lewy67

"I am a democratic soldier but I stay in power because I want democracy to survive”. - oxymoron of the week?

"Prayut quoted Tanasak as asking Russel what the law the US will use to control the situation if it was facing the similar problems."

Let's talk hypotheticals, not reality.

What a childish clown.

Well I'm pretty sure that the US military commander would do whatever he was directed to do by his commander in chief, that is, the President, that is, the highest elected official, if faced with a Suthep type mob in the streets situation in Washington, New York, Chicago or LA. In civilized countries the military follows the orders of its elected leaders and if the majority of people think the government is crap they don't re-elect it. Maybe some ideas Prayuth should consider.

BANGKOK, 27 January 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has indicated that foreign countries understand the situation in Thailand better after he explained the country’s road map and direction to U.N. envoys from 21 countries during their meeting on Monday.

Would love to see a list of countries that gave there time to the general. I have my suspicions about who may have attended but would like them either confirmed or dismissed.

Given that there is no freedom of assembly or freedom of speech and the country is under martial law any Thai who opposes these conditions must be eligible to claim political refugee status should they be able to get to asylum. 112 is just a part of the political oppression puzzle being imposed by the military government. I can just see millions of anti fascist and red shirt refugees spilling into camps in Cambodia, Laos and Burma to escape the tyranny and seek freedom abroad.

Seems that the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel, doesn't agree with Prayuth, on the contrary, Russel sees it the way any western educated person capable of critical thought would:

"When an elected leader is removed from office, is deposed, and then impeached by authorities, the same authorities that conducted the coup, and then when a political leader is targeted with criminal charges at a time when the basic democratic processes and institutions in the country are interrupted, the international community is going to be left with the impression that these steps could in fact be politically driven," Russel said.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1422273247&typecate=06&section

Former Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat said Pheu Thai had come to a crossroads where important decisions would have to be made before it could re-emerge.

They could no longer press on with their political agenda by claiming democratic legitimacy, while ignoring rules of law or the voice of the minority, he said.

So this snake from the Democrats questions PTPs democratic legitimacy. That's amazing given the result of the last election that the notorious Democrats didn't boycott, that is, PTP 265 seat won with 48.41% of the vote, Dems 159 seats with 35.15% of the vote.

​No the PTP can not press on ignoring the rule of law or the voice of the people, either minority or majority, but The Democrats can. The Democrat, Military elite, Bangkok elite, PDRC, yellow shirt cabal ignore the rule or law and seize power by shoving guns in peoples faces - Where is the rule of law here? Where is respecting the voice of the people (minority or majority) as expressed through the 2011 election here?

So what he is really saying is that when it suits us the rule of law must be followed, except by us, because we have the guns, we have the power and although we'll never have the numbers, we are the chosen few.

What a ridiculous suggestion as everyone knows that amnesties are only for generals who overthrow governments chosen by the people.

Prayuth’s 12 Values –

From the horse’s mouth –

"They ask each kid, can you remember them? Can you recite them? It's a turnoff for the kids," Gen. Prayuth said. Absolutely correct his 12 values are a massive turnoff for the kids….

"It's useless. It doesn't cause any benefit. It's a waste of your energy,” Gen. Prayuth said. Yes he was talking about kids learning the 12 values.

“This is something that I want all show producers, talk show hosts, especially the state-owned channels or channels that use state budgets, to think about. I don't want to force or direct anything for you." But if you don’t do what I want I’ll either have you shot or stop your budget. Haven’t decided which road I’ll take yet……..

Interesting article in the New York Times re his subject. It reports on allot of things that can't be said on this Forum or in Thailand generally.

Yes . good article , The American press in general seem to be telling it how it is .

A lot of international media outlets are saying things that would be banned in Thailand and that is the beauty of a free society. I can just see the dear leader throwing one of his nasty temper tantrums about what the world thinks of him. He tries to feed the world rubbish but unfortunately the world is not Thai and sucks up his propaganda. He has even tried to make statements on others behalf and again not all people are Thai and believe anything he says.

It's a real shame that the governments from these freedom loving countries don't back up the media rhetoric with some meaningful trade sanctions against the NCPO. It's only government action that would really hurt the NCPO and NLA members but our governments don't seem to think it's that big an issue or at all important. The UDD - PTT leaders have to take a leaf out of the Burmese National League for Democracy movement and actively lobby foreign governments to punish the NCPO - NLA government

I can only re issue what has already been said,

People in Bkk and many other places say they are more happy and secure with this present government than they have been for many years with all recent governments..

They can sleep at night without being afraid of their city being burned to the ground or being taken over by Red terrorists..

Tax money is not being wasted in buying rice at double the global price ... And as for the generals making a balls-up...

They came in to protect the country from civil war caused by the last government...

Time you spent time in their shoes, before demanding the world need to live by your rules

Must be time for a free and fair election then tezza. Then we'll see how your Isan family and all the other Isan families vote. The ultimate arbiter - as your and my words mean nothing.

Also agree with Valentine that it is a positive that the UDD and PTT may move on from the ultimate influence on the Shins. It's time for these movements to evolve and to truly represent the needs of their rural poor and working class constituency and provide an electable alternative to the Democrat Party-Military Elite-Bangkok Civil Service and Business Elite-PDRC - Yellow Shirt coalition that currently fills the NLA, NCPO and runs the county though it was never chosen by the people.

Farang describing Thai taxis as expensive is ridiculous. For the service they give they must be among the cheapest in the world yet still people here want to bash them and call them rip offs. Stop being so tight and open your wallets and minds just a little bit. Not everything here is a con job.

Agree somo. My 15 minute taxi ride from home to the airport in Melbourne costs more than the 90 minute ride from swampy to Pattaya.

Keeping the rules of the forum in mind it's hard to post the type of comment many of us will feel without risking sanction.

I know the ' D ' word is banned but yesterday's display is well... !

Tyrannical despotic autocratic authoritarian dogmatic domineering...........

Ambassadors praise Thailand for implementing national reform roadmap

By Digital Content

Yeah sure;

What they really said:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/129948/did-foreign-diplomats-really-praise-thai-junta-reforms-2/

The MCOT articles are pure propaganda. Not one word of praise for the Junta from Australia or Canada.

Psssst Yingluck stroll on down to the UNHCR office in Bangkok. There is still space in the NZ refugee quota for 2015. They reckon via Cambodia is the go...........

double

He went on to affirm that the NLA has definitely not been lobbied on how to vote. Neither have the members been manipulated by any party, and the decision is the prerogative of each individual member, said the second vice president.

Why do they continually have to repeat this claim. We all know the separation of powers in Thailand is solid and has never been open to abuse and manipulation....

Yingluck 'involved in corruption'
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

And how does that make her any different from any copper, army - navy - air force officer, politician, Sino-Thai businessmen or public servant in the history of this country?

Apply the law to all equally or continue be seen as a laughing stock because your witch hunt is indefensible and totally see through to anyone who understands the separation of powers and justice.