Thai ex-PM Thaksin calls for party unity ahead of promised election

 

FILE PHOTO - Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves after an interview with Reuters in Singapore February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra met lawmakers from his Puea Thai Party in Hong Kong where he called for party unity ahead of an approaching general election, party members said on Monday.

 

Many are watching to see how Puea Thai Party performs in a vote which the military government has promised to hold in November but which could be delayed.

 

Thaksin, who founded Advance Info Service Pcl, Thailand's largest mobile phone operator, was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 when he was overthrown in a military coup supported by the Bangkok-based establishment.

 

Thaksin, who is based in Dubai, continues to loom large over Thai politics and remains popular in the northeast 'Isaan' region which, along with the north, forms the stronghold of parties aligned with Thaksin which have won every election since 2001 by appealing to poorer voters.

 

His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was elected prime minister in 2011. She was overthrown in a 2014 military coup.

 

Yingluck fled Thailand last August, weeks before the Supreme Court found her guilty of negligence in mismanaging a rice subsidy scheme and sentenced her to five years in prison.

 

Sources in the Puea Thai Party say she is currently based in England.

 

Thaksin was convicted in absentia in 2006 on conflict of interest charges.

 

The siblings have been in Asia since the start of the month, said party members, and have visited China, Japan and Hong Kong before travelling to Singapore on Monday.

 

Prayuth Siripanich, a Puea Thai Party member and its former representative for the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham, said ten lawmakers flew to Hong Kong on Saturday and returned on Monday.

 

"Thaksin asked lawmakers to be united and not to break that unity," Prayuth told Reuters. "He asked that lawmakers meet their constituents because the election is fast approaching."

 

Piyapong Klinpan, a spokesman for the junta, or National Council for Peace and Order as it is formally known, told reporters in Bangkok that "relevant agencies", including police, were following Yingluck and Thaksin.

 

He did not give further details.

 

Supporters of the Shinawatras say the family are victims of political persecution. Their critics accuse them of widespread corruption, which they deny.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Additional reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-2-19

Guess he is feeling a bit afraid people might break away if offered enough, that is the nature of people who are in it for the money. 

9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thaksin, who is based in Dubai, continues to loom large over Thai politics

Now there is an understatement if ever I saw one. Prayut must be really pissed off that no matter what he does, Thaksin is always there, on the horizon, ready to take over again and that countless people take Thaksin more seriously than him.

5 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Now there is an understatement if ever I saw one. Prayut must be really pissed off that no matter what he does, Thaksin is always there, on the horizon, ready to take over again and that countless people take Thaksin more seriously than him.

Wow.. taking one egocentric clown more serious than an other egocentric clown.. what an achievement.  I would not mind them both disappearing. (and taking Suthep and Charlem with them and Prawit) Think that would clean up a lot.

 

 

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by robblok

16 minutes ago, robblok said:

Guess he is feeling a bit afraid people might break away if offered enough, that is the nature of people who are in it for the money. 

He couldn't possibly spend the money he has now in a dozen lifetimes.... (and that's only the money people know about) 

I think he just wants to come home

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Wow.. taking one egocentric clown more serious than an other egocentric clown.. what an achievement.  I would not mind them both disappearing. (and taking Suthep and Charlem with them and Prawit) Think that would clean up a lot.

 

 

Oh, I agree! They are all a bunch of total crooks and idiots and wiping them all out for a totally fresh start would be great. My point was Thaksin is just better at playing the game of politics and knows how to take the piss better than Prayut, while simultaneously being adored by the electorate.

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

Oh, I agree! They are all a bunch of total crooks and idiots and wiping them all out for a totally fresh start would be great. My point was Thaksin is just better at playing the game of politics and knows how to take the piss better than Prayut, while simultaneously being adored by the electorate.

I seldom saw anyone who was worse at his media coverage than Prayut. Must be the military man in him, he has no idea how to use the media and how much of a fool he makes of himself.

34 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Supporters of the Shinawatras say the family are victims of political persecution. Their critics accuse them of widespread corruption, which they deny.

Elements of truth in both statements.

Are the Shinawatras crooked? Duh?

Are they politically persecuted. Obviously, Yes to that too.

Are the Persecutors themselves squeaky clean? Obviously, No.

