Ozymandias

What a funny thread, so some think its all perfectly normal for someone with more debt than assets to have a massive Loan greater than the asset Value, a son thats up for land dodgy dealing and a miraculous 280 million ... thats about 5 million £ just hanging around.

If you don't think the father has anything to do with the son or this isnt worth looking seriously and deeply into in light of who Suthep is, his background and his current demands and claims vs others you must be a total either that or

I am sure any Thai with no assets like Suthep could go to the bank and borrow 200 million Baht for unspecified reasons.

Either he would need to know the bank director and give him some money, or he has assets that are undeclared and the bank director knows about.

Oh wait, but then that would be corruption, wouldn't it?

It's not Suthep that is accused of buying the land. It is his adult son. It's only dependents that are included on asset declarations.

That's funny. It's the same technique that Thaksin used to cover up hs own corrupt practices, isn't it? If this is true (and Suthep is hardly known for his principles and clean hands) then it really should bring the scoundrel down. Then again, this is Thailand, where the rich and powerful can literally get away with murder and the police hassle motorbike riders for not wearing helmets, whilst BMWs and Mercedes speed by, the drivers on thier i-Phones.

It can actually be quite sickening sometimes, can't it?

They're desperate to divert our attention from all their own graft, loss of face and ineptitude. Pathetic PTP.

Would you similarly paint Suthep's leadership of the current anti-corruption protests as desperation too divert our attention away from his 25 year plus history of corruption - palm oil share scandal, Phuket land scandal, etc?

Or should your avatar have two faces?

on a hindsight - her mistake was resigning and dissolving parliament, believing, that it would diffuse situation and that opposition will stick to their word. However, Democrats decided not to contest an election and thus pulling all their power behind suthep. She had a chance to use police and military to remove protesters from the streets, prevent bangkok shutdown and protection for polling stations, voting papers and boxes.

still, it's not an end for her - she will be elected pm for the second term

Crazy isn't it ??? if then she is elected the courts will most likely take her out with most of the PTP. So what happens then ????

Waste of public money Thailand is short of, What will Issan do when this lot is out ???? who will they vote for the ghosts ???

Unless and until an alternative is provided to the benefits rural northerners get from the PTP being in power, they will continue to vote for it or whatever the next incarnation is. Getting rid of Thaksin & Yingluck will not change that. And if the Democrats do not fill the vacuum created by their disappearance (if indeed that happens) then they will not gain legitimate power again and neither do they deserve to.

Long term, the country needs to cleanse itself of the corrupt and self-serving Dems & Thaksinite parties and find a third way - hopefully younger politicians who are more principled and don't view democracy as a route to personal enrichment.

Abhisit: Coward, not interested in reform when he held the reigns of the government three short years ago. Still as of today has not given a viable plan to reform Thailand. Did not perform his duty as a minister, now as a citizen.

Suthep: Coward, not interested in reform when he held the reigns of the government three years ago. Has brought Bangkok to her knees outside of government when his duty as an elected official was to serve the people who elected him. The worst kind of hypocrite there is.

Thaksin: COWARD in capital letters. Ran away from a slap on the wrist jail sentence. He would not have served a day of that time for unspeakable crimes against Thailand. Sits abroad with his wounded ego trying to destroy that which he claime to love.

A Sad day for Thailand.

Balanced but vitriolic. I agree with everything you have written here, and I like your style.

If this lot ever make it as far as Bangkok, it will be to demand free places at the Baan Bangkae Home for the Aged.

<<<<Flaming comments edited out>>>>. They look old because they are, they worked their lives outdoors, not in air con offices. Probably don't have nice soft hands too. Real people, not plastic, latest i phone celebs.

............too much thai whisky!!

Too much snobbery & bigotry.

Many seem to be shouting war and trying to ignite one. All caused by one single person for greed and desire of greatness. 64 years old and gathered billions. Still it's not enough. How does he think he can return to Thailand and live? Become president of the north? It will not happen.

