Sonthi warns crisis likely in May

[Plus]

He made his name at Frito Lay, that's where I heard about his working style from.

At Grammy he was for less than two years and didn't deliver. There were rumours of serious conflicts and that he was forced to resign.

AT TA Orange he proved that he was not up to the task. After initial euphoria he was stripped of CEO status and kicked "upstairs" to CP, in less than a year.

Politics was a welcome change after that.

[Mobi]

He made his name at Frito Lay, that's where I heard about his working style from.

At Grammy he was for less than two years and didn't deliver. There were rumours of serious conflicts and that he was forced to resign.

AT TA Orange he proved that he was not up to the task. After initial euphoria he was stripped of CEO status and kicked "upstairs" to CP, in less than a year.

Politics was a welcome change after that.

Yeah, well, I’ll take you at you word.

But it’s difficult to see how you could know so much about him without actually working there and seeing it for yourself, what with the language barrier an’ all. The world is full of rumour mongers, jealous incompetents and back biters who resent someone succeeding, especially if they are abrasive. I aught to know - I was pretty high up in the big world of finance in the City - and if believed everything I was told by subordinates and colleagues and was reported in the press, the only person left who was doing a good job was me!!

But there, we’ll leave it at that.

Back to the topic.….

[John K]

Tiny turnout at anti-junta rally

By Penchan Charoensuthipan

The banned pro-Thaksin Shinawatra broadcaster PTV drew 1,000 people and 900 police guards. It will switch its rallies in Bangkok from Fridays to Sundays and try to woo a bigger audience.

PTV executive Jakrapob Penkair said yesterday that people had asked PTV to organise its weekly rally on Sundays instead to make it more convenient for them to participate and PTV's management agreed with the suggestion.

The new schedule will start next week when PTV will introduce the webmaster of the pro-Thaksin website , according to Mr Jakrapob.

In its fourth rally at Sanam Luang yesterday, key PTV figures who are former members of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, again directed their criticisms against the Council for National Security and blamed the coup makers for what it described as an economic decline.

"During the Thaksin era, at least people felt they had more money to spend," Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the PTV executives told the rally.

PTV deputy chairman Chatuporn Promphan denied the report that an "old power clique" was financing the PTV rallies. The report was a smear campaign and resulted from the CNS' distrust of the PTV demonstrations, he added.

The rally drew about 1,000 people. The northern half of Sanam Luang was reserved for the gathering as the area was sealed off with steel barriers. Rally-goers were searched by security personnel before entering the area.

Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn Nonsee said about 900 Bangkok policemen were deployed to secure the gathering with border patrol policemen and officers from the Crime Suppression Division on standby in case of emergency.

First Army commander Lt-Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said PTV would have to prove if it could keep its promise not to cause violence at its rallies. He added that security officers were working to prevent clashes between opposing groups of people.

source Bangkok post

A personal foot note, other news sources placed the turnout around 2000. This adds to my concern that The Bangkok post is a pawn of the government just like the airport cracks.

[Mobi]

A personal foot note, other news sources placed the turnout around 2000. This adds to my concern that The Bangkok post is a pawn of the government just like the airport cracks.

That’s another subject altogether – but since we are straying….

I’m not convinced they are a pawn. Sure there was a time way back during the military dictatorships of the 70’s and 80’s where all the press was little more than government mouthpieces, but even during the Thaksin regime, some of the press was very brave in it’s criticisms and reporting. Sure Thaksin used to lean on the Post occasionally, and was always bad mouthing them when he came in for heavy criticism. And he used he used his commercial clout and Thailand’s viscous slander laws to intimidate , and sometimes made the press run for cover - as happened in the case of the cracked runways. But the sniping at Thaksin never really stopped– if it had, we would never have known what was really going on.

I think the same can be said of the current regime. There’s loads of explosive stories and highly critical comments virtually every day, but like the free press anywhere in the world, there will be times when influence may be brought on bear on a particular story, and the editor has to weigh up his general freedom to report against the ‘high up’ requests to fall in line on reporting a particular event for the ’public good’. This sort of thing even happens in freedom loving USA, let alone Thailand, and IMHO I don’t think you could call the Post a pawn of this government or its predecessor.

Edited April 28, 2007 by Mobi D'Ark

[blaze]

A personal foot note, other news sources placed the turnout around 2000. This adds to my concern that The Bangkok post is a pawn of the government just like the airport cracks.

Are you saying that the government uses a toadying press to conciously mislead the people?

[hammered]

A personal foot note, other news sources placed the turnout around 2000. This adds to my concern that The Bangkok post is a pawn of the government just like the airport cracks.

