Thailand Readies Itself To Host The 14th ASEAN Summit

[younghusband]

"We will write to all nine Asean ambassadors to ask them to convey our message that the red-shirts will not allow Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to host the ASEAN meeting," core pro-Thaksin leader Jatuporn Prompan told AFP.

"We will not allow the terrorist Kasit to host the summit. We will mobilise hundreds of thousands to rally to show that the majority of Thai people do not accept him," said Jatuporn, who is also an opposition lawmaker.

- AFP / 2009-01-06

I wouldn't quite put it this way but for all but the most fanatical PAD believers, Jatuporn has a valid point.Kasit's position as FM is a disgrace given his behaviour in active support for terrorism.It's the common talk among diplomatic staff in Bangkok and I suspect his tenure of the post won't be that long.A pity really for from what I understand he was a diligent and admirable diplomat.Another slightly sad aspect is that a proper apology to the TRhai people would, as far as I am concerned, would clear the decks.This isn't the time to hold grudges.

[samgrowth]

Just out of curiousity. What's Mark or Kasit stand on the temple issue. Will it be discussed in this ASEAN summit?

[Plus]

I mentioned it earlier - Kosit's first job is to overcome the perception that airport shutdown was a terrorist act.

Foreign Minister doesn't mean a minister to please foreigners. If they, or whoever else, have their own perception of what happened, Thailand doesn't need to comply.

If you, or anyone else, want to believe that Thailand finally has a neutral government acceptable to all parties - you are deluding yourself.

There has never been a "third way" or a "silent majority" and this non-existent force most certainly hasn't won anything.

PAD and Democrats have a lot of common ground, THEY won, live with it.

And it is their job to win recognition of the public, they don't need to pretend to be someone else.

[Scott]

I think part of the problem for the Red Shirts is that they are so closely aligned with Thaksin the person, rather than the anti-dictatorship portion. This is a problem in Asia in general, and Thailand in particular. Both sides of this conflict would do better to be for/against ideas and policies rather than people.

So, I think the red's see the return of Thaksin as winning and the yellow's see it as losing. (Simplistic, I know).

[Plus]

Both sides of this conflict would do better to be for/against ideas and policies rather than people.

Hmm, for yellows it has always been about Thaksin the person. They don't particularly care about ideas and policies as long as they can keep Thaksin at bay.

I always said that there's no ideological split in Thai society, it's just an excuse for Thaksin to rally his troops.

[younghusband]

I mentioned it earlier - Kosit's first job is to overcome the perception that airport shutdown was a terrorist act.

Foreign Minister doesn't mean a minister to please foreigners. If they, or whoever else, have their own perception of what happened, Thailand doesn't need to comply.

If you, or anyone else, want to believe that Thailand finally has a neutral government acceptable to all parties - you are deluding yourself.

There has never been a "third way" or a "silent majority" and this non-existent force most certainly hasn't won anything.

PAD and Democrats have a lot of common ground, THEY won, live with it.

And it is their job to win recognition of the public, they don't need to pretend to be someone else.

The airport shut down was a terrorist act.It's not a matter of just faulty perception.The leadership of the PAD should face criminal charges and perhaps they will.

Of course the responsibility of the Foreign Minister is to serve Thailand's interests, not to please foreigners.At the same time it is almost an act of insanity to place a man with such a disgraceful record as Thailand's contact point.Not quite as brain dead as appointing Tony Blair as i/c the Middle East peace process but getting close to it.I doubt whether Kasit will last long in the job.

I thought Khun Abhisit said he was Prime Minister in the interests of all Thais not just a faction.Your mean spiritedness isn't shared by him.Yes some Democrats share the PAD philosophy but one shouldn't overlook that many latterly rejected the movement's extremism and quasi-fascist tendencies.

You don't seem to have much grasp of political realities. By trumpeting "They won, live with it", you simply demonstrate your fanatacism and naivety in equal measures.If the Dems intend to consolidate power they will need to win over vast swathes of Thai population who are broadly in the Thaksin camp.I know you want to destroy representative democracy with your lunatic new politics, but there's no sign anyone has much enthusiasm for that.Abhisit knows he will have to obtain mandate from the Thai people in a general election.All this will require compromise on every side.

