rickirs

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Why don't they just get consultants from the UK's NHS to tell them how to properly run a socialist health care system? alt=whistling.gif>

How can they when Thailand hasn't invented a socialist healthcare system yet?

When the Junta has politically raped the former PM and her party, respect for her dignity seems to carry little credence.

As much as I find NACC politically motivated in some of its investigations with regard to priorities, I don't think it made little difference if the NACC can be faulted for appearing to have delayed its investigation into the Abhisit-Suthep government possible complicity in protester deaths in 2010. In fact its investigation now is an unusually quick response.

- August 2012 that DSI interviewed both government officials regarding their "handling" of the red shirt inspired protests;

- December 2013 Abhisit was indicted for murder and the Administrative Criminal Court accepted to hear the case;

- Suthep was also charged, but not indicted because he did not attend the court hearing with Abhisit;

- DSI issued an arrest warrant for Suthep but the Royal Thai Police failed to arrest him;

- May 2014 Suthep was arrested by Junta-directed military officers and released on bail;

- August 2014 the court on Thursday dismissed charges of murder and abuse of power against both

- February 2015 NACC to investigate charges

The court ruled that it didn't have jurisdiction to try them because both were "holders of public office at the time and acting under a [state] ordered emergency decree." Therefore, it ruled that the authority to consider the allegations was the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

The NACC was then invited to review the cases for possible indictments and prosecution. Between then and now the NACC seems to have given priority to the impeachment of Yingluck and associated ministers. Once Yingluck's impeachment was announced, NACC moved to investigate charges against Abhisit and Suthep. NACC could have justified further delay to enjoin in the criminal prosecution of Yingluck.

Major fault seems more to lay with the criminal court for wasting almost 18 months before deciding NOT to take the case. And the reason given was based on a constitutionally required judicial process that the court should have understood. I suggest that NACC examine the court for its suspicious delay as a potential abuse of power.

Amazing "cause" and "effect" in action.

The EC faces loss as an Independent Organization and merger into one or more government ministeries, and all a sudden it issues red cards. It is making a blatant attempt to show how important and VITAL it is to the CDC/NRC as an independent organization. This action, seemingly as an act of self-preservation, only demonstrates just how politcally corrupt this organization has become.

For mud slinging? Geez these poor sensitive little petals wouldn't last a minute in Australian politics.

Would it be o k to lie about having a doctorate degree or issue false doctored photographs in Australian politics?

Explains a lot.

Nothing is explained.

In a democratic society alleged lies by an elected incumbent or candidate are judged by the electorate, not by an elite-appointed committee. If a majority of the electorate finds fault, the incumbent or candidate may not continue in their current political careers. The majority may decide that the allegations are not serious enough to outweigh the value of the person's agenda and overlook the allegations. Let the People carry the responsibility and the consequences.

"he asked whether the existing laws could simply be adjusted."

One could have asked the same question of the 2007 Constitution and of all the previous constitutions. It's not about adjusting laws but about changing the whole Thai political landscape from a participatory multi-party democratic electroral system to basically a one-party system that controls the sovereignty of the Thai people.

Sincere and well-meaning intelligent Thais seemed to have missed the lessons from past coups - coups happen to regain and retain power of a few at the expense of the many. That power requires the diminuition and elimination of all actual and potential opposition. So it should be no surprise that existing laws promulgated by elected legislatures fall short and cannot simply be "adjusted." To do so would be to violate constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties. Thai history has shown that civil liberties are the first victims of every coup, usually in the name of reforms.

I hope that the present Junta-led government survives another year if only to teach the Thais peoples once and for all that it is they alone who must guarantee their rights and liberties, that their sovereignty remains inviolate. Otherwise, their complacency to the abuses of their sovereignty will only encourage continued assault and suppression.

"roadmap on solid waste management for the whole country, following a guideline given by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha"

Creating a roadmap from a roadmap - hardly a viable SOLUTION.

