Thai court dissolves opposition party critical of military rule

[anicon]

21 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

In France we say : " Les promesses n'engagent que ceux qui y croient "

" Promises are only binding on those who believe in them "

 

Look at what is happening in all the single-regime countries that are often military juntas; the opposition parties are still very few and their leaders chase, imprison, torture; intimidation and crime are the rule.
Thailand which has never been a democracy even if some political parties might let it believe is no exception to this rule.
I would also like the members of this forum who are American to introspect vis-à-vis the foreign policy of their country.
The brothel , casino is a better word , existing in all these non-democratic countries (Africa, SE Asia and Central and South America, which are generally held by an iron fist in an iron glove, has always been created by the devil: the CIA and its associates.
If the Thai generals are almost all billionaires and if the Thai army has always been the real master of Thai politics it is thanks to the billions of the USA and mainly of the CIA, the NSA and other units of which I do not know not even the name ..
Things are changing because it is China politically opposite the USA which is taking the upper hand in SE Asia;
it has already almost colonized Cambodia and Laos;
Thailand will follow, inexorably.
When Xi, who is the real master of the world, decides that it is time for Thailand to become a new Chinese province, no Thai military or Steven100 can prevent it.
what Thanatorn cannot do, Xi will do, although he is far from being his friend.

In the meantime, whatever the friends of the junta who attend this forum think, the weeks and months that come are likely to be tumultuous.

...are you serious, China ruling Thailand, apparently you haven't been watching how China is treating it's minority citizens, especially the religious ones.. If China would ever rule Thailand there would be no Buddhism or King left to worship, how do you think that would appeal to the Thai population.. China has enough to worry about with the unrest in HK and dealing with Taiwan before they would consider any political or military intervention in SEasia, they've had their problems just dealing with Vietnam over the years.  With trade negotiations not improving, political unrest in Hong Kong, the coronavirus debacle and other socio economic factors Xi may not be the head of the Chinese Govt. much longer after all.

[Ducking and]

It seems to me that the issue in this case is very simple. All the hot  flannel about it, anarchistic in nature, should be ignored. The only question is: was there ever any expectation that this "loan" could be repaid? If not, it was in fact income, a gift, and therefore illegal, contrary to the law that gifts must not exceed the limit of ฿10 million.  ...  IMHO there was no way this loan could ever be repaid other than by a considerable number of people making donations in excess of the limit, which would have the same result.   Far better for the remaining MPs forging ahead with a new party, but more cautiously and having a close regard to the law.  Young men learn. I believe this brilliant young man will. He may be the "Dominic Cummings" of the new Party. And in due time ...  you never know.

 

 

 

 

 

[metisdead]

Some off topic rant posts have been removed. 

 

Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed:

 

 

[Humpy]

'Communism '.. springs to mind ! 

[Prairieboy]

On 2/22/2020 at 7:08 AM, ChipButty said:

Can they appeal against the verdict?

Appeal to whom??

[Assurancetourix]

18 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Democracy in Thailand is dead!

There has never been democracy in Thailand except perhaps in the first months after the 1932 coup.

[Assurancetourix]

15 hours ago, DrTuner said:

I'm sure the Norwegians would've liked to own a tropical colony, a missed opportunity.

They had some a long time ago when the Vikings invaded the English islands and descended to France taking a large part of Normandy;
they also discovered Greenland and even North America;
historically speaking they did not make colonies of them but they were at home very far from their country of origin.

 

Thai history books tell us that Thailand was never colonized; this is obviously completely false;
when the French Navy blocked Bangkok, the Thais hastened to raise the white flag and sign an agreement with France;
on the other hand when the Burmese made the siege of Ayuttaya from 1765 to 1767, the Thai had beautiful raise the white flag, the Burmese were sufficiently furious to have been blocked 2 years, they shaved and burned the city and embarked with them over 600,000 prisoners who have become slaves in Burma

[johnarth]

open and shut case before it started, the judge could not have gone any other way,or he would have been in big trouble himself

[Stargeezr]

Sometimes people get the government that they deserve, not in this case, the present

government got in because of a lot of lost ballots from across the country, ballots that

were not found. They had help from the very rich, the very powerful, the elite, also from

making rules up. This supposed honest government is far from that as well. I do hope they get

voted out so badly in the next election, that their support base cannot help them at all.

 I sadly believe that I will not live long enough to see this happen.

