rametindallas

The real shame is that his employer, whose responsibility is to report the truth, didn't back him up. If his employer had taken on the lawsuit, they would have eventually won and Thaksin would be paying them instead of them paying their former reporter. This case is a lose for the newspaper, who behaved in a cowardly way, a lose for the reporter, whose career was destroyed, and a lose for the Thai people, who had the truth kept from them. The only player in this story who didn't lose is Thaksin who got his retraction. "Justice delayed is justice denied" and this case has dragged on so long that no amount of money will restore this brave reporter's career/life. Now that he has won, will he have to sue, for years and years, over the amount of compensation?

If the Thaksin Brigade would acknowledge all the abuses of the free press in Thailand during his tenure as PM, they couldn't be so hard on the present administration. But since their DL is more important than full disclosure of the facts, I expect continued attacks on the Prayut administration, as though they are the only government to not have a completely free press, even though the need for peace and calm during this time of transition to a more legitimate form of democracy is much greater than during the Thaksin administration.

p.s. is there a reason for not naming the media outlet who fired the reporter? I purposely didn't mention them by name in case there is some legitimate reason for not doing so.

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Here's a novel idea for you; it's possible to "be hard" on both the present administration as well as the previous administrations! This fact seems lost on you and most of the other cheerleaders for the present administration.

Here's a novel idea for you; it's possible to "be hard" on both the present administration as well as the previous administrations!

I totally agree but when has that ever applied to either you or any of the other members of the Thaksin Brigade. I'd dearly love to see you back that up with a link to a post where you have been critical of Thaksin's stifling the press that is as critical as you have been with the current administration but I know that's not going to happen. Hell, I'd be surprised if you could point out a link where you ever condemned Thaksin excepting as a pretense, to show you are fair and balanced, before you go on to attack the Junta or Abhisit and company which was your real target. Smokescreen, much?

This fact seems lost on you and most of the other cheerleaders for the present administration.

Most likely you would read a lot more condemnation of the current administration if we weren't so busy combating the lies, distortions, deflections, and general propaganda from the ever-loyal, one-sided, Thaksin Brigade.

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I can't be arsed to link anything because it's like debating with a 12 year old. Some of the recent administrations have set new standards for incompetence, nepotism and corruption (e.g. Mr Ear Medicine) but that in no way excuses anything that goes on today. Why is this so hard to understand????

It seems you can't be 'arsed' to do anything but complain about the reforms the current government is passing or write hyperbolic statements accusing them of being nefarious. I'm sure Thaksin won't be offended by that drubbing you just gave him "Some of the recent administrations have set new standards for incompetence, nepotism and corruption (e.g. Mr Ear Medicine)" Oooh, you are so harsh. LoL.

Now give me some examples of anything the Junta has done that is anything like the Rice Support Scheme (ran out of money), or the populist First Car Program (ran out of money), or the Every Child gets a Tablet Scheme (ran out of money), but did want to spend trillions of Baht, OFF BUDGET, for High Speed Passenger Service part-way to Chiang Mai, did want to spend trillions of Baht, OFF BUDGET, for Flood Projects that didn't get proper public hearings or EIA statements, etc. or try to pass a law so the cabinet, without input from elected MPs, could sign treaties. Let me see the same parallels you are referring to.

Why is this so hard to understand????

What's so hard to understand is how that fevered brain of yours computes. It's like debating with a 12 year old.

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Tony Cartalucci also sings the praises of Bashar Al Asad, the head of the Syrian Regime, so perhaps it's best to take anything he says with a huge pinch of salt

Truly, I never got Syria information from TC but the US's CIA is what one might call a 'self-licking ice cream cone'. It creates a problem and then has a mission to fix the problem. Now ISIS is taking over Syria and it started when the US began arming/training rebels in Syria in an attempt to overthrow the government of BAA. This resulted in fighting that has caused thousands of needless deaths and millions of refugees. The same when, in the 1970s the US funded the Mujahadeen to fight the Russians and the Mujahadeen became the most powerful force in Afghanistan renaming themselves, with the help of Pakistan't Intelligence services, the Taliban. Non of this is secret BTW. The US CIA overthrew the democratically elected government of Iran in 1953 and installed the Shah and on and on. Bashar Al Assad may not be a good guy but he is better than ISIS. I'm not going to condemn a reporter for recognizing the lesser of two evils. While I'm on the subject, did the West's taking out Gadaffi make Libya a better place?

