Samak Sundaravej was elected

[Jai Dee]

Today is my day as prime minister : Samak

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisted he was the country's real leader despite the return from exile of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I am the real prime minister!" Samak said over reports that Thaksin was once again the government's boss. "Is that all you can think of? How shameful. How can you say that there are two prime ministers?"

Thaksin's homecoming after 17 months in exile on Thursday was widely seen as a return to the centre of Thai politics.

"I am no one's nominee,'' Samak said as he headed off on his first official visit to Laos on Friday.

Earlier Samak met Christopher Hill, the US pointman for East Asian affairs and told him that Thaksin will not run his government from behind the scenes.

Samak denied suggestions that he is Thaksin's puppet, and told Hill that he hold the reins of government, according to his spokeswoman Suparat Nakbunnam.

"Today the critics say that the real prime minister has returned to Thailand, but today is my day as prime minister," Samak told Hill during their meeting, according to the spokeswoman.

Hill met with Samak just hours before he made his first official visit overseas as head of government, travelling to neighbouring Laos.

Hill also gave Samak a message to deliver from the United States to the ruling military junta in Myanmar, Thailand's neighbour and a key trading partner, she said.

Suparat declined to give details of the message, but said Samak was likely to visit Burma next week.

Source: The Nation - 29 February 2008

[traveller5000]

off topic, but I wonder if that is his wife next to him (ive always wondered what sort of poor lady could endure such a beastly, obnoxious man).

No, that isn't... This is his very fetching wife on the left and his daughter on the right listening as he appears to be describing the size of his kahunas.

(poor ladies, the daughter looks understandably and probably constantly sad. how the wife can endure the sexual demands from that disgusting brute is beyond me ).

[chownah]

(poor ladies, the daughter looks understandably and probably constantly sad. how the wife can endure the sexual demands from that disgusting brute is beyond me ).

You are tring to understand Samak's sex life? I do think this is off topic....can you explain how this has anything to do with the topic?.....the topic is his election...not his erection.

Chownah

P.S. Really guys.....these demeaning comments are unimaginative if they are to be considered humor and positively assinine if they are supposed to be adding to the discussion of the topic.

Chownah

Edited February 29, 2008 by chownah

[Siripon]

(poor ladies, the daughter looks understandably and probably constantly sad. how the wife can endure the sexual demands from that disgusting brute is beyond me ).

You are tring to understand Samak's sex life? I do think this is off topic....can you explain how this has anything to do with the topic?.....the topic is his election...not his erection.

Chownah

P.S. Really guys.....these demeaning comments are unimaginative if they are to be considered humor and positively assinine if they are supposed to be adding to the discussion of the topic.

Chownah

Chownah, you're right, and if Samak and Thaksin are going to fall out as to who is PM, that can only be good news for opposers of both.

[traveller5000]

(poor ladies, the daughter looks understandably and probably constantly sad. how the wife can endure the sexual demands from that disgusting brute is beyond me ).

You are tring to understand Samak's sex life? I do think this is off topic....can you explain how this has anything to do with the topic?.....the topic is his election...not his erection.

Chownah

P.S. Really guys.....these demeaning comments are unimaginative if they are to be considered humor and positively assinine if they are supposed to be adding to the discussion of the topic.

Chownah

Commenting on his family is on topic, as I see it. Its another aspect / reflection of his leadership skills. Keeping that a big part of samaks leadership skills are based on his brutish "if it doesn't fit, force it" approach to the world and other people, I have the utmost sympathy for his family, and fine, I will keep it out of the bedroom, but surely, chownah, you must have a shred of sympathy for these poor ladies

Edited February 29, 2008 by traveller5000

[sbk]

Inflammatory posts have been deleted, lets please keep this discussion civil, thanks

[sriracha john]

Samak says he will personally supervise five megaprojects

PM Samak says he intends to supervise five megaprojects, including a controversial plan to divert water from the Mekong river. Samak said yesterday he would be in charge of the projects _ mass transit schemes for Bangkok, train projects across the country, the water diversion scheme, a project to stimulate the economy, and a medical scheme. Five committees would be set up to oversee the projects, with Samak as Chairman. He said he would inform the permanent secretaries of all ministries of his decision during a meeting today. During his weekly television programme, he told his audience that Army engineers would be assigned to build four-lane roads in the southern border provinces. The private construction firm which won the bidding to build the roads in Yala dared not work there. He had talked to the Army Chief, who agreed to deploy army engineers to build the road in the strife-torn province. Samak backed Science Minister Wuttipong Chaisaeng's proposal to promote the planting of eucalyptus trees in paddy fields. He shrugged off concerns that eucalyptus trees would destroy the soil's fertility and suck up huge amounts of water. He also vowed to go ahead with a plan to revive the war on drugs. He dismissed as groundless accusations that the previous war on drugs, introduced by deposed PM Thaksin, had led to the extra-judicial killings of 2,500 people.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Feb2008_news02.php

So how much commission will he get to supervise these five mega projects?

