51 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

I don't think you need an artillery system to quash urban civil unrest.

You don't.

To ensure that the opportunities offered by the procurement process are maximised, you do need to make regular significant purchases of "big ticket" items...

19 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

A purchase to stop the invading hordes from where?

the bill for infrastructure spending could  have been lowered a little 

with these monies, 

once these shells are exhausted in battle , the tanks then take over , and once they have been disabled and all the people are pushed back to the sea, the submarine will defend them, once the submarine has been destroyed, 

what can we buy then, 

the strategy of buying bigger better, best becomes never ending.

The Quartermaster who must be fantastic at his job supplying and keeping stock of all of these purchases from China, USA, Russia, Israel,  and who ever else is in the mix.

 

 

 

By my reckoning that makes 15 different types of howitzers, 7 155mm calibre and 8 105mm calibre.

The logistic, ammunition holdings and resupply, repair and training systems needed to keep that variety of equipment working and their crews trained (especially bearing in mind that most will be conscripts serving for two years or less) must be a fantastic effort!

That Quartermaster must be a very very busy chap!

5 hours ago, Grouse said:

And who do you consider to be "foreign riff raff" pray? 

 

What have lawyer makers done to harm you? I think you meant cheesmakers?

 

No, it's time intellectuals spoke up. I for one are tired of listening to British riff raff.

You intellectuals each had one vote.

Each of us Riff Raff had one vote.

Even the Numpties, and the East Coast cretins each had one vote.

They, and the various other groups that you will no doubt coin abusive names for over the coming months, (you just can't help yourself can you - arrogant ****!) mustered more votes than you intellectuals. How hard is that, for an intellectual such as you, to understand?

58 minutes ago, Expatthailover said:

No doubt don has congratulated this corrupt monster on his win based on thuggery, corruption and graft.

A man don can easily relate to

Oh I don't know, I rather gathered Mr Orban won because he got a lot more votes than the opposition. Not a concept with which Mr Trump is unduly familiar, nor perhaps the people who run the EU, who I understand are contemplating some sort of action against Mr Orban's government.

But then, that is the problem with democracy. The result has to basically reflect the votes cast. As soon as you interfere with those results, either because you are ideologically opposed to the winner, dislike him (understandable in this case) or in an attempt to rebalance the result in the "interest" of a minority, ("every vote must count"), well then it stops being a democracy...

31 minutes ago, pornprong said:

Past 3 elections?

 

2011: Thaksin wins

2007: Thaksin wins

2006: Thaksin wins

2005: Thaksin wins

2001: Thaksin wins

 

The most interesting result here is the 2005 election. After winning 248 seats to the Democrats 128 in 2001 then becoming the first Thai PM to govern for the full 4 year term, Thaksin went on to the most crushing electoral victory ever seen in Thailand winning 375 seats to the Democrats 76 by gaining the votes of over 14 million Thais compared to the Democrats who won a paltry 4 million.

 

This election was the glaring confirmation that the elites days were numbered; democracy was about to wash them away forever.

 

Those seeking to deny democracy through coups and outsider PM's have forgotten just how little support they truly have and just how united the rest of the nation is against them.

 

Pro-democracy Thais out number anti-democracy Thais by nearly 3 to 1.

 

Only guns and the threat of violence keep the anti-democrats  in the game - clearly an unsustainable foundation.

 

Their defeat is a certainty.

 

Their solution - no more elections, or rather only "Thai style".

Screw down the lid and wait for the bang...

8 hours ago, BuaBS said:

Since we are guests in this country and Thai Visa rules say " not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people" , a rule that is clearly violated by you anti Prayut posters , some-one should down vote some remarks here.

 

The forum moderators enforce the rules you quote, they don't seem to feel it applies to political debate.

What you were suggesting was that those indulging in political debate and espousing views with which you disagree should be effectively expelled from the country - rather a different thing.

If you feel so strongly about what we say, join in, it has after all become somewhat one sided. Or are you more of the "burn the books" persuasion?

