rickirs

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Shouldn't they be talking to the head Buddhism office about these things? The gov has no place in religion

In Thailand there is a place in government for Buddhists and other religions - Religious Affairs Department under (I think) the Ministry of Education. Principally Buddhist and Muslims receive State funds, albeit Buddhists get the largest portion.

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That is why, I admire you Prime Minister.

You are a patriot, and a man of honour.

I believe that at the end you will succeed with your aspirations.

Thailand will be a better country with you, in charge. alt=thumbsup.gif>

General Prauth is hardly a risk taker.

He is accompanied by more than 300 police, including an anti-riot unit, on stationed to maintain order for Prayut's trip. And this is for a visit to his home town and meeting with Junta supporters.

Guess you got to have more than martial law to make sure the natives behave.

Hometown visit and meet with political supporters.

More than 300 police, including an anti-riot unit, stationed to maintain order for Prayut's trip.

No demonstrators showed up to challenge the delegation in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Another successful coup.

"The negative inflation in January 2015 was short-term and impermanent,"

All the more urgency for the government to pump capital into the economy in the form of infrastruture projects NOW! Thailand needs economic GDP growth after a staganting 2014 economy and negative inflation discourages private capital investment. Businesses lose revenues, begin cutting employment or just close, and wages collapse. It is alarming that the Finaince Minister is so casual about January negative inflation and its implications on the economy for the remainder of the year.

Don Nakornthab, director of the Bank of Thailand Macroeconomic Policy Office - "Recovery of domestic consumption and private investment in Thailand is still slow as the private sector is still waiting for global economic recovery and massive government investment on basic infrastructure projects." 2015-02-02

Chantana Sukumanont, an adviser to Siam City Cement - "If there's no ground-breaking [on government investment projects], I do not believe in anything. One recommendation I have for the government is to 'just do it'. There's enough talk already," The Nation 2015-01-30

Kritsada Jinavijarana, the director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office predicts that the baht will fall to 33.06 baht per USD (2015-01-30). I predicted last month 35 baht per USD before summer 2015. Either case bodes ill for Thailand.

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Let's see - negative inflation means that things will be cheaper tomorrow than today. Hey, that's great, that means we will have more money in our pockets tomorrow than today, compared to previous times.

That's what I call "returning happiness to the people".

Problem is that if what I wanted to buy today will be cheaper tomorrow, then I will wait till tomorrow. Then what tomorrow comes, the thing that I wanted to buy will be cheaper the day after. So, I'll wait till the day after. Reminds me of signs in bars that says "Free Beer Tomorrow".

On a completely unrelated topic, soldiers knows a lot about fighting wars. They don't know that much about economics.

"soldiers knows a lot about fighting wars. They don't know that much about economics."

Now there you are wrong. They were able to kill the economy as well as any person.

"The SBPAC Secretary-General cited a survey conducted at 37 districts of 5 provinces shows that 76 percent of the public have more confidence in safety, and 72 percent believe that peace will eventually come."

Just drivel. Peace came eventually in Vietnam, Behind the Iron Curtain, the USSR satellites, Timor-East, etc. Peace will someday come to the Korean peninsula and the Middle East. I get the feeling that this survey and some followup feel-good propoganda is a setup for the military to declare that it has accomplished peace in the South without having to hold peace talks with the insurgents - thus meeting its promise for peace in the South in 2015.

Corporate "generosity" begins with its shareholders. They are under no mandate to be philanthropic.

If the government wants to fund social programs, it must impose mechanisms on corporations and the wealthy to generate revenues for such endevours. But that takes legislative commitment, executive supervision, and judicial enforcement. It must also take a public mandate which is nonexistent presently. Failure from day one.

So to determine whether the Public Health Department or the NHSO is being truthful, a panel will be established composed of members including the NHSO secretary-general Dr Winai Sawasdivorn and a deputy permanent secretary for Public Health to the panel. Why not just have the two have a gun dual to the death; it would be more effective and quicker. Every member of the Junta administration seems completely ineffective on handling executive decisions and implementing policy. It's starting to make an elected government look attractive.

