chantorn

Bad people like Thaksin should never leave jail.

Should we now assume that these 9 will now apply to Montenegro, Venezuela, Zambia and/or Sudan for one of their little books that facilitate foreign travel?

What about Timbuktu?

Thailand hosting of the 14th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Bangkok is a bit like a AA meeting in a brewery :jap:

(No offense to AA members intended)

Thailand, Hub of Oxymorons

Anti-Corruption Conference hosted by Thai Plice :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

April fool comes early.

Anyone still believing a single word coming out of Abhisit's mouth can only be classified as a delusional fool .

hahaha You funny guy. Now get back on your meds, OK?

Mark always speak the truth, and nothing but the truth.

That's the reason why he never commended about all those corruption scandals.

There can never be Democracy with Thaksin running the country.

Was it a coup that put him in power? Or was it the other way round? I am confuse.

Point #1: I can appreciate it is "quite unusual", but it does happen - visibly so in the US, the patented "land of the free".

Point #2: I'm sure that there were incidents where the security forces are responsible for deaths - most "necessary" (horrible phrase don't you think), some collateral damage. But I'm also sure that the UDD are also responsible for a fair few - more than half. I also think that, if the army had gone in unrestrained all guns blazing, we would have seen hundreds or even thousands more dead than 91. Evidence... well, none of us can provide anything conclusive but I think if we were all to be honest, I believe that no-one truly believes both sides are totally innocent, whatever our initial conclusions from the April-May mayhem.

Regarding the "friendly fire" incident - which was initially reported as friendly fire (from the military police) but the CRES denied this as the bullet came from a gun that in use by they army at the time - are you certain it was friendly fire? If there army killed a soldier through friendly fire, then it would certainly add weight to any argument that some unnecessary deaths (again, painful to write) were caused by the army.

Both sides have made tremendous mistakes, without doubt. My ongoing work is looking at the particular incidents and find out as much as i can. But yes, the army has indeed held back, but so have the Red Shirt militants. The problem here is that there no resolution yet, and i believe that we are still trapped in a circle of escalation.

As to the incident at Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd - I am absolutely certain that this was a friendly fire incident - at the time no Red Shirts were in the vicinity. There was a stand off after the heavy rain storm brought the fighting to a halt (fighting has ceased for at least half an hour already), the lines were about 500 meters apart, the gas station and all other areas close enough were cleared of Red Shirts by the military, and so was the ramp to the toll way above (i still cannot believe that initially the security forces did not secure the toll way before advancing, allowing Red Shirts to throw stones at the soldiers and police officers at the road down, and soldiers firing then massive bursts of automatic rifle fire at the Red Shirts above, dust and pieces of concrete raining onto us down below...).

A few motorcycles with soldiers came through the Red Shirt lines (a colleague at the Red Shirt lines was there and photographed the scene from that side). There was bad visibility, the security forces screamed at the coming motorcycles to stop, and almost immediately fired upon the motorcycles with a massive barrage of fire. About 40 meters away from me the motorcycles crashed. I and a few other photographers ran over, security forces tried to prevent us from taking images, but failed to do so. It was a horrific scene. The first images i took the soldier was still twitching, and at the second set of images a minute or less later he was already dead.

We all switched then memory cards, in case the soldiers would have tried to take our cameras (some Thai photographers were before the incident sent off by the soldiers, i had a massive argument with a soldier who tried to prevent me to go to the military lines before the fight started, and some Thai journalists who have filmed/photographed the soldier being brought away on a stretcher had their memory cards confiscated). But we foreign photographers were left alone then.

"security forces tried to prevent us from taking images"

"some Thai journalists who have filmed/photographed the soldier being brought away on a stretcher had their memory cards confiscated"

Both not not true. The army job was to shoot at people, and not tp censor media you you claim.

"The Cambodian Consulate - unaware who he was..."

Who's 'saving face' with this statement?

The Cambodians or the Thais?

Both sides are saving face here. Hun Sen's ministers are well aware who the red shirt leaders are, having treated them like brothers when Thaksin visited Phnom Penh as economic adviser. Moreover, the Cambodian consular staff in Thailand have to follow the Thai media very closely to monitor political happenings that may affect their relations with Thailand. Hun Sen rules Cambodia with an iron fist and the consul wouldn't have dared issue a visa to a known red shirt leader without getting approval from his minister first. More likely it was pre-arranged by the ministry.

