northernjohn

What a bunch of B/S, been hearing about his end game every week for months now!

Without a free election there will never be an end game!

Cheers

You are partially right.

It also must be corruption free.

The bottom line and what TAT fail to comprehend is that to make Thailand a real destination certain things need to happen. TAT keep thinking some campaign is going to do the trick. Well its not.

Tackle the real problems with Tourism - Taxi and TUk tuk scams / Jet Ski Scams / polluted beaches / unsafe roads and driving etc.....create a destination for people and they will come.

Well I understand what you are saying.

But I don't think people outside of Thailand are thinking about them. If they have done any traveling in Asia, Latin America and Africa they are well aware that there will be scams.

Don't know what you mean by create a destination for them and they will come. They have been coming in increasing amounts every year.

What they have to do is improve the beaches and the service. Other Asian countries are starting to put out calls for people to come to visit them and the travelers know the scams will be there also but if Thailand doesn't clean up it's beaches and improve it's service they will remember that and look for it elsewhere.

It is hard to imagine a situation most serious than this. A sitting cabinet minister attends a rally that calls for secession. It also calls for readiness for an armed rebellion. And it also admonishes the independent agencies. A sitting prime minister fails to show up to a commission that could lead to her impeachment and removal from office. She attacks the institution on facebook, clearly encouraging the UDD. The UDD cements the NACC from the world before they vow to go to the EC and the Civil Court. It is a horrible situation, and likely prays on Prayuth's mind continually. After all, he is sworn to protect the constitution. And so with these full-frontal assaults on the constitution's empowered institutions - like the independent agencies and the judicial system - the county has been placed in the most dangerous position that it's in. The constitutional process should see this through. It is working. But if the judicial process is impeded - then there is no more dangerous situation than that.

There is a cabinet...? you mean the Dems won the election...? What about a former cabinet member..? better...?> it's a caretaker gov't as far as I can recall.. but don't let that stop ya.. a "former Deputy Prime Minister has been leading an insurrection for months ignoring the rule of law rejecting charges against him filed by The Attorney Generals Office,,, (an independent agency incidentally).. threatening a PM before she became caretaker PM..and continually harassing and denigrating her night after night and encouraging others to do so as well... but that's all okay..? Okay then game on... this is far from over.. I too believe that the judicial coup is coming..but only history will tell us if it was legitimate or not...neither you or I can predict that...not here...cheers! Yeah and remember the head of the EC Election Commission (EC) drew laughter from reporters after suggesting in a condescending tone that a meeting with her might only be possible if it was arranged at a certain hotel where her opponents claim she had an as-yet-unproven extramarital affair...SO yeah there is a lotta class on both sides of this...

There you go, to hell with the people as long as it is legal.

I too believe that the judicial coup is coming..but only history will tell us if it was legitimate or not

What about thinking of the people for a change.

It is your kind of thinking that will bring on civil war.

You are not alone in that attitude. I may not be Thai but I love Thailand and the people in it. I care about their welfare. It would be nice to have a government that cared for them to.

Unfortunately we have one that doesn't but in your eyes that is OK it is legal.

Army chief says he will not tolerate separatism

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said today (Friday) he would not tolerate attempts by anybody or any group of people to carve out the Thai territory to set up a separate state from the kingdom.

He labelled the people who advocated armed rebellion and separatism as “saliva rebels” when asked by a reporter about cartaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan’s recent remark about civilians getting armed and breaking up the country to form a separate state.

Commenting on a incident last week in Phayao province where some 8,000 volunteers known as village police staged a parade carrying red flags which was attended by several Pheu Thai party members, General Prayuth said he had ordered an investigation into the incident and warned authorities concerned not to allow such a parade to be repeated.

The army chief said he preferred to see protest leader Suthep Thuagsuban and caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to enter into negotiations, adding that preconditions set by the rival parties in the conflict were normal and could be worked out later on.

He condemned the increasing use of M79 grenades in attacks mostly against protesters and warned that the perpetrators would face severe punishment if caught.

