8 minutes ago, Cashboy said:

Living in Thailand; I think the Junta is doing a reasonably good job (better than Thaksin or Yingluck) for the majority and certainly less priviliged in Thailand.

Yet the income equality widen, corruption perception index worsen and competitive ranking dive. Let’s not even start with the increase human right abuses and number of people held for committing 112. 

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

I add... you say stop authoritarianism, so having the police under his control, doing his bidding, and making the police frightened, and using chalerm to frighten society in many ways him is stopping authoritarianism?  

There are 2 faces of authoritarianism. Thaksin was an electoral authoritarian while the military staged a coup and imposed harsh authoritarian methods to subdue the populace and laid out legislative activities to ensure that power is prolonged and entrenched with the military. This is a deepening of authoritarianism with no end in sight as long as the constitution remain unchallenged. You can make up your mind which is more damaging and dangerous to Thai society, image and possibly economics. 

12 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 As always el, when you can't reply you flood your response with diversion etc.

 

Re the paymaster and democracy, your comment (which I doubt is accurate) is really no different to mine'.  And your comment doesn't change the fact he didn't support the building of democracy, in fact he destroyed it and his sister did the same. 

 

 

Every point I made was to educate you but it’s fully in vain and beyond my honorable attempt. 

8 minutes ago, scorecard said:

"...Thaksin is much needed to impede militarism authoritarianism ..."

 

If you are suggesting that thakins' goal is to stop miltiarism / authororitarianism then you get the annual award for silliest / most inaccurate / most divisive  / most ironic comment.

 

In terms of democracy he's commented several times that democracy was not his goal etc.  

I guessed you really out of touch with reality and acting silly. The whole election campaigning was about anti militarism against pro democracy. The military dictating politics were all written in the charter, 20 years strategy plan that laid serious charges to those opposing, their refusal to cancel the law on extra judiciary detention and retaining the same ministers in Interior and Defence. You do need a new pair of bifocal. 

Nice try on Thaksin quote and taking it out of context. Let me put the whole comment and let other decide. 

“Democracy is a good and beautiful thing, but it’s not the ultimate goal as far as administering the country is concerned,” he said. “Democracy is just a tool, not our goal. The goal is to give people a good lifestyle, happiness and national progress.” 

I am sure the "watchgate" among the 5,000 complaints and seating in the No Action File together with others from families, cronies and aligned politicians. 

Most trusted amongst a basket of deplorables. Laughable and sad. 

6 hours ago, leeneeds said:

Should be retired!

Mahathir is 94. Biden 76 and Bernie 77. Still around. 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

A survey by ruling coalition partner Democrat Party on the production and price of agricultural products found that the price of rubber has seen a sharp decline.

Likely first sign of bias serving their own constituent needs. Dem and rubber farmers being focused while rice and others farmers probably come come in second. 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The way he shaped up his Cabinet is unhealthily traditional.

Will likely to see the ministries for Agriculture, Commerce, Education and Finance struggle to cooperate and work together when staffed with politicians from 3 different parties and each party has their own agenda on serving their support bases.  

4 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Sorry not clear.

 

Thammanat go jail for heroin.

 

Seriphisut complain about him yesterday. I put the link to show that he not “the angel” also. 

 

They are are both in the parliament.

 

Tanatorn never do anything bad before. Only MAYBE do a document a little bit late. Not the criminal guy at all. He the good, honest, polite guy. MAYBE use his car to deive anti junta friend home.

But Tanatorn get cancel, but this two guy, and many other guy like mafia, no problem to stay in parliament.

I just try to say it is not fairness.

 

Hope you understand now how I mean it.

Reading the link you provided, Seriphisut seem a uncompromising cop that went after untouchable mafia leaders, gambling dens and tried to reform the police. Seem a good stand-out cop; not how you portrayed him. Comparing with that scum Thammanas is like oil and water. Don't you think so? 

1 hour ago, seajae said:

yep, he did it the same way ptp and thaksin have done, nothing new here, it happens with every govt that gets in, pity they all just take care of themselves and not the people

Glaring difference is that Thaksin was an elected representative and he answered to the people if his cabinet don't performed. Being a non elected PM, Prayut does not have the pressure of accountability and if his cabinet fail, he may not need to face the people and still has a fall-back plan relaying on the appointed upper house to get him re-elected. He has still not pick up courage to join PPRP.   

5 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

I tried to find more about his conviction.

Curious he doesn't show in any searches in Thailand nor (with & without VPN) in Australia, especially with regard to Australia drug conviction and prison to which he admits did occur.

Did he use a different name there?

The only place I find his name "Thammanas Phromphao" is a search in Thai Visa Google but only in connection with his recent appointment as deputy agriculture minister. Yet, he was described as "a key figure in the coalition leading Phalang Pracharat Party."

He is known to have change his name few times. Bad characters normally do that. He was evicted from Australia as an undesirable because of the suspicion that he was involved in drug trafficking. 

6 minutes ago, nickstav said:

"...not convicted technically", but served 8 months in jail? How did that happen???

He was held for 8 months awaiting trial according to source. 

14 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

If he has been convicted and served jail for a drugs related charge shouldn't that automatically disqualify him? Anyone here know the rules related to this?

The legibility is spelled out distinctively in the Constitution Section 101. Convicted felony is illegible. in his defence, he said he was acquitted twice for his drug case in Australia and murder of a gay man in Thailand and thus not convicted technically. Still he should not be appointed on ethical reasons. He was in the blacklist of influential people drawn up by the junta not long ago. It is a big bad mistake for Prayut to appoint him. It just smear and damage the image of the already battered cabinet as he is a bad bad character. 

A shaky coalition no doubt. Frictions will come from the 12 small and micro small parties that were squeezed out of the ministerial positions. Only 6 medium size parties and former NCPO ministers have positions. The government will be busy dispensing money for the populist policies that they campaigned. With the economy facing enormous headwinds, revenues will be hard to come by and support these policies. They will have to tax and that will affect the middle income segment that supported the junta and they will not be too happy with increasing tax. 

The Dem will not be happy that they didn’t secure the Finance portfolio which they need to activate their economic package to win back support for next election. They practically end up pretty bad to agreeing to the coalition. BJT will be relatively pleased and so is CTP who will be happy to pick up scraps. 

11 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I didn't know that the government was responsible for finding new markets.  All those Thai folks selling rice must be dumber than I thought.  

The Commerce Ministry through the Department of Foreign Trade organized trade delegation from both the public and private sectors to conduct trade negotiations, expand and find new markets. This is a normal and standard practice of ministries to help the private sector in all countries.

Lots to blame on the loss 5 years of incompetency governance and lack of efforts by the commerce and agriculture ministries to find new markets for rice. Too much dependent on our traditional markets while India expanded their markets in the middle east, Africa and into Europe. The previous junta has been seating on their hinds for too long and it has now come back to haunt their lack of marketing efforts.  

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut will also double as Defence Minister,

Approval and procurement process for military toys smoothed out and will continue unabated. How appropriate for misappropriation.     

7 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

More cries from the north... shame they didn't have the sense to vote Prayut out !

Som nam na

With the Agriculture ministry under the Dem's hand, the rubber farmers will be their main focus as they shored up their support base in the South. Som nam na indeed.  

Thailand’s deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon flies 100km in US$37 million police jet,

South China Morning Post

Another day of shame for Thailand international image. 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"It's all about enforcement," he said. 

What exactly are the rules regarding zebra crossing? What about pedestrians who don't use zebra crossing? What are those rules. Anyone?