gabruce

Well done to the Army for identifying the rice farmers needs as first priority and that the country sucks up the cost of the Shinawtra's incompetence to put this right.

And as for the Americans and Germans your ignorance knows no bounds. Quick to condemn on the garbage that is presented to you by the criminals that have been ransacking Thailand and its democracy for the last 13 years and then complete ignorance with a closed mind mentality shown when invited to hear the other side of the debate.

Yes, because the entire US and German foreign ministries are filled with people who have no clue what's going one here - unlike you!

The foreign ministries are NOT filled with people who have no clue what's going on here (I presume you are talking about the sections that handle Thailand affairs). However, they have their own foreign policy agendas, and their public statements will reflect that. What they say and do secretly and in private is different. The Snowden stuff shows that clearly.

I hope they find the 5 million Baht Jutapon was offering for Sutheps arrest and give it to the farmers that the Reds have ripped off and bullied.

I wonder, since the army arrested Suthep, does that mean they get to collect the 5 million Baht from Jatuporn?

It's a bit of a pain right now, but a 10pm to 5am curfew won't affect most people. Just cut short partying a little bit. Hopefully just for a few days. I'm fortunate in that I have a lot of books to read otherwise the loss of tv programming would be devastating. However, I'll suffer through it. Haven't seen any soldiers about, however I did hear that there are a few around (Chiang Mai).

Have you thought what all this might mean to folk here on their annual holidays.

jb1

Maybe 2.5 hrs less time in the bars at night, have to start partying at night earlier, late night movies are out. Not ideal, and hardly a disaster is it? However, I think your point is that if what you do on holidays is stay out all night and go home in the morning, yes, this will cramp your style severely. I hadn't really considered the night club set.

hope they are proud to bring all this to this lovely country... a disgrace they should be ashamed

They scored a partial victory they can home.. this is a disaster for the Shins. You lost get over it.

Do you (and Winton liking it) actually live in Thailand? Im curious because of all this "we won" and "you lost" banter.

Sitting in the house with no tv and soon no internet, banned from going out, with soldiers on the streets. Does that feel like a victory to you?

It's a bit of a pain right now, but a 10pm to 5am curfew won't affect most people. Just cut short partying a little bit. Hopefully just for a few days. I'm fortunate in that I have a lot of books to read otherwise the loss of tv programming would be devastating. However, I'll suffer through it. Haven't seen any soldiers about, however I did hear that there are a few around (Chiang Mai).

Thaksin - the man who in 2011 said he had no interest in politics, was packing it in, and wanted to concentrate on his " golf game " - has been the driving force of the Pheu Thai administration from the get go - whether it was through skype or through frequent and press-covered exoduses of cabinet ministers to see him abroad. His complete and utter involvement surprised no one, and his complete and utter involvement surprises no one now. He has promised to get out of politics more often than people care to count anymore. Nobody believes him. Absolutely no one. Thaksin's blanket amnesty bill is what brought this country to the most profound political crisis it's seen in years. And after all that, he still thinks it's a great idea ? Is he that blinded by ambition that he cannot see that his grand idea started this ? ( Yes ). He can drag his own party down with him - that's his business. But he should leave the country alone. They're fed up with him. And to him they can thank for this mess.

Well, he has little choice except to stay in politics. If he doesn't take care of Thailand, who will?

PM assigns Chaikasem to represent government in crucial meeting

BANGKOK: -- Acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisarn has designated caretaker Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri to attend the second round of talks Thursday claiming he has other duty to perform on behalf of the prime minister.

He went to the Commerce Ministry to perform duties as commerce minister.

Mr Chaikasem said he would head the negotiation team today while Mr Pongsak Raktapongpaisarl, the energy minister, will be replaced by Mr Chadchat Sittipun, the transport minister.

He said his team was empowered to make decision as has been set in a guideline.

He also predicted the second talks would end inconclusively as conflicting groups might not get all their demands and needed more talks.

Meanwhile People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban reiterated the People’s call for an interim prime minister with full power to resolve the political impasse and to reform the country.

He also called for the United Front for Democratic against Dictatorship (UDD) to participate in the reform, while telling political parties to keep off the reform.

The proposals were agreed upon during his meeting with provincial PDRC leaders this morning to find a common stand before attending the second round talks.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-assigns-chaikasem-represent-government-crucial-meeting/

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-22

I think that the most interesting part is that Suthep called for the UDD to work on reforms with them and that all political parties should have nothing to do with it. Definitely interesting.

You had your chance Farmers.

You believed Yingluck for the 5th time, so you pointed your tractors North and went home again.

Now you expect a new Government to honor the election promises of a morally corrupt, self serving, convicted felon...when you had the chance to do something months ago?

Sorry, but you are out of luck.

Plant cassava.

The right thing to do is that the farmers get paid. The government bought the rice from them (at an inflated price) and didn't pay. The government has to pay, and unfortunately that means the next government is liable for the debt.

What are those badges about? the last photo?

Photo was taken with the rest of the pictures (same room). So, I don't know, either the suspect is a UDD guard or one the people arresting him was a UDD guard. At this point I doubt very much that the UDD are working with the army, so I'd bet on the guy being a UDD guard (or at least having the credentials to pass as one).

