tilac2

So another protest march. It is immaterial how many turn out. Those who turn out only represent themselves and not necessarily a larger body.. What counts is election results. If Suthep is so confident at his turnout he should be welcoming elections. He claims to want reforms before elections. Exactly what are they? It would sure make things a lot more clear and show how will his reforms help his constituency and deny the PTP its representation. What the PTP should be doing is demanding him to outline his reforms. Bottom line is still the fact that without amending the constitution there is still one vote per person. How is he to get around that. Whether the PTP wins or the democrats win it all boils down to winning over voters. Street demonstrations only show how afraid the democrats are of having an election. I personally don't care who wins as neither side will conduct itself without corruption. However, that being said, I am not for mobs dictating political outcomes. That is not democracy.

have you been sleeping over the winter ?

I'll give you an update of what the majority of Thai people want in 4 easy steps

Thakisns PTP Gone - Reforms - referendum - Election

In that order

Gosh, you seem very confident. In that order too?

Can you remind us when the Thai people voted for those 4 easy steps? Just the approximate date would do.

Most people up my way (Thais), could not give a s**t about the PDRC protests down there in Bangkok. You guys can argue to and fro all night. The consensus here is that once the protests are over and another election is held, the country's most popular party will be in power again. The Dems need to change their whole character and become a proper opposition so the peoples north of Bangkok have a real choice of who to vote for. No choice for them at the moment especially when the largest opposition party boycotts he elections. They can eventually win if they play the game fairly and not keep trying to cheat through the courts. They just have to except the fact they will not win the next election. If they play their cards right they may win the one after that. Use the next 4 years to try and connect with the opposition supporters and offer them some real hope for their financial future and inclusion in the political sphere. They can do it if they really try.

This is the best comment I have seen for a long while.

This Thai situation should be all about 'normal politics' where parties try to attract votes by developing policies that appeal to the voters. So why don't the Democrats get it? Why don't they develop appealing policies and go on the campaign trail? Who knows. Could it be that they are bunch of total muppets, not to say tosser*?

Here's an idea. Get on a plane, Mr and Mrs Democrat, visit one of the world's functioning democracies (Germany, France, Sweden, UK, USA, New Zealand - many others) and see how they do it.

It ain't rocket science. So you are trying to defeat Peua Thai. Are these the leading players in the world of politics? I don't think so. So stop wanking around, stop the corruption and just start to behave like politicians who can 'do the job'. A first step would be to offer some reasonable, not freeloading, benefits for the poor.

In this wonderful country that we live in...surely out there somewhere, there is a Young, Modern, 21st century thinking, man or woman...an up and coming potential leader... who aspires for Thailand to achieve its full potential in this world, who is sick of the current group of so called self serving greedy klepto politicians with no policies worth following and no interest in anything accept themselves.

Im sure the majority of supporters of Yellows Reds Pinks and Whites and whatever other colors are out there would turn to a person like that.The voting majority would follow a person like that. Surely "old thinking" is not the way forward.

Hello limitless. How great and unusual to see someone espousing idealism on this forum!

The closest I have seen to what you seek is Voranai Vanijaka, the Bangkok Post editorialist. He has a pretty good understanding of world history and politics and seems to realise that Thailand has to change fundamentally. Also he doesn't seem to subscribe to the racist contempt for the Isaan/Lanna people, so prevalent among the Bangkok elite.

By the way, I'd suspect that if there is one guy like this that we (as farangs) know about, chances are that there are dozens of others that we don't.

There are so many talented people in this country who are genuine believers in democracy and who understand the regional perspective. The internationally-renowned film director Apichatpong Weerasethakul (directed 'Uncle Boonmee...' 2010 Cannes Film Festival winner) is one example.

It seems to me that this ideal person you seek should be sufficiently 'right-wing' to run the economy effectively (and to cancel ridiculous projects like the first car scheme) but sufficiently left wing to understand that the country really needs to lift the really-poor out of poverty.

Most difficult of all choices, I'd guess, would be the land issue, for, at present, land distribution in Thailand is so unequal and unjust that it is scarcely even mentioned in public discourse. I'd love to see some figures on land distribution, but can't find them anywhere, apart from quite vague ones and some figures regarding the Crown Property Bureau.

