Pm Somchai Will Not Resign

[Samuian]

PAD to continue protesting but cut down to one rally site

By The Nation

The People's Alliance for Democracy has resolved to continue its protests although it has agreed to just confine to one rally site inside Government House, PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang said.

...edit.....

Chamlong said the PAD-led protests would focus dual objectives - opposing the charter rewrite and pressuring the government to quit in order to assume responsibility for the October 7 violent crackdown

Source:

[hammered]

PAD to continue protesting but cut down to one rally site

By The Nation

The People's Alliance for Democracy has resolved to continue its protests although it has agreed to just confine to one rally site inside Government House, PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang said.

...edit.....

Chamlong said the PAD-led protests would focus dual objectives - opposing the charter rewrite and pressuring the government to quit in order to assume responsibility for the October 7 violent crackdown

Source:

Basically saying we will go on while recognizing the reality that they cant keep the current numbers out for ever and will have to downsize and one defensible site is preferable considering Salang. Chamlong understands tactics and strategy. They will call the numbers out when the next big moment comes. I wonder when that will be.

There is also the question of upcoming events that cannot be interupted, so it will either be a rapid return to street action or a fairly prolonged period of inactivity (30-40) days unless of course the rumour of having to vacate GH before that time is true which outs us back to only a very short lull and this announcement is for PR purposes.

There is also what will the government do and their supporters.

[cougar52]

Yesterday, PAD and their NON VIOLENT protesters threw shoes and bottles at Somchai as he was leaving a ministry.

Please all you PAD supports, tell me where anywhere in the world this is allowed without some arrest or some fighting. I am just disgusted with they way they act and feel no lost of face in this land of smiles

[Guest Reimar]

Yesterday, PAD and their NON VIOLENT protesters threw shoes and bottles at Somchai as he was leaving a ministry.

Please all you PAD supports, tell me where anywhere in the world this is allowed without some arrest or some fighting. I am just disgusted with they way they act and feel no lost of face in this land of smiles

It wasn't PAD, which means that NOT PAD was forcing that people for to do so what on the other hand didn't mean they were not PAD supporters! They could be. At the TOT visit of Somchai there were more than 300 protesters but again that wasn't launched by PAD.

And where i world are criminals and convicted human are running a country and that not only just a short time but for years already while within every "election" the votes are bought by that criminals?!

Maybe you should take a look at the criminal agenda of TRT and PPP and it's already convisted members and those which having a court case running against them already.

Cheers.

[Guest Reimar]

PM booed on visit to ICT Ministry

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation HERE

Published on October 23, 2008

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was yesterday was greeted with boos and plastic bottles and shoes were thrown at him by protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy when he visited the Information and Communication Technology Ministry.

The ministry is located in the TOT building on Chaeng Wattana Road.

About 300 protesters shook "hand clappers" and shouted "TOT workers don't welcome you", "Somchai: murderer", "PM kills people" and "Cruel PM" alternatively. They were reacting to the October 7 violence.

Because of the protests, Somchai's vehicle was parked in the underground car park instead of in front of the building.

The prime minister then went up to hold a meeting with ICT Ministry senior officials.

Somchai had been informed about the PAD supporters' presence, but he insisted on visiting the ministry. "I will go to work," he said. He planned to visit all the ministries.

He said he was not doing the job for himself. Somchai said he could still resign but he did not believe the people would benefit from that.

"I know that no prime minister can stay in the post forever. It's all right for me if I have to quit. But the policies must stay," he said.

When Somchai arrived, 20 protesters armed with hand-clappers were waiting for him. He shook the hands of a few of them before security officers helped him get in a lift to the 13th floor.

The protesters then informed their friends, through speakers, to gather and cover all the lifts and exits of the building. They also surrounded Somchai's car.

In the meantime, Somchai's guards surveyed the building and prepared for an emergency exit if needed. They asked for a helicopter landing point and prepared a bullet-proof car for the prime minister.

Police officers from the nearby Thung Song Hong Police Station were called to back up but protesters booed and blew whistles against them on arrival. The protesters also blocked the officers from getting in.

