Yesterday at the ANU, scholars, students, guests and embassy officials enjoyed another of Medhi Krongkaew’s discussions on the state of Thai politics. Medhi, whose day-job is with the National Counter Corruption Commission, gave a day-by-day summary of the red-shirt protests that took place in Bangkok between 8 and 14 April. According to Medhi, Abhisit’s handling of the crisis was both “lucky and good”: Abhisit insisted that the security forces strictly follow the rules of engagment and by peacfully resolving the crisis was able to regain much of the stature he had lost after the ASEAN debacle in Pattaya.

Medhia attributed the ongoing political conflict largely to a personal struggle between current Prime Minister Abhisit and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (who, by the way, can be compared with Hitler who was also elected). This will be a difficult conflict to resolve, partly because calls for amnesty or constitutional reform are likely to be vigorously opposed by the yellow shirts.

Nevertheless, Medhi ended on a relatively positive note arguing that political peace can come to Thailand if the law is followed strictly and judges are permitted to do their jobs independantly.

In response to several questions which raised the issue of the monarchy in the political crisis, Medhi vigorously asserted that the king had no role in politics and made a plea that we all just “leave him alone.”

But what about “her” and “him junior”?

If any of the other attendees have additional, or alternative, thoughts on the presentation please post them here.