One really has to be a blind fool to write such rubbish. So you are against democracy?! Go back to your home country, Thailand does not need your kinds of expats!

I am an expat and am severely embarrassed whenever these poorly informed posters heap the blame on one individual. Please dig deeper before you make such laughably shallow and poorly researched claims.

This is a proxy war. Once you understand who the players are hiding in the shadows, you will know that this is ONLY about power and nothing else. Side A is every bit as ruthless, corrupt and murderous as side B. Please educate yourself Eric before you post again, because you just come across as somebody suckered by propaganda, which comes from both ends of the political spectrum. Don't be that sucker.

............shall we be Shinawatra suckers instead then??

Read my post again. As you should have the first time around. Or perhaps you are not as literate as you think.

UDD leader, Ko Tee.

Quoted as saying "I want there to be lots of violence to put an end to all this" and "I'm bored by speeches. It's time to clean the country, to get rid of the elite, all of them."

UDD principle #3 - To promote non-violence as our modus operandi for all activities.

He is supposed to set the example for his supporters as a leader yet he doesn't even adhere to his own principles.

​A lot of votes for the PTP will be out of fear.

You were doing fine until your last sentence. The people who voted for the PTP last time will vote for them again (minus the farmers who have suffered from the rice pledging scheme/scam). They didn't do so last time out of fear and they won't this time. Those who are anti-PTP have the perfect excuse not to vote in BKK constituencies. I imagine that were all the polling stations open, the PTP popular vote would be slightly down on last time, given abstentions due to the Dems boycott and political deadlock. However, the PTP would still have a majority of seats.

However, we all know the election results will be annulled anyway, so this is all academic.

Another Khaosod winner. One side of the story - period. That's the Khaosod motto. And what a story. Pheu Thai's chairman has accused the EC of a conspiracy. It is an institution empowered by the Constitution Court. Both bodies have been heavily criticized by Pheu Thai, but now we have this blatant accusation. If Khaosod were a legitimate news body, they would ask why. They would ask the chairman what is his proof. Khaosod is the National Enquirer of the journalistic world. And Pheu Thai's latest feeble attempt to ascribe blame to everyone but themselves remains unabated.

This is ironic, as you make no mention of such outlets as Blue Sky and ASTV, which propagandize to the same degree, but for the other side. So, your post does not meet the standards you yourself demand of others.

Although, admittedly, this is not a journalistic report.

It is very clear to me and must also be to Charupong and the rest of the government that the election will be annulled under Section 108 of the constitution.

Section 108 "...and such election day must be the same throughout the Kingdom."

There was never a hope for the results to stand and the government's decision to spend B3.8bn on it when it is too broke to pay B130bn to farmers for rice it has already purchased and has been delivered is extraordinary. It is perfectly fair for the government to argue that this situation has been brought about by disruptions caused by the PDRC but that was already the situation at the time the government attended a meeting with the EC and insisted that the polls should go ahead in the full knowledge they will be annulled, if contested, and a petition was lodged with the Constitutional Court beforehand.

What cannot be blamed on the government's opponents is Yingluck's involvement or failure to prevent the rice pledging scandal. If she is red carded for that and forced to step down from her caretaker role, she and the government will only have themselves to blame.

I agree. But then there will be a fresh election that the Democrats are woefully unlikely to win, again. What would be nice - whichever shade of government is in place the next time around - is if all parties could remember that they are adults and for the good of their country negotiate reforms that are satisfactory for both sides. If this is NOT about which elite has the power (oops! we all know it is) then they will put stability first and the road to civil war will well and truly be closed off.

If the two sides do not do the above, then they are equally to blame for what becomes of their country. My pity will be for the mindless red and yellow drones, but my deepest sympathies for those in between who can't make them see sense. They will be the ones sifting through the ashes wondering at the stupidity of it all.

"Their goal is to nullify this election," Mr. Jarupong Ruengsuwan told reporters, "So be it ... No matter what the EC is doing, let them do it. It′s all a conspiracy"

Rattling a tin cup on the cell bars.

