Eric Loh

Reconciliation and reform were the reasons stated for the coup. Now the coup leader is saying reconciliation is voluntary and we are no nearer to any meaningful reform. So what the hell was the coup staged for?

Shouldn't the cases be investigated by the corruption agencies first before any punishment. Why this arbitrary decision in one person's hand to decide. This can easily turn out to be some kind of purge or revenge by jealous colleagues.

This certainly flies against the theory that the PTP and reds desperately want Abhisit to stay with the Dems because that ensures they will never win an election.

As stated before they are intimidated by his intellect, commitment to moving the nation forward and highly tuned debating skills which literally shut down any chance of the Reds or PTP going one on one with him on live TV as he would cut them down and they know it.

Farmers just need policies to help them not highly tuned debating. Reach out to them and you win the election.

Farmers just need (sustainable) policies to help them not highly tuned debating.

I changed your post slightly to bring it into reality.

Reach out to them and you win the election. Which no one has actually done yet. Farmers need better financial and agricultural education. They need a year on year sustainable method of attaining the necessary products (fertilizer etc) at cost or near cost pricing. Finally they need to know that the products farmed are going to sustain a MINIMUM price were they can earn money. Other countries do it without actually taking buying the products outright.

I like the additional sustainable word. The bare facts are that most subsidy schemes worldwide are budgeted for lost and key driver is to support the mass poor. Farming in almost all developing countries and even some developed countries are subsidized one form or the other. I will be honest to say that the previous rice scheme was OTT and unmanageable. Farmers are also old and not attracting the younger generation and will be difficult to be educated. I don't see that changing and really up to the government to implement policies that can attract the younger & eager to learn new generation farmers. Taiwan showed the world it can be done and they re-vitalized farming. Part of the Taiwan revolution was to have a side income besides farming and the Taiwanese did that with agri-tourism and alternative crops. Lots any government can do to help the farming industry and lots can be improved with a better infrastructure and ecosystem.

This certainly flies against the theory that the PTP and reds desperately want Abhisit to stay with the Dems because that ensures they will never win an election.

As stated before they are intimidated by his intellect, commitment to moving the nation forward and highly tuned debating skills which literally shut down any chance of the Reds or PTP going one on one with him on live TV as he would cut them down and they know it.

Farmers just need policies to help them not highly tuned debating. Reach out to them and you win the election.

Prayut should turn it round on them and display the 3 fingered salute.

1/ Reform

2/ Reconciliation

3/ Peace (as the red thugs are no longer holding the nation at the barrel of an M79)

I am saddened that Prayut is following the red ethos that if you don't agree with us we will intimidate and threaten you. At least he is not directing violence at them like the reds SOP's dictates.

I see that you back from your sabbatical. Just to fill you in, nothing really hapen while you away. No reform, reconciliation and yes, the nation is still held at the barrel of guns and tanks and directing violence at people who don't agree with his junta. Prisoners die in lock-up and corruptions still happening. Now you are briefed accordingly and you can resume your sabbatical until the next election.

It would solve part of the health funding problems through insurance underwriting as most health care scheme operates internationally. At least it would be possible for the social security and the civil servant schemes as they have registered members and also the most fund exhausting schemes. I may be wrong but I heard and seen nothing on insurance health schemes tailored to accordingly to the contribution of members without them paying extras.

Major significance in the renaming of the park as another tool to silence the critics.

When will the interior ministry submit a list of corrupted RTP and the RTA suspects. Forget about commitment to root out corruption if you don't include the list of suspects from the most corrupted government agencies.

Pity the difference between a native and a citizen was never understood. To help.

Native - someone who was born in the land/someone whose ancestors have been living in those lands for thousands of years. Natives can be also citizens.

Citizen - someone who was born in the land but his ancestors came from somewhere else, therefore, that person is a citizen but not Native to the land.

Would prefer he talk and seen less. He is just a talking and walking disaster.

If today stock market crash in Asia is any indication, expect a rough ride this year. China weak factory activities, abundance inventory and a fluctuating currency are bad signs. The other major economies in Europe are still weak and USA is still trying to find some firm ground. ASEAN countries will battle a currency depreciation and high household debts. We only have the tourist industry and infrastructure spending to drive our domestic economy. As long as we don't have a democratically elected government, we will find trade negotiation with the rich nations difficult. The analysts play it safe to compare last year which is a low base and we can't go any lower.

Can't wait for his response. Maybe impose article 44 to ban all calendars in Thailand.

He probably angry that his PR team didn't think of this first.

