Srikcir

This case screams for separation of religion from State. Can you imagine what Prayut's BFF China's authroities would do in a similiar situation?

Wouldn't moving AMLO from the Justice Ministry and put directly under the prime minister challenge transparency and encourage corruption when accountable to only the man who holds absolute power over all government agencies? Big deal that the Secretary-General of AMLO will be nonpolitical; the SG will report directly to the PM Prayut who also holds the AMLO budget.

The bottom line is that the military will be insulated from any money laundering probes. So much for equality of law under Juta reforms.

Buddhism is the official State-sponsored religion. Thailand's Head of State is required to be Buddhist. Buddhist ceremonies are prevalent in many government functions. Civil service employees are given paid sabbatical to become short-term monks.

If Thailand is going to move with the rest of Asia into the 21st century, it needs to change itself from a theocratic government to a secular government. It needs to terminate its Department of Religious Affairs that promotes and protects Buddhism. Buddhism needs to be treated equally with all the other religions in Thailand and that includes application of the rule of law against any illegal civil or criminal actions.

The NACC was going to investigate this government-to-government deal to make sure there is no corruption involved. The deal does not involve any of the normal competitive bidding processes and few details have been released by the government as to the details of the rail project and to all the commercial development side agreements. But it appears the NACC is overwhelmed with its critical mission to railroad former government officials and seems to have given Prayut a railpass on the project.

Thai's financial problems go beyond operational mismanagement and this scheme will do little to make the company profitable in the forseeable future. The cause is that it is a majority State-owned company. The State considers the airlines as part of its national security and personal asset. As such normal business decisions are not driven by purely stakeholder equity interests.

All of the State's ownership in the airlines should be sold to investors who have experience owning and operating airlines in the Asian market and with long-haul carriers. But the State cannot sell its interests because of the Foreign Business Act that restricts foreign ownership to a maximum of 49%.

After considerable pressure from many foreign embassy finance attaches last year, the Prayut has made implicit approval of the use of a loophole in the law that allows Thai-owned stock to be pledged to foreign owners that effectively gives foreign investors control of a Thai company. But there is no guarantee such a loophole will remain, especially after the Junta's enactment of Article 44.

This arilines economic plight won't end anytime soon.

It is time to face the possibility that what this junta lacks is not power, but the basic ability to govern.

Not only this junta but the serial juntas over the last 70 some-odd years....

And to think that some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes...

"some people blame the last government for all of Thailand's woes"

I've not seen that, I think most of us realise that the corruption & mis-management go back much further, however some administrations seem better than others at rooting some of it out.

So it's a matter of poor-government, versus totally-inept ones, and how much they ever deliver from the pretty words & promises. At least the daily shootings/bombings (excluding the South ... which is a separate situation) have been stopped for now, barring a few idiots.

In an ideal democratic world, there would be someone honest & competent to lead the country, but I can't currently see who that might be. And whether they'd be permitted to do so, by the amart or military or Thaksin's bunch, is debateable.

Sometimes one has to choose the less-bad option in life, until a better one comes along.

That applies to any country. Especially the US, being the largest promoter of "democracy". Can Americans govern? It does not appear so. And I say that as an American. So, incompetence at the National level is a worldwide issue. Please suggest some examples if you are aware of a few well governed nations. Perhaps in Scandinavia?

The US

People should read the fine print of their travel insurance before thinking that lifting martial law now makes the policy fully valid. Most policies also include a phrase "usurped power" along with martial law. This could be used to deny claims.

usurped power

A phrase common in insurance policies since the 18th century—and still found in standard war exclusions—that refers to an organized military operation, either foreign or domestic, that seizes the powers legally conferred upon a government. It is distinguished from insurrections and mob uprisings by the requirement that an organized military force must be used. Losses stemming from usurped power, like other related losses attributable to war, are excluded from most forms of commercial insurance.

Also, life insurance companies do not normally compensate for death due to war or war-related developments.

