sujoop

9 minutes ago, LennyW said:

14 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Given the radically changed political landscape now, I would have thought that it was extremely unwise of Prayut (if the reports are true) to stand in opposition to the Thai Raksa Chart party ... 

 From many of my Thai work mates today, they think exactly the same, they are deeply suspicious of his reasons to carry on:-( 

And many are DEEPLY suspicious of Thaksin & his cynical SELF-serving at any price to Thai society...

takeaways:

https://twitter.com/jackahmed12/status/1017162938241748997

https://twitter.com/ChangHung23/status/1017160834294747136

https://twitter.com/rachelburden/status/1017189516489187335

https://twitter.com/SMugglestone_FD/status/1017305144982163456

1 hour ago, LannaGuy said:

 

Oh really?  forward planning then. It is going down VERY badly over social media and will, undoubtedly, come across as elitist and denying ordinary Thais their chance to say farewell at the point of lighting the fire. But they don't are about that IKR.

 

It is disrespectful to the Thai people and to HM.

Saddened but not at all surprised some of the usual suspects online including Jonathan Head on twitter would stoop to play up such an angle to try to twist such a profoundly sombre event. Please stick to defending and spinning for the Shins you lot.

I could however clearly see the smoke from my vantage point. It was indeed so profoundly sad and sombre. No need to broadcast on live TV or sensationalise the actual burning, this is NOT entertainment.

And yes: LONG LIVE RAMA 9 

Thanks for posting, was aware of the Sheraton deal just never go there enough to make it worthwhile (lower Sukhumivt area and creepy, scowling (s)expat dregs=no thank you). However, living  on the riverside, the Avani/Anantara club card looks well worth it! The Avani has become a go-to place for rooftop drinks (at Attitude) when visitors come to town, fantastic view, inside or outside, happy hour fair value as well. Trader Vics decor has become a bit dated but cannot fault the high quality of food or service. Will def be enquiring about their card, thanks again!

Visual perspective via:
https://map.longdo.com/

Current (Past 7 days):

2011:

40 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have no idea who is in control, and like you I don't trust them much. Good thing today a nice sunny day. I hope it stays this way for a while.

Google translated via:
http://www.thaiwater.net/wl_summary.php

50 minutes ago, robblok said:

There are no signs here either and before it went quite slow so I would have plenty of time. I am just annoyed that they have satellite images and pictures of planes. (i can imagine drones right now would come in handy). But none of it it is made available. 

Perhaps try here:
https://map.longdo.com/?locale=en
 

-Select 'latest flood 7 days'
-Then compare with selections 2010/2011
(no where near previous flood area mass)
--------------
Or here (unfortunately a tad difficult to navigate):
http://flood.gistda.or.th/indexEN.html

-Click 'satellite image receiving schedule'
-Then click 'RADARSAT' or 'COSMO' satellite option
-Then at top/right click 'daily flood map'
-Then click 'pdf' option of daily report
 (scroll to bottom to see sat image)
 

Good chance for local flooding near river areas though as volume on the Chao Phraya is being micro-managed within cm's of overflow and between tides to allow for max discharge from upstream (I can attest to this as I live on the river, albeit several floors above;)

2 hours ago, ThailandLOS said:

Np, I'm happy to help and spread the word. People should now about this - tired of bankers getting all the breaks.

 

Binance - for under 2.5 btc withdrawals daily, email verification is sufficient.

 

Ledger - Amazon is safe, I bought mine from Lazada tho - like I said, the security is insane, the keys never leave the device, you can basically plug it into a machine in any crappy internet cafe and still be safe.

 

The integrity of the firmware is checked by a special chip on device start AND everytime logging into the naitive ledger apps from google store.

Ledger even has a video on their site on how to pick the thing apart and check for compromised/added malicious hardware :)

 

 

 

 

Binance seems flexible for under 2.5 BTC however some say via taking a back seat?
https://www.cryptocompare.com/exchanges/binance/overview

 

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

Osaka and Tokyo.