In the final analysis, one has to be fairly pessimistic about the likelihood that Thailand will find the 'saviour' figure we hope for, when the basic political system is so corrupt and dominated by the old elite and the new 'money politics'. It is continually depressing to read comments on this forum from people who honestly believe that all the problems here were introduced by 'the evil, corrupt Thaksin' when we know that his influence has been a mere pinprick on the surface of an utterly dysfunctional, corrupt system where 'money politics' has dominated Thailand for the last generation, sitting on top of an existing system of elite ammart values.

In this situation I would suggest that a civil war could be the only way to sort things out. It's not what we want (obviously) but it might be the only way for the reasonable people to get control.

I think foreign investors are more concerned by general incompetence, how many huge companies that invested in factories here have been considering moving because of the flood debacle and the fact that there has been no real changes made to cope with the next flood. If I was looking to set up a business in SE Asia it would certainly not be in Thailand, too much instability, too much incompetence at the highest levels and way, way, way too much corruption. Corruption is only tolerated when there are clear benefits, here the corrupt are so incompetent they care only abut their pockets and give nothing in the way of incentives to those foreign investors they want to rip off.

The country is run by a bunch of Muppets. In fact I am pretty sure Kermit and Miss Piggy could do a better job than the likes of Mr Propeller Head, Kitikat and the Drunk Police Captain.

I tend to agree with you. Sure I think that Suthep and Abhisit are part of the 'acute disease' but, as you say, there is also a chronic illness that runs through this society of Thailand. No-one is taught to think critically, and instead they are taught (even at university level) to defer to their 'superiors'. This system of 'values' applies, as you say, to the current incumbents, as well as to previous ones.

It goes all the way up. In some respects it reminds me of the Philippines where, on the individual level you have people of astonishing talent and dedication, whereas on the political level you have scumbags up to the level of Marcos (perhaps the biggest thief in the history of the world).

An immediate solution for Thailand that some people have proposed is to have a 'technocrat' government, consisting of the many talented business people here. The trouble is that that would not be accepted - and rightly so - by the red faction who believe that the people should decide.

I wonder if the only solution here will be war? History tells us that wars can help decide matters quite well. In the USA and the UK and France the civil wars and revolution helped to put the aristocracy back into their cages. In 20th century Europe, World War 2 destroyed fascism: Germany was bombed back to the stone age and the incomplete victory of World War One was made complete.

But Thailand has never been colonised and reorganised by a foreign power and so has never had its old 'sakdina' system challenged; so the ammart here have managed to keep alive their quasi-feudal system where the 'lower orders' are deemed to be intrinsically lesser beings. Even today, according to the racist system of thought prevalent among the Thai middle class, these 'lesser beings' do not deserve to have the vote.

This system needs to be utterly destroyed if Thailand (or Siam as we progressives call it) is to advance into the modern world. Perhaps a swift war, where the working people triumph and the ammart are forced into submission or exile, would do the job? I don't know. That is up to the Thai people.

Well, in the long list of who's to blame for this nightmare I know who I'd put top of the list: the ghastly little fascist Suthep and his old-Etonite companion, Abhisit. This pair are ruining the country just because of their obsessional hatred of Thaksin.

There's a very simple solution to Thailand's political problems: you just let the voters decide. It's called democracy. The people vote, their representatives hold power, sometimes (often) they will make mistakes, the people vote again and change their choice this time, and maybe the new lot will do a better job. No intervention by the Army or the ammart or the monarch. The people decide. Geddit?

We've tried this in Europe, the Americas, Australasia and other places and it seems to work quite well.

Oh yes, and an important part of this process would be to see this horrible little man Suthep thrown into prison for a long time.

Hi pmugghc,

You've put your finger on the choice:

'what is the right balance of a government "nanny state" vs freedom of choice" '

What can one say? Surely, as relatively prosperous people we like the "freedom of choice" option, but as decent citizens I guess we'd favour the "nanny state".

Probably the most effective option would be to let the people decide. If they want the millionaire Thaksin to run the country with populist policies then they should be able to vote for him; or equally if they want the old-Etonite Abhisit to be the PM, then he should be on the paper.

My choice of the lesser of 2 evils would be Thaksin, but I have no vote. In my opinion this country should take a radical turn to the left, but I realise that there would be substantial oppositon to that. If one suggested that most public services here should be run for the public benefit, as happens in Europe - transport, education, health care, etc - then one would be virtually hounded out of the country for such opinions. Most of the people who run this country, the ammart, want things to continue as they are, with a huge disparity in wealth, and, typically, corruption in most business deals. They do not want to have public services paid for by the public.