Geezer

Edited February 23, 2020 by Stargrazer9889
error

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, Ducking and said:

It seems to me that the issue in this case is very simple. All the hot  flannel about it, anarchistic in nature, should be ignored. The only question is: was there ever any expectation that this "loan" could be repaid? If not, it was in fact income, a gift, and therefore illegal, contrary to the law that gifts must not exceed the limit of ฿10 million.  ...  IMHO there was no way this loan could ever be repaid other than by a considerable number of people making donations in excess of the limit, which would have the same result.   Far better for the remaining MPs forging ahead with a new party, but more cautiously and having a close regard to the law.  Young men learn. I believe this brilliant young man will. He may be the "Dominic Cummings" of the new Party. And in due time ...  you never know.

 

 

 

 

 

"... was there ever any expectation that this "loan" could be repaid? If not, it was in fact income, a gift, and therefore illegal, ..."

 

Your making a wild speculation about repayment of the loan and a speculation based on nothing.

 

That's just as bad as the 'legal reasons' why the court made their decision.

 

 

[garyk]

Not sure what’s worse in Thailand. The politics or the pollution. They both smell to high heaven.

[Miami007]

It's all the fault of the internet.. filling the minds of young and impressionable Thais with this nonsense about democracy, freedom and free elections 

And talking to farangs also carries risk of getting politically corrupted.  Better speak to Chinese who can vouch for the benefits of one party rule and dictatorship..

 

[mlmcleod]

Does anyone see the parallel with Japan in the late 30's?  When the army rules there is no democracy. 

[billd766]

15 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

FF told the Army to get out of politics and voted against a Royal Decree.

 

The mould is broken, everybody knows it.

 

The ball is rolling, there's no stopping it.

 

 

 

https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/47/messages/84.html

 

'This is the show that made the "gong" famous as well as "the wheel of fortune" and the phrase: "round' and 'round she goes, and where she stops, nobody knows."'

 

Thais like gong noises and I think that should be "The wheel of Misfortune" here in Thailand.

[tomauasia]

On 2/22/2020 at 7:53 AM, steven100 said:

Thank you, justice has prevailed again. Kinda reminds me of the Australian guy, Clive Palmers united party, nothing but trouble and a waste of millions of dollars.

 

Thus man can't go overseas his at risk

[Roadman]

On 2/22/2020 at 4:33 PM, seajae said:

looks like the pm is doing a hun sen, removing anyone/party that can challenge him, we may be in for a dictatorship for years to come looking at what the govt is doing, have to wonder how big the cake box sent to the court was, this does not bode well for Thailand

 

Correct. But long term governance was always the agenda whether one likes it or not and is nowhere as bad as Cambodia. One would think that those in or entering Thai politics would have the common sense to have their t’s crossed and their i’s dotted knowing the courts will readily nail them to retain the status quo as from above. Thanathorn’s stupidity in both the shares and loans issues warrants the exclusion he now faces. Hopefully the remaining members of the Future Forward Party can move forward with growing support on an agenda much removed from that of Pheu Thai and set on true democratic principles and not the Shinawatra hogwash we have had dished up. Ten years for Thanathorn is not a long time when one considers the hands being dealt at the deck stacking were for Prayut to be there for a long haul. Governance is winnable by a true party of and for the people which Thailand has yet to see. But not if they are going to make childish errors that those above can keep manipulating the deck. 

[Jack P]

If you play their game, you will follow their rules.

[Arthur Mullard]

9 hours ago, anicon said:

...are you serious, China ruling Thailand, apparently you haven't been watching how China is treating it's minority citizens, especially the religious ones.. If China would ever rule Thailand there would be no Buddhism or King left to worship, how do you think that would appeal to the Thai population.. China has enough to worry about with the unrest in HK and dealing with Taiwan before they would consider any political or military intervention in SEasia, they've had their problems just dealing with Vietnam over the years.  With trade negotiations not improving, political unrest in Hong Kong, the coronavirus debacle and other socio economic factors Xi may not be the head of the Chinese Govt. much longer after all.

Religious worship is certainly not forbidden in China. But the state seems to act not unlike France in that all must first abide by secular law. There seems to be conflicting reports of the treatment of Muslims in the far west. Journalists from the BBC were allowed to film schools for "rehabilitation" openly, and it seemed like fairly mild indoctrination in an orderly environment aimed at combatting marginalisation. Well.... we all know what that can lead to. Look at the problems in the UK? Look at the thousands on the watch list for extremism, unable to relate to the British state, due to their own indoctrination and marginalisation. I'm not sure if the hijab is banned in China, but in France as we know, the covering of the face is. If you look at China in line with other secular states, it seems to be tackling common issues, albeit differently and perhaps, knowing China, very uncompromisingly. Whether they are banning worship in that province, or not, I don't know but doubt it. The Nepal question I cannot comment on. On a separate note, Thailand would certainly benefit from a government who thinks about the poor. And is going a lot further than thinking.