No smoking on Auckland's beaches this summer
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018618222/no-smoking-on-auckland-s-beaches-this-summer

Smoking banned at Welsh beach
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/09/smoking-vaping-ban-little-haven-beach-pembrokeshire-wales-stop-children-lighting-up

Smoking at California parks and beaches could soon be illegal
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/29/smoking-at-california-parks-and-beaches-could-soon-be-illegal/

214 ML rain / approx 9 inches of water dumped in a very short time span could cause a flood almost anywhere.
 

Parts of London flooded after just 3.5 cm / 1.4 inches in an hour:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-36471889
 

Many towns in W.A. inundated and even cut off after 170 ml (understandably)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/wa-towns-being-evacuated-amid-heavy-rainfall-flooding/8258178
 

Despite what some official stated, next week remnants of a tropical storm 'Khanun' will affect parts of Thailand and likely parts of Bangkok as well (most likely the usual lowest lying areas which are prone to flooding in such rain events)
https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/western-pacific/2017/tropical-storm-khanun?map=5day

Track looks set to decline but with such wide bands of rain circulating there's still a good chance of isolated large downpours in Bkk and elsewhere.

However, unlike in 2011 at least the current Govt hasn't ordered dams shut (to get initial rice scheme crops harvested from the flood plains) thus a repeat of 2011 floods is very unlikely. BTW as of noon many areas pictured in Bangkok have drained except low lying areas which always flood.

Live updates/monitoring via Longdo is usually pretty accurate:
https://traffic.longdo.com/en/




 

A number of mass killers and violent terrorists have had one striking thing in common:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stephen-paddock-abuse-girlfriend_us_59d40429e4b0218923e60bcc
 

Will have to hear from the latest girlfriend and past wives to see if anger, insecurity and control issues are prevalent throughout.  A sick, sick man either way.

4 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

That hundred ? thousand dollars wired to the PI by the killer last week looks mighty suspicious. 

Las Vegas shooter remembered for berating his girlfriend
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-las-vegas-shooting-live-updates-at-his-local-starbucks-vegas-shooter-1507060195-htmlstory.html

Workers remembered Paddock as a tall man with a big beer belly and heavy bags under his eyes. “He would glare down at her and say — with a mean attitude — ‘You don’t need my casino card for this. I’m paying for your drink, just like I’m paying for you.’

Beer belly and baggy eyes, relationship, control and anger issues, insecurity, misfit, acted like he 'owned' her
(hmmmm, sounds like he'd blend right in with many sexpats in Thailand...)

7 hours ago, JigaloJack said:

9 hours ago, sujoop said:

The 'other' paper reported that:
'Rice exporters, millers, warehousers, richer farmers and the cronies of politicians are the ones who really benefit'
 

Also:
Farmers who benefited from  the scheme were mostly rich and medium earning farmers, rather than poor  farmers:
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tdri-says-yinglucks-rice-pledging-scheme-causes-almost-trillion-baht-loss/
 

As for obfuscating that the program benefited the poor farmers via vacuous 'Distributing wealth and public resources', this is simply a trickle down economic theory which in reality little trickled down from the majority wealthy beneficiaries, rather poor farmers had to pay increased rent on paddy land and pesticide etc as the wealthy took double advantage . As for 'interfering in the free market for the sake of the people' the subsidy still concentrated among the wealthy and interconnected. The poorest farmers making up +40% received very little  benefit. As Pratchai is similar to Fox News/Trump PR - in this case Pratchai/Thaksin PR, would strongly advise to take PR type articles with a grain of salt (or rice.) BTW, unlike some others perhaps, no one is 'paying' me to read or repeat PR pieces.

 

As for article 44, Civil servants know well from past experience with an elected autocrat ruler not to bite the hand that may feed/starve or bite you back in the future. Regardless the fact remains despite her repeatedly being warned by several watchdogs and even the world bank, the result was a multi-billion $$ plunder with Yingluck as chair of the rice committee, therefore constituting 'gross negligence of duty', which is not excused under the civil liability law.

 

Oh no my dear friend, looks like you've been caught out a little here.

