rubl

There were 266,010 drug-related arrests last year, up from the previous year by 11.6 per cent. Youths aged 20-24 years old were the largest group of offenders in terms of drug taking. Addiction impact is most acute among unskilled workers and unemployed people," the report said.

Moreover, in the fourth quarter alone, there were 77,839 of these arrests, a 7.2-per-cent increase from the third quarter, and a 36.8-per-cent increase from the fourth quarter of 2009.

Proof absolute that crime is spiralling out of control under this government.

Drugs related crime you mean. The only proper solution of course is another war on drugs as we had in 2004, only about 2500 odd dead at that time

Will the military be assisting the Democrats by conducting operations to disrupt PTP campaigning and framing their MPs with LM charges as the Junta did in the previous election?

Interesting question, also a wee bit leading as in suggesting rather than proving. Opinion, perfectly ad- and per-missable.

Answer of course is NO, too bloody busy finding those missing weapons

Best Director: A consortium of writers.

We really want to give away this award, and if you happen to know those who work on the script, call 911!

I nominate dear member 'random' and I'm sure 'truthailand' will agree

Their nomination is refused as you are already pronounced as winner, elevated one.

Let me use this opportunity to thank all who put their faith in me. Special thanks to my mother who instilled honesty and integrity and my father who helped me to keep it in (forcefully if necessary). God bless you all

Best Director: A consortium of writers.

We really want to give away this award, and if you happen to know those who work on the script, call 911!

I nominate dear member 'random' and I'm sure 'truthailand' will agree

Catching up with my reading.

AK-47: Firing the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the AK-47 produces significant wounding effects when the projectile tumbles and fragments in tissue; but it produces relatively minor wounds when the projectile exits the body before beginning to yaw.

M-16: The M16 rifle fires the 5.56x45mm cartridge and can produce massive wounding effects when the bullet impacts at high velocity and yaws in tissue leading to fragmentation and rapid transfer of energy.

Conclusion: both nasty!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ak-47

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle

The coup preceded both a general election and two cabinets / PM's before the current PM got a chance to form a new cabinet. Even legally so, in Thailand that is.

Arguably Thaksin has been the catalyst for the biggest single change ever in Thai social history and that was his downfall because he became far too popular. For the ruling class and the Military to see a commoner suddenly commanding an unprecedented huge popular following was a frightening thing as it signalled the end of the Elite's control over the poor majority and their belief in the Elite's right to run the country as they have done so for a few hundred years.

The Coup was followed by a Military installed government which tinkered with the constitution to try to give the Abhisit a better chance to win the election however he still lost the election. (Forget the two cabinets/PMs ousted by the courts) The Anataya and the Military then bought 40 PPP MP's and were so able to get Abhisit installed as PM, The question is if (as I personally believe he will) lose the next election will there be another Coup because if there isn't another Coup the Amataya/Military must realise that this time the old ways will most probably be gone for ever.

Amataya many times translates to elite. That includes all landed gentle-people who simply moved from slave owners to serf owners to being a patron all over Thailand. Some of the 40 BJT MP's you refer to fit that description as well as a quiet a few PTP MP's. The middle-class which has emerged tries an independent course, but is hindered by ties of gratitude and patronage. Imagine having lived in 1850's England, or even 1890, 1910.

As you predict a coup assuming some things, I IMHO predict that really a few 'influencial' people start to realize change is not only needed but inevitable. Some will hold on to power as long as possible, including those with ties to this government and those with ties to the previous governments. Change is inevitable though, hopefully with no or limited violence.

K. Thaksin may have been a commoner once, but had been raised through the ranks. He was new elite, together with his cronies who were partially old, partially new elite. Thailand should need neither old nor new elite, but with an uneducated mass (on purpose by all sides) the elite are needed to guide the country into a real democracy where people know both their rights and their duties to their country.

The vast majority of the Thai army, those who populate the lower echelons (read "guards" as well), are made up from the poorer parts of the country, particularly the Northeast, hotbed of red activity. Only the hi-so Thai/Chinese-type become the generals and commanders. There's not a lot of loyalty between the two groups, which of course, mirrors Thai society. I'm sure you can draw the inferences from there.

??

Did you miss out on who led the last coup? Hint --- NOT Thai Chinese.

Strange that the first post was one decrying that the reds would be blamed .. when most people would think that it was theft for profit. Then another red-leaning (ok .. just red) member says he saw an interview where the peaceful democracy loving reds were admitting to buying weapons?

