sriracha john

Government unfazed by 'Voice of Thaksin'

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) can launch its news magazine Voice of Thaksin so long as it contains no content that contravenes the law, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Tuesday.

The first edition of the twice-monthly anti-government magazine is due out on Sunday. Mr Suthep said the government can control the red-shirt movement but it respects the rights of all parties as long as they do not do anything illegal.

He, personally, paid no attention at all to the movement supporting fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Prime Minister's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey also said he was not worried about the launch of the pro-Thaksin magazine. People would use their own judgement in reading its

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...oice-of-thaksin

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-21

Accused Australian pedophile 'murdered'

ADELAIDE'S Anglican Church is trying to confirm reports a former chaplain accused of sexually abusing pupils at Saint Peters College has been murdered in Libya.

Archbishop Jeffrey Driver said reports John Mountford had been found dead in his Tripoli apartment at the weekend had not yet been confirmed.

"This has been a sad and difficult experience," Mr Driver said.

"A violent death is always a tragedy and causes shock and sadness for family and friends; I recognise that.

"But I also recognise that reports of Mr Mountford's death may stir difficult emotions for some and my thoughts and prayers are with them."

Mr Mountford was charged with sexually abusing students at the prominent boys' school, but the trial collapsed after his extradition from Thailand.

A second trial reportedly collapsed in 2007 and the charges against Mr Mountford were subsequently dropped.

Adelaide friends of Mr Mountford told the Independent Weekly the former chaplain was stabbed to death in Tripoli, where he had been living for two years, shortly after returning from London to celebrate his mother's birthday.

Mr Mountford reportedly claimed to friends that people in Tripoli, where he had established an English language school that was in no way connected to the Anglican Church, were blackmailing him and threatening to reveal his past in Adelaide.

Mr Mountford was charged with five counts of indecent assault, two of procuring the commission of an act of gross indecency and one of unlawful sexual intercourse in 2005.

He allegedly always claimed he was innocent and said he wanted the case heard.

The victim reportedly received an out of court settlement earlier this year.

"Over recent years the church has had to confront some disturbing issues related to the abuse of those in its care and I take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has been affected by abuse to make contact with our professional standards director," Archbishop Driver said.

- AAP / 2009-07-21

John Mountford at a Bangkok police station in 2004

Priest suing Rann

The State Government faces litigation from an Anglican priest dramatically extradited from Thailand over child sex abuse allegations.

Former St Peter's College chaplain the Reverend John Mountford, 52, has instructed his lawyers to seek civil damages over his high-profile return to South Australia in 2005.

This follows a decision by his alleged victim, now aged in his late 20s, to withdraw a complaint that he was sexually abused by Mountford in the early 1990s.

SA police investigated the allegations after an independent inquiry found former Anglican archbishop Ian George visited Mountford hours before he left Adelaide in 2002.

Legal sources have confirmed that Mountford, who spent several months in a Bangkok jail after his arrest, wanted to sue the State Government over his extradition - and subsequent public comments made by Premier Mike Rann.

Mr Rann told a media conference following Mountford's return in February, 2005, that the allegations involving the British-born priest had "sickened me".

The Advertiser, which first revealed the victim's allegations in 2003, last week confirmed he had told prosecutors he no longer wanted to proceed with the case. Prosecutors this afternoon will seek a suppression order over those reasons when they notify District Court Judge Peter Herriman that eight child sex abuse charges against Mountford will formally be withdrawn.

He was due to face trial next month over five counts of indecent assault, two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of procuring an act of gross indecency.

The high-profile case has involved numerous hearings before the Adelaide Magistrates Court and District Court about the victim's credibility and ability to give evidence.

- Adelaide Now

UPDATE... and now he's been killed...

Sex abuse case chaplain's death confirmed

The British Foreign Office has confirmed former Saint Peter's College chaplain John Mountford has died in suspicious circumstances in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

Libyan police are investigating his death. The Foreign Office says his next-of-kin have been informed.