When Somchai went downstairs, the PAD protesters surrounded him and shook the hand-clappers near his face. Some threw plastic bottles and shoes at him, which almost hit the prime minister on the head while he was taking ICT Minister Mun Patanotai's car out. Somchai's car was left there.

The premier later went to relax at his house, which is also on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Somchai told Mun and Deputy Transport Minister Varawut Silapa-archa, who greeted him, not to worry. He said he would be patient with such protests.

He told the ministry to keep an eye on and prevent illegal Websites.

Government spokesman Nutthawut Sai-kua said the protesters were over-exercising the right of gathering. It was undemocratic as they violated others' rights.

The PAD was trying to provoke people and make it appear that the prime minister had been rejected although they were only a few protesters. While PAD calls on the government to take responsibility for the October 7 suppression, it should also be held responsible for the injuries suffered by the police on that day, he said.

"PAD leaders should try living a normal life and go shopping in a mall or a market to check their ratings. For example, Sondhi [Limthongkul] or Maj-General Chamlong [srimuang] might go to a mall and Suriyasai [Katasila] or Somsak [Kosaisuk] go to a market to see how people would react to them. They should not use more people as their guards than the prime minister does," he said.

[Samuian]

Yesterday, PAD and their NON VIOLENT protesters threw shoes and bottles at Somchai as he was leaving a ministry.

Please all you PAD supports, tell me where anywhere in the world this is allowed without some arrest or some fighting. I am just disgusted with they way they act and feel no lost of face in this land of smiles

Here we go!

Act of violence.... well I stick to "Civil disobedience" as throwing foam clappers, foam flippers and (empty) water bottles as a sign of disapprovement, is by light years not as violent as what this protest was against!

Remember, this happened BECAUSE of the Act of VIOLENCE conducted by government forces against peacefully protesting supporters of "New Politics" and the PAD Movement on the 7th. October, ordered by THIS man!

Now this was VIOLENCE, Sir!

Get real!

[Bangyai]

He should have never been appointed PM in the first place.

It is just another reason that the realm is the laughing stock of the entire world.

Yes, considering his relationship to the ' bogie man ' it was not exactly a move that was going to put everyone in a conciliatory mood. Almost as big a clanger as choosing ' only 1 died ' Samak as the front man.

[animatic]

He should have never been appointed PM in the first place.

It is just another reason that the realm is the laughing stock of the entire world.

Yes, considering his relationship to the ' bogie man ' it was not exactly a move that was going to put everyone in a conciliatory mood. Almost as big a clanger as choosing ' only 1 died ' Samak as the front man.

Well Bangman we agree on this for sure!

[Bangyai]

P P P

Paid Professional Purloiners

Particularly Partisan Pratts

Pilfering Profiteering Proteges

Purile Pandering Profligacy

Patronizing Perverting Pillaging

Pointless Peculating Prevaricators

Phony Pestilent Plants

Not bad animatic, not bad. Not sure about the plants bit though ? Do you mean plants as in ' they're rooted ' i.e. doomed , or that their support is from the grassroots? Likely the former knowing you.

Anyway....I won't keep you in suspense...here's the riposte.

P A D

Protesters Against Democracy

Psychotic Abrasive Donkeys

Pathetic Angry Delinquents

Paranoid And Deranged

Pesky Antagonising Dinosaurs

Puerile Aggressive Desperadoes

Poo Poo's Ah Ah's Diarrhea

I saved the best until last you'll notice although I quiet liked the donkey one too

[Mobi]

Yesterday, PAD and their NON VIOLENT protesters threw shoes and bottles at Somchai as he was leaving a ministry.

Please all you PAD supports, tell me where anywhere in the world this is allowed without some arrest or some fighting. I am just disgusted with they way they act and feel no lost of face in this land of smiles

Here we go!

Act of violence.... well I stick to "Civil disobedience" as throwing foam clappers, foam flippers and (empty) water bottles as a sign of disapprovement, is by light years not as violent as what this protest was against!

Remember, this happened BECAUSE of the Act of VIOLENCE conducted by government forces against peacefully protesting supporters of "New Politics" and the PAD Movement on the 7th. October, ordered by THIS man!