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They broke the law.....whose law ?

http://notthenation.com/2015/04/prayuth-rides-horse-shirtless-wrestles-monitor-lizard/

Not the Nation. Great place to get your 'facts' other than your Communist inspired Red Shirt play book.

It seems you don't have much of an argument when you descend to ridicule instead of citing real reasons.

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says the man who quotes Tony Cartalucci? are you serious?

Not the Nation doesn't try to pretend that it's serious or genuine... Cartalucci, on the other hand, ... is a joke but doesn't realize it.

Oh, you mean this Tony Cartalucci? I had to 'Google' him because I had never heard of him before.

Thailand: Uprooting Wall Street's Proxy Regime http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2013/11/thailand-uprooting-wall-streets-proxy.html

Thailand’s Thaksin Regime and The Cambodian Connection http://www.globalresearch.ca/thailands-thaksin-regime-and-the-cambodian-connection/5360470

Thailand's Military - An Important Independent Institution http://altthainews.blogspot.com/2013/12/thailands-military-important.html

Thailand: US Passionately Pleas for “Compromise” http://journal-neo.org/2015/02/18/thailand-us-passionately-pleas-for-compromise/

Wow! It seems Mr. Cartalucci is not fond of your hero Thaksin but does seem have his articles widely published. Thanks for the tip. I find his articles about Thai politics fascinating.

BTW, when and where did I quote the illustrious Mr. Cartalucci?

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Why does this guy ask people to obey the law, a bunch of students disobeyed the law and were promptly imprisoned.

Do the same for all law breakers.

The students aren't 'imprisoned' (a hyperbolic term), they are in jail (there's a HUGE difference) and they wouldn't be in jail now excepting they refuse to post bail that was offered.

On the other hand, the fishermen aren't breaking any laws as long as they don't leave port without fulfilling all the requirements that have been in place for years that no previous government would enforce (more reform by Prayut). Thailand stands to lose a huge amount of money, greatly affecting their balance of trade, if they are red-carded by the EU because of these recalcitrant fishermen. The fishermen who have complied will be punished also by any ban enforced on Thailand by the EU. The only way Thailand can avoid a ban is by enforcing the law (I know, unique, isn't it?).

If this reform stuff continues, maybe the whole country will learn to, at least partially, obey the laws of the land (well, I admit that may be a stretch).

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The sickening hypocrisy of your last paragraph will be apparent to most people.

Please explain how enforcing the law is sickening hypocrisy

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Why does this guy ask people to obey the law, a bunch of students disobeyed the law and were promptly imprisoned.

Do the same for all law breakers.

The students aren't 'imprisoned' (a hyperbolic term), they are in jail (there's a HUGE difference) and they wouldn't be in jail now excepting they refuse to post bail that was offered.

On the other hand, the fishermen aren't breaking any laws as long as they don't leave port without fulfilling all the requirements that have been in place for years that no previous government would enforce (more reform by Prayut). Thailand stands to lose a huge amount of money, greatly affecting their balance of trade, if they are red-carded by the EU because of these recalcitrant fishermen. The fishermen who have complied will be punished also by any ban enforced on Thailand by the EU. The only way Thailand can avoid a ban is by enforcing the law (I know, unique, isn't it?).

If this reform stuff continues, maybe the whole country will learn to, at least partially, obey the laws of the land (well, I admit that may be a stretch).

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I love the way you just make stuff up and present it as fact, lol.

My dictionary says that imprisoned means "put or keep in prison or a place like prison." So yeah, they're imprisoned.

My dictionary says

It seems you are very selective in your source. See below for a better explanation of the difference. You don't have to stay ignorant.

put or keep in prison or a place like prison

Jail, where these students are, is not like a prison.

So yeah, they're imprisoned

So, NO, they're jailed.

This is an English language forum so you don't have to limit your vocabulary; the better word is 'Jail'. The word 'prison' as in 'imprisoned' is a loaded word. Is your vocabulary that limited? Are you wanting to exploit the students for political purposes? I think you are just being obtuse or you want to make a hyperbolic political statement.

