Chairman Maew's 2nd Term [Archive]

Yappofloyd

04-02-05, 10:28 AM

I find the alleged ban on publishing pre-election polls to be both unique to a purported democracy and absurd. (I haven't read the electoral law and I suspect that the EC is mis-interp. the Constitution).

The result is the weird scenario we all see where media outlets refer to parties with different euphermisms, such as The Nation has been using of XL, L, M & S.

The Nation's Election 2005 Forecast held (sic - published) February 04, 2005

XL L M S
Bangkok (37) 26 11 - -
Central (97) 65 13 15 4
Northern (76) 56 10 5 5
Northeastern (136) 110 4 15 7
Southern (54) 9 45 - -
Partylist (100) 70 25 5 -
Total (500) 336 108 40 16

Source: Nation Group's local and political academics, pub. 04/02/05.

(The Enforcer: Your guesses are not too dissimilar.)

Surely the EC really does not really think that the average voter cannot interpret which party is which for themselves?

What is wrong with professional, independent polling being conducted in a transparent manner in the lead up to an electional? It would be more useful especially to guage the support fo the minor parties who tend to be left out of a seat based poll rather than % result.

I also find the ballot papers unique as they do not list candidate name with the party name. Any idea of the reasoning behind this prohibition?

Wisarut

04-02-05, 01:17 PM

Well, there are many Thai people who CANNOT read Thai (e.g. those hilltribes, Slum dwellers, Vagabonds, homeless people, Southern Muslim,
Karen etc etc ....) so it is a LOT better to pribnt the numbers and the political party seals as the indicators of the candidates
Thaink about it! ... It's Just like the election in Indian Subcontinent whcih have hundreds of signs as the indicators of the parties and the candidates ...

Yappofloyd

05-02-05, 09:08 PM

Wisarut,

Yes I do understand the illiteracy and diverse language issuse but it seems to me this should not preclude nhaving the candidates names on the ballot paper.

I had the fortune to work in Afghanistan all last year on the Pres. election and we had to oevercome the problem of illiteracy rates of over 50% in some areas. Accordingly, the ballot paper was large (about 60 by 20cm) and had a photo of the candidate, their name, party name (or independent) and a party symbol. Turnout was high and invalid votes relatively low. See, http://www.elections-afghanistan.org.af/, for further details.

Places like Spain have ballot papers in diff. languages for some regions (eg. Catalonia) and in Australia the AEC publishes a quide in about 15 languages (incl. Thai).

So perhaps there are other possibilities.

Are ballot papers only published in thai or in Isan, South and North languages?

Wisarut

05-02-05, 10:27 PM

Most Thai people REMEMBER the Number of the Candidate when they are going to vote ANYWAY, thanks to the addcition of Lotto ... So, getting number is quite a BIG issue for the elections in Thailand ....

Furthermore, it is easier for Mahad Thai (then) and EC (now) to
MASS Product the ballot cards for voting form the printing presses
within very short period of time ... by printing ONLY the numbers of the candidates .... :p :D

The ballot cars are ALWAYS printed in Thai .... but using Arabic numbers ... Some of the old generations feel DISGUSTED that the EC
has used Arabic numbers instead of Thai numbers though ....

The Enforcer!

06-02-05, 05:58 AM

The ballot cars are ALWAYS printed in Thai .... but using Arabic numbers ... Some of the old generations feel DISGUSTED that the EC
has used Arabic numbers instead of Thai numbers though ....
If that is so, then why (for many years) did I see Electon posters carrying only Thai numbers?

Did they have to translate the Thai numbers to Arabic at the Polling Station?

The Enforcer!

The Enforcer!

07-02-05, 07:00 AM

A virtual wipe-out!

Congrats to TRT - I just hope they can be trusted with Thailand's future.

I hope this wipe-out teaches Sanan a lesson - Mahachon skimmed the cream off the Democrat vote in many seats giving TRT victory.

As for the Democrats - modernise or die! is the message. Get rid of Banyat Bantadtan and bring in the youth ... they have four years to get ready for any challenge to TRT!

The Enforcer!

jpatokal

07-02-05, 11:08 AM

The real results (http://202.60.196.117/election2005/index.php) are still coming in, but it looks like Chart Thai in particular is doing quite a bit better than the pollsters extrapolated: with 61% of votes counted, Chart Thai is already up to 23 + 8 = 31, instead of the exit poll's 20. This means that we'll be treated to 4 years of Chewy in parliament... :cool:

Democrats are also performing slightly less dismally than predicted, with 93 seats in the bag already (viz 80 total in the poll). Mahachon is still stuck to 1 measly seat. With 125 seats secure and ~100 seats left to call as I type this, maybe there's still hope for a total of >150 seats for the opposition...?

jpatokal

07-02-05, 11:15 AM

On further examination, some of the exit poll results are completely out of whack. The poll predicts TRT taking 8 of 11 seats in the Deep South (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/07Feb2005_news03.php), but real results (http://202.60.196.117/election2005/south.php) show 10 for the Dems and one for Chart Thai, leaving TRT with a round juicy zero. :D

The Enforcer!

07-02-05, 11:44 AM

Chart Thai is already up to 23 + 8 = 31, instead of the exit poll's 20. This means that we'll be treated to 4 years of Chewy in parliament... :cool:

With 60% of vote counted at 1248, CT is still 700,000 votes short of 1.7 Million required to kick in the List MPs - may only just scrape in!

The Enforcer!

The Enforcer!

07-02-05, 11:59 AM

From 2Banagkok/Bangkok Post ....The outcome mirrorred the resounding re-election success 73 years ago of the now-defunct Seri Manangkasila party headed by the former strongman FM Plaek Piboonsongkram. Seri Manangkasila won 86 seats, breezing through with a parliamentary majority although the contest went down in history as the most fraud-riddled...

