Srikcir

"plaintiffs and defendants of cases tried in military courts after April 1 will now be able to lodge an appeal against rulings by the lower military court within 15 days of a verdict."

EXCEPT when the Junta decides otherwise under Article 44! The Junta has the power to REVERSE any court decision, whether civilian or military court. This is what having absolute power is all about.

General Prayut has accomplished a political imposibility.

He makes communism look democratic.

"Overall, economic outlook is good largely due to tourism industry which grows by 25 percent for the first three months of this year."

NO.

First, a 25% growth in tourism is questionable and may only reflect an increase in number of visitors but not an increase in revenues.

Second, tourism only accounts for about 10% of the GDP while EXPORTS account for 70% of the GDP. And exports are running almost flat and Thailand may experience a deficit trade balance by summer. For tourism to change the economic outlook for Thailand, ie., cause an overall positive GDP growth rate, it would have to grow by about 1,000% in value to match the VALUE of lost exports.

But BMA's safety measures will be implemented over two decades?

The Chinese government is a master of Article 44-like rule.

Maybe Prayut and the NRC should go to China to observe their way of handling conflict.

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You see how less Russia respect Thailand. They send the most unimportant person of the country ... But yes for Thai media it's important that at least some one is coming.


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Medvedev is the next guy after Putin, hardly unimportant and definitely not most unimportant. But I suppose by comparison maybe wields less power in Russia than Prayuth in Thailand who is president, prime minister, head of the army, police, government and everything else, even those institutions not yet set up, courtesy of article 44...

Medvedev is not the next guy after Putin. He is probably one of Putin's weakest political opponents and thus, the perfect foil to Putins power. Some Russians liken Medvedev as "Robin" to Putin's "Batman." He owes his Presidency entirely to Putin who uses Medvedev as a convenient scapegoat for as Russia’s economy slows and authorities are forced to introduce belt-tightening measures.

"If everything goes as planned, the government does not need to remain in office."

This is an odd comment as one would think that a nation needs a government in office.

"the government" is Prayut's government versus an "elected government. " What this statement says is that once Prayut establishes his shadow government, he can then allow an elected government to be created. And if everything goes as planned, the NCPO crafted constitution, laws, and clone NCPO organizations will act as checks against an elected government, and the elected government will effectively be neutralized as a governing body.

Different channel but the same soap opera.

It may be, for all the Junta's hoo-rah to join BRIC as part of their international currency pool and reject the USD as a world leading currency, that the Treasury may have kept a large reserve in USD's rather than taking the plunge in yuans and rubles. Brazil is also an economic basket case and India is tenious at best. So as the USD strenghtens against the other major world currencies, the baht is riding the USD "coat tails."

In actuality there have been no economic successes in Thailand that would prop up the baht. With 70% of its economy dependent on exports that are stagnant, and 20% in rising household debt and nonexistent government investment in the economy, the remaining 10% is tourism whose contribution to GDP growth in 2015 is questionable depending on the source of information. If Thailand loses more export value, ie., economic sanctions against the Junta from US and EU, the baht bubble will burst.

"Section 44 of the interim constitution would benefit the tourism sector more than the exports sector. "

If the Prayut government were an elected government under the 2007 Constitution, this statement would probably trigger a losing confidence vote in a real legislature (one that's not a Junta clone) and a new election would likely throw Prayut out as PM.

Exports account for about 70% of Thailand's GDP. The remainder 30% is contributed by government spending (ie., economic stimulus), consumer spending, and tourism in descending order of contribution. Exports are stagnant. Government spending on infrastructure has been nil. Consumer spending is slowing by ever increasing household debt and inflation. Obviously, if only trourism benefits more than the exports sector as well as more than the other sectors, then ............

Thailand's economy is in deep trouble.

If Article 44 remains active going into 2015, the ASEAN Community might withdraw from Thailand. There certainly will be a re-examination of democratic nation's foreign trade policies with Thailand that could further shrink its exports to the point of economic collapse. The Junta & anti-government protesters have already cost the Thai people about bt600 billion 2013-2015. Now it appears the nation will continue to pay more through poor Junta economic policies and a further economic downturn going into 2016. The only breakthrough for the Junta will be that Thailand will suffer its first unemployment ranks greater than 3%.

"Excise tax collection in March rose 15% over the target"

What's the point being made with this announcement?

