Thailand's Parliament Convenes First Session Since 2006 Coup

[ando]

PM to chair Cabinet meeting

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior General Surayud Chulanont will chair the Cabinet meeting today. The meeting is scheduled to focus on issues that must be resolved before the new government takes on the cabinet.

The Ministry of Defense will request an alteration to budgeting to improve the efficiency of potential of 105 mm. cannon rounds. The ministry will also amend several protocols to do with the travel, assembly and repair of state boats.

The Office of the National Police will present their revamped personnel structure and proposition to increase officers, which the office submitted to the Cabinet in a previous meeting. The Prime Minister asked the office to adjust the plan and ask for opinions on the matter from the Office of the Civil Service Commission.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 January 2008

Well, they have already given themselves big pay rises and big increases in budget, so I guess the less important minor issues are coming up now at this last minute?

[hammered]

Let me spell out what I think is Sunrise's opinion in baby talk then, maybe that will work:

-> 15 years ago the same army that was in power last year shot and killed unarmed protesters around Ratchadamnoen Klang road in Bangkok.

-> Those brave souls faced the Thai army's guns with nothing more that the conviction that Thailand should be free and democratic.

-> 15 years later, the military commits a coup against elected government yet again, and imposes martial law in many provinces. New censorship is enacted, and other moves are made to stifle democracy.

-> Now, put yourself in the shoes of someone loving freedom of expression and democracy: Would you not be a little concerned at what a military junta might do, given the examples of 1992 and 1976?

Clearly, although each coup needs to be examined on its own merits, there is a clear connection with the military culture that has resulted in multiple army interventions in politics over the last seventy years, and by implication the immature state of Thailand's democratic institutions.To argue otherwise is historical illiteracy and frankly is not even worthy of further consideration.More importantly it's crucial to understand the massive damage that a coup does to Thailand's reputation, economy and political development.The Bangkok middle class who broadly supported the coup has some hard thinking to do.

General Sondhi is reported today, along with the comment-I paraphrase- that Thaksin is a man of good character with whom he can do business, to believe the coup was not a waste of time.Well he would say that wouldn't he as Mandy Rice-Davies might say.But to be fair to him and his junta colleagues, the last coup was relatively benign in that nobody was killed and it looks as though democracy will be restored on time.The point however I have been making over the last few months is that one shouldn't have too rosy a view of "the gentle junta".

It's important to understand this was a collection of people of exceptional incompetence and political ineptitude (thank heavens for that).They lacked the sheer brutality and bloodymindedness needed to achieve their agenda.I think we have to give due credit to public opinion and even the much maligned press.The junta's nerve failed in several areas - couldn't get their way in the constitution on emergency powers, couldn't implement their black propaganda campaign against the PPP, couldn't prove rampant corruption and lese majeste charges (the excuse for the coup), lacked the courage to take on the charges that could have neutralised Thaksin once and for all(drugs war killings and army murder of Muslim villagers in the South).

The sheer stupidity, bad judgement and torpor of the puppet government is a matter of record.I would argue that from the point of view of preserving the elite's vested interests -let's face it the underlying motivation of the coup if not the proximate cause -there has actually been a deterioration of the position.By this I mean the majority is now thoroughly politicised and arguably is not willing to take the traditional deferential line.In the phrase the coup apologists hate so much, the genie is out of the bottle.Meanwhile time and gravity will have their effect and "Old Ginger" will wither on the vine.The dinosaur element in the power structure has already lost much influence and shortly will have less.

So society and politics in Thailand are evolving fast, and no predictions can be made with much certainty.As the great French political philosopher de Tocqueville pointed out, the most likely time for dangerous revolutions occurs when things are changing for the better not when society is static.I don't think it's likely or imminent but I wouldn't even rule out another coup if the reactionary/feudal/ military elite feels completely threatened, but as matters stand it would be a short term victory and in a very sense spell their death knell.My hunch is that with Thai good sense an appreciation of enlightened self interest or noblesse oblige will emerge that will ensure the ruling class many decades of dominance.But, and here's the rub, it does mean a much fairer society and a transfer of resources to the majority.This won't be achieved by socialism or the PPP (I don't really understand what their economic policy is) but by adherence to free market principles and acceptance of globalisation's inevitability.That's the theory anyway but as we all know cold winds are blowing in the world economy, and in the end this might be more significant for Thailand's future than politicians squabbles.

