Thaksin To Announce Return To Thai Politics

[sabaijai]

Thaksin to announce return

Somroutai Sapsomboon and Naya Jaikawang

The Nation (Thailand)

Publication Date: 19-11-2008

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will announce his return to Thai politics next month during another mobile TV talk show before his red-shirted supporters at the National Stadium, People Power Party MP Jatuporn Promphan said.

Thaksin will challenge his political enemies for an eye-for-an-eye fight because he is no longer going to sit still, he added.

"Thaksin will announce on December 14 that he will return to politics to fight and to defend his name. He will no longer stand still. He has decided to come out to fight as he no longer wants to be attacked and cornered any more," Jatuporn said in an exclusive interview with The Nation.

"Thaksin will no longer wait to be attacked, he will fight back by all means, particularly with an eye-for-an-eye strategy, from now on. Thaksin now believes that the only way for him to survive and to live is to fight for his name," Jatuporn said.

The announcement will be made in the Kwamjing Wannee Sanjon (Mobile Truth Today) to be held in Supachalasai National Stadium on December 14.

The programme was rescheduled from December 10 after the organisers learnt that the stadium is scheduled to host an Asean football competition on December 9-10.

Before going for a decisive political war, Thaksin has settled his family affair and worked on a strategy to boost up his international image after the UK government dealt him a big political blow by denying his visa. He has divorced his wife Khunying Pojaman and set up a foundation to build up regional leadership.

The Building a Better Future Foundation, www.BuildingBetterFuture.org, has been hastily put together, with offices in Hong Kong and Dubai. Its objective is to address the financial, economic and social development in the developing nations, but it is seen as Thaksin's attempt to win back his international image tarnished by the UK government's denial of his visa.

Jatuporn also said the main reason Thaksin divorced his wife, Khunying Pojamarn, was because he had decided to return to politics.

"Thaksin and his wife had decided earlier, after the coup d'etat in 2006, that they would separate if he decided to return to politics. It is a promise between them. So they have decided to part from each other now that Thaksin will return to politics," he said.

"However, their divorce does not mean that they are no longer in love," Jatuporn said.

Surasith Jiamvichak, a Chiang Rai MP of the People Power Party, said Thaksin's new foundation is not politically motivated.

"Thaksin is a man of action. He can't sit still and do nothing. He would like to contribute to the global society," he said.

"Whatever he does is subject to criticism. In a way, this can't be helped because Thaksin is really an international person."

He added: "It would be good for Thailand if Thaksin can return home because the country needs a capable person like him. There is a possibility that Thaksin will become prime minister again."

Thepthai Senphong of the Democrat Party expressed his concern that Thai politics might escalate into violence after His Majesty the King's Birthday in December. "They are adding wood to fire so that the country plunges into the deepest crisis," he said.

The only one word from Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat about Thaksin's planned phone-in was "I don't know". Although reporters tried to ask more questions about this issue, the prime minister, who is Thaksin's brother-in-law, said nothing.

[patklang]

cicil war here we come.anybody lives in cambodia and has some advise lol

[ovenman]

Better posturing here than in a good pro wrestling feud. Vince McMahon should hire Jatuporn for the WWE Creative team.

[animatic]

Posturing is more prone,

and ready for brain control device insertion.

They will say just about anything

without thinking about it first, won't they?

Edited November 21, 2008 by animatic

[Sarge]

Thaksin to announce return

"Thaksin will announce on December 14 that he will return to politics to fight and to defend his name. He will no longer stand still. He has decided to come out to fight as he no longer wants to be attacked and cornered any more,"

"Thaksin will no longer wait to be attacked, he will fight back by all means, particularly with an eye-for-an-eye strategy, from now on.

good, more power to him. I look forward to televised debate between him and Sondhi, both wearing prison uniform, over porridge, at Bangkok Hilton

[Jingthing]

I don't like either side but this is getting to be sickening. Does anyone seriously think he does this for the good of the Thai people? It is ALL about him.