If anyone thinks that the corrupt Suthep is really planning to change things for the better, I'd suggest they should try to believe that a whore should become virgin or a drug addict should become a monk. Maybe it can happen, but I'd be sceptical.

A more probable cause for change would be - to judge from history - if a significant number of the ruling class were shot, hanged or guillotined. Again, that seems unlikely, given the fact that these people control the entire country, even unto the level of controlling how people think and buy (e.g. 7/11 stores: 'yes, I will buy your fat-filled, health-destroying garbage').

So I revert to my basic belief that in Thailand the main political hope remains with the forces of the 'reasonable left', and that means substantially to the left of the red shirts. They should try to persuade the electorate that leftish policies can improve society - as has happened in northern Europe.

I can see how Pongpat's opinions expressed would upset the Red Shirts.

Great speech, loved it

This is fascism. Come and say this stupid nonsence in Khon Kaen or Chiang Rai and see if we'd put up with your nonsense.

Please stay in Bangkok, you so-and-so.

People on here complaining about mob rule. Some very convenient memory lapses, ignoring the fact of the Suthep led mob that has closed many services to people who need them , inconvenienced millions, caused untold damage to the economy. Perhaps that is less significant than a cancelled concert by a publicity junkie, B list singer

Welcome back, Always the others isn't it ??? And I thought you were mellowing.

Why would Prbkk be "mellowing"? Why would anyone think it is okay that this lunatic, Suthep, should take over large areas of Bangkok?

This behavior is not 'okay'. In most other countries in the world this madman, Suthep, would be arrested and thrown in prison. The reason he isn't, quite obviously, is that he is supported at the very highest levels. He has his own private army. He can do what he wants in Bangkok. He is supported by the Army.

Among the few forces standing against Suthep are the PT party and the red shirts.

In my opinion (but probably not in Prbkk's, because I am a genuine socialist whereas he is probably simply a believer in democracy) the red shirts should be supported. So I say, in case anyone thinks all falangs are conservatives, "long live the red shirts"!

OK, some honesty which deserves some respect. Do I interpret you right that what you want is a socialist but not a democratic state? More like Cuba? Obviously a Republic?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Thanks. A good question.

I favour democracy based on what the voters vote for. I realise that democracy is a flawed system, in that the voters can be 'bribed' by offering them attractive policies that will appeal to them (in Thailand that includes rice subsidies, the first car scheme, the 30 Baht health scheme). But in the long term, surely, such schemes will be revealed as bad or otherwise, and therefore will attract votes or otherwise. Thus, maybe, if we're lucky, such schemes will face the test of 'natural selection' and will die out if they are proven to be stupid (in my opinion the rice subsidy and first car scheme would be high on the list of 'stupids', but that's just my opinion).

re Cuba: I'd suggest that there are some good things about Cuba, in that it has excellent health and education policies, but if you talk to Cubans they will tell you that they live in 'a prison'. Probably what they don't realise is that some so-called 'free' countries like Thailand are utterly dominated by capitalist sytems derived from America and the west. These systems are taking over the Thai 'way of life' and even 'way of eating'. Look into a typical 7/11 store in Thailand and tell us if you can find any healthy food? You almost can't. This country has been taken over by corporations, which don't care at all if they sell palm oil-dominated foods.

But, with all that, if one had to decide whether to live in a Cuba-style society or a Thai-style society, I guess most of us would still go for the Thai one.

I don't believe that I am allowed to comment here on the high-level system of government in Thailand, though I think it would be okay to state that there are some constitutional monarchies in the world (Netherlands, Spain, UK) which seem to operate quite well. I can see no reason why Thailand should not be among that group -- or should not become among that group -- of countries. I'd suggest that one first step could be to impel the criminals who run the 'fast food' industry here to reduce their fat-rich, heart-destroying products in the 7-11 stores.

People on here complaining about mob rule. Some very convenient memory lapses, ignoring the fact of the Suthep led mob that has closed many services to people who need them , inconvenienced millions, caused untold damage to the economy. Perhaps that is less significant than a cancelled concert by a publicity junkie, B list singer

Welcome back, Always the others isn't it ??? And I thought you were mellowing.

Why would Prbkk be "mellowing"? Why would anyone think it is okay that this lunatic, Suthep, should take over large areas of Bangkok?

