Thailand Readies Itself To Host The 14th ASEAN Summit

[sriracha john]

From 10:30am this morning we will submit letter to Embassy of Cambodia. Next is to Embassy of Laos. At 11:30am, we will submit letter to Embassy of Vietnam.

sorry for another disappointment, Koo... another one of your protest letters got tossed in the waste bin...

Vietnamese PM to attend ASEAN Summit

National News Agency of Vietnam has recently reported that the Vietnamese Prime Minister has already accepted the invitation to attend the ASEAN Summit this coming Friday (February 27).

Today (February 24), the National News Agency of Vietnam reported that the Prime Minister, Mr. Nguyen Tan D, had already accepted the invitation to participate in the 14th ASEAN Summit which would be held in Thailand from February 27 to March 1, 2009 in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

- ThaiNews / 2009-02-24

Edited February 25, 2009 by sriracha john

[Jai Dee]

Poll: Over 70% of Thai respondents confident in smooth holding of ASEAN summit

Some 72.2 percent of the total respondents in a poll by Bangkok University were confident the Thai government and involved organizations as the host of the forthcoming 14th ASEAN summit will be successful in holding the summit, local media reported Wednesday.

The 14th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN is scheduled to be held from Feb. 27 to March 1 in Thailand's central resort Cha-am.

Only 27.8 percent of the total respondents were not confident that the ASEAN summit will be smoothly held, Thai-language newspaper Matichon newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, the poll discovered that the ASEAN summit will largely help boost Thailand's tourism industry among foreign tourists.

Also, the poll found the ASEAN summit will help restore confidence in Thailand among the international community, amid hopes of rising cooperation among the ASEAN country members.

However, some respondents expressed concerns of possible negative impacts from all agreements to be made during the ASEAN summit, the poll said.

The poll was conducted during Feb. 21 to 23 targeting the respondents with 18 years old from multi careers in capital Bangkok.

Source: Xinhua - 25 February 2009

[Jai Dee]

14th Asean summit finally taking place

HUA HIN: After almost three months of delay, two venue changes and constant threats of postponement, Thailand has declared that it will host the 14th Asean Summit in the beach resort of Hua Hin despite thousands of anti-goverment protesters besieging the Prime Minister's Office in Bangkok.

Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Tharit Charungvat said that all systems were in place, including security arrangements for the nine visiting heads of governments, foreign and trade ministers, and hundreds of delegates.

He said that despite the anti-government protest in the capital, the situation was calm and there was no real threat to the meeting which would be held at the Dusit Thani Hotel.

"I am sure the representatives of Asean countries in Bangkok have been following the situation. So far, they have not raised any concern...and this is not the first time we are organising a huge event like this," he told reporters here on Wednesday.

The protestors want Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to resign as well as the dissolution of parliament.

The Summit, which was originally slated for December in Bangkok before being moved to Chiang Mai due to street protests in the capital, was postponed to February due to the prolonged domestic political crisis.

Hua Hin was picked by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government to avoid protests by supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

About 3,100 policemen are expected to be deployed to maintain security in Hua Hin during the summit.

The summit has attracted massive media coverage, with over 1,200 media personnel registering for the event, said Tharit, who is also the ministry's Director-General of Information.

He said it included about 414 international media from 26 countries.

"This is huge and we are trying to facilitate all the facilities for the media. We want to make it easier for them to work, as well as balance their need with the security aspect," he said.

Asked about the Asean+3 and Asean+6 Summits which were initially scheduled at the same time but delayed due to the tight schedule of some leaders, Tharit said it could be held in April but no final decision has been made.

Source: Bernama - 25 February 2009

[Koo82]

From 10:30am this morning we will submit letter to Embassy of Cambodia. Next is to Embassy of Laos. At 11:30am, we will submit letter to Embassy of Vietnam.

sorry for another disappointment, Koo... another one of your protest letters got tossed in the waste bin...

Vietnamese PM to attend ASEAN Summit

You still don't understand what the reds did. They only let these countries know that they don't stop the Summit but they are against the appointment of Kasit into that position.

Finally the reds decided they don't protest at the Summit but in front of Government House instead.

Why worry and sent so many police? They're home since 26 February already.

[animatic]

All they did was make some noise,

and the government went ahead with real business.

It was no socio-political masterstroke on their part.

ASEAN members could care less what the Red Shirts think.

Not an iota of caring. They know whatever forces needed,

would be called out to prevent clashes anywhere near the summit.

They have no time, nor inclination, to do more than an underlings

cursory reading and filing of sour grapes street protesters demands

for a FM to be removed. Not even on the radar, they have big fish to fry.

As if any ASEAN member asking for his removal would get it to happen... NOT!