Well written. We should see more of this type of post/debate here instead of the obsessive emotional hysterics some posters seem to prefer.

One point I would like to raise her in response is that Thailand could do with a little more Socialism to actually benefit their Capitalist global economy.

They have 50% of their population producing 10% of GDP up in the NE. That's a total waste of a nations human resources. Although it does provide a flow of cheap labour to fuel the factories and enhance the lifestyles of the elite class.

It reminds me of a comment by one of Australia's previous Science Ministers (Barry Jones). The comment was about the effective and economic use of a countries human resources.

" There is this South American Dictator who decides to build a monument to himself by building a road right across the Amazon jungle for thousands of miles. The country is beleaguered with serious economic problems and unemployment and the dictator needs something to shift the peoples focus away from his failings.

He puts the idea to his appointed cabinet. Excitedly he proclaims we can create thousands of jobs with men working with bulldozers in the jungle!. His employment minister pipes up and says, -- "why not create TENS of thousands of new jobs with men working with picks and shovels!?" To which they all applaud. Then another minister chimes in with, -- " why not create MILLIONS OF JOBS with men working with tea spoons!?" "

The Issarn peasant farmers are Thailand's version of men working with teaspoons. They work with outdated farming practices often in marginal land and on plots too small to be economic. But collectively, 30 million people can add a lot to the countries economy in cash terms. Even if it is only 10% of GDP, and if they have to live in poverty to do it.

People are a countries greatest assett. Using western farming techniques and machinery, it would only take maximum 1 million people to produce the same amount of rice in Thailand. So what are you going to do with the other 29 million people if you modernize the farming practices to western standards?

Well, that's not something that's going to happen overnight. It is a generational change to educate those displaced people and move them into more productive forms of toil for the nations (and their own) ultimate benefit. BUT ITS GOT TO START SOMEWHERE! Giving a hand up to the poor peasant farmers through better education for their kids is the first step.

You know, if you go back one hundred years or so most western democracies of today had a population where around 50% were poor farmers. Ill bet just about everyone here can trace their roots back to not too distant ancestors who were poor farmers?

Maintaining the status quo divide in wealth between the urban elite and the rural poor is really going to hold Thailand back more than anything else. Where as developing Thailand's human resources over the coming generations to be more competitive in the world market is going to benefit everybody in the country (except the present elite class). Thailand lies at this cross roads now.

This is totally correct. However, there is a contradiction in there. As this education is given to both help the poor people and the country, it also creates a greater want and a greater awarenss outside of ones locale and often a class change. These things are all very real threats to the patronage system MPs whose power relies on continuation of the semi-feudal system and where it works to give things away top down but not to really free people so they can make for themselves. In this the elite we talk of and the PPP's upcountry patronage system MPs are probably very much in agreement though they obviously differ in how much money and non-educational welfare should be handed out and more specifically by whom. A lot is talked about better and more education but who will give it apart from possibly the Dems who dont have many up country MPs relying on patronage systems. Sometimes we see strange potential allies in politics.

The reality is though that things in Thailand are going to start changing in ways that not only the old elite but also in the medium term the PPP will not be able to control. Right now the labour demand in Thailand is changing from non-skilled to semi-skilled and skilled. There will be little choice but to improve and extend education to the masses if the country wants to avoid huge social and economic problems that will make the current ones look like a tea party and/or to see the rise of a Chavez style populist who will redsitribute wealth in a very dramatic way and make Thaksin look positively miserly to the poor. These changing times are right unpredictable.