Now this was VIOLENCE, Sir!

Get real!

From today's Daily Telegraph:

Thai PM Somchai pelted with shoes

Thailand's embattled prime minister Somchai Wongsawat was pelted with shoes and water bottles by state employees while visiting a government ministry.

By Thomas Bell in Bangkok

Last Updated: 2:56PM BST 22 Oct 2008

The Thai prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was pelted with shoes and water bottles by state employees while visiting a government ministry.

Mr Somchai is escorted by security personnel during a anti-government protest Photo: AFP/Getty

Mr Somchai was confronted with a group of several angry hundred union members shouting "you are a murderer, you are a monitor lizard, shame on you" and "Somchai get out" when he arrived at the telecommunications ministry in Bangkok.

At the end of his meeting the prime minister tried to leave by way of an underground car-park. The protesters cornered him and pelted him with missiles while his aides and police shielded him and hustled him through the crowd to a waiting car.

Earlier this month Mr Somchai was forced to make a run for it when thousands of anti-government protesters surrounded parliament. The prime minister made his escape by climbing a fence.

Two protesters died in clashes with police that day – leading to the slogan that Mr Somchai is a "murderer".

For two months anti-government protesters have illegally occupied Government House, forcing the government to use temporary offices at Bangkok's old airport.

The protesters claim the government is the puppet of the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Thaksin, who is in London, was convicted in absentia of corruption on Tuesday. Mr Somchai is his brother-in-law.

The majority of Thais support the government.

[Samuian]

.

At the end of his meeting the prime minister tried to leave by way of an underground car-park. The protesters cornered him and pelted him with missiles while his aides and police shielded him and hustled him through the crowd to a waiting car.

Earlier this month Mr Somchai was forced to make a run for it when thousands of anti-government protesters surrounded parliament. The prime minister made his escape by climbing a fence.

Two protesters died in clashes with police that day – leading to the slogan that Mr Somchai is a "murderer".

For two months anti-government protesters have illegally occupied Government House, forcing the government to use temporary offices at Bangkok's old airport.

The protesters claim the government is the puppet of the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Thaksin, who is in London, was convicted in absentia of corruption on Tuesday. Mr Somchai is his brother-in-law.

The majority of Thais support the government.

I for myself think since sometime mid 2002 that this is a fine piece of a remake of Monthy Python "The XXXX and X" well you know.... what I mean.. very funny stuff...especially it seems to become a genuine extendet version "until we die" sort of drama thing.

There is so much more up into the air then people are ready to see!

Most only watch the live performance on stage, hardly anyone knows the book and the hands that are writing it....

But however before we get lost in crystal ball reading and soul searching of an entire nation, how about some focusing, I mean INTENSE focusing on PMThaksin, PMSamak, Chalerm, Newin, Chakrapob, PMSurayud, Gen Sonthi, tycoon Sondhi etc. as it is highly relevant for the now and the future. If any of the Big Men can stop the next massacre in the name of ‘War on Drugs’, can make the South peaceful, can deliver high quality education to all Thai children (and children of immigrants too it is hoped), encourage a more democratic culture, more transparent and inclusive governance, free and high quality media (like SBS and ABC in Australia) etc…etc…, I would be highly grateful. Maybe in that open and fair future (it is hoped), we might be able to make a more objective assessment of the pasts that led to it…

Excerpts from:

Just a thought, before we all get more and more dragged away from the real issues, these are part of the multiple promises which have been given for the last 7 years and for many, many years before that.

It has been possible that one of the worst capitalist figures out of this, managed to be come known as "the most popular politician" !

Money Politics, also known as "Thaksinomics" and as he loved to point out being the CEO of this enterprise!

How did this come about, what is so deeply wrong here?

Did really the many, many voters believe his catching, populist phrases and promises, did really people think he is going to lead Thailand, it's rural people out of poverty, into a gleaming new road show?

I am afraid yes, yes, many got caught, eyes wide shut, believing his populist announcements and empty promises.

Who is blaming whom, has Thailand's Urban middle class really forgotten their rural neighbors, is this the reason of the rift?