All of them are as bad as each other. Its almost like watching Game of Thrones without the intelligence and cunning, though possibly more humour and definitely more stupidity.

Will be almost as interesting as GoT 7  to see what comes next.

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

Elements of truth in both statements.

Are the Shinawatras crooked? Duh?

Are they politically persecuted. Obviously, Yes to that too.

Are the Persecutors themselves squeaky clean? Obviously, No.

All of them are as bad as each other. Its almost like watching Game of Thrones without the intelligence and cunning, though possibly more humour and definitely more stupidity.

Will be almost as interesting as GoT 7  to see what comes next.

Problem is GOT is a TV series and does not affect real people... this does. 

 

I came here during Thaksin his reign and saw his arrogance and the PTP their arrogance and corruption. I thought it to be a PTP trait, now I see the junta doing more or less the same. Its just a big mess and they all want to be in power to get rich. The sad thing they get away with so much corruption that is costing the country so much money. 

 

Did we ever hear anything about those guns for the police bought to expensive.. or the speedometers.. or YL het tablets. Whatever big project they all steal from it.. then no investigation or a stalled one like Suthep and the police stations. The only time I saw real justice and punishment was with the fake G2G deals, that is how punishment should be long prison sentences and huge fines. Too bad it is not done for everyone. 

53 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

"Thaksin asked lawmakers to be united and not to break that unity,"

what does that mean? ; they are all junta stooges; it is like me going into a hardware store and saying :' i have 7 dogs'

Just now, YetAnother said:

what does that mean? ; they are all junta stooges; it is like me going into a hardware store and saying :' i have 7 dogs'

Maybe you should read better, he met with people from his own party.

 

He is just worried some people will defect if offered enough money or benefits.

 

 

46 minutes ago, speedtripler said:

He couldn't possibly spend the money he has now in a dozen lifetimes.... (and that's only the money people know about) 

I think he just wants to come home

 

Well there's a complete twist.

 

 

50 minutes ago, speedtripler said:

He couldn't possibly spend the money he has now in a dozen lifetimes.... (and that's only the money people know about) 

I think he just wants to come home

Nobody is keeping him from coming home, just a few prison sentences for corruption.. some fines to pay and he can stay in Thailand.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Supporters of the Shinawatras say the family are victims of political persecution. Their critics accuse them of widespread corruption, which they deny.

yes to the first ;

and, pure fabrication, to the second;

very long timers here tell me both these behaviors are right in the center of 'normal' for thailand 

2 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

yes to the first ;

and, pure fabrication, to the second;

very long timers here tell me both these behaviors are right in the center of 'normal' for thailand 

Your funny if you think that Thaksin was not corrupt he was corrupt as much or more as the junta and others. 

It's unity in Thailand he should be asking for, but as long

as he is around,the country will be divided.

 

How many times does he say that he is finished with

politics, only to rear his ugly head again.

regards worgeordie

Let the rouse begin. 

 

2018 gonna be fun

36 minutes ago, robblok said:

Nobody is keeping him from coming home, just a few prison sentences for corruption.. some fines to pay and he can stay in Thailand.

Now he's just a lonely old man 

 

 I guess it's not as much fun being a billionaire in the middle of a desert thousands of miles from home as he thought it would be when he split

 

Ultimate greed cost him the ultimate price and he would probably give most of the money back if he could come home and spend his last year's in the family mansion

Instead of in jail

8 minutes ago, speedtripler said:

Now he's just a lonely old man 

 

 I guess it's not as much fun being a billionaire in the middle of a desert thousands of miles from home as he thought it would be when he split

 

Ultimate greed cost him the ultimate price and he would probably give most of the money back if he could come home and spend his last year's in the family mansion

Instead of in jail

Somehow I get the impression he would still rather be him than you or I...

1 minute ago, baboon said:

Somehow I get the impression he would still rather be him than you or I...

Somehow, I wouldn't swap places with him

I'm not a billionaire but I can still choose to die where I was born if I want to.... 

 

But I'm not sentimental, they can let the rats feast on me for all I care..... 

 

 

"relevant agencies", including police, were following Yingluck and Thaksin."