What is needed is considerable government capital investment to create an efficient refuse-to-energy system. it is not going tp happen by itself! Once again when government investment in Thailand's infrastructure is crucial to the nation's well-being, the Junta produces another plan, followed by another roadmap. Next will be a committee to study the roadmap. But never anything concrete to actually solve an issue. Sometimes I wonder if Thailand could do better having no federal government than the one it has now.

Asking the farmers to make sacrafices to their economic well-being for the sake of Bangkokians is unfair. The government should immediately institute water rationing in Bangkok and surrounding areas in conjunction with farmers not expanding crop cultivation. Otherwise, the government should stop pestering farmers.

Hopefully we'll know the specific of issues on February 14th. The ICAO is a highly credible agency of the United Nations. One of the standards that ICAO monitors is passport indentification for international flights. This may be an area that Thailand has been lax.

Seeing Murphy here as the top USA government official makes me wonder if he might be nominated for ambassador to Thailand. He already "understands" the Junta's role in returning Thailand back to democracy and Gen. Prayuth knows Murphy, even if it's just a desire to send Murphy to an attitude adjustment camp. With Thailand's current political situation, it would be a mistake for the USA President to nominate anyone other than an experienced State Department official for political party payback. If Murphy remains in Thailand through February, his nomination is all the more likely. In such a case I look forward to a one-on-one meeting between Murphy and Prayuth.

Technically, the constitutional monarchies of Japan and Thailand should operate with similar constitutions and rule of law. So it must perplex General Prayuth that Japan does not impose martial law on its peoples nor experience any military coups. While he is busy asking other countries to understand the Junta's roadmap to democracy, perhaps he should take the time to understand how the other constitutional monarchies throughout the world achieve democracy without repeated military intervention and peacefully deal with diverse political conflicts.

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I think some people missed this part of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe statement.

"Prime Minister Prayut is making his best effort to recover democracy in Thailand," Abe told a joint press conference.

In other words he knew that their was no Democracy in Thailand prior to Prayut's take over of the Shinawatra dictatorship. It also indicates that he knows Prayut is making an effort to bring Democracy back to Thailand. He knows full well that after the elections Thailand will be run by an elected official not some criminal running from the law and living in a foreign country. width=25 alt=thumbsup.gif>

You can't bring back what Thailand never had and you can't create something out of nothing which is what Thailand has now.

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"I promise I will build a healthy democracy in Thailand."

I believe you and trust you will do Prime Minister.

I'm looking forward living the rest of my life in a better Thailand.

You will need the rest of your life for such hopes.

Disney World coming to Thailand soon? Maybe in 30 years, maybe never.

There are now four countries with Disney Worlds (with respective 2012 monthly wages adjusted to purchasing power "parity" by OECD):

USA $3,263

Japan $2,522

France $2,886

Hong Kong $1,545

Compare to Thailand @ $489

However, Shanghai ($656) may get a Disney World - who can pass up potentially 3 billion annual vacationers? With 3 Disney Worlds in Asia, Thailand wouldn't stand a chance to host another. It would do better to update and expand Dreamland outside of Bangkok.

This is rubbish, where ever there are humans there is crime, lets say-- men, women, Thai, English Indian,Muslim, cahtolic christian, black, white, bloody green if you wish. Why would this person be a threat? Transgender , model or not, in this country and the everyday goings on I really can't see the problem here. The Pub is wrong...........

Privately owned and operated I guess they fell they can admit whomever they wish

Maybe the owners didn't understand the term "equality."

Article 4 of the Interim Charter recognizes "human dignity, rights, liberties and EQUALITY of the Thais."

Similiarly,

Article 4 of the 2007 Constitutionstates, "The human dignity, right, liberty and equality of the people shall be protected."

"... we want the government to have a definitive strategy, with actual plans to brace for how the country will be impacted by them,"

Nice idea but the Junta wants the railway built in two years and doing any actual planning will delay that timetable. Why is two years so important? Perhaps the Junta estimates that is about how long it has to be in control so that it can reap the benfits of that government-to-government project.