Asked about the possibility of a coup, the army chief said that the coup was outdated, adding, however, he could not promise for sure whether there will be a coup or not in the future.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-says-will-tolerate-separatism/

-- Thai PBS 2014-02-28

The General has and continues to show more leadership qualities and integrity than all the politicians put together.

He acts in a restrained manner commensurate with someone of his very senior military rank. Moreover, he seems to have understood the oath he swore and the meaning of the word oath.

Thailand is very lucky to have someone of this caliber in command of the army at a very difficult time.

Well if it was to come down to an interim non political committee to run the country and remove errors from the constitution he would get my vote as the man to head it.

He shows tremendous restraint already in not going after the red shirt leaders calling for a division in the country two different Nations. He knows that he has every rite to do it legally but he also realizes it would just cause more trouble and the ones calling for it are just useless mouth pieces. Thaksin could replace them easily enough.

Having been here through the last coup and seeing where things are heading and what is likely to come once the Red shirt's come to town....

If none are willing to compromise ... I'm not sure how else this can end?

But have to believe that even a coup would be better than PRDC and Red mobs clashing in the streets killing each other and who ever else gets in the way..

So agree with the general that a coup is definitely not legal or the right thing.... But the question I am starting to ask, is it better than the alternative?

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Actually he did not go so far as to say not the right thing to do.

what he said was

"But I admit that a coup is not right legally. Anyway, all coups were aimed to end the situation,"

I do not have that much knowledge of most of them other than the 2006 but it seems to me that is what the 2006 was about. To end the situation. So far the only movement we have seen to end the situation was Suthep agreeing to meet Yingluck on Television.

That in it's self sounds good but the questions would be limited. In the long run of no value.

Now if the questions were unlimited I would like to see Suthep face off against Yingluck and a assistant of her choice. It would bed extremely enlightening for the country to see which one would answer the questions.

Also keep it to the current administration. To bring up past incidents would just turn it into a mud slinging contest.

PM vows to die in the battlefield to protect democracy

BANGKOK: pp Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today she was willing to die in the battlefield to defend democracy rather than letting anybody to destroy democracy.

On her Facebook page, Ms Yingluck posted the following message: “In the capacity as the defence minister or as a soldier who has to perform his duty to the last minute, the soldier must die in the battlefield. Today in my capacity as the defender of democracy, I prefer to die in the battlefield of democracy rather than letting somebody else to destroy our democracy.”

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-vows-die-battlefield-protect-democracy/

-- Thai PBS 2014-02-28

On Facebook with a file folder of her standing at a podium.

she can't even face the people she is sucking in. The week is over did she explain why the farmers were not paid?

Yingluck is a hero, showing strength, leadership and standing up for democracy in the face of obnoxious bullying by some very cowardly people.

Suthep is a corrupt, boneheaded bully with murder charges hanging over his head... and yet, bizarrely enough and to their utter shame, we have a vocal group of posters on this forum supporting this scumbag. Suthep is worthless, he is just interested in a power grab at all costs.

Moreover, her statement makes total sense and yet is immediately ridiculed by the TV froth at the mouth brigade.

Preposterous only begins to show the ridiculousness of moonao's statement.

You have been sucked in moonao only post's that nonsense to get a response.

PM vows to die in the battlefield to protect Thai version of democracy

Any chance of changing that to Thaksin version of Democracy.

I think you speak ill of to many Thai's. Let us not forget they were the one's who started this current situation in retaliation of Thaksin Democracy.

Get democracy upright?

Her own ministers and party members clapped their hands for joy, on the stage, after they have heard of the massacre in Trat.

From what democracy is she talking about?

I was kind of wondering if she dies on the battlefield will it be on the Democracy side or the Thaksin Shinawatra side.

I suspect the Thaksin Shinawatra side.

All she has done to straighten out this mess is demand the protestors stop. Not one bit of corruption has been stopped.

No improvement in the Education system even though the last two ministers said it needed a complete overhaul.

