bobmac10

What's it called?

"I'm a celebrity, get me out of here!"

The civilian government that followed the Prem Tinsulananda government was run by the prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan, a scion of an elite family.

His government was equally corrupt but gave more power to civilian politicians to loot the country rather than army officers.

It became known as the “buffet cabinet” for the enthusiasm with which ministers helped themselves to the spoils of office.

The military soon decided it was time for another coup. Suchinda’s junta seized power in 1991 with the approval of the king.

The coup leaders promised to clean up Thai politics and restore democracy.

When these claims proved hollow, the elite networks were blindsided by another mass uprising, this time by the middle class. (unlike the student uprising of 1975).

After seizing power from the elected government in 1991, Suchinda’s Junta began work on a new constitution. The proposed charter was a severe setback for democracy, with several clauses designed to perpetuate military dominance of politics even after elections were held.

On the 19^th November, 1991, more than 70,000 people rallied in protest against the proposed charter, the biggest mass protest since 1973.

A poll which surveyed 312,357 people found 98.8 percent were against the draft constitution.

Elections were set for 1992 and pro-military parties won a majority of seats. Suchinda who had previously promised to step aside after democracy was restored, announced he would have to become Prime Minister after all to “save the nation”, weeping as he spoke.

History has a habit of repeating itself.

Great lady, many years ago my missus was a back up dancer and singer for her when they both were starting out on the country circuit. Wouter probably wasn't even conceived then.

I first met her in 2003. very nice person and one of Thailand's great singers, Good luck to both of them. She deserves some happiness, her fist husband was cheating on her when she was pregnant, she already has two grown up boys. Strange if the ages were the other way around the snide comments would not be here.

Yes I agree, there are some very sick people on TV, extremely cynical, jaded, without heart and humour.

Barflys the lot of them, dregs of humanity who think they are funny.

The passport/ s were reported to have been issued during yingluck' s watch, to countries that it just so happens thaksin has made numerous business deals with and /or visited.

You never know who some people are pimping for, or where /how they find the potential company that they have been requisted to find.

Yeah right Slapout, obviously Yingluck"s fault, would never happened before of since eh?

Long bow buddy.

I returned an item in February exactly as instructed( by post), emailed the post receipt as instructed, still have not received my refund

They seem incapable of dealing with this

I get the same automated reply every time

Never again

One very small step for the Thai poor people.

This is important for the reason that it's been going on for centuries and was only brought to light by social media.

Despite the enormous power of the elites, the poor are now able to communicate and highlight injustices like this.

The genie is well and truly out of the bottle and no army can put it back in.

The elites and their puppet amy are gradually losing their privileged place in Thailand day by day.

Will the Junta ban Facebook?

That will be their next move

Why the need for a sub....?

Why not ? The country itself has a long coast line...one suspects Thailand has more coast line than say the UK, but no one questions the need the UK have for subs

Slightly different strategic imperative wouldn't you say?

The fact that Thai people cannot even discuss the current political situation without being liable for arrest (for creating disharmony) is something that the Junta supporters on TV cannot justify.

Yet they continue with their pointless arguments.

Clearly, there are some very restrictive laws in Thailand designed to stifle discussion.

I believe this is to allow the status quo to continue, because the laws have been in force for many decades.

So without the ability to discuss politics without fear is the major stumbling block to progress.

The Junta supporters don't get this point. They choose to ignore it.

One only has to look at South Africa.

When the ANC came into power, they could have held countless retribution trials against the whites, but they didn't.

Nelson Mandela said the only way forward is to forgive and forget.

Provided those involved attended the Truth and Reconciliation hearings, they were clear to get on with their lives.

Open political discussion was encouraged.

Now compare this with Thailand.

The comparison could not be more stark.

Here we have a climate of fear, "Attitude Adjustment" and jailings for people who say the "wrong" thing.

How can ther be any progress?

Robblok wrote: Violence wise the red shirts are just far more extreme and the cheering after the killings in Thrat is a good example of it. If not for one of the redshirt leaders realizing how bad it looks PR wise they would not have stopped. And yes it looks bad and nobody forgets it (except the red supporters who fail to admit that the reds are a far more violent bunch)

I support the redshirts and in my opinion their rage against the elite was truly justified.

The illegal government imposed by the military promised an election and then denied one.

If it had happened in my country, I would have been out there on the street with the rest of the "rioters".

If the Junta don't give up and go away with their ill gotten millions then this place will explode and as they say "you aint seen nothing yet"

It reminds me of the lead up to the Russian revolution.

The elite, completely oblivious of the needs of the people after three hundred years of total control.

The seething resentment as their political nominees become criminalised by the government.

The increasing lack of freedom, the suppression of free speech, the lack of any real progress despite the propaganda.

All these ingredients are there now and I believe that it won't take much for the Thais to explode and ransack the citadels of the elite (Bangkok).

