Junta Vs Thaksin

[GWR]

Someone at 'The Nation' seems to be having a bad hair day: -

Thaksin in Beijing, failing to meet Surayud


Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flied to China to seek a meeting with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont but failed to meet him so he stayed in Beijing now, it was reported.

Matichon reported quoting a Government House source as saying that Thaksin went to China on Tuesday and tried to arrange a meeting with Surayud but Surayud declined to meet him.

The source said Thaksin then went to Beijing and stayed there for a vacation and golf playing.

Nation TV Thursday quoted Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, leader of the Council for National Security, as confirming that Thaksin is in Beijing now.

The Nation

:confused:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30017816

[Baton Rouge]

CNS chairman Sonthi details national problems at ISOC seminar

BANGKOK, Dec 10 (TNA) – Detailing a palette of problems in a keynote speech on Thailand's critical issues, Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief and Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin Sunday focused on the wide use of narcotics and the challenge of restoring national unity.

..... [The usual spiel on the war on drugs]

Fighting with Thailand's neighbours will not take place, especially in the next 10 years, but the nation is threatened by a great danger: lack of unity among the people. He said that more cooperation from state officials is needed to rid the kingdom of this danger.

..... [The usual spiel on the deep south, but now for the real kicker.]

Other problems that might arise in future includes the poorly demarcated borders with some neighbouring countries, according to the CNS chairman.

"Many of you may not know that Thailand's map contradicts that of all of our neighbouring countries--Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia," Gen. Sonthi said. "Should the boundary disputes be brought to the International Court of Justice, Thailand is likely to lose many square kilometres, because our maps apparently overlap the demarcation lines prepared earlier by those countries."

Expressing his concern regarding Thailand's dwindling natural resources, Gen. Sonthi said, "We must ask ourselves how to live in the next 10 years. We may have to decide which role to be played: that of an industrialized country, a country in a middle-man role, or that of a producing country".

These and related unresolved questions need to be answered now, he said. (TNA) - E 111


http://leahbowe.com/deathpower/
It’s very unclear what he’s proposing, though I suspect it’s preliminary to a strong ‘nationalist’ push to remove Thailand from the jurisdiction of international law.

This does raise huge issues about where Thailand goes next in the world and is clearly connected to all this 'self-sufficiency' mallarkey. One thing that these reports imply is that the average Thai citizen is not likely to enjoy very much say in the direction of his/her country any time soon; and may indeed have little recourse to the leverage of international opinion either.

It looks like the CNS may soon be dragooning us all out on the streets in or yellow sweatshirts to indulge in flag-waving aerobics. Looks like we've been fooled again!

[Baton Rouge]

And after that last bit of paranoia this one crops up almost immediately. This looks like a completely cynical attempt to bribe the kamnans & Puyaibahns aboard the CNS ship. It's well known that they respond well to hand-feeding, as Thaksin proved ad nauseaum. There isn't much doubt that some of them are creating trouble right now by doing stuff like burning down schools. Or is it perhaps more a case of manoevring for a government handout rather than a deep-seated love of all things Thaksin. This definitely seems to be related to the original post in this thread too. Note he was speaking on Thaksin's turf.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/24/headlines/headlines_30022378.php
Extensions likely for local heads, kamnans

The Council for National Security is considering whether to extend the terms for village headmen and kamnan from five years to 10 in order to ensure continuity, CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said yesterday.

"The final decision will rest with the interim government as I have held two to three rounds of talks with the Interior Ministry about the term extension," he said.

Sonthi said he wanted to strengthen the office of local leaders, who play a vital role in assisting the central government to tackle rural problems.


Village headmen and kamnan might serve better in office if they did not have to contest elections as frequently as their counterparts in tambon and provincial administrative organisations, he said.


"I understand that village headmen and kamnan do not have the campaign resources available to candidates for local government at the tambon and provincial levels," he said.


With longer terms of office, village headmen and kamnan could act as the eyes and ears of the central government in thwarting attempts to undermine the country's main institutions, including the monarchy, he said.


Sonthi said the armed forces would start to work closely with local leaders in a bid to safeguard social peace, fight drug trafficking and deal with emerging security threats.


With the cooperation of local leaders, the authorities already saw improvement in drug suppression along the borders, he added.


The Army chief was speaking during an inspection of the Pha Muang forces stationed in Chiang Mai.



Indeed, it is tantamount to saying that you can only achieve national unity by paying for it. Not exactly a convincing demonstration of real heartfelt patriotism, is it? In a situation where the exchequer may be a bit short of dosh for more direct payments, what better way to get around the problem than to extend the terms of these people so they have an additional five years to recoup on what they splashed out to get the job in the first place. This is just the sort of solution that Thaksin would have admired. This makes the CNS look just about as shoddy as Thaksin.

[GWR]

Urgent: Thaksin's diplomatic passport revoked
The Foreign Ministry has revoked deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's diplomatic passport.

More details to follow.

The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30023785

[GWR]

Things are a bit unsettled at home too: -

Our sales of Shin Corp to Temasek accordance with laws : Panthongtae
Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of ousted prime minister, reiterated Wednesday that the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings was in accordance to the laws.

He was speaking to reporters after testifying to the sub-committee of the Assets Examination Committee for about two hours on Wednesday. The sub-committee was investigating his involvement in the controversial business transaction.

Panthongtae, who was accompanied by his younger sister Paethongtarn, was hounded by scores of reporters who crowded his entry and departure of the AEC office. The two had to litterally fight their way through the thick crowd of reporters as security details appeared helpless to push off the fiesty journalists.

The two arrived at about 10:50AM and Panthongtae entered the questioning room at 11am. They break for lunch noon and re-entered the process at about 1:45PM.

It was reported that he asked for a break three times during the procedures.

He said he was consulted over the process with his father who has been abroad since being ousted by the military junta in July.

On the way back to his car after finishing the testifying, his supporters who gathered since in the morning, shouted, "Oak (Pantongtae's nickname), Fight On, Fight On."

Meanwhile a sub committee member, Klanarong Chantik said that the sub-committee members just took notes what Pantongtae said in the questioning room.

"We are in the process of collecting information and evidence concerning the allegations," Klanarong said.

Another sub committee member, Sak Korsaengrueng, said that Pantongtae was invited to give the testimonies, not as an accused.

"Everything is fine. He could answer nearly all questions which are basic in nautre. It is likely that we will not invite him for another testimony unless we need more information," Sak said.

The Nation


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/10/headlines/headlines_30023783.php

[GWR]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30023785

FM cancel ousted premier and wife's diplomatic passports

The Foreign Ministry has revoked diplomatic passports of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, after an investigation concluded the former premier has been engaging in political activities while in exile, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.


The ministry has also instructed all of its embassies not to facilitate Thaksin's travels and visits, said deputy Foreign Ministry's spokesman Kiatthikhun Chartprasert.

The move came after months of debate among top government officials, as well as a growing call from the public, over whether Thaksin's diplomatic passport should be revoked to curb his movement and activities abroad.

"Taking into consideration the appropriateness and security concern, the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and wife have been revoked since December 31, 2006," Kiatthikhun said.

Thaksin, however, is permitted to continue to carry an ordinary Thai passport that will enabled him to travel abroad but would not be as convenient than the diplomatic one with red cover. With exception of Asean members, a number of countries abroad required a pre-approved visa for Thai passport holders.

The idea of revoking Thaksin's passport surfaced almost immediately after he was ousted in September 19, 2006.

Thaksin has been visiting a number of neighbouring countries, including China, Japan and Indonesia, as well as Hong Kong, where he believed to have met some of his close aids.

Suspicious of him plotting a political comeback immediately surfaced and kicked off a round of debate among the coup leaders, diplomats and senior officials.

Foreign Ministry had consistently downplayed the demand on the ground that all former prime ministers and foreign ministers of Thailand were permitted to hold on to their diplomatic passport for life.

The junta accused Thaksin of orchestrating what they called "under current" to create trouble for the people in the power.

The issue was raised at the Parliamentarian debate when Deputy Foreign Ministry Sawanit Kongsiri informed the National Legislative Assembly in closed session that the ministry has already terminated the diplomatic passports of Thaksin and his wife.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/10/headlines/headlines_30023787.php

[GWR]

Things are a bit unsettled at home too: -



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/10/headlines/headlines_30023783.php

My duty was to sign documents" : Panthongtae

Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, testified during his session with an Assets Examination Subcommittee on Wednesday that it was his mother's personal secretary who conducted the sale on his behalf of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.


Wiroj Laohapan, a subcommittee member, quoted Panthongtae as testifying that he did not know much about the sale of the shares of Shin Corps and his duty was just to signed the appropriate documents while Kanjanapa Honghern, personal secretary of his mother, Khunying Pojaman, was in charge of all procedures involving the controversial sale.

Panthongtae testified before the subcommittee for two hours concerning his involvement in the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings last year. The subcommittee was investigating his involvement in the controversial business transaction.

According to Wiroj, most of his answers to the subcommittee's questions were: "No, I don't know."

Wiroj added that the subcommittee will ask Kanjanapa, who is scheduled to appear on January 12, to clarify Pantongtae's testimony. Thaksin's second child, daughter Pintongta, is scheduled for January 24 for questioning on the same issue.

On his way back to his car after the session, Panthongtae reiterated that the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings was in accordance with the law.

......


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/10/headlines/headlines_30023783.php

[GWR]

This report didn't come up in The Nation yesterday. Perhaps this article tells us why. Perhaps wary of what the CNS's position towards the media might be next, some local papers may have decided to err on the side of caution. I've just checked again. Neither The Nation or Bangkok Post online editions appear to have this headline: -
Deposed Thai PM Thaksin quits politics - lawyer

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has quit politics four months after he was ousted in a bloodless coup, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

The announcement by lawyer Noppadon Patama came just hours after coup leaders summoned radio and television broadcasters, all of whom have to rent air time from the government, not to carry any statements from Thaksin.

"I want to ask every television channel and every radio station not to broadcast messages or statements of the former prime minister and leaders of the past ruling party," General Winai Phattiyakul told a gathering of 100 media representatives.

"If they don't listen, you can kick them out of your station or if you can't use your judgement, I will use mine to help you run your station," Winai said.

It was the first time the generals have issued a censorship order since they ousted Thaksin in a bloodless Sept. 19 coup, accusing him of rampant corruption, charges he denies.

The order appeared to reflect military concerns that Thaksin was busy undermining the government, but Noppadon denied the billionaire was up to anything.