Thai spooks.....should be easily spotted by their haircuts!

interesting financial times article re. Thaksin from March 2016 includes:

he says the generals “worry too much” about the threat he poses. Their obsession with subduing him shouldn’t lead them to “burn the whole house to catch one rat,” he warns. Ambiguous to the last, he adds: “I’m really a rat. But they make me a tiger.”

Lunch with the FT: Thaksin Shinawatra - Michael Peel

2 hours ago, greeneking said:

interesting financial times article re. Thaksin from March 2016 includes:

he says the generals “worry too much” about the threat he poses. Their obsession with subduing him shouldn’t lead them to “burn the whole house to catch one rat,” he warns. Ambiguous to the last, he adds: “I’m really a rat. But they make me a tiger.”

Lunch with the FT: Thaksin Shinawatra - Michael Peel

I don't like him at all, but respect where it is due. The current mob are frankly too thick to match him - Christ almighty, they prosecute for "Eating a sandwich with political intent" and defaming a handbag! And these dozy gits want to retain power via an election in 2018 (19, 20, 21, 22) when their only answers in this interconnected world are rooted in the 1970s? Give me a break, for f-!

 

Great combovers though, fellas. Jet black hair too. And as for those medals you love to drape yourselves in, wow. Pin a few more on, you really don't look silly at all to the outside world as you preen, strut and pontificate. Hell, where would the Swiss watch industry be without you?

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by baboon

11 hours ago, baboon said:

I don't like him at all, but respect where it is due. The current mob are frankly too thick to match him - Christ almighty, they prosecute for "Eating a sandwich with political intent" and defaming a handbag! And these dozy gits want to retain power via an election in 2018 (19, 20, 21, 22) when their only answers in this interconnected world are rooted in the 1970s? Give me a break, for f-!

 

Great combovers though, fellas. Jet black hair too. And as for those medals you love to drape yourselves in, wow. Pin a few more on, you really don't look silly at all to the outside world as you preen, strut and pontificate. Hell, where would the Swiss watch industry be without you?

The current mob is too thick to match him..... quite possible at least in how they handle the media. But the anti Thaksin forces have surely won most of the battles. He is living in exile, his old cases are now being tried in absentia. His sister has been convicted of negligence and is on the run. Too thick or not.. Thaksin can cause trouble but i doubt we will be seeing him back in Thailand his last amnesty was what ignited the flames that brought YL down. So I think Thaksin is the one on the losing side. 

 

The junta is on its way out but the anti Thaksin forces certainly are not. Maybe its just in the best interest of the junta to make Thaksin out to be more of a threat than he is.... and catching him would give them no longer an enemy to focus on.... so are they that thick... or are they just not doing their best to really get him in jail in Thailand.

What a clown and dreamer 

16 hours ago, YetAnother said:

what does that mean? ; they are all junta stooges; it is like me going into a hardware store and saying :' i have 7 dogs'

As he wa speaking to PTP members it is quite clear that it means "Do as you are told or the money stops."

 

BTW I can only assume you are lying about the dogs.

3 minutes ago, halloween said:

As he wa speaking to PTP members it is quite clear that it means "Do as you are told or the money stops."

 

BTW I can only assume you are lying about the dogs.

After reading more in the BKK post today it seems there is a rift in the party about who should be the next party leader. Thaksin backs Suradat while others back the popular transport minister. So there are quite some internal struggles. With some luck the party tears itself to shreds and the popular Transport minister begins his own party. He seems to have a lot of support from the normal people as he actually did something for them.

My guess is they were drawing rice straws to see who is next in the gauntlet. 

1 minute ago, yougivemebaby said:

My guess is they were drawing rice straws to see who is next in the gauntlet. 

Not really.. according to the much better informed newspaper the BKK post (seriously the nation is lacking a lot of information recently). Thaksin is trying to support Suradat while many of his party want someone else, the transport minister. 

 

He is far more loved by the people, anyway Thaksin pays.. so I know who will win.

 

So its not drawing straws its fighting for that position. 

16 hours ago, worgeordie said:

It's unity in Thailand he should be asking for, but as long

as he is around,the country will be divided.

The most unified Thailand has ever been is in 2005 when 60% of the people voted for Thaksin.

Edited February 20, 20188 yr by pornprong