bannork

Indeed, if the conservatives have to turn to PT for help, they're desperate. That's where a deal could have been struck. 'A nod, a wink, okay we let you boys run the show and let Daddy come back, but no funny stuff, right? No radical ideas.' But looking at constituency MP candidates, PT could lose a few more seats to MF. Thai Srang Thai led by Sudarat are not fond of PT though they are in the coalition together. My point being, PT may get the premiership but be a minority in the coalition.

Oh come on Jim, Thaksin did everything for himself. Like most Thai millionaires, the idea of philanthropy was alien to him. I don't hold with the idea that FF needed Thaksin to come into existence. The young and not so young, were sick of the red/ yellow conflict, seeing one side as beholden to the military and conservatism whilst the other were beholden to the family clan of a billionaire. They want change and they see it in MF

Jim, he certainly didn't look after foreigners, increasing the minimum amount of money for retirement visa to 800,000 baht from 200,000 baht. No foreigners were granted residency under his Interior Minister, Purachai's, watch. He refused the UN's request to investigate his extra judicial killings. And when his former American business partner tried to sue him for breaking their contract, he told him, TIT, this is Thailand Of course his job was to look after Thais, the name of his party told that, Thais Love Thais, but he certainly made life harder for many farangs, forced to leave their Thai families because their pensions didn't meet the raised minimum requirements.

A couple of shots of good whisky and those power chords hit home.

He and MF are fighting now. 3 days ago in Phuket, meeting local representatives, discussing solutions, followed by a rally in a stadium to rapturous applause from locals. The same yesterday in Lampang and today, Chiang Mai. Large, enthusiastic crowds. He's laying out to the Thai people, these are the issues that affect you, we will deal with them. All of the appearance of a government in waiting, waiting to hit the ground running . Momentum maintained. So when they ban Pita, by the letter of the law or the senators' innate dislike of democracy, the establishment's game to maintain power at all costs will be exposed for the sham it is.

I think Pita and MF are doing exactly the right thing now. Acting as a government in waiting, they are touring the provinces, promising to solve local grievances and boost local economies. Rapturous receptions in Phuket, Lampang and now Chiang Mai. They've lit a fuse and regardless of Pita's fate, the future belongs to this party of meritocracy, as opposed to the dinosaurs with their family dynasties and military connections.

http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/journals-magazines/article2/special-report-extrajudicial-killings-of-alleged-drug-dealers-in-thailand/extrajudicial-killings-of-alleged-drug-dealers-in-thailand/

Thailand was called a police state under Thaksin

Because he might invoke a higher authority who had mentioned the scourge of drugs in his annual birthday speech. But Thaksin, being the idiot he is, adopted his ' sales' approach to the drugs war. Nunbers of arrests, 'shot dead by other gang members' were issued to local authorities, if target numbers weren't reached, they faced threats of transfer.. In some places, boxes were placed in fron of police stations where citizens could anonymously leave names of drug suspects. 'What a way to get rid of that rival phone repair shop. I'll put his name in the box' Many were executed extra judiciously.

https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/328791

I first saw it on Channel 3 news this morning and then read the details from Thai PBS' website. I believe the news leaked from documents at the EC. Regarding Pita, I believe the senators will never vote for him as PM but MF could well increase their number of MPs over PT

Good news for MF 71 MP candidates are yet to be endorsed out of the 500 for a full house. There are no problems with the 100 Party List MPs ( apart from Pita!) so investigations following complaints of irregularities apply to the following parties.. 23 Bhumjaithai candidates 17 PT candidates 16 Palang Pracharat candidates 6 MF candidates 3 Democrat candidates 3 Ruam Thai Srang Chart 2 Thai Srang Thai 1 Thai Ruam Palang So we can see of the proposed coalition, 25 candidates are at risk of yellow or red cards ( I' m not sure if Thai Ruam Palang are in the coalition or not). And of these, PT stand to lose the most. For the military backed parties, 45 candidates are at risk. So even if all proposed coalition party MPs are red carded and all the military backed candidates are cleared ( a very unlikely scenario) the coalition still has a clear majority to form a government. In fact, they're likely to increase their majority when you consider 23 Bhumjaithai and 16 Palang Pracharat candidates are being investigated!

True. MF never expected to be the leading party in this election. The Senate won't vote for Pita which will enrage MF supporters but they can still play a major role in government if PT don't ditch them. And if PT abandon them? MF will gain more public support for PT's betrayal at the next election.

Absolute nonsense. Try watching Thai PBS, Channel 3 and others Newspapers Matichon, etc, plus social media. Who exposed the ITV lies? Thai journalists.

And Jim, that is why Thaksin and his subordinates, Pheu Thai, can't be trusted . They have their feet in both camps.

Right! Thaksin chose Samak despite knowing his rabid right wing background..

A voice that breaks your heart. She had to leave school after second grade primary school because her family were too poor to let her continue ( hired sugar can cutters). Consequently she never learnt to read though she could sing countless songs from memory.

Sorry Jim, the fact is Samak could have been PM again, but because he wasn't as malleable as the rather timid Somchai, married to the most formidable of Thaksin's sisters, so he had to be thrown under the bus.

I have a watch I would like to lend Pravit only it seems to have stopped about fifty years ago.

They had no genuine choice- accept this constitution or wait indefinitely for another one to be written, or an old constitution that suited the army would be adopted. In addition no public criticism was allowed of the proposed constitution. Only an obtuse person could regard that as a choice

The people had no choice. Criticism of the proposed constitution was illegal. If it wasn't passed, elections would be delayed indefinitely whilst a new one was written, or it was implied one of the old constitutions would be adopted instead

What's his plan A?

Actually Thaksin killed him, not the court. Samak had the right to stand as PM again and indeed went to Parliament expecting to be re-elected but Thaksin instructed the party to vote for his brother - in- law, Somchai Wongsawat instead

Didn't the chairman confirm at the meeting last month that the company is inactive whilst awaiting the results of litigation?

This is not about Boris Johnson.