In Parliament, the newly-formed Srettha government stands to face several explosive issues, but the controversial treatment of Thaksin Shinawatra is not one of them. In fact, treacherous as it is, the former prime minister won’t be able to find a better political landscape to come back to.

 

How the government has been composed is good for him for obvious reasons, as it has brought together his loyal friends and former rivals. “Reconciliation” can always be the main excuse for leniency that appeared impossible a short while ago but seemingly blatant at the moment.

 

The opposition’s structure is deceptively bad for Thaksin. The bloc is led by the Move Forward Party which is hell-bent on avenging a Pheu Thai “betrayal”. Also in the opposition camp is the Democrat Party, his long-time enemy who must be strongly motivated and equipped with all kinds of information.

 

The two opposition parties, however, can cancel each other out. The Democrats always advocated, silently or else, what happened to Thaksin in the past because they viewed him as too corrupt and powerful to be dealt with orthodoxly. Move Forward, on the other hand, viewed action against him as totally undemocratic and hence unacceptable.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-paradox-to-haunt-many/

 

-- Thai PBS 2023-09-08

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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All i know is that there's a lot of shame for the Thai people behind this fake 'Wai'.

2 minutes ago, ezzra said:

All i know is that there's a lot of shame for the Thai people behind this fake 'Wai'.

Not really, they are shameless!

19 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Not really, they are shameless!

Yes, and the more they 'wai' and fake-smile, the more shameless and corrupt they are...

I don't know about you, but I am bored stiff with Thaksin stories. Thailand is what it is, it isn't going to change in the foreseeable future. It operates like an oligarchy, not any sort of recognisable democracy; or maybe a kakistocracy, where the least suitable people as chosen as leaders and the Thai people are apathetic.

Money trumps justice in Thailand and the rich, like Mr T and Boss get away with stuff that seems incredible to us.

But OK we've heard it 300 times since he came back. How about a single weekly update? 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

How the government has been composed is good for him for obvious reasons, as it has brought together his loyal friends and former rivals. “Reconciliation” can always be the main excuse for leniency that appeared impossible a short while ago but seemingly blatant at the moment.

They may try to wall-paper this with coalition party as and act of "Reconciliation" just wait until the cracks start to appear

16 hours ago, ezzra said:

All i know is that there's a lot of shame for the Thai people behind this fake 'Wai'.

The powers to be are all shameless...

the people have been de-sensitised to all this the feel nothing.

Actually the way my Thai friends explain it is that, they have no way to change anything. They are helpless as shown with their elections denying the most voted to be their leader. They explained to me even if they tried to protest, their own government would shoot them down and nothing would change as shown before. I think perhaps they are just tired of trying and failing to make things better. 

Protests get nowhere except landing people in jail or worse here. Nothing changes for the better as they see and want and hope for. They also commented to me about how it will never change with the filthy rich. They are above the laws or flagrantly abuse their wealth and power to stop anything really bad happening to them. 

Personally, I can sympathize with them. But as a foreigner I only sit back and watch the show haha... If these things happened in my country there would be a civil war for sure. Indictments to even the leader for allowing it to happen. Armies would not follow the orders of their superiors to harm their own citizens. The rich would have their wealth frozen in useless bank accounts and properties until they faced the crimes and did their punishments. 

But again, this is Thailand. And as a foreigner we can not stand with the just and push for justice or freedoms. So, As with us all in this country. We watch,, we laugh, and we wonder if ever something really will change for the better of the people. 

17 hours ago, retarius said:

I don't know about you, but I am bored stiff with Thaksin stories. Thailand is what it is, it isn't going to change in the foreseeable future. It operates like an oligarchy, not any sort of recognisable democracy; or maybe a kakistocracy, where the least suitable people as chosen as leaders and the Thai people are apathetic.

Money trumps justice in Thailand and the rich, like Mr T and Boss get away with stuff that seems incredible to us.

But OK we've heard it 300 times since he came back. How about a single weekly update? 