[hammered]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

[george]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

[Old Man River]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

Well, that is one reason for sure for outsiders not wanting this position. The other is that there really is nobody in this group to help out. Whoever gets this port is going to be a one man show. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

[Jai Dee]

Chettha says he won't be in Cabinet

Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party leader Chettha Thanajaro said Tuesday that he will not take any Cabinet seat and will step aside for party secretary-general Pradit Phattaraprasit.

Chettha said he had health problem and he could work for the country without being in the Cabinet.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

[A_Traveller]

Another 'party leader' who's suddenly remembers another engagement.... hm...

Regards

[ando]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

Well, that is one reason for sure for outsiders not wanting this position. The other is that there really is nobody in this group to help out. Whoever gets this port is going to be a one man show. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

I am sure there will be times in the future when the PPP might wish the Democrats were the ones left holding the bag!

[younghusband]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

You might be right George but such an appointment would be very poorly received by international markets.What's needed is an appointment from left field given the poor quality of "in house" candidates, some person who is well qualified, extremely independent minded, prepared to face down assorted monitor lizards and ready to serve his country.

[hammered]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

You might be right George but such an appointment would be very poorly received by international markets.What's needed is an appointment from left field given the poor quality of "in house" candidates, some person who is well qualified, extremely independent minded, prepared to face down assorted monitor lizards and ready to serve his country.

I think you have it there. The finance minister is going to have a hel_l of an awful balancing act to perform with economic reality and demands for massive expenditure and ...... A poor choice is no option. Anyway only George up for my beer so far......

Tme will tell

[sriracha john]

well, the Drug War Commando is in...

Parliament Votes for House Speaker

Thailands Lower House of Parliament convened this morning to officially elect a House Speaker. As expected, former Deputy PPP Leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat was voted with an overwhelming majority.

The new Lower House convened at approximately 10 AM this morning. First on its agenda was the appointment of a House Speaker and his two deputies.

In facilitating the voting process, it is customary in Thai politics to allow the most senior Member of Parliament to act as temporary House Speaker. 79-year-old Chai Chidchob first led the 477 MPs in the official swearing in ceremony.

After which, the People Power Party nominated former party leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat for the post of House Speaker. The Democrat Party nominated their candidate, Banyat Bantadtarn.

Anonymous voting got to a rocky start as the 477 votes were counted. However, only 451 MP officially registered their names for the meeting. *now there's a rousing beginning... *

After the discrepancy was dealt with, Yongyuth Thiyapairat was voted the House Speaker by 307 votes. Banyat received 167 votes. Two MPs abstained their votes.

As for the two Deputy House Speakers, the PPP nominated Khon Kaen province MP Somsak Kiatsuranont and Nontaburi MP Apiwan Wiriyachai. The Democrats nominated Bangkok MP Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich.

- Thailand Outlook

Edited January 22, 2008 by sriracha john

[Old Man River]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

You might be right George but such an appointment would be very poorly received by international markets.What's needed is an appointment from left field given the poor quality of "in house" candidates, some person who is well qualified, extremely independent minded, prepared to face down assorted monitor lizards and ready to serve his country.

I don't know, but will throw in the name of Wirun Techaphaibun. Is Olarn in the PPP?

[sriracha john]

well, since the medical doctor's name has already been taken in Hammered's Heineken Sweepstakes, I'll put forth the name of Jirayu Wasurat as an entrant.

Edited January 22, 2008 by sriracha john

[Old Man River]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

You might be right George but such an appointment would be very poorly received by international markets.What's needed is an appointment from left field given the poor quality of "in house" candidates, some person who is well qualified, extremely independent minded, prepared to face down assorted monitor lizards and ready to serve his country.

And this might be who?