Whatever the percent corruption is, multiply it by 1,000,000,000,000.00 Baht.....

Transport Ministry: 1 Trillion Baht Budget to Be Allocated for Mega-Projects

The Transport Ministry assigned its departments to design a four-year administrative plan, in accordance with the government's policy, with an expected budget of more than one trillion baht to be allocated to the state's mega-investment projects.

Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary, Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, said he has assigned all department chiefs under the ministry's control to conduct a four-year administrative plan in reference to the government's policy, and to submit to the ministry by this week, before passing the plan on to the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Budget Bureau, for further consideration.

Chaisawat estimates that the ministry will require a fiscal budget of more than one trillion baht during the four-year period, the highest ever, because there are many mass transit projects to develop, including nine routes for Bangkok's electric trains, the dual track rail project, and the high-speed and commuter train projects.

However, the Permanent-Secretary asks all departments to propose a budget requirement based on fact, set up with priority for the projects, and to clearly identify the source of funding.

The details of the Transport Ministry's plan include policies to improve the country's confidence, an urgent matter to be implemented within the first year of the government's term. Some of the policies include the control of public transportation fares to ease expenses for low-income residents, developing the country's logistics and international communication systems, and carrying out good governance among agencies.

- Thailand Outlook

[Ricardo]

Transport Ministry: 1 Trillion Baht Budget to Be Allocated for Mega-Projects

The Transport Ministry assigned its departments to design a four-year administrative plan, in accordance with the government's policy, with an expected budget of more than one trillion baht to be allocated to the state's mega-investment projects.

Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary, Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, said he has assigned all department chiefs under the ministry's control to conduct a four-year administrative plan in reference to the government's policy, and to submit to the ministry by this week, before passing the plan on to the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Budget Bureau, for further consideration.

Chaisawat estimates that the ministry will require a fiscal budget of more than one trillion baht during the four-year period, the highest ever, because there are many mass transit projects to develop, including nine routes for Bangkok's electric trains, the dual track rail project, and the high-speed and commuter train projects.

- Thailand Outlook

So in fact, the mega-projects will not fully be financed by the stupid foreigners, after all.

I'd love to know where the government plans to get this money from. Apart from a quadrupled tourist industry.

Perhaps a certain former-PM might be asked to make a suitable contribution, before his funds are un-frozen, after all ?

[sriracha john]

The kinder, gentler Samak...

PM: There are no rifts within PPP

PM Samak Sundaravej on Sunday dismissed reports that the return of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra is to mend rifts within People Power Party. Samak, speaking at his weekly television programme, blamed the media for the reports, which he said was to cause friction. He insisted there is no problem within the Party. He also angrily dismissed reports that Thaksin's wife, Potjaman Shinawatra, ordered a cabinet reshuffle. "Are you crazy?" he asked. "I do my job. Media are the ones who do not do their jobs!" He insisted that both the ex-premier and his wife vowed not to get involved in

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126253

Edited March 2, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

The older, more senile Samak...

PM forgets who to vote for in senate race

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his wife Surat went to vote for the upper house Senate election on Sunday morning at polling station near his residence in Bung Kum district. The couple reportedly walked to the station. But he forgot who he was going to vote for. He went into the voting booth, came out again to check the lists, and went back into the booth to mark his ballot. Poll officials said there is no rule against going out of the booth to look at the number as long as the voter does not take the ballot out. Samak said he came out to vote, not because it is a duty, but because he would like to. He also called on those who have not casted their votes to go out and exercise their voting rights. Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand last week, but did not vote - because he is barred from voting and from all direct political activity until

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126254

[gjones]

Samak forgets candidate number, having to enter polling booth twice

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had to enter his polling booth twice Sunday morning after he forgot the number of his choice of senatorial candidate.

Samak and his wife, Khunying Suraj Sundaravej, cast their votes at the Polling Station No 61 at Chokechai Panjasup housing estate at 10:15 am.

After he entered a polling booth, he left it to check candidates' numbers on the board and went back inside to mark his ballot.