I am confused. According to all my records he came to power in the 1938 general election, some 67 years ago!

The Enforcer!

Wisarut

07-02-05, 12:17 PM

For the leadser (Field Marshall Palek phibunsonggram), he had been PM 8 times in 2 major period (1938-1944, 1948-1957) ....

The First period (1938 - 1944) he used his own Machiavilian politicking
to ELIMINATE Colonel Phaya Songsuradej out of the political scence by forcign him to live in exile in Cambodia while sending the pupils of Phraya Songsuradej into Firing Squad at Bang Kwang while sending the former the 1st Army Commander as well as Prince Rangsit (adoped son of Queen Sawangwatthana - Grandma of our His majesty) to live in malaria infested
Tarutao. ... until the amnesty in 1943.

The leader was removed by the paliamentary projecss in 1944 sicne the national Aseembly refused to approve the acts for creating Petchabun city and Buddha City in Phraphutthabat district of Saraburi .... However, the leader has sent the Phraya Songsuradej's pupil who agreed to Poison Phraya Songsuradej so that Phraya Songsuradej would NO longer a viable rival once the Leader has been removed from the scene ....

The second period (1948 - 1957), the leaader got PM seat by coup against Nai kuang Abahiwongse (the founder of Democrat Party) .... there was 2 major election in 1952 and 1957 .... the election in 1952 was just anoter farce election while 1957 election is the signal of the last days for the Leader

jpatokal

07-02-05, 01:17 PM

With 125 seats secure and ~100 seats left to call as I type this, maybe there's still hope for a total of >150 seats for the opposition...?
Correction -- I misunderstood how the election results page works. The numbers are not confirmed seats, but bizarre extrapolations based on current data, so the 125 seats are neither secure nor guaranteed to grow; eg. Pattani's district 4 is currently "called" for the Democrats based on 0.10% (!) of votes counted.

The Enforcer!

07-02-05, 01:44 PM

Thanks Khun Wisarut, that is what I thought ... so where does the Bangkok Post get 73 years ago from?

the Enforcer!

The Enforcer!

07-02-05, 01:46 PM

Correction -- I misunderstood how the election results page works. .
Don't worry ... last night it called 38 winners in Bangkok!

The Enforcer!

Wisarut

07-02-05, 03:53 PM

bangkok Post Editors have MIXED up with the stories abotu the Leader, that it!

Nekochan

07-02-05, 04:51 PM

I expected TRT to win, but not with landsilde victory!

I do not envy their success, but still wonder what has been wrong with my compatriots!!

So, Thais do not need check and balance system anymore. The bottom line is this is the "ART OF HOW TO GET IT DONE" whatever the methods will be. Is this a symtom of shorted-sightness or narrowed visioned of most Thai citizens?

DEM is a lame duck, they will not make a different. But I do not think they lost badly.

There are a lots of people (in Pantip or Sanook) say "we do not need arguements, they will slow our progress", "look at what UMNO and PAP have done to their countries" "Oppositions will hinder our progress"

"Every politicians cheat, but as long as Thailand prospers ..... it is just fine".

"At least, he does not cheat for IMF"!!

There is no room for dissents ..... if you disagree, you are not patriotic....you are not Thai anymore. (NOT ANYMORE). Mr. Samak and Dusit who are the leaders of democracy (after Oct 6,1976) have been on air to promote mutual understanding and harmony...

It sounds like those people at Tak Bai paid for what they asked for......I read serveral postings in a horror of what I can described as "uttterly wicked & frauded logics" of today's net-citizens. They become our norms now and we need to cope with that!!

I hope those in the net do not represent our generation, do they?

In the west, even a potted head teenager will be punished socially. His crime?Went to a party but dressed like a Nazi. (you know who). No Farangs (matured or not) will never tolerate such nonsense act. No one will ever say "Well!, as long as he does not kill any Jew, he can dress like that"!!

Now....we are talking about ethics, this is a looming crisis. Money has nothing to do will ethics, it tends to corrupt badly.

Am I the ONLY one complaining??

Wisarut

07-02-05, 05:47 PM

Khun Nekochan,

Because the adulsts have set very BAD example whcih cause the ethical crisis ...

Well, if you know abotu the list of CRIMES the Democrat people have done in the past 60 years, you would TOTALLY agree with them ...

starting at

1) the case "Pridi Kill King Anadamahidol!" at the cinema in 1946,
2) the INSULTs of Isan people by Mr. Kuang Abhaiwongse durign the 11st No-Confidence Censure in 1947
3) the Mudsliding During the first Governor Election in 1975,
4) the Oppotunistic to ride the wave of Student Movemetn in 1973
5) Let the Right wing Thugs Killign Student in 1976
6) the 5th Column sellign out the Nation to PULOP and BRN sicne 1969
etc etc ....

Wisarut

07-02-05, 05:50 PM

Furthermore, the Mousepiece fo Propaganda of the Democrat (Matichon, the Nationa) have also commit too many crimes whcih the readers EXPECTED them NOT to commit at all .... and the crimes that go UNPUNISHED .... That's why the readers LOSE the faith on such serious newspaper .....

admin

07-02-05, 11:55 PM

Comments on "Why Thaksin succeeds" (http://2bangkok.com/WhyThaksinsucceeds.shtml)

A reader writes: Personally, my have some ideas why Thaksin wins so many votes;

1. Though Thaksin's so rich and so different from poor people, his project like '1 million Baht fund for each mooban' hit them. Evenif some of these people spend their money for unecessary things, many people think this is the first time that help are offered to these low level people. This has never happened before in the period Democrate Party was the government.

2. For middle class people who have been suffering from the bubble burst in 1997, they don't want the economy system to be back in the hand of Democrat party again.

