Eric Loh

If you search TV back articles, you'll fine dozen similar headlines, all portending to ' eradicate '

the beggars problems in Thailand/BKK, and still here we're again....

The list growing longer but little to show its will and determination to solve the problem. List now include ending traffic jams in major roads, clearing all footpaths from vendors, returning the beach to the people, strict enforcement of mobile phones while driving, licensing all motor taxis, ensuring all taxis use meters etc etc. Lots of big PR announcements but the follow through has been less than impressive.

Funny stuff. A lot of what Prayut has done is to gut the income to the police

from their corruption activities. So instead of cutting off the head of the viper,

he has basically cut down the food source to the viper. What happened to Pongpat

was a good example.

So now the police are happy their feet have been

held to the fire ?? Man you could not make this stuff up. I suspect at

this point the police are terrified of being gutted from the bottom to the

top, given their past horrendous history. So now time to suck up to

Prayut and hope he does not wake up one day and decide to REALLY

reform the police, not the namby pamby reforms from the past.....

What happened to Pongpat

was a good example.

Nothing to do with corruption whatsoever, he was removed for other reasons..................

So far that was the only high profile case and for a different reason. Since then, lots of rumbling but have anyone seen a high profile personality and uniform being charged? Until we see sentencing and behind bars, reserve your praise. We ain't see nothing yet.

I can understand your impatience, my dear Eric. Some have it that the NCPO should just wave it's magic A44 wand and throw a few in jail, just like that. Unfortunately those same would then complain about the undemocratic use of A44 and the near dictatorial character of the NCPO.

So I guess we'll wait till people are charged, due process completed and if found guilty ... ...

allow them to appeal, pay bail ... ... and after a last appeal still convicted of a crime and sentenced finally put in jail, in about five to ten years from now.

Democratic processes, marvellous, truly.

Rubi, you have been living here long enough to know that the wealthies and the high rank uniforms will never ever been behind bars. Every rich and famous knows the other has benefitted from corruption and have the means and connection to get out of jail. I tried to crack my head to recall any of the senior military or police officers have been jailed for corruption. Accept for the recent high profile charge involving a senior police officer for a very different reason, I just can't recall any. The only high profile corruption cases unfortunately are from the political side that the coup seek to pursue. Democray has nothing to do with this. More a Thai thing like Thainess.

Funny stuff. A lot of what Prayut has done is to gut the income to the police

from their corruption activities. So instead of cutting off the head of the viper,

he has basically cut down the food source to the viper. What happened to Pongpat

was a good example.

So now the police are happy their feet have been

held to the fire ?? Man you could not make this stuff up. I suspect at

this point the police are terrified of being gutted from the bottom to the

top, given their past horrendous history. So now time to suck up to

Prayut and hope he does not wake up one day and decide to REALLY

reform the police, not the namby pamby reforms from the past.....

What happened to Pongpat

was a good example.

Nothing to do with corruption whatsoever, he was removed for other reasons..................

So far that was the only high profile case and for a different reason. Since then, lots of rumbling but have anyone seen a high profile personality and uniform being charged? Until we see sentencing and behind bars, reserve your praise. We ain't see nothing yet.

Smart move.

He's beating the Shinawatras at their own game.

Didn't he spoke negatively about the Shin and their populist policies.

It's clear why the NCPO want to merge the nosy and meddling NHRC with the Ombudsman. Weaken the NHRC by affecting their. composition, independence and transparency. One less ill intend element.

Can Thailand be called a democratic country before the coup? What value had that gave to the lives of Thais?

State coffer being robbed, lives under armed threat, police inactions or used politically against oppositions, corruption rampant?

State coffer being robbed, lives under armed threat, police inactions or used politically against oppositions, corruption rampant? What have all these got to do with democracy ???? By the way, you sure all that you described are not happening now? I also treasure the value of freedom of speech and expression before the coup. That's a hell of a lot of values that have been lost with the coup. You don't see?

I see and value the realities on the ground. Not all the hot air coming out of mouths.

Mighty glad that you see the realities on the ground like the disproportionate wealth of the generals, increase 2016 defence budget which will include 2-3 submarines when our economy suffer, detention without trial and absolute power overriding legislative, judiciary and executive jurisdiction. That's not hot air but realities which you dont see or in denial.

I hope with the all powerful Article 44, it can stop the insurgency in the South. Lots more ill intend elements there. Don't see that lot mentioned in Visanu's list. Maybe they are less dangerous than those who want to express their grievances.