Jails are locally-operated, short term facilities that hold inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both, and inmates sentenced to a term of less than 1 year, typically misdemeanants. Prisons are long term facilities run by the state or the federal government and typically hold felons and inmates with sentences of more than 1 year. Definitions may vary by state.

http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=qa&iid=322

Jail vs. Prison

A jail is used to temporarily detain those who are suspected or convicted of a crime. It is used for the short-term, usually to hold those awaiting trial or to hold those convicted of low-level offenses that have sentences of one year or less. A prison is a facility that holds convicts who have committed crimes the legal system deems especially serious (e.g., repeated drunk driving offenses, first degree murder) for more long-term sentences.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Jail_vs_Prison

I suggest you visit a Thai jail and then visit a Thai prison. I love the way you just make stuff up and present it as fact, LoL.

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Rich people will always get better care and since the proportions of rich to poor are polar opposites in the two schemes, of course the group with more rich people will do better. It makes sense to me. It may not be fair but is does explain the slight discrepancy of outcomes. Posters should celebrate the fact that poor people have access to medical care now. I wonder what the discrepancy of outcomes was before UC. I'll bet it was worse. Can improvements be made? Maybe. Will they be made? Probably not. Still, Dr. Supol Limwattananon, PhD (Pharmaceutical Administration) is a highly respected outside researcher (that's where the transparency comes in).

Studies

Limwattananon S.

What Would Help Containing Costs of Drug Therapy: Demand-Side or Supply-Side Interventions.

Federations International Pharmacy. Singapore, September 2001(accepted)

Limwattananon S, Schondelmeyer SW.

Impact of State Restrictions in Drug Benefit Management Policy on Medicaid Drug Expenditures.

The National Council of State Governors, Washington DC, March 2000.

Schondelmeyer SW, Limwattananon S.

Trends in Medicaid Pharmaceutical Expenditures and Utilization.

The National Council of State Governors, Washington DC, March 2000.

Limwattananon S, Limwattananon C.

Drug Utilization Review of Third Generation Cephalosporin in Khon Kaen Hospital.

2nd Pan Pacific Pharmacy Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, July 1992.

Publication

Limwattananon S, Tangcharoensathien V, Pitayarangsarit S.

Financing Traffic Injury: Who Gain Who Loss, A Case Study in Khon Kaen Province. Sulyasart Wiwat (forthcoming)

Limwattananon C, Limwattananon S, Cheawchanwattana A, Prateeprawanich N.

U.S. clinical pharmacy: activities and impacts. Thai Clinical Pharmacy Journal (forthcoming).

Pacheerat O, Limwattananon S.

Bacterial endocarditis and patient survival. (In press)

Limwattananon S.

Traffic Accident Insurance. Book Chapter in Srithamrongswad S ed. "Health Insurance in Thailand",

Health Systems Research Institute, Bangkok, 2000. (In press).

http://www.med.nu.ac.th/chem/New%20Folder%20(2)/New%20Folder/PhD/staff/supol.htm

Here's an assessment by the World Bank: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/3208/650190ESW0whit0Autonomy0in0Thailand.pdf?sequence=1

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Why does this guy ask people to obey the law, a bunch of students disobeyed the law and were promptly imprisoned.

Do the same for all law breakers.

The students aren't 'imprisoned' (a hyperbolic term), they are in jail (there's a HUGE difference) and they wouldn't be in jail now excepting they refuse to post bail that was offered.

On the other hand, the fishermen aren't breaking any laws as long as they don't leave port without fulfilling all the requirements that have been in place for years that no previous government would enforce (more reform by Prayut). Thailand stands to lose a huge amount of money, greatly affecting their balance of trade, if they are red-carded by the EU because of these recalcitrant fishermen. The fishermen who have complied will be punished also by any ban enforced on Thailand by the EU. The only way Thailand can avoid a ban is by enforcing the law (I know, unique, isn't it?).

If this reform stuff continues, maybe the whole country will learn to, at least partially, obey the laws of the land (well, I admit that may be a stretch).

