"what Thaksin Had Done Wrong"

[george]

"What Thaksin had done wrong"

Summary of Council for National Security's "White Paper" detailing Thaksin's alleged wrongdoings

Why did Council for National Security overthrow the Thaksin administration?

Corruption/conflict of interests

- Changed concessions on mobile phone business as excise tax

- Created satellite business to gain promotion from Board of Investment

- Corruption at Suvarnabhumi Airport and the purchase of CTX bomb detection scanners

- Corruption in the construction of railway Airport Link

- Lack of transparency in privatisation of state enterprises

- Media interference

Abuse of power

- Appointed family, relatives, close aides to highranking positions of the state

- Used state budget without seeking approval from the House in projects to promote government popularity

- Abuse of power by negotiating with foreign countries for the interest of themselves (Exim bank loans)

- Abuse of power by instructing state agencies to investigate assets of government opponents

Infringe on ethics and moral integrity of country leader

- Sold satellite concession and television station to a foreign country

- Evaded taxes from share sale

Interference in political check system

- Interfered with the Senate which appointed independent agencies that checked the government

- Interfered with the appointment of Election Commission, Constitution Court judge and National Counter Corruption Commission and AuditorGeneral

Policy flaws that led to human rights violation

- Extrajudicial killing of drug suspects

- Policy mismanagement and abuse of power in solving violence in the south

Created rift and destroyed unity of the public and instigating confrontation

- Blocked information that checked the government and the prime minister

- Created confrontation between anti and pro government supporters.

--The Nation 2006-11-21

[britmaveric]

How about the positive impacts?

[cclub75]

That's awesome ! At last, CNS understands the importance of the issue, and the importance of communicating over this issue. Bravo.

Along with "interferences" (difficult to proove), there are many factual points.

So now... we need more than a "white paper".

We need actions.

It means prosecution.

[Jeff1]

How about the positive impacts?

Yea, other than that he was a good guy

Don't shoot me army guys, it was a joke, just kidding, a few laughs between friends, really hate the guy, ok im going now , bye...................

[newworks]

wow, yeah, he really was bad. and we all know that every one of his predecessors and opponents are paragons of virtue and accountability.

and now everything is going to be fine because that terrible man has been chased away, martial law has been imposed, poilitical gatherings are banned, the constitution has been torn up, and thai democracy has been, uh... what IS the status of thai democracy right now, anyway? oh YEAH; it's being RESTORED!

i feel a lot better. and i am sure that the millions of thais who voted him into office TWICE feel much better, too. mai pen rai!

[Buckwheat]

How about the positive impacts?

I have one....

We no longer have to put up with bright lights coming from gas stations after 10pm

[Khutan]

Just another day in politics, examples can be seen in almost every country.

I am sure if the ex-Premier of Queensland "Sir" Joh had a list like this compiled, it would be longer and uglier.

Not that I am a Taxin or anything supporter, rather an observer.

[Francis Maube]

OK, that's a long list of wrondoing by anyone standard but a fair bit of it is business as usual as far as some of his predecessors are concerned and it was widely accepted by just everybody. I guess he went a step (or a few) too far. That probably mean that corruption has its limit in LOS. That's the good news.

[p1p]

It's high time that some example should be mde of those involved in systematic corruption.

China seems to be getting it right with their policy of complete asset confiscation and a quick bullet in the back of the head "Pour encourager les autres". The wrong doer does not come back and those likewise inclined think twice before they take the same route.

[deminister]

Intersting list. The only problem is proving it. Proving that men in uniform have appoited their friends in state enterprises and have breached the trust of their sharholders is much easier. How about trippling the economic growth? Or having been able to reduce the death of infants in half? Having been able to reduce the tea money that the friends of the couptakers asked for a place in university or demonstration schools? having supplies the poor with microcredit (not a bad thing given the nobel prize this year), or having been able to help out the poor when their was a disaster (Have not yet seen a hirake in uniform this time, maybe they were too busy). Or what about having reduced the number of children addicted to drugs. And did Thaksin not get his satellite license from the last military government, as well the mobile phone license? Some people must have profitted? It is so easy to make a list, substantiating is much more of a headache.

Wait till that other general Chavalit makes a list about those other generals, that would be more fun.

By the way what happened with the freedom of speech, that Sondhi could use to criticize Thaksin? Why aren't we treated with the same courtesy?

Just wondering

[davethailand]

They forgot to add the closing of bars at 1am?

[Briggsy]

A 'white paper' is a term from the British parliamentary process for a document outlining the policy to be enshrined in a new law if I remember correctly. So what is the policy statement here? This looks more like a press release (a good one, though!).

[Pink Mist]

Just another day in politics, examples can be seen in almost every country.

I am sure if the ex-Premier of Queensland "Sir" Joh had a list like this compiled, it would be longer and uglier.

