Eric Loh

Judging from the definition of a state official, opposition bloc does have a case. He indeed was a state official.

“An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their superior and/or employer, public or legally private) instead as adjective is agreed to or arranged by people in positions of authority,^[1]is synonymous, among others, with approved, certified, recognized, endorsed, legitimate”.

Not too sure how the constitution court will interpret the law. They have been quite mystifying in some notable cases. 

39 minutes ago, Ej2562 said:

Would you have rather have all the wrong doings going on by the past administration or prefer a change.

There were many wrongdoings by past administrators (plural) but suggesting it will change is rich beyond comprehension. Same bunch of generals that seized power, are the government today. They rigged the election, dissolved political party, intimidate and bribe coalition parties in order to form this government. They gave power to a fully junta appointed senators to ensure that he gets the premiership. If you can’t see through the corruption and worse expect change, may Buddha help you. 

45 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Not true, Alibaba (Chinese cloud company) is building a huge datacenter in Thailand.

Not too sure whether Alibaba will follow through on their investment plant. They have asked the newspaper that reported that to withdrew the news on the next day it was published. 

“Updated on May 29 to include responses from Alibaba and the Bangkok Post, and on May 31 to add that the Bangkok Post removed its story”.

Maybe this is the silent coup. Somehow an incumbent of the constitution drafting committee spoke out in favour of the constitution court looking into his legibility. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

New Cabinet

What a misnomer. Nothing new. Same old faces consisting of coup leaders, PDRC/PAD loyalists and democracy turncoats from Dem and BJT. Old faces, old policies and old problems. 

44 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

I doubt that.

Palang Pracharat's fall back solution to conceding the department minister posts is to get either Deputy Minister or Permanent Secretary positions in the contested Ministeries which are also part of the PM's Cabinet (now about 32 members!). If Prayut's chosen Department Ministers falter in their duties or conflict with their respective Palang Pracharat Deputies and/or Permanent Secretaries, Palang Pracharat can bring "a world of pain" onto Prayut.

Prayut may only be delaying a day of reckoning with the Palang Pracharat.

I give it until no later than October 2020.

As the headline in the other major English newspaper put it aptly "Stability Questioned"; a cabinet line-up that leaves much to be desired. Expect few cabinet re-shuffles within this year.  

10 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

As I drive around Chiang Mai,notice how many empty

big billboards there are,if advertising is down,companies

must be feeling the pinch,notice the same in other parts

of Thailand ?

regards worgeordie

I supply chemicals to manufacturers and felt the pinch since mid '18. All along the supply chain, companies and suppliers are feeling the downturn badly. It snowball down to the workers who will not get their yearly wage increase and bonus. The average workers are affected the worst being squeezed by raising costs and wage restrain. They buy less and the shops suffer from lack of customers. The circle repeats. This may be the worst year of my 12 years old business even worst than '08 financial crisis and '11 big flood. 

56 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Not to mention a complete lack of depth or vision.

He does have problem explaining serious subjects and tend to generalize. He took great pain to explain sufficient economy at the Australian National University. While eloquent, it was rather general and even scriptural. For a man so highly educated, he is a disappointment and clearly lack the skill to be spokesman. Seem he was put in that position because other positions are filled.   

Matter of time before all the 3 Ps from the Eastern Tiger faction will be dispatched. Prawit will be the first then Paochinda (Anupong). New boys in town. 

12 minutes ago, robblok said:

No street protests, is a good thing. But I can't say that the corruption situation has improved, nor has freedom of press gone the right way.

No streets protest???

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/14/thailand-biggest-democracy-protests-in-years-held-as-military-junta-delays-elections

8 minutes ago, BigBadGeordie said:

Steven100 does ????

Only Steven? Peace and stability and No more corruption they claimed. But but Thaksin said some. 

That’s a mighty fall from grace akin to a promise of a managerial position and end up as a janitor. A mighty bending forward to please the boss. 

The authority only have 2 speed - extra quick for political enemies and neutral for their own.  

I will give the ship 6 months before it will sink and rats bail. 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

New government to be formed this month,

This is the old government with help of the fake election. The same old NCPO faces like Somkid, Wissanu, Anupong and Prawit in the same key positions. Chief faker is still the leader. No change at all. 

59 minutes ago, robblok said:

Yes but your the one that says accept corruption, while I am the one that disagrees with it. In my country corruption is much much lower. Probably much lower then in the US for sure. Why because it gets punished harshly and there are many rules. Rules that have never ever been put in place here because NONE of the politicians want it. So its not a democracy here at all (maybe a starting one but a far far far from good one and it wont change because the politicians dont want it to change)

I said sustained democracy will reduce corruption only for you to twist it around and said I accept corruption. You do have the habit of changing the subject and divert the conservation away to meet your agenda. Anyway if you disagree with corruption, then you should agree with democracy. That’s what I am saying but not getting through to you. Speaking against democracy and speaking well on behalf of the junta that dismantle political institutions and human rights seem to me that you are actually a very confused person. 

54 minutes ago, pornprong said:

This paper studies the influence of democracy on the level of corruption. In particular, does democracy necessarily reduce a country’s level of corruption? The growing consensus reveals that there is an inverse correlation between democracy and corruption; the more democracy and the less corruption.

 

https://esacentral.org.au/images/Saha.pdf

 

Studies have demonstrated that while very high levels of democracy reduce corruption, low to modest levels of democracy actually increase corruption.1

 

http://bseim.web.unc.edu/files/2016/08/6-McMann-et-al_B.pdf

 

The junta has given Thailand low to modest level of democracy, guess why?

(if you need some help, read the red text above)

 

 

When a country has weak democratic institutions and political rights, corruption rate is at their highest like Thailand. Top 10 countries in the world with low rate of corruption are democratic. 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/least-corrupt-countries-transparency-international-2018/

Sustainable democracy has a better chance to reduce corruption. Seem a simple logic which some here still find hard to understand.

18 minutes ago, candide said:

Actually, since the 2006 coup, the Thai had it "their own way" only during a bit more than 3 years. Lol.

In fact military governments had it their own way much more than elected governments since 1932 and faired badly in so many aspects. They have been spoiled so much that they ought to give elected governments a chance. 

2 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Ummm why did he not stand? Were there other issues we are not hearing? Qualifications?

Probably age. He is 86.