Are you saying that the government uses a toadying press to conciously mislead the people?

Interesting that the Bangkok Post was a pawn of the TRT government by towing the cracks line and are now a pawn of the Surayud government by reporting numbers lower than others. Confusing!

There will be some debate over the numbers no doubt. Some reports read 1000, others 2000 and Forbes 4000. The highest estimate of the previous rally was 5000. The highest for this 4000. However, it is not worth arguing over these numbers as the reality is that the numbers are small and this is an issue for PTV and any other group organising protests. Small numbers come across as low support, lack of interest and weakness and unless on a pure ideological or on point of principle single issue protest cannot be tolerated by organisers for long. PTV are trying to organize mass protests. They are being remarkably unsuccessful right now. If things do not change quickly they will have to change tactics. This weeks Buddhist demo has far overshadowed the PTV one. This may be because organisers used gimmicks with the elephants and also claimed they would get one or two hundred thousand people. After only achieving an estimated 3000 reporting of the organisers of the Buddhist demo may have trouble getting so much attention if they rganise another one.

At 11:00 AM today a simple google news search for Thailand lists 82 articles for the Buddhist demo and 1 for the PTV demo on the front page of the search.

[John K]

I personally don’t know the reason why the BP would miss report like that unless it has to do with money or some skeletons in the closet. I do know the Thai Government buys a lot of BP papers for the government schools. So seeming supporting opposite camps and who is in control at a given moment may lend to money being the motive and not to bite the hand that feeds you. Just one of my educated guesses mind you on that.

Hammered I agree with you that the PTV / TRT / Thaksin camp can’t seem to pull the numbers together. However never the less still a threat. If the rallies end up being wet matches then I can predict more bombs going off. By the way I forgot to check but what was going on at the moment Thaksin was playing golf?

[blaze]

... I do know the Thai Government buys a lot of BP papers for the government schools. So seeming supporting opposite camps and who is in control at a given moment may lend to money being the motive and not to bite the hand that feeds you. Just one of my educated guesses mind you on that.

Why would the government want to make the numbers look lower than they actually are- and be willing to pay the BP to report them as such?

[hammered]

... I do know the Thai Government buys a lot of BP papers for the government schools. So seeming supporting opposite camps and who is in control at a given moment may lend to money being the motive and not to bite the hand that feeds you. Just one of my educated guesses mind you on that.

Why would the government want to make the numbers look lower than they actually are- and be willing to pay the BP to report them as such?

To be honest I dont think the government could care if the BKK Post reports 1000 (lowest figure) or 4000 (highest figure) they are both very very low numbers for a protest especially by a group that sees itself as representing the majority of the people, and come nowhere close to numbers demonstrating last year which is what news agencies in their analysis (especially those abroad) compare them with. From having the Junta very worried that they would turn out the masses PTV have rapidly gone to having the Junta say dont worry about the PTV rally it is nothing. PTV will have to change tactics if this doesnt change soon because they are looking so weak.

The Bangkok Post has always had a reputation for not rocking the boat with the government of the day too.

[blaze]

... I do know the Thai Government buys a lot of BP papers for the government schools. So seeming supporting opposite camps and who is in control at a given moment may lend to money being the motive and not to bite the hand that feeds you. Just one of my educated guesses mind you on that.

Why would the government want to make the numbers look lower than they actually are- and be willing to pay the BP to report them as such?

To be honest I dont think the government could care if the BKK Post reports 1000 (lowest figure) or 4000 (highest figure) they are both very very low numbers for a protest especially by a group that sees itself as representing the majority of the people, and come nowhere close to numbers demonstrating last year which is what news agencies in their analysis (especially those abroad) compare them with. From having the Junta very worried that they would turn out the masses PTV have rapidly gone to having the Junta say dont worry about the PTV rally it is nothing. PTV will have to change tactics if this doesnt change soon because they are looking so weak.

The Bangkok Post has always had a reputation for not rocking the boat with the government of the day too.

I'm trying to understand the suggestion that the gov't is paying the BP to play down the PTV threat- That would make sense- if the gov't was in Thaksin's pocket. Is John K suggesting this to be the case? As you yourself said- confusing.

[John K]

... I do know the Thai Government buys a lot of BP papers for the government schools. So seeming supporting opposite camps and who is in control at a given moment may lend to money being the motive and not to bite the hand that feeds you. Just one of my educated guesses mind you on that.

Why would the government want to make the numbers look lower than they actually are- and be willing to pay the BP to report them as such?

It comes down to that sheep mentality I have posted about here and there. If the numbers a big it sends a suggestion that “perhaps I should get in line too, in that they may know something I don’t.”