"He has conveyed his message from Hong Kong that he no longer wants to be involved in politics," Noppadon told reporters.

"He will not run for the next general election because he doesn't have any more political ambition to be the prime minister again," he said.

"Thaksin Shinawatra wants to see national reconciliation."

But Noppadon said Thaksin would remain a member of the party he founded, Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais), which faces disbandment on electoral fraud charges.

NOT CONVINCED

Some analysts said they were not convinced Thaksin meant to withdraw from a political arena he dominated for five years, winning two landslide elections before street protests against him led to political deadlock.

"He must be homesick and wants to return home, but not in the very near future," political analyst Sukhum Nualskul said.

"The fact that he wants to remain a member of Thai Rak Thai means that he wants his party to be politically active and perhaps return to power again," he said.

The coup leaders have said repeatedly they do not want Thaksin to return home anytime soon, fearing his presence could bring his supporters into the streets.

But Noppadon said Thaksin, who won elections on the back of massive rural support but faced street protests last year which led to political stalemate, would not come home soon.

"His return must not be a cause for any unrest," he said.

His announcement came as a foreign ministry spokesman said the government had cancelled diplomatic passports issued to Thaksin and his wife.

Losing his diplomatic passport means Thaksin will not be able to call on Thai embassies for special treatment and he will have to travel on an ordinary passport.

"In accordance with changing political circumstances and security information, the foreign ministry has cancelled the diplomatic passports of former prime minister Thaksin and his wife," spokesman Kiattikhun Chartprasert told reporters.

He announced the move after word leaked that Deputy Foreign Minister Sawanit Kongsiri told a closed-door meeting of the army-appointed parliament that Thaksin's diplomatic status had been cancelled due to his "political activities".

(Additional reporting by Kwankamol Posaiyakupta)

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070110/3/2vjkj.html

[GWR]

Thaksin says junta crackdown 'unfair'


Deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Thursday the junta's crackdown on his activities was unfair after the military revoked his diplomatic passport and banned television coverage of him.

The announcements late Wednesday came amid a flurry of orders by the junta that ousted Thaksin in September, including tough new measures to fight a separatist insurgency by Muslims in southern Thailand.

The orders were part of a security clampdown in Bangkok following deadly bombings in the Thai capital on New Year's Eve.

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadon Patama told AFP the former premier was currently in Hong Kong, and that he had spoken with him early Thursday about the new restrictions.

"Former prime minister Thaksin felt it was unfair to revoke his diplomatic passport, as well as his wife's, since he was not using that passport to travel to mount political activities," Noppadon said.

"The reason cited for canceling his passport was groundless," he said.

The foreign ministry said Thaksin's passport had been revoked "because of the changing security situation".

Agence France-Presse

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30023872

[GWR]

This might well be the most significant action taken against Thaksin since the coup. Thaksin & Suriya's involvement with the airport contracts was really the spark for many previous supporters to turn against them. Indeed, suspicions that the CNS was about to take action over dodgy contracts may have indirectly triggered the recent bombings: -

AOT files complaint against Thaksin, Suriya with AEC

Airports of Thailand (AOT) Friday filed a complaint to the Assets Examination Committee (AEC), alleging deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra and former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit for involving in a corruption deal concerning the CTX 9000 bomb scanners installed in the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

AOT president Chotisak Asapaviriya handed the complaint to AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem, which named 22 other people in the alleged fraud.

Chotisak also filed the other complaint, alleging Suriya and other 16 people for involving in a graft scandal of the electrical pipe project of the new airport.

Nam said the AEC would set two subcommittees to handle the two cases next week.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30023999

[Baton Rouge]

I've lost the (very short) article, but a few days back Noppadon Pattama (Thaksin's legal advisor) was also claiming that Thaksin was worrying he might lose his Thai ID card. Personally, I thought that concern was utterly ridiculous and was purely a piece of theater for the sake of the foreign press.

[GWR]

The thing that always amazes me about Thaksin is that he always tries his hardest to promote himself as a moldbreaker, but then acts in precisely the same manner as his predecessors. So just as with them (Look no further than Chaovalit for an example), we can be almost 100% certain that he will be back: -

Enough is enough : Thaksin

Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has vowed not to re-enter politics, saying "enough is enough."

Speaking publicly for the first time since his ousting, Thaksin told CNN that he would like to return to Thailand as a private citizen.

"After six years in politics, it is time for me to be normal citizens, outside political arena. Enough is enough," Thaksin said during brief interview with CNN from Singapore.

He dismissed suggestion that he was behind the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok and surrounding areas that resulted in the death of three people.

Thaksin called on the authorities to bring the culprit to justice and expressed sympathy with those who suffered from the bombings.

"I came from election. I came from the people," said Thaksin, described the bombings as "stupid".


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/15/headlines/headlines_30024188.php

[thai2thai]

This southern country boy voted for Thaksin. Still pissed at all the know-it-all Bangkokians who denied me my voting rights. I do not want Thaksin to quit politics. We shall win again.

[Nekochan]

CONFIRMED! BBC and CNN websites have been blocked by ICT. As far as I recalled, that how Mr. Sitthichai once operated Eng Faculty.

Iron Fist. Gen Sonthi put the right man to the right job!

I hope coup supportors are pleased!

You can reach prachathai to read his interview.

[Sunthorn]

I'm not a coup supporter either, but I think it is essential to really see how Thaksin set out to warp the political system for completely selfish ends.

Much as I dislike the Bangkok know-it-alls myself, the Chiang-Mai know-it-all buy-it-all mafia don't impress me either. I would suggest that many people voted for him more for his short-term chicken-feed vote bribes and deceitful promises than for actual things he delivered. Let's hope he does quit, and leave politics to politicians who are capable of delivering REAL freedoms and REAL income to people. Yes, I guess he may win again. But once again it will be a completely hollow victory, because once again he will have only bought the electorate with cheap short-term bribes, and not with the force of argument of being able to deliver REAL progress. Let's say it loud here. The Thaksin government was composed largely of a group of disgruntled former lefties who had forsaken all their old ideals in favor of making a fast and dirty profit. People who appear to forsake their past completely are rarely to be trusted. They are like reformed addicts. They always get some kind of religion, and expect the rest of us to live by their new standards, even when we have lived lives of sensible moderation all along.

Like governments before (and probably after), the Thaksin's government is indirectly responsible for the murder and disappearance of thousands of people without justice. In effect, it incited these crimes by making it 'profitable' for elements in Thai society to do its dirty work for it. Some say that these people deserved to die for the wrongs they committed against society. Yes, they committed crimes, but by that kind of twisted reckoning, Thaksin and Thai Ruk Thai also deserve to receive summary justice. Since when has any Thai politician been any less guilty of heinous crime than a street dealer. In fact, in many cases dealers are only doing the donkey work for profiteering politicians, businessmen, policemen and military men anyway. So such people are saying that they deserved to die for the even greater sins of others; others who they appear to respect unconditionally.

So some folk are pissed that their vote didn't count, but it doesn't seem to matter to them a damn whether there was ever any real element of democracy in any of the numerous Thai political parties and governments over the years.

The current junta is far from perfect. That's hardly surprising! We can't realistically expect anything much better after the last sham election. All post 1932 elections have been a sham. There's no democracy in Thailand. We could have a democracy in Thailand (one day in the far distance) if we stop allowing ourselves to be bought by people who we unconditionally treat as heroes.They have continually proved they are no better than us, so they have no automatic right to respect. And of course, the same can be said for unconditional support of the junta also. The junta needs to stop moralising and ensure the population is adequately compensated for its work, to ensure that disreputable manipulators like Thaksin can not buy them wholesale again.

[Baton Rouge]

I've read it! The trouble is that he has given me no real reason to believe his weasel words. I look at his past history, and it is strewn with deceit. Just the same old cynical twisting of the truth that the junta always resorts to. Thaksin has a great deal in common with the junta. Both continue to treat the majority of people as cattle to be driven to the slaughter.

If 'poor' people really favor justice, it's about time they went looking for other 'poor' people to help them achieve it. The 'rich' are never to be trusted to deliver anything to the 'poor'. Real rights & progress only ever come from grassroots political activism, and never from the rich politician's election expense account. That's a fact of life everywhere, regardless of what wing of politics you come from.

It is, of course, total bullshit to say he "came from the people". He came from a comparatively wealthy and influential family. If he was truly a natural businessman, why did he have to resort to becoming a policeman? Answer: He joined the police to access further influence and tap into the taxpayer's money to further his political ambitions. That doesn't seem much like "coming from the people" to me. Having climbed to the top of the shitheap, he started to believe in his own self-created image of deceit.

[Scuba22]

Boy, CNN is certainly worked up about being censored in Thailand - if you go to their website, then click on to "world", then click on to "asia", and then to the fourth article, "Singapore-Bangkok row over Thaksin" (two notches lower than "'Daughter wanted' ad draws 100"), it's right there in paragraph 7:

"A CNN interview with Thaksin broadcast elsewhere Monday evening was not shown in Thailand."

So this is how seriously a major global news source takes press censorship of it's own content? Sad.

Thai2thai - would you care to discuss your reasons for supporting and voting for Thaksin? I am very interested any arguments in favor of Thaksin's policies that stand up to close inspection.

Cheers,

Scuba

[TRangsit]

Thaksin, I believe, had positive as well as negative qualities as prime minister. I don't think that he was re-elected by just buying and fixing the election. Frankly, the biggest reason of Thaksin getting re-elected is probably that there was no significant challengers that could serve as an alternative to him. Though, I also know people that were genuinely happy with his economic and health care plans. At this point, I would like to see him stick to his word and stay out of politics.

I am one that is for democracy and freedom. I'd like to see less censorship, more open media not afraid to say what is happening now.

As far as elections go, I think a new constitution should allow people the choice to vote or not vote. While, it is beneficial that people vote, I think forcing people to vote is not appropriate and leads to non sincere votes. Also, I'd like to see a fairly short time limit for prime ministers to stay in office. Perhaps, a two term limit.

[Baton Rouge]

The following report seems to indicate that Thaksin is retiring in a rather unconventional sense.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/19/headlines/headlines_30024553.php
Ousted PM hires US lobbyist firm

Hong Kong - Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has signed up a firm of American political lobbyists to seek support in Washington, a report said Friday.

Thaksin, who was unseated in a military coup in September, met with lobbyists from Barbour Griffith and Rogers (BGR) in Hong Kong last week, the South China Morning Post reported.