Samak told reporters that he had to come out to check the board because he forgot to memorise the number of his choice of candidate.

Chuacharn TaepongSorut, director of the polling, station said Samak did not break the election laws because he did not carry with him the ballot when he left the polling booth to the check the candidate's number.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30066992

No wonder he cant remember Oct. 6, 1976 too well!!!!

Edited March 2, 2008 by gjones

[gjones]

EC: 34 complaints filed on Senate poll, unofficial results at 10pm

BANGKOK, March 2 (TNA) – Eligible Thai voters Sunday cast their ballots in a

nationwide senatorial election, even as the Election Commission (EC) said it

had tallied 34 complaints filed in regard to election irregulatities and anniounced that

unofficial results should be known at about 10 pm.

Election Commissioner Prapan Naikowit said while inspecting the Bangkok

Metropolitan Administration (BMA) election coordination center that the poll

agency had received 34 complaints, most of them relating to giving money to

eligible voters.

The complaints, however, were on a smaller scale than during last December's

general election, when the EC received more than 100 complaints, Mr.. Prapan

said.

Unofficial results of the Senate (Upper House) election are expected to be

known at 10 pm, seven hours after the polling stations close, he said.

"Endorsement of senators winning the election by the EC is expected to be

made on March 5 so that they could perform duty in the Parliament," said Mr.

Prapan.

The EC will investigate those accused of performing fraud in the election

within 30 days, he said.

Meanwhile, Pongsak Semsan, permanent secretary of the Bangkok municipality,

said unofficial results for Senatorial election in Bangkok are expected to

be known at about 6 pm.

The EC has projected that between 60-70 per cent of eligible voters would

exercise their balloting rights throughout the country.

A total of 76 candidates will be elected, one for each province, including

Bangkok, and will be seated in the upper chamer with 74 senators appointed

earlier by a selection panel and already endorsed by the EC. (TNA)-E111

Political News : Last Update : 12:27:20 2 March 2008 (GMT+7:00)

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=3064

and some voters might have been voting twice!

[sriracha john]

The great intellectual scholar gets published... three decades late...

Samak says he will publish his book on March 20

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday that his new book titled, "Politics and Passion", will be published on March 20. He said he wrote the book 30 years ago and a publisher wants to publish it.

"Reporters should read this book because it is about politics and the life of a man called Samak," the prime minister said.

He said he would not distribute it for free to other Cabinet members because its retail price would be nearly Bt200.

"I'll earn only little profit from the book, so I'll keep the money for the expense of the prime minister," Samak said.

- The Nation

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown whether or not the title, Politics and Passion, is derived from and inspired by his fetching wife. (the one on the left)

Depends on what she looked like 30 years ago, I suppose

Edited March 7, 2008 by sriracha john

[Tony Clifton]

Edited March 7, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[sriracha john]

Get back in here, Tony, and put a caption to that photo...

[Tony Clifton]

[traveller5000]

Unknown whether or not the title, Politics and Passion, is derived from and inspired by his fetching wife. (the one on the left)

Depends on what she looked like 30 years ago, I suppose

Just as I suspected, there is a relationship for Samak between politics and passion. His political style is forceful, almost brutal.

I pity any woman (or man - who knows?) on the receiving end of Samaks passion.

[sriracha john]

Thank you.

Much better.

[Ricardo]

Transport Ministry: 1 Trillion Baht Budget to Be Allocated for Mega-Projects

The Transport Ministry assigned its departments to design a four-year administrative plan, in accordance with the government's policy, with an expected budget of more than one trillion baht to be allocated to the state's mega-investment projects.

Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary, Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, said he has assigned all department chiefs under the ministry's control to conduct a four-year administrative plan in reference to the government's policy, and to submit to the ministry by this week, before passing the plan on to the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Budget Bureau, for further consideration.

Chaisawat estimates that the ministry will require a fiscal budget of more than one trillion baht during the four-year period, the highest ever, because there are many mass transit projects to develop, including nine routes for Bangkok's electric trains, the dual track rail project, and the high-speed and commuter train projects.

- Thailand Outlook

So in fact, the mega-projects will not fully be financed by the stupid foreigners, after all.

I'd love to know where the government plans to get this money from. Apart from a quadrupled tourist industry.

Perhaps a certain former-PM might be asked to make a suitable contribution, before his funds are un-frozen, after all ?

UPDATE. Apparently the new government plans to run a budget-deficit, for the next 3 years, so they don't know where to get it from either. Just like the good old days, of high-spending & devil-may-care, when the bill eventually comes in. But that will be a problem for another government - so who cares ? !