If the numbers are small then they look like a bunch of extremists.

Here is an example that can help you relate. In the USA there is a ongoing battle on the “Right to life” issue. The right to life or otherwise known as the anti abortion group for a while had the public believing that there numbers were huge in perhaps 50% of the population. However after several surveys commissioned by members of congress the findings were the numbers were actually very small and that the group was very vocal and applied strategy to make there numbers appear bigger. That included several lobbyists to make members of congress feel that large numbers on their constituent favored anti abortion legislation. Because elected officials are there to represent the interests of the majority of the people in their district, the illusion that it was the anti abortion group that was the majority was the plan hoping to sway the vote.

As for the PTV / TRT / Thaksin rallies, I suspect that many feel they may be showing some form of disrespect to HRH particularly that the petition issue is tied to them one way or another. Together with the increasing news about their wrong doings, and other subtle suggestions that the military will be in the wings and possible bloodshed may occur, people conclude it is best to stay home. At the moment that is how it looks.

[John K]

I'm trying to understand the suggestion that the gov't is paying the BP to play down the PTV threat- That would make sense- if the gov't was in Thaksin's pocket. Is John K suggesting this to be the case? As you yourself said- confusing.

Blaze I was just floating some ideas without giving it any real depth of thought. I have not tested the ideas with logic as yet, but more of what it looks like on the surface. Not so much as paying but more along the lines of the loss of a good customer who buys a lot of papers.

Edited April 28, 2007 by John K

[dogleg]

Blaze, are you confusing the PTV with another org?

PTV was started by ex-Thai Rak Thai members, key party figures, including caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang,

[Mobi]

I'm trying to understand the suggestion that the gov't is paying the BP to play down the PTV threat- That would make sense- if the gov't was in Thaksin's pocket. Is John K suggesting this to be the case? As you yourself said- confusing.

Blaze I was just floating some ideas without giving it any real depth of thought. I have not tested the ideas with logic as yet, but more of what it looks like on the surface. Not so much as paying but more along the lines of the loss of a good customer who buys a lot of papers.

I'm not an expert, but I think you would find that the the threat of withdrawing advertising revenue is far more damaging than the loss of subscription sales. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if the Bangkok Post is supplied free of charge to government organisations - particularly schools etc. The economics of newspapers is all about circulation numbers - and the socio economic class of the readership, which in turn attracts the right kind of advertising revenues, which is what pays the bills. In the UK many newspapers are free - relying totally on advertising for their survival.

The government itself is a huge spender on press advertisng - especially during the Thaksin regime, to say nothing of his mates at CP etc, who did indeed threaten to withdraw their considerable sponsorship. It still didn't completely kow tow the press as far as I could discern - except in certain instances , like the runway cracks saga.

I'm not saying that pressure isn't sometimes successfully exerted, but it seems to be a very hit and miss affair, and journalists of integrity and courage in both the Post and Nation pull no punches in their comments, criticisms and opinions in the centre pages of both papers.

I also can't see how changing the numbers from 4000 to 1000, is going to make a whole heap of difference in the general scheme of things. If there was a massive rally - as in the days of Thaksin, and the press didn't report it , then that would be a bit worrying.

[Old Man River]

I'm not saying that pressure isn't sometimes successfully exerted, but it seems to be a very hit and miss affair, and journalists of integrity and courage in both the Post and Nation pull no punches in their comments, criticisms and opinions in the centre pages of both papers.

During the Thaksin administration, the BP was noticably (at least to me) more conservative in what they said against the Thaksin government. After all, it was reporters at The Nation that Thaksin sent AMLO to investigate, while it was the BP that fired their reporter for his article about cracks in the new airport's runway with questions (after the fact) on how such accusations could have been made. The ownerships are different, hence, reporting policies are different.

John K, reporting policies at The Nation and BP have never depended on payments by the government. Instead, it is more a matter of what is in their best overall best interests, with advertising revenues being one of the highest on this list.

[sriracha john]

... I do know the Thai Government buys a lot of BP papers for the government schools. So seeming supporting opposite camps and who is in control at a given moment may lend to money being the motive and not to bite the hand that feeds you. Just one of my educated guesses mind you on that.

Why would the government want to make the numbers look lower than they actually are- and be willing to pay the BP to report them as such?

If the numbers are small then they look like a bunch of extremists.

Their numbers are quite small, but as for Thaksinistas looking like extremists???? naw.... they look very normal

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1274248

[sriracha john]

I'm not saying that pressure isn't sometimes successfully exerted, but it seems to be a very hit and miss affair, and journalists of integrity and courage in both the Post and Nation pull no punches in their comments, criticisms and opinions in the centre pages of both papers.

