bannork

I respect your realism SB but I believe there has been a fundamental change in Thai society the last decade that is having an irreversible effect on Thai politics. As we all know, the ubiquitous, irreplaceable, reverential, charismatic force known as Father, and imbued in Thai life as long as anyone can remember, left some time ago. At the same time we saw the emergence of a political party not actually run as the plaything of an oligarch. Okay Thanathorn was super rich but the executives were young professionals, intelligent and passionate about reforming Thailand. The same can't be said for Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, Chart Thai Pattana, all run by clans. Take those families out and the parties collapse. The inroads made into their fiefdoms by MF show their cracks and weakening of power My point is this social change, the desire for reform in Thailand is unstoppable and unless the traditional parties adapt, I can only see their voting base shrinking further and further Once MF or its inheritor obtains over 200 seats, I believe the authorities will have to yield. As Pita says, the future is theirs

RIP Randy. You wrote one of their most memorable numbers, imo. Still sounds great today.

A formula I saw that Chuvit reckoned was durable was: Pheu Thai 141 Bhumjaithai 71 Palang Pracharat 40 Chart Thai Pattana 10 Prachachat Thai Sang Thai these 2 parties I can't remember if they were included or not Anyway, the above gives a total of 272. Of course we should remember these parties, especially Bhumjaithai, have many MPs under investigation for electoral offences which could mean yellow or red cards. Apparently the deal depends on Thaksin being freed from jail. If he's not, the deal is off. Isn't all this a blatant example of interference in political matters of a party by someone who holds no executive position or is perhaps not a member due to his criminal convictions Mr Ruangkrai, get down to the EC immediately and demand the dissolution of PT.

Jintara still going! How's her voice these days Proton? She's sung so many concerts for so many years. When I first arrived in LOS in 1988 or was it 89, she was already on her second or third album.

Cholnan, the nominee leader, said he would resign if PT joined the junta parties. One has to realise only some MPs in PT have any democratic bones in their make-up. Thaksin bought up anybody in the past, there are many MPs and clans in PT with dodgy reputations. In between there a few idealists such as Chaturon Chaisaeng and Nattawut, Adisorn who all claim democracy drives them and is the heart of PT. So if we assume most of the spineless PT MPs will go along with joining their 'enemy' who deprived them of governance and killed scores of red shirts demanding an election, what will PT supporters think? Those who only think of bread and butter issues, populist policies and handouts ( where's that 10,000 baht promised?), will probably not give a hoot whom PT team up with, ( just give us the money now!) but others will be disgusted and join MF. One thing- Thaksin sounds old, he's 74, once he croaks, PT will disintegrate, the party has no ideology to sustain itself, especially if it joins the junta parties

I'm with you Greg, I've lived here since the late days of PM Prem, and whilst not a few corrupt and incompetent PMs followed Prem, none could match him for heartlessness and arrogance. All he understood was dominance, he set the Deep South on fire by abolishing the long standing agencies set up for understanding between the locals and government. He killed hundreds of innocents in the drugs war and quite a few activists disappeared during his tenure. Journalists called Thailand a police state. Poster who are recent to Thailand can only compare him to Prayuth! Thailand desperately needs decent politicians to run the country, not Thaksin in cahoots with the junta..

A voice to make you cry

Sad news. Too many demons, and then her 17 year old son killing himself. Too much for many to bear. Thank you for your beautiful voice Sinead, in many ways, nobody compared to you.

Spot on in my view.

Err, PT and Bhumjaithai is not a majority. The junta's parties will have to join too. Which is what PT promised they would never do. Lying weasels who deserve to get hammered at the next election.

Thaksin will not come home to go to jail. At the most a day or two. No, the junta are allowing him back because they face a far greater threat, MF. Thaksin will have to support Pravit's party and possibly Prayuth's in exchange for his freedom. Note PT have already announced they will not nominate Pita as a PM candidate again. The junta are banking on Thaksin's popularity to save their skins. A few populist policies to prop up their votes. Will it work ? He's never been a good speaker and listening to him last night he really sounded old, no match for the youthful Pita? Will PT's embrace of the coup leaders damage the party? Hopefully otherwise there is truly no hope for democracy in LOS

The same as Seripisut of the Thai Liberal Party. A one man show who's been mouthing it off of how MF should sacrifice themselves by leaving the coalition.

Pita can stand as a PM candidate despite the temporary suspension of his MP status

An astute analysis, Thaksin will be their puppet to be jerked this way and that. But it may be too late for Toni They haven't got rid of M F yet. Even if they dissolve MF, its MPs minus the executive, will have 60 days to find a new party. Forward part 3. And the revulsion at PT's courting of the junta's parties has thrown many PT supporters into the MF camp.

A great idea. Embarrass the treacherous PT leadership.

Heroin and heroines in the same story. Keep it up girls!

Exactly. The junta appointed senators created the mess by rejecting Pita whose party gained the most votes, three and a half million more than Pheu Thai. Senate, do the right thing.

Jatuporn is 100% opposed to the junta.. it just took him a long time to realise the duplicity of Thaksin

Many Pheu Thai supporters posted this photo of Natawut Saikeua, a prominent former red shirt and member of Pheu Thai, standing in front of the coffins of red shirts killed in the crackdown. He wrote yesterday about how 'complicated' and difficult the current situation is for PT. Many PT supporters asked him what the red shirts had died for if the party was going to join with the junta backed parties. Shame on you, Natawut. At least Jatuporn had the sense to get out of PT when he realised Thaksin didn't possess a single democratic bone in his body.

He was first on Move Forward's Party List ( no constituency) .

As many PT supporters have pointed out to the leadership on the internet. It's very simple. Stick with MF, reject the junta parties as promised. If that means the senators reject PT's PM choice, go into Opposition and let the junta parties run a minority government which will fail. The blame will fall entirely on the senators for refusing to accept Pita or PT candidates But PT's greed for power and Thaksin's desire to return at any cost will cost the party many votes.

In Chantaburi

Chonburi yesterday.