[sriracha john]

That's also news where the trillion comes from... high-rolling international gamblers flocking to the new casinos...

[sriracha john]

PM given Alcohol Act warning

Lobbyists threaten huge protests if law eased

PM Samak will face massive protests if he insists on going ahead with the amendment to the Alcohol Control Act, anti-alcohol lobbyists have warned. The Public Network against Alcohol Consumption yesterday sent an open letter to Samak to oppose his intention to amend Article 30 of the legislation that restricts various alcohol promotional campaigns. Khamron Choodecha, the coordinator of the network, accused Samak of pushing swiftly for the amendment after he met with a group of de facto alcohol distributors at Government House on Monday. The activist was referring to representatives from the Federation on Alcohol Control of Thailand (FACT). According to Mr Khamron, the federation's chairperson Wimonwan Udomphorn, is a senior executive of Riche Monde (Bangkok) Co, which produces and imports many brands of alcohol beverages. "FACT only moves to reduce the impact on the alcohol business. It has never said or done anything to reduce the problems of alcohol," he said. "[samak] even said he would wait for information from entrepreneurs to back the legal amendment. This shows that he does not bother to consider information from academics and the public," Mr Khamron said. He stressed that the Alcohol Control Act was the only law that was supported by as many as 264 organisations and that more than 13 million people had signed their names calling for the legislation to be passed.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/12Mar2008_news08.php

[younghusband]

Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday that his new book titled, "Politics and Passion", will be published on March 20. He said he wrote the book 30 years ago and a publisher wants to publish it.

"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown whether or not the title, Politics and Passion, is derived from and inspired by his fetching wife. (the one on the left)

Depends on what she looked like 30 years ago, I suppose

So this is what it comes down to....boorish and sarcastic remarks about a blameless elderly woman who has nothing to do with politics.

[Plus]

PM given Alcohol Act warning

As a democratically elected government Samak has to comply with majority's wishes, and they want to drink and gamble their lives away. So what's the problem?

[younghusband]

PM given Alcohol Act warning

As a democratically elected government Samak has to comply with majority's wishes, and they want to drink and gamble their lives away. So what's the problem?

Couple of things here.It is not the case that democratically elected governments are bound to comply with the majority's wishes.As an example take the issue of capital punishment in Western Europe, now generally banned, where the majority is probably in favour for at least the most heinous crimes.More generally as Edmund Burke argued long ago it is for representatives to vote for what is morally right not to blindly follow the wishes of their constituents.Elected governments must show leadership and sometimes this means facing down the mob even when it is a majority.As to the specifics, yes in the end individuals should make choices about their own lives even if that means ruining them.But governments have the duty to educate and encourage the right way (eg banning alcholic drink adverts etc).The degree of interference by government is of course quite subjective and will differ from culture to culture anyway.

I was struck, on a different but related tack, by the comment of the new Russian president to the effect that no society had ever become truly prosperous that had not been a democracy.I think that holds true - Japan, South Korea, Western Europe, USA. Canada, Australia, NZ etc.Hong Kong is the obvious exception although clearly that society is straining to be a real democracy.

[sbk]

Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday that his new book titled, "Politics and Passion", will be published on March 20. He said he wrote the book 30 years ago and a publisher wants to publish it.

"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown whether or not the title, Politics and Passion, is derived from and inspired by his fetching wife. (the one on the left)

Depends on what she looked like 30 years ago, I suppose

So this is what it comes down to....boorish and sarcastic remarks about a blameless elderly woman who has nothing to do with politics.

Agreed, leave his wife out of it, until she starts running as a proxy for her husband, leave her be and focus on the man himself.

[Plus]

PM given Alcohol Act warning

As a democratically elected government Samak has to comply with majority's wishes, and they want to drink and gamble their lives away. So what's the problem?

Couple of things here.It is not the case that democratically elected governments are bound to ...

bla bla bla bla bla

Spare me the lecture, I was being facetous.

This is Thai style democracy, the one that you like so much better that living under junta, in this kind of democracy people voted last December so from that moment on everything the government does is democratic, morally right and just. It also means that everything any government members done in the past is also automatically declared democratic, morally right and exemplary.

That's rule number one. Rule number two - if you think the government is not right, see the rule number one.

[younghusband]

PM given Alcohol Act warning

As a democratically elected government Samak has to comply with majority's wishes, and they want to drink and gamble their lives away. So what's the problem?