BGR describes itself on its website as America's "leading Republican government affairs and consulting firm" and has close ties with the Bush administration.

Among the BGR team that met Thaksin was Stephen Rademaker, the former US assistant secretary of state for international security, said the newspaper, quoting unnamed sources.

Also present was Ed Rogers, the firm's co-founder and previously a staffer in the White House of former presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush senior.

.....

[thai2thai]

Thai2thai - would you care to discuss your reasons for supporting and voting for Thaksin? I am very interested any arguments in favor of Thaksin's policies that stand up to close inspection.

Cheers,

Scuba

Politically, I was part of the regular southern Prachathipat herd who would vote blindly for everything Prachathipat. Eight years ago, I had to be in Trang municipality to obtain a lost ID card. A process that could be done in 5 minutes in any large towns took 5 hours in Trang - that actually took 2 days of my time as I arrived at the municipality around 3 PM.

My disappointment transformed into my intense displeasure with the Trang’s favorite son, a two term PM of Thailand. How could he be expected to lead Thai people to a reasonably quality of life if his own hometown was so backward and his own claim to fame was to have only owned a beat-up Toyota?

I voted for Thai Rak Thai was not because I know much about TRT, it was more about me not wanting to vote for Prachathipat – a real contrarian view in my part of the world. My friends are all Prachathipat.

I do not want Thaksin to quit politics is because I do not share all the bad publicity attributed to him. I have read all the political sins or moral sins that Thaksin had committed. After 4 months of intense criminal hunts by appointed zealots for his misdeeds, why has he not been charged under the rules of Thailand judicial system? Perhaps 4 months ago, it could be argued that TRT control the judges, what the excuses now?

The Thai press harped about how Thaksin suffocated press freedom. I could hardly remember any good things being said about Thaksin by the local English newspapers...I remember vividly only ASTV lambasted Thaksin 24/7 until he was ousted by the Junta. The Thai press and/or the know-it-all Bangkokians judged and pronounced Thaksin guilty do not make it necessarily so. Only the court of law can decide that.

Thailand is sick to its core with corruption practices. It is like ‘Ali Baba and his forty thieves’, - regardless of how you spin the stories, they are still thieves. Blaming the Thai society ills and attempting to pin them all on one person called Thaksin is not going to make all these ills disappear.

In the US, you have Bush haters, in England, you have Blair haters, in France, Chirac ia a laughing stock, in Thailand, we have Thaksin haters. There is one big distinction, they do not solve their differneces with a military coup.

Bring back free election, one citizen, one vote, make my vote count as importantly as one from the highly esteemed professor from Thammasat or the fully decorated military general of the Junta or the ubiquitous Som Tum vendors from any tambon, Thailand. Peace to us all !

[GWR]

Deposed PM can return if he stays out of politics : PM

Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra can end his globe-hopping exile and settle back home - as long as he promises to cease all political activities, the government said Saturday.

"Thaksin can decide for himself if he really wants to come home as his return is contingent on an agreement to restrain his movement," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told the nation in a televised speech.

Surayud said three parties - his government, the Council for National Security (CNS) and Thaksin - would have to work out what Thaksin could do after returning to the capital.

The prime minister addressed the Thaksin issue as part of the government's explanation for last week's diplomatic spat with Singapore over Thaksin's visit to the citystate.


The government had to retaliate by suspending a highlevel bilateral meeting because Singaporean authorities ignored its repeated protests against the private meeting between Thaksin and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakuma, he said.

"Thaksin has unresolved political issues and we had expressed our concerns about him in a straightforward and tactful manner, but Singapore acted as if its ties with us are a secondary issue," he said.

CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said he would have to talk with Surayud first before giving his view on letting Thaksin return.

"I should study Surayud's remarks and talk with him, otherwise my hasty comments might be misleading," he said, adding that no mention was made about Thaksin's future when he met with Surayud on Friday.

He also played down speculation that the government was giving the green light for Thaksin to give up his exile.

"Domestic security must be reviewed before any decision will be made about Thaksin," he said.

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said it was true that Thaksin has been trying to hire a lobbying firm in the United States for the past few months.

"It remains to be seen how Thaksin will channel his lobbying efforts," Nitya said, adding that he not detected any move by Thaksin to apply for political asylum.

He saw no justification for Thaksin seeking a safe haven abroad at this juncture.

The Nation


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/20/headlines/headlines_30024656.php

[Baton Rouge]

I do not want Thaksin to quit politics is because I do not share all the bad publicity attributed to him. I have read all the political sins or moral sins that Thaksin had committed. After 4 months of intense criminal hunts by appointed zealots for his misdeeds, why has he not been charged under the rules of Thailand judicial system? Perhaps 4 months ago, it could be argued that TRT control the judges, what the excuses now?

The Thai press harped about how Thaksin suffocated press freedom. I could hardly remember any good things being said about Thaksin by the local English newspapers...I remember vividly only ASTV lambasted Thaksin 24/7 until he was ousted by the Junta. The Thai press and/or the know-it-all Bangkokians judged and pronounced Thaksin guilty do not make it necessarily so. Only the court of law can decide that.


Was it really such a good idea to deny areas of the south his financial support just because they didn't vote for him? This does not look like the action of a mature adult to me. If a politician is incapable of dispensing justice, he can hardly complain when he eventually finds he has no recourse to it himself. Why are you bothering to make excuses for this man? If you can't find better, you are obviously not looking hard enough.

[thai2thai]

Was it really such a good idea to deny areas of the south his financial support just because they didn't vote for him? This does not look like the action of a mature adult to me. If a politician is incapable of dispensing justice, he can hardly complain when he eventually finds he has no recourse to it himself. Why are you bothering to make excuses for this man? If you can't find better, you are obviously not looking hard enough.

Obviously, our opinion differ. There is no need to name calling or character assasination. How much of a mature adult I am is not the issue here. 2Bangkok.com forum has more than its share of anti-Thaksin pundits, why are you guys so afraid of one man?

Thaksin indeed might be as bad as all you guys perceived him to be. Only the courts should decide his guilts. Only the people of Thailand (not only disgruntled Bangkokians) could vote him out.

Perhaps we should have an election supervised by the UN like they had in Kosovo or other Banana Republics. Should Thaksin and his TRT ramnants win again, what will you do then? Another military coup?

Incidentally, not only TRT punished the South, the current government does too. I guess it is because the South is so entrenched Prachathipat that there is no political points to gain by other political parties.

[admin]

I wish we would not be so quick to chase away or challenge anyone who tries to explain the allure of Thaksin. I want to welcome these comments. It is much more illuminating to draw people out to understand the factors that cause many to still feel the Thaksin style of government--despite the many shortcomings--is right to lead Thailand past "old ways" and into the future.

If you carefully conceal your own opinion around Thais (to make sure they feel safe to express themselves) it is surprising the number of people you find who have positive views on Thaksin.

His support is (or has been) real and, if you can get past the venality of Thai politics (which many farangs cannot), and listen, I think we can learn a lot about the mood and aspirations of the Thai public...

[Baton Rouge]

Obviously, our opinion differ. There is no need to name calling or character assasination. How much of a mature adult I am is not the issue here. 2Bangkok.com forum has more than its share of anti-Thaksin pundits, why are you guys so afraid of one man?

That looks like a rather manipulative complaint to me. Thaksin was the only name called. Character criticism of Thaksin seems to be closer to the mark, given the fact that he looks in remarkably rude health after his vacation.

THAKSIN's actions towards 'errant' southern constituencies seem to me to have been highly irresponsible for one who considers himself so sage.

It seems that there are TWO people in this forum who are unequivocal in their dislike of Thaksin and his policies. Question for you: Why are you so afraid of your hero being criticised? No one is above criticism.

[GWR]

Am I alone in sensing that a deal IS in the works?
The CNS gets Thaksin out of politics for the time being?
Charges are dropped?
And it all gets neatly swept under the carpet yet again?
In which case, this whole episode has been more of a bargaining ploy than anything really heartfelt?:) : -

Thaksin wants slate to be wiped clean if he is to return home

Thaksin Shinawatra's legal adviser said that if the former prime minister returned to Thailand, he would seek a meeting with the government and Council for National Security so that he would not be forced to pay for "his old debts".

Noppadon Pattama was speaking after Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Saturday that Thaksin could return home if he promised to cease all political activities.

He denied that Thaksin hired US-based lobbying company Barbour, Griffith & Rogers (BGR) to counter the government. He said Thaksin just wanted the company to check information disseminated overseas about the situation after the September 19 coup.

"He certainly did not hire this company to fight against the government because this company does not fight against any government and does not side with any government," Noppadon said.

He denied that BGR contacted CNN to interview Thaksin in Singapore on January 15, saying that CNN contacted him to ask Thaksin for an interview. He said Thaksin will give interviews in Japan to three or four media and will talk about Thailand in a positive light.

Noppadon declined to clarify what Thaksin meant when he told CNN that if the government wanted reconciliation, it must issue an amnesty.

After his stay in Japan, Thaksin will go to China, other Asian countries and the Middle East to meet friends and have a vacation, he added.

Noppadon defended himself against media comments that he was not loyal to the monarchy even though he received a royal scholarship to study abroad. "I am loyal to every royal member but I am a lawyer and I give legal advice," he said.

Democrat Party spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon yesterday suggested that the government go on the offensive to deal with the problems regarding Thaksin. He said Thaksin was declaring psychological war to discredit the government.

"The government must come up with a strategy and plan to solve the problem efficiently and systematically," he said.

Democrat Party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr said there were irregularities regarding Thaksin hiring the lobbying company. He said BGR did not reveal that Thaksin was its client and did not indicate the objective of his hiring as required by law.

"I suspect that Thaksin hired the company through a proxy and the company has been lobbying the government, Congress and the US media so that Thaksin can return to Thailand," he said.

Alongkorn said he will launch his new book about alleged corruption in 34 projects during the Thaksin government at the end of the month.



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/22/national/national_30024743.php

[GWR]

And then there are those who believe that the CNS is still capable of pressing home a concerted attack on the credibility of the Thaksin governments. Where's the precedent for such wishful thinking? The Thai military is hardly renowned for its blitzkrieg tactics on either the field of battle or when tackling more domestic concerns. Indeed, if you examine the last paragraph, it seems that little more is on the cards than a rather insipid attempt to prevent Thaksin's political return: -

ANALYSIS
Timing critical to Thaksin's media blitz

Attack on junta or rearguard action in face of corruption probes?