I won't be here to see it though, I've made up my mind that this is a situation too dangerous to be around.

I wish it could be different but these elite are prepared to cling to power to the bitter end and so it will be.

really great to know that you support the murdering of innocent kids and adults because you think they have that right to kill people if they dont get what they want/demand, you definitely have the right mental attitdue(or lack of it) to be a red. Anyone that supports any kind of violence is a low life in my opinion especially when it involves the murder of innocent people, mate you really are pathetic

Seajae let's get one thing straight.

You're not my mate.

Your unflagging support for this Junta, this coup, has been your most notable feature on this forum.

Your attempt to make me out as approving of child murderer is extremely weak and shows your desperation when you are running out of answers or argument.

I have repeated this ad nauseum and will continue to do on this forum.

This power play we are witnessing has NOTHING to do with Thaksin.

In fact there are a number of very powerful business people in Thailand who are working hard to get him back in.

I would not be surprised to see him asked to come back by an interim government when this house of cards collapses.

This is a struggle between the old powerful families who have traditionally run Thailand (elites) and the rest of the population.

The elites will stop at nothing to retain their position of privilege.

Thailand’s elite have been able to impose their version of reality on the country’s people with impunity, jailing people for years simply for expressing their honest opinion or stating objective facts.

Now with modern communication and social media, despite an outdated and dysfunctional education system. the young people of Thailand (and the middle aged too), realise the emperor has no clothes. It's been a con trick to keep them ignorant and in their place.

The red shirt movement is made up of many different political idealists, who will probably break up to form different parties when the time comes.

However, right now they are united in one thing, and that is to get rid of the influence of the elites over Thailand for ever.

Until this is achieved, the struggle will continue.

No military can control a population for ever.

I expect it to become very bloody, and that is because, as I have said before, the elite are totally ruthless and will fight to the death to stay in power.

The military are in step with the elite and will do their bidding until they are defeated.

I won't be here to witness it because it's going to be very messy.

It doesn't have to be, but unless these elites and their puppets give up power, I fear for the worst.

Populist policies? Nooooooooo, only Thaksin did that...

Great finally those that pay real taxes get a benefit instead of rewarding those that don't pay taxes at all.

And of course its populist but at least they have paid taxes. (civil servants are on wages and income tax is with held)

Now farmers on the other hand

and 30 billion at 3,5% is around 1 billion.. what did the rice program cost again 500 billion..

Everyone knows the yellow shirts that occupied the airport were all public servants given the time off work to go do what they were told to do.

So this is just to shore up their support for next time.

My own personal experience with Thai government employees is that a majority are lazy, arrogant, supercillious and careless.

Making a coup against the state is a crime. So Dear general, you are the very first wrong doer .I don't see any crime bigger than that one.

and how many people have died ? correct me if I'm wrong but I believe it is a very big fat "0"

Well one thing is for sure Smedley, you won't ever know.

The reason for that is because extra judicial killings are never publicised, so if you are hoping to see a tally of murders carried out extra judiciously on the news at 6pm, forget it!

you'll have to did a bit deeper but... ah why bother, you don't want to know do you?

Robblok wrote: Violence wise the red shirts are just far more extreme and the cheering after the killings in Thrat is a good example of it. If not for one of the redshirt leaders realizing how bad it looks PR wise they would not have stopped. And yes it looks bad and nobody forgets it (except the red supporters who fail to admit that the reds are a far more violent bunch)

I support the redshirts and in my opinion their rage against the elite was truly justified.

The illegal government imposed by the military promised an election and then denied one.

If it had happened in my country, I would have been out there on the street with the rest of the "rioters".

If the Junta don't give up and go away with their ill gotten millions then this place will explode and as they say "you aint seen nothing yet"

It reminds me of the lead up to the Russian revolution.

The elite, completely oblivious of the needs of the people after three hundred years of total control.

The seething resentment as their political nominees become criminalised by the government.

The increasing lack of freedom, the suppression of free speech, the lack of any real progress despite the propaganda.

All these ingredients are there now and I believe that it won't take much for the Thais to explode and ransack the citadels of the elite (Bangkok).

I won't be here to see it though, I've made up my mind that this is a situation too dangerous to be around.

I wish it could be different but these elite are prepared to cling to power to the bitter end and so it will be.

Smedley, I am truly sorry you find my posts insulting, I dare say so would your beloved PM.

The reason I criticise your posts is that in my opinion you lack any intellectual vigour in your posts.

My self I have been involved in politics, have been behind the scenes so to speak and know full well the image portrayed in the media is nothing like reality.

In addition, I have bothered to read extensively (outside of Thailand) because I am bothered by the one dimensional media here.

In my opinion, you just repeat the accepted and promoted line week after week, a very sanitised and middle-of-the-road set of values which do not rigorously challenge the Junta's monopoly on truth.