The additional excise tax was not the result of any government strategy, step up in enforcement, nor better collection performance. Overall tax collection has again fallen short of expectations; the inheritance tax is dead; and the land & building tax is so watered down as to be nonproductive when it goes into effect next year.

So the price of diesel goes up and more is collected for excise tax - an automatic result. NLA passes a higher tax on alcoholic drink and tobacco prices that hits the average Thai taxpayer who pay it if they want the product, almost like a VAT - an automatic result.

It seems more like the Junta is desparate to find some "ggod news" in its handling of the economy and replenishing the treasury that it keeps dipping its fingers into for "gifts" and populist programs. Yingluck would have been envious.

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Anyone would think the US is the only country involved in the negotiations and Obama is to blame for everything.

All the other countries walked out and Kerry stayed and begged for a deal - ANY DEAL. This is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity, because presidents this naive don't come along more often.

Pure fantasy. Please cite a reference that the other countries walked out. Russia and China have largely remained silent and uninvolved in the negotiations but have NEVER walked out on negotiations.

Anyone really think that either Russia or China who are part of the P-5 want another nuclear armed nation near their borders that is controlled by an Islamic regime? Especially one that has expressed imperialistic aims over the entire Middel East and supported jihadists in Syria, the Sinai, and Iraq?

None of the P-5 countries have WALKED OUT. What they have indicated however, is that if the P-5 does not agree on a treaty that shutsdown Iran's nuclear weapons program, each are free to make their own agreements with Iran that WILL be counter to US and Israel security.

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Obama is allowing Iran to enrich uranium, even though they don't need it for energy, and they could just buy it like most other countries. What a stupid deal. North Korea again, but worse.

Like other countries? The US, China, and Russia make their own for nuclear energy purposes. Why shouldn't Iran?

Iran like the US, Russia, China, and Iran are signatories to the Non Proliferation Nuclear Agreement that PERMITS refinement of uranium for purposes of power generation. Why should some signatories be able to exercise their rights but not Iran?

It looks like the CDC is building up all these "public forums" as a substitute for a public referendum on the draft constitution. Throw in another NIDA survey or two and the draft constitution will be declared to have support by the majority of the Thai people.

Just a clarifying point.

Panthep agreed to submit a list of more than 100 officials to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha for transfer consideration. Thus far, the NACC has submitted a list of 10 officials. Will he then witch-hunt the remainding 90?

The permits would allow 1,235 landless families live and use the land for communal forest purposes.

How does this actually work for commercial purposes?

How do these people develop the properties, ie., into a sustainable agricultural use that may take 1-5 years for a harvest - maybe up to 10 years for timber?

They are landless that implies limited or no access to capital. Unless they are wealthy or can form an investment company to accumulate capital, the property will be used solely as a rent-free residence.

Without knowing more specifics about this program, handout of permits seems more like an empty PR campaign directed at an anti-Junta population.

"Article 44, however, cannot be applied to harm anybody until it is used,"

Torture cannot be applied to harm anybody UNTIL IT IS USED.

Execution cannot be applied to harm anybody UNTIL IT IS USED.

Thank you for the clarification!

Has the Junta now become a terrorist organization as well as a conquering army? I must congradulate the 60 million Thai people for their calm in the face of their complete subjugation by an elite organization.

"the reform plans may not be embraced by future administrations after the junta allows an election to bring back democracy."

That's the whole point - not to allow democracy to come back in any shape or form. The majority electorate will just mess up all the Junta's reforms for the Thai people who are clearly incapable of deciding their own future from the Junta's perspective. Democracy must be subverted for the sake of establishing a good foundation for democracy - what?

Another failed Junta economic policy.

Fifteen per cent of Thailand's GDP comes from DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION that generates profits that in turn supply capital for business growth. But the Junta has some perverse idea that it is for the good of Thai society to control price changes that effectively lead to lower profit margins. Between Thailand's worsening household debt and suppression of buiness profits, the economy will continue to sink.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed that his government would do its best to ensure a strong economic performance this year, and told the business sector not to worry about the political situation. The Nation 2015-01-13

IT'S TIME TO WORRY !

Seventy per cent of Thailand's GDP growth comes from exports. Thus far, almost flat

Thirty per cent comes from domestic consumption, government and business investment. The Junta-led government has consistently refused to make massive investments in the Thai economy. Domestic consumption is burdened with increasingly out of control household debt.