John Mountford was charged with sexually abusing students at the prominent boys' school, but a trial collapsed after his extradition from Thailand.

He had been living in the Libyan capital Tripoli for the past two years and had established an English-language school.

The sexual abuse charges against Mountford were dropped in 2007 because of the mental state of his alleged victim, David Martin.

Mr Martin's lawyer, Peter Humphries, says the news of Mountford's death brings no joy.

"There is however a sense of considerable relief that the events that have caused the family such distress over the years can finally be put behind them," he said.

SA Premier Mike Rann says Mr Mountford will not be missed.

"I would never ever condone violence in any way to any person and I'm not aware of the circumstances of his death," he said.

"All I can say is that he dishonoured his calling, he dishonoured his profession and my thoughts today are with the victims, those young people he preyed upon."

- ABC News (Australia) / 2009-07-21

If he wants to fight the case, he should return to TH and do it in person

I doubt that know about a certain Phillipine's incident (deadly machine gun attack at the airport) which resemble Thailand? That's alone greatly hinder the possibility.

Aquino wasn't killed with a machine gun.

The differences between Aquino and Thaksin are astronomical to the point of their personalities and beliefs being polar opposites.

Very much like Thaksin stupidly comparing himself to Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Aung San Suu Kyi, Gandhi, or some other of his absurd analogies.

btw, it's spelled Philippines.

Canadian charged in US with arranging trips to Thailand for adults seeking sex with children

NEWARK, New Jersey - A Canadian citizen is facing charges in New Jersey that he helped arrange trips to Thailand for adults who paid to have sex with children.

John Wrenshall has been extradited from London, where he was arrested in December.

The 62-year-old Wrenshall faces three charges related to sex tourism and more than a dozen child pornography counts. The sex tourism charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years each. The child pornography counts range from 10 to 15 years.

Some of Wrenshall's clients have already pleaded guilty.

Wrenshall is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Newark Tuesday afternoon. It was not known if he had retained an attorney.

- The Canadian Press / 2009-07-20

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Additional information and photos available here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Canadian-Liv...ed-t229889.html

Canadian Living In Thailand Arrested For Child Pornography, Arrested in the UK on USA charges

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/American-Ple...-C-t222957.html

Two Americans Plead Guilty To Child Sex Charges While In Thailand

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/American-Ple...-C-t219929.html

American Pleads Guilty To Child Sex Charges While In Thailand, faces up to 75 years in prison for sex with boys as young as 6

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Alleged-Paed...le-t187337.html

Have You Seen This Alleged Pedophile

I actually find it amusing

Red Shirts to launch 'Voice of Thaksin' magazine

develop a magazine for Asian readers like Time Magazine.

Indeed, Thaksin's new rag will certainly become the equal of Time Magazine and its decades and dozens of Pulitzer Prize winners in no time.

Meanwhile, key UDD leader Veera Musikapong said that the group has successfully gathered one million signatures to ask for a Royal Pardon for the ex-premier, so that he will be allowed to return from his self-imposed exile, as the movement earlier intended.

They got their million (or so they say)... but... whatcha gonna do with them now, Veera?

Red Shirts to launch 'Voice of Thaksin' magazine

BANGKOK, July 20 (TNA) - Leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) said the group will launch a fortnightly magazine, the "Voice of Thaksin" on Sunday, to celebrate the 60th birthday of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, while announcing that they have successfully gathered one million signatures as targeted to petition His Majesty the King to pardon the ex-premier.

The Chairman of the magazine’s Executive Committee, Sutham Saengprathum, a former Member of Parliament of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, said that academics, politicians, writers, and persons from varied walks of life who have benefited from the populist policies implemented during the two Thaksin administrations wanted to recall memories about the policies, so they jointly created this magazine with the hope of reflecting points of view of Thai people and injustices in Thai society.

