Protests Threaten Return of Yingluck Shinawatra to Thailand

[jayboy]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Lots of people gave flowers to the soldiers because they liked that the military intervened. I was there, and I remember. It was happy party time on the streets - at least in Bangkok.

 

 

Lots of middle class Thais - often Sino Thai - in Bangkok thought that way.Most sensible ones subsequently regretted the way Thaksin was ejected recognizing that it would have been better for him to have defeated constitutionally.Why? Because Thailand lost a decade and remains stuck in the middle income trap.

 

However the Thai supporters of the coup were deceived.It was not because of Thaksin's corruption (which was real) but because he threatened the interests of the elite.Paul Hewison has written eloquently and convincingly about the Network Monarchy.But please feel free to linger in your memories of happy party time.

[MikeandDow]

11 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

Lots of middle class Thais - often Sino Thai - in Bangkok thought that way.Most sensible ones subsequently regretted the way Thaksin was ejected recognizing that it would have been better for him to have defeated constitutionally.Why? Because Thailand lost a decade and remains stuck in the middle income trap.

 

However the Thai supporters of the coup were deceived.It was not because of Thaksin's corruption (which was real) but because he threatened the interests of the elite.Paul Hewison has written eloquently and convincingly about the Network Monarchy. has written eloquently and convincingly about the Network Monarchy.But please feel free to linger in your memories of happy party time.

do you have the link to Paul Hewison about the Network Monarchy.find it interesting

[OneMoreFarang]

14 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

Lots of middle class Thais - often Sino Thai - in Bangkok thought that way.Most sensible ones subsequently regretted the way Thaksin was ejected recognizing that it would have been better for him to have defeated constitutionally.Why? Because Thailand lost a decade and remains stuck in the middle income trap.

 

However the Thai supporters of the coup were deceived.It was not because of Thaksin's corruption (which was real) but because he threatened the interests of the elite.Paul Hewison has written eloquently and convincingly about the Network Monarchy.But please feel free to linger in your memories of happy party time.

Feel free to believe your favorite version why things happened.

IMHO there are often many reasons, and they are intervened. There is no easy "it happened because of this reason".

[jayboy]

7 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

do you have the link to Paul Hewison about the Network Monarchy.find it interesting

 

Sorry.I should have said Kevin Hewison who is interesting on the subject.Furthermore it is really the academic Duncan McCargo who is probably the real authority on network monarchy.No link to offer - but easy enough to research online.

[MikeandDow]

Just now, jayboy said:

 

Sorry.I should have said Kevin Hewison who is interesting on the subject.Furthermore it is really the academic Duncan McCargo who is probably the real authority on network monarchy.No link to offer - but easy enough to research online.

thanks

 

[jayboy]

7 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Feel free to believe your favorite version why things happened.

IMHO there are often many reasons, and they are intervened. There is no easy "it happened because of this reason".

 

Of course there are many reasons and the matter is complicated.I identified a major issue because this is not an academic forum and not given to complexity and nuance.

[Luuk Chaai]

16 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

And some posters think Thaskin is popular with the majority of thais !!!

 

Starting with my wife,,  and most of the locals here in the village  spit on the ground at any mention of the  Shins

can't say that I blame them

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

At a rally in Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, PRN leader Pichit Chaimongkol declared 2025 as the "Year of Reckoning" for what he termed "the Thaksin regime". He urged supporters to prepare for action if the former leader attempts a homecoming.

Thaksin got himself back into Thailand and was treated with respect by officials.. no doubt well paid.

Now blatantly meddling in politics with his daughter at the helm.

Thaksin wants sister Yingluk back and he will do the same, pay officials to do his bidding, rallies will achieve nothing..

They will be ignored if not stamped out, as for the populous they are unconcerned.

They view it as they cannot touch the Shin clan.

[NemoH]

Hahahaha…not much of a choice … between Thaksin’s greed, nepotism and corruption vs WEF appointed Pita …  I will go with Thaksin… at least he is predictably greedy and self-loving 🤣🤣🤣

[Cat Boy]

Paid yellow shirt agitators with a lot of free time and nothing else positive to do 

[TheFishman1]

She hasn’t been outside the country like 12 or 15 years I think she needs to stay out of the country that period of time and then come back like your brother did flying in a new jet within an hour say you’re sick go to the hospital for a few months and then you’re out free TIT

[chuang]

PRN should proclaim themselves as the Government...

[jippytum]

19 hours ago, Highball said:

Was this really a thing? I was always under the impression she was set up. Others went to jail.

 

 

You must be joking... Thr rice pledging scheme cost the country billions. The rice is still rotting in expensive storage. 

Several people where jailed for corruption.  Yingluck fled the country to escape prison just like her brother

[Denim]

I find it strange that the mere mention of any of the Shinawatra clan sends some people into a frenzy of hatred and vitriol yet when there is a coup and the military prove to be just as corrupt they have nothing to say and go happily about their business.

 

I guess they have no hatred left except for when a new party with real reforms wins the election then once again they find the energy to run around like headless chickens.

[jippytum]

Protests against the Shinawatras for abusing the justice system are gaining momentum and long overdue. 

Thaksin seems to test the patience of the toothless regulators on a daily basis. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

19 hours ago, KireB said:

Most Thai despise him.

 

Isaan peasants love him. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

15 hours ago, Highball said:

 

I think he's in better graces now. Much time has passed and tbh who is going to pull this nation out of its economic recession.

 

Reality is things went south after he was coup'ed. Economy been a mess since with a gaggle of ineffective PMs and yet another coup (on top of his coup).

 

Not only is Thailand losing its economy, but so much opportunity. Things so hopeless now everything is pinned on of all things tourism from India and china 😭

 

The coups merely postponed another corrupt Asian gangster dynasty taking over completely, such as they have in Cambodia with the Hun family, Soharto did in Indo, Marcos in the Phils and even in North Korea.