The article you quote in the "other paper" was an opinion piece published on 23 September 2011which means Yinglucks rice scheme hadn't started and the reference to the distribution of benefits is actually referring to Abhisit's rice scheme.

 

"Dr Ammar said studies on previous pledging schemes found that the top 40% of participating farmers received about half of the budget while the bottom 15% got only 15%. 

 

The proof in whether or not the rice scheme benefitted the poor will be seen in the results of the next election.

 

Why was article 44 not needed for any of the multitude of charges bought against all the other political players currently being persecuted by the junta?

Why the special circumstances here?

It is plainly obvious.

Search: Rice policy mainly benefits rich people

'63% of the funds spent on the pledging programme went to merchants and millers, Only 5% of funds spent went to poor farmers.'

Also FYI: 'Dr Ammar said the price guarantee programme of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government was more efficient in ensuring funds went directly to farmers.'

BTW, spot on topic, note Rec shirt Weng stated that  'the 'handling of people'  coming to the court  'will be difficult'  and  that  'If mistakes happen',  the Govt will cause damage to themselves'..... (sounds like a veiled threat or the outline of a plan to do something and blame the Govt/Army? Also, red bombing suspect on the run Ko Tee has allegedly been abducted in Laos (according to his supporters). Thus, an alibi is in place for the red instigator should anything go awry at the courthouse on Aug 25 (seen this movie before too, usually kicks off when Shin's can't win court cases with pastry bags filled with cash, or get cash confiscated - it's always about cash with the Shins).

9 hours ago, JigaloJack said:

11 hours ago, sujoop said:

Goodness. Shins about to get family coffers confiscated and new nics start appearing in defence (seen this before, must be coincidence;). Anyways, here's some points that may have been conveniently overlooked in the 'defend the poor innocent Shins' PR planning:

 

There is indeed a civil liability law which is designed to protect state officials against liability 'unless they were found to have deliberately violated the laws', or, to be  found in  ^gross negligence of duty^. Unfortunately it appears Yingluck went along with 'Thaksin speaks - Puea Thai does' and  as chair of the rice scheme (which poorest farmers were not even part of) and despite repeatedly being warned by several watchdogs and even the world bank, the result was a multi-billion $$ plunder with her as chair of the rice committee, therefore constituting 'gross negligence of duty', which is not excused under the civil liability law.

Your shrill post does nothing to explain the why the junta had to use Section 44 to get state agencies to overcome their hesitancy to pursue the case.

 

Since it is unusual for a Prime Minister to be prosecuted for corruption that he or she did not commit, state agencies were initially hesitant to pursue the case. The junta therefore invoked Article 44 in late 2016 to grant legal immunity to officials involved in the prosecution, meaning that they cannot be held accountable if the prosecution is later proved malicious or unfair to Yingluck.

 

and

 

Despite the failures of the RPS, the prosecution of Yingluck cannot be justified in any legal sense. Weera argues that, on principle, politicians should be tried in court only when they violate the law or are guilty of corruption. But in the case of Yingluck, she is not being prosecuted for corruption but for running a failed policy — which should be punished politically through a fall in electoral popularity, rather than through prosecution. 

 

and lets not forget

 

Thanapan Laiprakobsup, a lecturer in political science from Chulalongkorn University, accepts that the RPS was beneficial for poor farmers since it distributed wealth and public resources.

 

and

 

However, Weera is somewhat sympathetic to the state’s attempt to interfere in the free market for the sake of the people. Before the RPS, the rice price was set by rice exporters who only focused on maximising their own profits. Wealth was concentrated among the rich and the RPS challenged this model of inequality.

 

It might pay to try reading the article to get some facts before posting next time.