Exactly... these papers aren't in the pockets of government. Their articles counteract that supposition on a daily basis with their printed vehicle and a hourly basis with their online versions. If they towed the line of the government, this entire news clipping forum would be devoid of any of the hundreds of articles written locally, if that was the case.

I also can't see how changing the numbers from 4000 to 1000, is going to make a whole heap of difference in the general scheme of things. If there was a massive rally - as in the days of Thaksin, and the press didn't report it , then that would be a bit worrying.

And who's to say that the BP figure is even incorrect in the first place? What if they got it right and the others are off? (although certainly, as hammered has pointed out, whether its 1,000 or 4,000 is actually insignificant). Was anyone from TV there in attendance? Frankly, I'm surprised our colonel hasn't reported in.

Edited April 28, 2007 by sriracha john

[blaze]

I'm trying to understand the suggestion that the gov't is paying the BP to play down the PTV threat- That would make sense- if the gov't was in Thaksin's pocket. Is John K suggesting this to be the case? As you yourself said- confusing.

Blaze I was just floating some ideas without giving it any real depth of thought. I have not tested the ideas with logic as yet, but more of what it looks like on the surface. Not so much as paying but more along the lines of the loss of a good customer who buys a lot of papers.

I appreciate the clarification. As you have probably heard, there are rumors circulating that suggest that the govt- and specically Sarayuth has struck a deal with Thaksin. Were this the case, and the Sarauth gov't little more than a mouthpiece for the previous regime, then some might believe that the gov't is seeking to intentionally minimize the threat. This, in order to give the PTV/TRT an opportunity to regroup and continue holding rallies. To me this right up there with alien abductions- but none the less- it's a big world and there are many theories.

I have yet to see consistent numbers referring to any rally- PAD, PTV, in the media (actually pretty understandable- I can't judge a crowd of more than thirty- at best) I suspect that the difference in estimates is not a plot, not a ploy- but merely sloppy estimations. And really, of very little interest.

Were the difference in estimates in the tens of thousands- that would raise eyebrows.

I do know, however, that Gen Sonthi, for what ever reasons, has made his desire to put the whole country under emergency lrule quite clear- it would serve his purpose to exaggerate the magnitude of the threat- BUT I am not saying he has done this.

[ColPyat]

And who's to say that the BP figure is even incorrect in the first place? What if they got it right and the others are off? (although certainly, as hammered has pointed out, whether its 1,000 or 4,000 is actually insignificant). Was anyone from TV there in attendance? Frankly, I'm surprised our colonel hasn't reported in.

Well, i wasn't there, i was busy otherwise.

I only give estimates of numbers when i was there, because i don't like to engage in fruitless speculations, as others here like to do.

[John K]

Perhaps the next rally they will set up opposing sets of mirrors to create an infinite reflection for the media to count.

[Abrak]

There are some pics of the rally over on www.2bangkok.com. I would say that there looks to be anywhere between about 1000 and 4000 demonstrators at the rally...

[Tony Clifton]

There are some pics of the rally over on www.2bangkok.com. I would say that there looks to be anywhere between about 1000 and 4000 demonstrators at the rally...

You could also say 100 to 400.

[Old Man River]

As you have probably heard, there are rumors circulating that suggest that the govt- and specically Sarayuth has struck a deal with Thaksin. Were this the case, and the Sarauth gov't little more than a mouthpiece for the previous regime, then some might believe that the gov't is seeking to intentionally minimize the threat. This, in order to give the PTV/TRT an opportunity to regroup and continue holding rallies. To me this right up there with alien abductions- but none the less- it's a big world and there are many theories.

I don't know if a deal has been struck, although if it were to be the case I would expect it to happen much later in the game when alternatives are less. However, you could have used a better analogy than alien abductions as deals at this level have happened in Thailand and are likely to happen again. This is not the US or UK where such deals normally, sooner or later, hit the press.

[hammered]

As you have probably heard, there are rumors circulating that suggest that the govt- and specically Sarayuth has struck a deal with Thaksin. Were this the case, and the Sarauth gov't little more than a mouthpiece for the previous regime, then some might believe that the gov't is seeking to intentionally minimize the threat. This, in order to give the PTV/TRT an opportunity to regroup and continue holding rallies. To me this right up there with alien abductions- but none the less- it's a big world and there are many theories.

I don't know if a deal has been struck, although if it were to be the case I would expect it to happen much later in the game when alternatives are less. However, you could have used a better analogy than alien abductions as deals at this level have happened in Thailand and are likely to happen again. This is not the US or UK where such deals normally, sooner or later, hit the press.