Thaksin Shinawatra's international media blitz may look to some like a shrewd political offensive designed to soften up a junta reeling from a series of major economic setbacks.

Yet to the men who ousted him it is a last-ditch public-relations effort ahead of an anti-corruption crackdown on his administration.

The timing was conspicuous for both schools of thought.

Leading global news media have interviewed the deposed leader and given him sympathetic coverage at a time when there are foreign doubts and scorn for the military leaders following controversial economic steps and local anxiety over the motives and intentions of the coup leaders.

The likes of the Wall Street Journal have hit the interim leadership hard, with Thaksin all but portrayed as an economically more competent leader whose pro-capitalist policies were leading Thailand on the right track until he was brought down by a political conspiracy.

The post-coup worries of the international community over the "setback" to Thai democracy have been compounded by what was alleged to be either "protectionism" or economic naivety by the junta and its government.

But certain top members of the Council for National Security (CNS) have noted Thaksin's global campaign was mounted just as corruption probes into the former government near a climax.

In other words, the "offensive" might in fact be a desperate rearguard action.

High-ranking CNS sources said Thaksin's interview with CNN, a transcript of which was made available over the weekend, revealed his motives.

"First, he wants to proclaim his innocence before an international audience," said one of the sources. "He was claiming he was right and innocent and it was his opponents who caused Thailand's present troubles."

Apart from portraying himself as a victim, Thaksin tested the waters on leaders' willingness to compromise, possibly by granting him some form of amnesty, according to the sources.

In his interview, Thaksin said of his "belief" in His Majesty the King's kindness and the national "spirit" and tradition of forgiveness. He said if he was allowed to return to Thailand, it was his strongest desire to rebuild national harmony and end the political crisis.

The sources ruled out any chance of a compromise, saying it would take away any justification for the coup. Yet they noted that the CNN interview unveiled Thaksin's plan B - or how he would respond if Thailand's leaders refused to compromise and chose to nail him for corruption.

"He will claim he is not guilty based on legal evidence but any conviction is political persecution," said the source. But, while this might work for his international publicity campaign, Thaksin knows a conviction will shut the door on his political life and get the ball rolling on an intended seizure of his allegedly ill-gotten wealth.

The sources insisted it would not be long before the first concrete prosecutions against the former Thaksin regime.

They claimed that while graft that took place under Thaksin was sophisticated and well planned, it happened on such a massive scale not everything could be covered up.

One solid case and conviction and Thaksin will be history, they said. And that might happen within three months.

Soon, the junta and its government might call Thaksin's bluff. When cases against him become solid, the deposed prime minister might be "invited" to return to Thailand.

Whether Thaksin sets foot in Thailand or not in the near future, "we are one million per cent certain" he will not be able to make a political return, said one of the sources.



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/22/headlines/headlines_30024748.php

[GWR]

Chang Noi has some interesting observations on some local notions of national unity: -

Dreams of national unity are just that

Over the last few weeks, Chang Noi has spent a lot of time travelling in Bangkok taxis. Usually you need some small talk before asking about politics. But as of late the drivers have launched off on the topic unprompted almost before the door is closed and the meter button pressed. The message went something like this:

"Why did they get rid of him? Everything is getting worse, going slower. People are not spending money like before, instead they're waiting. Projects are all stopped. The stock market is down. Tourists are staying away. It affects us taxis, you know. My daily takings are down, way down.

"It's even worse back in the village. The price of rice has dropped to around half. How can people survive? And the army is making all sorts of trouble. I can't even drive this taxi home and bring my family to Bangkok. I'll get stopped. If you ask me, 99.9 per cent of taxi drivers want him back. And 99.9 per cent of people in the village want him back."

"But people say he didn't respect His Majesty the King. You love His Majesty and you want Thaksin back. Why does there seem to be a problem?'

"Yes. That puzzles me too (phom ko ngong muenkan)."

Among the four reasons which the junta gave for staging the coup was that Thaksin had "caused an unprecedented rift in society" and they "needed to seize power to control the situation, to restore normalcy and to create unity as soon as possible".

Unity is a standard piece of Thai coup rhetoric, and of Thai military ideology. The military began justifying its power on the grounds that it had the ability to create unity back in the 1930s. The formula became especially important during the Cold War. The word has tended to surface in the self-justification of coups that shut down the democratic process (1947, 1976, 2006). The party concocted by the junta to extend its power after the 1991 coup was called Samakkhitham, the party of righteous unity. But unity does not mean what it claims to mean. No society is truly unified. What unity means is acceptance, tolerance, resignation or perhaps, simplest of all, defeat. After 1976, the military imposed unity by crushing popular organisations, hiring vigilante groups in the villages, intimidating local leaders, and making those who did not get the message disappear. The result was not unity, but sullen acceptance.

The divisions that disunite Thai society are very real. They have worsened over the last generation as the economy rode a roller-coaster of boom and bust, the tycoons made fortunes way beyond the dreams of earlier years, the urban middle class became wrapped up in globalisation and turned its back on its own society, and the rural economy fell steadily further and further behind.


The politicisation of this division was inevitable, but developed rather slowly. By the late 1980s, the Cold War was over, insurgency was dead, and the military stopped policing the politics of the mass. Through the 1990s, NGOs and local movements galvanised people around issues of rights, livelihood, resources, and environment. In 1997, villagers were hit by a massive crisis which they had done nothing to cause, which caused them untold grief, and for which they got no relief like the financiers and speculators.


Thaksin did not create the disunity. It was there already. Nor did he spark the politicisation of that disunity. That had already begun. He simply sharpened it, and profited from it. Removing him does not close the divisions in society even slightly.


What has the post-coup government been doing "to restore normalcy and to create unity as soon as possible"? It has taken the subsidy away from rice, which has brought the price crashing down. It has told the poor, "Wait please we'll get round to you some time". It has sent a contingent of over 13,000 troops to police political activity, so people have a regular reminder of the bad old days a quarter of a century ago. It wants to bring back hopeless and hated projects like the Kaeng Sua Ten dam. It is restricting people's movements. Now that the harvest is over, tens of thousands of people move from their home villages to find work elsewhere. Whole villages are contracted to go by the truckload to cut sugarcane in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Chon Buri. Now they have to get a permit from local officials, and tolerate hold-ups at countless checkpoints. It's like crossing national boundaries, not moving across your own unified country.


The military doesn't really have any idea how to "create unity". It just knows that in the past it was successful in creating the sullen acceptance that gave a semblance of unity. But society is not the same as it was 30 years ago. The rise of elective politics has been truly empowering. The military cannot intimidate as easily as it could in the past. One of the most significant developments since September 19 has been that party politicians and local politicians have not meekly accepted the coup. They have been openly defiant, regularly calling for the return of parliament.


In a society as complex as modern Thailand, representative institutions, however flawed, are a much better way of managing the divisions and competing interests than authoritarianism wielding a myth of unity. Only people who live outside normal society, in something like the structured world of the military, can dream of unity.


The fear is that as the coup government's policies fail, and their support dwindles, their natural instinct will be to do more of what they know best. Already that downward spiral has begun: the retention of martial law, the establishment of the special forces, restrictions on the media, and the order to airbrush Thaksin out of the media just like a totalitarian state.


Perhaps the coup government will eventually achieve unity - by uniting the country against themselves.


chang noi



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/22/opinion/opinion_30024733.php

[thai2thai]

That looks like a rather manipulative complaint to me. Thaksin was the only name called. Character criticism of Thaksin seems to be closer to the mark, given the fact that he looks in remarkably rude health after his vacation.

THAKSIN's actions towards 'errant' southern constituencies seem to me to have been highly irresponsible for one who considers himself so sage.

It seems that there are TWO people in this forum who are unequivocal in their dislike of Thaksin and his policies. Question for you: Why are you so afraid of your hero being criticised? No one is above criticism.

I do quite understand the meaning of words like 'manipulative compliant'. I did not recall reading anything at 2Bangkok.com forum even close to implying that Thaksin is a 'Sage'.

I agree, no one is above criticism. This forum has numerous trails of anti-Thaksin criticisms.

Personally, I am pleased to read Khun Chang Noi's article as posted above - my sentiments - exactly.

[Baton Rouge]

We agree on our appreciation of the chang noi article, but then draw different conclusions from it. I don't see any improvement in the situation until the rural poor create their own organic political groupings. My extreme dislike of Thaksin Shinawatra is actually based on my perception that he set himself up as representative of the rural poor with the intention only of using a large bloc of voters to increase his powerbase.

If and when Thaksin eventually takes up the premiership role again (Yes, I do expect it), I think we will soon get to see that he is ideologically bankrupt. Having secured an unquestioning electorate, he will then proceed to take the country in an extremely authoritarian direction. To me, the extra-judicial killing of a couple of thousand people shows us the way Thaksin will eventually go. We can expect to see the same happening to people of a more political nature in any future Thaksin government. He is, essentially, a bullying fascist dictator at heart. Thailand has a very long history of such brutal dictatorships. I am aware that some dictatorships have proved capable of benevolence, but I see no precedent for this here. Thailand has experienced several extremely brutal dictatorships in the past. In each case, they all failed to tackle the roots of any real problems. Instead, they concentrated on sweeping away the embarassing evidence that such problems exist. And as chang noi points out, such dictatorships have actually helped to create the sullen disunity and disenchantment he detects in some groups.

For that matter, I would also say the same about Sonthi Limthongkul. He is also a person who I deeply distrust. The fact that the two men used to be friends has not passed my attention. We witnessed the falling out of two very overbearing people. I see no reason to favor either. Thailand has elected/tolerated numerous 'strong men' in the past. I would suggest that they have all been dismal failures in the long run. And, of course, the same can almost certainly be said of this junta - The junta that Thaksin helped to bring into existence by not engaging with the realities of Thai politics. He should have known better. He would have settled for a far more gradual evolution, if he had been at all sincere and practically minded. But, of course, I find him to be more of an insincere businessman than a political pragmatist.

[jpatokal]

I don't see any improvement in the situation until the rural poor create their own organic political groupings. My extreme dislike of Thaksin Shinawatra is actually based on my perception that he set himself up as representative of the rural poor with the intention only of using a large bloc of voters to increase his powerbase.
Yes, that's called "representative democracy". And things like the much-maligned 30-baht health care scheme did improve the lot of the poor, even if it was unsustainable in the long run.