 

That is the reality.

 

Unfortunately, in Southeast Asia money talks, and he has bought his way back in.

 

He may have been viewed as the lesser evil over Peoples Power Party but that is definitely a shortsighted move that the establishment is now beginning to regret.

[herfiehandbag]

Is it just me, or does there seem, judging by the "emojis" to be an awful lot of confusion around on this thread?

 

[willip]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy: Naewna

 

A coalition led by the People’s Reform Network (PRN) vowed to mobilise protests against the return of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to Thailand, echoing the previous efforts to oust her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

At a rally in Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, PRN leader Pichit Chaimongkol declared 2025 as the "Year of Reckoning" for what he termed "the Thaksin regime". He urged supporters to prepare for action if the former leader attempts a homecoming.

 

The coalition, critical of the current government and its handling of corruption issues, presented two main demands: the resignation of Tawee Sodsong, the Justice Minister, over scandals involving allegiance with Thaksin, and Pongchai Chunhawachira, Deputy Prime Minister, for pushing unqualified appointments.

 

In addition to these demands, the group opposes five key issues: the proposed MOU 44, new casino licences, online gambling, long-term 99-year land leases they believe compromise national interest, and the damage caused by a digital wallet initiative.

 

They also urged support for Thailand’s Anti-Corruption Commission and the Medical Council, encouraging scrutiny of alleged misconduct linked to Thaksin’s health status.

 

PRN plans a march to police headquarters and the Medical Council mid-January to demand transparency and accountability regarding Thaksin’s medical records.

 

Picture courtesy: Naewna

 

Pichit also warned of unrest should Thaksin fulfil his promise to bring Yingluck back by April. He claimed Yingluck would face the same protest actions as Thaksin did, stressing the need for close scrutiny on their political involvement.

 

The former premier's alleged influence over state policies, despite stepping back from politics, is viewed by PRN as an overreach of power, and they plan to hold the government accountable amid allegations of policy manipulation.

 

-- 2025-01-12

 

 

CORRUPTION AT IT'S WORST!!!

(DISGUSTING). If you are super rich you can get away with anything here in Thailand. 

[Gottfrid]

19 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

As for Thaksin's popularity, well that very much depends on who you ask, and where in the country you ask.

It also depends on the offer in the information and how much money 😉

[mdr224]

The people dont have a choice in who runs their country. The elections are just for show. Its not going to change

[Sydebolle]

Democracy Thai style - explained 😉 

 

[AustinRacing]

You get the government you deserve. 

[billd766]

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Thaksin got himself back into Thailand and was treated with respect by officials.. no doubt well paid.

Now blatantly meddling in politics with his daughter at the helm.

Thaksin wants sister Yingluk back and he will do the same, pay officials to do his bidding, rallies will achieve nothing..

They will be ignored if not stamped out, as for the populous they are unconcerned.

They view it as they cannot touch the Shin clan.

What a pity that you failed to mention the respect got for meddling in Thai politics once again.

 

I really hope for Thailand's sake that there will be no more illegal military coups led by generals who truly believe that they know better than the voters.

 

I have another (but forlorn hope) that in the event of yet another military coup that all the officers involved in the coup are punished and that the generals leading the coup are publicly executed for treason against the state and the freely elected government.

 

Now that would be a first.

[jayboy]

6 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Isaan peasants love him. 

 

Not so much the younger generation who are better educated and would vote for Pita if he could stand.In any case Thaksin's popularity in Isaan was well entrenched in the middle classes there - not just rice farmers.

[Felton Jarvis]

The Shin family has been the best at governing Thailand but my personal favorite was Abhisit.

[MikeandDow]

30 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

The Shin family has been the best at governing Thailand but my personal favorite was Abhisit.

This is YOUR opinion,  not shared by the Majority of Thais today, according to the latest polls, Yes Abhisit was good ! in my opinion, he had the balls to stand up to murder charges !! not like the coward Thaskin !!

[Dogmatix]

On 1/12/2025 at 11:40 AM, Highball said:

Was this really a thing? I was always under the impression she was set up. Others went to jail.

 

 

 

She was set up by her brother.  She was convicted because she was president of the Rice Commission which approved the rice pledging scam, even though she only attended one or two meetings.  The conviction was perfectly sound IMHO.  There was a scam which she approved, even if she knew nothing much about it.  The others who went to prison included the minister and deputy minister who signed approvals for the fake exports of rice to China which never left the country but were actually re-pledged to the Thai government.  They knew what they were doing and were paid for their approvals.  Yingluck probably didn't know the details of the individual frauds but must have known something was badly wrong, or would have known, if she had looked into it.  She got the sentence she deserved but the junta let her escape because they were scared of making her a rallying point for Thaksinites, if she went to prison which probably would indeed have been a problem for them.

[Dogmatix]

48 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

The Shin family has been the best at governing Thailand but my personal favorite was Abhisit.

 

The Shin family has always put personal advantages and enrichment to the fore when governing Thailand but Thaksin implemented a handful of worthwhile policies, such as universal healthcare from the amongst the ideas offered by his advisors.  Now the decent advisors have fled and his policy cupboard is bare leaving only free handouts, casinos and a disadvantageous oil and gas deal with his buddy Hun Sen.  Whoever get the casinos and the oil and gas done can potentially make a pile of cash on the side but nothing there for the hai people. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

18 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

Whoever get the casinos and the oil and gas done can potentially make a pile of cash on the side but nothing there for the hai people. 

 

Funnily enough, I have high level meetings in Cambodia this week about this.

 

They are terrified that the Thais will do them over. I am working with them to ensure that doesn't happen.