 

http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/7306

The 'other' paper reported that:
'Rice exporters, millers, warehousers, richer farmers and the cronies of politicians are the ones who really benefit'
 

Also:
Farmers who benefited from  the scheme were mostly rich and medium earning farmers, rather than poor  farmers:
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tdri-says-yinglucks-rice-pledging-scheme-causes-almost-trillion-baht-loss/
 

As for obfuscating that the program benefited the poor farmers via vacuous 'Distributing wealth and public resources', this is simply a trickle down economic theory which in reality little trickled down from the majority wealthy beneficiaries, rather poor farmers had to pay increased rent on paddy land and pesticide etc as the wealthy took double advantage . As for 'interfering in the free market for the sake of the people' the subsidy still concentrated among the wealthy and interconnected. The poorest farmers making up +40% received very little  benefit. As Pratchai is similar to Fox News/Trump PR - in this case Pratchai/Thaksin PR, would strongly advise to take PR type articles with a grain of salt (or rice.) BTW, unlike some others perhaps, no one is 'paying' me to read or repeat PR pieces.

As for article 44, Civil servants know well from past experience with an elected autocrat ruler not to bite the hand that may feed/starve or bite you back in the future. Regardless the fact remains despite her repeatedly being warned by several watchdogs and even the world bank, the result was a multi-billion $$ plunder with Yingluck as chair of the rice committee, therefore constituting 'gross negligence of duty', which is not excused under the civil liability law.

2 hours ago, JigaloJack said:

2 hours ago, robblok said:

But you have to read what you post.. she is NOT charged under article 44.. its just used to protect the people against a vindictive Shin should she ever get back in power. 

Without protection from Section 44 the charges would not have proceeded because the civil servants could clearly see the political nature of the charges and didn't want to be held responsible for the malicious prosecution at a future date when some semblance of law and order is restored.

 

She is not charged under Section 44, but without Section 44 there would be no charges.

Goodness. Shins about to get family coffers confiscated and new nics start appearing in defence (seen this before, must be coincidence;). Anyways, here's some points that may have been conveniently overlooked in the 'defend the poor innocent Shins' PR planning:

There is indeed a civil liability law which is designed to protect state officials against liability 'unless they were found to have deliberately violated the laws', or, to be  found in  ^gross negligence of duty^. Unfortunately it appears Yingluck went along with 'Thaksin speaks - Puea Thai does' and  as chair of the rice scheme (which poorest farmers were not even part of) and despite repeatedly being warned by several watchdogs and even the world bank, the result was a multi-billion $$ plunder with her as chair of the rice committee, therefore constituting 'gross negligence of duty', which is not excused under the civil liability law.

42 minutes ago, sandemara said:

Truth is a dirty word in Thailand.

Indeed.Pity  that Pravit an otherwise worthy journalist is diminishing his credibility akin to Hannity/Fox/Trump - Pravit/Khaosod/Thaksin. Still, one does not wish to see the current un-elected Govt go down a similar path as elected Govt's before them...

Thailand seeks journalist blacklist
https://www.upi.com/Thailand-seeks-journalist-blacklist/18211014480832/

Press freedom 'eroded under Thaksin'
http://international.ucla.edu/institute/article/5446
 

1 hour ago, Siripon said:

And now Somchai has been cleared by the court, he's back in the race for the top 'job' of leader of Pheua Thai.

Chalerm, the Shinawat sisters and the red shirts will all reject Sudarat.

It's Somchai or Ponthep, mark my words.

Aye.

'As both the Pheu Thai Party and the Red Shirts are essentially family businesses owned by the Shinawatra family, it is important that only a loyal family member lead the party. Allowing any outsider who has their own political faction and loyalties to lead the party risks a drift from Shinawatra control.'
http://2bangkok.com/shinawatra-family-drama.html
 

7 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

53 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

She also, along with some of her advisers, have a track record of ignoring laws or pretending they don't exist when it suits. Just because she and her "experts" claim something doesn't means it is so. Look at their previous.

And so do some wealthy heirs to beverage fortunes.  They are alleged killers and their lives are only slightly inconvenienced. 

 

She is standing trial now in front of an autocracy that is answerable to nobody.  Why do you oppose her day in court so ?  You have a problem with due process, legal debate and lawyers doing their job ?  If Yingluck and party have done things wrong in the past, then let them stand trial for that too one day, a different day.  What is it with you westerners who love authoritarianism and hate to see debate ?