I'm not much of a Thaksin fan, but I doubt that if he had stayed in power, he could have screwed up as regularly and as badly as the CNS is doing now. There's real potential for things to get quite ugly fairly soon :(

[Baton Rouge]

Such health schemes are normally to be welcomed. But, the 30 baht scheme appears to have been deeply flawed because it failed to really consult and involve those who would eventually have to finance it. In effect, Thaksin set up a scheme whereby the hospitals ended up subsidizing a scheme that was really set up to boost his popularity.

The same happened with the TawKawSaw Farmers & Cooperatives Bank.

I certainly agree that this junta is going seriously wrong. But that's no great surprise. I have always had a strong disregard for militaries and monarchies. They rarely work the miracles that they say they can. They are, however, a reality that every Thai politician has to live with. Thaksin failed to acknowledge that reality, and so the inevitable happened.

[Scuba22]

Thai2Thai - thanks for your response. I think you bring up several very cogent reasons for wanting to give Thaksin a chance - not wanting to blindly vote with your local herd for Prachathipat, irrititation with poor government services, not having any other choices. All those are rational reasons to vote for a newcomer.

What strikes me is that you specifically acknowledge that this was more of a negative vote than a positive vote - a vote against corruption, inefficiency, and mindlessness. These are all things to be opposed of course, but I do wonder whether what you opted for was any better.

I also agree with you that the standard arguments against Thaksin send to be rather silly, though I find the handful of bloggers spending copious time and energy debunking these silly arguments even sillier.

I find a singular lack of sober, fact-based debate about either Thaksin the man, the rationale behind his policies, or the results of his policies, which is what I've been looking for for a long time. As far as I can see, Thaksin the man deliberately misrepresents his past in order to build a myth about himself - he's not from a poor background, he didn't make his fortune through sheer hard work and determination - these things can be judged based on facts, but no one brings these things up. I can see the arguments that these are personal issues, though I disagree - the penchant for misrepresenting facts for personal gain is serious character flaw in a leader, in my opinon, but we can move on.

More important I think are his policies - 30 B health care, war on drugs, village funds, etc. etc. Having spent time in rural development and looked into the details of many of these programs (they are really "programs", hardly policies, but that's a small quibble), I see very little in the way of incorporating lessons learned from elsewhere, and I see quite a few instances of repeating mistakes that have been tried and failed. These make be feel that the programs are more cosmetic than having much to do with actual benefits to the people.

But I am happy to look at outcomes rather than theoretical objections. Yet, in the over five years that Thaksin was in power, I never saw any objective scientific accounting of any of his programs. We saw macro-indicators of poverty reduction and income increases, but in a global period of low interest rates, easy credit, commodity price increases and a robust trade, there's no way to ascribe these macro measures to any specific policy or program. Besides, it can take years for the full impact on high-debt programs to manifest themselves - debt usually feels good at first and starts to bite later on.

All that being said, his removal by force was a disgrace, not least because it conflates people who have serious concerns about the lasting impact of his programs with supporters of yet another dubious crew of generals and other elitists. As bad as I believe Thaksin's programs were, I don't think the answer is to have no rural development programs. Unfortunately, I doubt the generals , or the "sufficiency economy" are going to do any better.

Good luck,

Scuba

[Scuba22]

Such health schemes are normally to be welcomed. But, the 30 baht scheme appears to have been deeply flawed because it failed to really consult and involve those who would eventually have to finance it.

The main part of the 30-B scheme that works is a shift from hospital-based emergency care to clinic-based care, which is definitely a good thing from a social and medical point of view.

However, the supposed massive cost savings from such preventive care has never materialized over the long run in any system that I'm aware of. In fact, what tends to happen is that people take advantage of the low costs to increase their clinic visits and thus overload the system; and then eventually, they get sick and go to the hospital anyway, because regardless of how much prevention you do, you WILL get sick, and you WILL die. The latter is especially important because (in developed countries at least), the bulk of health care costs come in the final few years of life.

The economic consequences of the 30B plan were entirely predictable based on its design. There was nothing new or innovative in it: shifting to primary care, establishing a low co-pay, and standard universal capitation are all well explored areas of health care financing.

I really wonder why no one takes issue with these facts - perhaps no one wants to argue with a popular program, like Medicare and Social Security in the US, which are both gradually digging giant holes for themselves that no one wants to touch.

Scuba

[Wisarut]

Now, the Evidence for Ai maew's Lobbyist is HERE;
http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9500000008397

Furthermore, Prachathai Web of Ajarn Gile Ungphakorn is now become just ANOTHER mousepiece of Ai Maew .... after taking Bribe from Ai Maew

Worse still, Ai Maew is goign to ask CNN and FOX NEWs to run Smear Campaign AGAINST PM Surayut, CNS (Big Bung), and ultimately His Majesty :eek:

[GWR]

Thais won't tolerate 'dictatorship' forever : Thaksin

Tokyo - Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has warned the country will not tolerate "dictatorship" indefinitely after he was deposed in a military coup.


In an interview published Tuesday on a visit to Japan, Thaksin said Thailand's international credibility was at stake but that he sought unity between his supporters and opponents.

"Thais have enjoyed democracy and never want to be under a dictatorship or a non-democratic government," Thaksin told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. "They can be patient and tolerate such things to some extent, but not for too long."

The populist premier was ousted on September 19 coup by military leaders who accused him of undermining democracy through alleged corruption during his five years in office.

The billionaire businessman, who denies the allegations, said he was waiting for the right time to return.

"I am waiting for the situation to go back to normal, because I want to urge the military government to restore unity to the Thai people," he said.

"I think I can be useful for the country. I can tell my supporters, 'Okay, it's time that we should unite,'" he said.

Thaksin, who was in New York when tanks rumbled onto Bangkok's streets, spent several weeks in London and has since hopped around Asia.

Military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Monday that Thaksin could return home if he stays out of politics.

But Thaksin said he could rebuild the country's credibility, particularly on the economic front.

"What international society worries about is that if the government under a coup d'etat abolishes the Constitution, the rule of law will not be observed," he said.

"Thailand is still a good place to work and make money. This is what I would tell the investors, foreign governments and the private sector," said Thaksin, one of Thailand's richest people.


Agence France Presse


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/23/headlines/headlines_30024866.php

[Wisarut]

Ai Maew -> What a Hypocrite! Have you EVER thought that you have to live in exile because of YOUR own behavior? Definitely, you Don't! :eek:

You have turned regular Police into your Secret Police Harassing ANYONE who go AGAINST you .... SHAME SHAME SHAME

Now, Ajarn Seri Wongmontha has pointed out that Ai Maew has paid (read: bribed) CNN and New York Times to get an interview ... a propaganda plot INDEED

http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9500000008386

[GWR]

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont Wednesday hit back at his predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra, saying the lack of good governance by the Thaksin government led to the coup last year.

Surayud was responding to criticism of Thaksin against his government. Thaksin gave an interview to foreign media in Japan on Tuesday, saying the military-installed administration failed to win confidence of the international communities.

Surayud said he believed Thaksin's movements did not inflict much damage to his government's image.

In his retaliation, Surayud said had the elected government of Thaksin had good governance, the coup would not have happened.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30024960

[Sunthorn]

I find the following article somewhat naive in its praise for the current junta. I wonder if the author still feels quite the same about them after their recent misjudgements.

Roland Watson appears to have been absolutely certain that Thaksin was a dictator. I'm not quite so sure. I think you could say that he aspired to have all the powers of a dictator, but had no wish to be called one.(There are, of course, some people who revel in being called dictators.) He didn't succeed in his desires because many of his former supporters began to see that he was plotting a future in which they might eventually be penalised. Many coup supporters were originally heavily in favor of Thaksin's brand of nationalism - the Sondhi Limthongkuls of this world, for example. Such groupings have always rather favored the use of dictatorship in Thailand, and that was one of the reasons that Thaksin initially appealed to them. But of course, he became too ambitious and began to take aim at the very same people who had assisted him to power.

Those who see Thaksin as a dictator have not necessarily learned to think so from the rhetoric of Thaksin's enemies. It is possible to recognize Thaksin's dictatorial tendencies and still be prepared to recognize the same in the current junta.

There is a great deal of naivety in this article. But I think Watson has provided us with some good reasons for seeing Thaksin as an aspiring dictator. In fact, for every one of the reasons given here, I can think of several others. This desire for massive powers is, of course, always rampant amongst Thai politicians. But at some point, we have to say enough is enough. The excuse that this is the local way is no excuse.

http://www.dictatorwatch.org/prthailandcongrats.html

DICTATOR WATCH
(www.dictatorwatch.org)

Contact: Roland Watson, roland@dictatorwatch.org

THAILAND'S MIDDLE WAY

September 25, 2006

Please forward.


Last week, the Thai Military ousted caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. As a longstanding and strong critic of Thaksin, Dictator Watch is pleased to see him go. It was imperative that his destruction of Thai democracy and his splitting of Thai society come to an end. He had organized violence against the People’s Alliance for Democracy (for their planned demonstration last Wednesday) as a prelude to declaring a state of emergency and subsequently banning public dissent and also purging the armed forces of its last professional officers. Thaksin was about to complete his long-term plan to become the absolute ruler of Thailand.

Had the military not acted, the only possibility to remove him from power would have been a large-scale popular mobilization. But given the level of control that he was about to achieve and his predilection for violence, it is certain that this would have been violently suppressed. The people of Thailand would have found themselves in a similar situation to the repressed population in Burma. Than Shwe and the SPDC are not only Thaksin’s allies and business partners, they are also his role models.

The Armed Forces had a choice. They could have allowed themselves to be purged, while pro-democracy demonstrators were killed. Alternatively, they could have assassinated Thaksin. (They have this power, although as police behavior has since confirmed, the bomb plot that supposedly existed against him was obviously a fraud, orchestrated by his supporters.)

Thailand is predominantly Buddhist. While it seems counterintuitive, the coup to remove Thaksin was a middle way solution, since it enabled political change without violence. The most important immediate responsibility of the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) is to keep things this way: to guard against violence organized by Thaksin’s cronies.

CDRM has also pledged, and has already taken the first steps, to reinstall democratic government. They must fulfill this pledge or their popular support will end and the PAD will be undoubtedly be reformed.

Many foreign governments and other organizations denounced the coup. They either did this to be politically correct, to protect perceived economic interests, or because they did not fully understand the situation inside the country. For the last, simplistic comments from many analysts revealed their ignorance of what was about to happen last Wednesday.