Sutham said that the magazine will be officially launched July 26, the birthday of the former premier, and will be published on the first and 15th of every month, with 30,000 copies each time.

Somyot Preuksakasemsuk, a leading UDD member, said the magazine is not financed by Thaksin, but by donations from his supporters.

Some part of the benefit from running magazine will be used to further develop a magazine for Asian readers like Time Magazine.

Meanwhile, key UDD leader Veera Musikapong said that the group has successfully gathered one million signatures to ask for a Royal Pardon for the ex-premier, so that he will be allowed to return from his self-imposed exile, as the movement earlier intended.

"We have to see again on July 31 when we will hold a mass anti government protest at Bangkok's Sanam Luang", said Veera, "whether there will be more signatures collected."

-- TNA 2009-07-20

Video News Link showing violent Red Shirt clash and attack on police:

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/...2686280838.html

Thaksin Supporters Clash with Police in Northern Thailand

Not quite as good as the footage in the above link, but...

About 1,000 policeman block the Nimmanahemin Road in front of the Chiang Mai University to prevent some 200 red-shirt protesters from storming into the university’s auditorium to disrupt the meeting of Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

The Nation

PM considering suggestions of National Reconciliation Committee

BANGKOK, 20 July 2009 (NNT) – The Prime Minister is looking into suggestions on how to reduce the country’s political conflict and restore unity in the nation.

he Prime Minister is closely considering key points and solutions for the country’s political problems, which were submitted by the Reconciliation Committee for Political Reform and Constitution Amendment, said Mr. Thepthai.

He added that the government had to listen to the opinions of the people from all sides on the issue as there were opinions both agreeing and disagreeing with the suggestions. He, therefore, suggested that the referendum be erected to hear the people’s opinions on whether the 2007 Constitution should be amended and which parts should be adjusted.

Mr. Abhisit's most recent visit to Buri Ram received a warm welcome and significant positive feedback from the local residents of the northeastern province. Visits to other provinces are also being planned in the near future.

-- NNT 2009-07-20

"Voice of Thaksin" on sale July 26

The first issue of a new twice-monthly political magazine, Voice of Thaksin, will hit the stands on July 26, the 60th birthday of Thaksin Shinawatra, it was announced on Monday.

Sutham Saengprathum, a former executive of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, denied the magazine was funded by the former prime minister. He said the money was raised from Thaksin's supporters.

The magazine will feature columns written by politicians and activists such as fugitive Jakrapob Penkair, Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, Jaran Ditha-apichai and Sunai Julapongsathorn, he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...on-sale-july-26

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-20

Veera has an opinion piece on LCM51 in the post today:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion...singly-thuggish

Shortly before their arrival in Chiang Mai on Thursday, a red shirt supporter identified as Niyom Luangcharoen was stopped by police as he was driving into the provincial airport. A search of his pick-up truck found an unlicensed .45-calibre pistol. Niyom was immediately booked on a charge of illegal possession of firearms and taken to Phuping Ratchanives police station.

When news of Niyom's arrest reached the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group, their community radio, 99.25 MHz, urged red shirt supporters to head for the police station to demand the unconditional release of the suspect. A few hundred showed up and laid siege to the station while police called for reinforcements. The confrontation eventually turned ugly with the red shirt mob throwing missiles, firing slingshots at the police and damaging police cars. Five gunshots were heard but, luckily, no one was hurt. When the trouble ended after police successfully dispersed the mob, 13 police officers were left injured, mostly from missiles, and five cars were damaged.

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Reminiscent of Nattawut on April 12th (courtesy of DTV Station):

Thai Supreme Court begins hearing on Thaksin fortune

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Thailand's highest court on Thursday began its first hearing to determine if authorities can seize about 2.2 billion dollars of frozen assets belonging to exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Defence lawyer Chattip Tanthaprasas told the court that Thaksin, living abroad to escape a two-year jail term for corruption, had authorised him to fight the case on his behalf.