Like any other major multi-nation summit meeting,

the protesters would never be given leave to get within

a safely controllable distance to ANY functioning meetings.

Not to mention their funds are drying up...

Or being divide up, in anticipation of it drying up for good.

Thakin's attempt to steel some thunder from Abhisit's running

a successful ASEAN, by speaking same time in Hong Kong,

is being derailed. He is desperate to derail this rising world star,

and his brickbats are just being swatted away like annoying flies.

Thaksin's now a burnt wienie sandwich in the big scheme of things,

and ASEAN is so far proving Abhisit can bowel with the big boys just fine.

A good summit is good for Thailand, and managing the myriad egos and

back stories of the local power merchants here will likely raise 'Obamark's' stock

noticeably. Thaksin is turning on a spit in envy right now.

Edited February 28, 2009 by animatic

[sriracha john]

"We will mobilise hundreds of thousands to rally," 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

They are getting much, much closer now to the "hundreds of thousands"...

Red-shirted people urge Burma, Singapore to boycott ASEAN summit

About 100 red-shirted supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra rallied in front the Burmese and Singapore embassies Friday morning, urging the two countries to boycott the ASEAN summit next month.

- The Nation /2009-01-23

*their numbers have slipped by a half since this mass rally of a 100, but I'm sure they'll make it to Jatuporn's "hundreds of thousands" very soon*

Red-shirted people demonstrate at Parliament

Some 50 red-shirted supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra rallied in front of Parliament Monday afternoon against the deliberation of the government's legal framework for holding the ASEAN Summit.

- The Nation / 2009-01-26

As I understand it, the total number of Red Shirt protesters that eventually showed up for the ASEAN Summit was just a hair off from Jatuporn's "hundreds of thousands" with a grand total of zero.

[sriracha john]

"We will mobilise hundreds of thousands to rally," said Jatuporn, who is also an opposition lawmaker.

As I understand it, the total number of Red Shirt protesters that eventually showed up for the ASEAN Summit was just a hair off from Jatuporn's "hundreds of thousands" with a grand total of zero.

I stand corrected now as they are really narrowing the gap and approaching Jatuporn's "hundreds of thousands...

UDD Red Shirts, rights group gather on 2nd day of ASEAN Summit

PHETCHABURI, Feb 28 (TNA) - Anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) anti-government protesters gathered at Hua Hin's clock tower on Saturday, amid tight security, on the second day of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Ten protesters calling themselves the 'Red Shirts for Real Democracy' read a statement in English urging the Thai government to prosecute the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for seizing Government House and Thailand’s two main airports last year.

They also urged the Democrat-led coalition government to dissolve the House of Representatives and carry out a new general election.

Police Chief Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan said that police found that some UDD protesters have registered at a hotel in Hua Hin, but the number is not worrisome.

The Thai authorities have negotiated with the group, which said they will not disrupt the summit, Gen. Patcharawat said.

Meanwhile, ten members of an activist group called 'Peace for Burma', supported by Amnesty International launched a campaign urging people to take human rights problems seriously, particularly in military-ruled Myanmar.

They also urged that the ASEAN human rights body to be established be practical in dealing with human rights issues.

[sriracha john]

Regarding the above massive rally...

One of the protesters, Pannathat Phongpaphanan, a representative of several groups said that protesters would like to express their rejection of the government, while the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which had damaged the economy, had not been urgently prosecuted, therefore they insisted that they would not accept any agreement and conditions from the Summit.

Pannathat didn’t affirm that he belonged to the red-shirt group, but said that wearing red on Sunday was not weird :D

- ThaiNews / 2009-03-01

[sriracha john]

From 10:30am this morning we will submit letter to Embassy of Cambodia. Next is to Embassy of Laos. At 11:30am, we will submit letter to Embassy of Vietnam.

In American baseball parlance, it's known as the Red Shirts are "batting a thousand" with their protest letters. *utilized sarcastically in this case*.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva greets Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen before a meeting of the heads of state during the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva poses with Laos' Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh before a meeting of the heads of state during the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung poses while being greeted by Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva before a meeting of the heads of state during the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

- All Photos/Descriptions by Reuters

[astor]

Check list

1. bars closed

2. poor people re-located or hidden behind advertising hordings

3. market stalls removed.

4. destroy soul of city.

5. soi dogs re-located (shot). Anybody remember the "we took them to a farm for holiday" quote?

6. beggars and hawkers... "what beggers and hawkers? this is the hub of everything"

7. clean streets

Last one they did in Bangkok when GW came, I turned up on a flight back from the US and I didn't recognise Sukhumvit Road.

Bangkok looked like a sterile boring drab city. Surprising what you miss when its not there. Can they destroy Chiang Mai in 5 weeks!