So I will continue to challenge you and your opinions whenever I feel it necessary.

Other news sources says that the navy is seeking to buy 3 of those subs from China, I hear they come

cheaper by the dozen, can Thailand BE any deeper in China's bosoms than what they're already?

can they GET any cozier with the Chinese this and Chinese that? leaving Thailand a complete

depended on China's whims and wishes?.....

The US had its change but alienated Thailand.. besides either it is the US or China... both will only do what is best for themselves. To think that one is better than the other is crazy. (Unless your an American of course).

The US hasn't alienated Thailand at all.

It's only put the the illegal military government on notice that they are not swallowing all their bullsh*t. The way you have.

As soon as the people throw out these morons and get back to a democracy you will see the US back in a big way.

And the people, I mean the millions of ordinary Thais, have plenty of respect for the USA, unlike their feelings for the Chinese.

Sure the neighboring countries have deep water, and I am against this but my country sits on the North sea, and our territorial waters are shallow still we have subs. So shallow water alone is not enough not to have them. I do think that the Thai navy could better invest the money elsewhere. But i guess there are big cheques going the way of those that decide to buy from China.

You never say much in criticism of this Junta Robblok, usually just throw in red herrings.

However you are right here, this is just an opportunity for the Junta to make squillions for all involved in the purchase.

A civilian government would not allow such a stupid purchase, after all, Thailand has no need for submarines.

The statement that the Navy seeks permission from the government (Military Government) to buy the submarines is ridiculous.

Of course they will say yes, it's a done deal, and all will share in the bounty.

Whether the subs actually become operational is irrelevant, the money will change hands and the big boys will become richer.

Take a trip down the river in Bangkok and see all the navy ships sitting and rusting away, dozens and dozens of warships not operational.

Why?

Because they don't have the money to make them operational, it's all being spent elsewhere on non operational "items".

No transparency and never will be any while this Junta is in control.

Their lack of usefulness seems to out weigh anything else

Bill Gates or no Bill Gates, the bottom line is that electrical wiring in Thailand is a disgusting and shameful mess. Anyone can put up wiring on power poles, the authorities just don't care.

I live in the North of Thailand near the highway and our power never goes out.

I think about two years ago we lost power when a truck hit the power pole and knocked them down.

I have no complaints at all.

Also we have fibre optic cable run to the house 20 MB/S, absolutely brilliant!

Could not go close to this for performance and price in Australia.

How many more police act like this in Thailand , Maybe we will start to see some bad apples purged from the force.

Hopefully

and another reason why this military government is needed

all the "democratic" governments before did nothing, and T. did even the opposite

ha ha ha, yep things sure have changed!

These cases are just being reported that's all, meanwhile the thousands of others continue daily without mention.

You sure are gullible sweaty.

Jamie believes everything the good General says.

Ah yes leadership... all well and good as long as they understand they won't actually be doing any leading... that's all been taken care of.

you only live once

Bad marriages between Farung and Thais wouldn't happen if the men were able to leave their egos out of their thinking.

How many Western men have you met (or know) who have married attractive women years younger than them?

Personally, I can say dozens.

It staggers me that old, overweight farung can believe that beautiful young girls could fall in love with them.

If they were able to look at the reality of the situation, they would know it's an impossibility.

Fall in love with their money... yes!

As long as the money continues to flow, they'll stick around, but often they have a lover on the side.

The most successful marriages I know are between couples of similar age and having met while both young.

Not always a recipe for success, but at least the odds are better.

Bearing in mind that more than 50% of marriages in the west end in divorce anyway.

My Thai wife and I have been married for 39 years, but it's not easy, but then I guess that's the way it goes with most marriages.

At least she's not after my money and there is genuine love there.

I would suggest that most guys who come to Thailand to find a partner, stay out of the bars, and look for someone close to their age.

This is not news on the internet cause we've been reading this rightwhingenut crackpot racism for years.

The people writing the Obama is a traitor garbage are the biggest fans of the Uniquely American Mussolini who's apparently taken control of the Republican party in this election cycle, The Ignoramus Billionaire Donald Trump.

It was not us right leaners that made Obama photoshop the birth certificate that he eventually(after much screaching and whining by his fans) showed. I could have told you that his being named Hussein, hailing from Kenya that a fake birth certificate was not going to make this issue disappear. His actions since coming to office which basically eroded the democratic christian way of life in favor of islam also do not help those that do not believe the MSM and suspect he is a secret admirer or even member of a hateful ideology.

ha ha, so you swallowed that one?

Geez man, go get an education

Agent provocateurs

the top cheaters of all times want to open anti-cheating centers

Please explain your post Swetatalot?

How is not allowing foreign observers in to witness the election a Good Thing?

What actual proof do you have that the UDD "cheated" at elections?

No, I didn't think you could actually present any facts.

Just more apologies for the Junta.