[ando]

This is totally correct. However, there is a contradiction in there. As this education is given to both help the poor people and the country, it also creates a greater want and a greater awarenss outside of ones locale and often a class change. These things are all very real threats to the patronage system MPs whose power relies on continuation of the semi-feudal system and where it works to give things away top down but not to really free people so they can make for themselves. In this the elite we talk of and the PPP's upcountry patronage system MPs are probably very much in agreement though they obviously differ in how much money and non-educational welfare should be handed out and more specifically by whom. A lot is talked about better and more education but who will give it apart from possibly the Dems who dont have many up country MPs relying on patronage systems. Sometimes we see strange potential allies in politics.

The reality is though that things in Thailand are going to start changing in ways that not only the old elite but also in the medium term the PPP will not be able to control. Right now the labour demand in Thailand is changing from non-skilled to semi-skilled and skilled. There will be little choice but to improve and extend education to the masses if the country wants to avoid huge social and economic problems that will make the current ones look like a tea party and/or to see the rise of a Chavez style populist who will redsitribute wealth in a very dramatic way and make Thaksin look positively miserly to the poor. These changing times are right unpredictable.

Another interesting and intelligent insight from Hammered that gives food for thought.

I tend to agree. The dynamics in village life are bound to change when more up-country people integrate into the wider mainstream Thai workforce.

The corrupt rural village patronage system and the corrupt urban elite patronage system both seem to have their days numbered. This early stage transition is perhaps aired in the in the overall transition to a democratic form of government where all the dirty linen and corruption on both sides is being brought out into the open. One hopes that this painful period can only be a good thing for the country and the people. But I do believe it will be a generational change with 20 to 40 years before all the major social differences are resolved. And yes, I do believe that the tide has already turned (accelerated by Thaksin, love him or hate him), and that what we are seeing now is the first of the last vestiges of serious resistance by the old elite ruling class.

I don't think it will be a bad thing at all if the Democrats can link into the evolving village level politics and capture enough votes to form government, (so long as they are sincere and deliver on their promises). Such a move would both help to move the Democrats away from the old minority elite class doctrine currently holding them back, and at the same time help to clean up the village level politics. The Democrats may well be the hope for the democratic future of Thailand. But in the meantime they are going to have to learn how to get into power without the help of the military or the judiciary. That seems to be almost a decade away yet.

[ando]

well, the Drug War Commando is in...

Parliament Votes for House Speaker

Thailand’s Lower House of Parliament convened this morning to officially elect a House Speaker. As expected, former Deputy PPP Leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat was voted with an overwhelming majority.

The new Lower House convened at approximately 10 AM this morning. First on its agenda was the appointment of a House Speaker and his two deputies.

In facilitating the voting process, it is customary in Thai politics to allow the most senior Member of Parliament to act as temporary House Speaker. 79-year-old Chai Chidchob first led the 477 MP’s in the official swearing in ceremony.

After which, the People Power Party nominated former party leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat for the post of House Speaker. The Democrat Party nominated their candidate, Banyat Bantadtarn.

Anonymous voting got to a rocky start as the 477 votes were counted. However, only 451 MP officially registered their names for the meeting. *now there's a rousing beginning... *

After the discrepancy was dealt with, Yongyuth Thiyapairat was voted the House Speaker by 307 votes. Banyat received 167 votes. Two MPs abstained their votes.

As for the two Deputy House Speakers, the PPP nominated Khon Kaen province MP Somsak Kiatsuranont and Nontaburi MP Apiwan Wiriyachai. The Democrats nominated Bangkok MP Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich.

- Thailand Outlook

Mmm. Some intelligent comment along with the news there.

[John K]

Reminder and Analysis

Thaksin was working at setting up that scenario as he hinted several times about declaring a state of emergency because of the PAD protests for him to step down. Thaksin tried to provoke PAD into being out of control and violent. When that did not work he hired his own thugs to start assault the PAD drawing first blood. The first of Thaksin’s victims were old men and young children. There was a huge PAD rally scheduled for September 20, 2006 that expected to draw between 60,000 and 100,000 people. There were indications that armed Thaksin thugs were looking at turn that peaceful rally into a blood bath thus giving Thaksin the reason to declare a state of emergency. If the coup did not happen, nearly everyone was predicting the same outcome on September 20.