It's a conspiracy in itself to talk about conspiracies tis it not? Let's not speculate about speculation, or don't be too paranoid about rampant paranoia.

I'm not paranoid. But you all think I am, don't you? Don't you?

In 2010 it was very close of starting a civil war. Government buildings already were burning all over the place but for some unknown reason it did not escalate beyond that. This time we might not be so lucky.

“I want there to be lots of violence to put an end to all this,” he said. “I’m bored by speeches. It’s time to clean the country, to get rid of the elite, all of them.”

That uttered from the mouth of a red shirt "leader"

Just so you know who's hoping for bloodshed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/10606562/Thai-red-shirts-leader-says-Its-time-to-get-rid-of-the-elite.html

Bloodshed could benefit both sides. Both sides are armed. There is no 'good' side here and if you take sides you need to think again. War benefits whichever side wins.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a Thai, Party leader, with an inspiration to become PM.

God help us.

Politician or no politician, I'd like to see how calm you remain the next time you go to vote and somebody blows a whistle into your ear (then punches you). I guess as you're on the side of the 'peaceful' protest, you would probably just stand Buddha-like and let him do as he liked?

Do you ever have a sympathetic word for anybody not on your particular side of the fence?

And by the way it's 'ASPIRATION' not 'inspiration'. Your knee-jerk posts should at least be literate.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a Thai, Party leader, with an inspiration to become PM.

God help us.

Politician or no politician, I'd like to see how calm you remain the next time you go to vote and somebody blows a whistle into your ear (then punches you). I guess as you're on the side of the 'peaceful' protest, you would probably just stand Buddha-like and let him do as he liked?

Do you ever have a sympathetic word for anybody not on your particular side of the fence?

People on Suthep's side tell me they are winning, but people on TV say no. Certainly, if anti protestors are able to be assassinated without police reactions, other than trying to find out who are supporting the anti protestors,,then the anti protestors can't be winning. No need for some on TV to call on the army to murder them as well. Corruption wins!

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Does this actually make any sense to you? I have re-read it twice and you need to proofread more carefully - or use the edit facility. It's a jumble.

Short footage from mobile of the incident. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxmrOFKNyXg

Extremely difficult to tell what's going on from this, but thanks for trying!

Another one to bite the dust.....many more to come.

Please, do not forget to vote for PTP on Sunday

You are either incredibly naive or disingenuous if you are implying that this kind of nefarious nest-building corruption is limited to one particular party. Have you never read Suthep's back history (Dems) or Banhaan Silp-Archa's (Chart Thai Pattana)? They have consistently used politics as a tool to extend their influence and increase their bank balances and are an absolute disgrace to the concept of politicians as public servants. The very fact that Suthep is leading a movement centred on fighting corruption is typical of the hypocrisy that permeates this country's political culture.

By supporting one lot of vultures over another, you legitimise the practice of corruption itself. If you understand this and continue these kinds of posts, then you are basically saying 'but these are MY vultures'.

"Tomorrow, I won't go to exercise my voting right because this election is not unconstitutional"

"NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL"

Heh heh - I hope that's NOT a typo!

ozzy.. are you sure about this statement? Which parties are you talking about?

"which is that Thaksin-affiliated parties have rendered coalitions largely unnecessary."

In the 2011 election, the PTP DID get an absolute majority - 265 of 500 seats. This meant that the PTP did not need to form a coalition, of course.

Obviously, the popular vote (based on 75% turnout) did not return an absolute majority (48% of the vote - so almost) but it is SEATS that decide whether or not the majority is absolute, just as in the UK system.

There is no sign (as of yet) that the trend will be for PTP or whatever replaces it to gain a majority of seats - although for the sake of democracy, I hope that the trend does not continue personally.

More protestors getting shot at by the barbaric Shinawatras.