Thaksin's 76 billion baht fortune represents most of the profits his family earned when they sold his Shin Corp. telecoms empire in January 2006 to Singapore's state-linked investment firm Temasek Holdings.

Prosecutors argue the Shin Corp. shares belonged to Thaksin, and that he broke the law by not paying tax on the sale. The transaction was done when he was premier, before he was ousted in a coup in September 2006.

But Chattip told the Supreme Court that the shares did not belong to Thaksin himself.

Thaksin "never declared in his official asset list that he held shares in the company (because) they did not belong to him," said the lawyer. Chattip added that if prosecutors had decided the shares did belong to Thaksin, the revenue department should not be seeking tax on them from Thaksin's children.

Thaksin fled abroad in August 2008, shortly before being sentenced to two years in prison for conflict of interest concerning a cut-price land purchase by his then-wife Pojaman.

The tax-free sale of Shin Corp. in 2006 sparked public uproar, bringing tens of thousands of anti-Thaksin protesters into the streets, which eventually led to the coup.

- AFP / 2009-07-17

Why did Thailand’s former PM travel to Fiji?

Media reports claim Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Thailand’s richest men, departed Malaysia just ahead of arrest warrants and made his way by private jet to

Fiji, where he entered the country under an assumed name known to authorities. He later met with Fiji’s leader Frank Bainimarama and advisors.

Fiji and Thailand have no extradition treaties, fueling speculation that Thaksin traveled to the Pacific looking for asylum. Before Thai officials asked Fiji to return the fugitive leader, Thaksin left for Tonga. Rumors persist he eventually made his way to Port Vila, Vanuatu while leaders of the four-country Melanesian Spearhead Group heard Frank Bainimarama’s five-year plan to write a new constitution and electoral law before holding elections.

The Vanuatu trip has not been confirmed. Thakin’s laywers claims he is not searching sanctuary; he is looking for investment opportunities.

First elected Prime Minister in a 2001 landslide, Thaksin's time in office was punctuated by allegations of serious corruption (often at high personal gain), authoritarianism, human rights abuses and electoral fraud.

A government body froze $2.2 billion of his assets in Thailand. In October 2008, Thailand’s Supreme Court convicted him (in abstensia) of abuse of power, mostly relating to pushing through laws aiding family members' business interests. He was sentenced to two years, but has not visited his homeland since August 2008 to serve the sentence.

Earlier this year, Thaksin, who usually lives in Dubai, again ran afoul of Thai authorities when they accused him of directly supporting anti-government protests that turned violent. After protesters clashed with the military, the government revoked his passport, and Thaksin allegedly travels on a passport from Montenegro.

Fiji has been increasingly politically and economically isolated since April, when the country’s President annulled the constitution and provided the military leader (who himself came to power via a December 2006 coup) with a five-year mandate.

Since then, Fiji’s government has imposed a series of emergency regulations, aimed at controlling assembly and censoring the media. Thus, people inside and outside the country have come to rely on blogs for Fiji political information.

Cour Four Point Five reports:

[Thaksin] flew into Suva in his Learjet for a secret meeting with prime minister and military commander Frank Bainimarama on Monday.

The meeting - held in Bainimarama's office - was confirmed by Major Neumi Leweni, who said a business prosposal was discussed at lunch.

It's understood the Thai leader wants to invest $300 million in Fiji.

In return, it's expected he'd be assured safety from extradition - authorities in Thailand are trying to get him back to Bangkok, where he faces two years in jail for abuse of power.

The blog Musings from Thailand wonders if Thaksin’s ends justify his means by meeting Bainiarama.

What a paradox. Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted by a coup in Thailand in 2006, flew into Fiji's capital, Suva, yesterday to meet another coup leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who staged a coup in the same year — only to be ruled illegal by the court there.