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As long as he doesn't give taxpayers' money or extensions to the slacktards who haven't seen fit to comply with rules that have been in place for many years even though the were told more than six months ago to get their businesses in order. The last thing Thailand needs is any more mollycoddling of scofflaws.

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If the drought crisis has abated, why have people in the villages surrounding mine been waiting several days on a water truck to fill empty tanks? The water delivered is drained from some unknown source and is likely to contain parasites and impurities which render it impossible to drink.

The main water hasn't run at all now for 8 days.

To the dumbass political halfwits spouting such nonsense, come and live in the NE of Thailand and see for yourself before making such outrageously ridiculous statements.

Get of your backsides and do something for the people living in 45C everyday without water.

To the dumbass political halfwits spouting such nonsense, come and live in the NE of Thailand and see for yourself before making such outrageously ridiculous statements.

From the OP: According to Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Director-General Chatchai Promlert, 13 provinces across the country remain heavily affected by the prolonged dry season.

Perhaps you live in one of the 13 provinces across the country that remain heavily affected by the prolonged dry season. They never said the drought was broken but that some provinces had gotten some relief. This is good news for some but not all. I'm sorry to hear you are in one of the 13 provinces that got no relief from these rains. It will take a lot of rain to break the drought and a whole lot more to refill the dams. It might be 2017 before plentiful rains return to Thailand.

Texas, which is nearly the same size as Thailand, got enough rain in May to break a seven year drought where most reservoirs were almost completely dry. There was enough rain in one month to cover the entire state with 8 inches of water. This is due to the El Nino effect and Thailand gets the opposite of Texas during an El Nino weather event. I don't expect any real relief for Thailand until next June or July when the El Nino is forecast to dissipate.

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The real shame is that his employer, whose responsibility is to report the truth, didn't back him up. If his employer had taken on the lawsuit, they would have eventually won and Thaksin would be paying them instead of them paying their former reporter. This case is a lose for the newspaper, who behaved in a cowardly way, a lose for the reporter, whose career was destroyed, and a lose for the Thai people, who had the truth kept from them. The only player in this story who didn't lose is Thaksin who got his retraction. "Justice delayed is justice denied" and this case has dragged on so long that no amount of money will restore this brave reporter's career/life. Now that he has won, will he have to sue, for years and years, over the amount of compensation?

If the Thaksin Brigade would acknowledge all the abuses of the free press in Thailand during his tenure as PM, they couldn't be so hard on the present administration. But since their DL is more important than full disclosure of the facts, I expect continued attacks on the Prayut administration, as though they are the only government to not have a completely free press, even though the need for peace and calm during this time of transition to a more legitimate form of democracy is much greater than during the Thaksin administration.

p.s. is there a reason for not naming the media outlet who fired the reporter? I purposely didn't mention them by name in case there is some legitimate reason for not doing so.

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Here's a novel idea for you; it's possible to "be hard" on both the present administration as well as the previous administrations! This fact seems lost on you and most of the other cheerleaders for the present administration.

Here's a novel idea for you; it's possible to "be hard" on both the present administration as well as the previous administrations!

I totally agree but when has that ever applied to either you or any of the other members of the Thaksin Brigade. I'd dearly love to see you back that up with a link to a post where you have been critical of Thaksin's stifling the press that is as critical as you have been with the current administration but I know that's not going to happen. Hell, I'd be surprised if you could point out a link where you ever condemned Thaksin excepting as a pretense, to show you are fair and balanced, before you go on to attack the Junta or Abhisit and company which was your real target. Smokescreen, much?

This fact seems lost on you and most of the other cheerleaders for the present administration.

Most likely you would read a lot more condemnation of the current administration if we weren't so busy combating the lies, distortions, deflections, and general propaganda from the ever-loyal, one-sided, Thaksin Brigade.

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I wonder where they hid the slaves?

On tv (here in Europe) i saw a very happy Indonesian fisherman who was released by the Thai fishers after 20 years. He complainted about the long working hours, no food. He was crying like a baby when he saw his mother again after that long period and he said he would never ever leave his village again.

If he really has been slaved all those years then i would assume the Thai will have to pay him for that.

Yeah why not a good human rights lawyer could work this, perhaps.

Human rights lawyers don't live so long in Thailand, sad to say; nor do environmental activists.