Or has that all been made up, to get a divide,to have opposing fronts, how to create public division if there is unity and understanding, caring between the citizen of one country?

Has this divide been man made, slowly but delicately manufactured to again just serve the self interests of one man or a very small group of interest sharing people?

Or is it a general disinterest in genuine politicians, in politics by the book, displaced by ever growing self interest of an ever more egomaniac turning society?

let's think again!

[Meerkat]

Here we go!

Act of violence.... well I stick to "Civil disobedience" as throwing foam clappers, foam flippers and (empty) water bottles as a sign of disapprovement, is by light years not as violent as what this protest was against!

Remember, this happened BECAUSE of the Act of VIOLENCE conducted by government forces against peacefully protesting supporters of "New Politics" and the PAD Movement on the 7th. October, ordered by THIS man!

Now this was VIOLENCE, Sir!

Get real!

The Central Administrative Court disagreed with your claim that the protest on the 7th was peaceful. Matichon had a full report of the judgement; Bangkok Pundit translates. I've linked both in case there is a translation error.

Unsurprisingly, the pitiful English Language media here decided not to report the full account of the injunction, which in a nutshell stated that:

1) The PAD protest was not peaceful and thus not protected by the Constitution.

2) The protest was designed to prevent the government from carrying out its obligations according to the Constitution (and you can bet your bottom satang that had the government failed to do so, they would have been up before the Constitutional Court quicker than you could say, "Senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana".)

3) The police had the authority to break up the protest, but using only appropriate force.

4) The police overstepped the mark, and thus the injunction was passed to limit said force in future.

So all in all a pretty balanced judgement; both sides get apportioned some blame. Please note that I in no way condone the excessive force used by the police, but IMO it is important to put happenings in their proper context, something the Nation, Post and (shock) TOC regularly fail to do. In the same vein there is a new article on Prachatai (an online newspaper set up to counter Thaksin's attempts at muzzling the media, so hardly pro-TRT/PPP) which expands upon the state of the media here, in particular how editorial bent all too easily gets mixed up with supposed "news" reporting.

[jitagon]

Yesterday, PAD and their NON VIOLENT protesters threw shoes and bottles at Somchai as he was leaving a ministry.

Please all you PAD supports, tell me where anywhere in the world this is allowed without some arrest or some fighting. I am just disgusted with they way they act and feel no lost of face in this land of smiles

Here we go!

Act of violence.... well I stick to "Civil disobedience" as throwing foam clappers, foam flippers and (empty) water bottles as a sign of disapprovement, is by light years not as violent as what this protest was against!

Remember, this happened BECAUSE of the Act of VIOLENCE conducted by government forces against peacefully protesting supporters of "New Politics" and the PAD Movement on the 7th. October, ordered by THIS man!

Now this was VIOLENCE, Sir!

Get real!

^{From today's Daily Telegraph:}

Thai PM Somchai pelted with shoes

Thailand's embattled prime minister Somchai Wongsawat was pelted with shoes and water bottles by state employees while visiting a government ministry.

By Thomas Bell in Bangkok

Last Updated: 2:56PM BST 22 Oct 2008

The Thai prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was pelted with shoes and water bottles by state employees while visiting a government ministry.

Mr Somchai is escorted by security personnel during a anti-government protest Photo: AFP/Getty

Mr Somchai was confronted with a group of several angry hundred union members shouting "you are a murderer, you are a monitor lizard, shame on you" and "Somchai get out" when he arrived at the telecommunications ministry in Bangkok.

At the end of his meeting the prime minister tried to leave by way of an underground car-park. The protesters cornered him and pelted him with missiles while his aides and police shielded him and hustled him through the crowd to a waiting car.

Earlier this month Mr Somchai was forced to make a run for it when thousands of anti-government protesters surrounded parliament. The prime minister made his escape by climbing a fence.

Two protesters died in clashes with police that day – leading to the slogan that Mr Somchai is a "murderer".

For two months anti-government protesters have illegally occupied Government House, forcing the government to use temporary offices at Bangkok's old airport.

