Finally, last week, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha halfheartedly admitted, for the first time since he took over the government's administration more than three years ago, that he is a politician, but not without reminding all of us that he is not just any politician -- but a politician who used to be a soldier.
His belated acknowledgment did not come as a big surprise to many of us, myself included. He has been a politician for quite some time -- a fact that he persistently denied until last week probably because of his contempt for politicians in general and for the wording "politician".
His upcountry visits in recent months where he was seen enjoying ramwong dances with local women and partaking in activities with the villagers as well as his meetings with groups of former MPs in Sukhothai and Suphan Buri, and the chance meeting with the Sasomsap political family at their golf course in Ratchaburi, speak volumes of the behavioural pattern of a typical Thai politician.
Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.
His desire and that of his "band of brothers in green" to stay on in power for, who knows how many years to come, supposedly stems from a desire to protect the country from the likes of the predatory professional politicians that this country has seen in the past several decades.
What makes a politician who used to be a soldier stand out from other politicians with former lives, such as a policeman turned politician, or former businessman, academic, journalist, political activist or farmer?
I don't see any difference. The background of a politician may prove to be an asset when he or she is put in the right job that fits the background. But that does not guarantee they will turn out to be a good politician as envisioned by many of us, with honesty as the top priority, followed by efficiency, wisdom and other qualifications.
Sadly, honesty was treated in an insulting manner by past governments which tended to admire smartness and efficiency more. Corruption was rampant and became a norm as the economy prospered. Hence, the slogan: "Corruption is OK, so long as we get something."
There is nothing new about a politician with a military background. There were many of them in the past, among them Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon, Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang ... the list goes on and on.
But only a few them have left behind a good memory of their record of honesty and impressive performance.
If Prime Minister Prayut really wants to not be an ordinary politician as he perceives himself to be, then he should show it to us now without having to wait until someone pulls a chariot in front of his house and extends him an invitation card to be the next "outsider" prime minister.
What this country needs is clean and uncorrupt politicians. This is an old and chronic problem which will never be resolved. But it can be contained and kept under control to a certain limit if corrupt politicians or officials are not in positions of power.
The prime minister should have realised why his popularity has declined and many of his supporters have abandoned him. Privy Council president Gen Prem hit the nail right on the head when he warned the prime minister at a year-end meeting that he had used up his reserves, but new reserves will rally to his support if he shows them his good wishes.
The scandal regarding the pricey wristwatches of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, which is now the subject of an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, has eroded public trust and confidence of Gen Prayut's administration.
The CSI-LA Facebook page, a pro-Thaksin whistle-blowing outlet in Los Angeles, according to Gen Prayut's loyalists, has recently come up with the 17th pricey wristwatch seen on the general's wrist.
Whether this is fabricated and blown out of proportion, as claimed by Prayut's loyalists, is anybody's guess. But the key issue at stake is why Gen Prawit didn't declare his collection of wristwatches to the NACC in the first place?
If his memory is still functioning, the prime minister should be able to recall his announcement making suppression of corruption the first priority task of his administration. I have no doubt of the prime minister's honesty and his good wishes towards the country and its people. But that alone does not suffice. He must show he does not condone corruption in his administration too. Otherwise, he is just another politician, despite his being an old soldier.
One more thing: a good politician must play by the democratic rule of the game -- that is, he must have the consent of the people to represent them in the parliament. And the worldwide standard practice is through the election process.