Lots of envy from Puke Thai and their online minnows. Abhisit is practically the only 'clean' and good natured native with enough brains to drag Muang Thai out of the mire and into the real world. Nothing will ever stick on him because he's the genuine article. Only those with vested interests and muddy spectacles trying in vain to make him look bad think otherwise. Sad really. Rock on, Mark. [emoji6]

You really know nothing and still have the gall to be derogatory. Native is associated with the place that the individual was born. Ahbisit was born in Newcastle, UK. Rest of your post, never mind.

What crap, you should think bigger and wider and longer-term and with an open mind. Your comments are in fact more than insulting.

Put it all in other words, your saying that anybody not born in Thailand is bad, is inferior, is not acceptable.

Shame shame and triple shame on you.

Your new year resolution ought to be read more and talk less. Nothing that you posted directly refer to my reply to previous poster. Along the way, you make up lots of nonsensical inclusion. You really is a class troll.

Lots of envy from Puke Thai and their online minnows. Abhisit is practically the only 'clean' and good natured native with enough brains to drag Muang Thai out of the mire and into the real world. Nothing will ever stick on him because he's the genuine article. Only those with vested interests and muddy spectacles trying in vain to make him look bad think otherwise. Sad really. Rock on, Mark. [emoji6]

You really know nothing and still have the gall to be derogatory. Native is associated with the place that the individual was born. Ahbisit was born in Newcastle, UK. Rest of your post, never mind.

Ginjag - I'm be really curious to know what country you come from. Where I'm from (Australia and Canada), I can't imagine there are many people who believe that a military occupation, suppression of free speech and thought (aka 'attitude adjustment'), and indefinite (multi-year) suspension of democratic institutions is the appropriate solution for social-political discord.

The Shins may have been corrupt, but they did not create Thailand's social divide. They merely showed the formerly powerless that they actually do have power in numbers and that they shouldn't simply 'accept their place'. Politics was no longer just a game to be played in Bangkok. And for all the reverence you have for Prayuth and Prem, they cannot put that genie back in the bottle. Which is why your 'solution' is no solution at all...

painful as it is, I think he is British, there are a number on here, all junta junkies, English John, Baerboxer, and the resident wiki member for KKP. All an embarrassment to the old country. If it wasn't for the Shins their sad lives would be bereft. Why don't they the just sup their Leo and read the DM.

"...They merely showed the formerly powerless that they actually do have power in numbers and that they shouldn't simply 'accept their place'. ..."

How many times has this facile / total twist of the real truths involved been thrown out.

Are you going back to page 1 of the playbook, please not again?

.

It's a summary and thus subject to several caveats.But it's not an unfair comment and certainly not facile.I don't think the more thoughtful Democrats would dissent from it.

Thailand's challenge is for the majority of its people to identify with and to have "ownership" of government.There's no one template for this and the eventual democratic solution will be rooted in Thailand's traditions.

The Junta and its acolytes don't have the answer.They simply want to shore up the rotting existing structure.

I like your comment and there are few key words that described the faltering democracy that Thailand has been experiencing since 1932.

Challenge is indeed for the majority of Thais to identify and take ownership. Thaksin did well to recognize and built on previously voiceless majority that brought him success at the polls. He was rid off not because he was corrupted but because he was popular and awaken this majority. The junta and its backers fear that.

The only way to stop this increasing swing and disrupt the status quo were played out repeatedly in the 18 coups. The future hangs in the balance and much dependent on acceptance of the reality as stuffing back the genie will not be possible.

Thailand economy is about 1T USD annual and here we have a economist wannabe claiming Bt15 B stimulus package a success. He should use stick to regurgitating scripts as a spokesman.

Think he re-cycled his old note that he used for 2015 especially the election bit that never happen and so were the rest of his duties.

I believed he did spoke truthfully about his intention to the reporter but was told to take back off by party incumbents. Dem Party is at its lowest ebb from the Suthep's fallout and Sukhamband's poor performance. Any more party leadership fighting will further weaken the party and split their supporters. Party really has no choice but to stick with Ahbisit who has close ties with the Amart and the military like they did when the party was first founded.

There are other reformist leaders in the party who want to bring back the 90s spirit of the party slogan of "power vested in the people". They were called the people party and were against the military. Don't think the Amart can trust any new reformist leaders like Surin.

Not sure on the make up of the 18 privy councillors which under the constitution can't be from members of the lower house, senators, ombudsman, NACC, judges and EC. Does that make this an army veteran club? Just curious.