In some ways, when Thaksin shook hands with Bainimarama to talk about his plan to invest $300 million in that South Pacific island, he must have been reminded of Gen Sonthi Bunyaratakalin, whose coup sent him out of the country almost three years ago. Both the Thai and Fijian military officers weren't supposed to be politically ambitious. Both had been living low-profile lives before they decided to push out the elected, civilian governments. Suddenly, they declared themselves defenders of their respective countries' political stability and to fight rampant corruption.

Thaksin has spoken vehemently against military coups in Thailand. He has called for the return of electoral democracy, even ready to stake his life on his determination to put an end to future coups.

Now, he has gone to Fiji to cozy up to one of the most controversial coup leaders in the region.

Soli Vakasama, from Fiji, offers guidance.

This is an advice to you Mr Thaksin as you are also a victim of military coup stay away from Bainimarama or you will suffer the consequences.

The Thai blog Connecting the Dots questions whether the former leader would be able to refrain from politics – a common demand of those who grant asylum.

When it comes to the issue of asylum political or other, that option is off the table for him for the moment anyway. For him to accept asylum means clipping his wings, and for the moment that is totally unacceptable. Thaksin’s goal is to regain his position as Prime Minister of Thailand, then make his enemies disappear forever. Then followed shortly after by stuffing his pockets.

Political asylum requires a few sacrifices to be made on the asylum seekers part. The first one and most significant is not to leave the country that is granting asylum. Once the person leaves the country protection could not be offered as they would be out of that country’s jurisdiction.

The second thing is the asylum seeker must become politically inactive or the asylum could be withdrawn. Once again this is not an option for Thaksin.

For Thaksin to give up anything is not his style so for the moment staying one step ahead of the people that are pursuing him is the game of today. So to travel under a false name or to visit countries that leaders think like him are Thaksin’s only options at the moment.

Thaksin would only accept political asylum if he were truly beat, but even then it may be like his April 2006 I quit story pulling a fast one.

Thailand’s press – and the media throughout the Pacific – provided near daily accounts of Thaksin supposed narrow escape from police in Kuala Lumpur before jetting to Fiji.

Many, but certainly not all, Fiji’s bloggers oppose the Bainimarama government. A post from Fiji Democracy Now on the blog Raw Fiji News sums up allegations of government criminality.

This was the story about how our dictator, Frank Bainimarama, met secretly with the fugitive former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. There is something very unsettling about the news that an international fugitive of justice such as Shinawatra was officially received at taxpayer expense by the current government of Fiji.

It’s confirmation that our dictator, Frank Bainimarama, turns a blind eye to criminality. And it confirms that if criminality suits his purposes, he will happily embrace it.

The criminal acts of Shinawatra and his wife, Potjaman, while he was Prime Minister of Thailand have been well documented by Thai courts of law, which saw fit to sentence Shinawatra to jail for corruption.

Yet the dictator greeted the Thai criminal like a visiting dignitary despite the fact that Shinawatra was in criminal mode, travelling under an alias on a Montenegro passport, as criminals do.

It was a meeting of two criminals who could help each other.

Fiji’s bloggers point out the financial incentive of their cash-strapped government courting such a person.

Here is where we enter allegation territory. Coup Four Point Five and Raw Fiji News report that Thaksin may be interested in developing the Grand Pacific Hotel, a colonial building constructed in 1912 on the sea front near the edge of Suva’s downtown. The building has long been slated for restoration, but plans have continually fallen through. It now houses a garrison of soldiers, who guard government buildings across the street.

From Coup Four Point Five:

It's understood a deal was struck for Shinawatra to buy the derelict Grand Pacific Hotel at the meeting.

The GPH was supposed to have been developed into Suva's top hotel by FNPF and Fiji Investment Corporation.

Coup Four Point Five has been told Shinawatra handed over a cheque for $250,000 to [Head of Fiji National Provident Fund John] Prasad, reportedly a deposit for the deal. But it's believed the cheque wasn't deposited into the FNPF account by Prasad until today.