This time they caught the scum who did it. Let's see who he works for now. If he really is affiliated with the reds or the Shinawatras, I would really like to see how the pro Shinawatras are going to spin this.

Erm...can you read the article again? The 'barbaric Shinawatras'? They weren't there.

Does this give me licence to call the beating up & mugging of a former protester yesterday as evidence of the 'barbaric Suthep'? No, it doesn't. Because I'm not an idiot and I don't make ridiculous and transparently knee-jerk statements.

Have you ever posted anything logical here? If so, I don't remember it. You once posted 'wrong is wrong'. Can you demonstrate this by expressing outrage at any violence or illegal act perpetrated by the PCAD guards or other 'peaceful' protesters? Until you do, reasonable posters will just presume you're what you appear to be: a blinkered bigot frothing at the mouth and spouting off with little if any self-awareness or sense of fairness.

No, they're too cowardly to take to the streets like their opposition in a peaceful demonstration. That is why they rent mobs & pay people to do violent acts. Thaksin has hired assassins time & again, well documented.

Wow - that's TWO blatantly pro-BKK elite posters unable to a) read the post they are supposedly responding to & control the rabid brainlessness of their supposed 'commentary'. When you've calmled down and actually ANALYSED the reports, you will find out that the evidence suggests that this was an undercover cop whose gun went off accidentally after he was 'discovered' and who was then beaten to within an inch of his life by the peaceful protesters.

But of course, you'll pretty it up or just conveiniently ignore it, as it doesn't sit well with 'wrong is wrong'.

True morality is not selective. You either accept that violence is wrong or you don't.

Anything else is known by us outside your rabid nonsensical rants as HYPOCRISY.

No negotiation needed...just move them on, preferably straight to jail if they resist

Zich Heil heir Furer!!!

I think this is a bit extreme, not to mention childish. Most protesters, if not all, have broken the law. If all protesters (red, yellow, whatever) operating outside the law i.e. blocking entry to polling stations, occupying govt buildings, burning property, tyres etc. faced prison terms when caught, then guess what? We might have (usually) law-abiding and respectful demonstrations a la developed countries.

But no, this is lawless (or more accurately enforcement less) Thailand.

he did not just protest though, he tried to prevent Thai citizens from voting, which is a democratic right. A right that cannot and should not be taken away by anyone.

Therefore don't look for any sympathy from me, as he quite clearly doesn't deserve any.

The only criticism here is that he should have been arrested (by the police) and be tried for violating the law instead of being shot dead.

No one expects your sympathy knowing where it lies.

Whatever the case, preventing someone from voting is a far cry from being a 'terrorist'. People like to use that word a lot. They either don't know what a terrorist is or are deliberately misusing the word.

This was never about upholding the law. This was cold blooded murder. Simple as that.

I agree. Every bit as much as I agree that there were 90 cold blooded murders in 2010. I'm assuming you don't think that every one of the 90 was carrying a kalashnikov. They were every bit as innocent (possibly more so) than today's victim.

Violence is ugly and never justified, no matter what your opinion of the two sides in this conflict. But to those who express shock on this forum, I can only assume that you either don't read the papers, are being disingenuous or have very little idea of the true nature of the country you are in. visit nationmaster.com and you will quickly discover that Thailand has the 3rd highest rate of gun murders in the country. Despite the Amazing Thailand promotions and The Land of Smiles image, Thailand, despite being a wonderful country, is unfortunately populated by people (many in political office) who routinely settle scores by attacking and/or murdering others. This was seen vividly in 1973, 1976 and 1992, but away from the cameras happens all the time.

One thing you learn once we've been here for a few years and lost the roe-tinted specs is to never, ever, truly upset a Thai person unless you have a swift exit available. Jai yen yen has a flip-side: if you bottle things up, sooner or later the pressure will force an explosion.

I suppose it's the same with politics: don't mess with people's freedoms unless you're willing to suffer the rage of others. Which, of course, does not make it right. But it is as much an aspect of Thailand as the smiles and the wais, sadly.