It's a bit of a stretch to lump Khun Thaksin in with the murderer Boss (cue: what about the extra judicial killings?). Here's the difference: Mr T voluntarily came back to a warm welcome from the majority of Thais. If Boss were to return he would be torn limb from limb by the Thai people. 

I take your point about being bored with wall to wall Mr T posts but I find the uninformed vitriol coming from certain posters quite entertaining. 

It has become a comedy. So well orchestrated.

 

I've always said that the difference between corruption here and in the states is that in the states it's well hidden. Here it's out in the open for everyone to see.

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

Actually the way my Thai friends explain it is that, they have no way to change anything. They are helpless as shown with their elections denying the most voted to be their leader.

Of course, there only are a mere 60 million of them! Stand up and have a go!! ????

All part of the your never getting what you voted for cycle even when the swamp has a turnout ????

3 hours ago, Red Forever said:

It's a bit of a stretch to lump Khun Thaksin in with the murderer Boss (cue: what about the extra judicial killings?). Here's the difference: Mr T voluntarily came back to a warm welcome from the majority of Thais. If Boss were to return he would be torn limb from limb by the Thai people. 

I take your point about being bored with wall to wall Mr T posts but I find the uninformed vitriol coming from certain posters quite entertaining. 

The interesting point is going to be when he tries to bring his little sister back.

 

The coalition does have an out, but not sure they will use it and that would be to call him a political prisoner and lump him in with the 112 people in jail.

 

Then go to the king with a pardon for them all.  This is one of the things that MFP went on and would cause them to have a hard time screaming about Thaksin.

9 hours ago, 2baht said:

Of course, there only are a mere 60 million of them! Stand up and have a go!! ????

... and end up like the 54 million in Burma?

On 9/8/2023 at 2:18 PM, retarius said:

I don't know about you, but I am bored stiff with Thaksin stories. Thailand is what it is, it isn't going to change in the foreseeable future. It operates like an oligarchy, not any sort of recognisable democracy; or maybe a kakistocracy, where the least suitable people as chosen as leaders and the Thai people are apathetic.

Money trumps justice in Thailand and the rich, like Mr T and Boss get away with stuff that seems incredible to us.

But OK we've heard it 300 times since he came back. How about a single weekly update? 

Most Thais stop caring. Its the angry farangs now.

No one will be haunted. In fact, everyone will do the same ignore it until they can forget about it.

10 hours ago, 2baht said:

Of course, there only are a mere 60 million of them! Stand up and have a go!! ????

Are you willing to be on the very front line with your Thai family and friends?

 

It is very easy for us expats partly hidden behind our computers, and criticise the Thais for not "having a go".

 

It is a whole lot different when there are only a few metres between you and a load of soldiers and policemen armed to the teeth, with guns loaded with live ammunition and the safety catches off.

 

Behind them are water cannons and tanks.

 

Talk is much cheaper than lives.

I think this could work out well for Move Forward. The only party to stick to what it pledges.

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

I think this could work out well for Move Forward. The only party to stick to what it pledges.

Perhaps.

Though, I've a deeper instinct that they're no better than the others. Thai politics - same bedfellows. 

Difficult to decipher the promoted delusions of what could've been or what should've been when the clubs remain beholden [of forced to be] to the same loyalties.

 

22 hours ago, billd766 said:

Are you willing to be on the very front line with your Thai family and friends?

 

It is very easy for us expats partly hidden behind our computers, and criticise the Thais for not "having a go".

 

It is a whole lot different when there are only a few metres between you and a load of soldiers and policemen armed to the teeth, with guns loaded with live ammunition and the safety catches off.

 

Behind them are water cannons and tanks.

 

Talk is much cheaper than lives.

You are absolutely right but the truth is that freedom is not free, there is a cost that has to be paid, if not today then tomorrow

 

If you are not willing or able to pay the price then you must accept that nothing will change

 

The powers that be will never, ever leave the trough of their own violation, they need to be removed and if there are no legal avenues then another way must be brought and indeed paid for, generally that involves blood and pain...