From Raw Fiji News:

It appears Thaksin’s Fiji venture has a probable hidden agenda. Thailand press speculated that Thaksin is bargaining for a safe haven for exile in Fiji and the final investment sum may never materialize given Fiji’s nose diving economy.

- Global Voices Online

Prosecutors target Thaksin's frozen funds

Prosecutors in Thailand have started proceedings to permanently seize $3 billion worth of assets belonging to convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The funds were frozen in 2006 after Thaksin was ousted in a military coup. Prosecutors and the defence team have lined up more than 100 witnesses to take part in the trial, which is expected to last until October.

Thaksin is not expected attend.

The billionaire businessman has lived in exile since the coup returning only briefly last year to face a corruption trial over a multi-million dollar land deal involving his wife.

He fled again before he was sentenced to two years jail in that case.

Thaksin changed many laws while in office, famously adjusting foreign ownership rules to allow the sale of his telecommunications firm Shin Corp to a Singapore company.

- ABC News (Australia) / 2009-07-17

Video News Link showing violent Red Shirt clash and attack on police:

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/...2686280838.html

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Thaksin Supporters Clash with Police in Northern Thailand

Hundreds of protesters surrounded a police station in Chiang Mai on Thursday (July 16) after police arrested a pro-Thaksin community radio disc jockey believed to be one of the leaders of the red-shirt protesters.

The protesters say the police arrested a man by the name of DJ Lae for carrying a weapon through Chiang Mai International Airport late Thursday.

Around midnight angry protesters drove a pick-up truck full of red shirted protesters through a police line outside the police station.

Protesters pelted police with rocks throughout the night and were broken up by water cannons early Friday morning.

Exiled former Prime Minister Shinawatra Thaksin has remained a force in Thai politics.

He is believed by many to be trying to undermine the Democrat-led government by backing the "red shirt" protest movement and the opposition Puea Thai Party.

- NTD News / 2009-07-17

Colonel is 3rd suspect in Sondhi attack case

A Colonel with the Special Warfare Unit in Lopburi has been named as a third target of investigators looking into the assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul. The Deputy Chief of Metropolitan Police yesterday identified the suspect as Sunai Prapuchaney.

Sumet Rueangsawat said Colonel Sunai had borrowed the Toyota pickup truck suspected of being used in the April 17 attack from Rasamee Mekchai, the vehicle owner. Sunai is based in Lopburi but is presently serving with the Internal Security Operations Command in the southernmost provinces. He is the superior of Sgt Maj Panya Srihera, one of the two other suspects being hunted by police.

The other is Police Corporal Worawut Mungsanti of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. A source said Colonel Sunai was head of Chettha Thanajaro's security force when he was Army Commander-in-Chief and had a close relationship with Mrs Rasamee. Investigators would issue a summons asking him to meet police, Police Major-General Sumet said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2058...dhi-attack-case

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-20

PM encourages lawmakers not to resign

Lawmakers facing Election Commission charges over illegal share holdings should not resign, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says. Mr Abhisit yesterday said those facing charges should wait for the final ruling by the Constitution Court. MPs and Senators whose status was rejected by the EC for holding shares in businesses prohibited by the 2007 constitution should remain in parliament because the court might rule later in their favour, he said.

Early resignations could lead to unnecessary by-elections.

Mr Abhisit also said he did not agree with his Deputy Suthep Thaugsuban's decision to resign as an MP following the EC's ruling on his status last Thursday. He said he understood Mr Suthep had stepped down because he did not want to become tied up with his defence in court while he was Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Abhisit's spokesman, Thepthai Senpong, yesterday said that although the shareholding issue might affect the status of 16 MPs in the coalition government,

the government would still have more votes than the opposition. The government has 276 votes in the House while the opposition has 200.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/2...s-not-to-resign

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-20

Still likes to hang out with people wearing masks...but at least the Puea Thai Party Leadership has been decided...