Further, Thaksin was never “democratically elected.” This implies that the rule of law has been upheld, and in Thailand it was not. The Thai Constitution and its system of checks and balances first failed when he was found innocent in the assets concealment case. There should have been massive demonstrations or other strong steps at that time, rather than waiting five years. He should never have had the opportunity to drag Thailand to the bottom of the cesspool of political corruption. Everything he did was anathema to democracy.

CDRM has also announced that it will be a year before new elections. The reason for the lengthy period is that the Thaksin regime and the Thai Rak Thai party must be comprehensively eradicated, such that they can never return. This will take time. Thaksin and his gang have done so much wrong that dozens of investigations, regarding both human rights abuses and financial corruption, need to be opened, and result in charges being filed and court convictions. The Thaksin family should be stripped of its illegal wealth, with Thaksin himself personally found guilty of numerous charges.

Ultimately, the real problem is not the Constitution. Thailand is a formative democracy, and the people of the country are still learning their obligations under the system. You do not cast a vote, particularly a vote for which you have been paid, and then ignore everything else that happens and hope for the best. No constitution can withstand a man like Thaksin, if the people allow it. Every step he took, from buying MPs to form a dominant party, to taking control of the courts, the anti-corruption agencies, and the police and army, should have been strenuously opposed until it was stopped. No matter how the Constitution is rewritten, if the people do not meet their obligations to defend democracy, the system remains at risk of overthrow from within.

Regarding Burma, Thai foreign policy should be reversed. The new government should support democracy in Burma, not only in Thailand. State support for the dams on the Salween River should also come to an end. These dams should never be built. In addition, one would hope that mid-level officers in the Burma Army would emulate the Thai military and launch their own coup against the leaders of the SPDC. That way the people of Burma, like the people of Thailand, can also be free of dictatorial rule.

[Wisarut]

Now Khun Eekkayut has criticized both Thaksin and SUrayut ... alogn with Bing Bung and Khun SOnthi ... The cuirrent action toward Singapore is too light
http://thaiinsider.info/portal/content/view/1895/23/

[GWR]

Think of the country first: Sonthi to Thaksin

Council for National Security (CNS) Chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin has told former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to think of the country's interests first before anything else while he is in exile.

Sonthi on Friday gave an interview to Cable News Network (CNN) during which he was reportedly asked if he had anything to say to Thaksin. Asked by reporters after the interview, the general said he had only one short message for the former premier.

"I said he must first think how to properly show his love to the country in anything he will do. This is not just for him alone but the same for Thais anywhere," Sonthi said.

CNN yesterday interviewed Sonthi for about an hour after it earlier aired an interview with Thaksin in its "Talk Asia" show about two weeks ago.

The CNS, which was created from the junta that toppled Thaksin's government on September 19 last year, responded with concern that the publicity given to what Thaksin said could cause disunity while efforts to restore the country's political stability are underway.

Sonthi also reportedly told CNN that the lifting of martial law in 41 provinces officially took effect yesterday after the action was announced in the Royal Gazette. The interim Cabinet installed by the military council approved the partial abolition of the martial law on November 28 last year.

"Without martial law, troops are no longer empowered to conduct an immediate search of areas of security risks. Only police can do that under a court's approval," he said.

According to Sonthi, his interview yesterday covered several subjects including the investigations of the bombing incidents in Bangkok on New Years Eve; progress in the constitution drafting process and the interim government's reaction to Singapore's hosting of a meeting between Thaksin and its deputy prime minister.

Asked by CNN if he has been in direct contact with Thaksin since the coup, Sonthi said no - and had only conversed with people close to the former premier.

On the bombing probes, the general said the CNS was not involved in the investigations detaining a number of military personnel and civilians for questioning. Of the 19 men taken into police custody over the past week, 18 had been released. Sonthi earlier said the national police chief must take responsibility if any scapegoats were taken as suspects.

On the constitution drafting, Sonthi said the CNS has no role in the process and the drafting will take place under exclusive responsibility of the Constitution Drafting Committee.

The Nation


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/26/headlines/headlines_30025193.php

[GWR]

Former Thai PM Thaksin: "I'm Calling It Quits"
Thursday, Feb. 01, 2007

Since he was toppled from power last September, Thaksin Shinawatra has been crisscrossing the globe. TIME's Southeast Asia Bureau Chief Hannah Beech caught up with Thailand's former Prime Minister on Jan. 25 in Tokyo, where they spoke about the military coup against him, the new regime in Bangkok, and what he intends to do with his life.

Excerpts:

Thailand's former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, says that he is done with politics. But the coupmakers who ousted him fear a comeback

TIME: You've asserted that you and your old political party, Thai Rak Thai, were highly popular. Yet there was hardly any public outcry against the coup.
THAKSIN: It was the same with Thailand's 17 other coups. First, the people are shocked. Then they start to voice their concerns. And then they start to accept it, especially after it's endorsed by His Majesty the King. They're very disciplined. They obey. But they are watching what [the new rulers] are doing, and when they will return democracy to the people. People's tolerance is limited.

The new government has been responsible for controversial policies—the capital controls in December, and the proposed changes to the Foreign Business Act that could limit overseas ownership of companies in Thailand. What do you think of such moves?
No one can adopt protectionism anymore. Thailand has to be ready for globalization—you cannot turn your back on it. Anything that reverses what is already very open will cause confusion and uncertainty. This is when investors pull out.

You've met with business leaders in Japan, which is traditionally the biggest foreign investor in Thailand. What did you tell them?
I said this is a hiccup for Thailand, to not lose confidence in the country, that democracy will prevail and that their investments will bear fruit.

The junta has claimed that forces loyal to you were responsible for the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok. How do you respond?
I absolutely deny any connection. [Those responsible] must be brought to justice. Pointing a finger at somebody else, without evidence and investigation, is not right.

The junta also accuses you and your government of corruption.
The allegations are baseless. I asked very detailed questions about projects that went to the Cabinet for approval, and I shot down many of them. In all the previous 17 coups, corruption was one of the excuses. But some juntas ended up being more corrupt. At any rate, corruption will not go away in Thailand—it's in the system.

You have criticized the junta for muzzling the media, but you were accused of doing the same during your time in office.
The press printed groundless information about me. The press should not print unless it has all the facts because this can hurt the reputations of others. So I criticized them; sometimes I used strong words.

You did more than just express strong words. You slapped lawsuits on newspapers that printed things you didn't like.
That was the only way I could seek justice. But I never intervened in their activities or closed them down.

How mature is Thailand's democracy?
Without democracy it's not possible for Thailand to prosper, because without democracy, we will not get the trust and confidence [of investors] to develop the country. If you look at the development of civilizations, the first curve of civilization is military, or the prestige game. The second curve is industrialization, or the wealth game. The current curve is the wisdom game—information technology. We have to compete in the wisdom game; we should not be competing in the prestige game. But [the junta] wants to bring the country backward. That is not good. You should take the country forward.

Will you return to politics?
Right after I was ousted by the coup, I had mixed feelings. The negative feeling was that this was unfortunate for Thailand and its democracy, that the confidence I tried very hard to restore after the 1997 financial crisis would be lost. The positive part was, oh, I can retire now, I can have time for myself, for my family, I can meet friends and relax. Life is not that long, so if you can bring some happiness to yourself and your family, that's good ... I'm quite confident that if I ran [for election] today, I would win, [but] I have no political ambitions. I am calling it quits.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1584101,00.html

[GWR]

There are those who would say that the Thaksin governments' policies on the deep south were an unmitigated disaster. Yet, it is entirely in the nature of the man to believe that he has a vital role to play in the fix. This seems a bit like botching the DIY repair of the house water supply, calling in a professional plumber to fix it and still believing that you can take the credit for good workmanship.:D : -

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra told the Time magazine that he wanted to help bring reconciliation to the deep south of Thailand if he eventually returned home.

In his interview with the Time magazine's Feb 1 edition, Thaksin said he could help with the government's bid to heal the country.

"If you want to have national reconciliation, it's like clapping hands. If you try to clap with one hand, and take another hand far away, is it possible? You have to bring that hand back. I have quit politics, don't worry, but I want to help with reconciliation."

Thaksin government's tough policies in dealing with the violence in the south have been blamed for deaths of over 2,000 people, mostly in extra-judicial killings.
.....



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/02/headlines/headlines_30025776.php

[GWR]

The main part of the 30-B scheme that works is a shift from hospital-based emergency care to clinic-based care, which is definitely a good thing from a social and medical point of view.

However, the supposed massive cost savings from such preventive care has never materialized over the long run in any system that I'm aware of. In fact, what tends to happen is that people take advantage of the low costs to increase their clinic visits and thus overload the system; and then eventually, they get sick and go to the hospital anyway, because regardless of how much prevention you do, you WILL get sick, and you WILL die. The latter is especially important because (in developed countries at least), the bulk of health care costs come in the final few years of life.

The economic consequences of the 30B plan were entirely predictable based on its design. There was nothing new or innovative in it: shifting to primary care, establishing a low co-pay, and standard universal capitation are all well explored areas of health care financing.

I really wonder why no one takes issue with these facts - perhaps no one wants to argue with a popular program, like Medicare and Social Security in the US, which are both gradually digging giant holes for themselves that no one wants to touch.

Scuba

Thanks to New Mandala (http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/) for making the 2004 British Medical journal article 'Learning from Thailand's Health Reforms' available online: -

http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/learning-from-thailands-health-reforms.pdf

Conclusions
The Thai policy is a bold reform driven by top level
political imperatives and incorporating many innovative
features.However, the approach has carried with it many
problematic side effects, including driving major
reforms in healthcare delivery through changing
financing mechanisms. A continued emphasis on monitoring,
evaluation, and research will be vital in fine
tuning the reforms.Major revisions may need to be considered
if the policy is to survive. These include allowing
greater patient choice, providing greater opportunity for
private sector participation and competition in urban
areas, strengthening further the rural district health system
with adequate clinical staff, protecting key national
functions such as teaching and research, and expanding
the sources of finance beyond general taxation.

[GWR]

China will not allow deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to use its territory as a launch pad to attack Thailand and Thai citizens, Chinese ambassador to Bangkok Zhang Jiuhuan said Tuesday.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/06/headlines/images/30026131-01.jpg
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan(Nation)

"As an alliance, China will not allow anybody to use our territory to oppose Thailand and Thai citizens. China will not interfere domestic affairs of any countries," Zhang told Nation Channel.

The programme will be aired on Siam This Morning on Channel 5 at 6:15am Wednesday.

Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in September but remains worrisome for the people in power in Bangkok as he continue with his relentless attacks against the government from various cities around the world.