This behavior is not 'okay'. In most other countries in the world this madman, Suthep, would be arrested and thrown in prison. The reason he isn't, quite obviously, is that he is supported at the very highest levels. He has his own private army. He can do what he wants in Bangkok. He is supported by the Army.

Among the few forces standing against Suthep are the PT party and the red shirts.

In my opinion (but probably not in Prbkk's, because I am a genuine socialist whereas he is probably simply a believer in democracy) the red shirts should be supported. So I say, in case anyone thinks all falangs are conservatives, "long live the red shirts"!

How much more damage for this country?

I'd predict that the political problems will go on-and-on until Thai people realise that 'one man one vote' is the only solution.

It's the only solution because 'one man one vote' involves countable numbers. The electorate vote at the booths, then you count the votes, and then you have a verifiable result. Sure, there are flaws in that, but ultimately it's the best way I have ever heard of for governing a country.

It is also the best way of getting rid of regimes that do not deliver. So, e.g., if you don't like the 'first car scheme' or the 'rice subsidy scheme' (and I personally don't - but I can't vote), then you vote against the parties that delivered those schemes - and maybe you might consider voting for a new "New Democrat" party which has a better scheme?

There is a precedent for this electorate-run process of change, and it is Thaksin. Thaksin was arguably the first Thai politician to realise that you can get elected by delivering what you promise in a manifesto. Sure, Thaksin's problem was that he was obsessed with continuing his business interests while he governed the country, but he did establish a voter-based mandate. Who knows how that would have developed if there hadn't been the 2006 coup? Some people say that the coup saved Thailand from a predicted 'Thaksin dictatorship'; others suggest that Thaksin would have followed the democratic will if he had been voted out. I tend to the latter view.

I'd suggest that you simply have to 'trust' the electorate, and if you do so, ultimately, things will balance themselves out. Maybe I am naiive, but I'd suggest that there is a real mood in this country to stamp out corruption, but it has to be done through the voting system. There is no other sensible or workable way. You have to convince the Isaan people that good, non-corrupt management/governance is the best way forward for this country.

In years to come the insurrectionist Suthep will go down as one of the greatest criminals in the history of Thailand. He is surely up there in the 'hall of shame' with Sarit (the most corrupt ever - way ahead of Thaksin) and Thanin Kraivichien (the most repressive ever - the book burner - only rivalled in repressiveness by Abhisit, who took lese majeste prosecutions to a new level). Arguably one should also include Field Marshall Phibun. On an international scale Suthep evokes comparison with Mussolini and Mugabe.

Here's an idea, let's put up a statue to the 'ghastly 4' - Suthep, Sarit, Thanin and Abhisit - which could become a public urinal or a place where one could vomit when one has had a few too many drinks.

A suitable place for this statue would be Sanam Luang, near to Democracy Monument and the statue of the heroic Pridi at Thammasat University. So in future we could visit Bangkok and pay tribute to Pridi and of course to the enlightened monarchs of this fabulous country (principally Rama V and Rama IX) and then demonstrate our scorn for those who have done their best to destroy Thailand/Siam, the criminals of the modern era - Suthep, Sarit, Thanin and Abhisit.

This OP does not surprise me. 3 days out from yingluck having to defend herself from negligence charges which are undoubtable justified was always going to stir the terrorists hornets nest. Some might say this is a normal reaction to the independent agencies perceived bias towards the PTP. Well in a way that is true. Not the reaction, but the courts bias. They have always been biased towards criminal activity and have always through facts and evidence shown that bias, as have courts all over the world. Well done for some on TVF for highlighting this bias.

As I stated previously, one must fear the supporters of savages more than the savages themselves for they are the fuel that keep the dictatorial fire burning (no pun intended) They justify the terroristic actions of vigilantly mobs and armed militia roaming the streets threatening to loot, steal fuel and burn Bangkok if the courts that are biased towards criminals don't absolve the guilty while at the same time spouting words like "anti-democratic" and "coup mongers" which are in fact more at home describing the tendencies of the PTP. These people that defend the savages stand on a mantel of self righesness preaching democracy while the party they support are only 1/15 democratic. They defend breaking all the other principles of democracy so they can adhere to one. That is confusing to say the least.