[spidermike007]

16 hours ago, rumak said:

I guess the saying is "i admire your optimism".   have to admit that Rumak is more in the " you really believe that ???"  camp .   The common man had next to no control before,  now with technology they know your every move .   My opinions are held closer and closer to my chest,

so much so that I think they only exit when I need to fart.  

 

Your post above can be very easily related to the "nation"  where I escaped from as well.

The rich and powerful only increase their positions.   We are allowed a bit of keyboard antics,

and I'm sure we are the butt of their jokes,  if they even think of us at all.

I believe you nailed it. I do not think the administration ever considers the ex-pat community for even a nanosecond. If they do consider us at all, it is to figure out how to make our lives harder, how to make the visa process more cumbersome, and how to get rid of us entirely, so we do not "influence" the Thai women we are involved with. We can be a very "bad influence", after all. Knowledge of history, democratic institutions, functional law and order, science, and geopolitics is to be avoided, at all costs. 

[sjaak327]

I never thought they would be this stupid. This most certainly takes away any legitimacy they might think they had. Utter stupid move, one that will backfire. Haven't they learned anything from the past ? I truely believe the powers are absolutely stupid beyond comprehension. Prayuth and co are nothing but idiots. 

[sjaak327]

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

"... was there ever any expectation that this "loan" could be repaid? If not, it was in fact income, a gift, and therefore illegal, ..."

 

Your making a wild speculation about repayment of the loan and a speculation based on nothing.

 

That's just as bad as the 'legal reasons' why the court made their decision.

 

 

It boggles the mind how a gift regardless of wether it can be repaid would be illegal. I am dead sure the financial situation on the other side is probably plain illegal as well, but it will never be investigated or even be followed trough, simply because the guy barking the orders excludes himself and his minions from any oversight whatsoever. Democracy my ass. 

[scorecard]

17 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

I never thought they would be this stupid. This most certainly takes away any legitimacy they might think they had. Utter stupid move, one that will backfire. Haven't they learned anything from the past ? I truely believe the powers are absolutely stupid beyond comprehension. Prayuth and co are nothing but idiots. 

I agree that eventually (hopefully soon) the pm's coalition will collapse in a mess and destroy his immoral and inappropriate methods and powers.

[sjaak327]

8 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I agree that eventually (hopefully soon) the pm's coalition will collapse in a mess and destroy his immoral and inappropriate methods and powers.

It will have to be done by outside elements, no way anyone inside that coalition will suddenly see the light. The fact that Anutin is still there speaks volumes. That idiot would have been sacked in any normal country after his irrational outburst a few weeks ago. 

 

Edit to add:

 

This move will not strenghten the coalition, it will only weaken it. Apparently the seats of MP's that weren't "banned" can still be taken by those people, and for the 16 that were banned, I presume by-election are needed, no way any of those seats will go to the coalition, unless they cheat on a massive scale once again...

 

This move is done by people who do not think straight. That much is certain. Utter stupidity. 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by sjaak327

[greg71]

Seems to be some rather hard hitting accusations coming out about Prayut and the 1mdb corruption scandal .

 

[choff56]

4 hours ago, Roadman said:

deck stacking

Hu

[Mung]

What an absolute joke of a system, the Thai people should be overcome with anger 

[mark131v]

On 2/21/2020 at 11:53 PM, steven100 said:

Thank you, justice has prevailed again. Kinda reminds me of the Australian guy, Clive Palmers united party, nothing but trouble and a waste of millions of dollars.

 

Course it prevailed you blinkered numpty he had the verdict written weeks ago!

 

Still not entirely sure if your a troll or just a wee bit dim....

[FarFlungFalang]

13 hours ago, scorecard said:

I agree that eventually (hopefully soon) the pm's coalition will collapse in a mess and destroy his immoral and inappropriate methods and powers.

If the pm collapsed it would be because his strings were cut to install a new frontman.

[Derek B]

On 2/22/2020 at 6:37 AM, cornishcarlos said:

 

Mine too and sadly, like a great deal of Thais, isn't really bothered by any of these developments !!!

None of my Gigs seem to care either.................

[JAG]

15 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I believe you nailed it. I do not think the administration ever considers the ex-pat community for even a nanosecond. If they do consider us at all, it is to figure out how to make our lives harder, how to make the visa process more cumbersome, and how to get rid of us entirely, so we do not "influence" the Thai women we are involved with. We can be a very "bad influence", after all. Knowledge of history, democratic institutions, functional law and order, science, and geopolitics is to be avoided, at all costs. 

Oh I don't think that they take the slightest bit of notice of us, unless we are (and I most certainly not) wealthy to be of business interest, and therefore a source of investment or profit. The "making our lives harder" is collateral damage, if you like, from the beaurocratic stasis of the establishment. Visit any place where the Thais interact with their government agencies and see what they have to put up with.