Pita ordered to suspend doing his duties as an MP

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, khunpa said:

They could care less…

I think you're wrong. What other ASEAN leader can they go to that isn't mired in corruption scandals, military dictatorships, one party states? He's a potential beacon in the gloom. Harvard educated. Somebody the West and it's allies, the Aussies and Kiwis, Japan, South Korea etc, can definitely talk with. And if he's smart, because they are, the Chinese too. (Forget Russia. They're complete <deleted>). He's for sure the future.

[GarryP]

36 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

If the coalition sticks together (MF + PT + the other 6 parties); and PT brings Srettha on the starting line as the new PM candidate, the Senate can no reject him on flimsy grounds or they would have MF and PT supporters on the streets.

You'll get the senators saying they can't vote for Srettha as long as MF is part of the coalition. 

[Bangkok Barry]

26 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Well first off, he didn't buy the shares, he inherited them in his father's will. The company had ceased trading in 2007 and its business registration only remained active because it is embroiled in a dispute with the government over unpaid concession fees. Sales of the shares were suspended pending resolution of the dispute. So he was more or less stuck with them.

 

The only thing he could do was transfer them to someone else, which he apparently did.

He held the shares at the time of standing for election. The fact that the company has ceased trading is irrelevant to the law and anyone looking for the slightest and pathetic basis to ban him. He gave the court that opportunity, which was down to ignorance, naivety or arrogance by both him and his advisors..

[Enoon]

17 minutes ago, connda said:

The voters did not vote Pita into office as a PM, no more than UK voters voted Rishi Sunak in as PM - just as an international comparison. 

Move Forward did get a large number of votes, but nowhere near the amount to make a Parliamentary majority. They have to form a coalition government by joining parties. And it's a parliamentary majority that puts up a candidate for PM under the current Constitutional rules.
As well, there was a clear law on the books about holding media shares prior to the election.  Pita could have divested those shares before running - but he chose not to.

"We don't like the rules so we'll riot if Pita isn't made PM."
Check out how well that worked in the US on Jan 6th 2021.  Riot and the same will happen in Thailand.

This is what happens when you chose not to play by the rules.  Don't like the rules?  Gain power and change them. 

"Don't like the rules?  Gain power and change them. "

 

That is what is going to happen.

 

Enjoy the ride.

 

 

[connda]

17 minutes ago, bradiston said:

He's a potential beacon in the gloom. Harvard educated. Somebody the West can definitely talk with.

In other words, somebody the West can manipulate to the detriment of Thailand and the Thai citizenry. 
The West has a nasty habit of working to enrich the political elite in their client states and then convincing the now well compensated leaders to take up unnecessary IMF debt and the to privatize public assets to Western stakeholders while the country's citizen's standard of living goes through the floor. 

Btw - I've no dog in this fight.  But I do understand how the world functions, like it or not.

Wifey and family are all Thai and they would like to see Pita as PM.  I can understand why, however - be careful what you wish for.  This is still a 'developing nation' with all of the pitfalls of corruption and malfeasance that tend to plague 'developing nations.' 
The one thing Thailand has going for it is public nationalism and a healthy distrust of foreigners.  That could be brought down by an Ivy League Trojan Horse who covets wealth and decides to work against the best interests of the Thai public.  Just saying in a very general sort of way.  Examples of this abound historically worldwide.

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by connda

[bradiston]

9 minutes ago, connda said:

The voters did not vote Pita into office as a PM, no more than UK voters voted Rishi Sunak in as PM - just as an international comparison. 

Move Forward did get a large number of votes, but nowhere near the amount to make a Parliamentary majority. They have to form a coalition government by joining parties. And it's a parliamentary majority that puts up a candidate for PM under the current Constitutional rules.
As well, there was a clear law on the books about holding media shares prior to the election.  Pita could have divested those shares before running - but he chose not to.

"We don't like the rules so we'll riot if Pita isn't made PM."
Check out how well that worked in the US on Jan 6th 2021.  Riot and the same will happen in Thailand.

This is what happens when you chose not to play by the rules.  Don't like the rules?  Gain power and change them. 

Ultimately, votes aren't what count. It's seats in parliament. They already have a coalition which is made up of a majority of seats, 308, out of 500 in the House of Representatives. You don't need a parliamentary majority to put up a PM candidate, just 25 MPs.

 

I guess Pita, rightly or wrongly, decided he wasn't the legal owner of the shares, or some other exempting clause. Foolish to allow there to be any doubt, I agree. The opposition are all over it.