The world just keeps getting stranger on TVF

Now remind me please, which one of k. Thaksin's cousins is an army general ? Wasn't that general Chaiyasit Shinawatra raised to Army commander-in-chief in august 2003 and replaced after a year for not being able to control the Southern Thai insurrection? Both raised and replaced by his relative, Thai idol k. Thaksin? Thai-Chinese types? What's wrong with that?

What do you know about a the Military coup that preceded the installation of the present Democrat Prime Minister who couldn't win an election and why do you think if asking if the same thing will happen again is wrong?

You mean the military coup that preceded a Thaksin-puppet that couldn't win an election being installed?

Actually the first (and till now last) general election after the coup saw PPP as largest party and the late k. Samak as PM.

When dear member truthailand mentioned IFG and nuclear fuel rods he was just poking fun at the more gullible members here. No need to discuss any further.

This is amazing, really.

"Natthawut also called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to make a promise that his Democrat Party would accept the results of the next election even if the Democrat is beaten by the Pheu Thai."

Any one in Thailand believe they will admit defeat? What a dream. A men who is responsible(directly) for the death of 90 civilians to admit defeat?

Adding to the list of things that you know nothing about.

What do you know about a the Military coup that preceded the installation of the present Democrat Prime Minister who couldn't win an election and why do you think if asking if the same thing will happen again is wrong?

Interesting sequence of posts. How come reply on reply has less and less relation to the original replied on?

The coup preceded both a general election and two cabinets / PM's before the current PM got a chance to form a new cabinet. Even legally so, in Thailand that is.

The 90 civilians happened to be slightly less civilians. Also 12 - 15 police / army (have to check I admit). Strangely most of those died by having grenades lobbed on them.

Anyone in Thailand believe they'll admit defeat? Who, the UDD, k. Thaksin, PTP? Asking what people will do in the future is interesting, but rarely useful. K. Thaksin said many times already to withdraw from politics, just work for the good of the country. You like to ask him again?

Thaksin unlikely to back Mingkwan

Thaksin agrees to have Mingkwan nominated as PM candidate

Thaksin's Pheu Thai Party running like a well-oiled, finely tuned machine......

oiled with coconut oil and tuned by clowns, that is

Obviously nothing to do with the Nation's non factual reporting habit and people like you believing everything that they read in the Nation?

No offence, but the zig-zagging is also reported in other newspapers, including Thai language ones. Just Yahoo/Google around a bit.

Yes but not any M-16 were stollen, right?

No.

But there was a case in Afghanistan of hundreds of AK-47s stolen from a US weapons bunker by a Blackwater employee, who checked them out using the name Eric Cartman (from South Park). The US military officer on duty at the time was a friend of a Blackwater employee. Hundreds of the guns were never recovered and have disappeared.

So, US troops have AK-47 but Thai Army don't have it? That's what the expert said about killed Japanese reporter. How strange.

I must admit I do not really see the relation between what the USA might have stored in a bunker in Afghanistan and what the Thai army uses. Furthermore the link from that to what killed the Japanese photographer really escapes me. The Dutch Army doesn't have AK-47 either apart from a few left over from 'know your enemy' courses. Is that suspect also ?

and they want to build a Nuclear Power Plant.

The Isaan Farmers group, an extremist splinter group, of the red shirt movement are believed to be behind the disappearance of a number of uranium rods. When pressed on the issue Abhisit replied " We have to believe they have ill intentions and a 'dirty bomb' is possible. Our intelligence shows they have the tecnology down on the farm to make this a real threat"

Madness, pure madness if PM of any country stat this crap and nothing happens after that. No one in jail, no any crack down on those farms, even PM siad"Our intelligence shows they have the technology down on the farm to make this a real threat"...

Maybe i missed some news that some one was arrested about having this?

Otherwise i have no way than to think someone is spreading fear, making enemies inside and outside of country like some fascists do in history of human kind. Unbelievable statement of PM.

Is this his statement true?

Only hyperbole, Thailand is only 'talking' about a Nuclear Plant. It will take ages before the first rod of nuclear fuel needs to be shipped. For now those IFG are radiation free

"The Thai govt., needs more time to study the proposal" well is'nt that just typical, i have seen this reply over and over again, just hanging out for time. That answer is this government's standard answer to anything and everything, but this time they are dealing with foreign authorities and have made themselves look stupid and they deserve it ..............how about that for "loss of face" :lol:

Keep in mind that any reply has to be screened carefully otherwise either the opposition PTP or those loonies of red/yellow colour will file dozens of cases with any court or commission they can find

Good thing 20,000 signatures don't count against 64 million Thai's opinions - what a stupid waste of time - he is stepping down at the house dissolution - haven't these people got homes to go to or better things to do?