At that time, when Democrate Party came to be goverment right after the burst, it was widely known that Mr. Tharin Nimmanhemindra, Finance Minister from Democrat Party, had very strict financial policies and strongly supported only financial sector. Many businessmen lose their business cause they can't make any loan from banks to run their own business. I was well proved that Tharin financial thoery and policy went wrong and finally the Democrat had be opposit party.

So now, many people prefer to have goverment who can push GDP grows and help them have better living standard. They get scared of having no job and no money as they used to have. So far, these 4 years of the goverment proves that Thaksin bring them better life. Thought there are a lot of talks about being dictator, but if comparing with Democrat, they prefer to chose him.

Btw, until now, there still be noone in Democrate Party who can be raised as their top cream to run financial and commercial segtors.

3. People get bored of Democrat Party. Why? Because their political activities are undevelped. They still criticize about everything the goverement have done, though have no suggestions what should it be. Young and modern Thai people get tired of this kind of political game. We don't want to have old people of Democrat party to be priminister. Easily imagin what would happen if we should Democrat, surely Banyat would be priminister-eww! His profile has never shown that he would be able to control country effectively, reposively and with creativity. People want PM who would realize and share their sufferings when they are in troubles, not just waiting for report at his home and doing nothing.

At least, I simply believe not only me who, though don't adore TRT, would abruptly turn to choose Thaksin just imagin if we have Banyat as our PM.

Wisarut

08-02-05, 09:26 AM

Sorry Khun Hatyai Junction,

You are INSULTING the intelligence of the local people. The same Insults those Thai people who live abroad sicne they were young ... and living for too long so they are OUT OF TOUCH with the local people with scannot go abroad .... -> the same thing which happen to one of Kritsadakorn familyt who live abord for too slogn so when he come back and become the successor of Prince Raphee (the ministor of Justice), the Prince form Kritsadakron family yelled "I CANNOT work with Saimese People!!!!! "

Wisarut

08-02-05, 09:28 AM

Khun Hatyai Junction,

You may be right ... but Cynicism has NO Longer has ANY place right now ... Better ask those Cynic to Drink Cyanide so as to forget anything they keep criticism ....

Wisarut

08-02-05, 10:26 AM

Khun Hatyai Junction,

Read this comment from Thai people English and you'll see:

ความคิดเห็นที่ 67

To ความคิดเห็นที่ 37,

I wouldn’t worry about how those journalists/experts in other countries (especially in the WEST) said. These experts both domestic and foreign love to use fancy words such as: Human-Right, Dictatorship or Our democracy is going backward (In fact, it would be better for those experts to start worrying about what going on in their own countries).

I have seen so much of theses articles and comments. They are all going in the same pattern. Whatever the Government do, they all seem to be wrong in their point of view. They believe that our government, our leader is not capable of making the right decision. Even when the government did something right, then they said it must be for a wrong reason!

So the government did everything wrong and life of the people continue to improve in the past 4 years. Are we are just lucky or something really gone wrong in the whole thing?

Maybe the answer is just so simple that there are group of people who about to lose the power and control that they have for so long. Surely enough, these are the same people who kept THAILAND struggle to move forward for so long.

It’s time to let it go my friends, you already took too much of everybody share.

As we all see, after a very long wait, the judgment day has come. Yeah! VIVA Thailand.

After this election, I’ve been smiling lately.
SWEETGUY

ncr

08-02-05, 03:32 PM

From 2Bangkok/Bangkok Post ....The outcome mirrorred the resounding re-election success 73 years ago of the now-defunct Seri Manangkasila party headed by the former strongman FM Plaek Piboonsongkram.Also, if the parliamentary democracy was introduced in Thailand in 1932, how on earth would anyone have been able to be re-elected 73 years ago? No, the Post screwed up their history research here....

See http://www.thaiembdc.org/politics/govtment/pmlist.htm
for a list of Thai Prime Ministers. (Note: scroll down for the last entry if you want to know how up-to-date it is... :eek: )

Wisarut

08-02-05, 04:26 PM

Now, I just went to Manager Daily and see the article by Uncle Wattawan

He has sent the followign criticism toward the columnists fo Time magazine

Referring to your feature story on Thailand's Prime Minister Taksin:

Perhaps we Thais needed caffeine.
Ex-PM Chuan Leekpai from the Democrat Party was like Prozac. During his time Thailand was practically sedated. He and his gang avoided making decisions, lest it would shake the security of their government chairs. Even the then-new young bloods, some Oxford-educated, like Apisit Vejjajiva, proved lackluster; worse, another Chuan.

We just might give Taksin another four years … caffeine and all. Then we'll see whether we’re wide awake, full of energy to keep Thailand going; or if we're simply caffeine-poisoned.

But do tell me … if Taksin is caffeine, then what is Bush? Cyanide?[/B]

The Americans must bear Bush; the Thais will probably have to tolerate Taksin. It seems that neither have any choice.

Vattavan Supunpaysaj

Columnist MANAGER ON LINE, Thailand
Vattavan@yahoo.com

// ----------------------------------------------------------

He also quote the late MR Khuekrit Pramote's response toward the meddlesome media when he was PM

“ผมคงทำกรรมเอาไว้มาก เพราะคงไป สังวาส แม่ของพวกมันตั้งแต่ชาติที่แล้ว มาชาตินี้มันก็เลยตามมารุมด่าผมไม่เลิก ! ”

(In my previous life, I may have [B]Fxxked the journalists' Mothers so they come back to give me LOTS of Bad Raps .....)

