Kooweerup

Can someone point out what peacekeeping missions and to where was thailand involved or how much financially thailand contributed to those peacekeeping or any other missions

East Timor 1999, they sent 1500 troops to serve under Australian command.

So with foreign currency going down and the Thai baht to strengthen they expect to export more. Is that right? I would have thought that it would make thai products more expensive to buy and exports would drop.

Always amazing that any sane falang support any of the PT crooks , Too much time with the airheads upcountry!

I don't support the PT and I definitely don't support coups or the Junta and its collection of.....

You can remove the leader, disband the party, "talk" to the hierarchy but you will never remove the sentiment of the 15 million Thai's that voted for the principles that they stood for.

How many of that 15 million really had a clue of the principles PTP stood for? Do you think PTP have any principles other than get rich quick by whatever means?

How many voted for them because that's who they were instructed/intimated/coerced/bribed to vote for?

The same can be said for all parties here mind. And that's something that ain't going to change without serious reform, real reform.

nonsense reply not based on facts even my 12 year old Thai niece has a better grasp than you do

they were instructed/intimated/coerced/bribed to vote for

when, where? I know many, many Thais who voted PTP and not a hint of what you suggest and you are insulting 15 million Thais

I can give facts. I know from my sister in law of an election rally in Sisaket where everybody that attended got paid. That's the only reason she went.

My brother in law is a hired thug for the UDD. He told the whole village that if they voted for PTP they would be paid. There's facts for you!

Actually that is not fact but hearsay.

HEARSAY

unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge.

For it to become fact it will have to be confirmed by the people you are refering to.

Reality is the conjectured state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined.[1] In a wider definition, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible. A still more broad definition includes everything that has existed, exists, or will exist.

Something you have to wake up to!

I still don't believe in ghosts

based on 'merit system'

Well I guess there wont be to many moves or promotions then.

As long they provide only figures, but no names on the first hand and no trials with real punishment, not only pay some tausends of THB, then is this IMO just a charade.

1 site telling a kind of fairytale and hope the others believe this bull$hit.

We call this in my country Kasperle Theater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Y-IC4fEDo&list=PLFgqoIgHVTlgO3MxwuOZA--NypDhyfr0I&index=4

Somehow I don't think the world media is buying the story either

According to Thailand’s junta officials on Friday, senior policemen and a navy officer are among the officials, who are detained and being prosecuted with regard to this issue.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/01/30/395419/Thai-officials-face-prosecution

According to someone

adverb

according to what governments or people in authority say, although it may not be true

You can remove the leader, disband the party, "talk" to the hierarchy but you will never remove the sentiment of the 15 million Thai's that voted for the principles that they stood for.

How many of that 15 million really had a clue of the principles PTP stood for? Do you think PTP have any principles other than get rich quick by whatever means?

How many voted for them because that's who they were instructed/intimated/coerced/bribed to vote for?

The same can be said for all parties here mind. And that's something that ain't going to change without serious reform, real reform.

nonsense reply not based on facts even my 12 year old Thai niece has a better grasp than you do

they were instructed/intimated/coerced/bribed to vote for

when, where? I know many, many Thais who voted PTP and not a hint of what you suggest and you are insulting 15 million Thais

I can give facts. I know from my sister in law of an election rally in Sisaket where everybody that attended got paid. That's the only reason she went.

My brother in law is a hired thug for the UDD. He told the whole village that if they voted for PTP they would be paid. There's facts for you!

Actually that is not fact but hearsay.

HEARSAY

unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge.

For it to become fact it will have to be confirmed by the people you are refering to.

If Thailand prefers China to the US, and by default Japan, the US will stop providing Thailand with military assistance and both the US and Japan could pull manufacturing out of Thailand. The US and Japan have huge industrial investments in Thailand and create a lot for the Thai economy including exports and jobs.

Japan is afraid of China after having China threaten to take some of its islands and block shipping and airline routes. The US sailed some carrier groups through the area and made China back down. The US also made China back down from claiming all fishing rights in the S. China Sea - a place where several SE Asian countries including Thailand rely on for fishing.

If Thailand is stupid enough to play China against the US and by default Japan, it could lose US and Japanese manufacturing causing its economy to crash.

The US and Japan have already invested in large tracts of land in Burma at Yangon, as a backstop to Thailand. The US signed a deal with the Phils to move military forces back into Subic Bay and Clark Air Force Base which will be a large boost to the Phil's economy.

Who is being left out and "Who is Sleeping?"

Thailand is usually too big for its britches and this writer should figure out that neither the US nor Japan needs Thailand at all.

US aid to thailand is $3.5 million per year.

US and Japan does not have investments, private companies do;)

The US and Japan can put embargos on Thailand making it illegal for private companies to do business. The US sells and gives modern weapons to Thailand including F16's and the munitions to hang on them.

There are so many ways the US, Japan and even Europe could abandon Thailand that I think you should rethink your comments.

