rickirs

"an amendment to the 1955 Act on the Organisation of Military Courts would affect civilians were unfounded"

I think it would be more accurate to say that -

"an amendment to the 1955 Act on the Organisation of Military Courts would affect civilians were irrelevant"

NCPO doesn't need any amendments to exercise its absolute power of the sovereignty of the Thai Peoples.

Japan's economic recovery from WWII and world leader is truly a testament to democratic principles and respect of its people's sovereignty. Few nations conquered by the USA have become worse off.

Perhaps Gen. Prayuth will visit again and, instead of focusing on money, try to better understand how such a constitutional monarchy can not only survive but succeed through a populist, capitalistic nutured democratic society in spite of political conflicts and without military intervention. But then Prayuth might realize that his worth in Thai society might not be that great.

"The amendment would permit military commanders to detain civilians for up to 84 days without judicial oversight"

If the Junta doesn't get the amendment, then Article 44 of the Interim Charter remains the law of the land. And under Article 44 the NCPO has the legislative power to not only impose martial law but to also judicial power to arrest people without a court warrant and try them. The amendment just gives the NCPO some "window dressing" to make the government seem democratic after it withdraws from direct control of the government.

The bigger issue is that the military continues to have the power to overthrow an elected government and suspend Thai civil rights and liberties at the time of its choosing. Don't expect the NCPO to limit itself voluntarily.

This is great news. It's not like political prisoners (in jail 10 years they are not "detainees") can give themselves amnesty like the Junta can.

I'd better like to see the NRC recommend checks and balances on the military to prevent its repeated abuse of the nation's sovereignty and suspension of Thai civil rights and liberties. But of course the Junta-appointed NLA/NRC must abide by the NCPO agenda which I am sure does not include limiting its power.

She was found guilty of drunk driving.

So what was the EVIDENCE that was the basis for her guilty judgement?

No mention of any observed erratic or dangerous driving.

She responsibly stopped at the checkpoint.

She refused the breath test.

They towed her car with her inside so no physical impairment test was conducted.

No mention of a followup blood test.

The only apparent evidence was the smell of alcohol on her breath.

So was she then convicted because of her smell? Maybe just a poor choice of perfume and too much of it? Or maybe a spilled alcoholic drink?

This case was hardly a good example of justice.

Yingluck seeking political asylum might be the best solution for the Junta. Does the Junta really need to put itself in the same perdicament as the Myanmar Junta who had to deal with popular opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi despite her isolation in house arrest, loss of civil liberties, and constitutional ban from national elections? I think the Junta will offer her an exit strategy and she will refuse.

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So rather than being able to confront the OAG with inadequate or possibly incorrect information and thereby ensuring the dismissal of the charge with "Not Guilty", Ms. Yingluck's legal team wants the OAG to dig up more ?

That's an interesting interpretation simply because, as you perceive, it doesn't make any sense. Consider then that it is your understanding that doesn't make any sense.

The OAG originally rejected accepting the case from NACC because "NACC had not conducted additional inquiry as asked by the committee." The OAG offered to work with the NACC to develop the additional information it had requested, assured the effort wouldn't be burdensome, and the NACC refused. Then in an unexplained turnabout the OAG accepts the case for prosecution. Why? NACC could have on its own prosecuted the case without the OAG!

Yingluck's attorneys are requesting the review of OAG's decision for reversing itself despite what it had seen as major flaws in NACC's case. They are not asking OAG to develop further inquiries or information. If the OAG is being transparent it should agree to the request. If it doesn't, then it gives the perception that it is being bias and/or politically motivated.

"might be a joint venture in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Thai and foreign investors were both welcomed"

Whoever the investors might be, you can be sure the Junta government will not be a major investor. After 8 months in power it has failed to make any substantial government investment in Thailand's infrastructure. The nation has sufficient debt to GDP ratio to do so with little negative economic impact to the economy. But Gen. Prayuth runs the government balance sheet as if it were his personal household - little or no deficit spending. On the other hand he has no problem borrowing from foreign governments such as with the dual rail project with the Chinese and essentially selling out Thai sovereignty for decades to come.

