ncr
29-04-06, 05:59 PM
From the Nation's "Stoppage Time" (http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/26/opinion/opinion_30002534.php) column:
For once, our caretaker prime minister gets it right
"Things are getting absurd. Economists are saying don't pay your taxes, lawyers are calling for the Constitution to be torn apart, and political scientists are advocating tearing up election ballots. I just hope our country doesn't grow more absurd than this." - Thaksin Shinawatra, April 23, 2006
"Even if I offer to pay taxes, I can't do it, because the laws say I don't have to." - Thaksin Shinawatra, on numerous occasions, regarding the Bt73-billion income from the Shin Corp sell-off to Temasek.
"They don't have to pay taxes." - Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya, on the Shinawatras and the Temasek deal.
"Individuals are legally equal and shall be equally protected by the laws." - Thailand's Constitution.
"I'm a straightforward man. Provinces that give us their trust deserve our special care. We have to take care of the whole country, but our limited time has to be allocated to provinces where we receive the most trust. Provinces that trust us less will have to wait. It's not that we won't help them, but this is how our priorities work." - Thaksin Shinawatra, after his Thai Rak Thai Party lost a by-election in October of last year.
"Individuals must not be discriminated against by the state as a result of political opinions." - Thailand's Constitution.
"Not Guilty." - The Constitution Court in 2001, ruling on charges that Thaksin concealed Bt10-billion worth of shares that his wife admitted she put in the accounts of their servants.
"Guilty." - The Constitution Court in 2001, ruling on charges that Thai Rak Thai's Prayuth Mahakiisiri intentionally concealed his wife's bank deposits and land plots. The ruling says husband and wife "are supposed to take care of each other and they must be aware of each other's financial status and assets".
"Political office holders who intentionally file false assets or liability reports or conceal facts that should have been reported to the National Counter Corruption Commission must be banned from politics for five years." - Thailand's Constitution.
"The players had to share the blame because they played with no heart. If we need to change the whole team, so be it. Some players have been away playing professional football overseas and don't give much importance to the national team." - Thaksin Shinawatra, on June 10, 2004, after the Thai national team lost to North Korea in a World Cup qualifier.
"Perhaps we can give Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard jobs as presenters for Otop [One tambon, one product]." - Thaksin Shinawatra, on his plan to buy Liverpool Football Club and "inspire" Thai soccer.
"Most of the people who have criticised my work have never been prime minister, so I rarely taken them seriously." - Thaksin Shinawatra, shortly before he criticised the Thai players.
"Democracy is a good and beautiful thing, but it's not the ultimate goal as far as administering the country is concerned. Democracy is just a tool, not our goal." - Thaksin Shinawatra in December, 2003.
"I'm ready to leave through democratic channels. At least I can save democracy that way. Democracy must not be torn up because of me." - Thaksin Shinawatra on March 10, 2006.
"I think I'm the one at the receiving end of intimidation." - Thaksin Shinawatra recently responding to accusations that the media are getting increasingly intimidated.
"They have been paid risk allowances, which means they have to take risks. If they don't want to, then they should leave. If they want to stay, then they have to be patient. They can't just show off by calling a strike, believing that it's an act of leadership. I will take care of these people; I won't keep them for long. It's easier to just remove them all. How could they do this? Our country is in such trouble, and they manage to be such a nuisance." - Thaksin Shinawatra in July of 2004, on distressed southern teachers planning a strike for fear of their lives.
"Deserved to die." - Thaksin Shinawatra, referring to four soldiers killed in the attacks on an Army base in the deep South in January, 2004. The prime minister was infuriated by failure of military staff who failed to heed warnings of a potential raid by terrorists.
"He's going there in a personal capacity to meet old friends in their countries." - caretaker Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon this week, on Thaksin's global jaunt to meet leaders of France, Britain, Russia, Japan and China.