[RichardColeman]

I honestly do not think that the people of any country care about how rich someone is and what they own - if that person is doing their job well and the people are seeing the results they want and need nobody gives a hoot about their bank account.

 

Unlike the last lot that have taken riches and ruined the future of Thai democracy.

 

Give it a month and the last PM will be announcing himself as PM again due to lack of electing a new PM

 

[VinnieK]

3 hours ago, frankie11 said:

Don't mention the c word 

You mean the 4-letter word? ????

[connda]

1 minute ago, bradiston said:

You don't need a parliamentary majority to put up a PM candidate, just 25 MPs.

I stand corrected.  Which means that any 25 MP can put their own candidate up for the top spot. 

[tadpole22]

a small mistake has cost him his MP not sure how long before a MP again

[bradiston]

6 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

He held the shares at the time of standing for election. The fact that the company has ceased trading is irrelevant to the law and anyone looking for the slightest and pathetic basis to ban him. He gave the court that opportunity, which was down to ignorance, naivety or arrogance by both him and his advisors..

I've been hoping somebody would come up with some legal arguments, but none have appeared. I'm amazed no lawyer has stepped forward. Could be they already know he is blameless and just want Ruangkrai, the EC and the CC to make bloody fools of themselves trying to prove otherwise. I wish! I guess we'll find out in a fortnight.

[GarryP]

4 minutes ago, bradiston said:

I've been hoping somebody would come up with some legal arguments, but none have appeared. I'm amazed no lawyer has stepped forward. Could be they already know he is blameless and just want Ruangkrai, the EC and the CC to make bloody fools of themselves trying to prove otherwise. I wish! I guess we'll find out in a fortnight.

A case has been filed against the EC and the court has accepted the case for further consideration. 

[Dogmatix]

Burma 1988.

[Sydebolle]

So there is the very last four years of stealing, lying, cheating and story telling ahead of us. 

2027 then will be the year (latest), when Thailand is inching its way into the 21st century and will be sending crooks, thieves, oligarchs, eliterian dinosaurs and the likes into the abyss. 

[bamnutsak]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

That could be brought down by an Ivy League Trojan Horse

Abhisit Vejjajiva was born in the U.K., holds British citizenship and graduated from Eton College, Oxford University. He was PM.

 

Quite a few of the early PMs were educated in the U.K.

 

The President of the Senate, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, is a Harvard grad.

 

Prince Mahidol is a Harvard grad.

 

 

"Trojan Horse"? Seriously? Maybe keep workshopping this conspiracy theory. It's pretty lame.

 

 

 

[bradiston]

9 minutes ago, connda said:

In other words, somebody the West can manipulate to the detriment of Thailand and the Thai citizenry. 
The West has a nasty habit of working to enrich the political elite in their client states and then convincing the now well compensated leaders to take up unnecessary IMF debt and the to privatize public assets to Western stakeholders while the country's citizen's standard of living goes through the floor. 

Btw - I've no dog in this fight.  But I do understand how the world functions, like it or not.

Wifey and family are all Thai and they would like to see Pita as PM.  I can understand why, however - be careful what you wish for.  This is still a 'developing nation' with all of the pitfalls of corruption and malfeasance that tend to plague 'developing nations.' 
The one thing Thailand has going for it is public nationalism and a healthy distrust of foreigners.  That could be brought down by an Ivy League Trojan Horse who covets wealth and decides to work against the best interests of the Thai public.  Just saying in a very general sort of way.  Examples of this abound historically worldwide.

 

I got barred for 3 days for saying what I want to say in reply, so I'm not going to repeat myself. Too bad. I thought it was quite witty at the time.

[jaideedave]

3 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Ah, if only he hadn't broken the rules by holding shares. Anyone naive enough to do that and think it would be ignored hasn't got the brain matter to be an MP, let alone PM. Sad but true.

 

Right, let's have a bet on when the tanks will roll.

Correct BB. The issue of the shares means nothing.Pre set up from the beginning. Some MP's (2) are practically billionaires in a country where the minimum wage is 300 baht/day?

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

What a shameful state of affairs. 

Yes okay etc etc. But why on earth did Pita still have these shares....? Does he expect to break the rules without issue like a Thai golfer?