Annnddddd! Bingo - he just broke another law as of this morning.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNPOL5705210010003

The POMC has declared that any broadcasting of individuals who are not government officials will be prohibited from giving any political views or opinions on national television, as the center wishes to prevent escalation of protests and crowds becoming riled up after listening to such broadcasts.

Therefore, according to the martial law that has recently been invoked, all operators of media, which include print media, television, radio, press, hosts and/or anchors will not be allowed to interview or invite any individual who is not currently in a governmental position to publicly air their political opinions.

The NNTB is allowed to report it under that law (government organisation), but he's not supposed to say it.

He has the right to get up on stage and say it to the people there.

If a reporter reports it, then it is down to the reporter or the medium, so long as Suthep has not broadcast it himself.

Prayuth has allowed the protests to continue at their sites.

It is a bit different to what is happening at the UDD camp which is actually broadcasting their rally on internet radio.

So you jumped the gun on that one matey.

no he hasn't gatherings of more than 5 people are banned

I think that you are wrong about gatherings of more than 5 people being banned. I didn't see that as one of the announced measures/restrictions. I do agree that they "could" ban gatherings. They also "could" impose a curfew. They however have NOT done so. The general gist of things seems to be to just restrict political violence and propaganda and have people carry on their lives and business without restriction.

Sounds like he's trying to cram an appointed dictator down everyone's throat, and he didn't invite the caretaker PM? Now we know for sure bthis is a coup. he's going to say an election is not possible because this big army he called out cannot secure a few election venues from 'protesters'.

He's invited PTP leaders - what makes you think he's excluded the acting caretaker PM?

Umm the fact the opening post says he was believed not to have been invited duhh....

Read it again. The opening post says that the acting caretaker PM is "also" invited. That means that he is invited.

These radio stations are principally red shirt supporting which makes this a politically motivated move and a worrying portent of the army's intentions.

You must be joking right? Could you possibly be contending that because a radio station is redshirt it should be allowed to operate? The army is treating everyone evenly so far. Selectively leaving the redshirt radio stations broadcasting WOULD be political. Shutting them down is not!

The following comment was posted in Thailand news thread

" Suthep, using Facebook webpage, urges Senate to propose name of interim PM; PDRC protesters stay at rally site, stage opens 24 hours /MCOT "

As the General has confirmed the caretaker government should remain in place , the Senate would no longer be able to claim it has the power to propose an interim PM without the military prior approval? So this in theory should shut up Suthep and the group of senators? Is that correct?

No.

I think it is right. and lining up against the Army already today were Time, NYT, Reuters, AlJazz, BBC, US State Dept. and next up EU who are convening emergency meeting on it.

Won't happen as it can't last. Appointing anybody without elections will make it much worse.

Army ain't seen nothing yet. Once they install themselves, they'll find themselves on the back foot for the entire period they manage to cling onto power for.

Same as always, they don't have the nubmer

and if the army calms things down and organizes elections (or at least moves things along so the EC gets the elections organized) in a reasonably expeditious timeframe, then I think thailand will mostly be very happy. Time to wait and see.

The army declared martial law without consultation with the civilian government. A total breach of a very fundamental democratic principle (civilian control of the government) as far as I know.

Sometimes I feel bad that I hope for a foreign intervention on my own country.

The Thai army has this right. And they do it when necessary. As it seemed yesterday the government directly supplies gun to the terrorists.

Foreign intervention: Hun Sens way of democracy? Or prosperity and democracy like Libya or Iraq after intervention?

I understand that there is an outdated 100-year-old law (passed when Thailand was an absolute monarchy) that grants the army this power. However, this tradition is very anti-democratic. In a democracy, we have a civilian government. period. If you don't believe in democracy, then we just have to agree to disagree.

The facts about "supplying guns to the terrorists" haven't been sufficiently established. Also, the army didn't use this as a reason to declare martial law in its statement.

You just cherry-picked the bad interventions. Japan fared quite well after the US intervened. I'm not asking for a military intervention or anything. Maybe economic sanctions from the free world until we have a civilian government.

What a truly bad idea!!!

Have you seen what happens when effective economic sanctions are put in place. The people suffer. Why would you wish that on the poor people of Thailand?

Relax and wait and see how things go over the next few hours, days, weeks. I'm hoping that Thailand will be having elections in August.

Hmmm how good this looks on the world stage. They must be hoping that Westen diplomats and governemts and Medai are taking hard drugs not to see through this week.

Games up.

All courts and complicit "partisan" bodies through full weight behind their leader "Suthep"

EC blocks cancels and stalls elections then threatens TV stations who report this appears wrong. Then threaten to sue anybody who tries to get an election date sorted.

The retired Generals (Men of State) last week state anybody opposing them should be destroyed and miss world appointment (no way she won that) wants over half the country executed or banished.

Here ladies and gentlemen are the Elites in all their glory. exposed to the full glare of the worlds media and attracting the scorn and derision they always deserved.

