Srikcir

At the rate that the Prayut regime is borrowing money and supporting populist subsidies one might confuse it with a PTP regime.

But since Prayut can operate without prosecution for abuse of power nor recall by the Thai people, one cannot confuse the Prayut regime with democracy.

We will also issue certificates to guarantee their travel.

These certificates will be the most counterfeited documents in Thai history. The Thai military will wonder how they ever issued 4 million certs when the whole Souther Malay-Thai population is 4 million.

20% of all registered nurses in the US state of California are Filipinos (2013).

Wage scale for US resident nurses cannot discriminate by nationality. It's unconstitutional.

The so-called "village volunteers" are likely the "paramilitary security forces" that have killed innocent civilians recently in a number of unprovoked attacks on Islamic schools and mosques believeing insurgents present. But the military has apologized.

Apparently the insurgents haven't.

It's not actually cutting edge clean coal technology but rather cutting edge emissions technology.

To burn effeciently coal actually has to be ground which makes it very dirty.

Hopefully Governor Soonchai knows the difference as the former technology doesn't exist. And without the latter technology the environment won't exist either.

Prayut!

Check the back of the banner. It reads Down with the Coup.

Have all the protesters arrested for illegal assembly.

Isn't he only stating the truth about the government being anarchist?

It's only where he chose to make his statement that is questionable.

Just two days ago the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) indicated Thailand’s economy has "already recovered from the lowest point..."

Maybe not so Fast and Furious.

So in other words the Thai Navy was breaking Thai Law by giving the boats a choice to go on there way without "Proper" paperwork Thus under the eyes of the Law aiding in Human trafficking. Is that correct?

Technically, since the NCPO holds Thailand's sovereignty under Article 44 of the Interim Charter, any and all of its orders and directives have the power of constitutional law.

But that also means that if the miitary allows "boat" migrants onto Thai soil that is within its legislative and jurisdictional powers. The military doesn't need a legislative act to allow such action. So their presence would NOT be illegal.

So its gets a little confusing when the military allows the boat migrants onto Thai soil but also claims it is an illegal act.

"To foster genuine democratic reform, the junta has no option but to allow an atmosphere of openness."

The NCPO's strategy is NOT fostering democratic reform but fostering aristocratic reform - shifting power from pluralism to elitism. Such an agenda does not allow an atmosphere of openness. And to that end Gen. Prayut is a true Elitist Soldier.

The arrested students are the true Democractic Soldiers!

Yes but there must be a degree in taking selfies.

I agree that the unemployment rate has to be a lot higher than what's reported. Also, getting a degree in using a calculator and then working at 7-11 doesn't say a lot for opportunities.

Mandatory military conscription covers a lot of young, unskilled men that helps keep "unemployment" down. The military is essentially part of a welfare state.

"... we have to have sovereignty over both land and sea."

Of course the "we" is the Royal Thai Military and not the 60 million Thai People.

I, for one, was surprised that the 'NCPO' agreed to a referendum. So I tend to side with the position above that they felt 'cornered'.

It's not come out yet, but certainly if the 'NCPO' is going to allow a referendum, then "much needs to be done" to insure that either the charter is approved, and the junta wins, or that in the case the charter is rejected that the junta still wins - eg: stay in power and rewrite the charter again.

The referendum has always been a red herring - the anti-democrats have written the charter that they want to have in order to impose their will on all of Thailand and if those uppity voters chose the wrong candidates again, they'll be able to remove the government "constitutionally" without resorting to a coup... There is nothing democratic about this new draft.

I thought that NCPO agreed that it would allow an amendment to the Interim Charter that would allow a referendum. But it warned that doesn't necessarily mean that it will actually allow a referendum to take place. Just more delay tactics.

The Greeks have not profited at all from the so-called "bailout."

That was the choice of the Greek government. Rather than making better use of borrowed funds such as enhancing economic growth, it wasted it on Greek welfare.

Don't blame the lender for how the borrower uses its funds.

Prayut will try to buy Fijii's vote for UN Security Council membership. Maybe pay in rice and rubber.

Current countries for the Pacific-Asia region are Jordon and Malaysia. Must get 2/3's General Assembly vote.

Unless Prayut can invoke Article 44 on the UN, Thailand will not get on the UN Security Council anytime soon. Especially after its new security agreements with Russia and China.

MOVED to Human Trafficking.

Having exposure with decades of the EU's political and economic complexities I have to question whether the ASEAN Economic Community will have the same fortitude, intellect, and maturity in establishing a successful regional geopoltical institution.

Especially problemtaic is the current Thai government that sees its role as being the ASEAN Hub. It currently has the worse economic structure and restrictive form of governance, Thailand is hardly a role model for the other ASEAN nations to emulate or follow as an economic bloc. Until Thailand establishes a credible pluralistic government, I see Vietnam, Indoneasia, and Malaysia becoming the mainstay of ASEAN.

Why does he need it when most past governments didn't need it or have it to use.

Most previous governments and their agencies just used the position to plunder from the state run coffers instead of helping Thailand grow and prosper so perhaps a different way of doing things is needed. Seems people only want positions of power to help themselves

How is the current government any different other regime than it is IMMUNE from any prosecution past, present, and future?

Other than the current government has NO Check & Balance for UNLIMITED ACCESS to the treasury, civil service, and .... military power.

From financial events that happened in the past two decades, there is a strong correlation between rising debts and economic growth. Seen from the US to Iceland to the EU.

And they are all democracies. Is it still desirable?

As opposed to Socialistic Venzuela or Communist Cuba/North Korea? Yes.

The People in democratic systems can through their sovereignty change the course of government policies and practices.

The people on nondemocratic systems can only HOPE that governments will change.

FREE THE INTERNET

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No doubt the Junta reminded the male protest students that they will be subjected to mandatory military conscription. If they thought their rights as civilians were being threatened, just wait until they are "members" of the Royal Thai Army.

So many issues here.

I'll take one: "The NRC should not abuse its power."

Admittedly the NRC/CDC/NLA 1,000 Junta-appointed members do not reflect the judgement of the 30 million Thai electorate. The existence of the NRC/CDC/NLA in themselves are the result of abuse of military power in violation of the 1997 and 2007 Constitutions. So its nonsensible to worry about whether any actions of the NLA/NRC/CDC might become an abuse of power.

Theoretically, if ultimately the 1997 Constitution is reinstated in full, the 2006 and 2014 Coup members as well as members of the two interim coup-appointed governments could be tried for abuse of power. General Prayut might consider an end-game strategy of negotiating amnesty from the next elected government. Now that would be irony for current anti-amnesty proponents.

And to help your business you would like free services?

Such an offer.

May karma always follow you.

"the importance of the nation's people and their key role in driving the country forward."

But the People shall only be allowed to drive using the Junta's roadmaps with predetermined destinations.

And no matter how well the people drive, their "fuel" of sovereignty remains with the Junta.

Thank you for flying JUNTAS.