jayboy

They really don't want to say that suicide word again, do they.

So many dying, with strange circumstances. I think 3 or 4 just in these 2 weeks.

Nothing strange about this one.

Just another guy who drank too much.

Got swindled by a Thai bargirl with a 6th grade education.

Finally drank himself to death.

Alcohol is an equal opportunity killer--it kills Oxford grads just as easy as it does guys born into abject poverty.

Tough break--was likely the sort who thought he was spending his fortune helping one of the worlds endangered animals.

Condolences.

Being educated doesn't necessarily mean you have common sense. Like too many of us, he let a wet spot determine his fate. However, I wouldn't call it a fortune, about GDP194k, probably the average annual salary for an Oxfordie 15 years after graduation.

Doubt it.Most will not reach that level nor is a high salary the main objective for many.As a Cambridge graduate I would guess the average salary for a 40 year old Oxbridge graduate to be about Pnds 60,000.

Can't get my head round this. Must be more to it.

Why would UK MP's in their right minds make official visits to a group that has removed a democratically elected government by military force, imposed martial law and stifled press freedom?

Brits, if they are your local MP questions should be asked.

They are members of the parliamentary committee dealing with Thailand and I think their visit was perfectly in order, though I understand your sentiments.It definitely doesn't represent any kind of endorsement as the Junta's cheerleaders would have us believe.

well it is obvious that if the show is critical of the process and the current situation rather than encouraging or offering productive ideas about the reform process then it has no place on any media, we have had enough of divisive factions and propaganda running loose on Thai TV - there is a reform process that is moving forward - lets stick to the program like it or not

Paycheck has been sent to you already. Thanks. Best regards. Junta

Excellent response.Still one has to wonder at the interesting suggestion from this genius that Thai TV is now somehow free of propaganda when it is awash with nauseating tonnages of it.

Jesus, the PTP again..

Sorry but YES, we learn from the last bag of tricks, so we have to compare--it is called feedback. So the answer to your reply is YES YES YES.

notice you cut out my post, and not even commented on the protocol. Just picked this out. Is it because you have no idea about these government get togethers ???and each one person is VIP. get it that is the reason they are there, no matter how they are put into their positions.

My previous reply was directly under your post. I am sure the reader will understand.

As for the above flapdoodle, yes, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, Belarus etc. are all VIPs too, but some animals are more equal than others, believe it or not. As for "no matter how they are put into their positions," that is just as well in your man's case, eh?

Your Quote "animal remark" was out of order, I do not class Putin above anyone, I would even class him as lower no matter how big his country is.

The other 3 countries you mentioned the VIP represents that country and it is not for you to downgrade anyone, Prudes do this. Everyone is equal as a human being. It is how they go about their business, and how they govern that matters.

Not as some of you lot think some are lesser because the country is more backward.

You ought to read Animal Farm since the apt allusion to Orwell's masterpiece obviously escaped you.Orwell's morality tale has relevance closer to home as well as Thais look to the Junta's unusually rich puppets and back to the Shin clan, and are already finding it difficult to distinguish one from the other.

it's amazing how many people on here praise the junta, yet if the same kind of government situation was happening in their own countries, they would be crying foul so quickly....*sigh* sometimes you cannot win with the apologists

Yes it is rather surprising.There is a further odd twist.Many of the foreign supporters of the Junta and its puppet government seem to be indifferent or unaware they are backing the interests of a small upper class elite.Yet in a UK context ( I am assuming from their subliterate posts snd whining demeanor they are mostly lower middle class UKIP types) they are the first to be complaining of Tory poshboys and elite arrogance.It doesnt really compute and I suppose living in Thailand gives them the chance to identify with a ruling class denied to them at home.

The follow through of the rice scheme is the big test for the present government. If none of the big shots gets send to prison for long years all will be lost. Corruption in the top then will not be punished as usual. And this after the biggest steal in history. Then the general who started out doing rather well, especially compared to the horrible previous government, will be no real good after all.

So please please please save Thailand. Start the process of really fighting corruption. Lock up lil sis, Tarit, the wino Chalerm and the other top criminals. Then start working on bringing home the missunderstood fugitive, the big bad poisenous spider. Please please please care about the people.