The protesters claim the government is the puppet of the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Thaksin, who is in London, was convicted in absentia of corruption on Tuesday. Mr Somchai is his brother-in-law.

The majority of Thais support the government.

Bearing in mind that even the BBC are relying on personal emails/telephone calls (I had one) requesting information re the political situation here in Thailand, even though they have Jonathan Head here in Bangkok - where on earth do the Torygraph get their facts from?!

[Mobi]

Bearing in mind that even the BBC are relying on personal emails/telephone calls (I had one) requesting information re the political situation here in Thailand, even though they have Jonathan Head here in Bangkok - where on earth do the Torygraph get their facts from?!

From Thomas Bell in Bangkok.

I too, don't know where he got his facts from, but he is an accredited journalist for The DT and has a a substantial background of writing news stories on Thailand, and elsewhere in SE Asia.

"Thomas Bell has written articles published in The Daily Telegraph (South East Asia Correspondent) and The Sunday Telegraph (South East Asia Correspondent). He has written 201 articles published in 14 news websites since June 2007..."

[younghusband]

Bearing in mind that even the BBC are relying on personal emails/telephone calls (I had one) requesting information re the political situation here in Thailand, even though they have Jonathan Head here in Bangkok - where on earth do the Torygraph get their facts from?!

Would you care to point out which part or parts of Thomas Bell's report is inaccurate?

Perhaps it is the concluding part that the government has the support majority of the people of Thailand.My subjective view is that this is probably the case.Nobody can of course be sure and national opinion polls are not really reliable.Presumably the position will be clearer if parliament is dissolved and a general election takes place.

[ace]

.......................

It wasn't PAD, which means that NOT PAD was forcing that people for to do so what on the other hand didn't mean they were not PAD supporters! They could be. At the TOT visit of Somchai there were more than 300 protesters but again that wasn't launched by PAD.

............

Cheers.

Doesn't your following post state the opposite? Any evidence?

[sriracha john]

When he's not climbing over fences to escape Parliament from PAD protesters, he's ducking and diving in parking lots to escape government-employee protesters... he's becoming quite an agile Prime Minister...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2289697

===================================================================

Angry protesters have thrown shoes and bottles at Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. About 200 state employees surrounded his car outside the Information Ministry, and called him a murderer.

- BBC

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2289699

[animatic]

P P P

Paid Professional Purloiners

Particularly Partisan Pratts

Pilfering Profiteering Proteges

Purile Pandering Profligacy

Promoting Patronizing Perverting Pillaging

Pointless Peculating Prevaricators

Phony Pestilent Plants

Not bad animatic, not bad. Not sure about the plants bit though ? Do you mean plants as in ' they're rooted ' i.e. doomed , or that their support is from the grassroots? Likely the former knowing you.

Anyway....I won't keep you in suspense...here's the riposte.

P A D

Protesters Against Democracy

Psychotic Abrasive Donkeys

Pathetic Angry Delinquents

Paranoid And Deranged

Pesky Antagonising Dinosaurs

Puerile Aggressive Desperadoes

Poo Poo's Ah Ah's Diarrhea

I saved the best until last you'll notice although I quiet liked the donkey one too

Pundits Athletically Demonstrating

People Abjure Defrauding

Protectors Aiding Decency

Probity Aspiring Diligence

Philosophically Ambiguous Didactics

Permanent Atrocity Detractors

Pushing Abhisit's Development

Punishing Arrogant Doyenne

Protagonist Against Demogogue

Powerplay Annuling Dupes

Perpetuus Allegory Demonstratum

Preventing Abatement Dharma

Peripatetic Abolishing Deceit

Patronization Abrogates Deception

Protection Aegis Duty

Paramount Auspices Defend

Personally Annihilate Decipiency

Perspicacious Acension Decency

[Bangyai]

P P P

Paid Professional Purloiners

Particularly Partisan Pratts

Pilfering Profiteering Proteges

Purile Pandering Profligacy

Promoting Patronizing Perverting Pillaging

Pointless Peculating Prevaricators

Phony Pestilent Plants

Not bad animatic, not bad. Not sure about the plants bit though ? Do you mean plants as in ' they're rooted ' i.e. doomed , or that their support is from the grassroots? Likely the former knowing you.