It will another exercise in futility as politicians like Ahbisit and Suthep are protected species and no harm will fall on them. I will add generals into this category too. Until Thailand has a honest and credible judiciary system, we can expect more of this injustice.

These ridiculous charges were brought by Thaksin (via his cronies) to blackmail Abhisit and Suthep to accept an amnesty bill.

Charging them with murder in those circumstances was simply ridiculous.

We've all seen the videos and the Army were clearing out armed terrorists from the streets of Bangkok. The riot police should have done it earlier but they wouldn't. The protesters should have accepted the offer of an election but they wouldn't. The line that they were peaceful protesters is a lie only hypocrites will stand behind because it suits them.

I've stood in the Dusit Thani hotel while someone pointed out to me all the rooftops where the mercenary snipers were positioned. And I saw a .50 cal hole in the roof which came from that direction.

Thaksin set up a bloodbath using his own supporters hoping to incite a peoples uprising so he could come back home as the saviour of his people. That's how much he loves you red-shirts. Just like he threw you under a bus with the amnesty bill. How many more lessons do you need before you start to cotton on ?.

ha ha ha it's old one eye again....

All evidence show that "protest" was not peaceful like you want to believe.

Existence of armed element in rank of red shirt has been proved.

Too right it was an armed resistance against an armed oppressor.

Very, very brave souls taking to the streets to protest against the theft of their nation by an extremely well armed opponent.

1973 - Student uprising = 77 dead
1976 - Thammasat massacre = 46 dead
1992 - Black May = 52 dead
2010 - Red shirt massacre = 98 dead

Over the years brave Thais have and will continue to pay with their blood in their struggle for freedom and democracy.

what absolute <deleted>.. And disrespectful to the previous student protests!

Could have staged a coup in 2010 and avoided the massacre. The events in 2010 was much more dire than 2014. Only difference was the government at hand. Not hard to see the reasons. And now the icing on the cake; they cleared the people who were responsible for the killings.

If this people (the red terrorist) did not resort to violence for help a convict to be back his money, this tragedy would not have occurred

Thaksin and Khattiya have prepared all

Chinese Lunar New Year is on the 8th Feb. Yes, lots of time.

Your wife is right and she is taking about the Chinese animal for next lunar year which happen to be a monkey year. Tiger and monkey don't get along and there will be challenges to your career, love, health etc. To overcome it, you need to be strong and control the monkey metaphorically. Do that for her and she will have a peace of mind. If really something happen, she will use that reference if you don't comply. All the best mate.

I see.

Not much into buying animals, but I guess we can pick up a turtle and simply release it 1 second later.

It is really a very simple effort. Buy pla suan from the market. Cost only 20 B each. Release the fishes in the klong with turtle. Peace and harmony restored.

These ridiculous charges were brought by Thaksin (via his cronies) to blackmail Abhisit and Suthep to accept an amnesty bill.

Charging them with murder in those circumstances was simply ridiculous.

We've all seen the videos and the Army were clearing out armed terrorists from the streets of Bangkok. The riot police should have done it earlier but they wouldn't. The protesters should have accepted the offer of an election but they wouldn't. The line that they were peaceful protesters is a lie only hypocrites will stand behind because it suits them.

I've stood in the Dusit Thani hotel while someone pointed out to me all the rooftops where the mercenary snipers were positioned. And I saw a .50 cal hole in the roof which came from that direction.

Thaksin set up a bloodbath using his own supporters hoping to incite a peoples uprising so he could come back home as the saviour of his people. That's how much he loves you red-shirts. Just like he threw you under a bus with the amnesty bill. How many more lessons do you need before you start to cotton on ?.

ha ha ha it's old one eye again....

All evidence show that "protest" was not peaceful like you want to believe.

Existence of armed element in rank of red shirt has been proved.

Too right it was an armed resistance against an armed oppressor.

Very, very brave souls taking to the streets to protest against the theft of their nation by an extremely well armed opponent.

1973 - Student uprising = 77 dead
1976 - Thammasat massacre = 46 dead
1992 - Black May = 52 dead
2010 - Red shirt massacre = 98 dead

Over the years brave Thais have and will continue to pay with their blood in their struggle for freedom and democracy.

what absolute <deleted>.. And disrespectful to the previous student protests!

Your wife is right and she is taking about the Chinese animal for next lunar year which happen to be a monkey year. Tiger and monkey don't get along and there will be challenges to your career, love, health etc. To overcome it, you need to be strong and control the monkey metaphorically. Do that for her and she will have a peace of mind. If really something happen, she will use that reference if you don't comply. All the best mate.