Same election laws allowing vote buying and ballots to be switched along with villagers being watched to make sure they vote for who gave them the money.

http://www.chiangmaifest.com/cmf2014/index.php/2013-12-26-03-15-45

I don't know about all of the routes but I do know from a list I received at the La Meridian at 11:45 13:45 15:45 17:45 19:45 I noticed that one schedule did not have them on it at all. Also I tried once to get the 11:45 but they had left already. I arrived there at 11:40. when you get there they have an information desk with the schedules. My wife threw mine out.

I think you are not the only ones having problems connecting with international websites. It has been mentioned lately by others. I can't get on the Guardian website since last week, and BBC is hit and miss. I blame Suthep.

I have no problem with them. I have a windows 7 and true for a provider.

Aren't they a bit young for that?

Possibly, lol.

They do how ever have a lot of outside groups for many different interests.

I'd buy her a drink anytime.

And it is actually good to keep the seasonal haze issue on the agenda. What I'm noticing this year is that officials (not just this visit) are paying attention to it *before* it actually kicks off, not a week or two after.

Either way it's much more fruitful a cause than the silliness in Bangkok.

So good work!

Well it may be more fruitful than the silliness in Bangkok but that will end and with Yingluck on the job here are problem won't end. Could get worse she might turn it over to Chalerm.

Remember the time she was here and going to have every thing reforested in three months. Did you buy her a drink before or after that statement?

This time make it a double one for her and one for Chalerm her trusty right arm.

Yes I have a problem with drivers who slow down for me when I am crossing the street and have already adjusted to the speed they were going.

As for the pictures what's the problem?

All smoke and mirrors ... wonder what the true purpose [and secret meetings] entailed.

Possibly looking for a place to train the 600,000 recruits her red shirt contingent is talking about setting up to protect her from the big bad wolf Justice.

There is an absolute frenzy of shop house construction going on,everywhere. There are literally 1000's of old shop houses vacant and an equal number under construction or ready to rent/buy. Due to their size, you are very limited on how you can utilise the space. How can there possibly be a financial return now, or in the future? Money laundering is a distinct possibility for some.

Would love to see official figures if there are such a thing.

I have a friend who knows some thing about money laundering. He figures there is an awful lot of it going on here in Thailand.

I thought the states were getting on Thailand's case about that a while back.

Uhmm...what? I admit I'm not an expert on money laundering, but what little I learned from my time in Central America is that basic money laundering involves cash businesses--casinos, movie theaters, bars, laundromats, etc. Property purchases usually leave a paper trail, which money launderers hate.

But, as stated, I'm not an expert. Did your friend explain how the restrictive process for foreigner's owning property in Thailand was used in money laundering?

No he did not go in to detail about it. I did not bother to ask him either as it made a lot of sense to me. Paper trails in Thailand are easily covered up and I believe the states has been accusing Thailand of large chunks of money laundering as recently as 6 months ago.

Wow so glad I am in Pattaya, as I would have little desire to live in Thaksinland.

I wonder what all the upcountry farangs are thinking right now.....

I was just wondering if Thaksin has been in communication with North Korea yet on how to run a poor country.

Nice pic of the Brownshirts on the stage - it says so much.

If Suthep had more than a few brain pixels to rub together (but of course, as little more than the tool of his masters, he doesn't require those) he'd be able to grasp the hypocrisy in his words.

And that's yet another person he's threatened to have killed. That's quite a list he's lined up for eradication over the past few months.

The poster was later removed by the police and investigation was ordered to find out the people responsible for putting up the poster.

Tell us O wise and all seeing all seeing master what country is going to send the police in? The Thailand police can't even catch a pick pocket when his hand is in their pocket.

Also are you going to continue to see how dumb a post you can put up? Are you expecting a prize or some thing.

To be honest with you I think you are a fake. You know Yingluck and the rest of her clan are justifiably on their way out and you just like the attention.

Maybe if you were a little nicer to the wife she would give you more attention.