This kind of incoherent post doesn't really merit a response though it's odd that the Yingluck haters appear to be uniformly inarticulate.However my attention was caught by the plea to care about the people.It's worth stressing that the way to achieve that objective is to restore democracy as soon as possible and hold early elections - very much the message that the civilised world had been pressing on the Thai dictatorship.

Indeed. Once the criminal elements have been removed from involvement. No country can or should tolerate a government that allows itself to be dictated to by a non elected criminal fugitive. Or one that seems to condone violence on any who protest against that situation.

I presume that by "criminal elements" you refer primarily to Thaksin? The trouble is that by using that term a great many players could also be described as "criminal elements" - for example Abhisit, Suthep,the Thai Army itself just for starters -all accused of crimes arguably more serious than those levied against Thaksin.If you narrow the definition to those found guilty of crimes in a court of law that certainly restricts the field.But even here we know from Wikileaks and other sources that the establishment was desperate to pin something,anything on him.In the event it only managed a relatively trivial case and when Thaksin went into exile (foolishly in my view) it wasn't possible to extradite him because of the clear political motivation involved.The major human right case (drugs war) was never for a second invoked because so many of the establishment were enthusiastic supporters/complicit.The Thai body politic is suffused with criminality - as the saga over the puppet government's asset declarations appears to demonstrate.Furtherrmore if Thaksin is non-elected the parties associated with him have time and time again won the support of Thailand's electorate.Not a mandate for him personally of course but the popular enthusiasm does place him and his party in a different position to the hopeless unelectable Democrats and by a huge measure Suthep's gangster movement and the military takeover it spawned.

Thai at heart post # 5

Please note, nowhere did the 1tn baht make any mention of misappropriation. This subsidy was so big and for so long, it achieved this without any significant theft.

And as yet, not probably a baht to Yingluck herself. So.

Good luck to the prosecution.

Should be an easy matter to find the money trail to Dubai as opposed to little sister shouldn't it?

Um, considering Thailand conducts international business through the international clearing system, I am amazed they haven't found this gargantuan theft already.

Isn't 1tn baht enough to.make the Burj Dubai fall over.

You think the shins would actually be so stupid to steal from this?what did they say last week after the 3mn tonne scaremongering. 100,000 tonnes from 58,000,000 purchase. O.0? How much missing?

They have NOTHING to pin on her directly. Nothing.

And that's always been the beauty of being a prime minister in Thailand surely? You can get away with policy corruption without ever being brought to book. She may never have personally profited from the rice scheme, or maybe she did, but she used it as a system of tacit bribes to the Shin political network nationwide to keep them onside, well-fed and complicit in the game of wholesale kin muang that was going on under her government. It worked for her big brother and previous PMs so why shouldn't it work for her. The main difference was the size and audacity of this particular heist on the public purse. And there are many that think it is time this pattern was broken and PM's should not be above the law, as the baht stops with them over policies.

Not a position I agree with but clearly sane and succinctly argued.As for the corruption, perhaps it makes sense simply to let the law take its course.So far there has been little other than fragmentary evidence: a forensic scrutiny is needed now.Those bureaucrats and businessmen (if any) found to be guilty under law should be dealt with accordingly.I don't think even Thaksin's bitterest enemies believes Khun Yingluck has benefited personally (that kind of wild paranoia is reserved for Thai Visa's small but vocal fruitcake community).Where I differ from you is that I suggest the jury is still out on the motivation for the scheme.Certainly it was ill advised and financially disastrous (not to say politically).But was it driven mainly by kin muang considerations or to appease the Shin network? Isn't it just as likely that it was designed to bolster up the Thaksinite party's popularity with the rural majority? No doubt there was a mixture of motives but to assign weightings now must be a subjective judgement.The critics of the scheme have sometimes got themselves into a dreadful muddle over the populist nature of the scheme.The crime is not the concept (eg the US support for grain farmers, the Japanese support for rice farmers etc) which is entirely legitimate for a fairly elected government to implement.Politics in every democracy is populist in this sense - not just subsidising farmers:the UK NHS is a classic "populist" organisation and none the worse for that.The problem lies in the execution and this is what we need to dig into now.