[Jai Dee]

Foreign Ministry: ASEAN summit to have 2 meetings

The 14th ASEAN summit meeting and ASEAN’s meeting with its six non-ASEAN dialogue partners may be separately held, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Weerasak Footrakul, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday (January 6) that Prime Minister Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva would chair a meeting today (January 7) to work out details to be prepared to host the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bangkok.

The definite duration for the summit is expected from the meeting, he said.

Based on preliminary survey, he said that all 10 ASEAN member states would be available for the summit between February 27 and 28. While leaders of other six non-ASEAN countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand which supposed to participate in the summit as observers would not be available during the duration.

Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul would not be available during late in January. Japan and Singapore have to seek blessing from their parliaments for annual national budget in early February. China has to hold its parliamentary session in March. Malaysia has to single out its new premier in late March.

However, he stressed that no nation distrusted political situation in Thailand.

Regarding ASEAN’s meeting with its dialogue partners, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Weerasak said that normally the meeting would be held concurrently with ASEAN summit meeting.

However, the meeting between ASEAN and its dialogue partners would be deferred this year. Definite timeframe for the meeting has not yet worked out because leaders of a number of these nations would not be available at the time of ASEAN summit meeting. For instance, late January would be Chinese New Year holidays.

He believed that the anti-government red shirted group’s planned demonstration during the ASEAN summit meeting in Bangkok would not be worrisome for authorities. It had nothing to do with whether other ASEAN member states’ leaders would attend the summit.

So far, he stressed that no single ASEAN member country refused to attend the summit nor sought information for the red shirted mob, adding he believed the ASEAN member states believed that Thai government could handle the situation. They were admiring Thailand that Bangkok’s political situation was resuming normalcy.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tharit Charoongwat, Director-General of Department of Information, in his capacity as spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that a possible alternative at the moment was that ASEAN summit meeting and ASEAN’s meeting with its dialogue partners from six non-ASEAN countries would be separated.

Thailand, he said, preferred to response to other ASEAN member states’ desire for Bangkok to host the 14th ASEAN summit as soon as possible.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 07 January 2009

[WinnieTheKhwai]

> I always said that there's no ideological split in Thai society

And you've always been wrong.

Time to get out of your ivory tower and smell the cold red earth.

[Jai Dee]

Abhisit : Whole Thai people play ASEAN summit host

Prime Minister Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva was confident other ASEAN members would let Thailand to continue be chairman and hosting the 14th ASEAN summit in Bangkok, insisting the summit belonged to the whole Thai people nationwide, not only to the government.

Mr. Abhisit said on Tuesday (January 6) that he personally was still confident that other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members wanted Thailand to still be chairman and host the 14th ASEAN summit in Bangkok, although the anti-government red shirted people reportedly announced that they would encourage other ASEAN states not to participate the summit.

Insisting upcoming 14th ASEAN summit would not only belong to the government, Mr. Abhisit said that all Thai people nationwide would play host to the summit. Maintaining ASEA’s chairmanship and playing good host should be target of the whole Thai people throughout the country, he noted, adding it would benefit majority of the Thai people.

Recalling as former leader of opposition party in the House of Representatives, Mr. Abhisit said that he fully supported previous Mr. Somchai Wongsawat government to play host to the 14th ASEAN summit when the former administration sought his view on the matter as he realized at the time that ASEAN summit was the country’s benefit which needed support from all factions in the Thai society. At the time, he tried to smooth out the summit.

As a result, the premier hoped that opposition parties would support the 14th ASEAN summit, expressing confidence the summit would continue.

Mr. Abhisit also personally believed that the opposition parties would attend parliamentary session on January 21 to perform their duty to consider accords of ASEAN’s framework to be signed during the summit. The session would be deferred from earlier planned between January 8 and 9 as a number of relevant people would be busy.

The Prime Minister also believed that there was no attempt to lobby Cambodian premier to withdraw from participation in the upcoming 14th ASEAN summit in Bangkok. So far, he said that Thailand’s coordination with Cambodia has indicated non-problematic. So far, he insisted there was no single ASEAN member country refusing to join the summit.

Regarding summit planned deferral to February, Mr. Abhisit said that the move had nothing to do with aforementioned matter. Earlier, the summit was scheduled to be hosted in December 2008 which met all participating nations’ timetable.

When the summit had to be adjourned, he said that some nations had limitation, such as budget, their leaders having to visit other countries as the schedules being worked out in advance, China having to host its Communists’ party etc. There were nothing to do with Thailand not being prepared to play host for the summit.