Puea Thai Party wants Thaksin to be Chief Adviser

Puea Thai Party will invite ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra to be Chief Adviser, PTP MP Surapong Towijakchaikul said Saturday. It will also invite former acting Leader of the dissolved People Power Party Jaturon Chaisaeng, Pongthep Thepkanchana, and Sudarat Keyuraphan to be party advisers. Surapong added that Thaksin will also appear in cut-outs, posters, and leaflets posing with party candidates contesting in the next election.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...e-chief-adviser

Thaksin Shinawatra (name-sake worn as a mask) and Surapong Towichakchaikul during his MP campaign trail

MP: Thaksin will return

PM Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would return to Thailand to fight all legal cases, run for election in Chiang Mai province and take the leadership post of the Puea Thai Party, a Chiang Mai MP claimed on Thursday.

Surapong Towichakchaikul said Thaksin told him this during his recent visit to see the fugitive former prime minister in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The MP said Thaksin had formerly said he would wash his hands of politics but had changed his mind because the people wanted him to return to solve the country's problems.

He said Thaksin would certainly return, but not this year. If Thaksin came back before an election was called, Surapong said he would resign to make way for him to run in

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-16

EC: the disqualified MP and Senator should not resign

BANGKOK, 18 July 2009 (NNT) – A member of the Election Commission (EC) suggested the disqualified politicians not resign until the Constitutional Court rules on their cases.

A member of EC, Mr. Prapan Naikowit, who was in charge of election administration said that the Members of Parliament and Senators, who were judged to be disqualified by the EC, could disagree with the judgment, but he considered that those disqualified MPs, and Senators were not necessary to resign from their posts now, because the by-elections would cost more budget.

They should wait until the legal process ended when the Constitutional Court had a verdict on this issue.

Meanwhile some of the disqualified who would like to sue the EC to the Administrative Court had the right to do so and the EC had the duty to explain.

Regarding the resignation from Surat Thani MP post of the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affair Mr. Suthep Thuagsuban, the by-election had to be organized within 45 days or before August 30.

Next week the EC would have a meeting about by-election decree and would coordinate with the Surat Thani EC for holding the by-election.

-- NNT 2009-07-18

Chettha's aide 'too kind to kill'

Former Army Chief Chettha Thanajaro yesterday distanced himself from his former aide Panya Srihera who is suspected of involvement in the failed assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy. "Mr Sondhi knows me well. It's just a political game," General Chettha said yesterday.

Police are still hunting for the two leading suspects in the case, Sgt-Maj Panya, who is attached to the Special Warfare Unit in Lop Buri, and Police Corporal Worawut Mungsanti, from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. Arrest warrants have been issued and they face charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder, possession of war weapons, carrying firearms without a licence and illegal assembly.

Police believe the two are still at large in Thailand. General Chettha selected Sgt-Maj Panya as his aide when he was appointed Defence Minister in 2004.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/2...oo-kind-to-kill

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-19

An Elite Card holder writes today to the Bangkok Post's Letters to the Editor pages, POST BAG

SERVICES NOT RENDERED

Following on from the comments made by a disgruntled member of Thailand Elite _ the programme started in 2003 by Thaksin Shinawatra to attract wealthy tourists and businesspeople by giving them some special benefits and considerations, for a hefty fee _ I feel light needs to be shed on this matter for Bangkok Post readers.

Members of Thailand Elite such as myself don't consider themselves to be ''elite'' and don't particularly favour this label. We do however enjoy Thailand and its culture very much, and were willing to sign up to a programme that assured us of lifetime membership, with golf and spas at select establishments throughout the country in addition to a limousine service and visa, etc. The programme has gone somewhat off the rails recently since the management squandered the money that was paid into it and has after only two years cut back the services to the point of worthlessness now.