The follow through of the rice scheme is the big test for the present government. If none of the big shots gets send to prison for long years all will be lost. Corruption in the top then will not be punished as usual. And this after the biggest steal in history. Then the general who started out doing rather well, especially compared to the horrible previous government, will be no real good after all.

So please please please save Thailand. Start the process of really fighting corruption. Lock up lil sis, Tarit, the wino Chalerm and the other top criminals. Then start working on bringing home the missunderstood fugitive, the big bad poisenous spider. Please please please care about the people.

This kind of incoherent post doesn't really merit a response though it's odd that the Yingluck haters appear to be uniformly inarticulate.However my attention was caught by the plea to care about the people.It's worth stressing that the way to achieve that objective is to restore democracy as soon as possible and hold early elections - very much the message that the civilised world had been pressing on the Thai dictatorship.

Oooo . . . that photo makes my skin crawl and I ain't referring to the Thai guy on the right.

The shark is back in town, sniffing around for another pay day.

No doubt offering his services as a speaker, adviser or some such. Any chance of a pay day and good old Tone will be there.

There is no evidence at all that Tony Blair was paid for his services in Thailand either on his current visit or previous one.I know it's part of the mantra among the Blair haters but it doesn't seem to be true.There is enough Iraq related dirt to heap on him so inventing stuff not real sensible.

Whether he has a superficial understanding of the Thai political crisis is another issue.His negotiating skills are beyond question as was seen in Northern Ireland.Sometimes it takes an outsider to help the process move forward.However in Thailand there does not seem to be a wish to negotiate so the services of Blair or A.N Other seems unnecessary

There is no evidence he wasn't paid either. Did he pay all expenses and do this for no fee before? Maybe yes, maybe no. However, read my post properly. You read "another pay day" how you wanted to. Another one of your inventions.

He has made rather a lot of money since leaving office doing this sort of thing. So I doubt he does many freebies, but no doubt he has to do some prospecting for clients.

Presumably you regard his negotiating and selling skills highly - like how he sold the Iraq war to the British public? He does a wonderful job in the Middle East so far too.

Just more Blair hate.Not very interesting or well informed but typical in that it is devoid of context or nuance.These people seem incapable of holding more than one idea in their heads at any one time.Certainly Blair made major errors of judgement in foreign policy but he is also a highly skilled negotiator and almost singlehandedly rescued Labour with stunning electoral success.His reputation is at a low ebb now but a wise person would hold judgement before a final verdict.

Well thank you to the Nation for providing us with a well earned belly laugh.Still it's a bit sad that a newspaper which once had serious credentials is now - taking this article as an example - little more than a lying propaganda sheet.

Pray tell, where is theNation lying in this article?

The grotesque mega lie is in the article's headline.All but abject slaves to dictatorship would not have needed to ask such a foolish question.

So, you can't objectively explain yourself.

Read the article's headline which contains the lie - as already pointed out.If you paid more attention you wouldn't make a fool of yourself asking redundant questions.

Well thank you to the Nation for providing us with a well earned belly laugh.Still it's a bit sad that a newspaper which once had serious credentials is now - taking this article as an example - little more than a lying propaganda sheet.

Pray tell, where is theNation lying in this article?

The grotesque mega lie is in the article's headline.All but abject slaves to dictatorship would not have needed to ask such a foolish question.

Well thank you to the Nation for providing us with a well earned belly laugh.Still it's a bit sad that a newspaper which once had serious credentials is now - taking this article as an example - little more than a lying propaganda sheet.

"In a last ditch move to block the impeachment of Yingluck Shinawatra, Pheu Thai Party will today present what it believes to be the strongest legal points to convince the National Legislative Assembly that it is not conforming to tradition when it comes to impeachment."

If she's innocent why worry?

Or is the tradition they are really referring to the one where no one is liable for their criminality?

You seem blithely unaware of the irony of your last comment.The time honoured tradition of lack of accountability for criminality is embodied by the Thai military.

Oooo . . . that photo makes my skin crawl and I ain't referring to the Thai guy on the right.

The shark is back in town, sniffing around for another pay day.

