassy in Bangkok and from the US government in Washington. Lobbying in the
US is a very sensitive issue that is governed by strict laws, especially
when it involves a foreign entity and politics.
The US government must clarify its relationship with Thailand by proving
that our bilateral relationship is based on mutual national interest, not
upon the interest of certain lobbying groups that have special rapport with
Mr Bush.
On the part of the Thai public, we must demand the truth from Mr Thaksin
once and for all, as he had brought this circumstance upon himself while
still serving as prime minister of Thailand and while earning a salary from
taxpayers.
If there was ever a time to say "enough is enough" with Mr Thaksin's lies
and deception, that time would be right about now.
Korbsak Sabhavasu is treasurer and executive committee member of the
Democrat party. He can be contacted via his website at: www.korbsak.com
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