Not that I am a Taxin or anything supporter, rather an observer.

not Thai related but corruption in Queenlsand was rife under Joh

Rus Hinz was appointed "minister for racing" he had a stable of 25 race horses, his comment, "that makes me qualified"

[puipuitom]

And this is all and only done by Taksin ?

Or because 95% of the thai population LET him and his followers do so, as they were to lazy and to stupid to interfear ?

[HDRIDER]

Well, any news about him??

[jingjoe]

I am sure if the ex-Premier of Queensland "Sir" Joh had a list like this compiled, it would be longer and uglier.

Joh did more good then harm.

[loburt]

Intersting list. The only problem is proving it. Proving that men in uniform have appoited their friends in state enterprises and have breached the trust of their sharholders is much easier. How about trippling the economic growth? Or having been able to reduce the death of infants in half? Having been able to reduce the tea money that the friends of the couptakers asked for a place in university or demonstration schools? having supplies the poor with microcredit (not a bad thing given the nobel prize this year), or having been able to help out the poor when their was a disaster (Have not yet seen a hirake in uniform this time, maybe they were too busy). Or what about having reduced the number of children addicted to drugs. And did Thaksin not get his satellite license from the last military government, as well the mobile phone license? Some people must have profitted? It is so easy to make a list, substantiating is much more of a headache.

Wait till that other general Chavalit makes a list about those other generals, that would be more fun.

By the way what happened with the freedom of speech, that Sondhi could use to criticize Thaksin? Why aren't we treated with the same courtesy?

Just wondering

Trippling economic growth? For how long? He had two good years - at the same time everyone else in the region were having good years. Growth for the past two years has been 4-plus percent - excactly the same as under the last two years of the Democrats. And it was the Democrats, not Thaksin, that took Thailand from negative 10.8 percent to plus 4 percent growth. Thaksin came to power when the worst of the problems had already been solved. And not by him. He was part of the governments that helped precipitate the crash.

Reducing payoffs? By all accounts, including studies by the Thailand Research Fund, the cost of bribes to government officials went up during the Thaksin administration. In fact his transport minister, Mr. Suriya, had the nickname "Mr. Twenty Percent."

Where are the statistics that show infant mortality declined by half during the past six years in Thailand? Never saw that, and I don't believe it until you cite a credible source.

Any list Chavalit comes up with would be suspect, seeing as he has always had a distant relationship with truth and reality. However, Gen. Sonthi has a clean reputation. Gen. Chavalit - and his wife the "walking jewelry box" - certainly do not.

Thaksin got his satellite concession by bribing the last military government. None of these generals were part of that government. He got his mobile phone license by bribing politicians and bureaucrats with the help of his uncle who was deputy transport and communications minister.

As for freedom of speech, I see the CNS, PM Surayud and even Prem criticized on a daily basis in the newspapers here - and on websites. There seesm to be plenty of freedom of speech here in Thailand right now.

No need to wonder.

[Plus]

He didn't get ousted for doing allegedly good things, there's no need to include them.

Generals also don't need to prove anything. The public knows what they are talking about, both anti- and pro- Thaksin camps. None of the allegations have been ever disputed anyway.

Pro-Thaksin villagers argued that those transgressions were not important. Generals disagreed.

[travelguy]

He didn't get ousted for doing allegedly good things, there's no need to include them.

Generals also don't need to prove anything. The public knows what they are talking about, both anti- and pro- Thaksin camps. None of the allegations have been ever disputed anyway.

Pro-Thaksin villagers argued that those transgressions were not important. Generals disagreed.

<snip /mod>

As they are always acting on someones bequest they should be made to announce WHO requested they do what they do.

Of course, the majority of the people in Thailand only voted voted in a majority government twice so that shouldn't really count should it?

Oh, they don't live in Bangkok, so it doesn't count....

[salty]

He could have bought the Premier League for Liverpool if he had been given the chance.

[Plus]

Travelguy hints are too transparent to be commented on.

Back in March-April Thai police tried to investigate the origins of one particulalry nasty website. There was a major embarassment when it was found that all along it was sponsored by senior TRT figures. Subsequently it was not only blocked, but Thais also requested the host country to close it completely. Domain name now belongs to Thai government.

That's the kind of thing that went on under pretext of "helping the poor" and "democracy".

[travelguy]

Intersting list. The only problem is proving it. Proving that men in uniform have appoited their friends in state enterprises and have breached the trust of their sharholders is much easier. How about trippling the economic growth? Or having been able to reduce the death of infants in half? Having been able to reduce the tea money that the friends of the couptakers asked for a place in university or demonstration schools? having supplies the poor with microcredit (not a bad thing given the nobel prize this year), or having been able to help out the poor when their was a disaster (Have not yet seen a hirake in uniform this time, maybe they were too busy). Or what about having reduced the number of children addicted to drugs. And did Thaksin not get his satellite license from the last military government, as well the mobile phone license? Some people must have profitted? It is so easy to make a list, substantiating is much more of a headache.