What is it with some westerners who seem to approve, nay,  aspire to  a Chavez/Maduro type 'democracy'  for Thailand? Unfortunately resulting in a re-set here as it is certain to there as well (and can't come soon enough). Then back to the ballots eventually only to try to repeat thus having to be baby-sat by the Military this time as has very unfortunately been proven to be highly necessary.

Meanwhile, as stated in the OP but conveniently ignored by both Yingluck and defenders of mass corruption, vote buying fraud schemes,  malfeasance and gross negligence of duty by the chairperson of the committee (Yingluck) who ignored multiple warnings from multiple watchdogs including the World Bank:

'In turning down Yingluck’s request, the court had said that both the prosecution and the defence had been given sufficient opportunities to bring witnesses during the months of hearings that ended last Friday.'

23 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

29 minutes ago, sujoop said:

It appears the pressure is indeed building. Note in the 'other' paper Red Shirt leader Weng is making familiar threats again (paraphrasing)  that on Aug 1 and 25 the turnout will be bigger and then the 'handling of people'  coming to the court on those days 'will be difficult'  and finally stating that  'If mistakes happen',  the Govt will cause damage to themselves'..... (sounds like a veiled threat or the outline of a plan to do something and blame the Govt/Army?)

 

One wonders what the Red Shirt leader is either party to, or has prior knowledge of? (seen this movie before, usually really kicks off following seizure of 'family' funds, or losing a court case that didn't get swayed by a pastry bag full of cash  delivered via Thaksin's lawyer ). One also wonders if Thaksin will once again take to the the airwaves and beseech supporters to 'Come to protest and bring YOUR kids'  (while his kids all jetted off on sudden overseas shopping junkets in 1st class... and Chalerm to Singapore) just before all heck broke out after confiscation of Shinawtra 'family' assets last time .

Of course people that voted for YL will want to show support for her. How the Army decides to handle that is on them. They brought about this show trial after all. 

 

Let's just hope the Army don't shoot innocent civilians in temples from the Skytrain tracks or murder journalists covering the violence if it kicks off again. 

 

Remember it is all about reconciliation apparently. Funny way of going about it though.

Let's also hope there are no more 'men in black' snipers on rooftops etc, or armed combatants within the crowds  to 'kick it off'  or to create false flag martyrs again...  To keep this relevant, must add 'poor Yingluck'....(for going along with 'Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does') which has unfortunately come home to roost.

26 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Perceptive and this is what I believe also.

 

From Prayuth's veiled threats last week that it will be the peoples' fault if reconciliation fails to the numerous warnings about gathering to support YL.

 

The pressure is building. 

It appears the pressure is indeed building. Note in the 'other' paper Red Shirt leader Weng is making familiar threats again (paraphrasing)  that on Aug 1 and 25 the turnout will be bigger and then the 'handling of people'  coming to the court on those days 'will be difficult'  and finally stating that  'If mistakes happen',  the Govt will cause damage to themselves'..... (sounds like a veiled threat or the outline of a plan to do something and blame the Govt/Army?)

One wonders what the Red Shirt leader is either party to, or has prior knowledge of? (seen this movie before, usually really kicks off following seizure of 'family' funds, or losing a court case that didn't get swayed by a pastry bag full of cash  delivered via Thaksin's lawyer ). One also wonders if Thaksin will once again take to the the airwaves and beseech supporters to 'Come to protest and bring YOUR kids'  (while his kids all jetted off on sudden overseas shopping junkets in 1st class... and Chalerm to Singapore) just before all heck broke out after confiscation of Shinawtra 'family' assets last time .