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His intentions and thoughts are good.

Thailand has to join the more technologically advanced countries.

And it will be great for tourism and also for Thais.

What I'm worried about and expressed my worries before when Yingluck initiated the high speed train introduction to Thailand, is the operation, handling and maintenance of these trains.

I wish, I could trust the Thais more and have more confidence in them..........but again I could be wrong........as many good posters remind me constantly.

My worthless opinion is try to upgrade the existing trains, maintain the trucks properly. and do something about rail crossing safety and then look to the high speed trains.

So 'thoughts' are good huh?

Well lets do the math shall we.

Bangkok to Pattaya ~150Km

High speed rail speed definition 250km/hr, therefore assuming no intermediate stops a journey time of 36 mins

Standard gauge top speed definition 190km/hr, therefore assuming no intermediate stops journey time of 47 mins

Cost of HSR vs Standard Gauge according to the Swedish study (de Rus et al., 2009) 2x.

So, well thought out huh twice the cost for a maximum time saving of 11 mins.

Maybe we need to 'think' before accepting all that is said is Gospel truth. Maybe in the Chinese model there is a justification, but in the real world not a jot of truth

"Maybe in the Chinese model there is a justification, but in the real world not a jot of truth."

Exactly. China is a huge country with nearly 1.4 billion people and hundreds of large cities and a massive industrial complex. Thailand OTOH is a small, emerging nation with few really large cities, a medium sized industrial base located in a few strategic areas and less than 70 million people.. Largely the balance is rural and agricultural. Not exactly the ideal base for a massive investment in HST.

However, as the above poster rightly points out, there is definitely a need for a modernization of Thailand's antiquated rail network and bringing it into the 20th century. Once this is done, Thailand will be able to unite with the railway coming down from China and with that, supposedly coming up from Singapore?

The 20th century ENDED on December 31, 2000. We are now fifteen years into the 21st century.

Can someone help me?

I can't find Thailand anywhere in Africa!

Given the level of ignorance of this government I figure it must be some backward African nation that knows nothing about the human reproductive system.

"The comment was made off-the-record and in the context of one democratic country to another"

Somehow I don't think the USA comments were directed at UK, Japan, Australia, India or any other DEMOCRATIC country. I thought Thailand outlawed what this spokesman is smoking.

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In another article today the UN is criticizing. LINK

Thailand must learn that it doesn't live in a bubble IF it wants to be engaged with the West.

Also people should learn that the U N is making suggestions to change a system that has been in affect for 50 years. They recognize the need for change from the way the country was being run and are making suggestions in an effort to help clear up the mess.

Kind of like a back handed way of say we approve of what you are doing.

Also people should be aware of the fact that the U S is calling for Democracy. This is a strange thing to hear from a country who had a president (Bush) appointed by the Supreme Court when the majority of the people voted for his opponent Gore.

It would be interesting to have an accredited poll company take a poll in Thailand and see if the people are happier with the way things are now or do they prefer the way things were before the coup. Never going to happen unfortunately. We will just have to sit here and listen to the whiners complain until the next election. At which time we will know what is really happening now. I personally believe we will find out as a result of all that is going on now Thailand will be a lot better off. Check with me next February.

The USSC did not appoint Bush President. It ruled on the unconstitutionality of the Florida Supreme Court allowing extended time beyond what the Florida constitution allowed for a recount. Without a prolonged recount Gore lost the majority vote in Florida to Bush by 1,800 votes. And while Gore did get majority of the US popular vote, he did not get the subsequent majority vote of the electoral college (because of his loss of Florida) that is the required final process for electing the POTUS according to the US Constitution.

When you compare the entirety of the USA constitutional electoral process to determine its Head of Government to the Junta's abolishment of the Thai constitution and self-appointment as Head of Government, the Junta's divergency from a democratic participatory process naturally invites criticism from the USA. It is a fair and honest response.

First it's the USA interferring in Thailand's internal affairs. Then it's Japan. Now it's the UN. What's next, the whole world?