Thaksin is reportedly in the process of setting up a China-based satellite television network to sustain his assault against the government.

The Council for National Security (CNS) was irked by Thaksin's latest interview, which appeared in a recent edition of Time magazine's Asia edition in which he made a reference to the monarchy. Thaksin told Time that the Thai people threw their support behind the coup after it was endorsed by HM the King.

Local media portrayed the comment as an offensive remark to the monarchy.

The junta accused Thaksin of trying to link the monarchy to the coup, an allegation that they consistently denied.

Zhang said however, Chinese authorities were not aware of Thaksin's new plan, said Zhang.

When asked if Beijing would order private sector who run the television to bar Thaksin from broadcasting his message against the junta, the ambassador replied indirectly that China is a sovereign country with full authority to enforce its law.

Thaksin was overseas when the coup occurred and has not been allowed to return since. He has travelled to UK, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan and Australia to state his case.

Talking freely with journalists in those countries, he has insisted he has no intention to return to politics but also expressed confidence that he could win an election if he chose to run.

The ambassador Zhang said China could not bar Thaksin from entering the China, saying he has the same privilege as other Thai nationals.

"As long as we are unable to reject entry of Thai citizens, we are also unable to bar him from entering China, be it for tourism or else," Zhang said.

"I hope Thai people would understand. We will not allow anybody to spoil relations of the two countries as he has not met any Chinese officials," Zhang said.

Thaksin has already spoiled diplomatic relations between Thailand and Singapore as the citystate allowed him to meet the country's Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar when he was there last month. The military backed government suspended a number of bilateral meetings with Singapore in retaliation.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/06/headlines/headlines_30026131.php

[GWR]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/07/opinion/opinion_30026143.php
Excerpt from article only: -

Time: How mature is Thailand's democracy?

Without democracy it's not possible for Thailand to prosper, because without democracy, we will not get the trust and confidence [of investors] to develop the country.

Tupthim's interpretation: This one is my favourite. Just let Thaksin's statements speak for themselves.

[The following appears to be a quote from Thaksin during his Prime Ministership.]

Thaksin: "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." "Democracy is a good and beautiful thing, but it's not [my] ultimate goal. Democracy is just a tool, not our goal. We can't drive a Rolls-Royce to a rural village and fix people's problems; sometimes a pickup or good off-road vehicle will do".

Tupthim's interpretation: Slips of the tongue? Probably. But putting them together with his latest interviews can tell a lot about how mature Thailand's democracy is. Some blame Thaksin more than the military and vice versa. The debate over which one is worse is wide ranging and seemingly endless. There is one question though that I think Time should have asked Thaksin:

"Democracy gave you the biggest ever mandate, not once but twice. What have you done to protect it?"

Tulsathit Taptim

[dokbua]

Anyone interested is seeing an actual copy of the Lobbying Registration form filed by Baker Botts L.L.P on December 11, 2006 to assist Thaksin to "develop and implement a strategic approach to the various international legal and political issues that confront Dr. Thaksin" can follow the link below.

http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_gifviewer.exe?/2007/EH/000/002/000002047|2

[GWR]

Sonthi says ousted Govt will never regain power

The country was close to restore political normalcy and the ousted government could never regain power, Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Friday.

"Success is near and the civil servants can help to move the country forward by uniting to uproot the legacy of the ousted government," Sonthi said.

He spoke Justice Ministry officials on the topic of patriotism.

The graft investigations by the Assets Examination Committee and the National Counter Corruption Commission were close to completion and the judicial review on electoral fraud could lead to the dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai Party, he said.

"About 200 key members are about to leave their former ruling party and what was once considered powerful would soon become hollow," he said.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30026450

With the above quote in mind, now follow this link to another thread on the disintegration of the Thai Ruk Thai (TRT) Party. It should give you some some notion of how the CNS may be planning to use a popular North-Eastern PM hopeful (and former TRT man) to launch a major counter-offensive against the Thaksin propaganda machine: -

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=13470&postcount=17

[GWR]

Thaksin to buy home in Australia: report

SYDNEY - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has revealed he wants to buy a home in Australia as he adjusts to life away from politics.

The self-made billionaire also thanked the Thai military for deposing him in a bloodless coup five months ago, saying he was enjoying spending more time with his family, The Australian reported Monday.

Thaksin is on a private visit to Melbourne and Sydney, where he has hired a property developer to find him a home on the city's prestige harbour front.

"I am looking in the eastern suburbs for a property with good views of the harbour," Thaksin told the newspaper from Sydney, where he was playing golf on Sunday.

"I think Sydney is very safe and I have friends here. I like Australia. The people are friendly and sincere. The weather is good. It is clean and safe and I can play golf all year round."

Thaksin was in New York for a United Nations summit when the Thai military toppled his government on September 19. He has been in self-imposed exile ever since, initially spending time in London before travelling around Asia.

Some of his visits have created political waves, particularly after Thaksin met with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar during a visit there.

Thaksin stressed he had no political or business interests in Australia and was merely holidaying in the country.

"We have sold the family business," he was quoted as saying. "All we have now is some real estate. I want my children to grow their own businesses from the beginning. I may just advise them.

"In a way, I am grateful to the military government for forcing me into an early retirement so that I can spend time with my family again.

"Now the only activity I am considering is investing in the stock market and doing charity work to support the rural development work of the King."

Thaksin said he was mindful that his activities were still being watched by the Thai government.

"I think the (Thai) government is too concerned about my activities, which are actually very private," he said.

"Every time I speak to the media I try to be very conservative as a former prime minister.

"No matter how bitter you are, you have to be very faithful to your country, to your people and to your monarch."

The Thai government has withdrawn Thaksin's diplomatic passport and advised the ousted leader to return to the kingdom only after general elections promised for later this year.

Agence France-Presse



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/12/headlines/headlines_30026609.php

[Baton Rouge]

"No matter how bitter you are, you have to be very faithful to your country, to your people and to your monarch."


So it will be interesting to see how Thaksin deals with Australia's love-hate relationship with its 'royals'. On the one hand, Prince Charles is just another 'whingeing pom', while on the other a high percentage of Australians are still just about prepared to accept an imposed monarchy. Not really such a bad model is it!? The message, loud and clear, is you are OK just as long as you at least look like you are prepared to play ball with the aspirations of the majority. And that no one is above criticism.

I'd rather deal with a person who is prepared to give his/her gut reaction to some issue, than someone who is always trying to say what is strategically correct. The above statement sickens me. What a sychophant! Some things are best not said when it is patently obvious that you don't entirely mean them.

Maybe, Australia will knock a few rough edges off the man, after his long misspent youth in the police force and parliament. Maybe it will arm him with some real opinions. Maybe he will learn that 'you can fool me once, but don't expect to make a career out of it'.

[GWR]

ANALYSIS
Legal reasons behind a Thaksin home in Sydney?

News that former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra is looking for a home in Sydney has spurred speculation as to whether he has other motives for wanting to live Down Under.

Indeed, there may be legal reasons behind his supposed interest in buying a home in Australia's biggest city.

Aside from the fine beaches, golf courses and a warmer climate than, say, London, Australia does not have a formal extradition treaty with Thailand.

The former premier and his family appear to face the difficult prospect of many years of litigation - with court cases potentially looming over a raft of corruption charges, tax evasion and, possibly, inciting Thai police and local officials to kill at least 2,500 alleged drug dealers during the highly controversial "War on Drugs" in early 2003.

If the coup leaders refuse to allow Thaksin to return home to fight such charges - or he opts to fight them from abroad - Sydney could easily become one of his foreign bases, along with Hong Kong, Beijing or London.

.....

The former PM would need to get a business or retirement visa to live in Australia, but that also is unlikely to be a major hurdle for a man whose family has assets of several billion US dollars.

The former PM could end up being a serious political embarrassment for any country where he sets up camp, depending on the charges he eventually faces and whether he seeks asylum.

Ferdinand Marcos settled in Hawaii, but Thaksin is not quite in the same category as the former Philippine president - the crimes he is accused of are less serious. And some say he has covered his tracks better, for despite widespread corruption during his term in charge, investigators from the Assets Examination Committee have yet to charge him personally.

But if Thaksin opted to live in Sydney and then faced the prospect of being extradited back to Thailand for a court trial or to serve a jail term, then the matter would probably be settled in the Australian courts.

Given the good and ever-growing relations between the two countries, the former premier would need to present a strong case to prevent himself being flown home.

One Australian official suggested yesterday that Thaksin "would need to do a Saxena" - a claim he faced the possibility of being killed if sent back, in order to prevent a court ordering him to be returned - if an extradition request was ever dealt with by an Australian court.

Rakesh Saxena is a former Thai businessman who has been living in Vancouver, Canada, fighting efforts by Bangkok to have him returned to face charges of embezzlement relating to deals undertaken at the time of the financial crisis almost a decade ago.

But some view Thaksin's trip to Sydney and his comments to the Australian media as potentially nothing more than grandstanding and highlighting his case abroad - as his American public-relations strategists may well have advised.

.....

Jim Pollard

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/13/headlines/headlines_30026715.php

[GWR]

Ousted Thaksin hits out at junta over corruption claims

SYDNEY - Thailand's ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra dismissed corruption allegations surrounding him in a television interview Tuesday, as the junta moved to charge his wife with tax evasion.

Thaksin, who has been living in self-imposed exile since a September coup, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the military-backed government would not find anything incriminating against his regime.

Asked if the junta would find anything in its corruption investigation, Thaksin said: "I don't think so."

"They have done more than they allege (against) me, even worse," the former Thai leader told the public broadcaster without elaborating.

The interview was taped before a powerful team of graft-busters appointed by the junta recommended late Monday that prosecutors charge Thaksin's wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, her step-brother and her personal secretary with tax evasion.

Agence France-Presse

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30026740

[Wisarut]

Khun Nongnut Sihadecha has CONDEMNED Prof. Phichit Likhitkijsomboon who (Faculty of ECONOMICS, Thammasart University) has become sychophant for Thaksin Regime ... while the itnerternet Mercenaries of Ai maew has posed Smear response toward Khun JNongnut :eek:


http://www.matichon.co.th/matichon/matichon_detail.php?s_tag=01act03150250&day=2007/02/15&sectionid=0130

[GWR]

Bangkok Post Links tend to disappear fairly quickly. This looks like the sort of material that 2bangkok.com would like to get its hands on. Please let us know if get a copy of this book, DVD, CD and are willingly to share some of the contents: -

Black book to expose Thaksin corruption

(BangkokPost.com)

The government's "information war-room" was preparing to release a black book exposing corruption and irregularities that occurred under the Thaksin Shinawatra government, Prime Minister's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan said Thursday.