Couple of things here.It is not the case that democratically elected governments are bound to ...

bla bla bla bla bla

Spare me the lecture, I was being facetous.

This is Thai style democracy, the one that you like so much better that living under junta, in this kind of democracy people voted last December so from that moment on everything the government does is democratic, morally right and just. It also means that everything any government members done in the past is also automatically declared democratic, morally right and exemplary.

That's rule number one. Rule number two - if you think the government is not right, see the rule number one.

Ah you were being facetious, fair enough.Possibly I was being a bit of a pedant since, in your case at least, I suspect all of what I said was familiar territory.Still it does leave the sneaking suspicion that you favour the rule of clever civil servants (I'm not quite sure if that's the right way to describe it) over the sometimes chaotic version of modern democracy.It's a tempting proposition but in the long run it doesn't work and in my view it is in Thailand's best interest to follow the democratic model.The argument of course is an old old one and much the same debate was going on under the Athenians.

[Plus]

Actually if you substitute "clever civil servants" with "responsible elites" we'd be in perfect agreement, though it is just a part of a larger problem. Next battle will be between groups claiming "responsible elite" status, just like nowadays dictators lusting for power all claim to be more democratic than the rest.

I'm very suspicious of democracy that is eager to redefine time-tested value systems. Like Chalerm's sudden interest in legalising gambling.

[sriracha john]

Public Health Minister in Hot Seat over PM’s Suggestion to Amend Alcohol Act

While the new Health Minister continues to face criticisms and pressure over the drug compulsory licensing, the Prime Minister has just thrown him a new hot potato about an amendment to the Alcohol Act.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has reportedly made a remark earlier this week on the amendment of a clause in the Alcohol Act that bans any free alcoholic drink giveaways and discounts from being offered for alcoholic beverages. Local wine producers have claimed that the laws have made it impossible for them to do business.

Such an idea has instantly drawn criticisms from both lawmakers and anti-alcohol groups.

However, Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap said that PM Samak is an experienced legal expert and is eligible to propose any amendment to the laws.

Still, he denied any knowledge about the proposal and stated that the Prime Minister has not spoken with him about this issue.

Chaiya also reasoned that all pros and cons from any law revision must be considered before any amendment can take place.

Meanwhile, National Legislative Assembly member Praphan Koonmee, who was also a former member of the NLA committee on the 2007 Alcohol Act, commented that the existing law is aimed at preventing drinking among Thai youths and the entire bill has been thoroughly discussed before it was passed into a law.

And as the law has only been put into use for a brief period of time, he now suggests the government wait before they consider any amendment.

Anti-alcohol group member Kamron Choodecha has called for the new government to amend the laws only to strengthen it.

Kamron said that he is waiting to see how the government would proceed with the issue while the group is planning to present data on the effects of discount sales and free alcoholic drink distribution to the Health Minister on Friday, to highlight its opposition against any law amendment that leads to more alcohol consumption among Thai teens.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

Thailand's New PM Defends Myanmar

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand's new prime minister said Sunday Westerners were overly critical of Myanmar and that he had a newfound respect for the nation's military leaders after learning they meditate like good Buddhists.

"Westerners have a saying, 'Look at both sides of the coin,' but Westerners only look at one side," Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said in his weekly television talk show, two days after an official visit to Myanmar.

"Myanmar is a Buddhist country. Myanmar's leaders meditate. They say the country lives in peace," Samak said, noting that he has studied Myanmar for decades but just learned that members of the junta meditate. Both countries are predominantly Buddhist.

Myanmar's junta has come under global criticism for its deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protesters last year and its detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but Samak said he preferred to talk about bilateral trade not democracy during talks with junta chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe.

Many Western nations, including the United States and members of the European Union, maintain economic and political sanctions against the regime for its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power to a democratically-elected government.

Samak said he discussed investment opportunities for Thai companies in Myanmar, especially in the production and exploitation of natural gas and hydropower projects.

"We want to do something about dams. Than Shwe told me, 'You can do it here and here and here. Find the investors and do it," said Samak, whose coalition government took office last month. "Myanmar only uses a small amount of electricity. Thailand needs electricity."

Thai state-owned energy companies are the largest purchasers of gas from Myanmar, contributing almost $2 billion a year to the military regime.

"They found new gas resources. I negotiated with them so we can sign contracts," Samak said, adding that the junta wants to build a pipeline to its largest city, Yangon. "Myanmar doesn't have money to build the pipeline. Thai companies will do that for them."

- Associated Press