// --------------------------------------------------------

Furthermore, Uncle Wattawan has criticized Khunying Kalaya Sophnphanit who hs involved in the Les majeste Stickers for political campaigns while lambastign Ajarn Nithi iawsriwongse (the founder of Midnight University) for the strategy "Dog Fights" (voting enough Democrat to fight AGAINST Premeir Thaksin)

// --------------------------------------
Now, the owners and columnists of Thai Post said they may consider MIOGRATING to otehr countries if they don't want to drink cyanide ....or pesticide ...

jpatokal

11-02-05, 09:37 AM

Some news services seem to be announcing that the final official results are now in, but The Nation's page (http://202.60.196.117/election2005/index.php) is still saying just 86%? Anyway, here's exit poll vs. the current situation:

TRT 399 vs 376
Dems 80 vs 96
Chart Thai 20 vs 26
Mahachon 1 vs 2

So the exit poll was TRT-slanted, but the difference isn't big enough to matter since the TRT total is still >350.

Wisarut

08-03-05, 08:47 AM

Most of Urban Middle class Thailanders are Right Leaning!

by Kasem Sirisamphan

Premier Thaksin has recognized this FACT so TRT successfully
won hte election TWICE - esp in BKK.

This double victory might have something to do with his populist
policies to attract those grassroot people as well as urban and rural
underclass.

However, Permier Thaksin also manager to capture the sentiments of the
middleclass and urban Thai people who are NATURALLY right wing
supporters (ME Too!). This is one of the contributions for TRT's
landslide victory.

Look at what Premeur Thaksin's Saturday Morning radio talks and you'll
see lots of right wing agenda whcih PLEASE the urban Thai people (the
growing majority) -> Anyone who OPPOSE the color scheme on the 3
troublesome provinces are considred "PULO Sympathizers - Traitors of
the Motherland!" -> whether they are Buddhists, Muslim or Chistian.
Furthermore, he does NOT give a DAMN on the criticism from Muslim
countries about brutal treatments on 3 troublesome provinces whcih also
PLEASE the urban Thai people who happen to be right wibng supporters.

Right Leaning is all about the conservative doctrine whcih empahsize
the National stability and National security over the individual
freedom. Those conservative pepople are strictly Nationalists. Any
liberal or centerists who support human rights are a bunch of
troblemakers who have sell out the National Security to Please the
Imperialists.

The current consavative atmosphere could become ultraconservative
even though it has NOT reached the level of Ultraconservatives as those
right wing thugs durign the October 6, 1976 masscare yet.

Even the venerable Abbot Koon Parasuttho of Wat Banrai praised Premier
Thaksin that "You are the best PM I have very seen
since Strongman Sarit Thanarat!"

Even middle rank Thai bankers who have MBA degree said we LOST
protection after the Military have been REMOVED from the political
scene since 1992, and his HERO is Strongman Sarit Thanarat (Strongman
Thanom Kittikhajorn is TOO Weak for him)... Premier Thaksin is the ONLY
good substitution for Strongman Sarit Thanarat.

This kind of mindset has become the Nature of Urban and middlecalss
Thai people.

After the criticism about Permier Thaksin who is goign to fill the
Shoes of PM Lee Kuan Yoo and Dr. M. from Dr. Jarmsak Pinthong,
many urban Thai couples have told Dr. Jermsak back that

"They badly want to see Premier Thaksin becoming the next Dr M. and PM
Lee Kuan Yoo ... to Get rid Of the Street hawkers even he may have to
BOIL and COOK those street hawkers on the FRYING WOKS full of lard or
cookign oil when we wear Village Scout uniforms!"

Thai PM Must be ONLY Strongman! NOT thsoe Whimpy like Ai Chuan of
Democrat!

Democrat has made a FATAL mistake by asking for 201 PM to check Premier
Thaksin, so the conservative voters have thrown the supports to Premier
Thaksin to ELIMINATE any obstacle for Premier Thaksin.

The conservative Thai people have 2 things to FEAR:
1) The Capital City (the country) under the Foreign Yokes

Durign the 1997 Economic Melthdown, the begging for the helps
form IMF is the sure sign of the Lost of Capital city to IMF at the
devastate level as the Lost of Ayutthaya on August 7, 1569
and April 7, 1767. An the 11 Laws Imposed by IMF during Premier Chuan
Lookphai's term is the "Acts of Abominal Slavery" from the Slave owners
(IMF).

Khun Thaksin and advisers have found the way to capture the voters by
sayign that the 11 Slavish law will be NULLIFIED when he has become a
premier .. However, Premier Thaksin stil have NOT abolished those 11
laws yet and the tried to find the way to explain the public abotu
that ...

2) The lost of the Territories even the size of pinhead.

After the Kruseh Incident on April 28, 2004, the conservative Thai said
is a sure sign that thsoe PULO and BRN (with Support form Malaysian
Government) have BRAINWASHED those Muslim youths to attack Thai
military forces in the South as the way to secede 3 prvinces to become
the 14th state of Malaysia (KL and La Buan NOT Counted). Even the mild
suggestion form Dr. M. abotu the autonomy of 3 provinces have CONVINCED
conservative Thai people that Dr. M. and Malysian government are the
ones who act behind the scene of Krueseh Attack as well as the Southern
Insurgency.

Now, Premier Thaksin said so long he is the PM of Thailand, thsoe SOBs
would be forbidden from seceding 3 provinces form Thailand.
This PM Thaksin's speech have ATTRACTED Overwheming supports from
conservative middle class Thai people in BKK and major cities as well
as those conservative forces in suburbs and rural areas.

Therefore, Premier Thaksin have to PLEASE the right wign agenda as well
as the grass root agenda to gain political bases.

Ref: http://www.manager.co.th/Daily*/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=94800000*32762

admin

09-03-05, 08:06 AM

This is a very instructive article for foreigners to read to get a better idea of prevailing views. Thanks for posting it, Wisarut. The mood of the populace is often misjudged by foreigners who base their opinions only on what is in the English-language press...