The book was to help general public and international community to understand better about the political situation of Thailand.

Mr Thirapat said five issues -- corruption in policy-making level, extra judicial killings and violation of human rights, Thaksinomics, alleged undemocratic administration of the Thaksin government, alleged lese majeste charges -- would be included.

The government will issue the black book in both Thai and English, and issue it on DVDs and CDs.



http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=116829

[GWR]

Unfortunately, I switched on Channel 11 just as this program finished. It appears that Sondhi Limthongkul has also been coopted by the Junta for 'The War against Thaksinism'. Both Suwat Liptapanlop and Somkid Jarusripitak already seem to have reached some cosy agreement with the Junta to add some weight to its current PR campaign [http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1903]: -

Surayud defends Sondhi's controversial TV programme


Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont Friday defend the controversial TV programme of media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul as a proactive public relations campaign of the government.

Surayud said he thought there was nothing wrong with the Yam Phao Paen Din programme broadcast on Channel 11.

When asked to comment on rising criticism against the TV programme, Surayud replied: "We were criticized when we were not proactive but when we did it, we were criticised again."

When asked whether Sondhi's programme was proactive PR campaigns to retaliate against media blitz of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Surayud said: "A proactive PR campaign does not need to a retaliation".

The Nation



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30027044

[GWR]

I'd forgotten that Somkid's assets are also due for examination, but the AEC's Klanarong has decided to bring the subject up to forestall us all from having evil thoughts: -

Klanarong says Somkid's appointment not affect AEC's works

Klanarong Chanthik, a member of the Assets Examination Committee, said Friday that the appointment of former finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak would not affect the AEC's probe against him.

He is being probed over charges that he had unlawfully approved the rubber sampling scheme.

Klanarong said Somkid's appointment had nothing to do with the AEC's works and did not cause the AEC and the National Counter Corruption Commission under pressure.

Klanarong was speaking to reporters after he and AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem met Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont at Government House for about an hour.

Klanarong said the prime minister did not lobby the AEC over Somkid's case.

The Nation



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30027047

More on the Somkid issue in another thread: -

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1903

[Baton Rouge]

http://www.iiss.org/events-calendar/forthcoming-events/address---dr-thaksin-shinawatra
2 Mar 07 - Address - Dr Thaksin Shinawatra
On Friday 2 March 2007 Dr Thaksin Shinawatra, Former Prime Minister of Thailand, will give an address on "Democracy at a Crossroads" from 1pm.

Dr Thaksin Shinawatra is the former Prime Minister of Thailand and former leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party. Thaksin started his career in the Thai Police, later becoming a successful entrepreneur, establishing Shin Corporation and Advanced Info Service the largest mobile telephone operator in Thailand. He entered politics by joining the Phalang Dharma Party in 1994 and later founded the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party in 1998.

After his election victory in 2001 he became Prime Minister of Thailand.

If you would like to attend this address, please RSVP Kathleen James on email james@iiss.org or tel. 020 7395 9109.

This event will be held on the 5th Floor, Arundel House, 13-15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3DX.

Wonder what bull he's going to spin the deep thinktankers at the 'International Institute of Strategic Studies' on their pet subject of how to "maintain and further international peace and security and civilised international relations". I wouldn't exactly cite it as his strongest area. Perhaps 'observer status' might have been a more appropriate entree!
The IISS Mission Statement

Provide, from an international perspective, to IISS members and the wider public, through publications and other activities, the best possible objective information on military and political developments relevant to the prospects, course, and consequences of conflict having an important military dimension.

Provide, to the same audience, and by similar means, the best possible analysis of the policies to be pursued by various governments and other actors to further and maintain international peace and security.

Convene government ministers, officials, international civil servants, independent analysts, business people and journalists in different formats, public and private, to advance understanding of political, military, technological, business, economic, environmental, social, religious and other trends that could have an impact on the prospects, course and consequences of conflict having an important military dimension.

Maintain, nurture and continually enlarge an international network of influential and knowledgeable individuals, corporate entities, governments and other bodies to ensure the effective dissemination of information, analysis and understanding of the subjects and activities addressed by the Institute's work.

Aim, through these activities, to influence and promote the adoption of sound policies to maintain and further international peace and security and civilised international relations by all actors able to realise this aim.

http://www.iiss.org/about-us/mission-statement

[GWR]

This was actually a breaker yesterday, but it got 'lost' in the mental clutter for a while ;) : -

Graft busters 'have goods on Thaksin'
(BangkokPost.com)

The Assets Scrutiny Committee has evidence to convict ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of corruption in the bomb scanner and the baggage handling system scandals at the new airport, Amnuay Thanthara, chairman of ASC's subcommittee responsible for the cases, claimed Friday.

Noppadon Pattama, legal aide of Mr Thaksin, told reporters that the deposed premier was confident that he was innocent.

Mr Noppadon recently challenged the ASC to show what they claimed were evidence to convict Mr Thaksin, but Mr Amnuay refused to provide any details.

"We won't reveal to him (Mr Noppadon) what we have," said Mr Amnuay. "But he will be startled once he knows what the facts are."

He added that Mr Thaksin had the right not to attend hearings and listen to the charges against him and this would not affect the length of the probe into the cases.

Mr Amnuay said that about 38 people were believed to be involved in the scandals.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=117011

[GWR]

:mad:
:)
:D


Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will make a speech at the UK-based International Institute For Strategic Studies in his capacity as former head of state, his legal aide said Sunday.

Noppadol Patama said Thaksin would not criticise the Council for National Security and would not touch "trivial political issues" in Thailand while giving the speech.

He said Thaksin would give a speech on "democracy at the crossroad".

"He will not harm the country in the speech but he will explain that democracy will return to Thailand soon. He will convince Europeans to return to invest in Thailand because nothing could replace democracy in the kingdom," Noppadol said.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30027836

[Wisarut]

Thaksin Cronies were usign SMEAR Campaing AGAINST both Thai Muslim and CNS - esp Bing Bung :eek:

http://www.manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9500000022749

Another Mousepiece of Thaksin -> www.saturdayvoice.com

[GWR]

Thaksin Cronies were usign SMEAR Campaing AGAINST both Thai Muslim and CNS - esp Big Bung :eek:

http://www.manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9500000022749

Another Mousepiece of Thaksin -> www.saturdayvoice.com

'Big Bung' is apparently the current nickname of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin: the leading member of the Council for National Security (CNS = the Junta) and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. Don't ask why he got this nickname. I only picked it up from another site recently, and I don't even know how it is pronounced right now. General Sonthi is also a Muslim.

[GWR]

More charges laid against the Shinawatras


The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) subcommittee will press additional criminal charges against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, over a controversial land purchase.

Udom Fuangfoong, chairman of the AEC subcommittee investigating the matter, said Monday the panel will also accuse Thaksin and Pojaman of violating Article 152 of the Penal Code for exploiting their positions to seek a vested interest.

The offence carries penalties of up to ten years in jail and a maximum fine of Bt20,000.

The AEC had earlier charged Thaksin and Pojaman of violating Article 100 of National Counter Corruption Commission law, which bans state officials and their spouses from having interest in the state agencies.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30027935

[thai2thai]

'Big Bung' is apparently the current nickname of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin: the leading member of the Council for National Security (CNS = the Junta) and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. Don't ask why he got this nickname. I only picked it up from another site recently, and I don't even know how it is pronounced right now. General Sonthi is also a Muslim.

In Malaysia and South Thailand, it is common to refer to a Muslim brother as Ah Bung or Bung.

Big Bung as a nickname of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin is not derogatory or has any sinister value.

Bung is pronounced as it is written - just as it is in cow dung.

[Baton Rouge]

I sometimes hear southern people talking about 'Ah Bung'. Whether southern Muslims actually mind being addressed in this way is something that I'm NOT so sure about.

I can only say this. I once heard someone try to use 'Ah Bung' with a Malaysian Muslim. The target person was very quick to tell the speaker that "We don't use that term in Malaysia, but it is used in Indonesia". The Malaysian clearly didn't like being addressed in this way, which suggests that he doesn't share the view that the term is not derogatory. Or is it perhaps that it is considered as politically incorrect in a country where patronising language has been known to lead to violence. So I suggest that this term is used with caution.
.....

I've just been asking a southerner about this, and I was told that it is a term that CAN (with caution) be used to refer to an ordinary person. But it is probably considered disrespectful to someone with a certain degree of status and a non-agrarian background. So, the nickname 'Big Bung' is probably one invented by Gen. Sonthi's detractors.

[Wisarut]

More War online by TRT vs. Junta here:
http://www.matichon.co.th/khaosod/khaosod_detail.php?s_tag=03fea01270250&day=2007/02/27&sectionid=0327

[jpatokal]

I sometimes hear southern people talking about 'Ah Bung'. Whether southern Muslims actually mind being addressed in this way is something that I'm NOT so sure about.
I had to scratch my head for a bit until I realized that the term you're referring to is more conventionally spelled abang, meaning "elder brother", and sometimes abbreviated to bang or bung -- for example, Sukarno's nickname was Bung Karno.

The Malaysian clearly didn't like being addressed in this way, which suggests that he doesn't share the view that the term is not derogatory.
Google tells me that in Malaysian, abang can mean "ladyboy", which would explain why it's not too popular! :eek: But I can't say I've heard it used much in Indonesia either, the most common male terms of respect seem to be (ba)pak ("father") and mas ("brother", but in Javanese).

Some basics from Wikibooks:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Indonesian/Lessons/Formal_speech

Note that it considers bang/bung to be Betawi, or Jakartan slang.

[GWR]

I get the impression it is OK to use it with someone who is genuinely your 'brother' in reality, religion, social status or village; but is considered rather patronizing and offensive from a non-family member, a non-believer, an outsider or a member of a different social strata.

[GWR]

Thaksin impolite to King: Sonthi

Council for National Security chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has told Time magazine the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra regime was "disrespectful" of His Majesty the King and the Royal Family.

In an interview published in the latest Asia issue of Time, Sonthi says: "There are many cases in which the previous government was impolite to the Royal Family and to the King himself.

"The Thai people cannot and will not tolerate anybody who shows even slight disrespect to the King or his family."

Sonthi led the September 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin and his government.<