Anyway....I won't keep you in suspense...here's the riposte.

P A D

Protesters Against Democracy

Psychotic Abrasive Donkeys

Pathetic Angry Delinquents

Paranoid And Deranged

Pesky Antagonising Dinosaurs

Puerile Aggressive Desperadoes

Poo Poo's Ah Ah's Diarrhea

I saved the best until last you'll notice although I quiet liked the donkey one too

Pundits Athletically Demonstrating

People Abjure Defrauding

Protectors Aiding Decency

Probity Aspiring Diligence

Philosophically Ambiguous Didactics

Permanent Atrocity Detractors

Pushing Abhisit's Development

Punishing Arrogant Doyenne

Protagonist Against Demogogue

Powerplay Annuling Dupes

Perpetuus Allegory Demonstratum

Preventing Abatement Dharma

Peripatetic Abolishing Deceit

Patronization Abrogates Deception

Protection Aegis Duty

Paramount Auspices Defend

Personally Annihilate Decipiency

Perspicacious Acension Decency

Sigh.......... I blame myself for this, I never should have encouraged him. I was only being kind

[Samuian]

I was only being kind

Well formulated, great, this could be straight out of Takky's mouth!

First barking and howling at everything that comes in ones way and then, if it doesn't really work... "Mama! Help, I only did an honest mistake, everybody hates me because I am such a popular, successful politician and businessman, everybody envy's me for this...MAMA!"

[hammered]

Is this thread degenerating? Or have I just accidently taken some mind altering substances?

[animatic]

Has he gone a little Potty?

Left off;

Potty Always Demands

[Samuian]

Is this thread degenerating? Or have I just accidently taken some mind altering substances?

As the bases for counter arguments seem to fade, certain threads tend to have the same tendency!

[animatic]

Is this thread degenerating?

Or have I just accidently taken some mind altering substances?

As the bases for counter arguments seem to fade, certain threads tend to have the same tendency!

Well it really comes down to how Hammered are you?

Yes,

when your old ideas are displaced by new realities it is hard to keep up steam.

Try as one might...

[Samuian]

Is this thread degenerating?

Or have I just accidently taken some mind altering substances?

As the bases for counter arguments seem to fade, certain threads tend to have the same tendency!

Well it really comes down to how Hammered are you?

Yes,

when your old ideas are displaced by new realities it is hard to keep up steam.

Try as one might...

thought was more likely bang, bangjai'ed sort of thingy........

However, the Democrats call on Somchai to

Democrat calls on Somchai to defend judiciary

The Democrat Party Friday demanded Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to defend the judiciary after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra issued a statement to criticise the ruling of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office.

Suthas Ngernmuen said Thaksin’s statement, which said he was convicted just because he was politician and because of collaboration by “privileged elites”, had damaged the judiciary.

Source:

Forth and back and forth and back we go...

who will call the terminator?

[Bangyai]

I was only being kind

Well formulated, great, this could be straight out of Takky's mouth!

First barking and howling at everything that comes in ones way and then, if it doesn't really work... "Mama! Help, I only did an honest mistake, everybody hates me because I am such a popular, successful politician and businessman, everybody envy's me for this...MAMA!"

Whataya mean it doesn't work ?? Of course it works. Animatic and I are just having fun with it. Life isn't so serious that you have to be stiff lipped all the time......unless you get the vote here that is.

[sriracha john]

Is this thread degenerating? Or have I just accidently taken some mind altering substances?

speaking of taking mind-altering substances.... this guy took 2 big handfuls....

PM performs excellent job during ASEAN meeting

Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs insisted Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat chaired the ASEAN meeting in Beijing satisfactorily today (October 24).

No question was raised about Thailand's prevailing political situation.

Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs Vitavas Srivihok said the atmosphere at the ASEAN meeting today in Beijing was friendly. ASEAN leaders extended a warm welcome to Somchai, in his capacity as the ASEAN Chairman.

Vithavas also said the Thai premier officially introduced himself to the ASEAN meeting. ASEAN leaders, meanwhile, did not query about the prevailing Thai political situation.