In addition to red shirt leaders, such as Arisman and Jakraphob Penkhair, enjoying refuge there the Cambodian government is also giving house room to notorious common criminals evading Thai jail sentences, including Watana Asavahame and Kamnan Po. Chalerm's son also apparently had a long holiday there, while Daddy prepared his successful defence on the cop killer murder charge which ended up with the blame being assigned to a fictional character whom police declined to pursue.

Give him the visa with a tracking chip embedded. 007 stuffs.

The two-month rally by the Reds attracted up to 100,000 people demanding immediate elections, but was broken up by soldiers firing live ammunition.

I guess they mean the 1.000.000 man march:whistling:

What killing?

The red murder the red. Said ex-PM chuan on Monday.

Interesting how the Red shirts protest about the 'unarmed civilians' but neglect to mention how 'unarmed civilians' managed to kill soldiers. Naturally they neglect to mention at all the fact that people died on BOTH sides of the protests.

Who killed them?

Many be army kill army. Just may be, like this clip.

Vibrant democracy or Progressive democracy?

begin removed ...

For your information - i am an accredited journalist with a Thai press card issued to foreign correspondents, i do work factually and keep up the ethical standards of my profession (especially concerning corroboration of information!), i am not a Red Shirt, i do not accept bribes, i do not work in the "underground" - all my articles appear under my name and i always visibly carry my press card when working in protests of yellow and red, and i will definitely not tolerate any accusation of lese majeste.

Thank you.

I accept your reply, have only read a bit about you and snippets of things, can't really judge.

I'm only wondering about 'i will definitely not tolerate any accusation of lese majeste'. Maybe my mis-understanding, but it sounds like a threat in case someone accuses you, or in case another is accused. Could you elaborate, or rephrase ?

"Thai press card", "Student card", "techer card", "Driving license", etc are 200 Baht baht each, sold openly at Khao San Road. Yes, openly on the main street itself.

Cabinet approves Bt3 billion-plus flood victims budget

BANGKOK, October 26 – The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a budget of more than three billion baht (US$100 million) for flood victims with each household to receive about 5,000 baht.

A budget of Bt2.9 billion will be distributed to over 581,000 households and about Bt300 million will be given to the Interior Minister for rehabilitation work including buying flat-bottomed boats, providing flood victims with temporary shelters and toilets, according to deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut.

The money will be handed out to the flood victims in the 3-5 days following the November 1 economic ministers meeting via Government Savings Bank and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives offices.

Deputy government spokesman Vachara Kannikar said the Ministry of Labour reported 22,500 enterprises were damaged by floods and 394,000 labourers were affected. The ministry has measures in preparation including occupational training.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his team on Tuesday travelled by a Royal Thai Police helicopter to inspect the overall flood situation in the capital and nearby provinces including Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan.

Following the survey, the governor said the water level remains high and covered large areas. It is expected to take some time that the situation will return to normal.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River at the Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge in Bangkok was measured at 2.10 metres above median sea level at 9.09am Tuesday morning, a level lower than that which was projected earlier.

Meanwhile, a large amount of floodwaters from the North released from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat and the Rama VI Dam in Lopburi was measured at 4,652 cubic metres per second.

Currently, the governor ordered Bangkok workers to reinforce 2.8-metre-high flood prevention walls along the Rajavoradith Pier, aiming to prevent possible overflowing water to affect the Grand Palace.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River excluding the northern flowing water on Tuesday was recorded at 1.17 metres, the highest level in October, however, it was likely to recede gradually and will surge and reach its peak on November 8 measured at 1-1.30 metres.

Although Bangkok has passed through Tuesday's critical situation, city officials continue monitoring the water situation, particularly on November 8, when the high tide is forecast to reach its peak of the year.

Mr Sukhumbhand assured the public the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will pull out all the stops handling the flooding until flood waters recede.

Bangkok officials are providing temporary shelters in 26 locations for residents outside Bangkok's flood protection dykes, but the governor said no communities have asked for relocation.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said 56 people died by drowning and in flood-related incidents while about 107,000 people have become ill from flood-borne diseases and related problems.