I believe that Japan's restrictions also required recertification of the aircraft as well, not just corrections or revisions to Thai aviation operational procedures. Aircraft recertification is not a quick fix. If aircraft maintenance has been minimal, undocumented, or lacking then recertification may take some time. If Thailand is allowed to fly the uncertified chartered aircraft temporarily while recertification and operational reviews are ongoing, it better prayut that there are no crashes.

If the Junta tries to fabricate meaningless changes to minimize the delay for visitor arrivals and departures, these three countries will discover it. Then the Junta will come to know what it means to be on the receiving end of "You do not understand." Meanwhile, tourist revenues for Thailand are likely to falter further in the 2nd quarter of 2015.

We have three choices as to the nature of the alleged killers of the Malya-Thais: Soldiers, police, and paramilitary.

I would not charaterize soldiers and police as "security forces." What seems left is that the alleged killers are paramilitary - typically civilians trained and armed by the military. In other parts of the world paramilitary actions against unarmed civilian populations would be considered "terrorists." Using terror tactics to fight insurgents will not lead them to the peace table.

Meanwhile, the government remains blind to the problems causing the insurgency. General Prayut actually claims now that his government's handling of violence in the deep South was more effective because it had been carried out in an integrated manner under a road map worked out under his guidelines.

Wow, if only the government had some sort of policy to help the rice farmers, perhaps they could call it a "rice scheme" and the purpose of the "rice scheme" would be to funnel government expenditure away from the Bangkok fatcats and into the pockets of the poverty stricken rural rice farmers who could then use those funds to modernise their machinery and farming techniques to increase the industries efficiencies and profitability - even if the "rice scheme" were to initially operate at a loss, the long term gains of lifting millions out of poverty and increasing Thailand's international competitiveness would pay off handsomely by generating huge economic and social dividends and eliminating the need for the government to constantly bail out the industry. If only Thailand had leaders with such foresight. How we rational souls miss you Yingluck.

What was rational about Yingluk's rice scam?

How much of the B700 billion, and rising, lost ended up in the pockets of poor rice farmers?

How much of the B700+ billion loss was steered away from the non-rice growers of Thailand who live nowhere near Bangkok?

Just how is a glut of production and warehouses full of rotting rice bought at way above market value helped to increase the industries efficiencies and profitability?

But where has that money gone? How many people in that scheme have been arrested and assets investigated, it's no small amount to make it disappear like that, there HAS to be a paper/electronic trail leading some where, and it's just way too obvious to say it went to Dubai, did it? as much as I'd love to believe it did, show me 100% proof that it did, otherwise it's nothing more than hearsay, and speculation and hope.

700 Billion baht is a huge amount to not know where it went, I just cant wait for Yingluck to explain where its gone, but the NACC hasn't been able to trace a single Stang, and you just don't shift that amount of money overseas into Foreign accounts without banks themselves being complicit in the transfers.

It stinks to the high heavens, but as far as I know, none of those investigated within the scheme had wealth increase by the billions/millions without explanations.

"But where has that money gone?"

This has been often asked and the answer is NOWHERE under Yingluck.

If I buy a bag of rice from you at 100 baht HIGHER than market price, then resell the rice at market rice, 100 baht is lost.

The Yingluck rice pledge program was intended to pay up to 2x current market price, stockpile the rice to force market prices to or beyond the government purchase price, thus recouping the government outlays that could be pay then to the farmers. Yingluck didn't actually pay the farmers to stockpile the rice (except for initial pledges made in early 2013 that was paid from rice sales), only made a pledges to pay them a set price when the rice was sold.

But foreign rice competitors continued to dump cheap rice on the market and actually caused a decrease in rice market prices. Public pressure largley from the PDRC built against Yingluck to take care of the rice farmers financial plight. But by that time the government was in caretaker status due to dissolution of the parliament. That meant the normal avenue available to the governent, issuance of treasury bonds to raise funds, could not occur without approval from the Electtion Committee as per the 2007 Constitution. The EC refused. Yingluck then went to banks who initially said they would lend the government funds to pay the farmers but pressure from the PDRC anti-government protesters forced the banks to refuse.

