Eric Loh

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

Not sure Bangkokians would be too supportive of the alternative. Certainly didn't seem to keen on them in their last iteration.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/2014/01/23/politics/images/30224977-01_big.jpg

Not expecting support from these happy campers. Not sure the same warm reception now when the Baht dries up. If the capital is Chiangmai, we might see a totally different aftermath.

Words too kind. Should have asked the junta to resign if the draft fails. They are lucky that the Bangkokians don't think like Turks.

It defies belief that students could actually think for themselves........and use snail mail.........is there the wiff of a third hand here!!

They will think whatever thought 1000 baht tells them to think........money rules

Pass a word to the junta to pay them 2,000 B. Such brilliant understanding of local culture. The junta will pin a medal on you on your hind.

Is there anyone in this junta government that don't lie? Please stand up.

He wants to come back to Thailand and why not. Why the upheavel, the bs spun by Suthep and his ilk. Let the man come back and then no more divide in Thailand.

He is free to come back whenever he wants. Nobody is stopping him.

Actually, the return of Thaksin is the junta leader's worst nightmare and would have been vigorously opposed by him.

If so why don't he return?

He doesn't like shackles, apparently 5555

He also does not like to push off a building, die of fatal disease, sucide by hanging and all those nasty unfortunate incidents when you behind bars. Seem these unfortunate accidents always happen when country in military rule.

In terms of geographical voting results I expect it will follow closely to the 2007 draft constitution referendum. Suthep will be key to deliver the South once again a favorite of the junta. And a politically divided country will continue.

Things bit different this time. In the 2007 referendum the Dem was unaminous in support and the South came out in large numbers. This time the Dem is split and Ahbisit didn't fully support the charter albeit cagey in his comment. If 80% really intend to vote, it's worrying for the Yes campaigners.

Not sure he reads and understanding the guiding principles of ASEAN. Non interference of domestic affairs of member countries has always been the corner stone of inter regional stability. Not smart again.

Is encroachment illegally? Yes.

Did he encroach on illegal land? Yes.

He is guilty as charge and no exception.

Has Phra Budda Isara refuted the charges ? No.

He expressed his readiness to face legal consequences for his forest encroachment.

He called on the Forest Department to take legal action against all forest encroachers, including himself.​

Plus he is reforesting it and that can be proven.. so he is in fact helping Thailand, same can't be said for the monk that is aligned with Big T and is helping laundering the money from Kluong Chang credit union.

What a difference one monk helping to con poor people out of their live savings and the other helping to reforest things and ready to accept charges. Of course clear to all who is on what side and shows the morality of the side they are on.

Reforesting as a defence for illegal encroachment. Haven't we heard this kind of defence before when caught red handed. Pay back bribe money and all is forgotten. Who really know what he is doing with the reforestation. Timber is a valuable asset this days. Fortunately he was caught before he start getting smart on the illegal asset. Then the best part. He ask himself to be charge after being caught. Doesn't do much to absorb any accusation but does have a nice ring to it. Why don't he own up that he has illegal land before he was caught if he is such a noble and honest monk.

Is encroachment illegally? Yes.

Did he encroach on illegal land? Yes.

He is guilty as charge and no exception.

Now I understand the plan: The longer they stay in power the more united the country becomes in wanting them out.

I think you got that right. My reading of this as a covert admission that their mission to rid the Thaksin regime has failed and have galvanized his supporters and even previous coup supporters. They sense that the referendum likely to fail and is reaching out with an olive branch. The likelihood of a National government seem quite possible. Even the referendum may be in question and may not happen.

They are completely mad. Just that they believe that they can keep Thai residents to return, just because of a birthday. And to tell this in Public. Again another day, another joke from this so-called Government.

OK so please post a verifiable link from a spokes person for this "so-called" government which advises publicly that current government will not let those persons attending this party back into Thailand ?....not second hand information, or hear say...but a statement from a government official stating this in Thai or English is fine.