With the number of PAD/NTP protesters seen the last few weeks, getting 20,000 signatures may take a while. A petition also needs to be accompanied by solid reasoning and proof before a case is considered. By that time the House will have been dissolved and new general elections called. Could be an automatic dismissal of the case: 'no longer relevant'. Mind you all kind of courts and commissions already have a substantial workload, could take time even for a dismissal. Well, democracy in action.

If we can go on the previous censure debates, nothing will happen. With k. Chalerm wanting to be the last and stress all of k. Thaksin's achievements we have a clever politician, but Thaksinomics and Thaksinocracy are past their 'due by' date. I somehow don't think the last six hours of the debate will be a refute / re-emphasize, but more an opportunity to profile k. Thaksin, Lord and Saviour. Another reason I said before to wonder how the UDD protest will end Sunday morning. Should be very peacefully, none of the UDD leaders want to go back to that horrid jail where their health suffered so much

Did you enjoy when you wrote this? Some fun for you?

Let me try to make you be serious about this matter.

Don't count on fear about jail. Just as by the way-those are out on bail as it was obvious that the prosecutors could not complete the case to charge them, so the court didn't want to hold them in custody endlessly as more and more, by time, all looks like politically motivated trick and political fight with rivals.

And the poor and silly is party on power in any country if base it's ruling on fear. I hope, as this party has a name democrat that they are not dictators. As you mentioned:"none of the UDD leaders want to go back to that horrid jail where their health suffered so much ;)i have just to say don't be sarcastic. Situation is for more serious thinking, not for jokes.

Reds will not make nothing as they didn't make nothing.(some idiots made it and we don't know those idiots belong(ed) to which side). it was dirty game and a trap for reds. What happened is long story but all together it is clear that they was not skilled in political struggling so all went wrong last time.

Previous no-confidence debate was kind of debacle not because PM and democrats were so skilled but because PTP was acting like amateurs for politic battles. Chances they missed to tore PM and democrats into pieces, were countless. PTP has no strategy in anything they do and that is giving such bad effects so dems can be on power forever with such opposition.

Lack of skills? Probably more lack of facts and details.

As for reds being trapped, correct. They felt for it after the verdict that k. Thaksin's billions would be confiscated. It's then that the UDD leaders started their agitation, ultimately leading to May 19th. Poor reds. Read Robert A.'s report, you're bound to agree with a lot there, it fits your state of mind.

PS I write what I think or know. Has nothing to do with fun, more with sharpening the mind

What category and how many raspberries?

Don't worry, I am sure people still love you also

Yes indeed, my mother for instance. Mind you, I'm not sure what that has to do with the award, category and raspberries you have been honored with?

The only raspberry appears to come from you, a died in the wool yellow democrat supporter, but no surprise there really

I'm indeed a democrats supporter and seriously dislike communists and left/right-wing nutters. I'm therefor no supporter of PAD/NTP/UDD/other factions. Currently I can be admired in pink, but looking for orange.

-- from your local Dutch uncle

PAD has to hurry, the PTP has the impeachment and censure debate in two weeks time

Correction: PTP petitioned for impeachment of PM and eight ministers and after scutiny the petition has been forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The PTP filed a no-confidence motion with the House of Representatives. This censure debate will be in two weeks time.

(edit: add correction. One of these days I'll get the terms right (I hope))

This happened last year also, the reds were blamed, people panicked, SoE etc, used by the government to discredit the reds, then is was discovered the soldiers had been selling the weapon in the South.

pathetic, alsong with the posters on here that believe these things

'believe these things'? You probably refer to the government having used the army to move weapons to 'supporters' who will and have been killing red-shirts? Like described in the Robert A. report? Pathetic indeed those who believe that

Clearly I mean the Government accusing the reds with no evidence whatsoever, and then not even retracting that when it was found to be the soldiers themselves selling the weapons to southern insurgents, but some people tend to go overboard at the slightest thing, such as the dog shit, red shirts are all dirty bastards etc, and then when it was discovered to be nothing to do with them these people didn't admit mistake, as I say, pathetic, maybe you fall into that camp and that is why you are trying to divert blame other than where it lies, with the army and with the government.