After the military coup in May 2014 and abolishment of the Constitution, one of the Junta's first acts was to ORDER the sale of treasury bonds to generate funds to pay the farmers at Yingluck's rice pledge prices. That's where the Bt700 billion went. It was paid out to the rice farmers and the Junta has committed the government to pay back the treasury bonds over the next ten years from Thai tax collections.

Ironically, the Junta has now done a similar program with rubber farmers. it is buying and stockpiling rubber latex at higher than market prices. It then hopes as did Yingluck to put pressure on the world supply to increase prices above the government paid prices.

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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?"

But what was it like before the coup?

The further suppression of the NHRC comes as no surprise, especially now with Article 44 in full use by the Junta. General Prayut will be solely responsbile to determine the who, what, where, and how on human rights exist in Thailand.

It would be more honest to simply eliminate any reference to a human rights commission in the government and retire Niran Pitakwatchara. I am sure Prayut's appointed Ombudsman General Wittawat Ratchatanan, former Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defense, can handle any human rights issues.

I appreciate the Junta's support for populist policies to provide immediate economic relief to a targeted group of people in the Thai society who are in need of financial assistance:

- 28,000, will have 4 billion baht in debt waived

- 300,000 and 400,000 to have debt restructured with principle suspended for 3 years

- 450,000 to have repayment periods extended with fines waived

Last year the Junta-led government through the BAAC distributed Bt30-billion to 2.8 million rice farming families, established a Bt10-billion budget to shore up the price of concentrated latex for rubber farmers, approved milk price hikes for dairy farmers, and through BAAC injected Bt3-billion to help the cassava farmers to delay cassava harvests.

BUT

Farmers are not the only Thais affected adversely by debts. The Junta needs to develop a comprehensive agriculture plan and general economic plan that helps ALL Thais with debt issues. The Junta needs to institute necessary economic safety nets, massive governmental investments, and stimulate the business environment to create a growing economy.

Thus far, the government only seems capable of providing quick handouts and subsidies that do not fit into any overall economic strategy. Eventually, the Junta's targeted economic distributions will burden the government budget in 2016 which will further hamper implementation of any overall economic support system given a continued stagnation of the economy and decreasing tax revenues.

Thai’s New Year Songkran festival is certainly unique in the world as a celebration. It is an essence of Thai culture.

But why don't Chinese have more festivals in China so that they can enjoy celebrations in their own country as well. With a 1,000 year old culture I'd think there would be many such potential unique events every month. I have never understood why Chinese would travel from China to Thailand (or any other country for that matter) to celebrate Chinese News Year. I would think it would be just the reverse. That Chinese from all over the world would travel to China for Chinese New Year.

Maybe it's a matter of suppression in their society to express happiness with anything not condoned and organized by the State. Hence, we experience what would seems to be unruly behavior by Chinese at festivals outside China when it's actually driven by short moments of delirious personal freedom.

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These UN experts or any other international body will comment only in their area of expertise ignoring anything else, they will consider nothing outside their remit - so generally I and most right thinking people would agree with what he said but it really has very little to do with what is going in Thailand right now...................terrorists have been silenced, they are even being brought to justice - I would be interested in this mans opinion about that but it really isn't his area, this thread and the headline are rather twisted to an extent because although I would not dispute the points made it has no bearing on what has gone on here and what needs fixed - and I'm going to repeat myself again......history doesn't lie

Thailand needs a hero to pull it out of this cycle of political destruction- is Prayuth Chan (O) Cha that man ? well it remains to be seen, but I know who it isn't

A "hero" in a democratic society does not wield absolute power over society.

If the Thai GDP growth rate remains relatively flat throughout 2015 (and the 1st quarter is close to that), Thailand will have a bigger issue with its first unemployment rates and how those people can sustain themselves.

They'll need that rise to pay income tax levied on them.

Unlikely.

Thailand has the lowest tax collection rate in the world at 20% vs 40%. Even the Junta falls short with all its absolute powers.

"The media organisations suggested that there must be clear guidelines or rules for the security authorities in their exercising of discretion."