Can Thailand be called a democratic country before the coup? What value had that gave to the lives of Thais?

State coffer being robbed, lives under armed threat, police inactions or used politically against oppositions, corruption rampant?

State coffer being robbed, lives under armed threat, police inactions or used politically against oppositions, corruption rampant? What have all these got to do with democracy ???? By the way, you sure all that you described are not happening now? I also treasure the value of freedom of speech and expression before the coup. That's a hell of a lot of values that have been lost with the coup. You don't see?

Insurance anyone ??

Just hope and trust that the government will not abuse article 44 for political persecutions and the process is transparent so no extrajudicially conviction and no scrapegoats sentencing to protect the powerful elites and uniforms. Detention without charges, military courts and absolute power give a dark image.

Fat chance of that....power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.....a cast iron law.....absolute power is never not abused.

You probably right. Even before the ink is dried, the media report today quoting him promising extensive use of this harsh power. Media is being warned. So be careful what you write. Dark clouds are besetting the country.

Just hope and trust that the government will not abuse article 44 for political persecutions and the process is transparent so no extrajudicially conviction and no scrapegoats sentencing to protect the powerful elites and uniforms. Detention without charges, military courts and absolute power give a dark image.

Just yesterday, Prayuth was calling for the media to explain to foreigners about 44. Today the Minstry that is tasked with matters concerning foreign affairs said "no need". Prayuth may be a tough task master but seem his ministries are ignoring him. Even his FM is not bowing to his instruction to drop the land tax. Perhaps this is better as most time the PM speak off the cuff and make silly judgement call. He maybe just a paper tiger.

I will look up definitions for democracy shortly. But my opinion on it is that indeed it is often misunderstood.

Fundamentally democracy means to me a freely and democratically elected government. But there are conditions attached to it. A proper system of Checks and Balances, transparent, upholding of the Constitution, care for minority rights etc.

The democratic election seems to be the easiest to achieve, what comes after that is the hard part.

Hi Stephan, Fundamentally you are right, But...this is Thailand and one thing Thailand has Never had is a free and fair election.. I don't know how long and how many elections you have lived through here in LOS but one thing for sure corruption was and is rife, from buying votes through the village headman scheme or from the fact that a certain party cannot send candidates into Issan without violent threats and actions.. so where is the democracy when a candidate cannot contest a seat.? Let me tell you my thought on this.. The Thai peoples deserve to be under martial law.. they sold their votes for a mere 500 bahts.. They deserve a military junta.. because like childrens they need to be spanked sometimes... But the beauty of it all is that whatever the apologists complain about , Prayuth is doing a great job .. and when he does hand power back to the people .. Maybe.... then, we can have some shape of democracy in this country we farangs have grown to love....

I have not heard Prayuth blaming vote buying as a reason for the coup. Excuses like stopping a civil war and people killing each other, yes but vote buying, never mentioned. Perhaps the General knows better than you that vote buying is on all sides of the political divide and the EC and other local and foreign election observers have done a reasonable good job. Let's not forget the eagle eyes of the NACC and the opposition always ready to petition courts on vote buying. Rather weak premise to blame vote buying and by the way, the PM has not done anything worthy yet.

Eric - you are probably correct about vote buying. However, do you consider that not doing anything to stop the increasingly murderous attacks on protesters, the judiciary and anyone who dared speak out against the government, or making any attempt to catch and prosecute the culprits acceptable? Do you support those red shirt / UDD / PTP officials who applauded the murder of children on rally stages and who called for the setting up of separate Lanna state?

If you do, then that's your entitled opinion. If you don't then what would you have proposed when the caretaker PTP government and RTP were doing nothing to restore law and order?

My opinion is that I see a pattern of repeated coups and all have their reasons. Also like a serial killer, the motives are clear.

Let's set the scene. The NRC and the NCPO have all hinted at some unpopular charter changes which many have spoken against and the general public feelings are reflected in social media. The NCPO will force those unpopular changes through or their coup will be a total waste (probably instructions from the third hand). So the referendum will be along the same line as 2006, two choices. Accept or reject with a caveat. Reject and the NCPO will make the final permanent charter, no question asked and no more referumdum. They will claim that are good people and know what best for the country. So in summary, this is an exercise in futility. The charter changes will not be in the hands of the people but with the NCPO.

I will look up definitions for democracy shortly. But my opinion on it is that indeed it is often misunderstood.