"I've always paid my taxes - it's taken care of by an accountant."

It is an oxymoron to speak of "an accountant" and "pay taxes" in the same sentence.

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An illegally installed govt by coup has the power to do anything they like as they are responsible to nobody, certainly not the law

Well unfortunately that is where you're wrong dragonfly, The highest authority in Thailand (you know who, he who cannot be named) endorsed the NCPO & gave them a mandate to govern, so anything they do is technically legal.
Yingluck's problems that she is facing now are all of her own making, ie not being a dilligent leader, not tackling issues herself, missing the vast majority of rice scheme meetings (by her own admission) and having a terrible track record for missing hearings in which she is required to give testimony. Her immediate family members also have form for fleeing when it gets too hot.

Too much uncertainty here. Remember she would very likely still be in power to do as she pleases if her govt hadn't illegally tried to force through an amnesty bill at 4am. I think they som nam na

Technically. the Interim Charter is correct as the Rule of Law:

Article 1 & 2 - Thailand is a unitary and democratic monarchy.

Article 3 - Sovereign power belongs to all Thais.

Article 4 - Recognition of human dignity, rights, liberties and equality of the Thais.

The Thai Peoples must live by what is reality and not what is "technically" correct.

"... all parties have to respect due process ..."

I didn't realize that a military coup, a Junta-led government, and martial law were part of due process. But then, this is Thailand and repeated military coups overthrowing elected governments would almost seem to be a kind of due process. Obviously, due process only applies to those who can hold power.

"Thai lawmakers are stepping out of line in joining the military-appointed government's war of words against the US. Of course, as ordinary citizens they would have the freedom to do so "

Sorry, but the priviledged few who are favored by the NCPO to participate in its government are hardly "ordinary citizens" simply because they are ALLOWED to speak out. The real ordinary citizens of the nation like the teachers, students, crop growers, news media people, street vendors, etc. must remain muzzled and paralyzed from the neck down when it comes to any freedom of expression. Perhaps the NLA lawmakers should leave governing to the professionals - the Thai Electorate.

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Lawmakers should leave diplomacy to the professionals.

They are all amateurs. What next will Thailand recall its ambassador to the US?

YES! And follow up with a complete ban of seafood to the USA. No more tuna salad for the American masses! The USA government will collapse overnight. This Junta wears britches bigger than Paul Bunyan; maybe that's why its keeps tripping over its own diplomatic feet.

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NACC would proceed with criminal litigation against five former MPs who inserted the voting cards of their colleagues to cast votes on their behalf.

That was Democracy before.

Open your eyes and ears and learn, dear posters.

Is that what you are all yearning for again?

I'm better the way it is now.................you can shout about Democracy and elections, it is your prerogative after all.

But don't give me excuses that anybody is taking away your freedom of speech.

What Thais learn is that amending a coup-created constitution that passed a referendum by only 51% of eligible Thai voters is more criminal than abolishing the entire constitution. Yes, democracy in Thailand has certainly taken another step - into oblivion.

"In fact, this was [essentially] done about two years ago with a view to making it easier and faster for the private sector to get involved in the country's infrastructure investments,"

So the 'new' PPP strategic plan to be submitted to the Cabinet basically just updates the names of the previous regime to the current. Now that's a game changer!

A strong USD should boost Thailand exports to the US ..... But a strong Junta promoting anti-American rhetoric and anti-democratic agenda will likely stand in the way of more trade, maybe even lose trade. Meanwhile as Thailand increases exports to China, the yuan has lost about 3.5% against the USD in the last 12 months. Great timing Junta.

Syria's strategy is to allow ISIL to occupy eastern Syria and help destroy Syrian rebels there where Asaad was losing ground. Meanwhile Asaad attacks rebels from the west whose supply lines to the East are disrupted by ISIL. Hardly an effective approach to unity but does stall further advances by rebels on Damascus. The danger though is when ISIL will turn on Asaad for the rest of the country if it goes unchallenged by the rest of the Arab countries and the West.