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"Songkhla Fishery Association president Praporn Akuru said about 90 per cent of trawlers in the province, about 900, could not go to sea because of the government was enforcing the Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing regulations - the IUU rules."

Good.

The bonus is that the EU cannot Red Card Thailand if the criminals stay in port. Good for the fishermen who complied as they will still be able to export to the EU.

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The fishing boats that followed the rules will reap a double reward: less competition and better prices. This should more than offset the expense of doing the right thing. The ones who procrastinated will be Johhny-come-lately s to the scene and will get lower prices when others before them bring in more fish to lower prices. Good.

I hope some of them have waited too long to make it profitable to even get back into fishing. Fish stocks are finite and the more fishing boats, the less profits everyone will make.

I would like to see Thailand cap the number of total boats for each type of fish and the ones who waited will be left out completely. This would allow for the fish stocks to recover and then more boats could be permitted.

Since there is so much aquaculture that is not affected, the Thai consumer shan't suffer too much.

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The real shame is that his employer, whose responsibility is to report the truth, didn't back him up. If his employer had taken on the lawsuit, they would have eventually won and Thaksin would be paying them instead of them paying their former reporter. This case is a lose for the newspaper, who behaved in a cowardly way, a lose for the reporter, whose career was destroyed, and a lose for the Thai people, who had the truth kept from them. The only player in this story who didn't lose is Thaksin who got his retraction. "Justice delayed is justice denied" and this case has dragged on so long that no amount of money will restore this brave reporter's career/life. Now that he has won, will he have to sue, for years and years, over the amount of compensation?

If the Thaksin Brigade would acknowledge all the abuses of the free press in Thailand during his tenure as PM, they couldn't be so hard on the present administration. But since their DL is more important than full disclosure of the facts, I expect continued attacks on the Prayut administration, as though they are the only government to not have a completely free press, even though the need for peace and calm during this time of transition to a more legitimate form of democracy is much greater than during the Thaksin administration.

p.s. is there a reason for not naming the media outlet who fired the reporter? I purposely didn't mention them by name in case there is some legitimate reason for not doing so.

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Au contraire, I don't believe there were 50,000 at the temple, like Than eluded to I merely put it to him, that 50,000 in a single Wat, signing a petition of a political nature, WOULD and should have been classed as a political gathering of more then 5 people do try to read a bit closer old chap

Personally I couldn't care less, Karma is a bitch, and Issara will meet it one day, and might not be so kind to him.

You didn't bother commenting that according to the teachings of Buddhism, monks are not supposed to be Political, or have any political affiliations, but hey I guess you view him as some sort of good guy?

You didn't bother commenting that according to the teachings of Buddhism, monks are not supposed to be Political, or have any political affiliations,

Monks involving themselves politically is not new but is not the topic nor pertinent to this thread. We both can agree that Thai Buddhist monks engage in all sorts of behavior the Sangha frowns upon: In recent times, particularly with the emergence of competing color-coded protest movements, monks in both rural and urban areas have taken political sides. Some were involved in storming the gates of parliament with royalist "yellow shirt" protesters in 2008 while others openly participated in "red shirt" protests that devolved into armed violence last year. Monks have also routinely featured in both protest groups' sponsored media and have appeared on rally stages in Bangkok and upcountry.

Some monks have claimed to participate in protests to reduce the possibility of violence against demonstrators. Other monks, however, have openly professed political affiliation and claimed that their role as monks mandates them to fight for truth, justice and against human suffering brought about by misrule. http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=52,10178,0,0,1,0#.VZmpmqQXSHs

In a recent posting about Thaksin Shinawatra’s birthday, there were some marvelous pictures of monks taking part in the festivities. One pair showed some monks removing a curse, with their begging bowls used to signify the removal of the curse. Other pictures showed live monks in conjunction with pictures of Thaksin (Actually, Mr. Thaksin was not just in conjunction, but looking down on the monks beatifically. I’m not sure which was more striking: the cut out of Thaksin standing behind the senior monk, or the pictures of Thaksin overlooking a group of chanting monks, hand raised in the sign-language gesture of “I love you.”). http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2009/08/07/monk/