Wisarut

13-03-05, 11:23 PM

Now, the French Cartoonist who is drawing satirical cartoon in the Nation has drawn the p[icture of Premier Thaksin as "Chairman Maew" who raised his left hand while his right hand is grabbing a money bag ... due to the fact that the power of Premier Thaksin is cloing to the level of Chairman Mao Tse Tung! :p :D ;) :rolleyes: :cool: :)

He also show the satirical cartoons abotu Premiere Thaksin that he could checkmate the Opposition by having the whole chessboard with black pieces while the Democrat has ONLY the white King. Furthermore, his powerful Muay Thai kicking has effectively CHOP the leg of Khun Banyat ...

Furthermore, Premier Thaksin has rejigged Democracy Monumnet into the Rocket whcih has been shot out of the world ...

Pas

14-03-05, 08:35 AM

sounds hillarious... :D

GWR

15-03-05, 09:42 AM

Taksin 1 = The Long March
Taksin 2 = The Great Leap Forward
Taksin 3 = The Cultural Revolution
Taksin 4 = The Gang of Four

And then perhaps Dong Si Choi 1

Yappofloyd

15-03-05, 11:17 AM

^ scary! Always thought that Taksin should be called the 'Paramount Leader'!

GWR

08-04-05, 10:28 PM

If the original is anything to go by, it is 'er indoors and her chronies we really have to worry about. Or is it the sister in this case?; who seems to be steering the anti-Sanoh campaign. Maybe we should relabel Sanoh as Thailand's Chang Kai Shek. And the Wang Nam Yen Faction as the KMT; who will eventually be forced off the 'mainland' into their Isaan redoubt version of Taiwan. Does this also mean that Sanan & Chaovalit will go down in history as scheming eunuchs at the Imperial Court? Is Khun Chuan the Last Emperor Pu Yi? Will Southern Thailand become a puppet state Manchuokuo?

Wisarut

08-04-05, 11:30 PM

Pa Sanoh is mure like iether Lin Biao or Pu Yi ... and Wang Nam Yen
is Manchukou though ....

Jiang Qing is the one I don't need to name - the Pheonix behind
the Dragon Throne.

For the Chiang Kai Chek -> It's Chuan Leekphai though .... and
Democrat is Definitely KMT usign the South as their Taiwan while
nurshereing Pattani as their version of Tibet & Xing Jiang... while
gaining support from both Yankee and Arabian countries.

Sanan and Chawalit ... Yeah Court Eunuches are the best description
for both. :D

ncr

25-04-05, 02:12 PM

Another good editorial by "Chang Noi":

Explaining Thailand to the World (http://www.geocities.com/changnoi2/explain.htm)
28 March 2005

Actually there was a new one in The Nation today - a striking analysis of the current political system in Thailand -, but it's not yet online.

ncr

25-05-05, 01:29 AM

Actually there was a new one in The Nation today - a striking analysis of the current political system in Thailand -, but it's not yet online.Now it finally is: From Westminster to Washington (http://www.geocities.com/changnoi2/westwash.htm).

ncr

28-05-05, 05:22 PM

From the best political commentator at the Bangkok Post, Thirasant Mann - always scathingly satirical and good fun to read.

28 May 2005 (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28May2005_news27.php) (link will probably be broken soon, so here's the text in full):

COMMENTARY

In a land of corruption, spotless beauties

Thirasant Mann

Dear Mann Landers: It seems the government's war on corruption is amounting to nothing but a big stink. When will we hear the last of it? - Handsome Howard

Dear Howie: Like every nam nao soap opera, we'll have to sit through this one to the bitter end.

You can complain to your local community radio, but be quick about it before the station gets shut down for interfering with the govt's god-given right to rule the airwaves.

As it is, the graft-busters have just got busted for giving themselves a raise, and it'll be a nice long interlude before a new National Counter Corruption Commission rears its spotless head.

The Senate, which as we all know has no political affiliations whatsoever, is keen to replace the auditor-general who's been digging too deep into the dungheap of ministerial misconduct pertaining to billions in budgetary indiscretion.

Even the PM is getting grief from his chief adviser who, in a sudden attack of conscience not approved by the party, is petitioning against the Senate's move to get royal approval for the new auditor-general.

The chief adviser has even advised the PM to chuck him out of the party because ''I don't care... I would rather stay home.'' Looks like Mr Sanoh, realising it's way past his retirement time, has decided to snuff out his own political career.

And the less said about transparency in the foggy new airport, the better. The luggage X-ray scanners are showing really explosive material - far more than one can bear to see.

Even the clean bill of health the doctors at the US embassy have given to the deal has failed to dispel the public's nagging doubts.

The unreasoning and illogical plebs simply refuse to believe that corruption cannot survive in the snakepit that was known as Cobra Swamp before it became the Golden Land of Opportunity.

Dear Mann Slander: The government believes the Miss Universe beauty pageant will boost tourism to Thailand, especially in the tsunami-hit provinces. Will it? - Sophie Stique

Dear Sophie: Despite the risk of sounding beastly about the unalloyed beauties, one cannot escape the observation that the pageant has taken sophistication to new heights, as was clear from the eye-popping National Costume competition the other night.

Miss Greece transformed herself into Athena, while the Boadicean Miss UK's ample weapons of mass distraction could have smitten the Iraqis in a blink and saved Tony the effort of a lie.

The Central and South American beauties transformed themselves into behemoth butterflies. All very wonderful, indeed, quite out of this world really, very universal and all that - but left one wondering whether the people they represented actually dressed like that?

Certainly, there were several whose costumes did have a semblance of their country of origin: the Mayan goddess was stunning, beating the Sri Lankan contestant by a whole head of gorgeous peacock feathers.

And of course, there was our very own Miss Thailand, who won Best National Costume with her lovely Cambodian outfit.

As for our government, they've taken sophistry to new heights, telling us that spending 200 million baht on the pageant will do wonders for the country's tourism industry. It would be a waste spending that sum on the tsunami victims (they can go hang themselves, leaving their contested lands to speculating politicians with the right ties and cufflinks).