Divert blame? Clearly in this case the Army in general is to blame. Their weapons got stolen. The commander of the camp is to be blamed more directly, it's his camp. Direct change: improve guarding system and procedure and change the personel involved till now. Investigate and try to recover the stolen weapons. In general set up a commission to study this and previous thefts and come with recommendations how to improve and prevent. Unfortunately part of it will be a change of mentality in Thai people. Takes a while. Took a while in other countries also, I just watched some episodes of the 'Sharpe, rifleman' series

AWARD... Best post of the day....so far

What category and how many raspberries?

Don't worry, I am sure people still love you also

Yes indeed, my mother for instance. Mind you, I'm not sure what that has to do with the award, category and raspberries you have been honored with?

If the Thai military can't even secure a personal weapons how on gods earth will they ever protect the country?

Thais may sell anything for a personal profit, but not their country. That's why we farang can't buy part of it, dig it up and ship it back home

This happened last year also, the reds were blamed, people panicked, SoE etc, used by the government to discredit the reds, then is was discovered the soldiers had been selling the weapon in the South.

pathetic, alsong with the posters on here that believe these things

'believe these things'? You probably refer to the government having used the army to move weapons to 'supporters' who will and have been killing red-shirts? Like described in the Robert A. report? Pathetic indeed those who believe that

This lame duck government just keep trying to deflect their guilt on many matters in the hope that it will all be forgotten or the people can be brainwashed, well that might work with many Thais (and many farangs on here sadly), but it does not work in the wider world or amongst the more educated.

There comes a time when you have to stand up and be counted, you can't keep running from your responsibilities for ever, and it seems as time is going on something is happening, something that many of us already knew, they are more and more being backed into a corner where all the shit they have caused will be waiting for them, and there will be no more running and hiding, or trying to divert the blame.

It is easy in Thailand for them to control the press, control the dissenting voices with a bullet, but try and control people outside of Thailand and they just get laughed at with their immaturity and pointless arguments.

Since this post got an award, let's have a closer look at it's contents. Before we do though, just to remind readers, posts here on TV mostly represent opinions of a poster not necessarily backed by facts. Some even go so far as to say 'I think', or 'this I believe'. Some though tend to base their statements on what they call 'facts' without proof that indeed it is a fact, which makes the whole construction a bit shaky.

'lame duck government' - Correct, the government nears the end of it's tenure and probably will call early elections six months before needed by law. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lame_duck_(politics) )

'deflecting guilt on many matters' - This needs elaboration, too general to comment on. That means the rest of the sentence cannot be commented on either at this stage.

'second paragraph' - Starts with a philosophical observation, followed by a continuation of the 'deflecting guilt'. Again without a proof of deflecting guilt and it seriousness no further comment possible.

'control the press' - True, unfortunately not just this government, previous governments same or worse. Mind you the opposition is countering with insinuations, 'burn-it-all' videos and the hilarious masterful Robert A. report.

'control by bullet' - A statement which is not backed by fact, to be ignored.

'try and control outside Thailand' - No proof the government is doing this, rest of sentence therefor to be ignored.

Conclusion: I do not presume to know all answers. Go and do some reading yourself, dear audience

This lame duck government just keep trying to deflect their guilt on many matters in the hope that it will all be forgotten or the people can be brainwashed, well that might work with many Thais (and many farangs on here sadly), but it does not work in the wider world or amongst the more educated.

There comes a time when you have to stand up and be counted, you can't keep running from your responsibilities for ever, and it seems as time is going on something is happening, something that many of us already knew, they are more and more being backed into a corner where all the shit they have caused will be waiting for them, and there will be no more running and hiding, or trying to divert the blame.

It is easy in Thailand for them to control the press, control the dissenting voices with a bullet, but try and control people outside of Thailand and they just get laughed at with their immaturity and pointless arguments.

AWARD... Best post of the day....so far

What category and how many raspberries?

and they want to build a Nuclear Power Plant.

The Isaan Farmers group, an extremist splinter group, of the red shirt movement are believed to be behind the disappearance of a number of uranium rods. When pressed on the issue Abhisit replied " We have to believe they have ill intentions and a 'dirty bomb' is possible. Our intelligence shows they have the tecnology down on the farm to make this a real threat"

Those poor IFG people, must be down with radiation poisoning by now. Blame the government with it's British oppressor PM. Yet another crime against humanity to be reported to the ICC