retsdon

Pheu Thai has to go to the Constitution Court to save its bacon. That must sting. But the reality of it is that the Constitution Court's rulings on these matters are just the tip of the iceberg. The rice scheme will likely be the definitive case of administrative malfeasance. Then there is the unrest on the streets and an election which has no hope of ever being finalized - constitutionally or otherwise. Pheu Thai has no administrative power. They were stripped of that on December 9 when they dissolved parliament. They are impotent at present and the foreseeable future - on all levels. Their only source of power is the emergency decree - itself likely to be challenged by the courts - though they are unable to open even government offices in Bangkok, let alone intractable provincial constituencies in the South. The prime minister and cabinet are shuffled in secret from location to location, Yingluck now being only accessible to an increasingly skeptical international media.

Sure, the Establishment alliance have succeeded in creating a vacuum where there should be a functioning government. Street protests, election boycotts, court petitions, refusal to participate in bi-lateral reform discussions, the forcible closure of government offices through intimidation and security forces who are a rule unto themselves - no government can function under such circumstances. But the central issue is not about the PTP. The central issue is about the constitutional right of Thai voters to choose their government through the ballot box. The Dems are more than happy to tear up that right in order to get themselves in and PTP out. And that's why they are far more dangerous and destructive than the corrupt and incompetent PTP.

The Democrats think they're being very clever and cunning, but in reality another overturning of the popular vote, although it might give them temporary advantage again, won't bring them ulimate victory. It will simply widen the fission in Thai society and push the country one step closer towards a festering civil way. If Abhisit has any leadership qualities at all he should start by exercising them among his own party to dissuade them from the disasterous course that they're embarked on. But it's looking increasingly as if the only thing he learned at Eton was deference to his masters. Sad.

Yet another gimmicky failure on the part of PTP just waiting and ready for a proper opposition party to exploit at the polls. Pity for Thailand that there's no democratic opposition anymore.

Yet more absurd data masquerading as news . If I live in a house worth 1 million that's paid for, am I richer than someone who lives in a house worth 50 million who's got a mortgage of 30 million on it? A straight addition and subtraction of asset v debt is utterly meaningless.

Now if he'd been the son and heir of an energy drink magnate,......

A month ago it was (supposedly) millions. Then it was thousands. Now, it's hundreds. Give it a week or so and it'll be dozens. Suthep's support is melting like snow off a dyke.

The whole aim was to push the army to stage a coup - but army doesn't trust itself to move and the game is up and everyone knows it.

I have a suggestion for those who want to see the back of the Shinawatras. Why not organize a decent political campaign and win at the polls? If they don't know how to do it - hire in an expert. Ken Mehlman, Stephanie Cutter, Steve Hildebrand...whoever. All of them political guns for hire who - in their sleep - could come up with a campaign strategy that would almost wipe the corrupt and incompetent PTP off the political map.

But the DP and the Establishment don't think they have to play by the rule of the ballot box - they'd rather resort to putting mobs on the street. Stupid, because it would be cheaper and far more effective in the long run to do things by the book.

T

Thank you for gathering all of this information, Steve. It is truly amazing stuff. Only 26% of eligible voters in Bangkok (the nation's political, economic, and cultural center) casting ballots, and only 50% or so even in the north and northeastern Red strongholds, where no Suthep forces were present to discourage people from turning out. What this suggests to me is that after the election is ruled invalid and the Thaksin puppets are tossed from office, the Reds will be unable to marshall anywhere near the same number of protesters to descend on Bangkok and terrorize the citizenry as in 2010. To be sure, they will gather some -- screaming "judicial coup!" -- and black-shirted assassins will be hired to kill people: some targeted, some at random. But this will have the effect of alienating even more voters; the downward spiral has begun. I think we're finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel: the beginning of the end of the entire Thaksin phenomenon, his 15-year-long megalomaniacal drive to establish a populist dictatorship.

Yours is wishful thinking.

Thaksin changed the attitudes of the northern and northeastern people and made them much stronger and more determined. I don't believe that they will accept much more of the procedural trickery and insurrectionary tactics from Suthep and Abhisit, especially if the election is annulled. They could respond in all kinds of ways: perhaps civil disobedience is one option. Of course the Army can shoot a few people as it did in 2010, but they would need to shoot a lot because the northerners know their own strength now - and actually the shooting option is unlikely because the Army is divided about which 'side' they're on (from what one hears).

I tend to think that the reds would not come to Bangkok again: they've probably given up caring what happens there. The 'home rule' option is more likely.

Much of this conflict has stemmed from the disastrous coup in 2006. If democracy had been allowed to run its course then, the voters would have determined if Thaksin stayed in power or not. Instead we have chaos.

I don't know why you and others say he planned dictatorship. There's no documentation of that being his aim. And why would he need to when he and his parties have kept winning elections? (And now he's had enough of running for office, he says). Certainly he placed 'his people' in positions of authority, but any competent leader does that even in western countries.

Evidently his downfall was due to his break with the 'old boy network' and his single-minded vision for Thailand: that modern approach alienated the old boys - and that's why he was kicked out.