"I just hope our country doesn't grow more absurd than this." - Thaksin Shinawatra, April 23, 2006
Tulsathit Taptim
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
For once, our caretaker prime minister gets it right
"Things are getting absurd. Economists are saying don't pay your taxes, lawyers are calling for the Constitution to be torn apart, and political scientists are advocating tearing up election ballots. I just hope our country doesn't grow more absurd than this." - Thaksin Shinawatra, April 23, 2006
"Even if I offer to pay taxes, I can't do it, because the laws say I don't have to." - Thaksin Shinawatra, on numerous occasions, regarding the Bt73-billion income from the Shin Corp sell-off to Temasek.
"They don't have to pay taxes." - Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya, on the Shinawatras and the Temasek deal.
"Individuals are legally equal and shall be equally protected by the laws." - Thailand's Constitution.
"I'm a straightforward man. Provinces that give us their trust deserve our special care. We have to take care of the whole country, but our limited time has to be allocated to provinces where we receive the most trust. Provinces that trust us less will have to wait. It's not that we won't help them, but this is how our priorities work." - Thaksin Shinawatra, after his Thai Rak Thai Party lost a by-election in October of last year.
"Individuals must not be discriminated against by the state as a result of political opinions." - Thailand's Constitution.
"Not Guilty." - The Constitution Court in 2001, ruling on charges that Thaksin concealed Bt10-billion worth of shares that his wife admitted she put in the accounts of their servants.
"Guilty." - The Constitution Court in 2001, ruling on charges that Thai Rak Thai's Prayuth Mahakiisiri intentionally concealed his wife's bank deposits and land plots. The ruling says husband and wife "are supposed to take care of each other and they must be aware of each other's financial status and assets".
"Political office holders who intentionally file false assets or liability reports or conceal facts that should have been reported to the National Counter Corruption Commission must be banned from politics for five years." - Thailand's Constitution.
"The players had to share the blame because they played with no heart. If we need to change the whole team, so be it. Some players have been away playing professional football overseas and don't give much importance to the national team." - Thaksin Shinawatra, on June 10, 2004, after the Thai national team lost to North Korea in a World Cup qualifier.
"Perhaps we can give Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard jobs as presenters for Otop [One tambon, one product]." - Thaksin Shinawatra, on his plan to buy Liverpool Football Club and "inspire" Thai soccer.
"Most of the people who have criticised my work have never been prime minister, so I rarely taken them seriously." - Thaksin Shinawatra, shortly before he criticised the Thai players.
"Democracy is a good and beautiful thing, but it's not the ultimate goal as far as administering the country is concerned. Democracy is just a tool, not our goal." - Thaksin Shinawatra in December, 2003.
"I'm ready to leave through democratic channels. At least I can save democracy that way. Democracy must not be torn up because of me." - Thaksin Shinawatra on March 10, 2006.
"I think I'm the one at the receiving end of intimidation." - Thaksin Shinawatra recently responding to accusations that the media are getting increasingly intimidated.
"They have been paid risk allowances, which means they have to take risks. If they don't want to, then they should leave. If they want to stay, then they have to be patient. They can't just show off by calling a strike, believing that it's an act of leadership. I will take care of these people; I won't keep them for long. It's easier to just remove them all. How could they do this? Our country is in such trouble, and they manage to be such a nuisance." - Thaksin Shinawatra in July of 2004, on distressed southern teachers planning a strike for fear of their lives.
"Deserved to die." - Thaksin Shinawatra, referring to four soldiers killed in the attacks on an Army base in the deep South in January, 2004. The prime minister was infuriated by failure of military staff who failed to heed warnings of a potential raid by terrorists.
"He's going there in a personal capacity to meet old friends in their countries." - caretaker Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon this week, on Thaksin's global jaunt to meet leaders of France, Britain, Russia, Japan and China.
"I just hope our country doesn't grow more absurd than this." - Thaksin Shinawatra, April 23, 2006
Tulsathit Taptim
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: