Has Thaksin finally found a way of returning to Thailand ‘through the front door’?

[robblok]

1 minute ago, pagallim said:

Yes, and virtually all relating to his ownership and disposal of AIS.   The whole point with Thaksin, is that whilst he obviously made sure that his own interests were being served, he was also passionate about bettering the lives of ordineary Thai, be that through health provision to education.   His desire to change the patriarchal nature of Thai society brought about his downfall as was independently wealthy and not reliant on favours from anybody.   Of course, the old card of anti institution was played to the masses.

So yes he was corrupt (cake box incent anyone). Now I remember the Thaksin days and the guy lied as much as the current PM. So i rather have someone else. Not him. The future forward guy they should make him eligible. 

[keith101]

36 minutes ago, steve187 said:

what was he convicted of and by whom

 

Legal charges[edit]

Thaksin's diplomatic passport was revoked on 31 December 2006 after the junta accused him of engaging in political activities while in exile. Thai embassies were ordered not to aid him in his travels.

A junta-appointed Assets Examination Committee (AEC) froze Thaksin's assets and attempted to bring charges against him. The AEC was criticised for being stacked with anti-Thaksin appointees. At one point, AEC Secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi claimed that "evidence and witnesses are useless", when an AEC panel recommended legal action without hearing 300 witnesses or considering 100 additional pieces of evidence.^[165] The AEC froze Thaksin's assets.

In January 2007, the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) complied with an AEC request to file a charge against Thaksin and his wife for their purchase of four 772 million baht plots of land from the FIDF in 2003. The charge was based on an alleged violation of Article 100 of the National Counter Corruption Act, which prohibits government officials and their spouses from entering into or having interests in contracts made with state agencies under their authority.

The AEC also accused Thaksin of issuing an unlawful cabinet resolution approving the spending of state funds to buy rubber saplings.

In March 2007, the Office of the Attorney-General charged Thaksin's wife and brother-in-law with conspiring to evade taxes of 546 million baht (US$15.6 million) in a 1997 transfer of Shin Corporation shares.

The AEC found Thaksin guilty of malfeasance for obstructing competition by imposing an excise tax on telecom operators. Thaksin's Cabinet had approved the relevant executive decree in 2003.

[Mr Meeseeks]

10 minutes ago, robblok said:

But there are many more cases waiting to be tried. 

Almost alll brought exclusively by a military junta. 

 

Did you see the Administrative Court verdict that overturned Yingluck's sentence for the rice pledging scheme a couple of weeks ago? 

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Almost alll brought exclusively by a military junta. 

 

Did you see the Administrative Court verdict that overturned Yingluck's sentence for the rice pledging scheme a couple of weeks ago? 

I did do you remember how her two minions are still in jail for fake G2G deals while she chaired it. You must be smart enough to realize that either she was stupid or incompetent or was in on it. 

 

Just to add old fatty was cleared too.. and I don't for a moment believe the story about the watches.

 

Just shows you that there is a difference between being guilty and convicted.

Edited July 29, 2021 by robblok

[spidermike007]

As corrupt as he was, nothing he ever did remotely compares to the gross neglect, malfeasance, sabotage and destruction of the current wrecking crew and Prayuth. Thaksin is a saint by comparison. 

 

And, all these years later, millions love him, because he actually enacted legislation that helped millions, as opposed to Prayuth destroying millions of families and bringing dire unhappiness and shame to the nation. 

 

On the other hand, Prayuth only has 2200 supporters left. And they are all generals. Hah! 

[RubbaJohnny]

If a convicted prison time served heroin dealer is elegible for high office bar is set pretty low, forget front door, rear entry with a large envelope is his only hope, perhaps when new faces current.

I don't forecast anyone who will imprison the treasonous traitors who overthrew a democratically  elected government to be allowed anywhere near power soon.

[ChipButty]

28 minutes ago, robblok said:

The future forward guy they should make him eligible. 

Even that family comes with some history

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Even that family comes with some history

Yea but in the land of the blind one eye is king.

[internationalism]

"over my dead body" some rulers in some countries were saying.

Their death was usually prolonged by lengthy hospitalisation and even hiding their ill health and death from public.

 

For thaksin it's just a figure of speech. Probably he will die or not be able to travel before the present thai ruler kicks the bucket.

For younger generation, like his children, there is a chance of coming back and having some glory from his father. But

in political world it doesn't mean much, important are their ideas and actions

[ThailandRyan]

57 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

What about Lizzie Borden?

30 whacks with an axe is definitely outdoing even some of the Thai murderers who go on a stabbing spree to make a point.  Is "Tony" really going to come back, well only if he can be given amnesty the same almost like the amnesty and immunity that this Junta gave themselves, and of which when proposed by Yingluck led to the downfall of her Government.  Two opposites and neither make it right, but what is good for the goose is good for the gander lets not forget what this Junta gave themselves as far as being able to be absolved from all malfeasance and such.  Defend that @OneMoreFarang

Edited July 29, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[heiri007]

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

The only way he should be allowed back is if he goes to jail first .