Nope, not 'nearly everyone' was predicting anything. (Well some of the more rabid editors at The Nation, perhaps) The above is an utter fabrication that was initially used to justify the coup, one that actually NOBODY believed even at the time and most certainly not now. If you wish to staunchly cling to fairy tales then I don't think there's anything I or anyone else can say to convince you.

But lets say, as a mental exercise, that the above fairy tale is true, even then you have a legitimate government overthrown by guys with tanks and guns because of the 'prediction' 'by some' that there would be 'trouble'. There's worse countries than Thailand where they at least wait for trouble to actually materialize before sending in the military and shredding the constitution. You simply don't do that in a mature democracy. Rightly the whole world could not help but recognize that Thailand is therefore NOT a mature democracy, FAR from it.

Well not exactly. My reminder was based on several news clippings, one below from

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=83870

That thread also shows a lot of posturing from the TRT to try to make it look illegal. Also take note the thread runs from about 4:45 pm on September 18 ran into the coup.

I am simply stating what was said in the media, not inventing any of it.

Metro Police Bureau prepares security measures for PAD’s upcoming rally

Metropolitan Police Bureau prepares security for the upcoming demonstration of People’s Alliance for Democracy.

Police Lt. General Viroj Jantrangsee (วิโรจน์ จันทรังษี), the head of the Metropolitan Police spoke about security measures during the rally of PAD on the 20th of September, adding that current political situation is deemed instable and he is worried that third party might stage violence during demonstration.

He has warned people who will be joining the rally to be prudent. He said demonstration can be held according to the laws and regulations and the officials will do their best to provide security for people.

Police Lt. General Viroj referred to the rumors about bomb plot in Bangkok. He said the officials have been instructed to keep close eyes on risky areas and has urged people not to worry about such rumors.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 September 2006

There is also one or more threads that show some wonderful photos of bloody people and police just standing by watching them get assaulted by hired thugs. Each assult in chronological order was worse that the previous and a pattern was emerging later to be linked to very close aids of Thaksin. So with a little extrapolation it is not hard to see the fear of violence was justified in the planned September 20 rally and not as you put it. Your comment is simply not supported by fact.

[hammered]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

You might be right George but such an appointment would be very poorly received by international markets.What's needed is an appointment from left field given the poor quality of "in house" candidates, some person who is well qualified, extremely independent minded, prepared to face down assorted monitor lizards and ready to serve his country.

I don't know, but will throw in the name of Wirun Techaphaibun. Is Olarn in the PPP?

Is he part of the family that owned and ran the Bangkok Metropolitan Bank which crashed with massive non-performing loans a decade ago and was subsequently nationalised? If I rememeber correctly the Family had lent a huge amount to another branch of the family to develop the World Trade Center and then never bothered to collect any repayments among other rather outlandish loan dealings, which put the bank, and several related businesses if not the family themselves, in a rather tricky situation when 1997 came along. I hope if a member of the family he wasnt involved in these events as it would hardly look good on a CV.

[ando]

There is also one or more threads that show some wonderful photos of bloody people and police just standing by watching them get assaulted by hired thugs. Each assult in chronological order was worse that the previous and a pattern was emerging later to be linked to very close aids of Thaksin. So with a little extrapolation it is not hard to see the fear of violence was justified in the planned September 20 rally and not as you put it. Your comment is simply not supported by fact.

John, those incidents, graphic as they may be, play but very small part in the greater scheme of things here. Tanks rolling onto the streets and soldiers armed with machine guns prepared to actually kill people who got in their way tends to have a greater impact on most people than a few people with bloody noses in the heat of a political gathering. The fact that the people opposing them knew the Tanks and soldiers meant business and backed down speaks volumes for the lack of resistance in this latest coup.

Time to let it go as me thinks. You are rehashing a point in political history that has been discussed to death and put to bed by virtually everyone else here.

Time to get over it and move on. Its not a critical point in this thread.