The public health ministry will seek a budget of Bt80 million from the Cabinet. Bt50 million will be spent on restoring three hospitals in Nakhon Ratchasima and one hospital in Chaiyaphum. The other Bt30 million of the budget will be used to purchase medical supplies and medicine, he said.

Mr Jurin said the ministry would provide more than 50,000 emergency toilets for flood victims in Lopburi, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum to prevent an outbreak. It asked the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) to increase its production of medicine for athlete's foot to some 30,000 medical containers daily as well as anti-fungal medical powder.

Mobile medical units reported 141,918 patients from Oct 20-25. Most suffered from athlete's foot, followed by fever.

On Monday, 128 teams of mobile medical units treated 2,641 persons. Five hundred forty-three public health centres and hospitals have been flooded, the minister said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-26

More vote buying with tax payer money.

With all the police in the warehouse, no wonder the Warehouse Full Of Reptiles

How does the UN grant political asylum?

Doesn't a country need to do that, and don't they need to get to that country to actually get asylum?

This show the extend of the intelligent of the Red Shirt and their puppet leader.

Plus since when United Nation has solved any conflict. They are another organization who employees people and basically are a place of employments. I have never seen that UN was able to do anything good. Somalia, West Bank, Iraq, etc. etc are some examples. They are like Thai government they only pay attention to what worked automatically and shy away from real problems

Not to forget the genocide in Rwanda 800 000 dead in about 4-5 weeks.

Rawanda problems is also a domestic problem. The Rawandan can fit it. Not for the UN to interfere.

And I always thought the Chinese High Speed trains were built with European (German) technology. Isn't the Maglev train in Shanghai a German product?

So let the Chinese finance the project while the European (German, French) supply the technology.

Not the Tibetan high speed rail just completed, it is all Chinese technology..

In his book "Riding the Iron Rooster" (1988), American train traveler Paul Theroux wrote, "The Kunlun Range is a guarantee that the railway will never get to Lhasa."

Who knows better about low speed train than Paul Theroux.

Snip//

SG: As the Prime Minister has already answered in his opening remarks, we

discussed this issue. In fact, this is a Thai issue and this should be

resolved by Thais. I am encouraged that the truth and reconciliation

commission has started their work, and this commission has shown openness

in their work, wishing that they are ready to work with even the

international community. They have sought international assistance in

technical and specific matters, and I expressed my readiness to the Prime

Minister that the United Nations is ready to provide any technical

assistance to this commission�s work.

Snip//

-- 2010-1-26

What's this mean?

When are the autopsy results going to be ready?

It doesn't say, just that they're busy, show openness, asked for expert help. Rome wasn't build in one day, old chap. These things take time.

It would also not be up to Mr. Ban to announce a date when a report will be forthcoming. That's the privilege of the commissions head, or maybe the PM. Last I heard, was a call on all PTP and/or red-shirts who could provide input has been declined. They're busy with their own plan, commisions, maybe even provided Mr. Ban with their report. In that case I'm sure you'll get details soon

The report will be out in 50 years.

(PS. The North Ireland took like 20 years).

The Reds started the killing, the army finished it,

because the Reds left them no choice, as was the red plan.

And then to whine on forever about it. Also part of the plan.

equally, such can be said...

The Army started the killing, the Reds finished it,

because the Army left them no choice, as was the army plan.

And then to whine on forever about it. Also part of the plan.

I am not disputing you, all I am saying is that there is an equal and opposit side to your argument, depending with side you are with. Since the government will not be disclosing the autopsy, and the investigation findings report for say, another 50 years, both argument will still remains as personal views, and will equally be valid.

<snip>

edit to add. PS

PS: you witty question sound like you wanna indicate that it weren't the militant reds and the terrorists BUT the government and the army itself that are responsible for the many death.

If you have some evidence for it - i would like to see it.

&lt;deleted&gt; ... it was a simple question. All I want to indicate is that I don't believe the government have said that the red shirts killed all those that died. They might have said that the army didn't kill some of those that died, but AFAIK they have never said that they didn't kill any.