Arguments that some posters have stated justifying terrorism use words like "actions have consequences" and "create a backlash". These are the same words that terrorist supporters have used previously to sanction terror and death of innocent people. Some excuses like "sanctions imposed against Iraq" and "presence of US military in Saudi Arabia" and "Support of Israel by the USA" are all excuses used to justify 9/11 buy some other terrorist supporters. This is no different here. They had there warped ideals to justify terrorism. The UDD supporters are following a very well worn path.

I have stated previously, but until today after reading one particular comment, have I seen such a dangerous example that the slide into fanatical fundamentalism is a slow yet very pronounced progression where before you know it your are defending terrorists and abdicating violence in misguided beliefs that you think you are right while everyone else is wrong.

Lets hope this latest threat by the terrorists is addressed accordingly by yingluck or at least the PTP and the culprits held to account as a sign for others that the rule of law must be respected left this country slide into an abyss that some think is justified. There is no justification or excuse to abdicate the kidnapping of judges.

Shame shame shame. I pity some and hope they get the help they so obviously and urgently need.

I have every confidence that "the Mandela of the East" will sort this problem out. Probably by getting his "popcorn" paid-for-thugs to shoot a few more innocent bystanders.

There's a lot of squirming, denial, deflection going on among the yellows at this thread.

This premeditated and well organized shooting assault and the firefight it created is counter to the invented yellow narrative that the only thing they put their finger on are whistles and that they only blow up balloons. It's incredible to believe that determined and deadly serious insurrectionists don't have an armed element, rogue or disciplined.

Suthep tried to get the army on his side, actively, but failed. Suthep, Abhisit, the DP are among the principals that want a coup d'état that would require the imposing of martial law enforced by tanks rolling in the streets. The yellows are convinced the reds are armed and in training. The army is instantly terrorized by any talk of red villages, red radio, red districts, talk that has caused the chief of the army himself to cry out loudly against everything red and north of Bangkok.

There are a lot of suspects in this attack, to include either the yellows directly or indirectly. Absolute denial is just not credible. Trying to say it's all a red set up is assinine [sic] and only lowers the bar of suspicion against the yellows.

Maybe I missed some posts, quite likely, but what I see is mostly yellows arguing that it could be anyone (incl. The PDRC), but that it is weird that the reds are so sure the PDRC attacked themselves in past incidents and at the same time so sure the reds did NOT attack themselves in this case :-)

red brain ( and I use this word loosely ) washed hippocrasy is normal from the red sheeple, I expect no more from them than that...

"red brain"? "washed hippocrasy"? "red sheeple"?

Definitions, please. Preferably in English.

Of all the narratives in recent days, this is undoubtedly the silliest. Of course she wants to contest the election. She already has expressed willingness to contest an election for a second term. It is no longer theoretical. She and Chalerm and Surapong were absolutely delighted with that election. Chalerm insisted that Pheu Thai got 300 seats in parliament - his " official " count - more than the 265 seats they got the last time. Yes, it was all sugar and cream back them. Surapong had initiated a new list of countries who were beyond excitement. Seven weeks later, no one sits in parliament, even Chalerm. Yingluck has even forgotten what her office looks like. She's back though - on facebook. Democracy is alive and well on her facebook page. But one notable, shining thing had changed. She now openly acknowledges that her premiership will rest with the ruling of the NACC - and by inference a Senate vote that follows it if such an action were recommended. And that is the very first time she's done that.

And

here are the problems with your contributions, Mr Scamper:

you hate the left-leaning parties in Thailand (or anywhere else);

and

you begin too many of your final sentences with the word "and".

and

I could mention other problems associated with your obsessive love of the "Democrats", but won't.

As one of Thailand's most notoriously corrupt politicians I guess he knows a thing or two about it.

If this is true, than he will have a clue how to end corruption. It is not important what he did (or is blamed for) in the past.

What he does now is what counts.

BTW I think PTP, Yingluck and their cronies know at least much more

On that basis let's employ "reformed" paedophiles to run our nursery schools.

The verbal acrobats of non-answering obfuscations they go through on the often-raised issue is astounding.

You do know the law in this country about defaming or accusing people of things? I posted a collection of schematics cataloguing the various lists of powerful families and their various connections, directly after this post.

The term amart, in and of itself, is defamatory or accusatory?

Please...the gymnastics are getting out of hand.

If the word itself is so powerful and volatile, then perhaps the word should never be posted, yet that's not what we see. It see it over and over and over.