On 11/04/2018 at 9:30 AM, BuaBS said:

Maybe Prayut should do some IP checks of all the anti - PM brigade foreigners here , and give them a stern reply at their next extention at the immigration office. ( as in NO extention).

Prayut brought peace and quiet to the country , and kept the economy in good shape , despite the world wide economical crisis.

Thailand has very little debt with very little taxes . Many could learn from this.

Poor people staying poor ? Like that would change with "democratic" money grabbers.

What a very revealing post. It certainly explains the "sad" emojis which you have taken to sprinkling around. You seem to share the juntas intense dislike of anyone who dares to disagree or offer an opinion of which you don't approve.

Would your ideal expatriate community be limited to "fellow travelers" then?

Aged 50, and a "Pilot Officer"!

Bit of a flyer, no?

4 hours ago, Eligius said:

Totally agree with you, Saakura. Yes, it is very disheartening for those of us (and there are many of us here on Thaivisa) who care about democracy, human rights and civil rights - to see the overwhelming apathy of the Thais (with the honourable exception of a handful of very brave students and a few other activists). Most Thais that I speak to seem more interested in that silly fake-historical costume drama ('Love Desitiny', or whatever it was called) than in their own actual human dignity and freedom.

 

Oh well. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. If the Thais want to accept serfdom and servitude (with a few muted grumbles behind their hands - which will get them nowhere), then that is their 'love destiny' - love of being a slave. Or at the very least, acquiescence in their own slavery. Let them reap the fruits of what they have sown - and are still sowing ...

 

I'm sorry but I must disagree with you Eligius, as I do with Baboon and Samui Bodoh. You have in my opinion made a fundamental misjudgement by mistaking acquiescence for acceptance,

This society is being run by the men with the guns. The guns may be for the most part holstered, but they are still strapped to the people wielding power. The thing about a holstered gun is that you can still see it, and you know that it can be quickly drawn and used. There have been several occasions in the last few decades when the people running the country have not hesitated to use those guns to protect their hegemony. 2010 was the last of several occasions, and there is a very direct connection between that occasion, and the people issuing the orders then and the current regime. The Thai people are entirely aware of that, that is why they acquiesce. 

I remember my very basic science (chemistry) education. Two incompatible substances may require the presence of a third substance or event (a catalyst) to initiate an often powerful reaction. (My most powerful memory is of my chemistry teacher setting fire to his trousers by dropping phosphorous onto them from a dish of water!) That reaction can often be sudden and unpredictable. Whilst it is often difficult, and an imprecise business to attempt to judge the mood of a society,  I think that analogy applies to the current situation in this society. What the catalyst will be I don't know. I rather thought that the jailing of Yingluck might have been it - that was forestalled by " allowing " her to leave. An election which results in an overwhelming mandate for one party, only to see an engineered "logjam" result in the imposition of an appointed Prime Minister, as now seems likely, may prove to be a catalyst. Or it may be a succession of much more minor things. I don't know, none of us does, but it is not I am sure true, or fair, to say that the Thai people accept what is being done to their country. They continue to try and enjoy themselves, that is in their nature, they are not a particularly sullen people - one of the reasons why I rather like living amongst them.  Again that does not indicate acceptance, but acquiescence. The two are very different states of mind.

One other point to bear in mind - the single most stabilising factor in this society has gone. Uncharted waters.

I wonder if they will have a sticker of a cuddly little brown bear wearing an army tee shirt slapping a cute little pregnant white rabbit for not using her indicators?

Yes - I know my way around "line stickers". How else do you communicate with a twelve year old daughter?

46 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

What amazes me about the nation's avuncular leader and model of Thainess is the huge number of  traditional Thai shirts he has in his wardrobe. He seems to wear a different one every day of the year. They must cost a bomb - and I reckon he has more than his notorious sidekick has watches.

 

Of course, he could just be borrowing them. . . 

From a dead tailor...

Slapping a pregnant women around, because " she didn't indicate" - I wonder if there is a snazzy bit of bling to pin on the tight green shirt to recognise his martial prowess?

Utterly pathetic creature . If  he were to find himself anywhere near a "two way range" he would run a mile - with a wet "map of Africa" down the front of his trousers!