herfiehandbag

They will want at least 3 months, more probably 6 or even a year, to set in place all the means possible to guarantee the correct result for the "right" people. Wissanu will no doubt explain, the social, political and economic disruption caused by too precipitous a second election in too short a time span.

I hope and pray that it is successful. I wonder whether he father is playing a part?

Quite probably an agent. They can usually come to an "understanding" with Immigration. The fee may well be competitive with what the Embassy charges, especially if they ( the Embassy) require you to present yourself in person.

I think you are right. I am naturally a conservative sort of fellow ( small C please note), but revolution can happen, sometimes it is inevitable; there are certain parrallels with the attitude and behaviour of the "Ancien Regime" in France towards the end of the 18th century. Revolution means of course the overthrowing of the established order, and it's replacement by a new governance, usually with popular support. My hope is that it can be achieved relatively peacefully, with popular protest rather than violent insurrection. I don't think MFP or PT want violent insurrection, but I rather suspect that there are elements within the "established order" who are not averse to using violence in an attempt to put down peaceful protest. If they do so, I think they will bring the whole ramshackle structure crashing down around them.

If weed is made illegal it will be the end of the world as we know it! "Reefer madness" will prevail, men will have to wear high waisted baggy flannel trousers with turn ups and short sleeved shirts with ties. Women will have to go back to wearing those conical bras. It is all to awful to contemplate. I would have a beer to fortify myself but it is far too early! But probably, everything will carry on as it did before...

And into their disenfranchised status once Pita and MFP are banned. It was inevitable, no matter what he said or did, that he was going to be banned; might as well continue keeping the flames alive.

The judiciary is the ( totally compromised regime owned) tool which will be used to keep him out of power.

It may well be that he, and MFP, have done an in depth appreciation. Looked at all the factors and come to a conclusion. They may well have reached a conclusion before the election. Before the election, they may well have believed that they would win the most seats. They knew that they had a vote winning combination with their proposals to reform certain laws, and abolish conscription, which is hated amongst the young. A conclusion that was proved right. They may also have decided that the Prayut regime would not relinquish power to an elected majority coalition. Particularly as their platform included reforming certain laws and abolishing conscription. A not unreasonable conclusion. They know that the machinations of the Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court have no credibility, within Thailand or outside. They knew that two of the factors which played a major part in underpinning the establishments power were control of traditional print and broadcast media, and usurping traditional loyalties to a respected national institution. The first has been superseded, especially amongst younger people, the second has gone. So from all these factors their conclusion, knowing that they have the votes, especially amongst young voters in Bangkok; they expect that the Prayut regime will have to be forced from office by protest - protests backed by a party with proven electoratel legitimacy. Stoke the fire under them.

No, Akha, used by both men and women.

How do you get to be one of the 30 trial participants? £1600 a month would see me through the last year's to my pension very nicely!

Snowball (the chihuahua) doesn't approve of Elephant pants!

As a legal case it is strong on senses of grievance, belief in his own truths, entitlement and fulfilling his "lifetimes mission". Bit weak on evidence mind you...

Ageing hippy... The Chihuahua doesn't come with the bag - she just insisted on being in the photo!

Ah, it's one of those special " man bags" for losing on exercise/when hiking in the jungle!

After careful consideration I have come to the conclusion that he was almost certainly lying. You see his lips were moving, and sound was coming from his mouth.

I couldn't say about the Marijuana enthusiasts, but I doubt if anyone related to the military ( other than the conscripts, or any "royalists", voted for them in the first place. As I said, their support went from 6 million to 14 million over 4 years, and they swept the board in Bangkok.

Far from being past their peak, banning MFP will disenfranchise 14 million or so, and hugely increase MFPs popular base. Remember what happened when they banned Future Forward? 6 million to 14 million, and lost Bangkok!

Just what is that supposed to mean? Am I being naive? Were the regimes I mentioned naive because they thought that ignoring popular opinion would keep them in power? Are the Thai electorate naive because they thought they could initiate change? Or is it just another one of your unfathomable one liners designed to show how much cleverer you are than every one else?

Hasek (Czechoslovakia), Honneker (East Germany) , Ceuascescu (Romania), Marcos (Phillipines), Chun Du Hwan (South Korea), Suharto (Indonesia) all thought that they and their ruling elite were secure in place. They all were ousted remarkably quickly once their population decided on a complete clean out. "Reasonable and Intelligent folks" understand how things work here. They understand that the status quo is maintained by a mix of traditional puppetry and force, behind a screen of faux constitutional institutions, all nominally there to serve the nation and its people but in fact hijacked by a ruling oligarchy, all semi obscured by smoke and mirrors. This election has smashed the mirrors, blown away the smoke. The presence which so dominated Thai society, was so revered, and which held together the system, which allowed an authoritarian elite to rule "as of right" has gone for ever. It has not been replaced in the peoples affections. " Reasonable and Intelligent folks" ( Thai and foreign) are beginning to think that things should and can be changed. Granted the opinions of the foreigners are largely irrelevant, but those of the Thais matter; the recent election (which now seems to have been effectively stalled or frustrated) showed that a large number of Thais wanted change, and, which would have been unthinkable even 10 years ago, voted for it. Look at the results for Bangkok - arguably where the educated, economically productive and until recently most "conservative" population is; MFP swept the board.

Hasek (Czechoslovakia), Honneker (East Germany) , Ceuascescu (Romania), Marcos (Phillipines), Chun Du Hwan (South Korea), Suharto (Indonesia) all thought that they were secure in place. They all were ousted remarkably quickly once their population decided on a complete clean out.

Two battalions worth of Stryker, along with another three battalions worth of Ukrainian BTRs will probably only be enough to secure the airport and the main route to it. The mixture of tanks (many of them M48 and M60s - old and with likely maintenance and reliability issues) and M116 tracked APCs (also old) will require transporters to get them where they are needed. They are of limited use in urban areas.

Certainly the whole case has been going round in circles for some time...

Quite possibly another reason to spin out the process as long as possible. A new Senate, chosen by the caretaker ", MFP banned, PT similarly banned or somehow hamstrung, fresh elections, good to go!

Yes, there are many problems which cry out for international attention. Burma is certainly one. You have to start somewhere. The Gulf States are perhaps more vulnerable to international ( Western) pressure.

I think that it is becoming increasingly likely that this matter wil be referred to the courts. There it is likely to drag on for many months, perhaps years. In the meantime the present government will remain in power, nominally in "caretaker" mode, but in fact in full power. Apropos of that, do you remember when Yingluck's government, or indeed Thaksin's were in "caretaker" mode (before the elections which they called were prevented by coups) just how hemmed in and restricted they were by the establishment - doesn't really seem to be the case this time round. I'm not a betting man ( were it allowed) but I would put money on Prayut, and certainly Wissanu, still being in place in June 2024! Quite simply, they are not going anywhere!