So many facts conveniently ignored by many such as documented rice scheme collusion, connected cronies, fraud and the inter-connected massive damage of flooding exacerbated by Yingluck's Govt ordering dams kept shut to get rice crops in (to kick their rice scheme off, at any cost). But the saddest ignored FACT in all this is the  poorest farmers were not even part of the scheme (which the 'other' paper has documented mostly enriched connected cronies, middlemen, Pu Yai's and already wealthy rice millers, large farmers and large agri landlords - basically the mob who control influence and  'get out the vote' for Thaksin plus influences who gets a chanote or Nor sam gor upgrade authorisation,  or new road/water/power etc in NE Villages) Not many will go against the local Pu Yai's and millers/people of influence in NE Villages, which works hand in hand with the Shinawat family political machine. Meanwhile, many on here shamelessly cry  about the 'poor persecuted Shinawat family'...

9 hours ago, sujoop said:

On 7/25/2017 at 9:56 PM, NCFC said:

On 7/25/2017 at 2:27 PM, sujoop said:

More poor, poor Pou (Yingluck)... Meanwhile, the poorest farmers weren't even part of the rice scheme... The program was a fraud from the outset. Here's a sample from rice scheme corruption cases - a fictional China deal which links a red-shirt leader,  a Yingluck/Pheu Thai party MP and a Thaksin insider:
 
Dummy firm tied to govt figures
*Guangzhou-based GSSG Import and Export Corporation, was actually represented by a Thai man called Rathanit Sojirakul, who later authorised Phichit-based Nimon Rakdi to (sign) a contract to purchase 5 million tonnes of rice on the company’s behalf. ...Rathanit was a close aide to Pheu Thai MP Rapeephan Phongruangrong, who is the wife of red-shirt leader Arisman Phongruangrong. ...Rathanit, who claimed to be the authorised representative of the Chinese firm, only has Bt64.63 in his bank account...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/politics/aec/30195106
 
Notable comment from Yingluck's (Thaksin's) Commerce minister:
“(After buying the rice) I won’t be investigating what buyers do with it,” he said.
So, Yingluck + Commerce Minister obviously were not interested in investigating their corruption laden program but some may ask, what happened to the rice in this supposedly innocent 'normal subsidy' deal?
 
*The G-to-G deal was a fake because no rice was exported to the Chinese firm. Instead, the huge amount of milled rice was sold locally at below market price by the Foreign Trade Department to a ghost buyer who then sold the rice at market price to the two Thai firms which have their own rice mills and later on the same amount of rice were pledged with the government at pledging prices which are about 40 percent above market price. The gang, it was alleged, made double profits from the same amount of rice.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-yingluck-probed-connection-fake-rice-deal/
 
'Nimon previously worked at President Agri Trading, a company that was found to have been involved in shady dealings under a rice price-pledging scheme launched in 2003-2004 during Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration.  President Agri is connected to Apichart’s Siam Indica, which was also involved in the scam in 2004'.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/aec/30195106
 
Floods and Rice scheme, connect the dots:
Besides 'losing' multi-billions in the rice scheme, there was also another significant loss event caused by the very same Thaksin program re-launch under Yingluck in 2011. The Democrat Govt advised against planting a 3rd rice crop in the basin but Yingluck's Govt encouraged it to kick off the new rice scheme program (and ordered dams NOT to release water so those same farmers could harvest rice in the basin and plain areas:
 
November 11, 2011
“Decision to delay the release of water from the country's major dams had been made by the government”
('so that farmers could harvest their crops first')
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/aec/30169695
 
And finally this chestnut, the 1st of many attempts to free Thaksin came amidst those same floods:
 
As floods wreak havoc on Thailand, government sneaks in a plan to bring Thaksin Shinawatra home?
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who chaired Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, from which Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was conspicuously absence, waved off reporters, saying he would address the issue when he is at Parliament Wednesday afternoon. Media reports said that during a high-confidential Cabinet forum Tuesday limited to only a handful numbers of ministers and officials, it was decided that people convicted of corruption would be entitled to receive this year amnesty.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/aec/30170004
 
Back to the current matter - there's a civil liability law which is designed to protect state officials against liability , 'unless they were found to have deliberately violated the laws',  or *to be  found in gross negligence of duty*. Unfortunately Yingluck went along with 'Thaksin speaks - Puea Thai does'. The result was turning a blind eye to multi-billion $$ plunder, therefore guilty of 'gross negligence of duty' as charged, which is NOT excused under the civil liability law.
 