Why, because of some land and rice deals paling in comparison to what the junta does with the country? Make no mistake, this is still a military regime. One can only dream of the freedoms of expression enjoyed under Thaksin compared to now. Society was vocal and developing. Today everything's killed, imprisoned, ridiculed that's against the chosen few. There is not much left of the Thailand I once respected, enjoyed and loved.

Edited July 29, 2021 by heiri007

[walt1]

Good bad or indifferent our opinions don't really don't matter unless you happen to be Thai. All I know is that most of the people were happier and better off then.

[Denim]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Are there no competent and honest people in Thailand?

Is that a rhetorical question ?

 

 

[Golden Triangle]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Some people pretend it must be Prayut or Thaksin. No! Those are just two of many options.

It's a bit early for me so help me out here, name the many other options please.

[jvs]

37 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

As corrupt as he was, nothing he ever did remotely compares to the gross neglect, malfeasance, sabotage and destruction of the current wrecking crew and Prayuth. Thaksin is a saint by comparison. 

I am not sure i can agree,this happened under his watch.

Widow Sitirokayah Salaeh visits the cemetery in Tak Bai where her late husband Mahamad Lohbako is buried together with other anti-government demonstrators who died during the 2004 Tak Bai incident, in Narathiwat, Thailand, on Oct 24, 2019.PHOTO: AFP

Edited July 29, 2021 by jvs

[sanuk711]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Why, he did a far better job than the present clowns

Yup....Himmler would have done a much better job then Hitler,

That's the problem with arguing against Thaksin---ergo, you must be all for the Junta.

So Thailand only has those 2 options

 

The Thai people definitely deserve better then what they have---- but you don't have to replace it one of the most corrupt politicians they have had.  From a bankrupt  Chiang Mai Policeman---to the Forbes "One of the riches men lists" 

 

Wow ...and people asking.....Do you think he might have been corrupt.........LOL

 

Wikipedia

Thaksin and his wife began several businesses while he was still in the police, including a silk shop, a cinema, and an apartment building. All were failures and left him over 50 million baht in debt. In 1982, he established ICSI. Using his police contacts, he leased computers to government agencies with modest success. However, later ventures in security systems (SOS) and public bus radio services (Bus Sound) all failed.^[23][24

[OneMoreFarang]

28 minutes ago, heiri007 said:

Why, because of some land and rice deals paling in comparison to what the junta does with the country? Make no mistake, this is still a military regime. One can only dream of the freedoms of expression enjoyed under Thaksin compared to now. Society was vocal and developing. Today everything's killed, imprisoned, ridiculed that's against the chosen few. There is not much left of the Thailand I once respected, enjoyed and loved.

Thaksin let his red shirts and MiB do the dirty work... 

[OneMoreFarang]

24 minutes ago, pegman said:

You may recognize kangaroo courts as legit but I I for one don't.

How about looking at the facts? Many of the facts are public knowledge.

Remember: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. 

[OneMoreFarang]

15 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

It's a bit early for me so help me out here, name the many other options please.

If I have to explain it to you...

[Phoenix Rising]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Hoe does not understand it but on the other hand most people in government in Thailand think they are above the law. 

Sadly they are in most cases, especially if they're part of the old elite. Thaksin's upstarts with little old money/royalist/army connections can sometimes get taken down but no one from the old elite has ever been taken down other than a few minor scapegoats.

Edited July 29, 2021 by Phoenix Rising

[DirtyHarry55]

28 minutes ago, jvs said:

I am not sure i can agree,this happened under his watch.

Widow Sitirokayah Salaeh visits the cemetery in Tak Bai where her late husband Mahamad Lohbako is buried together with other anti-government demonstrators who died during the 2004 Tak Bai incident, in Narathiwat, Thailand, on Oct 24, 2019.PHOTO: AFP

Lets not forget the military was also involved and as we know they are untouchable so it's not really fair to try and pin this solely on Thaksin he did in fact open an investigation.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/25/thailand-no-justice-10-years-after-tak-bai-killings
 

Quote

On December 17, 2004, a fact-finding committee appointed by the then-government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra concluded that the methods used in dispersing the protesters— including firing live ammunition and deploying army conscripts and rangers inexperienced in dispersing protesters—were inappropriate and not in conformity with established international guidelines and practices. The committee also found that commanding officers failed to supervise the transportation of protesters in custody, leaving the task to be performed by inexperienced, low-ranking personnel. The inquiry identified three senior army officers as having failed to properly monitor and supervise the military’s operations, leading to the deaths and injuries of protesters.  