And the reason they are so public is that they have failed. The plan was never thought past a quick "cause a riot, suck in the police to quell it, scream oppression of "Right to Protest", have the army come to the rescue and all the Elites live powerfully ever after"

When did the EC threaten TV stations? I never noticed any media reports about that.

Also, what does the fact that Megan Young from the Philippines is Miss World have to do with the situation in Thailand? Are you trying to claim that she is really Thai or something? Or do you think that Thaksin had something to do with her winning? Very confused here.

The EC just threatened the free press today.

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Thanks. I had missed that bit about the EC. Nit picking. They didn't threaten the free press. They reprimanded (or suggested they should be reprimanded) a government owned and operated TV station. Correct?

I still think that complaining about Megan Young is just silly.

When the poll results does not support you, you go up in arms about the results. I too have my doubts about these polls - which is why I said "IF THE DUSIT POLL IS TO BE TRUSTED".

Clearly, you do not trust these polls. So let's have an election then! Or you just playing chicken?

The actual poll has been turned upside down to make this headline.

It is a lie -headline and misleading, only 40% polled this, 60% didn't.

RE-CAP 60% said do NOT hold a quick election. only 40% said it should.

Is there a name of who selected the headline ???? why use the topic if it was misleading posters.???

You seem confused, or perhaps the person writing the headline and article are confused or unable to communicate clearly.

The previous poster made a very valid point that the headline contradicted the reported poll results. What he missed noticing is that the headline is indeed accurate if misleading. People do wish the EC would quickly hold the general election. The headline would be true if even two people responded in the affirmative.

Misleading because it would seem that 61% favour the military stepping in (and conversely 60% don't favour a quick election).

My opinion on the election question in the poll isn't that 60% don't want an election, it's that 60% want an election and don't see a quick one giving any positive result for the country (or possibly not succeeding). The original question is crucial to understanding the results, and of course we will never see that, certainly not an accurate translation of the question.

I am keens for this news organisation to hire someone who can speak English.

Don't you mean write English. Just asking.

writing skills would ALSO be helpful.

What I would like to know is how is protesting and giving a resignation letter to a caretaker minister illegal? Even staying and refusing to leave until the letter is signed and returned?

Now if they lay hands on them, or threaten to hurt them, that is a different story.

The PTP announcements seem seldom to be truthful when it comes to the law. I wouldn't be surprised to have them announce one day that a breakfast of cornflakes instead of rice is illegal.

My question. Why is the PTP so insistent on a video conference instead of a face to face meeting? Makes me think they have some ulterior motive. Maybe so they can have other parties participate without the public seeing?

Maybe they are all hiding out in Dubai and Chiang Mai at this time.

Very Good Point. They don't want to waste time in travelling.

CAPO is one of the only organisations still upholding the law in Thailand. Unfortunately there are few police and military prepared to enforce that law.

This means that these PDRC civil servants (along with their fascist idol Suthep) will get away with undermining democracy.

These people clearly need a lesson in democracy, but in my experience they have closed minds, impervious to ideas from the modern outside world. Although several surrounding countries understand and support democracy - e.g. India, Philippines, Indonesia - the Thai middle class persists in believing that Thailand is "different" and cannot follow the rest of the world. And one has to agree: different. That is, suffering the curse of the ammart, which says that the "great and the good" shall rule over the lower orders for evermore.

96 posts and we already have " Idol Fascist Suthep" and Amart mentioned, wonder what the rhetoric will be after 966 posts. Who runs CAPO, ??? and you want to respect it ???

Trustworthy government, fantastically organized-non corrupt.

Is anteater talking about CAPO in Thailand? I think that CAPO in Thailand does nothing except spend money and issue threats via press releases.

Almost 2 monthd ago they stated that 1.2 billion rice farmers had not been paid. That numbet is the same noe so who got all the billions the gov borrowed and in rice auctions?

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Quiet. Don't ask questions that require arithmetic.

There is also the point that I suspect that any numbers reported by any government agency are quite possibly just fabricated from whole cloth.

I do agree, there doesn't seem to be any actual money in play from rice sales, though they may just return the money they borrowed by the end of the month. Seriously though, whatever money there is may have just gone to paying storage, transportation, administration, interest, and sales costs. Those who are cynical will also be thinking that some has been used to replace "lost" rice.

Civil servants can side with whoever. At the ballot box.......

and outside that, they MUST support the PTP. Good plan.

Perhaps the issue is that a government owned TV station shouldn't be broadcasting a partisan TV show, or at least should not be funding it themselves. It's probably fine if the PTP paid for election broadcasting (if that is allowed), and not for the government to be running their own agenda.

They probably are also upset because the point of the show was to propagandize the public into believing that the EC aren't doing their job.

Redshirts

The Countrys big hope to INSTANTLY bring down anything the PDRC and their partners in the Senate can put in place to try grab power.

Bet it would not take 6 months to bring down an appointed PM

Other nation headline screaming, final push for vacuum.

Unfortunately you might be right, and only because the redshirts seem to be much less reluctant to use force and threats to make other people do what they want them to do. I might rephrase your statement and say that the redshirts are thailands big hope to bring a violent civil war.