Thread: Condom hat symbolises ineffectual govt, Pheu Thai MP says

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011...-30147918.html

Condom hat symbolises ineffectual govt, Pheu Thai MP says

By The Nation
Published on February 4, 2011

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's sporting of a hat made of prophylactics a few months ago was testimony to his government's haphazard approach to addressing critical issues, an opposition MP said yesterday.

"Aids is also a big problem. But I have never seen any prime minister trying to solve the problem by wearing condoms on his head," Prasit Chaiwiratana, a Pheu Thai MP from Chaiyaphum, said during a House meeting.The government appeared to be running the country blindly, as many problems remained unresolved, including the widespread drug trade, poor education, commonplace abortions, and costly consumer products and food.

It was high time to dissolve the House, he said.

Abhisit had appeared with a wide-brim hat decorated with condoms of various hues during a function to mark World Aids Day in late November. Critics said then that it was improper for a country's leader to wear such a hat.

Abhisit responded to the MP's interpolation by saying that his administration had tackled the country's chronic problems effectively without resorting to unlawful means to stamp out the drug problem, as certain past governments did.

He said he wore the condom hat in a bid to raise public awareness of HIV and Aids.

"It's my head, anyway," he added.

Earlier, in an apparent character attack, a photo of a smiling Abhisit wearing the condom hat was put up at the yellow shirts' rally site outside Government House with the caption "Dimwit". The yellow shirts are protesting against what they describe as the government's indecisiveness in settling the border dispute with Cambodia.

Trairong Suwankhiri, the deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs, said the government had done its best to surmount economic difficulties despite legal and political limitations.

He said he looked forward to the censure debate to be headed by marketing whiz Mingkwan Sangsuwan from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

Judging from Mingkwan's personality, his views during the grilling should be constructive, Trairong said.

"I don't think he'll just attack the government. He's likely to provide possible solutions to the problems too," said Trairong, a key figure from the ruling Democrat Party.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is the Democrat secretary-general, refused to confirm a Twitter message by the party's election-campaign director, Korbsak Sabhavasu, that the next general election would likely be held in August.

"Anyone can say anything but the prime minister is the only person with the power to dissolve the House," Suthep said.

And the prime minister will not stay on to complete his term at the end of this year, as has been speculated by some political observers, he said.

"But frankly speaking, I don't know when the House will be dissolved," he added.