[sriracha john]

well, the Drug War Commando is in...

Anonymous voting got to a rocky start as the 477 votes were counted. However, only 451 MP officially registered their names for the meeting. *now there's a rousing beginning... *

Mmm. Some intelligent comment along with the news there.

You're welcome. Always good to keep things in historical perspective... as well as see the humor that Parliament's very first vote contains 26 unregistered voters.

Edited January 22, 2008 by sriracha john

[Old Man River]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

You might be right George but such an appointment would be very poorly received by international markets.What's needed is an appointment from left field given the poor quality of "in house" candidates, some person who is well qualified, extremely independent minded, prepared to face down assorted monitor lizards and ready to serve his country.

I don't know, but will throw in the name of Wirun Techaphaibun. Is Olarn in the PPP?

Is he part of the family that owned and ran the Bangkok Metropolitan Bank which crashed with massive non-performing loans a decade ago and was subsequently nationalised? If I rememeber correctly the Family had lent a huge amount to another branch of the family to develop the World Trade Center and then never bothered to collect any repayments among other rather outlandish loan dealings, which put the bank, and several related businesses if not the family themselves, in a rather tricky situation when 1997 came along. I hope if a member of the family he wasnt involved in these events as it would hardly look good on a CV.

Ando, this is the PPP your are talking about. You expect to find qualified people among this group?

Wiran is actually in the running for the Deputy Finance position and since I needed a name to try to win a glass of Aussie Red (I hate beer), I threw his name in. While it will probably be Dr. Surpong, I can see someone like Olarn wanting to get their name back in the news going for this. Apart for this, I can't think of anyone who would want to be with this group.

[Lilawadee]

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

I'll go for that.... : Kasamsan Weerakun.

Some background:

http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/2007/11/...at-pattana.html

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/04...on_30054801.php

Put beer in fridge pls.

[Plus]

You still talking about the coup? Give it a rest already. Generals did everything they promised on the morning of Sep20 - got new Constitution through the the first ever national referendum, held elections, and let the winners form the government.

Samak, btw, is convicted and sentenced to two years in jail, he is out only while his appeal is being considered, in a few days time Administrative Court (?) will rule on his fate and after that there's only the Supreme Court for him to save his sorry ass from prison. And then firetruck case is going to Attorney General already. Even one night in jail disqualifies him from PMship. A possible Narong scenario can't be ruled out to prevern the embarassment.

Finance Minster portfolio will go to Mingkwan, he is not good enough to hold the post but he can tell good stories.

PPP need to find someone to finance them for the next elections, what is Thaksin's possible interest in keeping them going? PPP wasn't set up to govern the country, it was to help Thaksin to save his ass in the courts.

Thaksin might make up and kiss with lots of his adversaries, but his real problem is winning over 60+% of the population who don't want to see his face again. Even if it shrinks back to pre-coup 40+%, hard-core anti-Thaksin haters, confrontation is unavoidable.

The "tiranny of the majority" will not work in Thailand. The coup solved the immediate problem back in 2006, but second time around the military won't step in unless there's bloodbath in the streets, which is very likely if Thaksin pushed himself on the rest of the nation. In nearly three years since popular uprising he hasn't said anything appealingl to his enemies, I don't think he will start "reconciliation" now.

[ando]

PPP member will be finance minister: Surapong

People Power Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday that a party core member, who has been designing party policies from the beginning and has been working behind the scene will be the next finance minister.

Surapong said outsiders dared not take the finance portfolio due to on-going political conflicts.

Surapong said the PPP would distribute Cabinet seats among its partners by using the ratio of one seat per nine MPs.

Source: The Nation - 22 January 2008

OK who can interpret this into a name? A beer for the first answer that turns out to be correct

My guess it will be Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee himself as Minister of Finance.

You might be right George but such an appointment would be very poorly received by international markets.What's needed is an appointment from left field given the poor quality of "in house" candidates, some person who is well qualified, extremely independent minded, prepared to face down assorted monitor lizards and ready to serve his country.