Indeed in the past deals have been worked out where people with a little blood on their hands have returned to an active role in politics after a short vacation. I am sure those who have been around long enough can work out those I refer to.

Persoanlly I doubt a deal has been yet between T and anyone although I wouldnt doubt meetings to such an end have taken place and continue to do so. This is not about the people whether they be poor or middle class it is about normalizing a situation so those that run the show or are involved in it can get back to what they do best.....

Mr. T and the family he married into are still part of this.

[John K]

Govt urged to respond to article in Washington Times

A top Democrat yesterday urged the government to swiftly respond to what he described as a coordinated attempt to discredit Thailand in the United States that is being orchestrated by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Korbsak Sabhavasu, a member of the Democrat Party's executive board, was responding to an opinion piece by Ken Adelman - a former US ambassador to the United Nations and an advisor to Edelman Public Relations - in the Washington Times on Friday.

The article blasts the Thai government over its patent dispute with US drug firms.

"We've long regarded Thailand as a fine little country," Adelman wrote in the article that accuses Thailand's military of trying to steal US intellectual property (IP). Thailand now belongs to what he calls "the axis of IP evil".

Korbsak said the tone of Adelman's article made it apparent that he was trying to discredit the government on behalf of Thaksin, although Adelman signed the article in his capacity as director of USA for Innovation, a group that lobbies for US pharmaceutical firms.

Edelman PR was hired by Thaksin earlier this year to launch a public relations campaign to help him return to the Kingdom, Korbsak noted.

The Chicago-based firm also represents Abbott Laboratories, which is involved in a patent dispute with Thailand over its life-saving Aids drug Kaletra.

Adelman's article attacks the Thai government over its capital controls as well as the drug patent row, Korbsak said.

He said the article written on behalf of USA for Innovation sounded like it was actually written by Edelman on behalf of its client.

The website for USA for Innovation advises visitors to "tell President Bush to stand up to Thailand's military".

USA for Innovation also turned to YouTube last week to "release a message to the people of Thailand". It claimed that the video-sharing site was blocked in Thailand for criticising the government.

Korbsak said he suspected Adelman, Edelman and USA for Innovation were coordinating attacks against the Thai government on behalf of Thaksin.

The Public Health Ministry is negotiating with Abbott so there is no need for other people to interfere, Korbsak added.

Adelman's article also likens the Thai government to the Burmese junta because it increased the military budget by US$1.1 billion (Bt36.12 billion), Korbsak said.

He urged the government, the Foreign Ministry and the Council for National Security to swiftly respond to this attempt to discredit Thailand.

Adelman is the high-profile neoconservative pundit who famously forecast that the invasion of Iraq would be a "cakewalk" and derided the war's critics. He was accused of hypocrisy when he subsequently switched sides and blamed Bush for the debacle.

The Nation

[Plus]

Adelman, Edelman...

Jewish conspiracy.

[sriracha john]

Govt urged to respond to article in Washington Times

A top Democrat yesterday urged the government to swiftly respond to what he described as a coordinated attempt to discredit Thailand in the United States that is being orchestrated by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Article placed in historical perspective along with related reports here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1276918

[Johpa]

Adelman, Edelman...

Jewish conspiracy.

If they come to Thailand, well they should be warned that are many wells in Thailand too.

[Jai Dee]

ABAC poll says most people oppose protests against Govt.

The ABAC Poll Research Center of the Assumption University conducted a poll on people's opinions about current political issues. Most respondents said they wanted the interim government to complete its term and disagree with protests against the Surayud administration.

The poll also indicates that more than 45 percent of the sample expose themselves to political news every day.The majority of this group of people want the government to resolve the country’s crisis accurately, has more resoluteness, work faster, and aim at concrete achievements.

Director of the ABAC Poll Research Center, Nophadol Kannika (นพดล กรรณิกา) expresses his confidence that the country’s crisis can be resolved and it would not escalate in May as most people predicted. The director suggests that influential figures of the government should focus on improving people’s standard of living of and informing them of its performance. He also stresses that the growth of the nation depends on strong communities which can rely on themselves.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 April 2007

[Jai Dee]

PM to answer queries to press members this afternoon

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is preparing to answer queries to press members during the 6th “PM meets press” this afternoon.

Press members are waiting to interview Prime Minister Surayud in “PM meets press: at 14.30 hours today (April 30th) at Santi Maitri Building.

Press members’ question will include new tasks assigned to three new ministers and movements of the deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawatra.

The queries will also concern on the ex-PM’s hiring lobbyist to support him.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 April 2007