ABSTRACT: Thailand’s monastic politics are in turmoil. No longer can the sangha be written off as a political force and viewed simply as a fount of legitimacy for the nation and the monarchy. The role played by a few hundred pro-Thaksin “redshirt” monks in the March to May 2010 mass demonstrations testified to growing unease within the rank-and-file monkhood... http://www.polis.leeds.ac.uk/assets/files/Journal%20articles/CAS-Buddhism-McCargo-December-2012.pdf

Just when our richest and most powerful political leader is quickly losing moral legitimacy to govern, the country's richest temple is ready to help shore up his image. Next week, the Dhammakaya Temple will organise a two-day religious event to mark the 60th anniversary celebrations of HM the King's accession to the throne. Our embattled dear leader has been invited to grace the event. So watch out for the news photo of Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded by beaming monks in saffron robes in every local newspaper next week for the world to see.

The image will suggest Mr Thaksin is still enjoying support from the Buddhist clergy. Amid intensifying public doubts over his loyalty to the monarchy, spurred by his audacious attack on the ''charismatic person beyond the Constitution'', the photo will also aim to retain trust from his 16 million voters who highly revere the King. To complete the effect, Mr Thaksin will most likely turn up in yellow shirt with royal insignia for show.

Why should we bother? It is just a political gimmick. Any shrewd politician with some understanding of the power of image would do the same thing, wouldn't he?

We should bother because we taxpayers are paying nearly 40 million baht for Mr Thaksin to have this photo op.

You need a specific figure?

Let's do some math. Director-general Sarote Kachamart of the Local Administration Promotion Department has ordered all 7,854 local administration bodies to send a team of 10 people to attend the Dhammakaya event. He has also ordered each delegation to pay a registration fee of 5,000 baht to the temple. That comes to 39,270,000 baht. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/75802-thaksin-and-dhammakaya/

I believe that the Thai Rak Thai Party and Phra Dhammakaya Temple make a perfect couple. The only difference between them is that one is a political party and the other a Buddhist monastery. They share the same philosophies of management and administration and both use the media relentlessly for self-promotion. Thai Rak Thai and Phra Dhammakaya Temple are huge organisations - two of the largest and most powerful in the country. Their leaders are known to be shrewd investors, bold enough to take on new risks - both are equally fond of the latest technologies, capitalism and modernism in general. However, while their leaders are strong, they have also both been tainted by allegations of corruption and embezzlement. Not only are their goals the same - to assume power - but they also share common enemies. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/27/opinion/opinion_30014752.php

To single out Pra Buddha Issara shows your bias or your ignorance of past behavior of monks and is disingenuous at best.

Thai Buddhist monk wants to clean up his country’s religious institutions http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/sex-drugs-and-embezzlement-no-big-deal-for-thailands-buddhist-monks/2015/04/28/9df1934e-dd2a-11e4-b6d7-b9bc8acf16f7_story.html

Activist monk seeks Buddhism overhaul in Thailand over corruption fears http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/01/us-thailand-buddhism-idUSKBN0LX13Q20150301

With money, corruption and drugs, this monk fears Buddhism in Thailand is a ‘poisoned fruit’ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/with-money-corruption-and-drugs-this-monk-fears-buddhism-in-thailand-is-a-poisoned-fruit-10078753.html

It seems the world's press is portraying Pra Buddha Issara as a corruption fighter. Why do you seem to have so much animus towards someone who is working tirelessly to end corruption? Is it because Dr. Thaksin and corruption are synonymous?

There, now. I have commented on monks being politically involved. Satisfied?

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Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping meeting then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in Beijing in 1984

Notice his spittoon. This is a tradition mostly among older Chinese.

The author, James Clavell, in his novel, "Noble House" described the behavior as wanting to clear evil 'spit gods' from their body, hence the noise associated with the behavior. He was acknowledged as an authority on Oriental culture.

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What? Another advanced country cooperating with the 'illegal' Junta? What's this world coming to? /sarc

Except for the Thaksin Brigade on TVF, the rest of the world has realized the Junta has good intentions and have moved to normalize relations with Thailand. The Thaksin Brigade (you know who you are and so do i) needs to 'get over it' and realize they are fighting for a cause that is already irretrievably lost.