 

Edited July 29, 2021 by DirtyHarry55

[Phoenix Rising]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

But was corruption. I mean the cakebox is bribery. Come on just be honest with yourself the guy was as dirty as they come.  Not saying the current mob is not. But to act like he was clean and charges fabricated (politically motivated) is false.

He certainly wasn't Mr. Clean and some of the members of his and YL's cabinets were some of the most unsavory characters ever to disgrace a Thai government but to know exactly what Thaksin was guilty of based on the junta's court cases against him is IMO impossible since we all know that the judicial system in Thailand is ......."different".

[robblok]

22 minutes ago, jvs said:

I am not sure i can agree,this happened under his watch.

Widow Sitirokayah Salaeh visits the cemetery in Tak Bai where her late husband Mahamad Lohbako is buried together with other anti-government demonstrators who died during the 2004 Tak Bai incident, in Narathiwat, Thailand, on Oct 24, 2019.PHOTO: AFP

Dont forget the war on drugs with so many innocent victims was also done under his watch. Sure not him alone but he is responsible too. People seem to look at things so one sided.

 

Choosing between Thaksin and the Junta is like choosing to be hanged or shot. 

 

Future forward guy would be nice his crimes were really just made up unlike those of Thaksin.

[Phoenix Rising]

23 minutes ago, jvs said:

I am not sure i can agree,this happened under his watch.

Widow Sitirokayah Salaeh visits the cemetery in Tak Bai where her late husband Mahamad Lohbako is buried together with other anti-government demonstrators who died during the 2004 Tak Bai incident, in Narathiwat, Thailand, on Oct 24, 2019.PHOTO: AFP

You're assuming Thaksin was ever able to tell the army what to do and IMO your assumption is wrong.

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

He certainly wasn't Mr. Clean and some of the members of his and YL's cabinets were some of the most unsavory characters ever to disgrace a Thai government but to know exactly what Thaksin was guilty of based on the junta's court cases against him is IMO impossible since we all know that the judicial system in Thailand is ......."different".

Yes but its always been like this on YL her side she had a murderer as a MP and on the junta side they had the heroin smuggler. What did both sides do attack the criminal on the other side while protecting their own criminal. 

 

I mean do you really want to choose between that. Kinda like choosing to be ruled by Putin or Xi  jingpin

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

You're assuming Thaksin was ever able to tell the army what to do and IMO your assumption is wrong.

I disagree but then lets agree to disagree. I am not saying he had the army under control but he also did not try very hard to do anything about it. Anyway you seem to feel in general like me that both sides are utterly corrupt and have really bad people in their camp. So why choose either.

[hotandsticky]

3 minutes ago, robblok said:

Dont forget the war on drugs with so many innocent victims was also done under his watch. Sure not him alone but he is responsible too. People seem to look at things so one sided.

 

Choosing between Thaksin and the Junta is like choosing to be hanged or shot. 

 

Future forward guy would be nice his crimes were really just made up unlike those of Thaksin.

 

 

There you have it in a nutshell.

 

I am no fan of either but I see a lot more being achieved under the junta - ie roads etc

 

In Thaksin vs the Junta it is a case of the better of two evils.......... not sure which way that would drop. One thing is for certain whatever happens will ONLY happen if those with the utmost power/money want it to happen.

[Mr Meeseeks]

35 minutes ago, jvs said:

I am not sure i can agree,this happened under his watch.

Widow Sitirokayah Salaeh visits the cemetery in Tak Bai where her late husband Mahamad Lohbako is buried together with other anti-government demonstrators who died during the 2004 Tak Bai incident, in Narathiwat, Thailand, on Oct 24, 2019.PHOTO: AFP

Perpetrated by the Thai Army. 

Edited July 29, 2021 by Mr Meeseeks

[Mr Meeseeks]

21 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Thaksin let his red shirts and MiB do the dirty work... 

Only after the Yellow Shirts showed that was the way. 

 

The Yellows set the precedent, and cost the country billions in the process. 

 

It's like a kid that bullies another for years then comes back crying after he's bested in a fight. 

[Phoenix Rising]

2 minutes ago, robblok said:

Dont forget the war on drugs with so many innocent victims was also done under his watch. Sure not him alone but he is responsible too. People seem to look at things so one sided.

 

Choosing between Thaksin and the Junta is like choosing to be hanged or shot. 

 

Future forward guy would be nice his crimes were really just made up unlike those of Thaksin.

Discussing the war on drugs properly is impossible since it involves unmentionable subjects so we cannot really go there. Choosing between Thaksin and the Junta is choosing between one that was elected and someone who cancelled democracy (however imperfect). For me the choice is a no-brainer despite all the faults and apparent corruption of the Thaksin administrations.

Agree about Thanatorn and Future Forward Party. Unfortunately both the old and new(ish) elites see them as a threat (and rightly so) and every coup just undermines any chance of Thailand developing a government interested in anything except protecting their place at the trough.