bamnutsak

He's been a pilot for decades, and has been providing emergency air transport for organ transplants for a while. from 2014 High-flying Anutin delivers with heart - quite literally https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/30250143

"Poof". The sound of progress, freedom/rights, reform and economic balance vanishing for another decade or four.

It seems like it's a done deal. Thaksin trades re-patriation (and side benefits like a full Royal Pardon, for past offenses and anything he does from today) for his ability to reinforce fidelity and loyalty to the Crown. It's a narrow path, but if anyone can "pull it off" it's him. And it's Thai-like. When/if the Thai 'people' realize what just happened - an election magically disappeared - it will be interesting to see their response - Oh! Crap! Maybe make a run to democracy in twenty or thirty year. A lot of pressure on Rama XI.

This Chuwit Khlown has been strangely silent the past few months. Now he's breaking a bit of news nearly everyone already knows about...that a deal has been made to submarine MFP, install a PTP-led "government" (with BJT/PPP/UTN) overseen by Thaksin, which will bolster defenses against progress and reforms, in exchange for a full pardon. Several high-profile 112 cases will be made, just to send a message. Things might actually be a bit worse than they were under the NCPO/Junta.

The Powers-that-be want him back, the devil you know and all that, and he can defend the Monarchy against the MFP and the younger generation. Smart move by the Olde Guard. But it may only offer a brief respite from progress.

He'll only return if he has a Royal Pardon.

Uhm, I think he was relieved of his duties as Minister of Transport...and replaced by Anutin Charnvirakul. Thailand’s transport minister Saksayam ordered to cease performing his duty Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has been ordered by the Constitutional Court to cease performing his duty, effective today (Friday), after the court accepted a complaint from 54 opposition MPs, alleging that the minister is the owner of Buri Charoen Construction Limited Partnership. According to Section 187 of the Constitution, a minister cannot hold a stake in or be involved in the management of a business. Violation of the provision will result to the loss of the ministerial post, as stipulated in Section 170 of the charter. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-transport-minister-saksayam-ordered-to-cease-performing-his-duty/ Arch-enemy of the Chidchob clan, Chuwit Kamolvisit, has been strangely silent over the past few months.

"Adjusts". Good one. "You've been "Adjusted".

Regarding the land sale, please note that the valuation of 18m is from a 2019 asset declaration made by Pita himself. It does/did not represent the potential sale value then, or now. That he sold it for 6m ("recently") doesn't raise any red flags with me. What's he supposed to do? Not sell it? I would hope that every single MP past, present and future is subject to a similar forensic accounting review, even if Ruangkrai hasn't filed "charges" against all of them.

This may have come up before, but is there a reason Thailand didn't ask for international help in detaining Thaksin, for extradition back to Thailand? Or have they done this but he maintains some immunity (diplo passport from Montenegro?) or avoids extraditon (to THL) countries? Given the length of time, and gyrations (various committees, and then a special invocation by Prayut of a clause in the interim charter), it took to strip him of his Police rank, I can't imagine how long it will take to sort out the various criminal charges. In general over modern Thai history, they prefer to run their enemies out of the country rather than have them serve time in prison and potentially serve as martyrs.

Given the deliberate actions to keep the populace un(der)-educated, and the instilling of obedience and respect of "authority", things won't be getting better. This is a feature ("functions as designed") of the Thai social system, not a bug.

This needs a bit more journalistic detail. Is this part of some annual airport management re-shuffle? Or is there some MAJOR issue plaguing AoT? Would be good to know. Protecting incompetence seems to be some basic tenet of Thai Management? Maybe they teach this in "college"?

Well that was a brief honeymoon. Back to the mistress(es) in what, a few weeks.

The Netflix adaption of The Three-Body Problem is coming in January 2024. A truly ground-breaking SciFi book series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lj99Uz1d50 (Yes, there is a 30 ep Chinese version.) I reread Foundation a few years ago, when I heard HBO was working on it. I like the HBO series, so far. I mean it's challenging to adapt the books given the scope 550 years, entire known universe).

