Srikcir

"Thai people still deemed the leadership of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha necessary for political reconciliation..".

Then Prauth has doomed Thailand to continued political conflict.

We have seen already what Prayuth was capable of achieving in mediation between the PTP and Democrats immediately after the Coup - NOTHING. And that was when he held all the keys to power. Now he frequently states reconciliation must come from what amounts to a POLITICAL DISARMAMENT by all political parties ON HIS TERMS.

When the military insists on denial of human rights and liberty as a means to FORCE reconcliation, it has no real intention of success. It wants to leave in the wake of its self-forgiven lawlessness a neutered demoractic political system that is no more meaningful than continuing the military's direct control of the government.

No nation is going to allow "Libya" to unrestricted arms simply because of its inability to govern much less safeguard imported weapons from terrorists. Libya's best hope is an Arab-backed coalition with European nations for "boots on the ground." The UN Securty Council, that is to say in particular Russia and China, will not back any military action.

But any effective military strategy against terrorists in Libya must coordinate with one against ISIL in Syria and Iraq. Otherwise, ISIL can continuously revive terrorist attacksin Libya. Only the USA has the capability and resources for theater strategy but an international coalition must come from the region.

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I'm not Bush fan, but he is right about Obama's failed foreign policy.

Bush offered harsh words for Obama's foreign policy, calling his administration "inconsistent and indecisive" and saying it has led the U.S. to lose "the trust and the confidence of our friends."

USA's "friends" are welcome to solve the issues of ISIL and radical Islamics on their own then. Obama's policy encourages them to do so. But like Iraq, UAE, Eqypt, and Jordon, they know they must have USA backing them to strike back against ISIL both militarily and poltically. Jeb Bush offered no different words than did the rest of the Bush presidents and would only drive the US deeper into a morass of eternal war.

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They have only "perverted" Islam in the sense that they take it literally, but hopefully, most Muslims will reject the demand to spread Islam to the whole world using violence that is called for in the Qur'an.

It is time for Obama to finally admit that radical Islam not only exists, but is supported by Islamic scripture. You can't defeat an enemy that you refuse to admit exists.

Obama's administration has killed mpre radical Islamic leaders than any other president. Even the Pakistan government who stopped US drone attacks against Taliban now welcomes them. Islamic peoples rely on Obama to provide intelligence, combat training, weapons, etc. to attack ISIL. I'd say Obama is very aware of radical Islam.

"On the issue of whether to keep the existing concession system or switch to a production-sharing model, Pailin said the debate over this issue was largely one of semantics."

Since both are legal contracts, of course it's a matter of semantics! The production sharing agreement is much more complex and riskier than a concession agreement as the government takes its revenue largely in the form of natural gas instead of cash. If the value for natural gas remains near or less than cost of production, the government loses money. If too many dry holes are found, the government loses money.

"The government uses the concession system because it does not want to bear risks during the exploration stage, while in a production-sharing system, the state has to set up budget to share these risks with the private sector."

Completely true but the government announced it will use the production sharing system! Apparently Pailin thought the government would use the less risky concession system given a history of dry holes and missed that the government wasn't. This mistake is onerous as the PTT chief no doubt will be involved in the negotiations.

The differences in these two systems at a time when the value of natural gas and oil is so low, and when Thailand is a net importer of fossil fuels, cannot be dismissed as mere semantics. There is a very real danger to the Thailand's energy sustainability should either system be poorly negotiated.

"The committee would be chaired by Prayut himself."

The Junta and its predecessors will cost the Thai economy about Bt370 billion in lost GDP growth through 2015. If the Junta remains in power beyond 2015 more losses might follow. Will he hold himself personally liable if he can't recover such losses? Will NACC and NLA sue Gen. Prayuth? Gen. Prayuth might consider it's time to return the government to elected officials so he can restart his coup with a clean slate. "If at first you don't succeed - try, try again?"

HSBC is at fault for thinking the Junta government will do the right thing to reduce interest rates that will encourage more capital invesment. The minister is completely wrong that these cuts would not spur growth. And thus far, he is wrong that the government has increased spending that could stimulate the economy. The Junta is opposed to use of debt for the economy and that is why it only provides short-term handouts and "gifts."

Shame on HSBC to believe that the Junta could actually reverse the punishing effect that it and the PDRC have made on the economy. GDP growth for 2015 will be 2-3% while neighboring countries will enjoy 4%+ growth. I wonder if in 2015 we will witness immigrant Thais going to Thailand's neighbors for work?

Toxic metals are not normally used in Joss stocks. But if made in China, who knows what goes into those sticks? The Health Ministry could do some good it checks the source of poisonous sticks and establishes some kind of compliance check.

"media's independence but also the rights of the people"

CDC's concern is either two-faced or plain ignorant. Media independence and rights of people currently does NOT exist under Article 44 of the Interim Charter and under martial law. Gen. Prayuth has demonstrated repeatedly not only his disrepsect for investigative journalism but also for People's freedom of expression, and has served out punishments for actions that personally displease him.

How is any constitution going to prevent the perversion of media independence and people's rights when an elite group can at the time of their choosing overthrow the Thai people? The CDC needs to start with the premise that Thais are not a tool of the military but that the military is a tool of the people.

"The approval allows the government to bolster much-needed water management."