No, every sign of misery must be eradicated and investing 200 million in the pageant will go a long way to achieving just that.

In fact, one expects thong-clad tourists to come thronging back to Phangnga for a dive among the reefs, where they will be thrilled to the gills to find hundreds of hotel beds and mattresses lodged nicely among the corals, with perhaps a skeleton or two lounging languorously, passports fluttering in their phalanges. Unseen Thailand, indeed.

Thirasant Mann is a sub-editor of Bangkok Post.

I especially liked the word plays: "Cobra Swamp" is the literal translation of Nong Ngu Hao, while "the Golden Land of Opportunity" alludes to the Suvarnabhumi/Suwannaphum (meaning "Golden Land") construction [in case you didn't already know yourself]. :D :D :D

ncr

19-06-05, 02:17 AM

I found the TNA article quite remarkable; sounds all nice and well, but his actions contradict his words.

PM makes appeal for patriotism

BANGKOK, June 16 (TNA) - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday joined a long tradition of Thai premiers by appealing to the public to show a spirit of patriotism, saying that democracy could only fully develop if people set aside their own personal interests.

Addressing radio performers and presenters who are particularly in a national security programme, the prime minister said that no country could progress if its people looked out for their own personal benefits, rather than for the good of the nation as a whole.

But while Thailand is a democratic society, social problems could never be solved if the ill-informed were debating with the ill-informed. "The weak spot in the Thai society lies within the system of news and information--in the system of news analysis", Mr. Thaksin said. "Where there is insufficient knowledge, there is little intelligence", he noted.

Pointing out that the Thai public had often argued with their emotions, and on the basis of politics and their own personal interests, he said that people should "take into account what is for the national interests and what are the things we need to preserve. "This would considerably improve our understanding of events", he said.

The Thai leader also noted that the nation is more important than the government, and that it is legitimate to disagree for the government when it is not acting for the good of the nation. The role of the government, he said, is to make sacrifices for the national good.

Promising to create new political rules and a political culture in which politicians no longer look out for their own interests, Mr. Thaksin,
nonetheless, warned that this would take time due to the entrenched nature of the Thai political system.

"The public don't know who to elect; so they elect people who give them money", he noted. "We are currently in a period of transition", he said, calling on the public to take action.

"This will lead to us taking a new step, which will lower the cost of politics. Once there are better systems of investigation within the political system, it will become more difficult to cheat the nation, and the politics will start to become cleaner", he said.

The prime minister, who admitted to being exhausted by the task ahead of him, said that he, nonetheless, has no problems with his rivals as long as they are acting for the national good. (TNA)

What he means is of course: the evil anti-government media mislead the public; follow only me (in the 'national interest'), and everything will be alright! Anyone opposed to the government - for whatever reasons - is of course unpatriotic. (Bears a strong resemblance to the views of a certain George Dubbya.....)

Oh, and what was that: "The public don't know who to elect; so they elect people who give them money", he noted.

In the last election, the majority of people voted for TRT.
Innocent question, Mr. Prime Minister: Who gave them money? :rolleyes:

Finally, does anyone understand the meaning of ...which will lower the cost of politics? :confused:

ncr

26-06-05, 12:54 AM

Another commentary by Thirasant Mann. ("An unusually sarcastic editorial from the Post", stated the 2B main page. Yes, but it's absolutely characteristical for his style.)

Deserving of absolute loyalty - or else!
Bangkok Post, June 25, 2005

Thirasant Mann

By zapping critical websites for reasons of national security, the Thai Mai Rak Khrai government has in no uncertain terms told critics to zip it. So let me rush to say I worship our CEO, I kiss the ground beneath his feet - for reasons of personal security.

And who could be more secure personally? He is listed among the billionaires in Forbes (year 2003), is the owner of a business empire that puts Berlusconi's in the shade, has pockets so deep he can dole out shares worth millions to maids and chauffeurs, and a heart big enough to admit ''honest mistakes'' _ such as when he promised, last century, to rid Bangkok of traffic congestion within six months. Of course we're all still sitting smugly in the jam eating bread and honey, and not daring to use the subway.

And did he not, at the height of the bird flu scare, bravely munch on flu-free fried chicken till he was ready to squawk?

His government's war on drugs has made the world sit up and take notice of our human rights record, which doubtless will go a long way towards securing the top UN job for our deputy prime minister responsible for foreign affairs.

The war on corruption has shown there are no corrupt politicians, only greedy graft busters. There has been nothing but the clearest transparency in the juicy longan deal, the airport scanners purchase, the rubber saplings project, the million cows scheme...

The state's handling of the situation down South is resulting in more and more people, bless their souls, resting in peace every day. And those who've so far managed to stay in one piece will soon have the pleasure of attending, possibly under threat of abduction, a new school (either in Narathiwat, Yala or Pattani, whichever presents the least likelihood of being burnt down), to learn how to bring about peace and tranquillity by folding paper cranes.

The poverty eradication scheme is achieving wonders, with beggars being rounded up off the streets just like the pre-Apec days of 2003, when destitute Cambodians were dispatched by the planeload to Phnom Penh free of charge.

Our relations with neighbouring countries couldn't be better _ especially with Burma, whose generals haven't a clue where they're headed despite road maps and must be handled with kid gloves because the government hopes one day to get back the 5 billion baht it loaned the junta to link up its communications network with ShinSat.

The one tambon one product (Otop) campaign has been a great success, with people sitting atop piles of unsold products because the communities started competing with each other by making identical goods.

The attempt to reform education has been exemplary. We now have state-funded schools in which the French are teaching English - where's the harm in that? None (non?) whatsoever.

In fact, the reforms have been so successful that some 3,000 education officials are about to sue the education minister for lost career opportunities.