No doubt offering his services as a speaker, adviser or some such. Any chance of a pay day and good old Tone will be there.

There is no evidence at all that Tony Blair was paid for his services in Thailand either on his current visit or previous one.I know it's part of the mantra among the Blair haters but it doesn't seem to be true.There is enough Iraq related dirt to heap on him so inventing stuff not real sensible.

Whether he has a superficial understanding of the Thai political crisis is another issue.His negotiating skills are beyond question as was seen in Northern Ireland.Sometimes it takes an outsider to help the process move forward.However in Thailand there does not seem to be a wish to negotiate so the services of Blair or A.N Other seems unnecessary

There is plenty of evidence to suggest:

1) That Tony Blair (QC) is a compulsive liar.

2) That he shredded documents relating to (probably fraudulent) expense claims.

3) That he should have a fair trial in relation to war crimes (after which he should be shot)!

4) A middle-eastern politician, when asked to describe Tony's ability as a negotiator replied: "useless, useless, useless".

5) Much of the Northern Ireland peace deal was brokered by John Major.

6) With reference to point 4), Phoney Tony is or was a member of an organisation called "Labour - Friends of Israel", which ever slightly undermines his position as a "neutral" interlocutor in the search for peace in the Middle East.

I could go on, but you get the gist..... !?

My point was that there is no evidence at all that Tony Blair has been paid or is seeking to be paid for Thailand related work.

As to your comments I respond because they typify the inanity and ignorance of the Tony Blair haters.

1.He is not and never has been a QC.His wife is and his brother was (now a judge).

2.No evidence he covered up fraudulent expense claims

3.His legacy is certainly tarnished by the Iraq war.Your bar talk comments "he should be shot" are typical of the Tony Blair haters, but I think irrelevant

4.His outstanding negotiating record in Northern Ireland is a matter of record.Certainly John Major should also get credit.

5.Your unnamed Middle Eastern source simply demonstrates that region is intractable.

6.I have no idea whether Blair is a member of that organisation.Traditionally Israel has had many friends in the UK Labour Party.

I agree Blair now seems like damaged goods and he is very unpopular at home.Still this was the man who almost singlehandedly rescued the Labour Party and lead it to successive election victories.In twenty years time he may be seen by convention as a political genius.That's the way I see him now - though deeply flawed. A Shakespearian tragedy in the sense of a remarkable man wrecked by hubris.

Oooo . . . that photo makes my skin crawl and I ain't referring to the Thai guy on the right.

The shark is back in town, sniffing around for another pay day.

No doubt offering his services as a speaker, adviser or some such. Any chance of a pay day and good old Tone will be there.

There is no evidence at all that Tony Blair was paid for his services in Thailand either on his current visit or previous one.I know it's part of the mantra among the Blair haters but it doesn't seem to be true.There is enough Iraq related dirt to heap on him so inventing stuff not real sensible.

Whether he has a superficial understanding of the Thai political crisis is another issue.His negotiating skills are beyond question as was seen in Northern Ireland.Sometimes it takes an outsider to help the process move forward.However in Thailand there does not seem to be a wish to negotiate so the services of Blair or A.N Other seems unnecessary

For many of you this is the first time in your lives that you've found yourself to be in a minority and suddenly what you've been dishing out all your lives or dismissing as not your problem seems more evident to you.[/size][/font][/color]

Yes it is highly amusing to hear pampered white people bitching about "racial discrimination" the very SECOND they aren't being led to the best table in the restaurant.

Not sure who these pampered white people are? The English (not 'Brits') for example tend to be quite self effacing in the main from that which I have witnessed here on Phuket (not Patong mongers). That's why we are referred to by the Thais as 'pu dee ungrit'

"pu Dee angrit" refer to Thai princes and aristocrats who graduated from English universities a century ago

I don't think you are correct and I certainly don't think a previous post suggesting all Englishmen are "pu dee angkrit" is correct.The phrase really refers to a former time (let us say which concluded very approximately in about 1970) when most Englishmen who lived in Thailand had the manners of the upper middle class.Not all were of course from that background but courtesy,stylishness and politeness were associated with the English.Even then the English gentleman ideal believed in by many Thais was well past its sell by date

All that has changed now of course with the arrival of mass tourism.The pu dee angrit ideal has little meaning any more.