Obviously, even if tourism increases for 2013, its contribuition to GDP growth will be insignificant. From an economic perspective, reound of tourism alone will not help the economy AS A WHOLE rebound. It is a false sense of security to think otherwise. Thailand's economic survival relies solely on EXPORTS.

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This Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, needs his head examined.

If he tells us that the tourists started flooding the country because of the lift of martial law, 4 days ago, and the future of the economy is all roses because of the government steps, he is either lying or hasn't got the brain to understand the real truth.

Hope we are not going back listening to government rhetorics without any substance.

You just violated Article 44. Start looking over your shoulders when you proceed to speak again. That is all.

Your experience with "new" members critisizing you with little or previous postings might occur more frequently if the Junta decides to go full tilt with Article 44.

If the Junta feels forums like TV where there is still persistent criticism of the Junta, government and Thai life under Junta rule, even under current forum ground rules, the Junta may embark on a propoganda effort through "new members" to discredit OP's. Can you imagine what the TV forum will look like if it suddenly gains 10,000 "new" members who consistently express support for the Junta and verbally attack OPs who raise the slightest conflict with Junta's behavior and actions?

This pay raise is nothing earth-shattering. It's a continuation of the overhaul of the salary structure for civil servants that began with the Yingluck administration in 2011. The Nation 2011-10-03.

The Junta's Commerce Ministry last year was going to raise civil servant salaries this year by an unprecedented 8% to "help boost consumers’ purchasing power and simultaneously assist in helping the country's economy recover faster." 2014-08-08 However, "Earlier the cabinet approved the 4 per cent salary rise for 1.98 million government officials and their increases took effect on Dec 1 [2014] that will cost the state Bt22.9 billion annually.....Also included was a 4% raise in pensions for 533,000 pensioners that will cost the State Bt3.85 billion annually." 2014-12-29

Obviously, between the government's weak revenue collections and worsening economy in 2014 and 2015, it probably can't afford even 4%. But still 4% increase is more than any other business sectors are getting and that may be a questionable inequality. It didn't raise the daily minimum wage.

Like its payoff to the rice and rubber farmers who threatened the Junta with protests, perhaps the Junta needs to keep the loyalty of civil servants. But in time it may also need to consider the loyalty of the remaining 60 million Thais.

The current government better be careful.

A future junta/NACC may be taking them to court and possible jail for "Negligence" in the 2015 rubber fiasco.

No.

The NCPO has written into the Interim Charter and the draft 2015 Constitution both amnesty and legal relief from any of its present and future actions and decisions. It would take a new government that could circumvent the military's armed forces to negate such provisions. And certainly the military will be watchful that no one will have that capability, under the guise of national security of course.

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I feel a handout coming on

I think that happened already. I think it depends who is doing the handout as to whether it is OK or not?

2014-10-12

Yingluck tried to placate the rubber farmers following violent protests in the south in summer 2013. She doled out $80 per 0.4 acres (0.16 hectares) to help ease dropping prices. It obviously wasn't enough.

2014-12-09

“Many rubber farmers live in the nation's south, a region home to the ultra-royalists who backed the May coup that brought the military to power.”

The Nation 2014-10-19

"Rubber farmers in Surat Thani said yesterday the [Prayut] government's goal to push for a price of Bt60 per kilogram while also providing farmers Bt1,000 per rai, for up to 15 rai as in a fertiliser subsidy, was acceptable....The rubber price is currently under Bt50."

The Nation 2014-10-29

"LEADERS OF rubber farmers in the South have expressed disappointment with the government subsidy of Bt1,000 per rai, limited to a maximum of 15 rai each."

2014-12-09

"farmers were demanding 70 baht ($2.12) for a kilogram of latex rubber and 80 baht per kilo for rubber sheet....latex rubber was selling for 33 baht per kilo while ...the sheet rubber Monday was at 51.65 baht a kilo."

The Nation 2014-12-10

"DISGRUNTLED RUBBER farmers said yesterday that they were giving the government a few more weeks to push the price of rubber up to at least Bt80 per kilogram, or they would kick off massive rallies....the Cabinet had approved a Bt10-billion budget to shore up the price of concentrated latex."

When a PM has unrestricted access to the Thai treasury and absolute power, there is nothing that can't be accomplished.