Fundamentally democracy means to me a freely and democratically elected government. But there are conditions attached to it. A proper system of Checks and Balances, transparent, upholding of the Constitution, care for minority rights etc.

The democratic election seems to be the easiest to achieve, what comes after that is the hard part.

Hi Stephan, Fundamentally you are right, But...this is Thailand and one thing Thailand has Never had is a free and fair election.. I don't know how long and how many elections you have lived through here in LOS but one thing for sure corruption was and is rife, from buying votes through the village headman scheme or from the fact that a certain party cannot send candidates into Issan without violent threats and actions.. so where is the democracy when a candidate cannot contest a seat.? Let me tell you my thought on this.. The Thai peoples deserve to be under martial law.. they sold their votes for a mere 500 bahts.. They deserve a military junta.. because like childrens they need to be spanked sometimes... But the beauty of it all is that whatever the apologists complain about , Prayuth is doing a great job .. and when he does hand power back to the people .. Maybe.... then, we can have some shape of democracy in this country we farangs have grown to love....

I have not heard Prayuth blaming vote buying as a reason for the coup. Excuses like stopping a civil war and people killing each other, yes but vote buying, never mentioned. Perhaps the General knows better than you that vote buying is on all sides of the political divide and the EC and other local and foreign election observers have done a reasonable good job. Let's not forget the eagle eyes of the NACC and the opposition always ready to petition courts on vote buying. Rather weak premise to blame vote buying and by the way, the PM has not done anything worthy yet.

From my experience, a 4 floors shop in LadPrao cost 20,000B a month. I also have a larger factory of about 500 square feet in the suburb costing 60,000B. I was told a single floor shop rent for 5,000B in the suburb. I have Thai workers that I paid 9,000 B and bit more for driver. Hiring foreign will be cheaper. I have few Mynmar workers that I pay about 8,000B. But you would need a incorporated company to obtain their work permits. Good luck.

Wise to continue with a successful Thaksin idea; the Village Fund.

The PM is again showing his military face and intimidation demeanor. Use Article 44 like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly. He just cannnot seem to exercise authority without threatening and intimidation. Scary thoughts if Article 44 is given to this man with his demeanor.

A leader who is concerned with his popularity will never govern well. Words from a recently deceased statesman. Absolutely true.

It is easy to blame the past government, but the problem has been in high gear for at least the past 10 years as acknowledged by General P, so that brings the former Abhisit government and the military regime that preceded it into the picture. How about being fair and refraining from using this as an opportunity to score points? As the former PM pointed out , the major factor was corruption in the government and she's right. The major trafficking delivery points have always been to the south. Whether it was Rohingya or the fishing fleets. Try as the former government did it couldn't get the Royal Thai Navy to act. It couldn't make a dent in the endemic and deeply routed corruption in the south particularly in the Suthep stronghold of Nahkon Si Thammarat-Surat Thani-Phuket. Abhisit was handcuffed for political reasons because he needed the south's support and the former military regime didn't care. The problem can't be effectively dealt with until their is a relentless and severe attack on the corruption in the south.

We keep hearing the stories about evil Bangkok, or the corrupt North, but the reality is that it is the south where the corruption is at its worst. Instead of placing Issan under martial law, apply it to Phuket and conduct the same types of house to house searches. I can guarantee more illegal weapons, illegal workers, yaba and other illegal activities would be uncovered than what we hear about elsewhere.

Which families government has been in power the longest in the past 10 years?

Who is the current government now? Grew a pair and deal with the problem and stop the blame game.

Absolutely. Forget about democracy and human rights and rule of law, let the junta step in and down harshly.

Mind you, the moment they do, the same posters who complain about inactivity will start complaining about ... ... ...

Rubi, you really think the junta will ever deal with this however harshly or extrajudicially. Trafficking has been around forever and the reason they are around is that they're protected by the same people who enforce the law and that include the military. Past governments only pay lip service and so will this current government. It's a sad state of reality.

.

Whatever mades you happy, General.

It is easy to blame the past government, but the problem has been in high gear for at least the past 10 years as acknowledged by General P, so that brings the former Abhisit government and the military regime that preceded it into the picture. How about being fair and refraining from using this as an opportunity to score points? As the former PM pointed out , the major factor was corruption in the government and she's right. The major trafficking delivery points have always been to the south. Whether it was Rohingya or the fishing fleets. Try as the former government did it couldn't get the Royal Thai Navy to act. It couldn't make a dent in the endemic and deeply routed corruption in the south particularly in the Suthep stronghold of Nahkon Si Thammarat-Surat Thani-Phuket. Abhisit was handcuffed for political reasons because he needed the south's support and the former military regime didn't care. The problem can't be effectively dealt with until their is a relentless and severe attack on the corruption in the south.