Yet despite obvious malfeasance, massive losses in a rice program which poorest farmers had NO stake in,  plus acerbated floods directly by closing dams to get ill advised rice crops in (to kick off rice scheme)  and then under the cloak of floods, try to sneak in an amnesty for Thaksin, many on this forum still go on saying 'Way to go Yingluck,'....

It's amazing how you've got all that back story, links and even dates all stored tidily away.

Makes me wonder what your 'interest' really is.

8 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

9 hours ago, sujoop said:

Simply  to show some of the details behind current matters so others may be more informed. This is unfortunately highly necessary since left to the likes of a Red leaning Reuters local reporter, similarly BBC's local reporter and other Intnl reporters, they tend to ignore or gloss over pertinent facts in their reporting, instead favouring similar themes ala: ' Voters in the northeast told Reuters earlier this month that the trial against Yingluck had failed to break her family's political machine.'  etc.

Yes, the Nation is a far better source from where to gather information.

 

Lol. 

It's no surprise Shinawat defenders are not at all interested in critically important details which mostly go unreported by red-leaning Jonathan Head at BBC or local Reuters reporter etc. However, many others ARE interested in pertinent details all but ignored by Intnl press such as documented rice scheme collusion, cronies, fraud and the inter-connected massive damage of flooding exacerbated by Yingluck's Govt ordering dams kept shut to get rice crops in (to kick their rice scheme off, at any cost). But the saddest ignored FACT by Intnl press in all this is the  poorest farmers were not even part of the scheme (which the 'other' paper has documented mostly enriched connected cronies, middlemen, Pu Yai's and already wealthy rice millers, large farmers and large agri landlords - basically the mob who control influence and  'get out the vote' for Thaksin plus influences who gets a chanote or Nor sam gor upgrade authorisation,  or new road/water/power etc in NE Villages) Not many will go against the local Puy Yai's and millers/people of influence in NE Villages, which works hand in hand with the Shiniwat family political machine.

14 hours ago, NCFC said:

22 hours ago, sujoop said:

More poor, poor Pou (Yingluck)... Meanwhile, the poorest farmers weren't even part of the rice scheme... The program was a fraud from the outset. Here's a sample from rice scheme corruption cases - a fictional China deal which links a red-shirt leader,  a Yingluck/Pheu Thai party MP and a Thaksin insider:
 
Dummy firm tied to govt figures
*Guangzhou-based GSSG Import and Export Corporation, was actually represented by a Thai man called Rathanit Sojirakul, who later authorised Phichit-based Nimon Rakdi to (sign) a contract to purchase 5 million tonnes of rice on the company’s behalf. ...Rathanit was a close aide to Pheu Thai MP Rapeephan Phongruangrong, who is the wife of red-shirt leader Arisman Phongruangrong. ...Rathanit, who claimed to be the authorised representative of the Chinese firm, only has Bt64.63 in his bank account...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/politics/aec/30195106
 
Notable comment from Yingluck's (Thaksin's) Commerce minister:
“(After buying the rice) I won’t be investigating what buyers do with it,” he said.
So, Yingluck + Commerce Minister obviously were not interested in investigating their corruption laden program but some may ask, what happened to the rice in this supposedly innocent 'normal subsidy' deal?
 
*The G-to-G deal was a fake because no rice was exported to the Chinese firm. Instead, the huge amount of milled rice was sold locally at below market price by the Foreign Trade Department to a ghost buyer who then sold the rice at market price to the two Thai firms which have their own rice mills and later on the same amount of rice were pledged with the government at pledging prices which are about 40 percent above market price. The gang, it was alleged, made double profits from the same amount of rice.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-yingluck-probed-connection-fake-rice-deal/
 
'Nimon previously worked at President Agri Trading, a company that was found to have been involved in shady dealings under a rice price-pledging scheme launched in 2003-2004 during Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration.  President Agri is connected to Apichart’s Siam Indica, which was also involved in the scam in 2004'.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/aec/30195106
 