Asean will destroy the soveregnty of the nations and then the life of the whole poor people of S.E. Asia.

A new step towards the target of the new world order.

[animatic]

From 10:30am this morning we will submit letter to Embassy of Cambodia. Next is to Embassy of Laos. At 11:30am, we will submit letter to Embassy of Vietnam.

In American baseball parlance, it's known as the Red Shirts are "batting a thousand" with their protest letters. *utilized sarcastically in this case*.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva greets Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen before a meeting of the heads of state during the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva poses with Laos' Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh before a meeting of the heads of state during the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung poses while being greeted by Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva before a meeting of the heads of state during the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

- All Photos/Descriptions by Reuters

And if you look close it's not just the angle,

but Hun Sen is definitely giving a much deeper bow to Abhisit.

A show of respect for sure.

Interesting body language in all shots.

The other two seem to want to ake sure they get face time

with the new man on the block.

Edited March 1, 2009 by animatic

[justanothercybertosser]

And if you look close it's not just the angle,

but Hun Sen is definitely giving a much deeper bow to Abhisit.

A show of respect for sure.

A very astute observation.

But if you analyze this important moment of history further, you may notice the slightly elevated tail of Hun Sen's jacket, which could indicate that he just let go of a bit of flatulence, of which the strained facial muscles of Abhisit are a further indicator.

This would also be in line with the affront against Thailand given by Hun Sen when he tried to steal ancient Thai territory at Prea Vihaer. We surly must go to war against this empire of evil, reclaiming Thai territory, Thai honor, and to restore the good smell in Thailands sacred air.

[Koo82]

So proud to be PM with the help from those sitting in airports and sleeping in Government House, with the help from those in the dark that everyone knows. So proud to get the PM chair when his party is the 2nd in numbers. The Party has the most voice is Puea Thai.

Accept it. Democrat Party lost in the last election. The party who won was People Power Party.

[animatic]

But the People Power Party doesn't exist; Null and Void,

because they got caught breaking the law during that last election.

Tried and convicted like their controlling master.

BUT most of the SAME PPP coalition partners

and MP's STILL have their seats in government,

only the PPP leadership was kicked out, NOT the whole of PPP,

so most of the publicly elected people are STILL in the legislature

and they VOTED FOR Abhisit and a new coalition.

Those same people you are saying aren't there ARE there, and picked Abhisit.

Only the leaders you miss are gone from their own actions.

[samgrowth]

I am glad the airports remian open all this while.

Looks like Thaksin is history now.

[jbowman1993]

Looks like Thaksin is history now.

AMEN!

[Koo82]

they VOTED FOR Abhisit and a new coalition.

That is why I said Abhisit is so proud to get the PM chair, not by election but by votes from people changing their mind with the help from someone in the dark that the whole world know who they are.

We voted for PPP/PTP. We didn't vote for Democrat Party.

[sriracha john]

they VOTED FOR Abhisit and a new coalition.

That is why I said Abhisit is so proud to get the PM chair, not by election but by votes from people changing their mind with the help from someone in the dark that the whole world know who they are.

We voted for PPP/PTP. We didn't vote for Democrat Party.

I'm not sure what you are saying.

Are you saying that Batman played in a role in the selection of Thailand's Prime Minister?

[Virin]

they VOTED FOR Abhisit and a new coalition.

That is why I said Abhisit is so proud to get the PM chair, not by election but by votes from people changing their mind with the help from someone in the dark that the whole world know who they are.

We voted for PPP/PTP. We didn't vote for Democrat Party.

Democrat'd become the government as they gained the support from the majority of the Parliament (I think this is called Democracy, isn't it?), those members of Parliament have their rights to vote to anyone, same as the time they voted for Thaksin. What went wrong when they voted for Abhisit this time? .

When people voted for PPP, did they know they would have Samak or Somchai or Abhisit as their PM?

Please enlighten me 'who' is someone in the dark that the whole world know who they are.

[animatic]

In the microscopic levels of the Asian respect bow,

these guys have worked it out to the nth degree.

You see Hun Sen trying to 'get back to business' by acknowledging Abhist strongly,

and the other two trying to raise their statures by seemingly appearing as equals to him,

as ASEAN head right now. Interesting set of shots.

These neighboring international leaders clearly acknowledge Abhisit as

legitimate leader of Thailand, as well ass Davos leaders and Japan,

if Koo doesn't that is Koo's personal issue.

[hammered]

they VOTED FOR Abhisit and a new coalition.

That is why I said Abhisit is so proud to get the PM chair, not by election but by votes from people changing their mind with the help from someone in the dark that the whole world know who they are.

We voted for PPP/PTP. We didn't vote for Democrat Party.