I admit it is possible that the rice fiasco has antagonised so many voters that they could become fatalistic and just accept the next boring Abhisit government, if that is foisted on them - but I doubt it.

You realize of course that the red shirts are now fighting with in there own members. They do not all want Thaksin back. They have come to understand that his populist policies are just costing them money. No they will not mobilize again to descend on Bangkok. They no longer are receiving pay checks for that. Thaksin may be dumb as a board fence but he now realizes all that money got him was a worse name than he had before he started the 2010 armed peaceful protest.

"You realize of course that the red shirts are now fighting with in there own members. They do not all want Thaksin back. They have come to understand that his populist policies are just costing them money'

Very likely true. So what's wrong with taking PTP on at the hustings and beating them in an election? Why plunge the country into yet another political crisis? Suthep and the dopey DP are actually FORCING people who value their right to vote to side with Yingluck. Their political ineptitude is mind-boggling.

He must be nuts... its not the emergency decree that impacted tourism and economy , it's the "peaceful' rallies that did it. No one wants to try their "luck" and to to a place with such stuff going on, emergency decree or not. Foreigner confidence as well, whoever wants to invedt and keep their money in a place with questionable tomorrow???? These guys really shoulx learn to take responsibility for their own actions and not blame it all on Taksin.

As for the elections... why on earth it should be invalidated ??? Just because they ignored it ?

He himself said :

"The general election is held and it has been proven that people's rallies have not created any violent incidents"

Yes it Was held and u guys blew it. Also it had proven that people rallies really gave a hard time to those wishing to cast their vote, no violent incidents???? Please.... are we even on the same planet with this guy ??????

As I said many times before, if you looked to see what made protester came out in the place, there you will find your answer. It's not the present problem that is the problem, it's always the past. Everyone know well that the YS administration committed crime by illegally amending the constitution. And now, we know that they have defrauded the taxpayers and the farmers. There are a lot more to add, but I am sure everyone on TV are fully aware of it. If you are not, I am sure many on here can clarify it for you, including me.

Let's be real, most of you came from somewhat functioning democracy, with the all things being done by this administration, wouldn't you think they would be out by now? Instead, all of you fell into the trap of an election. It is the election that the YS government is using to hide from their criminal acts and garner sympathy from the international community. As I see here on TV quite clearly, it's very effective.

Straight up!

"Instead, all of you fell into the trap of an election."

What do you mean 'fell into the trap of an election'? In a democracy elections are the ONLY game in town.

There are very few posters on these boards who are active supporters of the Shinawatra party - most everyone recognizes them for what they are. BUT if you want to get them out - you need to vote them out. The Democrats are both lazy and stupid. One, they're too lazy to put the work into organizing a proper political campaign. PTP didn't win 50% of the vote last time. They've made a complete balls up of running the country since. Many of PTPs erstwhile supporters are bouncing with fury over the rice scheme shambles. Others are waking up to the fact that all these populist policies like car subsidies and such just dig them further into the debt hole. PTP are reeling on the ropes politically. They're there for the taking at the ballot box.

So what do the gormless Democrats do? Instead of running a slick campaign with all the ammunition the PTP have given them, they hand Yingluck a lifeline by casting her as the defender of people's right to vote, as the voice of reason, as the mature democrat (in the true sense of the word) . And they do so by plunging the country into YET ANOTHER constitutional crisis in the hope that they might squeak into power again through the back door using their influence in the courts and corridors of power.

It really is time that the Democrat party GREW UP!

I was also among the millions who voted "No" to all election candidates

Coupled with the estimated 12 million people who didn't cast their ballots and there's evidently not much support for whoever does win the election.

In that 12 million do you include those who were prevented from voting by the PRDC mob who prevented ballot boxes and ballot papers being distributed and who blockaded polling stations? Did you also include those Dem supporters who were denied the opportunity of electing the candidate of their choice because their favoured party once again abaondoned democratic principles? An opportunity has been missed. The Dems would not have won an outright majority, but they could have formed a coalition with another party that would have given them a working majority.

The DP must be in contention for the title of most politically inept party on the planet. If they'd run a half-decent campaign, Yingluck's incompetent and venal administration was there for the taking. Instead the Dems are left looking like opportunistic fools who tried to game the system and lost. Anyway, that's probably the end of the road for them. How could anyone in future vote for a parliamentary party that's twice opted for the extra-parliamentary route to try and seize power? What a shower!

And the worst part is, they've left Yingluck and the PTP looking like sensible, reasonable people! It almost beggars belief.

It doesn't matter who people voted for - they turned out in their millions to peacefully make their democratic contribution. Likewise amongst all the political parties who stayed within the law there are no real winners or losers. They all joined together to peacefully defeat the absurd Suthep and his PAD, PDRC, PDRK - or whatever acronym the current Establishment rent-a mob is calling themselves. The battle was for democracy and it was won.

By far the biggest losers yesterday were the DP. and those who chose to try and deny people their constitutional rights. And it's actually quite amusing to see the convoluted back-pedalling going on this morning amongst the erstwhile supporters of these clowns.