I don't know, but will throw in the name of Wirun Techaphaibun. Is Olarn in the PPP?

Is he part of the family that owned and ran the Bangkok Metropolitan Bank which crashed with massive non-performing loans a decade ago and was subsequently nationalised? If I rememeber correctly the Family had lent a huge amount to another branch of the family to develop the World Trade Center and then never bothered to collect any repayments among other rather outlandish loan dealings, which put the bank, and several related businesses if not the family themselves, in a rather tricky situation when 1997 came along. I hope if a member of the family he wasnt involved in these events as it would hardly look good on a CV.

Ando, this is the PPP your are talking about. You expect to find qualified people among this group?

Wiran is actually in the running for the Deputy Finance position and since I needed a name to try to win a glass of Aussie Red (I hate beer), I threw his name in. While it will probably be Dr. Surpong, I can see someone like Olarn wanting to get their name back in the news going for this. Apart for this, I can't think of anyone who would want to be with this group.

Not me!

I plead innocent on this one.

I think you got the wrong man.

[John K]

There is also one or more threads that show some wonderful photos of bloody people and police just standing by watching them get assaulted by hired thugs. Each assult in chronological order was worse that the previous and a pattern was emerging later to be linked to very close aids of Thaksin. So with a little extrapolation it is not hard to see the fear of violence was justified in the planned September 20 rally and not as you put it. Your comment is simply not supported by fact.

John, those incidents, graphic as they may be, play but very small part in the greater scheme of things here. Tanks rolling onto the streets and soldiers armed with machine guns prepared to actually kill people who got in their way tends to have a greater impact on most people than a few people with bloody noses in the heat of a political gathering. The fact that the people opposing them knew the Tanks and soldiers meant business and backed down speaks volumes for the lack of resistance in this latest coup.

Time to let it go as me thinks. You are rehashing a point in political history that has been discussed to death and put to bed by virtually everyone else here.

Time to get over it and move on. Its not a critical point in this thread.

Yes but keep in mind that comes from the reminder (history) portion of my post and not the analysis (things to come) part. Looking at human nature and how people react in times of uncertainty is to tuck in a bit. Point taken in Asia’s stock market in the last few days.

I did not say that was the only factor that cause the coup, but it certainly could have been the straw that broke the camels back.

The blood was drawn by Thaksin, and the PAD gatherings were far from heated with top pop stars, and others performing. The PAD rallies were getting to be a family outing with great free entertainment. The military shooting never happened in fact the coup was welcomed with open arms, yellow ribbons and flowers. Remember we are talking history here and not speculation of things to come.

The reason for my post was to establish a point that I feel there is a highly likelihood things will pickup from once the who’s who part is finished.

[sriracha john]

and Yongyuth is still not out of the woods yet...

Poll Panel Continues to Investigate Yongyuth

As Deputy PPP Leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat is voted in as House Speaker, he still faces charges of election fraud by the Election Commission. He is scheduled to give further testimony to the poll panel today.

Five members of Thailand’s Election Commission are still deliberating on alleged fraud cases concerning several Members of Parliament. Although Parliament has already convened with the necessary 456 members, the EC still has the power to revoke its endorsement of a MP if it has evidence of election fraud.

The new constitution gives the poll panel up to a year to investigate and prosecute MPs even after they’ve already entered Parliament. Therefore, the Election Commission is continuing with its investigation into allegations of election fraud against Deputy People Power Party Leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat even after he has been voted House Speaker.

Today, the new sub-committee set to investigate the allegations is requesting additional testimony from Yongyuth. He is scheduled to appear in front of the Election Commission today.

Meanwhile, Yongyuth himself is not worried about the continued deliberations. He says he is confident in his innocence and that the evidence brought against him was staged to bring down the People Power Party. Yongyuth believes that the ongoing investigation will not affect his status as House Speaker.

- Thailand Outlook

[Old Man River]

Not me!

I plead innocent on this one.

I think you got the wrong man.