What else could one expect. One more crime after another.

History will not be kind to these fools!

I don't think it is a matter of criminality but rather profound stupidity.They believe that a solution can be imposed on the Thai people by force ( notwithstanding the unconvincing talk of local consultations).Their particular problem is the profound change in Thai society which has and is taking place, which makes the puppet government's position Jurassic.The consequences of their foolishness is unknown, but the fear is that in the longer term it could unleash Chavez type extremism that will not serve Thailand well.

The Financial Times (that well known revolutionary rag) - behind a pay wall - simply reports "The Thailand Junta's puppet government seeks to impeach Yingluck under a law that no longer exists".

It's fortunate that on the forum we have a number of cheerleaders to the current Junta who can put us right when ignorant outsiders misunderstand.

I wonder why this post as reply to what I wrote?

Don't we have a 700++ billion Baht gap due to the failed self-financing scheme of the Yingluck Administration? At least a charge of negligence seems in order rather than 'nothing'. What some seem to misunderstand is a possible lack of legal base doesn't alter the criminality of the offence, negligence which cost the taxpayer and the country 700++ billion Baht which will be paid back in seven years time. That at a time when money could have a better use in economical promotion.

BTW, no offence, but knowing you, I somehow doubt the quote from the FT is literal, especially the 'puppet' part.

On the basis of your posts you don't seem to be the type who would be a regular FT reader (no offence).I can however assure you that "Junta's puppet government" is a direct quote from its Thailand correspondent, Michael Peel.It's easy to obtain access to the FT for a limited number of articles, so knock yourself out.

The ludicrous aspect of your post is not your indignation that the FT speaks frankly but your implied suggestion that the regime currently in power is something other than the Junta's puppet government.

No offence taken, there are lots of other newspapers I don't read regularly if at all. since you're so adamant about it I accept your explanation.

Now as for the 'indignation, I didn't show any, I only wondered about the 'puppet' part.

The rest of my post was a follow up on your reply which didn't seem to have much relation with the post you replied to.

What possible grounds could any sentient person have to "wonder about the puppet part"? It is not even up for debate.It's not an insult, simply the unvarnished truth.

Hey leko your source of information is impeccable and it's from a completely unbiased paper.

What is it? The pad facts information with the banner anti Thaksin traitor to the nation..

The mere mention of the name Yingluck sends shivers down the yellow elites spines because they have nothing .

Nothing? You seem to forget the 700++ billion Baht debt at BAAC guaranteed by the Yingluck Government. A self-financing scheme gone wrong. A charge of 'negligence' seems rather mild.

The Financial Times (that well known revolutionary rag) - behind a pay wall - simply reports "The Thailand Junta's puppet government seeks to impeach Yingluck under a law that no longer exists".

It's fortunate that on the forum we have a number of cheerleaders to the current Junta who can put us right when ignorant outsiders misunderstand.

I wonder why this post as reply to what I wrote?

Don't we have a 700++ billion Baht gap due to the failed self-financing scheme of the Yingluck Administration? At least a charge of negligence seems in order rather than 'nothing'. What some seem to misunderstand is a possible lack of legal base doesn't alter the criminality of the offence, negligence which cost the taxpayer and the country 700++ billion Baht which will be paid back in seven years time. That at a time when money could have a better use in economical promotion.

BTW, no offence, but knowing you, I somehow doubt the quote from the FT is literal, especially the 'puppet' part.

On the basis of your posts you don't seem to be the type who would be a regular FT reader (no offence).I can however assure you that "Junta's puppet government" is a direct quote from its Thailand correspondent, Michael Peel.It's easy to obtain access to the FT for a limited number of articles, so knock yourself out.

The ludicrous aspect of your post is not your indignation that the FT speaks frankly but your implied suggestion that the regime currently in power is something other than the Junta's puppet government.

Maybe the PM should lead from the front and speak English then if its so important....

Could do with a laugh....

There is a lot of laughable footage of his predecessor that is easily available for a laugh, particularly in light of her supposed English-based educational achievements.