We keep hearing the stories about evil Bangkok, or the corrupt North, but the reality is that it is the south where the corruption is at its worst. Instead of placing Issan under martial law, apply it to Phuket and conduct the same types of house to house searches. I can guarantee more illegal weapons, illegal workers, yaba and other illegal activities would be uncovered than what we hear about elsewhere.

Which families government has been in power the longest in the past 10 years?

Who is the current government now? Grew a pair and deal with the problem and stop the blame game.

I've repeatedly argued on this forum over the last 10 years that Thailand should follow Singaporean example rather than the Western one. A healthy democracy in a complex society requires informed and engaged citizenry (US presents a good example what happens in a democracy when the majority of the electorate stop participating or caring). Otherwise the democratic ritual is all too easy to hijack with enough money and propaganda. Shinawatras have demonstrated that splendidly.

At this point in its history Thailand needs an enlightened dictatorship that installs a government of technocrats who are charged to execute a difficult long term strategy to bring the country out of the third world status.

Here's a quote from Wikipedia's history of Singapore:

"Facing severe unemployment and a housing crisis, Singapore embarked on a modernization programme beginning in the late 1960s through the 1970s that focused on establishing a manufacturing industry, developing large public housing estates and investing heavily on public education. Since independence, Singapore's economy has grown by an average of nine percent each year.[clarification needed] By the 1990s, the country had become one of the world's most prosperous nations, with a highly developed free market economy, strong international trading links, and the highest per capita gross domestic product in Asia outside of Japan.

After gaining independence abruptly, Singapore faced a future filled with uncertainties. The Konfrontasi was on-going and the conservative UMNO faction strongly opposed the separation; Singapore faced the dangers of attack by the Indonesian military and forcible re-integration into the Malaysia Federation on unfavorable terms. Much of the international media was skeptical of prospects for Singapore's survival. Besides the issue of sovereignty, the pressing problems were unemployment, housing, education, and the lack of natural resources and land.[53] Unemployment was ranging between 1012%, threatening to trigger civil unrest.

The Economic Development Board had been set up in 1961 to formulate and implement national economic strategies, focusing on promoting Singapore's manufacturing sector.[56] Industrial estates were set up, especially in Jurong, and foreign investment was attracted to the country with tax incentives. The industrialization transformed the manufacturing sector to one that produced higher value-added goods and achieved greater revenue. The service industry also grew at this time, driven by demand for services by ships calling at the port and increasing commerce. This progress helped to alleviate the unemployment crisis. Singapore also attracted big oil companies like Shell and Esso to establish oil refineries in Singapore which, by the mid-1970s, became the third largest oil-refining centre in the world.[53] The government invested heavily in an education system that adopted English as the language of instruction and emphasised practical training to develop a competent workforce well suited for the industry."

This is very recent history and sounds a lot worse than the current situation in Thailand. But look where they are right now. Singapore's success required a long term vision and discipline to pursue that vision over decades. Lee Kuan Yew and his PAP party created a de-facto single party system which alowed them to focus on the big picture rather than being distracted by political pandering and self-defeating populism. Industrialization, infrastructure, education, housing, foreign investment, rule of law all have been accomplished since 1965.

Of course Singapore is a much smaller place, on the other hand Thailand has abundance of natural resources, pretty good infrastructure, and many other advantages. More importantly Thai nationalism runs strong at all levels of Thai society. This is a perfect lever to create public commitment to the grand vision that the government should create and execute. It is doable with enough will and foresight. Whether the generals have either is much more important for the future of the country.

Good post. Just want to add that while Lee Kuan Yew was indeed a great leader, we must not forget that he had equally very capable ministers that collectively turned Singapore to what it is today. No one leader can lead a nation. He must have good men around him that can contribute. Lesson for Prayuth. Two outstanding ministers of the early era was deputy PM Toh Chin Chye and Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee, the architect of Singapore economic success.

Another point of importance is that for any leader to be successful, he must have the people behind him. Lee's party PAP was a novice back in 1959 but he sold his policies and campaigned for the people to trust him as their leader. He won by a landslide and kept his promises to the people with his policies and successes. Without the people's mandate, he will not be successful in turning Singapore around. Another lesson for Prayuth.