"I believe there is a high chance the constitution would be disapproved or shot down by the NRC if the CDC does not amend the draft in accordance with NRC political reform suggestions"

Then the NRC political reform "suggestions" are not "suggestions" but directives. A bit like the NCPO directives, just less direct but still motivated by military rule. The whole military-dominated NLA/NRC/CDC is just a charade to convince the Thai public that there is some kind of democratic process taking place, albeit without any electorate approval or representation. Apparently, some of the CDC members have gotten carried away with some vestitage of democratic spirit and need to be yanked back to the reality that the reform has nothing to do with democracy. I think the CDC members need some tender NCPO attitude adjustment.

Does Kris have a tanslation problem or just used a poor example?

"Many of the provisions drafted so far appear to be granting more power and responsibilities to bureaucrats and reducing the influence of elected officials, both at the national and local levels.....For instance, the responsibility of organising general elections will be taken away from the Election Commission and handed over to the Interior Ministry."

The EC members are not elected under the 2007 Constitution, they are appointed as part of an Independent Organization, ie., independent from the executive branch of government. The NRC is proposing either an elected cabinet or a cabinet appointed by an elected prime minister. So the proposed merger of the EC into an elected executive branch of government would be removing it from unelected officials of an Independent Oragnization. That's the opposite of what Kris states.

"the Kingdom and its people have every right to ignore any comments made by representatives of foreign countries."

But the Thai people have no right to hear any comments by representatives of foreign countries, nor even by its own citizens when such comments do not praise the Junta nor approve of its unconstitutional acts. When the Thai people have the right of civil liberties truly returned to them, there will not be an unanimous condemnation of foreign or domestic unflattering opinions but a concensus for the free and open discussion of ideas and debate.

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Has it occurred to anyone that the reaction from the General and his military entourage was one of genuine surprise and hurt?

This is a man who has met with various American military commanders and believed they were his "friend", or at least shared common views. Why else would he have such a reaction over U.S. remarks that were far less harsh than those that have been made by the EU and continue to be espoused by EU foreign ministers? I believe that the General felt hurt, even betrayed, by people he thought would back him.

He and the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, General Dempsey, got along quite well during the latter's 2012 meeting. They continued to communicate. And this is where he may have misunderstood the Americans. Perhaps he was unable to differentiate between the U.S. military personnel personal views and their sworn duty to obey their civilian commanders, and that they do not make foreign policy. It is a relationship that most Thais probably are unable to comprehend. General Dempsey did his thesis on the Irish literary revival of the late 18th century, while General Chan-o-cha has made no secret of his belief in fortune tellers, with a major Bangkok newspaper just recently quoting the General as stating that there was no harm in seeking their advice. The General went on to state that when he was suffering from a fever and aches early in his premiership, he blamed his malady on hexes cast by his political enemies and combated the illness with holy water. ( As reported by Cod Satrusayang 15-Jan-2015). The General has not had much experience outside of Thailand and is not a gifted diplomat. While career senior officers in major militaries are usually well educated and seasoned from their postings around the world, that is not the case with Thailand's military leaders. Even, the Russians have some very gifted academic scholars within their senior command and are quite different than the thugs we see in Thailand. Honestly, I believe the issue of nationalism is side issue. The core issue may be that the General has been wounded and I dare say, feels insulted. Whether he puts his emotions in check remains to be seen

" I believe that the General felt hurt, even betrayed, by people he thought would back him."

Was this thought before he lied to the US point blank in January 2014 to say the military will not overthrow the elected Yingluck government? Did he truly believe that the US would be fooled by his unelected neo-military government and his "election" to prime minister? Or that while he is trustworthy and a good man, he had to suspend the rights and liberties of the Thai people for the good of the nation unknowing the US love for freedom of speech and assembly? If General Prayuth was beguiled, it is only by his arrogance and love of power.

It seems fool-hearty to diminish the role of the HRC at a time the military is trying to convince the USA that the Junta is doing all it can to prevent, reduce, and eliminate human trafficking and putting Thailand on the road back to democracy if it wants to be removed from Tier 3 rating. A military that has been accused of participating in trafficking activities. This merger gives the impression that the role of the HRC is not only a low priority but unnecessary as an independent organization by a military establishment that has acquired and maintained its power of rule over the Thai people through the abrogation of their rights and liberties.