And what about the strenuous efforts being exerted to rehabilitate tsunami victims by relieving them of their lands?

Meantime, the energy-conservation campaign will surely save the country billions of baht as the PM keeps us happily in the dark while he himself gets lost in the fog on helicopter rides.

At great risk of being labelled unpatriotic one company has warned, though, that a midnight curfew on TV broadcasts might cause people to seek other forms of entertainment which would actually use up more energy. Indeed.

And who says our most cherished CEO doesn't listen to advice? Did he not take his chief adviser's advice and boot him out of the party's executive board - prompting the adviser's wife to do a spot of meditation while inspecting a technical college to see whether those still in their salad days were being tossed to death in bizarre hazing activities?

So now our man from the North who calls himself South is in need of a new adviser, but social critics and academics need not apply. Sorry to say but yours truly, however sycophantic and grovelling, has not the skills required for such an important position, either.

ncr

04-08-05, 01:08 AM

Please, stop these pointless reshuffles........ I'm getting dizzy! :mad:

The Enforcer!

04-08-05, 08:46 AM

Please, stop these pointless reshuffles........ I'm getting dizzy! :mad:
As the song says ... "round and round, and round we go ...where it stops nobody knows!"

The Enforcer!

Wisarut

04-08-05, 03:31 PM

One sure thing, Ai Suriya still run MOTC through Ai Pheng whop acts like a puppet :p

GWR

04-08-05, 11:47 PM

RE - Shuffle is a pretty good word for the sort of inertia these guys bring to any serious issue that doesn't have a personal profit element for them.

This is the worst government I've seen here! Worse than Chaovalit and Barnharn; and long-lived enough to do irreparable damage.

The Enforcer!

05-08-05, 09:29 AM

RE - Shuffle is a pretty good word for the sort of inertia these guys bring to any serious issue that doesn't have a personal profit element for them..
In the UK the Civil Service call it "Creative Inertia"!

The Enforcer!

The Enforcer!

06-08-05, 09:23 AM

To quote one of my two favourite TV Comedies ...

"The Opposition aren't really the Opposition. They are just called the Opposition. But, in fact, they are the opposition in exile. The Civil Service are the opposition in residence."

The Enforcer!

GWR

08-08-05, 11:52 PM

Today's Bangkok Post reports the far from discrete attendence of Taksin at ex PM & Army Chief Sujinda Krapayoon's birthday party. What a 'reformer' of Taksin's popular stature is doing attending that bash, God only knows! Sujinda can hardly be credited with displaying any real regard for his fellow citizens.

'Whoever becomes army chief must have field combat experience. Otherwise, he would not look graceful' said Taksin in a speech at the party.

I'd like to know where that combat experience is going to come from. The Thai Army undoubtedly gained useful experience in Timor Leste & Iraq; but I'd hardly call either true combat experience. It's been a long time since Chaovalit gained real combat experience & lost to Laos.

The Enforcer!

09-08-05, 10:10 AM

You mean you hadn't noticed the similarity between Suchinda and Taksin before?

The Enforcer!

GWR

09-08-05, 01:54 PM

You mean you hadn't noticed the similarity between Suchinda and Taksin before?
The Enforcer!
Let me see! Oh Yes!

Both exhibit the finer points of 'grace under pressure' and know only too well the heavy responsibilities they shoulder for the populace. Both have been known to don a pakamaa when their integrity has been called into doubt. Both have been known to ... ... ... ;)

And both have a great deal in common with the ever-so puritan Chumlong Si Muang too.

ncr

09-08-05, 10:18 PM

We shall not only judge you by your deeds, but also by whom you associate with......... :eek:

ncr

25-08-05, 03:48 PM

Good analysis/commentary with a scary conclusion. But then, we already knew it all the time..........

THAI TALK: Corporatisation of politics comes full circle (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/08/25/opinion/index.php?news=opinion_18427390.html) - The Nation, 25 August 2005

Even his staunchest supporters may find it shockingly simplistic and dangerously self-serving. But that, in a nutshell, is in fact the super-CEO’s unmistakable mantra – and genuine conviction. His ultimate formula for the country is as deceptively plain as this: Politics equals economics. Everything else is secondary. In fact, if the crunch comes, nothing else matters.

“Politics, in fact, is very similar to economics,” the super-CEO declared during a recent briefing he gave to a group of senior editors from Matichon Group. He then produced a piece of paper on which he scribbled what arguably were the very fundamental thoughts about his much-heralded “dual-track policy”.

On the left column is the economy, on the right, politics. Capitalism equals democracy and if business forms the core of capitalism, government and political parties represent the mainstay of democracy, he explained.

Business, he said, leads to M&As (mergers and acquisitions) while running parallel on the political front are regional groupings. If business prosperity dictates that alliances be formed on the basis of synergy, then the political equivalent would be the signing of free-trade agreements (FTAs). And perhaps, as an afterthought, the premier scrawled: “economy of scale” and “economy of speed” at the end of the economy column.

He didn’t write down the equivalent of those two terms in the column on politics. But clearly, had he not been in such a hurry, the business-tycoon-turned-top-politician would have scribbled “politics of scale” and “politics of speed” to complete his formula of his grand plan for the country. In other words, the corporatisation of the country’s politics has come full circle.

Once the notion of running the country like a personal business empire considered too crude and crass for the nation. Now, that concept is being paraded in grand style. The transformation has been executed with impunity.

Conspicuously absent in his great road map to national revival is an equally, if not more, critical factor: where does civil society fit in?

It appears that for Thaksin, the concept of economic and political activities based on the creation of a civil society is at best an alien caprice. The pursuit of narrow economic objectives, based on a limited number of macro-economic indicators, to him, seems to be the only worthwhile goal. Politics is there only to serve that purpose. (Remember his famous quote: “Democracy is but a tool, not an end”?)