Somchai told the meeting that he would continue administering Thailand on continuing to lead the country at leaset until the country hosts the ASEAN summit at the end of this year.

- ThaiNews / 2008-10-24

[animatic]

Is this thread degenerating? Or have I just accidently taken some mind altering substances?

speaking of taking mind-altering substances.... this guy took 2 big handfuls....

PM performs excellent job during ASEAN meeting

Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs insisted Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat chaired the ASEAN meeting in Beijing satisfactorily today (October 24).

No question was raised about Thailand's prevailing political situation.

ASEAN leaders extended a warm welcome to Somchai, in his capacity as the ASEAN Chairman.

Vithavas also said the Thai premier officially introduced himself to the ASEAN meeting. ASEAN leaders, meanwhile, did not query about the prevailing Thai political situation.

Somchai told the meeting that he would continue administering Thailand on continuing to lead the country at least until the country hosts the ASEAN summit at the end of this year.

- ThaiNews / 2008-10-24

Nice long term prospects: finish Oct, do November official functions and maybe survive December...

In two sentences he went from 'Excellent', to 'satisfasctory', to simply 'his capacity'.

To maybe hanging on a two more months...

Lightning decent of superlatives.

He has to introduce himself, what not a toastmaster?

No OTHER leader wanted to introduce the PM of Thailand??

Most of these guys he's with have YEARS on the job.

And prior experience of decades to go with it.

[sriracha john]

Another criminal investigation into Somchai's Cabinet....between Samak and Somchai, I believe this makes the 103rd Cabinet Minister involved...

People Power Party MP and Education Minister Srimuang Charoensiri

EDUCATION MINISTER ACCUSED

School used in son's wedding

'Training' involved funds, students, staff

The Education Ministry has been asked to explain why Saowabha Vocational College used its funds, staff, and students in the wedding of the Education Minister's son on what was called a "training programme." The college in Phra Nakhon district was said in a complaint by people who withheld their names to have been heavily involved in an elaborate wedding ceremony for Chanawee Charoensiri, the third and youngest son of Education Minister Srimuang Charoensiri.

The ceremony was held yesterday at Srimuang's residence in the morning and at the Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok hotel on Vibhavadi-Rangsit road during the evening. Under a college order No 204/2551 issued on Friday, staff were assigned to provide catering for nine monks and 300 guests in the morning function from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The order specified the names of the staff and their responsibilities, as well as the expenses to be covered by the budget set aside for raw materials for training and education development. A previous college order, No 197/2551, issued on Oct 24, appointed a committee to oversee the design and production of the wedding souvenirs and packaging. The panel members, who included college officials and lecturers, were named in the order.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/131108_News/13Nov2008_news05.php

[Sunderland]

Another criminal investigation into Somchai's Cabinet....between Samak and Somchai, I believe this makes the 103rd Cabinet Minister involved...

People Power Party MP and Education Minister Srimuang Charoensiri

EDUCATION MINISTER ACCUSED

School used in son's wedding

'Training' involved funds, students, staff

The Education Ministry has been asked to explain why Saowabha Vocational College used its funds, staff, and students in the wedding of the Education Minister's son on what was called a "training programme." The college in Phra Nakhon district was said in a complaint by people who withheld their names to have been heavily involved in an elaborate wedding ceremony for Chanawee Charoensiri, the third and youngest son of Education Minister Srimuang Charoensiri.

The ceremony was held yesterday at Srimuang's residence in the morning and at the Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok hotel on Vibhavadi-Rangsit road during the evening. Under a college order No 204/2551 issued on Friday, staff were assigned to provide catering for nine monks and 300 guests in the morning function from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The order specified the names of the staff and their responsibilities, as well as the expenses to be covered by the budget set aside for raw materials for training and education development. A previous college order, No 197/2551, issued on Oct 24, appointed a committee to oversee the design and production of the wedding souvenirs and packaging. The panel members, who included college officials and lecturers, were named in the order.

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http://www.bangkokpost.com/131108_News/13Nov2008_news05.php

He looks like he's good at tossing the caber.