Nearly all the members are in agreement that they have gotten back less than 10% of the money that they invested into the government-sponsored programme, and now we're left with very poor service and little to no

Not so Elitist

Letter continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion...54/services-not

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-19

Former Thai PM fights bid to seize $2.2 billion assets

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thursday challenged a move to seize 76 billion baht (1.3 billion pounds) of his family's assets, which the government claims were gained through abuse of power. Skip related content

The former telecoms tycoon, whose assets have been frozen since he was ousted as premier in a 2006 military coup, says the government's case is politically motivated and groundless.

"The junta launched many corruption charges against me to justify their actions," Thaksin said in a hand-written statement seen by Reuters and due to be read before the Supreme Court, which opened the case Thursday.

"They also appointed my opponents to investigate me. How can I get a fair trial?"

Thaksin, sentenced in absentia in October to two years in prison for graft and now in self-imposed exile, has used money from offshore accounts to fund his globe-trotting life.

Thaksin's Thai passport has been revoked and he now travels on passports provided by countries he has pledged to invest in, among them Nicaragua.

The frozen assets come from the $1.9 billion tax-free sale of telecommunications conglomerate Shin Corporation in 2006 to Singapore state company Temasek, which sparked street protests that led to his overthrow in the bloodless putsch.

Thaksin's lawyers say he will argue that he and his wife, from whom he is now divorced, sold all the shares they owned in the company to their children in 2000. They subsequently sold through the market, and such a deal was tax-free in Thailand.

The court heard testimony from two witnesses, the first of 90 Thaksin has listed for his case. The trial is expected to be completed by November 19.

- Reuters / 2009-07-17

Policeman suspect in the Sondhi shooting case preparing to surrender

Corporal Worawut Mungsanti has contacted deputy national police chief General Thanee Somboonsap to report himself on charges relating to the Sondhi shooting case, a senior police officer said on Friday.

The surrender of Worawut, a non-commissioned officer of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, is expected within the next few days after he has been dismissed due to his leave without permission for 14 days, NSB deputy chief Maj General Adithep Pachamanont said.

Former defence minister and Army chief General Chettha Thanajaro on Friday said he had no involvement in the Sondhi shooting case although one of the two suspects once served under him.

Chettha admitted that suspect Master Sergeant Panya Srihaera used to work on his staff.

"I won't describe Panya as close to me although he occasionally came to see me when I went to inspect the business at the Trat factory," he said. He denied that his scent-wood factory had sheltered the fugitive who worked for a month before disappearing ahead of a police raid on Thursday.

Orathai Thanajaro, daughter-in-law of Chettha, said Panya was one of Chettha's guard when he was defence minister. Panya had not contacted with Chettha or her family after Chettha left the ministerial position.

Orathai said she only learned that Panya applied for a job at the plant for a month before disappearing with unknown reason.

"I want to raise a point. The case is severe. If (Chettha) would really commit it, why would he let a close person do the job? The link would be too easy," Orathai said.

NSB commissioner Lt General Wut Liptapanlop, however, had disposed Worawut for being absent for more than 15 days according to the dicipline.

DSI deputy director-general Pol Colonel Narat Sawettanant, the spokesman, said Worawut only showed intention to be transferred to the DSI, but he was not actually transferred. He only joined hands with the DSI on some cases.

DSI personnel knowing Worawut had tried to contact him but fail. They had never heard from him after found missing, Narat said.

-- The Nation 2009-07-18

Senate Speaker waiting on EC report to expel 16 Senators

BANGKOK, 15 July 2009 (NNT) - The Senate Speaker said he had yet to receive a report from the Election Commission (EC) on unlawful stock holdings by 16 Senators.

Senate Speaker, Prasopsuk Boondet, remarked that the EC had yet to forward any documentation on the matter to him, resulting in the current delay. The Election Commission previously declared the disqualification of 16 Senators, citing that their stock holdings were in violation of the Constitution.

The 16 held shares in companies in the journalism, radio broadcast and television broadcast industries as well as other concessionary businesses in violation of Article 265.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the EC said the commission had concluded the case and that the documentation will reach the Senate Speaker in 1-2 days.

-- NNT 2009-07-15