Beijing, said Mr. Abhisit, has informed the Thai government for some time that its leaders could join the summit if it were hosted before February 15. Hanoi, meanwhile, would not be convenient before February 15.

He insisted Beijing government had no problem with his administration. He has assigned relevant ministers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Kasit Piromya, to seek consultation with Chinese authorities on rubber and tourism which were significantly encouraging. Mr. Kasit, said Mr. Abhisit, would abide by the government’s policies and targets.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 07 January 2009

[Scott]

It's good to see that the rest of Asia is understanding of the utter incompetence of a country to hold a convention! I would be interested in finding out if the press reports from some of the other countries are expressing this same profound understanding.

[Plus]

The airport shut down was a terrorist act.It's not a matter of just faulty perception.

It IS a matter of perception, and it's Kosit's job to explain the issue to foreign diplomats and win their support.

You don't seem to have much grasp of political realities....All this will require compromise on every side.

The reality is that compromise on Thaksin is not possible, there are only TWO sides to this conflict and there's no middle ground between them that could serve as a platform for compromise.

Right now Democrats are on top, they "won", and they need to win acceptance of their opponents by doing what they are supposed to do - governing the country, not by compromising with Thaksin.

So, the ideal scenario is for Abhisit to deliver the goods so that Thaksin fans would say "He's not so bad after all, we'll leave him alone".

Less than ideal scenario would be for him to hold elections and win, and force Thaksin fans to shut up because Abhisit's got the real majority behind him.

The reality that escapes you, however, is that Thaksin won't be stopped by silly things like election losses, he'll find a million reasons for his reds to go on. Right now they lost parliamentary battle fair and square yet they still claim that the government is illegitimate, and nothing will ever change their position, only if Thaksin finally gives up or his fans start to like Abhisit, as per scenario one.

I repeat again - compromise with Thaksin is not possible, not unless he submits himself to the courts, ie gives up. His asset seizure trial starts in three monhts, btw.

[younghusband]

The airport shut down was a terrorist act.It's not a matter of just faulty perception.

It IS a matter of perception, and it's Kosit's job to explain the issue to foreign diplomats and win their support.

You don't seem to have much grasp of political realities....All this will require compromise on every side.

The reality is that compromise on Thaksin is not possible, there are only TWO sides to this conflict and there's no middle ground between them that could serve as a platform for compromise.

Right now Democrats are on top, they "won", and they need to win acceptance of their opponents by doing what they are supposed to do - governing the country, not by compromising with Thaksin.

So, the ideal scenario is for Abhisit to deliver the goods so that Thaksin fans would say "He's not so bad after all, we'll leave him alone".

Less than ideal scenario would be for him to hold elections and win, and force Thaksin fans to shut up because Abhisit's got the real majority behind him.

The reality that escapes you, however, is that Thaksin won't be stopped by silly things like election losses, he'll find a million reasons for his reds to go on. Right now they lost parliamentary battle fair and square yet they still claim that the government is illegitimate, and nothing will ever change their position, only if Thaksin finally gives up or his fans start to like Abhisit, as per scenario one.

I repeat again - compromise with Thaksin is not possible, not unless he submits himself to the courts, ie gives up. His asset seizure trial starts in three monhts, btw.

If you want to persuade foreigners the outrages at the airports were somehow justified, you don't use someone whose reputation has been contaminated through his participation in and support for that criminal act.It's not too hard to understand.

------

Either of the two scenarios you detail is acceptable.

The reds do however have a powerful case as every independent observer would attest.My own view is that they are entitled to campaign but should do so peacefully.I think the national mood is to give Abhisit a chance, notwithstanding his path to power was somewhat dubious.He needs a direct mandate from the Thai people.

If Thaksin doesn't accept the results of a fair election, he and his supporters don't deserve any sympathy.But all the evidence is surely that they are prepared to accept a freely given democratic verdict (because they think they will win).Remember it was the forces represented by the coup makers that sought to distort the democratic wishes of the Thai people.The fairness of the next election needs to be rigorously monitored given the shockingly bad record of the military among others in seeking to influnce the result.

You say compromise with Thaksin is impossible (I assume you speak only for yourself: if I am wrong lets hear more about these constituencies who say compromise is impossible).That's what they said before the Hitler-Stalin pact.Who really knows in say three years from now.Many of Thaksin's reforms now have almost universal support so you could say compromise has already begun.