It should be obvious to all that if the junta trashes the West and buddies up to China that it will lose in so many ways. That's not to mention the crocodile that China is and how the loss of the US would let China damage Thailand.

Yes i am sure Japan would put embargo on its bread and butter companies and remind me again who are those big American investors in Thailand?

McDonalds?

Really? I think this is crap being spewed out to try and trick the U.S into adjusting their rating. Who are these ghosts that have been rounded up and charged. Thailand is always very quick to name high profile police and others when charged look at the officer linked to the former princess.

I wont believe this until they provide some proof that this has actually happened and I don't think the U.S will either.

I guess now the journalists who revealed the military and officials were involved will be exonerated or will they still be prosecuted because no one has seen the ghosts that were arrested?

Guess there will a lot more foreigners summoned to explain. The Junta has no one to blame but themselves for the world turning their backs on them. They do have a small handful of expats tho who will lend a shoulder to cry on.

Thailand downgraded by US rights group

BANGKOK: -- Thailand again was placed by a US-based international rights watchdog, Freedom House, among the 51 countries and territories designated as "Not Free" on the condition of political rights and civil liberties.

It is the first time since 2007 that Thailand has been downgraded as “Not Free” when the country was under the administration of a military-appointed government that followed the 2006 coup.

Freedom House is linked to Robert Amsterdam and therefore Thaksin. It is not an independent group. It represents the interests of those who have power. Freedom House has indirectly funded the red terrorists who tried to defend the Thaksin dictatorship by attacking the voices that were being raised against Thaksin's proxy. Further Freedom House is a subsidary of the National Endowment for Democracy: A notorious right-wing organisation whose directors include many people who have a vested interest in creating turmoil/war in different parts of the world. Closely linked to the military/industrial complex that has dictated American imperialism for so long. These clowns are Thaksin's biggest international supporters and are extremely dangerous.

Where is the link to Amsterdam and Thaksin, I cant find it. It was apparently founded in 1941 and I not sure what Amsterdam and Thaksin were doing back then.

Many on here claim that there was no Democracy in Thailand under the Shins so why would Freedom House be jumping into bed with Thaksin.

Freedom House states that its Board of Trustees is composed of "business and labor leaders, former senior government officials, scholars, writers, and journalists". All board members are current residents of the United States. It does not identify itself with either of the American Republican or the Democratic parties. The board is currently chaired by William H. Taft IV. Taft assumed chairmanship of the board in January 2009, succeeding Peter Ackerman. Other current board members include Kenneth Adelman, Farooq Kathwari, Azar Nafisi, Mark Palmer, P. J. O'Rourke, and Lawrence Lessig,^[1] while past board-members have included Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Samuel Huntington, Mara Liasson, Otto Reich, Donald Rumsfeld, Whitney North Seymour, Paul Wolfowitz, Steve Forbes, and Bayard Rustin.

I cant find Amsterdam or Thaksin mentioned anywhere. Many on TV claim that Thaksin is controlling the world media and many powerful politicians around the world are his puppets now Freedom House? This is getting ridiculous.

Agree, why appoint a Canadian as honorary Consul??? But then, the Monk just appointed HRH Prince Phillip as a Knight of Australia....guess, next year "il Poppa" will get a gong!!!!

The Australian Consul in Chiangmai is a Thai woman and she doesn't even speak English. Total waste of time and taxpayer money, no help if an aussie finds themselves in a bit of bother you will need an interpreter to speak to the Aussie Consul

I actually think the problem here is that the US chose to meet the ex PM which quite honestly was an incredibly stupid diplomatic error no matter how you look at it, they said in a statement they were not taking sides but this very meeting tells a different story.

It is well understood that the US must take a certain position when it comes to its stance on democracy but they also must recognise that Thailands solution to a growing political implosion and removal of a very obviously defunct administration has been the most peaceful and effective in recent global history, it is also worth mentioning that the current effort by all concerned seems like a genuine effort to produce a solid base for a future sustainable democracy in the not to distant future.

The recent US interference could have put the current stability at considerable risk and was therefore IMO an error, martial law is a draconian environment by any standards but perhaps a necessity in this instance while the reform process continues to conclusion without interference, it is also worth noting that certain factions were offered but refused to take part, it is easy to see the usual dogs biting at the heels with every opportunity - it is unfortunate but unavoidable that the mechanism to silence them needs to stay in place and so it should.

The PM's and NLA's reaction was not correct either, make a statement disagree and move along - done and dusted

If at the end of the process and a referendum and elections do not take place then that is a totally different ball game and the US would have every right to get involved along with other western countries - but for now they need to butt out and keep their diplomats under strict control and allow this process to run its course unabated.

it is also worth mentioning that the current effort by all concerned seems like a genuine effort to produce a solid base for a future sustainable democracy in the not to distant future.

What total rubbish. This isn't about democracy and never was. The same clowns will be standing for election if and when!