Floods and Rice scheme, connect the dots:
Besides 'losing' multi-billions in the rice scheme, there was also another significant loss event caused by the very same Thaksin program re-launch under Yingluck in 2011. The Democrat Govt advised against planting a 3rd rice crop in the basin but Yingluck's Govt encouraged it to kick off the new rice scheme program (and ordered dams NOT to release water so those same farmers could harvest rice in the basin and plain areas:
 
November 11, 2011
“Decision to delay the release of water from the country's major dams had been made by the government”
('so that farmers could harvest their crops first')
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/aec/30169695
 
And finally this chestnut, the 1st of many attempts to free Thaksin came amidst those same floods:
 
As floods wreak havoc on Thailand, government sneaks in a plan to bring Thaksin Shinawatra home?
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who chaired Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, from which Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was conspicuously absence, waved off reporters, saying he would address the issue when he is at Parliament Wednesday afternoon. Media reports said that during a high-confidential Cabinet forum Tuesday limited to only a handful numbers of ministers and officials, it was decided that people convicted of corruption would be entitled to receive this year amnesty.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/aec/30170004
 
Back to the current matter - there's a civil liability law which is designed to protect state officials against liability , 'unless they were found to have deliberately violated the laws',  or *to be  found in gross negligence of duty*. Unfortunately Yingluck went along with 'Thaksin speaks - Puea Thai does'. The result was turning a blind eye to multi-billion $$ plunder, therefore guilty of 'gross negligence of duty' as charged, which is NOT excused under the civil liability law.
 
Yet despite obvious malfeasance, massive losses in a rice program which poorest farmers had NO stake in,  plus acerbated floods directly by closing dams to get ill advised rice crops in (to kick off rice scheme)  and then under the cloak of floods, try to sneak in an amnesty for Thaksin, many on this forum still go on saying 'Way to go Yingluck,'....

It's amazing how you've got all that back story, links and even dates all stored tidily away.

Makes me wonder what your 'interest' really is.

Simply  to show some of the details behind current matters so others may be more informed. This is unfortunately highly necessary since left to the likes of a Red leaning Reuters local reporter, similarly BBC's local reporter and other Intnl reporters, they tend to ignore or gloss over pertinent facts in their reporting, instead favouring similar themes ala: ' Voters in the northeast told Reuters earlier this month that the trial against Yingluck had failed to break her family's political machine.'  etc.

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Let's hope the yellow shirts will not take advantage of the situation and create an incident to give cause for the junta to prolong their illegal stay. They are very good at this.  

Actually the real pros at taking advantage of a situation by creating incidents (RPG's bombs, black shirt snipers etc)  to incite and false flag blame have a long and repeated history since 2006.  Note in the 'other' paper Red Shirt leader Weng is making familiar threats again (paraphrasing)  that on Aug 1 and 25 the 'handling of people'  coming to the court on those days 'will be difficult'  also stating  'If mistakes happen',  the Govt will cause damage to themselves'..... (sounds like a veiled threat or the outline of a plan to do something and blame the Govt/Army?)

One wonders what the Red Shirt leader is either party to, or has prior knowledge of? Seen this movie before, usually really kicks off following seizure of 'family' funds, or losing a court case that didn't get swayed by a pastry bag full of cash  (delivered via Thaksin's lawyer ).

3 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Time to get your plan B ready folks.

 

Looks like Thaksin already has his. Note in the 'other' paper Red Shirt leader Weng is making familiar threats again (paraphrasing)  that on Aug 1 and 25 the 'handling of people'  coming to the court on those days 'will be difficult'  and finally stating that  'If mistakes happen',  the Govt will cause damage to themselves'..... (sounds like a veiled threat or the outline of a plan to do something and blame the Govt/Army?) One wonders what the Red Shirt leader is either party to, or has prior knowledge of? Seen this movie before, usually really kicks off following seizure of 'family' funds, or losing a court case that didn't get swayed by a pastry bag full of cash  (delivered via Thaksin's lawyer ).