[Koo82]

They said on tv today that the Summit will be held in Huahin instead of Bangkok.

I watched the Truth Today last night on MVtv (satellite). They said the dates are 27 & 28 Feb and 1 Mar.

[Scott]

This is moving around more than Thaksin's mobile cabinet meetings.

[Plus]

If you want to persuade foreigners the outrages at the airports were somehow justified, you don't use someone whose reputation has been contaminated through his participation in and support for that criminal act.It's not too hard to understand.

Theoretically it is better to have someone not "contaminated" to explain things. In reality, however, ALL Democrats are contaminated to a degree, appointing Kosit sends a strong message of where the government stands on Pad/Reds issue, they are just being themselves.

Not the easiest thing to win over diplomats, but the payoff would be sweet.

There was an interesting article by Darril Johnson, former US ambassador. I bet he "gets" Kosit's point of view.

Actually Kosit claims that his words were taken out of context, I don't know what effect his speech had on diplomats who heard it in its entirety.

The reds do however have a powerful case as every independent observer would attest.

...

He needs a direct mandate from the Thai people.

They don't have a case. In the world of coalition governments fresh elections are not required every time balance of power tips from one group to another. Coalition politics are designed that way. Reds would have a strong case if Thailand had a presidential system, as if they need another reason to accuse them of wanting just that.

"Abhisit needs a direct mandate" - yeah, if they want to run Thailand in a different, PPP way. I'd say Thaksin has succeded in undermining traditional Thai political system so the demand for direct mandate among his fans is understandable, but, on the other hand, Somchai didn't have direct mandate from the people, and when they proposed Pracha for the position they didn't talk about direct mandate from the people either. Pracha comes from a party with only a few seats, btw.

If Thaksin doesn't accept the results of a fair election, he and his supporters don't deserve any sympathy.But all the evidence is surely that they are prepared to accept a freely given democratic verdict (because they think they will win).

What are you talking about? What free elections? Don't you see how they treat their opponents during the current by-election campaign? They will never let Democrats to campaign free there, and then they would call it "fair", which it isn't in the least.

If Thaksin doesn't accept the results of a fair elections the last thing he'd need is your f*cking sympathy. He is not going to give up his fight for his money just because the elections don't go his way.

It appears you have a naive understanding that Thaksin is figthing for democracy and free elections and not for his frozen assets and power. Now that is something really rare outside of Thaksin's immediate circle of fans.

[Koo82]

I want to know why they set the venue in Huahin. This place does not have good beach, does not have big Buddha Lord statue, does not have great Wat and has nothing special to show representatives of countries attending ASEAN Summit.

The reds until this minutes say that they don't block the Summit but they want to let these countries know that they don't accept Kasit to be Foreign Minister. He was in the PAD protests. Blocking Government House and airports are terrorists' actions.

They don't accept a terrorist in that position.

Edited January 7, 2009 by Koo82

[jbowman1993]

I want to know why they set the venue in Huahin. This place does not have good beach, does not have big Buddha Lord statue, does not have great Wat and has nothing special to show representatives of countries attending ASEAN Summit.

The reds until this minutes say that they don't block the Summit but they want to let these countries know that they don't accept Kasit to be Foreign Minister. He was in the PAD protests. Blocking Government House and airports are terrorists' actions.

They don't accept a terrorist in that position.

Don't be so thick-headed...

There is one reason the Summit will take place in Hua-Hin. A very powerful and a very very smart reason. The red shirt idiots will not dare protest in "his" home. Even they are not that stupid.

Brilliant move by the government, and makes them look like a better and better choice, while the reds just seem be more and more desparate. That money must really be draining away, if Thakky can only afford 30 protesters now (in front of Government House).

Abhisit has what most of our leaders have been lacking for so long. A measure of common sense.

[jbowman1993]

Govt moves Asean summit to Hua Hin

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 7/01/2009 at 03:39 PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced on Wednesday the change of the venue of the 14th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to be hosted by Thailand.

The summit, which was earlier planned to be held in Bangkok, will be moved to the resort town of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province for security reasons, Mr Abhisit told reporters.

The summit would be divided into two parts, he added.

The first part of the summit will be held from February 27 to March 1, while the second part will be held around the end of April.