When you consider that General Prayuth recently (September 2014) appointed General Wittawat Ratchatanan (former Director-General of the Defense Information and Space Technology Department, Director of the Office of Policy and Planning for Defense, and Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defense) as one of the three Ombudsmen, you get a sense that the military will control the actions of the Thailand HRC. The HRC will have no creditability, authority, or resources to effectively investigate human right violations.

Looks like Thanit has been playing his flute with the wrong end of his body. Nasty man.

"(NCPO) has a duty to clearly explain to the international community what is going on."

The Junta doesn't have to explain "diddly squat." It is the law of the land. Who is going to make it explain anything? The Junta's only duty is to maintain its power and a well-timed bombing might scare the public into insuring there is no pressure against that power.

I'd rather be holding the Danish Krone than the Russian Rubble. Denmark has a far better opportunity to recover its currency than Russia.

“Recovery of domestic consumption and private investment in Thailand is still slow as the private sector is still waiting for global economic recovery and massive government investment on basic infrastructure projects”

After eight months the Military Government has still FAILED to deliver the economic stimulus it PROMISED to improve the economy. Government investment in Thailand is a recognized necessity for reversal of negative economic growth:

“The only hope to revive growth is through government spending on the mega-infrastructure projects” The Nation 2014-08-29

Kritsada Jinavijarana, the director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office - “the reason for the increase for 2015 will be due entirely to the proposed massive government spending in infrastructure projects and the ever improving tourism sector.” 2015-01-30

Sutapa Amornvivat, chief economist of SCB - “The military government's infrastructure projects and surging demand from neighbouring countries will help add half a percentage point to that 3-per-cent figure, bringing the potential for annual growth of gross domestic product to 3.5 per cent.” The Nation 2015-01-30

Pridiyathorn Devakula, deputy prime minister in charge of the economy said that "A GDP expansion of 4 per cent in 2015 is definitely achievable and the government's job is to increase its spending on investment. The Nation 2015-01-15

Chantana Sukumanont, an adviser to Siam City Cement said that "If there's no ground-breaking [on government investment projects], I do not believe in anything. One recommendation I have for the government is to 'just do it'. There's enough talk already," The Nation 2015-01-30

The military controls the nation’s treasury, the legislature, and the government. It cannot be recalled or charged for dereliction of duty. It is not subjected to any regulatory agency or public opposition. Delivering on its economic policy should be a no-brainer. And yet to date, its biggest infrastructure project (dual rail system) was financed primarily by borrowing from the Chinese, not from the Thai treasury. What is it waiting for?

The answer may lie with an ultra-conservative NCPO whose military life-style has been largely insulated from economic pressures that face the rest of the nation. Successive elected governments only hesitated to meet military budgetary demands. The military has been and continues to be out of touch with the myriad economic forces that affect the Thai people, offering mostly “gifts, limited short-term subsidies, and platitudes of hope as its economic policy. The military government is subconsciously looking solely to domestic consumption (something the generals are familiar with) to save the Thai economy despite all the experts advice:

“The government could come under pressure to shift the economy out of idle, but gross domestic product should grow on its fundamentals, not from an injection of capital” - Somkid Jatusripitak, NCPO Advisor, The Nation 2014-11-20

"... the consequences of merging the Ombudsman and the NHRC may result in the ICC having doubts about the status of Thailand in the ICC and other international forums working on human rights issues."

I recall that Gen.Prayuth replaced the civilian Ombudsman with former Director-General of the Defense Information and Space Technology Department, Director of the Office of Policy and Planning for Defense, and Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defense General Wittawat Ratchatanan. This merger allows the military to know NHRC victims, informants and plaintiffs; access to evidence and witnesses; and control NHRC's resources.

Human rights issues will all be resolved.

"... instilling the value of honesty to the public."

A military-controlled government through a coup and suppression of human rights and liberties is hardly the poster child for honesty. "A leader leads by example not by force."- Sun Tzu. The Junta by its act of absolute control over the Thai society cannot foster "honesty" in their behavior, no matter whether it is with 12 values or 100 values.

