Eric Loh

5 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

most of the companies that I see in Mataput appear to be Chinese and Japanese Thai joint ventures, such as the Siam Japan Steel Company.  I think that the Thais have it covered.  We underestimate the solidarity of the South East Asian countries at our (the west's) peril.  

I do get your point about ASEAN and their free trade AFTA agreement. Investments in ASEAN will get the benefits of no tariffs and a 636 million customers. However each countries will also want FDI to provide employment and new technologies. Thailand will have to find the type of investments that will fit well in their economic strategy and find ways to attract them to invest. Maybe automobile where Thailand has a good head start and supporting suppliers network and resources which other ASEAN countries may not have that eco-system. That's why the talent and vision of the leaders will be put in question. Certainly we can't find that in generals like Prayut and Prawit. 

3 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Is that your economic analysis or your political analysis? In either case the content is clearly not your writing style, again the deliberate construct of others for a purpose. 

 

 

You don’t read well. It’s not my analysis but the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Your full unadulterated adoration of the junta in full display. 

21 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I live slap bang in the new EEC.  if appearances are anything to go by, the  future looks very bright indeed.  The government are developing the EEC into the Thai equivalent of Silicon Valley and the signs of that transformation are everywhere, not least in the new road constructions going on, the development of U Tapao Airport and the Mataput Industrial complex.  

You can build the infrastructure and that's the relatively easy part but can you attract the investments which will factor in political stability as key component of their investment decision. Not withstanding that you need competent and talented ministers and bureaucrats to come up with a enticing package to attract big corporations to invest. There are lots of competitions in the region including the China's Greater Bay Area which will be Asia's silicon valley and countries in the region building their own investment hubs. All eyeing and laying the red carpets for the precious FDI. 

What matters are what the Thais think of their economy. According to the Thai Chamber of Commerce, half of Thais surveyed felt that the current economic situation is poor and heading in the wrong direction. Biggest concern is political anxiety that impacts the people and investors' confidence. The coming election is no panacea erasing this anxiety with the constitution and the 20 years strategy locked and handicap any new confidence of good policies. The likely Parliament gridlock and the dire coup warning by the Army Chief add to the political uncertainty and anxiety. Thais feel that the economy is not equally distributed and doesn't match the cost of living. Last year consumer confidence index dropped and most felt that the economy is bad and getting worse. All is not well with the economy last 5 years and looking forward don't seem to see any silver lining. More must be done to erase the political anxiety starting with controlling the power of the military. Then possible some hope. 

Reasons for Prayut not to take part in the debate and making a fool of himself are flying in thick and fast. 

Today, the Palang Pracharat party’s deputy leader Natthaphol Teepsuwan said he was confident that the current prime minister would participate in the debates, but the party would like to consult with the Election Commission first to ensure there would not be any legal issues if he were to do so.

The party’s spokesman, Mr. Kobsak Pootrakul, added that, as many people appear to want to find fault, his party wanted to make sure that it would be legal for a serving prime minister to help campaign for the party’s candidates.

He may do what he do best to exercise his article 44 to ban the debate reasoning it will cause confusion to the general public. 

36 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Somchai taxi at top of Soi 5 was giving evens on a coup befor end of May

Will be hard for those imbeciles to manufacture reasons for a coup. The reds and yellows are done and have wised up taking to the streets. 

11 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Oh you mean those who have deliberately slept through the reasons for the last coup... criminal dereliction of duty comes to mind.

Criminal dereliction of duty comes to my mind of this junta seizing power and their governance including a few blatant watchable cases.  

3 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Ohh your awake el, but sadly not the point, your usual...

Sorry that you not awake to see the point. Sometimes I wonder who is awake and who has slept through the last coup. 

8 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

you can say the same about most countries politics, one they get voted in they are all the same, never listen to the electorate who voted them in (or not voted in, in certain countries, hint hint), look at the UK, for example, nearly 3 years of dithering about, and absolutely nothing achieved, MP,s with their own agenda,

Not sure most countries staged coups whenever their government under-achieved. Rather insane reason that you gave. 

25 minutes ago, dcnx said:

Who do you think runs the press here? 

 

The media has no choice but to jockey for them and spread their lies and fluff. 

Here are the reasons why the press are handcuffed to express freely 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30346296

9 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Heaven forbid - you just know Thaksin and another Shin kleptocracy are what the people really want eh Eric?

I don’t know but after 3 consecutive elections with his party winning all convincingly, even the unbelievers would start to question heaven. Don’t you?

18 minutes ago, lipflipper said:

he General Premier has no intention of watching the Red Shirts or for that matter the Yellow Shirts taking control of the country once again.  

Many of the yellows are in his administration. They have taken over. 

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

What complete and utter crap.

 

Rangsit Uni has to be consistent with this crap since previous Nov poll that has Prayut as the most popular for PM trouncing all by a wide distance. 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 

 

The election will be held under a junta government that retained special powers under Article 44 of the post-coup interim charter and is also guaranteed under the current Constitution. Hence, NCPO chief Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is eligible to issue any order under this power, including nullifying or cancelling the election in the event of an unexpected incidence. 

How will the election be free and fair when you have the sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of all free Thais. If that not enough, you have the army chief warning of imminent coup. Laws being fixed to favour the junta for years to come and crony agencies working on the behest of the junta to handicap political parties. Are these not reasons enough to denounce the junta but some here still try to spin indefensible excuses and bring in the tired regular used reason that political parties are also corrupt. Don’t we know that. The junta illegimate power and using their power to influence the election must be denounced by all but not some mindless junta fans. 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

France Airbus and national flag carrier Thai Airways International last June launched a joint venture for MRO facilities at U-tapao Airport, in a deal overseen in France by junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha

Blatantly wrong for the military to be involved in business. The military own the land and they now managing the lease. Just why are military land use for generating money and not for military purposes. So many wrongs.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The 250 senators handpicked by the National Council for Peace and Order will join the 350 members of the House of Representatives to choose the next PM from lists submitted by parties that have won at least 5 per cent of the Lower House. The prospective premier needs at least 376 votes. 

Error here on the 350 lower house elected members. Should be 500. Therefore the selection grade is at least 376 from a combined houses of 750. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

An “outsider”, who is not on a party list, will be eligible to become the next PM if 376 votes can be garnered from both Houses.

Another dirty junta trick that will allow Prayut to be eligible if he failed in the party nomination selection. He gets a second chance as an "outsider". 

Really a despicable and corrupt person not worthy of high office. 

Many will report sick because of boner stiffness.  

On 2/13/2019 at 8:27 PM, chama said:

If the military and Prayut say there is no coup all that is left to be determined is what day it will occur.

The next coup will not be the same as last 2 coups. With the key puppet masters fading and dying, the coup will be staged for different reasons and unlikely to be welcomed with roses and without incidents.