BTW, Thaksinistas, if you guys weren't so hyperbolic, the rest of us could be more critical of the Junta instead of having to respond to all your wild, untrue/distorted posts. Typical Thaksin tactics; divide and conquer. Oh, well, I expect you will continue with your divisive posts because, in your minds, Thaksin MUST be restored to his rightful place as head of Thailand, Inc.. Amirite?

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He was not on public space when he launch his signature gathering

Contrary of the 14

So where did the 50,000 signatures all come from then?

Let me guess. 50,000 Thai patriots?

Are you suggesting they were all in one group when they signed?

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No, I'm suggesting, no, not even suggesting, I'll make a bold statement that the signatures gathered were not single signatures done, as in door to door, I'd be more inclined to believe they were in groups larger than 5, when's the last time you were in a Wat where there was less than 5 people during any Buddhist ceremony?

Even our local Wat, in a small village, has more than 50 -100 people attending, so if the bold monk approached them the curiosity would get the better of the remainder, and ergo a crowd of more than 5 would be in attendance, simple logic, based on what I've seen in the past.

It's all moot really, as monks are not supposed to be political in the first place

You pulled the rug from under your own argument. According to your own post, the people were already at temple when the petition was shown; they didn't come to temple specifically for the signing of the petition. Also, I didn't know the law forbade groups of five, or larger, from attending temple services.

Skew the facts, much?

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You can shout from the mountain tops all you want, but investors of any nationality will place their money in safe bets, and that just ain't Thailand right now.

Oh, really?

http://www2.mazda.com/en/publicity/release/2015/201501/150113a.html

http://www.kyowa-kirin.com/news_releases/2015/e20150409_01.html

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They will not pay for bell money! Very strange because someone is paying them a lot of money or they are in the Thai Hotel jail cells for the elite Thai

criminals. Some party is paying them well to test the system and are getting better treatment than normal Thai law breaker. Looking for the rest of the world to say poor students should be released and allow riots again!

A very apt name you have there...go on stick the T word in I know you want to!! all the junta cheerleaders seem to think that family are the bogey man for all that goes wrong here!! who was the bogey man for the other multiple coups the military have inflicted on the country to reinforce the elites hold though

Well, Lord Valdemort na Dubai is responsible for 'only' the last two coups. He wasn't in politics before that.

As for him being responsible for the bogey man for all that goes wrong here! That's just a Straw Man for you to knock down with a feather since NO ONE has made that claim.

The only alternative to the Junta is Thaksin and anyone trying to overthrow the Junta is working to bring Thaksin back to power in Thailand whether they know they are acting on Thaksin's behalf or not.

Why do you want Thaksin to return to power? Do you hate Thai people that much?

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A very good final question there buddy, but do you hate them that much that if they were to chose any Thaksin proxy over the Junta? Do you respect their rights to chose whomever they wish to?

Catch 22 isn't it? The Junta themselves have broke the highest laws in the land, but constantly give themselves amnesties, there are no examples to set in as far as they're concerned. NOBODY should be above the Law, but a close look at the new draft constitution shows that coup makers will always be above the law of the land.

It's incredibly two faced to sit and quote the laws when others who oppose you are being subjected to the very same laws they swore to uphold and protect, when they can also change them, and tear them up as they see fit..

Thailand will never move forwards as long as the Eastern Tigers remain "Untouchable" and act above the Laws of the lands.

Since the Junta ARE the law of the land, at present, how can they possibly be above the law of the land?

NOBODY should be above the Law

A noble thought, but tell me when, in Thailand's history, has this ever been true?

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They can ask for ice cream, a TV in their cells and a bedtime story too, for all the good its gonna do.

However much we might think their crime is not so bad, they broke the law.

As we all know, acting like Prima Donnas does not go down well with Thai authorities.

Even Win and Zaw worked that one out.

When you're in pokey, you take your lumps

They broke the law.....whose law ?

The current, well-publicized law of Thailand, duh.

These students intentionally challenged authority and for any authority to remain as authority, they cannot allow the laws to be broken and cannot be selective in which laws they enforce or to whom they are lenient. Is it not that way in your own home country?

The alternative is anarchy.

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No, it is not the way in many areas of the UK, for example. Take for example police happening upon a few dafties with a joint - a likely scenario is the officer telling them to put it down the drain, piss off and not let him see them around again tonight.