Wait till that other general Chavalit makes a list about those other generals, that would be more fun.

By the way what happened with the freedom of speech, that Sondhi could use to criticize Thaksin? Why aren't we treated with the same courtesy?

Just wondering

So interesting isn't it. Accusations galore. Thaksin banished from the country. No substantive evidence to date. Freedoms lost to regular Thai citizens. Democracy takes a hit.

Who exactly is profiting from this?

That's the question that should be answered.

[Colonel_Mustard]

wow, yeah, he really was bad. and we all know that every one of his predecessors and opponents are paragons of virtue and accountability.

and now everything is going to be fine because that terrible man has been chased away, martial law has been imposed, poilitical gatherings are banned, the constitution has been torn up, and thai democracy has been, uh... what IS the status of thai democracy right now, anyway? oh YEAH; it's being RESTORED!

i feel a lot better. and i am sure that the millions of thais who voted him into office TWICE feel much better, too. mai pen rai!

Good post. I'm sure similar lists from previous governments (and no doubt future ones) could be produced too. That still doesn't make it right but the same rules should be applied to all.

[dai ru55]

"What Thaksin had done wrong"

Summary of Council for National Security's "White Paper" detailing Thaksin's alleged wrongdoings

Why did Council for National Security overthrow the Thaksin administration?

What.... is that it?? Thought there was going to be something major, but this is just normal for Thailand... guess it's normal for every government worldwide

[rcav8r]

He could have bought the Premier League for Liverpool if he had been given the chance.

"Given" what chance ? Sorry - wrong there - the 'Pool didn't want his money - he was rejected - interesting how some sports organisation in a country half a world away didn't want to have anything to do with him even then. MalcolmL

[Plus]

Well no, actually there are many who don't agree with what you claim is right. The problem is, under MARTIAL LAW, those voices have not been heard.

All these issues were discussed to death long before the coup. Martial law has nothing to do with defending Thaksin on corruption charges or tampering with independent bodies.

[rcav8r]

He didn't get ousted for doing allegedly good things, there's no need to include them.

Good things ? What good things ? Example - a murderer or paedophile or bank robber is judged on his "bad" deeds - not whatever "good" he might have done. That's the law in most countries I suppose. The so-called "good" things may be considered mitigating circumstances and may be taken into consideration in sentencing. But "bad" is "bad" surely ? No matter how much "good" may be claimed as well. There's not a balance sheet where "good" and "bad" can be used to cancel each other out. MalcolmL

[travelguy]

He didn't get ousted for doing allegedly good things, there's no need to include them.

Good things ? What good things ? Example - a murderer or paedophile or bank robber is judged on his "bad" deeds - not whatever "good" he might have done. That's the law in most countries I suppose. The so-called "good" things may be considered mitigating circumstances and may be taken into consideration in sentencing. But "bad" is "bad" surely ? No matter how much "good" may be claimed as well. There's not a balance sheet where "good" and "bad" can be used to cancel each other out. MalcolmL

It's all rather elementary isn't it?

Just show the evidence.

[Plus]

What kind of evidence would satisfy you?

It's not about evidence, it's about people refusing to accept it.

[Canadianvisitor]

From a Global standard the actions of the Thai people and The Kingdom itself represents a ceasation in the downward trend of impressions Thailand had become to endure.

Thailand from my experience

(and I have travelled fairly extensively) is about its people.

Being represented by an obvious deviant does not go unnoticed on the world stage.

The "either your with us or against us" tirade by the warmonger Bush said more than I can ever say, the world is becomong split..

By having the courage to remove this person from office dictates volumes to the rest of the world.

The Baht is getting stronger not weaker and that says a lot right there.

It is high time that Thailand and it's people stop being the victim and act, and they have started to do just that.

Foriegn investment and growth will change Thailand no doubt and probably some of those changes will not be so convenient. Alas, we are all living in a changing reality and it is far far better that Thailand be on the upswing than the way it was headed under the previous regime.

The political model was nothing new. The neocons and many other right wing opressive governments have done the same thing to weaken the power structure of the respective governing bodies.

Sell what the people have purchased, use up the profit in a one time switcheroo and take kickbacks from the sale of public entities to endulge in shameless profiteering on the backs of the citizenry.

Sure, the installation of a new government will take time, and the pessimism and naysayers will whine about this and that, as this site is a prime example.

But in my opinion the Thai people and it's fantastic reality can rest assured they will be in far better shape in the future than they ever could have been if this person had not been removed from office.

I am quite sure there are far more nasty things Mr. Thaksin accomplished while in office than reported here. To see this type of individual booted out by the military shows why Thailand is not only smart enough to acknowledge the situation, but a leader in the world by having the kahoonas to throw the bum out!

Many countries in this world wish they had this kind of oppurtunity.

Long Live the King!

Edited November 21, 2006 by Canadianvisitor