The decision came after the anti-government group United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) threatened to block the summit.

[younghusband]

I want to know why they set the venue in Huahin. This place does not have good beach, does not have big Buddha Lord statue, does not have great Wat and has nothing special to show representatives of countries attending ASEAN Summit.

The reds until this minutes say that they don't block the Summit but they want to let these countries know that they don't accept Kasit to be Foreign Minister. He was in the PAD protests. Blocking Government House and airports are terrorists' actions.

They don't accept a terrorist in that position.

Don't be so thick-headed...

There is one reason the Summit will take place in Hua-Hin. A very powerful and a very very smart reason. The red shirt idiots will not dare protest in "his" home. Even they are not that stupid.

Brilliant move by the government, and makes them look like a better and better choice, while the reds just seem be more and more desparate. That money must really be draining away, if Thakky can only afford 30 protesters now (in front of Government House).

Abhisit has what most of our leaders have been lacking for so long. A measure of common sense.

As you know I believe the reds have a strong case and the "in the pay of Thaksin" line doesn't really work, but perhaps just forum invective.

However they cannot be allowed to disrupt the Summit, and should be dispersed forcibly if they do.They should be allocated an area distant from the hotels/conference hall where they can make all the noise they like.Although the PAD fanatics scream and rant at the thought the reality is that as to behaviour on the streets the reds have quite a responsible record, far better than the PAD thugs.Strange really since the PAD is meant to represent the educated civilised part of society while the reds are just stupid, corrupt, ignorant peasants in the pay of an exiled dictator.

Yes Hua Hin is a smart choice for the reasons you suggest.

[samgrowth]

Hua Hin will be a smart choice:

1. The RED will have to spread their numbers (which is already thin) into 2; to Swampy & Hua Hin.

2. Hua Hin is in the South, Dems ground (Chiang mai will be unthinkable)

3. The palace is there, so the RED will have to think twice doing anything funny.

4. If the BKK-HH road is block, or Swampy is block, Mark can still fly the delegates down to HH airport.

5. Many RED in BKK are taxi drivers, which can block road, airport etc. They are unlikely to join the protest in HH.

6. Border army is there. Most import, there is a big Navy base there, easy to mobilise without being stuck in BKK traffic.

7. Any incident will have minimum casulty in HH. Too many innocent by-standers in BKK might get hurt if conflict in BKK.

Now, the RED muct re-plan. Capture Swampy. This is a sign that Mark government is on a run.

[Jai Dee]

Cambodia likely to miss Asean summit

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen may not attend a regional summit in neighbouring Thailand next month, his spokesman said Friday, after it was rescheduled following months of protests in Bangkok.

Thailand said it would go ahead without him. Asean Affairs Department director-general Vitavas Srivihok said Cambodia's absence would not affect the summit.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said it would be costly and difficult for Hun Sen to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, recently moved from Bangkok to Hua Hin.

The summit was originally set to be held in Bangkok in December but was moved first to northern Chiang Mai, then delayed and moved again to the coast in late February as political turmoil engulfed Thailand.

Hun Sen believes meetings with key regional partners China, Japan and South Korea, which have been pushed back to take place separately in April, are the most important element of talks, the spokesman said.

"If it's only the 10 Asean countries meeting, it would be difficult for Hun Sen to go," he said.

"He says that Thailand should reconsider and wait until the end of the year (to host the summit)."

But Hun Sen has been a prickly critic of Thailand and its term as chairman as Asean, suggesting several times last year it would be better if Thailand gave up the chair because of its internal problems. The true sticking point, however, has been the disputes over Preah Vihear temple and border demarcation.

Hun Sen backed a suggestion from Singapore that the bloc consider staging the summit at the Asean secretariat in Jakarta, the spokesman said.

He said talks with China, Japan and South Korea were most critical because they are expected to give $80 billion in regional aid to reduce short-term liquidity problems, in line with the so-called Chiang Mai initiatives agreed in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Thailand currently holds the rotating chairmanship of Asean, which groups it with Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Source: AFP - 10 January 2009

[Plus]

Reds ideas on the summit are very inconsistent.

What do exactly do they plan to do?

Peacefully protest? Block the meeting? Block the airport?

Noppadon and Jakrapob wanted to talk other ASEAN leaders into skipping the summit altogether.

"As you know I believe the reds have a strong case.."