I always get a chuckle out of the author of this piece taking the high road considering her own convictions in the past.. and she may be correct in assuming the position... that many here and from outside have already accepted... that a judicial coup is most likely the outcome...since that was the strategy (IMHO) from the start....halt and oppress... obstruct and harass... and buy the time needed to get all the "good people" on board...and then totally dismantle it from "the inside" one thing for sure... it is history repeating itself for the umpteenth time...and not much will change within the society until the knowledge base and education inadequacies are addressed...but they at least are in motion... unless the "good people" totally obstruct Internet usage and information Thailand will slowly but surely be able to take a more balanced path into the future..to do so will be slow painful process...and the generations coming up must learn and read... but it will become more transparent going forward... You can only hide in things in the dark for so long...

Well I agree with you on what you say but there is a time factor to be figured in. the Pendulum never swings to one side and stays there. When it is finally released it will swing far to the opposite side. It will take a generation to come to a middle point. As you say education inadequacies must improve. They should be good enough that no one would wish to go to an outside collage unless it was as prestigious as Yale , Harvard or Eton. Ones in that class and there is no reason Thailand can not achieve collages with an international reputation for education.

When I say a generation I point to the farmers. They are complaining of not receiving their money. They are forming demonstrations of their own to get their money. But they will not unite with another group trying to get the same justice for all sectors of society. When and if they get there money they will still vote for a Shinawatra.

Come on, thats not fair. We all know she couldnt win a debate with a cucumber.

At least allow her to have a teleprompter, assistants and to delegate the actual answering of questions.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Yingluck already declined.

To be technical about it. I don't think she declined.

I think her handlers did.

Can you blame them.

As for limits on what is talked about. I think that is standard practice around the world. Even with pre scripted answers Yingluck would get ripped to shreds.

Well I don't come from England and am not sure what all that has to do with the Thai government stopping the health care plan for foreigners who come from the western countries.

How ever I was talking with a friend yesterday and she said she had a friend in a motor bike accidence that was fully covered by the insurance she had bought at Nakornping Hospital. I had seen her friend Saturday so the accident must have been on Sunday or Monday. I asked if she was sure that her friend had not gone to Hong Dang and she said yes she was sure she had gone to Nakornping Hospital.

I think it is as the moderator said it takes a while fo0r all the government to understand what they are supposed to be doing. Kind of like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

rubbish. once again you don't know what you are talking about. nobody would be covered for a motorbike accident under the government health care plan. if a motorcycle rider is in an accident and is uninsured/under-insured then he/she is totally responsible for the accident unless the other party was responsible and had 3rd party coverage. government health care plans do not cover vehicle accidents.

Rubbish you don't know what you are talking about. Were you around the corner listening to her. I was just reporting what a friend told me and wondering what all the nonsense about other countries had to do with Thailand. I noticed that went over your head.

I do believe and am posting that it will take time for the whole thing to be in affect at all Government hospitals or not in affect. When it comes to a government decision I am never for sure until it has proved it's self out.

Ketchup on pizza?

Who the hell puts ketchup on a Pizza ?? VERY WEIRD and I dont think anyone would expect a Pizzeria to have a bottle of ketchup on the table or even in the shop. LOL

the first time i saw anyone do that was in Romania. and everyone in Romania puts ketchup on their pizza which is weird.

Not if you like Ketchup and dislike Pizza.

There is an absolute frenzy of shop house construction going on,everywhere. There are literally 1000's of old shop houses vacant and an equal number under construction or ready to rent/buy. Due to their size, you are very limited on how you can utilise the space. How can there possibly be a financial return now, or in the future? Money laundering is a distinct possibility for some.

Would love to see official figures if there are such a thing.

I have a friend who knows some thing about money laundering. He figures there is an awful lot of it going on here in Thailand.

I thought the states were getting on Thailand's case about that a while back.

As long as the people or companies who own the property are financially sound it won't actually lead to a crash of any kind. They'll just keep sitting on it without appreciably lowering prices.

There may be over supply now but there was oversupply too last year and the year before that, probably going back quite a while.

I wish I was wrong though, I would love a nice crash in prices so I could actually buy something for a good price..

Well it may not be a popular idea but I think we would see a lot less building if there was property tax's. It is one thing to pay tax on an empty lot. But one with an expensive building sitting on it drawing no income is another thing. Even just one home on it no builder likes to keep paying after the building is done.