Weird! When I clicked the above to answer, your name was at the top in the reply box. Sorry.

[sriracha john]

Thai parliament votes Thaksin confidant speaker

BANGKOK -- A confidant of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was named speaker of Thailand's parliament Tuesday, an official said, in the first move by the chamber dominated by the ex-premier's allies.

Yongyut Tiyapairat, from the pro-Thaksin People Power Party (PPP), defeated his rival from the opposition Democrat Party in a 307-167 vote, said Chai Chidchob, who headed the parliament session.

Thailand's parliament opened on Monday for the first time since the elections which were meant to restore democracy in the wake of a coup in 2006 that ousted Thaksin.

The vote for premier is widely expected to take place on Friday.

Yongyut was environment minister when the military toppled Thaksin's government in September 2006.

He was detained for 12 days after the coup because he had oversight over thousands of armed forest rangers, which the junta feared could be mobilized in a counter-coup.

He was released after the rangers were disarmed.

- AFP

[John K]

and Yongyuth is still not out of the woods yet...

Poll Panel Continues to Investigate Yongyuth

As Deputy PPP Leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat is voted in as House Speaker, he still faces charges of election fraud by the Election Commission. He is scheduled to give further testimony to the poll panel today.

Five members of Thailand’s Election Commission are still deliberating on alleged fraud cases concerning several Members of Parliament. Although Parliament has already convened with the necessary 456 members, the EC still has the power to revoke its endorsement of a MP if it has evidence of election fraud.

The new constitution gives the poll panel up to a year to investigate and prosecute MPs even after they’ve already entered Parliament. Therefore, the Election Commission is continuing with its investigation into allegations of election fraud against Deputy People Power Party Leader Yongyuth Thiyapairat even after he has been voted House Speaker.

Today, the new sub-committee set to investigate the allegations is requesting additional testimony from Yongyuth. He is scheduled to appear in front of the Election Commission today.

Meanwhile, Yongyuth himself is not worried about the continued deliberations. He says he is confident in his innocence and that the evidence brought against him was staged to bring down the People Power Party. Yongyuth believes that the ongoing investigation will not affect his status as House Speaker.

- Thailand Outlook

This all sounds very familiar and face saving. I can’t help but wonder how many people he has intimidating and putting pressure on the EC.

[Plus]

I would also like a little comment on the "class struggle" situation, even if I haven't thought it though yet.

Many posters here talk about emerging democracy, represented by PPP, and the old elite.

Well, PPP is a bunch of local feudal lords, they don't represent anything but their own greed and surely they won't let their subjects to freely choose what is best for them, or let them leave their farms, learn something usefuel instead, and vote for Democrats!

"Old elite" doesn't have any power even in Bangkok. This group is too small to "rule" even the capital. If you put the junta in that group - their power comes from popular respect for being honest in serving the country rather than in their alleged "blue blood" status. And they are allegedly led by Prem (Songkla), and they have Surayud, a son of a communist, as a PM, and the coup was staged by Sonthi, the muslim. Their opponent is Samak who comes from a family with a long history of serving in the highest courts. Even if real "elites" had some self-serving interests in fighting with Thaksin, they didn't matter much.

So, I don't believe this "old elite" vs "voice of the people" theory.

Then there's another perspective, it's a struggle for power between old bureaucratic system and new capitalists, represented by Thaksin. There's surely some sense to it, but don't forget that people running Crown Property Bureau are not old style bureaucrats, they are exposed to the same market conditions, and they need smart capitalists on their side now more than ever, and both groups need educated labour force to maintain competitiveness, more than the "people" from the first theory want themselves. They need those farmers to make some money and be able to buy stuff they produce for them - they need big domestic market, more so than the "people" need themselves. Millions of poor, the great unwashed, doing nothing with their lives is a big problem for both these groups, and a big opportunity, they are not their enemies at all.

All in all I think it comes down only to one man's ambition, the attempts to blow it up into some monumental cracks in Thai society are just scaremongering.