Strong case for what, YH?

For fighting "conspiracy" between the army, elites, bureaucracy, middle classes, businessmen, politicians, and 60% of population who didn't vote for PPP?

Reds' thuggish and unreasonable behavior left them completely alienated. What do they have a strong case for?

[sriracha john]

"We will mobilise hundreds of thousands to rally to show that the majority of Thai people do not accept him," said Jatuporn, who is also an opposition lawmaker.

in their warm-up protest, they came up just a few shy of "hundreds of thousands"....

Some 30 red-shirted people protest at Government House

Some 30 red-shirted protesters rallied outside the Government House Wednesday morning to demand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House and resign.

- The Nation / 2009-01-07

Edited January 10, 2009 by sriracha john

[Scott]

Yeah, but those red shirts are a little scary than the well-organized yellows!

[hammered]

If the story of Gen. Sonthi's new politcal party with Newin and Yuth (and CP money) are true the reds are going to have more problems raising numbers. They have already lost Newin. If Yuth goes over the horizon that is another horde no longer available.

I have heard the going rate is 1000 baht now. I dont know if it is true (although those who told me would have no reason to lie) but the rate the story of it is spreading it will become fait accompli if not fact already. That means spending lots more money for the big events (the smaller ones are no doubt unpaid hardcore) or accepting smaller numbers.

If someone were playing the reds they would be doing a very good job of it righrt now. Of course nobody is.....

[Koo82]

Reds ideas on the summit are very inconsistent.

What do exactly do they plan to do?

Peacefully protest? Block the meeting? Block the airport?

They plan to send letters to 9 countries saying that they have no issue with them and the Summit and they do not stop the Summit, but they are shy having a Foreign Minister who is not suitable for the job and who is a terrorist blocking Government House and airports. They will protest that they don't accept Kasit as FM.

Listen to what Kasit said in the interview regarding Khun Hun Sen, using bs word and other ugly words, to see how he is matched to be terrorist more than a Foreign Minister.

If anyone is not clear of what the red plan, you should listen to the Truth Today tv talk. They'll have a new satellite channel scheduled from 18 Jan (this month). Currently you can watch from MVtv from 6:30pm.

You all must stop thinking about the reds blocking airports. Isn't it not clear that they don't have the supports PAD has? They said the damage PAD did to Thailand is enough. They're not going to damage further.

[Jai Dee]

DDM: Cambodian PM's request to reschedule ASEAN Summit not a problem

Deputy Minister of Defense revealed yesterday that the Cambodian PM's request to Thailand to reschedule the date of the ASEAN Summit should not be problematic, while instead considering this matter as part of the managerial process of responsible government bodies.

General Apichart Penkitti, a Defense Deputy Minister, asserted today that the Cambodian PM Somdej Hunsen's request to Thailand to reschedule the date of the ASEAN Summit with new potential members should not become a dilemma.

However, he added that such matter would instead revolve around the administrative management, which would be taken into the consideration regarding convenience and readiness of all ASEAN members.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) would be responsible for establishing mutual understanding among the members.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 11 January 2009

[Plus]

Listen to what Kasit said in the interview regarding Khun Hun Sen, using bs word and other ugly words, to see how he is matched to be terrorist more than a Foreign Minister.

I missed that. Was it reported in the English media?

I don't have any compassion for "abused" Hun Sen, btw. Someone has to put that <deleted> in place before it's too late.

That puppy has got big appetite.

[Ricardo]

Now, the RED muct re-plan. Capture Swampy. This is a sign that Mark government is on a run.

You would support another airport closure ? I didn't like the first one, and I'm sure there is very little support, for another.

Moving the venue of the ASEAN conference, from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin, surely shows a government acting intelligently & in control, rather than "on the run" ?

You all must stop thinking about the reds blocking airports. Isn't it not clear that they don't have the supports PAD has? They said the damage PAD did to Thailand is enough. They're not going to damage further.

Good news, to hear this from a red-shirt supporter, thanks Koo.

[Koo82]

Thanks Ricardo.

From the news I got so far, it seems that representatives from China, Cambodia and Vietnam are not sure if they can come for some reasons.

The truth is, if the terrorist PAD had not blocked the airports, the Summit would have been taken place.

Shame on PAD. I don't know why PAD are loved by some people here. What did PAD contribute to the development of Thailand?