It's from a reliable news source. That's good enough for me. If we judge on precedent, the NCPO did banned supporters from attending Thaksin BD. I think you should ask Thaivisa where they get their information.

Rather than re-type this...copied from another post

Nation.. no article on this

Bangkokpost.. no report on this

Source of the Khaosod.. a PTP spokesman.. NOT someone from the government

Khaosod.. known to be red aligned.

Reliable news source ? or did you mean a biased news source ?

Go ask Thaivisa and stop shouting.

They are completely mad. Just that they believe that they can keep Thai residents to return, just because of a birthday. And to tell this in Public. Again another day, another joke from this so-called Government.

OK so please post a verifiable link from a spokes person for this "so-called" government which advises publicly that current government will not let those persons attending this party back into Thailand ?....not second hand information, or hear say...but a statement from a government official stating this in Thai or English is fine.

It's from a reliable news source. That's good enough for me. If we judge on precedent, the NCPO did banned supporters from attending Thaksin BD. I think you should ask Thaivisa where they get their information.

Rather contrasting presentation with previous elected PM. Wonder how the free world view his message and the presenter.

Would that be the previous elected PM who was removed by a court for an illegal abuse of power? Would that be the famous 'democracy and my brother is innocent" speech?"

Thank you 3 times.

I"s sure the free world, whoever that might be in your mind, is capable of judging the veracity of the previous puppet PM and her intellect.

Let's see what is actually reported in the independent media this time, then we'll know

Fortunately its not the free word that he is addressing. Just parliamentary delegates, businesspeople, youth and civil sector representatives. Pretty low profile presentation. Yingluck presentation was for the 7th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies. It was appropriately presented by an elected PM.

Rather contrasting presentation with previous elected PM. Wonder how the free world view his message and the presenter.

Careful Prayuth is very angry. Oh, that was yesterday pissing in the wind and for press consumption statement. Today, it's business as usual for the RTP. The uniforms will continue to screw Thailand up.

He brought this upon himself when he played politics instead of being striving for reconciliation. Political rifts has now fully infiltrated into the religious realm. No secret that Somdet Chuang relationship with the Dhammakaya sect who is seen to be close to the red followers may be the reason for his reluctance to submit for royal endorsement. He has surrounded himself and allowed to be influenced by the yellow faction. The Sangha council is accountable to no one and is a centralized governing power and abusing its power just like the junta government. They are following a very poor role model and the junta is reaping what they sow. They make the bed and now have to deal with this crisis.

'They are following a very poor role model'

indeed:

'Thaksin sought to align the Supreme Sangha Council with the Dhammakaya during his time in office. In return, the sect's head monk extolled Thaksin as an ideal Buddhist whose billions could be explained by the merit he accumulated in past lives'

https://www.stratfor.com/sample/analysis/thailand-buddhist-feud-threatens-fragile-peace

'Since Somdej Chuang is close to Phra Dhammachayo, who is closely linked to a certain political party, Thai Buddhism will likely become more and more politicised under his leadership. Hence, Somdej Chuangs ascension to the post of Supreme Patriarch would likely do much to upset the countrys religious and political equilibrium'

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Next-Supreme-Patriarch-must-be-free-of-scandal-pol-30277321.html

The political turmoil has completely changed the nature of politics and the religious landscape of Thailand for good. Followers of Phra Dhammakaya Temple and Thaksin believe that the alliance between the two serves their best interests.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/27/opinion/opinion_30014752.php

For Thaksin:

http://2bangkok.com/for-thaksin.html

Thaksins Temple: Dhammakaya

http://2bangkok.com/thaksins-temple-dhammakaya.html

Perhaps you can educate me on how Thaksin close relationship with Somdet Chuang and Phra Dhammakaya can cause political turmoil. I believe all Buddhist goes to temple and Thaksin is no exception. He is a wealthy man and made donations to temple that he like and he got mentioned favorably by the abbot. Noting unusual about that too. He is not planning something sinister like a revolution with the temple and the temple has been passive in their political preference. They didn't take to the street to demonstrate like Santi Asoki with the PAD and Buddha Issara recently. Was this political religious turmoil created as a screen to benefit one side of the color divide. Your thoughts.