Helpful hint:if you are going to start tiresomely and irrelevantly harping on about Yingluck's English, it probably makes sense not to make crass stylistic errors yourself such as using "laughable" and "laugh" in the same short sentence.

Actually Yingluck's English was on a par with most of the Sino Thai managerial class.

Although I agree with you about the quote above, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones ...

That 'was' of yours should be an 'is' - she isn't dead yet ... and her English is a lot worse than many Thai middle and senior managers I have taught, who have never even left the country, much less attended the KFC University she went to for her 'Master's' ...

Actually "was" is correct in the context as most people will realise.It's nothing to do with whether she's alive or not.

On the substantive issue I agree her English is not that good but it is very much on par with many other Thais who have attended third rate US universities.I have encountered countless similar types who I have interviewed for employment - though none with Yingluck's charm and style I must concede.

Maybe the PM should lead from the front and speak English then if its so important....

Could do with a laugh....

There is a lot of laughable footage of his predecessor that is easily available for a laugh, particularly in light of her supposed English-based educational achievements.

Helpful hint:if you are going to start tiresomely and irrelevantly harping on about Yingluck's English, it probably makes sense not to make crass stylistic errors yourself such as using "laughable" and "laugh" in the same short sentence.

Actually Yingluck's English was on a par with most of the Sino Thai managerial class.

Hey leko your source of information is impeccable and it's from a completely unbiased paper.

What is it? The pad facts information with the banner anti Thaksin traitor to the nation..

The mere mention of the name Yingluck sends shivers down the yellow elites spines because they have nothing .

Nothing? You seem to forget the 700++ billion Baht debt at BAAC guaranteed by the Yingluck Government. A self-financing scheme gone wrong. A charge of 'negligence' seems rather mild.

The Financial Times (that well known revolutionary rag) - behind a pay wall - simply reports "The Thailand Junta's puppet government seeks to impeach Yingluck under a law that no longer exists".

It's fortunate that on the forum we have a number of cheerleaders to the current Junta who can put us right when ignorant outsiders misunderstand.

Externally, they can see clearly what's going on in LOS. Internally, there are increasing noises like from Paul Chambers of Chiang Mai University said that the puppets in the NLA and their master will probably arranged for Yingluck to be banned from political office. Sadly the NLA is interpreting their own laws to reach their goal but will not be enough to soften the Thaksin camp.

I think it is certain Yingluck will be banished from political life but there's some uncertainty on timing.The Junta and its puppet government are determined to eradicate all remnants of Thaksin but some elements are cautious about taking action too precipitately - because of reactions both internally and abroad.But about the goal there is no argument - that was the objective agreed long ago.

Thailand never officially declared war on the US as the Thai Ambassador refused to deliver the declaration. While Johnniey is wrong on his/her stats, the US is no longer the country it was. It has no manufacturing base, it is destroying the middle/working class and can't win a war. It's economy is and has been a "house of cards". It is no longer a "democracy" it is a plutocracy/oligarchy or as some say corptocracy that has abandoned it's people for the 1%, who along with the banksters and Wall Street criminals rule. The past 2 presidents have destroyed the Constitution and the country is rapidly turning into a surveillance/police state. The US needs Thailand and SE Asia as a hedge against China, and SE Asia needs the US as a hedge against China. Let us hope that both the US and Thailand get their house in order.

The statement that Thailand never declared war on the US is so often repeated that it has come to be taken as the truth.It is however completely untrue.The story goes that the Ambassador in Washington, MR Seni Pramoj, simply placed the document declaring war in a drawer - and thus Thailand was never officially at war with US.The story is however fantasy (not denied however later on by Seni himself) and a copy of the declaration of war which Seni handed over is retained in US Government archives.It is true that Seni himself was probably sympathetic to the allied cause but that is a different point.The legend also runs that since the US was not at war with THailand it vetoed the British wish to exact reparations from the Thais after the war.The US position is accurately stated but it had nothing to do with the fantasy of Seni and his non declaration of war.It had much more to do with the US wish to curb British imperalism in the Far East (ironic in view of what happened later) and to extend its own influence.