Yes, very impressive. I can see why the Old Guard fears him.

Did he give a birthday speech last year? Prayut said HM King told him not to use lese majeste laws against civilians; opposition calls for its abolishing June 15, 2020 King Vajiralongkorn has instructed the Thai government not to use Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, or the lèse-majesté law, to prosecute civilians, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said on Monday. “You can see that today that we have not been using 112 at all.” he told reporters on Monday, “You know why? It was because the King was kind enough to instruct that it should not be used.” https://www.thaienquirer.com/14457/prayut-said-hm-king-told-him-not-to-use-lese-majeste-laws-against-civilians-opposition-calls-for-its-abolishing/ Fast Forward (new MFP party name?) to November 19 2020, yes five months later... PM Prayuth promises to use ‘all laws’ against Thai protesters Rallies calling for Prayuth’s resignation and reform of once untouchable monarchy began in July. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday the government would use all forms of legislation against protesters who broke the law, as demonstrations calling for his removal and reforms to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn that began in July, continued to escalate. Activists voiced concern the prime minister’s comments could signal the resumption of prosecutions under some of the world’s harshest laws on royal insult. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/19/pm-prayuth-promises-to-use-all-laws-against-thai-protesters It's this sort of capriciousness in "using" the law to suppress free speech that is vexing.

Banana republic-y headline. Meanwhile to the east, new PM gets 113% of the vote, and to the west refugees stream in, in a looming humanitarian crisis. While Thailand takes a six-day staycation to "celebrate". Well his "best" got Thailand into another Constitutional Crisis. All he had to do was allow a second vote, which Pita would have lost. Then PTP would have put forward both of their candidates, and lost two votes. OK, maybe Wan Noor got everyone to point B faster, albeit by accident and incompetence. Who knows what carnage he'll wreak as Speaker going forward? He should resign ASAP.

IMO PTP should put forward Srettha, assuming MFP remains un-jettisoned, for a vote. The Senate would not vote him through. After that, I guess PTP + BJT + ~ 165 ish Senators puts them over the top. And they'd have a majority (assumes PP, UTN vote with them) to pass legislation. Then the courts and commissions will wipe MFP out of the history books. And the old Senate will choose the new Senate, nepotism would come first of course. If you blinked you missed the "reforms".

I believe in second-chances, but this looks bad. Kidnapping and blackmail. A twelve year sentence in 2011 means he's been out what ~ 5 years? That said, maybe Pita didn't do the hire, but rather depended on someone else to handle that task. If so, I might fire that person. Given the villains most of the regime and politicos have on speed dial this one is bad, but not overly alarming, IMO.

I would think every airline has guidance, and training, for these types of situations. IMO, I'd just leave the guy in the seat, and keep him happy (limited alcohol obviously), while advising FRA on the situation and that they should have police (BPOL) available to arrest him, or at least escort him off the aircraft. I'm honestly not sure on the criminal jurisdiction issue, but I think it's Thailand and TG, so not sure if the German state can arrest/prosecute.

Are these aliens, arriving by UFO? Or the CIA, in Black Helicopters? If she's such a great pyschic she should have known that haircut would be a bad look. And she would have won the lottery a few times and been able to afford something more fashionable than a jumper made from what looks like tin foil.

No.

No tip for the EMTs. Hopefully.

There is a long, long, long public history of the Ombudsman (actually a committee) ignoring or not pursuing complaints. Often, when going up against the regime they claim they do not have "the authority" to do anything. AFAIK, they do not have any power or authority. All they can do is refer or reject "complaints". This is a ceremonial vestige from Olde Siam, where one could petition the King. Yes, in your case they pushed back on a minor unelected government official. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Big Joke was right. Big Joke shooting controversy linked to the new ฿2.1 billion biometrics immigration system contract https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2020/01/11/national-police-chief-immigration-biometric-system-big-joke-shooting-lieutenant-general-surachate/ Although every national police chief got to the top by doing dodgy things, and then insuring generational wealth for his family. And quite a few anger the wrong crowd/family who extract retribution down the road.