It should have come as no surprise, therefore, that such basic values of a society as human rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law aren’t necessarily included in his scheme of things. In fact, such social values as integrity and ethics could, to him, represent the kind of nuisances he would rather ignore if they serve as a hindrance to achieve his economic and political ends. That vital “missing link” (right) – the lack of moral authority in the Establishment – in Thaksin’s governance is the cause of the current ruinous state of affairs. The blatant corporatisation of politics has brought about the desensitisation of ethical values, which in turn is seriously undermining the very foundation of a civil society.

Suthichai Yoon

[The printed version had an image of Thaksin's scribbled ideas on the left and the author's thoughts in a similar diagram on the right.]

Nekochan

25-08-05, 11:17 PM

BKK Post announced the resignation of its reportors today. My point is they were fired or what.

It seems the crack on SBIA runway has caused more damages than anyone can think.

Central has some stocks in BKK Post and they will act to save their own interest. I remember the Post just had a new editor a year ago or so.

:mad: :mad:

The Enforcer!

26-08-05, 09:53 AM

Central has some stocks in BKK Post
Isn't it more like 60%?

The Enforcer!

Yappofloyd

26-08-05, 08:56 PM

Not satisfied with shutting down community radio stations, muzzling what little press he does not directly or indirectly control or curbing freedom of the press laws, it seems that the PM has really started to lose it and is engaging in what can only be characterised as childish behaviour.

As posted on the 2bangkok front page and in todays BKK Post the PM is using a Japanese toy, X sign (http://tinypic.com/b6qbux.jpg) (credit to BKK Posts, PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD) when he doesn't like the questions asked by the press.

From BKK Post, 26/08/05
However, Mr Thaksin rejected many of the questions he did not like, holding up a toy with an ''X'' mark to indicate his disapproval. This was accompanied by a ''beep'' similar to that used on game shows.

Mr Thaksin briefly introduced his toy, saying his son Panthongthae brought it back from Japan. ''Oak [Panthongthae] bought it to play with his sisters. I just borrowed it from him to play with you to relieve stress because the questions you ask are ... oh so heavy,'' said Mr Thaksin.

He raised the ''X'' toy to questions he considered unconstructive and deserving no answer.
Late last year he said that he never wanted to be PM, now he obviously doesn't want to have to deal with any difficult questions. Being the tempermental CEO style leader that he is he still doesn't understand that he has an obligation address the press. Perhaps he may revert soon to the briefly introduced policy from last year of the media having to submit questions in advance to his press office.

ncr

26-08-05, 09:44 PM

it seems that the PM has really started to lose it and is engaging in what can only be characterised as childish behaviour.That's what it is, exactly. Completely taking the piss.... :eek:

I mean, better shut up. Don't talk to the press anymore if you don't like them, Maew.

Yappofloyd

27-08-05, 04:02 PM

He should just be honest and say that he doesn't want to deal with the press unless they undertake only to report good news stories on him and his govt. He is not far away from adopting the Chinese or North Korean style of media control.

The Enforcer!

28-08-05, 09:07 AM

Completely taking the piss.
...or as we say in England "Extracting the Urine!"

The Enforcer!

The Enforcer!

06-09-05, 11:31 AM

Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up. Ultimately, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder.

One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious, but, undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder. All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.

A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the crap out of him. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.

One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.

... and that's how Thai Rak Thai Government policies in Thailand get
established.

The Enforcer!

admin

03-02-06, 08:10 PM

Code words in Tha Nation: Who is "a person known as one who Thaksin respects?"

********
POLITICAL CRISIS: PM defiant as outrage surges - The Nation, February 3, 2006
http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/02/03/headlines/index.php?news=headlines_19822797.html
...An urgent meeting was called at Ban Chan Song La, Thaksin's residence to analyse the political crisis after growing anti-government sentiment from the Shin Corp sell-off.
At the tense meeting, a person known as one who Thaksin respects suggested that the prime minister resign as a pre-emptive move to stop the rally amid fears it could turn violent. He believed that Sondhi could mobilise a formidable crowd in the capital after two weeks touring the provinces to seek support.
The meeting went into detail about which MPs would be best suited and who Thaksin would trust to take over his job.
However, other top party officials wanted more than just a face-lift, arguing a House dissolution was the only way out. They disagreed over the method of having Thaksin resign, reasoning that it would not end the current conflicts because Thai Rak Thai Party would still be running the country...

Tettyan

07-02-06, 07:12 AM

Today's Nation seems to give an additional hint as to who this person "who Thaksin respects" might be.

http://203.154.97.18/breaking/read.php?lang=en&newsid=111012

Snoh puts challenge to Thaksin
The Nation
Published on Feb 06 , 2006

Wang Nam Yen faction leader Snoh Thienthong challenged Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Monday to expel all of his faction members following the resignation of two ministers who belong to the faction.

Snoh moved after Information Technology and Communication Minister Sora-at Klinpratoom and Culture Minister Uraiwan Thienthong - his wife - stepped down last week.

Snoh denied reports that Sora-at resigned in return for favours he owed to Snoh. Sora-at had stood down for ideological reasons, he said. "Everyone volunteers to work for the country and should return the gratitude to the land and the people by sticking to the righteousness."

Snoh said that in his long years in politics he had never known a situation when a respected national figure who always bestows degrees for major universities would ask a "particular man" to quit. He was referring to a meeting at the PM's house last week when the premier was allegedly advised to stand down.

Thaksin insisted on Saturday he would resign only if His Majesty the King told him so.

Snoh said if Thakin expelled him, he would make all Wang Nam Yen faction members resign with him - then seek justice with the Constitution Court.

He refused to say how many MPs would follow him. He said he would join with Wang Nam Yom faction to call for a change to the Constitution.