[Enoon]

26 minutes ago, bradiston said:

Thanks for that. I watched it on the TV. But now you've posted a translation it makes it much clearer. He left to a standing ovation and a lot of handshakes from some surprising quarters. I think he's won a lot of respect from all parties for the way he has conducted himself throughout what must be a really trying time. I really hope they see this guy is NOT A BAD GUY! In fact he looks to me a potentially huge asset, not just at home, but abroad. And he's surrounded by some really good supportive young MPs. Can only hope it all works out for him.

“I believe that Thailand has changed since (the elections on) May 14 and the people have already won half the battle, there’s another half to go."

 

Thailand has indeed "changed".

 

 "half the battle" was the civil struggle, the struggle for "Hearts and Minds".........they won.

 

And now comes the deciding struggle.........not at all "civil".

 

 

 

[bradiston]

6 minutes ago, GarryP said:

A case has been filed against the EC and the court has accepted the case for further consideration. 

That's a challenge to the EC's conduct of the case against Pita. But what about the allegations of ownership of the ITV shares. Is there a case? Will it stand up in court? Does the litigant have to prove it? I mean, Ruangkrai in person?

 

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, DjSilver said:

Let's see some good demonstrations now on the streets of Bangkok. The largest ever. Please...

Can it please just hold off until lunchtime tomorrow when my flight departs?….then by all means knock yourselves out ! ???? 

[crazykopite]

Democracy is non existent in Thailand the voters have been cheated by an unelected committee. It’s time the rest of the world condemned Thailand for the way it’s handled the election that was held in May now we are in then middle of July and still these unelected individuals will not accept the people’s vote . A shameful day for Thailand .

[bradiston]

14 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Abhisit Vejjajiva was born in the U.K., holds British citizenship and graduated from Eton College, Oxford University. He was PM.

 

Quite a few of the early PMs were educated in the U.K.

 

The President of the Senate, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, is a Harvard grad.

 

Prince Mahidol is a Harvard grad.

 

 

"Trojan Horse"? Seriously? Maybe keep workshopping this conspiracy theory. It's pretty lame.

 

 

 

I knew about Abhisit, but I was under the impression dual nationality wasn't recognised for Thais. I met a girl once who had Thai/Oz citizenship. She was made to choose by the Thais. So I wonder how he made it to being PM.

 

I wonder how many other "statesmen" have dual nationality? Must be 100s. 1000s maybe. And he wasn't born in Thailand.

[Mentors65]

3 hours ago, Snig27 said:

 

Or you need to read some Thai history. 1947, 1958, 1973, 1992, 2010 plus a massive campaign in the North East in the 1970s and 1980s that saw thousands dead. 

I was here during the "events" in 1992 and 2014. I hoped this was the last....

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, Homburg said:

I see trouble ahead.  It may be wise for those that can to leave The Kingdom until matters are resolved.

I was here during both the yellow shirt and red shirt shutdowns. I was in Bangkok walking around. People were friendly and cool. I would not be concerned about the people. I would be concerned about the cops and the army. 

 

But all bets are off this time. The people are pissed off!.

 

Down with the heinous army.

 

Power and victory to the people!! 

Edited July 19, 2023 by spidermike007

[Stuart dunsmore]

4 hours ago, proton said:

Absolute disgrace, shameful Thailand spitting in the face of the voters.

Very sad indeed. 

[bradiston]

47 minutes ago, connda said:

I stand corrected.  Which means that any 25 MP can put their own candidate up for the top spot. 

Yes, but BJT and Prawit's mob decided not to.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40029285

 

Hope it's ok to post that link.

 

I notice reading through that article, there's nothing in it saying the same candidate can't be put forward more than once. Hopefully that sinks the section 41 complaint.

[Eleftheros]

3 hours ago, Tom H said:

42.000 shares less than 45k Baht.

Why he just did not sell before to be on safe side?

He knew about the existing law and not the „future“ law.

 

I believe the reason is that the company was inactive, and that (by definition) you cannot trade shares in an inactive company.

 

If they don't get you one way, they get you another.

 

They could simply have said, as soon as he won the election: "You will never be PM.". The subsequent 2 months or so has just seen a lot of theater and blowing smoke, activities which are known as "the Thai way", which is celebrated in the national anthem.

[bradiston]

55 minutes ago, connda said:

I stand corrected.  Which means that any 25 MP can put their own candidate up for the top spot. 

Yes, but they have to belong to the same party. Only 6 parties qualify, and 2 have withdrawn.

[bradiston]

57 minutes ago, tadpole22 said:

a small mistake has cost him his MP not sure how long before a MP again

He's still an MP, but not active. Has to wait til his case is settled. And he doesn't need to be an MP to be voted in as prime minister.