Eric Loh

There is a school of thought that Prayuth personally against the peace dialogue with Malaysia as the mediator because it was a Thaksin initiative back in 2012. His personal vendetta may be the stumbling block for continue dialogue which is the only chance for peace. The military do not have the position of strength in the south due to years of injustice and mistrust.

But but military are incorruptible and we shouldn't be speaking about this. Opps wrong country.

I hope the PM is aboard with all the happenings in the south. The Mara Pattani is not a new group and was formed by the concerted effort of Malaysia. That should itself meant that this group is credible. In fact, the Mara Pattani was one of the groups that the military had negotiation in Kuala Lumpur last year. Their members are also very crucial to peace as most are former BRN leaders. Maybe the PM should visit the south after 2 years in office. Sitting in Bangkok doesn't give him a proper picture of the situation in the south.

Rest easy leader of the great mass of people and Prapakaro. You on the right side of the educated and good people. No harm will come to you. Let Jatuporn sweat and face the music.

A little too late. Took 3 weeks for the PM to make a statement and for the police chiefs to gather. The police has initially refused to release the CCTV tape. Kudos to the social media to take this up and woken the slow reacting bureacracy. Where is the tourist minister in the midst of all this happening. Shouldnt he visit the victims and offer his sympathy and assistance in any possible ways? Pathetic response all round.

''' in case the red bowels fought back

I hope you mean 'bowls'

Bowel is a deserving word and fitting to the occasion. That's what the military deserved.

N Korea and China have quite similar laws on rude posting of their leaders. Rude posting of a draft law ! Now that is being creative and innovative. Will be highly admired by peer countries.

Combined force of 300 police and military men in a major shakedown and found only red bowls. I call that harassment and intimidation. How long more before the proverbial straw breaks.

Shocking brutality. Expect the related ministry to visit the victims, offer their assistance in any possible way and a joint statement by the minister and police chief. Sadly no and absolutely disgusting silence.

Just been sitting in Asoke for an hour waiting for Prayuth to pass in his extended convoy. The cab driver opined "many Thai people are so angry but we are too scared to say anything".

The young people of Thailand are not afraid. There were small protests at Victory Monument, Thammasart Uni and Chiangmai today. Press may be too scared to report.

I have police friends and even they are saying the police loyalties are dividing. They are worried. They also say they their army friends are dividing in loyalries.

All because of what we are seeing more and more.

Their words to me... you are going to be safe in your housebut doubt step outside.

Their advice is to leave.

I am taking that advice as I hear it too mNy times now.

I really hate how this country is tearing apart. Sad.

Another group is rather edgy. This from an army friend. Not the police and military but the saffron. That's why DSI scared to make the arrest and the government scared to make the appoinment of the Supreme Patriach official. All things said, matters are heating up but really you don't have to leave to avoid. Thailand has been through many turbulent times and some worse than this but quick to avoid catastrophe or even severe damage to the economy. .

For whatever reason or reasons, Pol Gen Pongpat has not considered vehicle manslaughter which is in Thailand Criminal Act. Extract from lawyers.com explain: -

"In general, the difference between murder and manslaughter is that murder requires an intent to kill (or to inflict great bodily injury), but manslaughter does not. Thus, a defendant does not have to intend to kill or injure anyone in order to be guilty of vehicular manslaughter. To be convicted of vehicular manslaughter in most jurisdictions, the prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that:

the driver operated a motor vehicle in a reckless or grossly (severely) negligent manner, and

the drivers conduct caused a fatality.

Reckless or grossly negligent conduct poses a more severe and obvious threat of death than mere carelessness or simple negligence. Recklessness and gross negligence can be shown in a variety of ways, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or violating certain traffic laws, like speeding, texting while driving, or deliberately running a red light. Ignoring a warning not to drive while taking prescription medication could also constitute reckless and gross negligence, and so could driving with a known medical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely. The extent of the danger created by the drivers actions will usually determine whether the defendant is charged with simple or aggravated (meaning more serious) vehicular manslaughter. Aggravated felonies carry stiffer penalties".

Wish it was that 'cool' up here

Anything below 40 would be great. I used to complain at 34....but now that would be "exercise" weather for walking in the park. I can barely ride my bicycle to Tesco, without breaking a sweat...and that is only half a kilometer.

I walk from my door to trashbin (30meter) and i can shower again, and again, and again ;-)

Came out after my shower and I am perspiring already.

The junta government has all the resources at their disposal to counter any smear campaign. They can use their embassies, delegations, special envoy to explain the facts. They can even hire their own lobbyists like in the previous Surayud's junta administration through their US Embassy. If the junta has a strong case to dispell and counter smear, use it; not just whine and use intimidation to scare and quiet down smear.

he suffered serious ailments from diabetes, blood clot on the left leg and infectious wounds on his feet.

Seriously, the abbot belongs in a hospital and not in a wat. His doctor should be charged with malfeasance and his staff for negligence endangering the abbot's health. The military should invoke Article 44 to deliver the abbot to a proper facility for emergency lifegiving care!

I fear for this abbot's wellbeing.

Mixed with the impasse involving the Supreme Patriarch, this become toxic brew and perceived as a fierce color coded confrontation. It may spilled out of hand and evoke the feelings of the saffron of both sides. The junta government should not have allowed this to simmer this long and should have dealt with this on the first instance. Now they have a tiger on their back and will be hard for them to dismount. They probably play the delay game till the next government.

Thaksinomics is alive and kicking.

The junta has also evidence of the politicians behind all the bombings, anti junta activists and students but all are classified. Translated as they have nothing but will manufacture something later.

If the junta has nothing to hide, why disallow international observers. The UN and EU have been engaging as observers for many referendums in various countries.

If he fails to arrive at 4 pm, the DSI will issue warrant for his arrest today.

I'll believe they will arrest him when I see it, not before.

While I wouldn't say the odds of arrest are high, they are considerably higher than under most past administrations IMHO.

It's higher due to political expediency.

Would you care to explain what is expedient about prosecuting a popular and powerful figure for his blatant criminality? Or is this another version of "politically motivated" you use to deride the charges against another blatant criminal?

The blatant criminality will have to be proven in court. No doubt those are very serious charges and he is not above the law and should not behave like one. This case is also a proxy war for the color coded politics and he know full well what I meant.

Buying time until the next government and then blame the next government for not doing enough. Too many military and police vested interests to do anything. Just pass that problem to the next government.

He always speak funny. He is driving top down and centralization in his government reform but calls for community level up. Not sure he understand what he do and say.

If he fails to arrive at 4 pm, the DSI will issue warrant for his arrest today.

I'll believe they will arrest him when I see it, not before.

While I wouldn't say the odds of arrest are high, they are considerably higher than under most past administrations IMHO.

It's higher due to political expediency.

UDD timed their charter rejection and called for their supporters to vote no perfectly. Also throw the Dem Party into a spin. That will split their southern supporters and further weakened their election chance. Seem a cakewalk for the more cohesive PT in next election.

Ah but Suthep and his "great movement" don't take any notice of election results.

So true. What a snake. Even caused his own elected party government downfall. This man may have shot his last bullet and will be seen as a pariah and betrayer by the Dem supporters.

The letter will go straight into the "Ignore" tray of the OHCHR office.

UDD timed their charter rejection and called for their supporters to vote no perfectly. Also throw the Dem Party into a spin. That will split their southern supporters and further weakened their election chance. Seem a cakewalk for the more cohesive PT in next election.