ANFREL could have fielded more observers if only the accreditation process work faster. Reason pretty obvious. And good old Somchai try to play the good guy and blame that on bureaucracy.

If the referendum fail, it represent a strong endorsement from the people that the coup was wrong and the PM should have the moral courage to admit its shortcoming and resign.

He brought this upon himself when he played politics instead of being striving for reconciliation. Political rifts has now fully infiltrated into the religious realm. No secret that Somdet Chuang relationship with the Dhammakaya sect who is seen to be close to the red followers may be the reason for his reluctance to submit for royal endorsement. He has surrounded himself and allowed to be influenced by the yellow faction. The Sangha council is accountable to no one and is a centralized governing power and abusing its power just like the junta government. They are following a very poor role model and the junta is reaping what they sow. They make the bed and now have to deal with this crisis.

A conundrum for our red supporters. Here we have a member of the BKK elite, a member of the royal family no less, who gives every sign of being corrupt. Should they advocate his immediate dismissal and prosecution?

Why not? Because he is an elected official, head of an elected council, very much a smaller scale version of the corrupt government sacked not too long ago.

That's where you are 100% wrong: the hiso, connected corruption, unchallenged for decades, outweighs anything on the red side of the ledger by 50 fold. The but...but...but Thaksin brigade fail to acknyowledge that indisputable fact ( perhaps borne of an obsessive zealotry). Thaksin: nasty no doubt, but chicken feed by comparison with the robber barons.

They did it more than me, so I should be forgiven. AKA "the little Johnny did it too" defence. But hang on, they are talking about prosecuting a hi-so here, so that fails even more miserably than usual.

As for your maths, how much did Thaksin reap from a 20 year mobile phone monopoly? Add that to the B600 billion blown in the rice scam, then multiply by 50.

YOU are the one who keeps making comparisons to the past, youre stuck there, you can't let it go, YOU are one of the regular sycophants who can't seem to move beyond Thaksin, and get on with their lives, not that he ever had an effect on yours anyway, but you do love to chunter and whine about shit from the past that can't be changed, you're are like a broken record.

You have an obsession about Thaksin and the red shirts, they'll be there long after you, you should try accepting that.

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

If you are talking about the 18 past coups and counting, I agree with you.

"...authorities suspect him of robbing a Standard Chartered bank branch in the city-state using only a threatening note."

I wonder if he used all CAPS in his note, or maybe a scary picture?

The actual words were "GIVE ME $$$". It was the all caps and bold that frightened the teller. She more use to grammatically correctness.

"...authorities suspect him of robbing a Standard Chartered bank branch in the city-state using only a threatening note."

I wonder if he used all CAPS in his note, or maybe a scary picture?

Wow a new news/propaganda show. A large cock as the backdrop symbol, who came up with that.

Look carefully. It's a man humping someone with a big nose. Kind of connote that the country has been screwed.

Yes, one can only hope that large numbers of Thais vote NO and send this government the message it deserves - but it is an open question as to whether or not even a strong message from the Thai people would have any effect on the General/PM

This is not a vote for the referendum and is turning up to be a vote of defiance and a strong message that the junta has overstay their welcome. The junta intimidation and strong arm tactics look like backfiring.

Murray beat the Canadian 5 minutes ago.In my opinion if Murrays aponient had played him like he played Federer it may have been A different turnout.I'm not Britian or Canadian.My hats off to Murray,good match,

To win in 3 sets is total domination. Raonic biggest weapon are his big 140+ serve and blistering forehand and all that was neutralized by the brilliance of Murray. This got to be Murray at his best and reaching his peak form at age 29. With his new found confidence, Djokovic better watch out.