I think General Prayut has always made his policy perfectly clear in paraphrasing the following:

"If you have nothing nice to say about the NCPO, Prayut government et al, you have nothing to say."

So how much is the current government actually paying (directly) to farmers? The bloomberg article doesn't give details

"In addition to buying at above-market prices, the government makes direct payments to growers and helps with borrowing costs. While the junta has ruled out purchasing rice, it also makes payments directly to farmers and subsidizes loans to help millers and growers with storage."

The Nation 2014-12-10

“…the Cabinet had approved a Bt10-billion budget to shore up the price of concentrated latex....Sunthorn [Rakrong, coordinator for Rubber Farmers' Saviour Front] complained that the [Prayut] government had wasted a massive amount of money, because the measures it was spent on failed to help rubber farmers … because some farmers don't own the land and can't claim the subsidy,"

2015-03-11

“The Rubber Estate Organisation today called off a rubber auction after not a single rubber trader showed up to sell their rubber sheets at the central rubber market in Buri Ram province.”

“It was reported that traders or rubber farmers were reluctant to participate in the auction because they believed that they would not get good prices. Earlier, they were offered prices 8-10 baht per kilogramme above market prices but, this time, the prices expected to be on par with market prices.”

Government gamble failed. Who will pay back the losses to the Thai taxpayers?

However beneficial or not that it is to the PA, its membership in the ICC as opposed to the lack of Israel's membership further strengthens the concept of a two-state situation between Palestine and Israel. You'd think the Nethanyu would be thrilled with such an action by the PA as he often insists he really supports a two-state solution. But Israel will remain outside the ICC and insist the Palestine "state" has no standing.

The ICC nonmember US is in a position to move ICC and the UN towards more proactive decisions supporting a two-state solution since Nethanyu also denounces the two-state solution. The US can and should now allow evenhanded criticisms of the PA and Israel in UN settings. Israel needs some hard love to change its political behavior that is already demanded by 50% of its electorate.

The US needs to put Israel ACROSS the other side of the negotiating table opposing the PA instead of Israel sitting behind the US whispering sweet nothings. Obama has a propensity for using political strategies that break with traditional positions to change political directions as he did with Russia, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, etc. The remainder of Obama's term may yield more strategies on achieving a two-state solution if the ISIL and Syria conflicts are largely moderated.

The problem with companies like this one when it comes to bidding on government contracts is the requirement that they can demonstrate familiarity with Thailand laws and regulations. In other words, they have to have previous business dealings in the country to be qualified.

This policy has locked out successful foreign companies and starup domestic companies. Thai governments seem more comfortable dealing with existing Thai companies than new competitors, even when they have a global track record. This may become a barrier with the ASEAN Community companies that will try to enter the Thai business sector at the start of 2016.

Don't underestimate General Prayut.

Where before TAT was promoting tourism under martial law, he will personally develop numerous promotions to humanize Article 44:

- Tourism under absolute rule

- Catch 44 Contests

- 44 Values

- 44 Shades of Camoflage

- 44 Ways to Happiness Songs

- 44 absolute LINE stickers

Indeed Thailand will become the Hub of Absolutes.

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In the OP it states "grants him near-absolute power' In my reading of Article 44 it would seem that that he has granted himself absolute power. Can anyone enlighten me as to what he is prevented in doing?

Allowing democracy back into Thailand?

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Khamanei never recognized a two stage schedule for negotiations from the start. Obama insisted on one for talks which had already been postponed on three separate occasions. Obama has folded as per usual, something for which he can always be relied on.

P.s note the inversion of reality from the White House in claiming sanctions would force Israel to use military action when in effect negotiating a bad deal would. To keep folding to Iran guarantees a bad deal, if a deal can't be had then letting Iran run the clock puts the world in greater danger.

Pakistan, India, China, Russia, Israel, North Korea, UK has nuclear weapons, in many more countries there are nuclear weapons stored, like in Germany.

Why are they allowed to have Nukes and Iran not?

Signatory to the Non Proliferation Nuclear Agreement?