So that's all ok, but, somehow, to simply identify who it is we are discussing over and over and over... Oh No! We mustn't. That's forbidden.

As said, the obfuscation is astounding.

Look, you keep on trying to make a point here that there is no amart and if there were, they do not have an undue influence in politics.

OK, if that's what you want to believe, stay ignorant.

Or you could put aside your prejudices and do some research yourself. I would suggest sources not based in Thailand for obvious reasons. There is a perfectly good reason for the reticence of posters to educate you and no amount of petulant posting will reveal anything more than you have already.

If there are no ammart:

- who has been bringing this huge upsurge of lese majeste cases since the coup?

- who owns most of the land in Thailand?

- what about the Crown Property Bureau (oh, sorry - delete that)

- why is Thailand one of the most unequal countries in Asia?

- why are the Army and Court systems laws unto themselves, above the elected politicians?

- why do the red shirts keep mentioning the ammart?

- why has democracy never taken root in Thailand, and there has been a series of coups and re-writes of the constitution?

- why are roads blocked off with hundreds of police lining the roads to allow motorcades to pass?

- why can Suthep, a known insurrectionist, walk free?

There are titled ammart unto the fifth generation, and ammart can also be appointed, as has obviously happened with many Thai-Chinese.

If it is suggested that there are no ammart, maybe next thing someone will be telling us that Thai-Chinese do not run Thailand? Yet it is a documented fact that they run up to 90% of the businesses here (although making up only about 10 or 15% or the population).

Whatever the arguments are, we have a corrupt moron "acting" prime minister now, who doesn't even know which box to put her own ballot in and who lies, cries and tries to pull the wool over uneducated people's eyes so that her corrupt, evil brother can come back to Thailand.

Thaksin is a coward. Can't even face the music. You do something wrong, you pay the price. What a sissy coward punk.

I think you may have missed a cliche

Yes, fab4, quite a few cliches were missed out here. A relatively poor job of cliche writing in my view. Here are some of the cliches that could have been included:

So all the chicken little's predicting armageddon were wrong?

When will you people learn to trust uncle T, he's so much smarter than you (especially when it comes to governing a nation).

Yep, your man is a genius:

'... (The other paper), citing trade sources, says that the government has sold about 800,000 tons of rice so far via secret channels this year at prices of around 9.60 baht per kilogram (around $298 per ton), which is down about 20-25% from the current market price of around 12-13 baht per kilogram (around $373 - $404 per ton). If true, the secret sales could be a contravention of WTO rules. In the past, several countries, including the U.S., have raised concerns about the possibility of Thailand dumping its rice in the international market.

The Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET) President also says that the government is trying to sell rice hastily through several channels, and this was the reason for the poor participation in yesterday’s AFET auction for about 244,000 tons of rice, in which only seven bidders participated. Exporters say they are reluctant to buy rice from the government because prices are expected to decline by 10-15% in April - May 2014 when some rice from Vietnam’s winter-spring crop is likely to enter Thailand'.

[Thanks to Samjaidee].

If true…...

and if not?

Just one more fallacy from the anti-democratic mob.

The longer this debacle goes on the more the coup mongers lies are exposed for what they are.

Even with the biased court system in their pocket, this hopeless mob has barely secured a handful of convictions for anything in nearly 10 years of trying.

Give up and go home.

You lost.

You do realise who appoints Thailand's judges, don't you?

There are bias judges I'm sure but not all accept cake boxes stuffed with cash.

What a devious, lying little snake this Abhisit is! He's now trying to present himself as some kind of honest broker between PT and PDRC when we all know that he is joined at the hip with his corrupt crony, Suthep and the PDRC!

Sorry Mr Abhisit, but you share full responsibility for all Suthep's criminal activities in blocking the democratic process over the past couple of months, just as you share his responsibility for (allegedly) murdering demonstraters in 2010. You can't wiggle free.

The NACC is boldly going ahead with what they are constitutionally entrusted to do - and that is uphold the constitution and to investigate any infractions of it. The judicial process is going forward, and that is good news for all Thais.

Good news for all *rich* Thais, you mean. The poorer ones will get shot, abused and deported as usually happens in Thailand.

By the way, how is your lovely condo in Bangkok, and how are your lovely slaves (sorry, servants) performing, Scamp-ammart?

Where do poor Thai citizens get deported to?

The cemetery.