The DP must be in contention for the title of the most politically inept party on the planet. Did they honestly believe that ordinary Thai voters would voluntarily disenfranchise themselves indefinitely just to push out the current government? If they'd run a half-decent campaign, Yingluck's incompetent and venal administration was there for the taking. Instead they're left looking like opportunistic fools who tried to game the system and lost. Anyway, that's probably the end of the road for them. How could anyone in future vote for a parliamentary party that's twice opted for the extra-parliamentary route to try and seize power? What a shower!

And the worst part is, they've left Yingluck and the PTP looking like sensible, reasonable people! It almost beggars belief.

Hopefully these northeasters get their wishes and vote back clan kleptocrat for another term. The prospect of seeing them weasel out of their rice scam makes me giddy with amusement, the 2 trillion slush fund and propwash to stop flooding likewise. A sensible government that runs the country for the benefit of the citizens would be a boring letdown after this fantastic fill-ya-pockets free-for-all anarchy that the Thaksin markIV will be fondly remembered for by the Thaivisa forumers.

Please vote for Yingluck, vote for nepotism and corruption, vote for no checks and balances, vote for Thailand going down the Zimbabwe and NK route. It will be good for a laugh.

Better no vote at all then... Government by Divine Right? Because that's what the Democrats are offering the country.

"and PCAD guards have set up security checkpoints around the area.

According to Mr. Siam, the guards asked him for his ID card, which he complied,..."

Outrageous when you think about it. Who are these people? What gives them the right to set up checkpoints and ask Joe Public for his ID card? But it was the same with the Reds. Basically, the whole country is governed by gangsters and their goons.

Cambodian gunmen might be involved

the gunmen may have been hired from the Cambodian Special Warfare Unit

The gunmen might have been sent back to their country

based on what evidence? awesome reporting!

And I 'may' have won Friday's Euromillions and be an unknowing multi-millionaire! Haven't checked the number yet.

You can do a lot with modal verbs.....

Just as in the Syrian conflict, there are several different battles being waged simultaneously in Thailand at the moment, and they're not all being fought out in the open. One battle is ordinary people who are fed up with the venal Shinawatra government staging protests to force them out. Opposing them are equally ordinary people who may or may not actively support PTP, but who feel that the first group are threatening their democratic rights. But in the shadows behind both these groups are cabals of very powerful people who are jockeying to be in the driving seat when a certain unmentionable but inevitable day comes to pass. The stakes are very high indeed, and these powerful people are fearful that if they are out of the front row at the crucial time, they might never get near it again - ever. These powerful cabals have enormous influence and resources and can buy, threaten, bribe or manipulate the ordinary people in the first two groups into acting in ways which they (the people in the shadows) believe will either get them into, or maintain them in, the said front row.

The second shadowy battle is never discussed on open forums, but it sets the pace and tone of the battle that is being played out nightly on the TV or in the morning editorials. What's most dangerous is that the clock is ticking and either losing an election or conceding power could be absolutely disastrous. Consequently nobody is going to step back an inch.

Interesting times indeed.

There is an 'allegedly' in the headline. The story very likely happened as the father said, but personally I'd like to know just a little more about the characters involved and hear some other witness statements before passing judgement. What people say happened and what actually happened can sometimes be a little bit different, especially when there's a murder charge hovering around.

These granades cost $5 apiece wholesale and have been sold worlwide by the milliom. I imagine anyone with a mind to do it could buy a sack of them in Cambodia.

The wheels are coming off Yingluck's bandwagon - which makes the Democrats decision to deny voters a real viable alternative at the ballt box increasingly wrong-headed.

In the moo ban where we stay, two massive houses which have been a year in construction are now complete. My wife tells me that the one belongs to a senior PTP officiial ( he might even be an MP, I'm not sure) and its twin next door belongs to the officials brother. The cost was apparently 28milliom apiece. Suspicious wealth? Of course.

But here we come to the root of the problem. In any western country, before our friend had even installlec his new 60 inch smart TV, the Fraud Squad would have been around to follow the money trail and unless he was very smart indeed, both official and brother would be getting rehoused for a good few years in less salubrious accomodation. Outraged neighbours, furious at seeing their tax money stolen and flaunted in their faces would have dobbed him in.

In Thailand though, NOBODY CARES. The neighbours might mutter about it, but half are secretly envious, and the other half are resigned and shrug their shoulders. What can be done? The largest house in the moo ban belongs to a retired police colonel - no help forthcoming there. And as everyone knows, if you make trouble for your betters in ThIland bad things happen, and nobody wants to be found dead in a ditch. The ordinary person is powerless, even if they cared which is debatable.

The people in charge aren't going to fix it either. Our official makes his money because people higher than him allow him to do it. This buys his loyalty and gives them a blackmail hold on him. He does the same for people under him and so on and so forth down the line. Our official might be PTP, but this isn't a political issue at all because you could find his double in any political party or governmrnt department. Corruption is social and in Thailand is hard wired into the culture to an extent that nothing short of a massive social revolution that completely reorders society is going to change how things work.