I am sure you equally despise the Chart Thai Party, Peau Pandin Party and all the other ex-coalition ally parites of PPP for saying they would not support a PPP government before the election and then immediatley abandoning what they had told the electorate so that a PPP government was gormed with them in alliance.

Coalition governments are never simple things and compromise and yes betrayal are common when these kind of goevrnments are formed. Time to accept though that parliament can choose the government it wants and change it any time it wants. That is how the system works. To avoid this an overall majority needs to be won. PPP failed in this. It is also not unknown in other parliaments for members elected under party banner to change sides. It has happened in the UK and US. It is also not unkown and indeed fairly common for MPs to break ranks and vote in a way their party doesnt like. This is common in most democracies. Indeed many rely on it happening. Even parties with overall majorities fall foul of this on many democracies.

Best not to get overly emotive about these things.

[Koo82]

Why President Gloria wore red dress at the beginning and red vest at the end is beyond me. I understand red is now fashion . No wonder experts in this forum didn't post her photos. And someone else wore red ties. Very trendy.

http://rtvm.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_co...mp;limitstart=2

Some other sources showed her dress was pink

http://www.14thaseansummit.org/main.php

[Koo82]

I have no problem, hammered. As I always say, Abhisit is very proud he got the PM chair when his party came 2nd in the latest election. Khun Samak won! Just accept that.

Abhisit received help from those who slept in Government House and airports and those who blocked gate at Parliament on 7 Oct last year having death and said Police killed them. Why didn't Police kill any reds? Because reds protest according to the law: no weapon.

He got helps from Army people and someone else too many to list.

He himself did not win an election.

Smoke that and be proud. A doctor is not jealous when a kindergarten kid gets into nursery school.

[animatic]

But doctors do get worried when they notice a disconnect from reality for long periods.

Nice to think all who disagree are just little children.

Edited March 3, 2009 by animatic

[Koo82]

I didn't say who disagree are little children

[hammered]

I have no problem, hammered. As I always say, Abhisit is very proud he got the PM chair when his party came 2nd in the latest election. Khun Samak won! Just accept that.

Abhisit received help from those who slept in Government House and airports and those who blocked gate at Parliament on 7 Oct last year having death and said Police killed them. Why didn't Police kill any reds? Because reds protest according to the law: no weapon.

He got helps from Army people and someone else too many to list.

He himself did not win an election.

Smoke that and be proud. A doctor is not jealous when a kindergarten kid gets into nursery school.

Samak and Abhsisit both won an election. The election for for MP. There is no vote for PM or government in a parliamentary sytem. The PM can be any MP from any party that MPs agree on. Parliament at different times selected them as PM, and so they both indeed the won the constitutionally required vote to become PM. That is how parliamentary systems work. Thailand does not have a presidential system. The PPP won the most seats in the last general election but failed to gain an overall majority. Being the largest party doesnt mean being in government. They managed to set up two governments in a year and now the Dems have set one up. By the way the largest party in the Ukraine is not in government. The largest party in Israel will not be in the next government. etc. In most parliamentary democracies you only need a majority of MPs to support you to get in government and it doesnt matter what party they come from.

The reds have killed and injured their own fair share. They have even taken to attacking eact other recently.

[Plus]

He himself did not win an election.

What do you mean?

Thailand is not a presidential republic yet. People do not vote for PM.

For Abhisit, and for each aspired candidate, winning the election means getting an MP seat. To become the PM they need to win elections in parliament and Abhisit got that, too. He won both - MP seat and PM job.

To be really nitpicking, in last elections Abhisit's name was on party list ballot. On those ballots his party got more votes than PPP. So, when it was time to choose national agenda and platfom, the people have spoken in favour of Democrats.

Whether you choose to listen to them or not is your personal problem.

[sriracha john]

Why President Gloria wore red dress at the beginning and red vest at the end is beyond me. I understand red is now fashion . No wonder experts in this forum didn't post her photos. And someone else wore red ties. Very trendy.

http://rtvm.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_co...mp;limitstart=2

Some other sources showed her dress was pink

http://www.14thaseansummit.org/main.php

Could you get back to us please when you have a photo of her waving a red foot clapper? Thank you.

[sriracha john]

Smoke that and be proud.

Thanks...

A doctor is not jealous when a kindergarten kid gets into nursery school.

No, but he should be concerned... Nursery school is a regression and a step backwards for a kindergarten kid.

Edited March 3, 2009 by sriracha john

[animatic]

Smoke that and be proud.

Thanks...

A doctor is not jealous when a kindergarten kid gets into nursery school.

No, but he should be concerned... Nursery school is a regression and a step backwards for a kindergarten kid.

We're seeing a lot of that lately!