The 'Take them down to the station and throw the book at them' approach would be seen as a tremendous waste of manpower and resources, even if that is what the letter of the law calls for. Besides, it is the job of youngsters to challenge authority and always has been...

Did those 'dafties with a joint' advertise, in advance, they were going to openly challenge the pot laws of the UK with full attendance of the press? You analogy fails; please keep trying.

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" a group of about 50 lecturers, students and human rights activists"

Bluntly untrue. I was there. There were more than 200 people.

Bluntly untrue. I was there. There were more than 200 people.

Photos? Links to ANY news outlets that back up your version of the 'facts'? I thought not.

Most likely you were there in you mind and your post is wishful thinking. Besides, in a city with 8.5 million inhabitants, 200 souls showing up to support those students is a joke. You get a better turnout in a village when someone wants to drill for oil. LoL.

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And wasn't Pra Issara walking about with more than 5 people recently gathering signatures for a political purpose?

If the shoe fits indeed!!

He was not on public space when he launch his signature gathering

Contrary of the 14

So where did the 50,000 signatures all come from then?

Let me guess. 50,000 Thai patriots?

Are you suggesting they were all in one group when they signed?

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Ahh, the streets of Bangkok filled with dead bodies on the brink of civil war....complete and utter tosh the junta got involved after they realized the hi-so were beginning to lose their grip

"There are a lot of people in this world who cannot see anything except that which is right in front of their face" yep your a case in point a westerner with all the privileges that gave you calling for a man who took power at the point of a gun to stop the very privileges you and most of the developed world takes for granted, classy....

They haven't got a valid defense for kids being detained without trial , so they keep spouting the Junta crap. I tell you what these people should be ashamed of themselves for condoning the oppression of the right to free speech and political choice. Thats what Fascists do

They haven't got a valid defense for kids being detained without trial

And the misinformation keep flowing from your fingers. They are not being detained except they refused to post bail; surely they have enough supporters to afford them bail. They ARE getting a trial; why are you outright lying on this? It's in the headline of this thread that they are getting a trial. Since when do defendants anywhere demand the conditions of their trial?

I tell you what these people should be ashamed of themselves for condoning the oppression of the right to free speech and political choice.

This is why we can't have nice things in Thailand. Yingluck Thaksin and Company so abused their power that the people rose up and when Yingluck's Thaksin's government refused to stop the violence against the protesters, and allowed talk of creating a Northern Thailand with Yingluck Thaksin at its head, the RTA, as a last resort, stepped in and restored peace and calm to the Kingdom. This case isn't about the right to free speech and political choice It's about who has authority. Without authority, there is anarchy and chaos. The desperate, evil forces of Lord Valdemort na Dubai want anarchy and chaos so they can make the Junta look bad. They hate the reforms the Junta is passing as it will diminish their ability to loot the country's treasury. The Thai people will be allowed their free speech and political choice once reforms are in place to prevent another Kleptocracy from taking power.

It is either the Junta or Thaksin. Clearly, you have chosen Thaksin. Clearly you chose Thaksin before the coup. Keep posting your false words and your deflections but I know who you are.

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They will not pay for bell money! Very strange because someone is paying them a lot of money or they are in the Thai Hotel jail cells for the elite Thai

criminals. Some party is paying them well to test the system and are getting better treatment than normal Thai law breaker. Looking for the rest of the world to say poor students should be released and allow riots again!

A very apt name you have there...go on stick the T word in I know you want to!! all the junta cheerleaders seem to think that family are the bogey man for all that goes wrong here!! who was the bogey man for the other multiple coups the military have inflicted on the country to reinforce the elites hold though

Well, Lord Valdemort na Dubai is responsible for 'only' the last two coups. He wasn't in politics before that.

As for him being responsible for the bogey man for all that goes wrong here! That's just a Straw Man for you to knock down with a feather since NO ONE has made that claim.

The only alternative to the Junta is Thaksin and anyone trying to overthrow the Junta is working to bring Thaksin back to power in Thailand whether they know they are acting on Thaksin's behalf or not.

Why do you want Thaksin to return to power? Do you hate Thai people that much?

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