"You do not lead by hitting people over the head. That's assult, not leadership." - Dwight D. Eisenhower, US President and Supreme Allied Commander WWII. The Junta has assulted Thai society by abolishment of its constitution, overthrow of its representatives, and violation of its rule of law. Taking such actions under the belief of "good intentions" hardly advances public honesty. If charity begins at home, so too must honesty.

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Thailand's relationship with the United States of America - the Government thereof - will not improve until mr. obama is GONE from the scene... After January 2017 ... things could improve

You may have missed the 2014 USA election results that gave the Republican Party a majority in USA Congress and very close to Presidential veto-proof legislation.

If you have some familiarity with the Republican's foreign policy you know them to be far more hawkish than the Democrats. Republicans prefer to war instead of diplomacy if given a choice. Even the Democrats have complained of President Obama appearing weak in foreign policy as he seems to place too much reliance on diplomactic tools like sanctions for solutions rather than using the big stick of military projection.

The Thai government would be smart to calm its rhetoric with the USA now before 2016 when the Republicans might have a complete lock on the USA government with the presidency. Even now US Senators like Republican McCain have almost zero tolerance to foreign tyranny and any threat to democratic societies. Time is not on the side of the Thai government for unearned improved relations with the US.

" If the bills are not revised, it is possible that the bills will not become laws at all."

Yes, in a normal democratic system where ministers could be pressured by the will of their constituents not to allow such draconian violations of human rights if they want re-election. But we're talking about the Junta-created NLA of which 52% consists of active military officers; that majority alone is sufficient to pass bills. The NLA has NEVER denied a NCPO sponsored bill. The NLA hasn't even managed more than a 3-vote against any NCPO bills. If the NLA did reject a NCPO bill did by some twilight zone event, the NCPO has legislative power under Article 44 of the Interim Charter to make the bill become law without the NLA. The NCPO is not accountable to the Thai electorate.

So it is not only possible that this bill can be passed without revision, it is certain should the NCPO desire so.

"We will not deploy anyone to lift three fingers,"

All Thai Scouts will be banned from his visit so there is no misunderstanding.

Decentralization of the Royal Thai Police is needed reform to remove it from politics and corruption by the hands of the many.

However, the establishment of a thinly described national police affair council could become a political hammer that will only serve to centralize corruption by the hands of the few. Thus far, it seems that for every decentralization of government power the NRC proposes, the NRC proposes an oversight "council" drawn from appointments drawn from a select body of people. In the end, government becomes much more bloated and inefficient. And maybe that is part of the BIG PICTURE.

ETF might not have bottomed out yet with a possible floor of $15 compared to the current $18.4. It might be worth a look in another 6 months to see if the ASEAN Community has boosted the economy any.

The PDRC/Democrats are probably the most disappointed parties to the long-term entrenchment of the military into the governance of Thailand.

I suspect they thought that repeating the chain of events that led to the 2006 coup and the election of the Democrats for control of government would again trigger another coup to reset the political landscape in favor of the Democrats for 2014. But the military took an unexpected path by implementing Articles 17 and 44 of the Interim Charter.

Both the Demoracts and the PTP took exception to the Junta's domination of the nation through the NCPO Interim Charter. Abhisit expressed disapproval of Article 17 that was similar to the charter put in place by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat after the coup in 1958. As such he said the NCPO was not "striking a balance between controlling people and allowing them their rights." He said that Provision 44 "provided the NCPO with unprecedented special powers independent of the prime minister and without checks and balances....Article 44 offers power beyond security, as it covers any activities carried out in the interest of reform and for the promotion of national reconciliation,'' Abhisit also "questioned the necessity of the council having legislative and judicial powers, as the NCPO members are already sitting on the National Legislative Assembly and the Reform Council."

Democrat Party deputy leader Nipit Intarasombat said Article 44 is like a gun that can be used for self-defence and to protect or even to harm others.

The Democrats and Abhisit in particular are seeing a different government that will be designed to be occupied by a weak political party, subservient to military oversight. So should the Democrats gain partial (ie., coalition) or full occupation of the government, it will be a hallow victory. In an odd sense the Democrats will come to regret instigating events that destroyed a free and open participatory democratic government and left Democrats with even less political power than it had with a PTP government.