Let's not forget, that since 1932 the military has been in charge, of Thailand, longer than any political party, and so far their record is failure after failure after failure. They even changed the "constitution" to give themselves more power, when an elected government tried to remove their power, guess what ANOTHER coup. Democracy.... bullshit.

Well, Thai Politics for Thai People don't you think?

Doesn't matter about the history of Thai politics. It has nothing to do with another country. America, where coloureds only got the vote 50 years ago! You have to wonder if America was really ready for a Black President? Besides American democracy is not Democracy, it is about puppet governments favourable to America rather than Russia and China!

Colonial power by any other name, or means!

I'm confused. I cant see the link between the coloureds of the U.S getting voting rights and the U.S Envoy being summoned before the Thai military. Has the Thai Junta taken offence to African Americans getting the vote?

I really hope the world laughs at these idiots.

This is the image Thailand wants in the world, they can have it. I hope the embassies keep goading them.

This is a very childish and pitiful effort to justify their undemocratic behaviour.

I thought you were 'Thai at heart'. Your comments seem to indicate otherwise. When you consider the extent to which Thaksin paid propagandists are manipulating the international media and such bodies as Amnesty International then you'd understand why the General has to protect his position. The comments made by the senior American fell out of the diplomatic norms and Thailand is quite right to respond in this way.

I think being Thai at Heart and supporting the Junta are 2 very different things. because the poster has a different opinion to you does not mean he dislikes Thai or his user name is not real. The same could be said about your comment, you don't have Thai at Heart. Different opinions and feel thankful that you are allowed an opinion as the vast majority of Thais are not. Thais are not allowed to say what they feel as they are suppressed. They don't have a voice out of fear of being rounded up. Many will say that Thais are happy and not complaining but it has become illegal to complain and they live in constant fear.

Guess there will a lot more foreigners summoned to explain. The Junta has no one to blame but themselves for the world turning their backs on them. They do have a small handful of expats tho who will lend a shoulder to cry on.

Thailand downgraded by US rights group

BANGKOK: -- Thailand again was placed by a US-based international rights watchdog, Freedom House, among the 51 countries and territories designated as "Not Free" on the condition of political rights and civil liberties.

It is the first time since 2007 that Thailand has been downgraded as “Not Free” when the country was under the administration of a military-appointed government that followed the 2006 coup.

Why didn't an Australian get appointed? I know it's a thankless and hard job that I wouldn't do for any amount of money but not one Australian qualified for the role?

Bizarre.

Australia likes to outsource, even the current Australian P.M is British. Try going to the Australian Embassy in Bangkok and see if you can locate an Aussie. Most of the staff are Thai with limited English skills, then you have Americans and even an English guy.

The arrogance is unbelievable. But that's what you get with a legislature and cabinet full of handpicked military "friends" with little to no experience in governance and diplomacy.

I know some posters have mentioned N Korea and while Thailand is a long way off, I certainly feel it is inching closer day by day.

You are right in that "The arrogance is unbelievable".....just talking about the wrong country. Or its is about you too?

Now i see a problem with the usual self righteous thai bashers.

Here's the deal. If you have been reading this forum long enough you would know that the shinawatras aren't loved here and the fact that they have chinese blood in them makes it even worse.

Then you have america supporting the shinawatras and questioning the present thai govt which causes the US to be bashed and that's a big no no here it's just the typical farang reaction obviously. It's also not a coincidence that the ones that support america and the rest of the west happen to be anti thaksin/shinawatra so now they are in a fix. Thaksin being chinese = china and an american official asking for a fair trial and getting bashed by the thai side well they cannot support the american side now cos that means supporting thaksin and the chinese side.

Off your med's again? "The shinawatras aren't loved" err sorry mate but you are so far off the mark it's almost sad, how do you think they keep wining elections if they are not loved? and please not the buying votes BS.

"It's also not a coincidence that the ones that support America and the rest of the west happen to be anti thaksin/shinawatra so now they are in a fix"

Do you even live here mate? or just a once a year type guy? that thinks he knows it all? You don't have a clue really now do ya.

I live in a very red area and until the coup OVERTLY red with banners, posters and even large cardboard figures of YL on the highway but they've all gone.

My local mom and pop store used to have pictures of Mr. T etc at the front of the store but as soon as martial law was announced they were moved to the corner of the back wall and cannot be seen from the outside. Probably prudent since the store is about 100 yds from one of the entrances to an army camp.

The love for the Shins is still there and will come out into the open as soon as the time's right and they are free to express themselves.

I believe the junta sent in the army to remove all pictures of the shins, outlawed having one even in the privacy of your own home. Agree just because the pics aren't there doesn't mean people have turn against the shins.

Like Thais could do without seven-eleven.

None of us can.

I can. Hardly ever been in one apart from when travelling and stop for fuel then it is normally just stretching the legs in the aircon. I come from Aust and wouldn't even know where find one there.