These are well-known drought-hit areas. But the Junta needs a crisis to provide water management? And what exactly is its plan? Trucks with water. No infrastruture projects, no long-term solutions - just more knee-jerk reactions. Frankly, if the Junta-government had been elected, it wouldn't survive a year in a democractic monarchy.

" those who are not involved with both sides might still be dissatisfied. Many of their problems would remain unsolved."

If one looks at the last election where 90%+ of voters chose either the PTP or Democrat candidates, "those who are not involved with both sides" were a small minority. In fact the PTP formed a coalition with one of the minority parties. So it would seem that those who must be satisifed in any reconcliiation are those INVOLVED with both sides.

Police need to be accountable to the people they serve. This requires a decentralization of the current police structure to dilute the effect of national politics and make it more accuntable to the communities it serves. Putting the RTP under a ministry just strengthens centralization and actually makes it even more political in nature.

Any new constitution should also assure that the police cannot fall under military chain of command, even under martial law or military coup.

You have to give Myanmar credit to know WHEN martial law is really needed.

Not when people read 1984 or flash three fingers.

Not when unarmed civilians protest.

Not when universities conduct lectures, seminars and forums.

But Thailand is the Hub of the Universe so it will learn no lessons.

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Egypt's Sissi? He came to power with a coup and gunned down hundreds of demonstrators and now he wants to invade with a UN mandate Libya ?

You missed the part that he resigned his military commission and was elected president in open elections. Unlike Gen. Prayuth who essentially apointed himself PM for as long as he choses.

Is she not an ex heiress now,i thought her father disowned her after her contraversial speech.

Not quite ex. It was her uncle, the real power, who was so angry over the damage she did to the brand when she announced that the poor were uneducated and should not have a vote.

I expect that there were some NAZI uniforms at the party , in keeping with her political philosophy.

Sadly, one of the uniforms in the picture is that of a WWII era Japanese soldier.

Hardly, the brightest move considering the number of slave workers who died building the railway up country.

It's a shame the Thais do not know their own history.

The Seri Thai anti-Japanese guerrillas numbered 50,000, most of them recruited from the rural poor and aided by Buddhist monks. They passed vital information to the Allies and took part in commando operations alongside the British. Many of these poor Thais put themselves in grave danger spying on the Japanese and offering armed resistance to them, resulting in thousands being executed by Thailand's occupiers. It seems strange that Thailand doesn't make more of this positive aspect of their WW2 history.

The Seri Thai anti-Japanese guerrillas operated without the Thai government's support and hunted down by government armed forces on behalf of its Japanese partners. I don't think Thailand wants to recognize the validity of essentially militias independent from the government military. Might encourage civil war?

I am not a Yingluck fan, but just looking at that picture, I have to say that given the enormous amount of pressure on her, both from the military government side, her haters and her brother, I think she has maintained an admirable amount of decorum.

Many men in her position would have crumbled. Perhaps she has a heart of steel, but it looks like she's going to need it.

Absolutely. I don't think even George Bush was under as much pressure as her.

She has held her own and never fallen apart as many would have hoped.

These males that are stalking her are nothing but bullies.

I do believe it has had the opposite desired effect.

She is becoming more popular than ever.

She would win an election even if her hands were tied behind her back.

"She would win an election even if her hands were tied behind her back."

That's the problem she has, as she very likely will never be allowed to run in an election again if she is found guilty in court. Surely you realize that? Now more popular than ever? Are there statistics to prove this statement?

She is merely a pawn now in the eradication of the Shinawatra clan from politics by the powers that be..

Some people might think she also ran her government with her hands tied behind her back as well as being blindfolded.

"politics by the powers that be" of course is NOT the Thai Peoples but solely the military. Sixty-five million Thais lost their sovereignty to five military generals. Who is really fooling who?

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Two issues stand out: Esarn and 3 years.

Has governance just kicked in?

Or is it the only place where sufficient bribes haven't been paid?

"the request would not be for an extension of Greece's bailout agreement"

aka, Greece BLINKS in debt negotiations. But word games will not satisfy the EU debt.

This request is for extension of the loan agreement and will not result in additional funds, ie., a bailout. EU has indicated previously it would consider changing the loan term to perpetuity and debt service tied to Greece's GDP. But there would be no cancellation or forgiveness of debt nor additional debt. But the request wants a 6-month freeze on the loan while negotiations are conducted. DOA

Greek citizens gambled on electing this new government to save them from making austere decisions. It will fundamentally fail and there will be another new government within a month.

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This is a violation of the Constitution. The fathers of the USA fought England because of taxation without representation. The king wanted them to pay tax even though they did not live in England. This is no different

This is why they fought the revolutionary war. This is truly taxation without representation So far no one has fought this in the courts but they will in time.

The colonists fought a war with Britain because they had no representation in the King's court. Many of the colonists were also citizens of Britain!

You might check Internal Revenue Code of 1954 Amended. It's called a "law." The constitutionality of federal taxation has been challenged in courts numerous times and defeated. As far as "taxation without representation," you should read the US Constitution on citizens' representation in the US Congress and the presidency.

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Even if he renounces his citizenship, he still owes the taxes.

Through mutual tax treaties bewteen the USA and UK, the IRS won't have a problem seizing his UK bank accounts, property, etc. to pay the tax. And to make matters worse, he faces penalties that may double or triple his debt with the IRS.