Ex PM Chuan already said on Monday that the dead are killed by the Red-shirt themselves. Go read KhaoSod.

I still don't get it.

Hoe can anyone cancel a fake visa?

I have lots of fake toy bank notes I used to lay with. It is obvious fake. Does bank of Thailand has to cancel my fake toy bank notes to stop me from using it?

why has Abhisit always got that dumb, snide, smile on his face in every picture... why are you smiling you bell end.. your walking through 2 feet of water and people are homeless

Of course; he should be weeping, pulling out his hair, tearing his clothes, gnashing his teeth - that would make the water go away!

That's not the point either, but people have died, families are homeless and really struggling to survive, he should at least look concerned not look like he's enjoying a day on the beach with the kids, I think people are looking for compassion and leadership, both seem to be sadly lacking.

How well do you know Thais? do you not realise this is a different culture, and what you consider an inappropriate facial expression may be just what Thais want to see?

His smile is the only selling point, as he is not selling his bottom. Unlike Thaksin et al.

PAD is the only true "Thai Patriotism" left in Thailand. Everyone else are fake. PAD is the only group willing to risk their life against Cambodia invasion. And the only group courage enough to take on the airports.

Expect a lot of big promises to the minority parties from everyone to keep them onside. Newin is the kingmaker, as nasty as that sounds, and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. He switched once, why not again?

you should recount his 'switches', but that will it not make more predictable.

he has turned coats that many times, he is technicolour. he sheds coats like snakes shed skin.

Newin is indeed very nasty and ultra corrupted. However he is currently the best hope to unit the country to a single "BLUE" colour. Give the poor boy a chance to be the next Thaksin.

Ban Ki Boon.

Funny coincident? Both "Ki" & "Moon" have the same meaning in Thai. I'll let you Farang find out yourself. Go ask your bar-girls.

For all those who condemned the government or Gen. Prayuth for not allowing rallies while Mr. Ban was here:

"Later on, about 100 of red shirts have joined the group in front of The UN building and showed the assaulting signs in both Thai and English languages with photos of police using weapons on to the innocent people."

http://www.nationmul...s-30140846.html

I'm a bit puzzled about the photo's of police using weapons to shoot innocent people. I thought that was in 2007 or 2008 against the yellow shirts? Maybe a typo in the Nation newsflash?

Hahaha. You mean the media mess it up again?

This is exactly the reason why SOE in South must never be lifted, and defense budget by doubled every year. Better buy a few more flying dragon balloon (I am sure it will manage to fly someday when they have plug the helium leak, and use the cheaper hydrogen instead). In fact, the Southern people should carry special ID card (or electronic tag), and must report all their movement if they intent to leave home overnight, especially if they want to travel to Bangkok.

BTW, most people in the South are good people, however a small number of Foreign trained assassin and bomb maker are with them. Such little inconvenience (special ID) is for the good of all people in Thailand, including themselves, hence I don't thing they will mind doing it for their nation. As they are so proud to have the privilege to be a Thai nation, speak the same language with us, and honored to be under the protection of our Thai King.

My knowledge of the situation in those provinces is far from perfect. However, two things I do know. Firstly, those behind the insurgency and presumably most of the inhabitants of the those provinces do not want to be part of the kingdom; secondly, most of them speak a different language and have a different culture. As I understand it, the inhabitants of this former sultanate have very little in common with the rest of the country.

The solution to this issue will come through political means that will have to involve Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The latter being perceived as the moderating influence on Islamic fundamentalists. I do not know what Malaysia's position on this is.

There are a few hurdles to get over before progress can be made. It seems that those behind the insurgency are not yet ready to search for a political settlement. Saudi Arabia has already named its price for participation. That appears to be a price Thailand is not yet ready to pay.

edited to correct typo

Correct, you knowledge of the situation in those provinces is far from perfect.

I have been to the South many times. Each time I ask as many people as I could a very simple question in Thai language. "Do you love and will you stay loyal to our king?". I never once receive a negative answer, nor anyone who does not understand me. I also see the photo of the King in every house, office, even in their place of worship.

So I concluded that they are so proud to have the privilege to be a Thai nation, speak the same language with us, and honored to be under the protection of our Thai King.