Oh wait. The UN represents 191 nations.

Maybe Gen. Prayuth can find some Martians who will understand the Junta's roadmap to restore democracy.

A rather naive article.

The Junta considers any perceived or potential criticisms as obstructing NCPO's efforts towards national reconciliation and reform. it's not a matter of how a message is conveyed or the content of the message. The Junta has become paranoid towards ANY form of critical expression and it will vigorously defend against ANY opposition to its rule, especially for those (like students0 who have no economic leverage against the Junta.

Malta and Italy better brace for Greek boatloads of economic refugees.

It is clear that German Chancellor Angela Merkel will lay on the line for Putin in clear words to stop Russian support of the insurgencyand support peace negotiations, or the EU (meaning her) will back the USA 100% to meet its existing OBLIGATIONS to Ukraine to protect its sovereignty. And she will remind Putin that if the USA militarily supports Ukraine, NATO (Germany, France, UK) will be sure to follow.

It becomes a question of whether Putin can gracefully exit the conflict as the Hero of Russia or become so in love with his own perceived invulernability that he will risk a much wider violent conflict on Russian borders and assualt on the Russian economy. Russians should hope Putin keeps his sanity.

It looks like the almighty Republican congressional majority was hit by a “can of whoop-ass” by Professor Obama. He got them to amend the bill to state that climate change was real and not a hoax, and oil sands should no longer be exempt from a tax used to cleanup oil spills. If you understand Republican politics, those concessions are hurtful.

Now Republican Sen. Hoeven says, Obama "needs to work with Congress in a bipartisan way and approve the Keystone XL pipeline project for the American people," Please Obama, work with us. This indicates that Obama has enough leverage still to get further concessions on the bill to get his support. Not bad for a lame-duck POTUS.

"16 years are a lot."

It is a lot longer than the lives of 32 people who died by his actions. Schettino will be 70 years old if he serves out the entire sentence; still enough young enough to enjoy life.

It would seem that China and the USA are capable of having a pragmatic (albeit complex) political and economic relationship while vying for political and economic dominance. Both over many, many years have criticized the other relating to both domestic and international issues. Some conflicts resolved, some tabled, and some unresolved. But at no time has either "cut the Gordian Knot" when seemingly unresolvable conflict exists. This is how mature and advanced nations co-exist.

Then you have the Junta who, with less than a few lightly critical comments from a USA envoy about Thailand's internal affairs, shifts the entire country's political allegiance to China. The Junta places the security of the nation into the hands of a country known for its disrespect for KINGDOMS, human rights and liberties, and RELIGION. And for that the Junta is placated by soothing chinese words of ego stroking and hopes of prolonging the Junta's power over the Thai People's sovereignty.

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I hope Xi Jinping, will ask Mr Obama, at the meeting, to stop interfering into Thailand's internal affairs.

Thailand is a sovereign country, responsible for their own destiny.

They don't need the Americans or the Chinese telling them how to govern their own country.

Thailand is an ally to both of those countries and they should be respected as such.

I may deflate your ego but Thailand is but a mole on China's Asian ass - separate and distinct but only noticeable when China decides to hit the toilet. And as far as Thailand's sovereignty is concerned, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan might lend some advice to the Junta about just how meaningful it is to the Chinese. And please, Thailand is not a "ally" to either China or the USA - it is at best a "partner" being dependent on both for its economic livelihood.

"Police Commander Gen Somyot Poompanmoung was in Phuket recently to underline his strategy for reform, and priorities for local law enforcement."

Why?

Isn't the NRC working on a reform that would DECENTRALIZE police at the local level? That would mean city authorities would have the power and responsibility for local law enforcement, not the national police. This disjunctive behavior with and within the Junta government seems endemic.

Somchai can use the "Suthep" defense - he ordered armed forces to only shoot at people's feet.

General Prayuth is such a jokester he will bring the House down - literally.

The Thai economy will be in ruins with only Prayuths 12 Values to comfort the people. Thank you Gen. Prayuth for the fun times.