[animatic]

I don't like either side but this is getting to be sickening. Does anyone seriously think he does this for the good of the Thai people? It is ALL about him.

Oh heaven forbid that he isn't the sweetest, purest, altruist on the planet!

Without HIM, how could Thailand survive?

[Martin]

"Does anyone seriously think he does this for the good of the Thai people?"

But "the Thai people" are many and varied, and have many different views as to what would be 'good' for them. And, in this matter, 'good' is like the economists' use of the word 'goods' in that it includes a lot of things that many would argue are 'bads'. ("One man's meat is another man's poison.")

Broadly (or very, very broadly) speaking, it seems possible to group them politically into five groups: old power; new business power; emergent middle-class power; don't know/not sure; don't want to know".

The political system (i.e. the system for deciding the policies of country) is somewhat frustrated since it is dominated by the struggle for ascendancy between the first three (each of which has internal struggles for ascendancy going on within it). As it stands at present, there are 'good' reasons for any two of the three frustrating the third.

Obviously, in view of the rules of the forum, we cannot properly discuss this in any more detail.

However, since the fourth and fifth groups are so large (though there is little for the media to report about them), it is possible to be optimistic that predictions that there will be an advent of civil war are unduly pessimistic.

[geriatrickid]

There are millions of Thais that support his political views and they might be happy to have him back.

There are those that will greet him with a ticket to prison, and will be happy to welcome him personally at the airport.

There are those from PAD that are probably pissing themselves with delight as their raison d'etre will have returned.

I for one wish he'd stay away if only to spare Thailand of the arguments, fights, bitterness and attempted military coup that will follow his return.

If he returns at Christmas time and there are disruptions at airports and tourist venues, and senseless violence, the already ailing tourist industry will have been dealt a horrible blow. No one needs that now.

Edited November 22, 2008 by geriatrickid

[hammered]

"Does anyone seriously think he does this for the good of the Thai people?"

But "the Thai people" are many and varied, and have many different views as to what would be 'good' for them. And, in this matter, 'good' is like the economists' use of the word 'goods' in that it includes a lot of things that many would argue are 'bads'. ("One man's meat is another man's poison.")

Broadly (or very, very broadly) speaking, it seems possible to group them politically into five groups: old power; new business power; emergent middle-class power; don't know/not sure; don't want to know".

The political system (i.e. the system for deciding the policies of country) is somewhat frustrated since it is dominated by the struggle for ascendancy between the first three (each of which has internal struggles for ascendancy going on within it). As it stands at present, there are 'good' reasons for any two of the three frustrating the third.

Obviously, in view of the rules of the forum, we cannot properly discuss this in any more detail.

However, since the fourth and fifth groups are so large (though there is little for the media to report about them), it is possible to be optimistic that predictions that there will be an advent of civil war are unduly pessimistic.

I think this final point is sometimes missed. Many many ordinary people actually have other things to do than side with one of the power hungry groups. To many people the outcome of the struggle is not important.

[Bill97]

His and his wife's primary interest is getting their money or at least some of it and politics is their route because the courts are finding against them. Even if they could get just 10% of what is frozen, that would be more than US $ 200,000,000 if my recollection of the amounts is in the ball park.

[OlRedEyes]

"Thaksin is a man of action. He can't sit still and do nothing. He would like to contribute to the global society," he said.

May the gods help us all.

Maybe he means he wants to feed at the global trough.

[davejonesbkk]

There are millions of Thais that support his political views and they might be happy to have him back.

There are those that will greet him with a ticket to prison, and will be happy to welcome him personally at the airport.

There are those from PAD that are probably pissing themselves with delight as their raison d'etre will have returned.

I for one wish he'd stay away if only to spare Thailand of the arguments, fights, bitterness and attempted military coup that will follow his return.

If he returns at Christmas time and there are disruptions at airports and tourist venues, and senseless violence, the already ailing tourist industry will have been dealt a horrible blow. No one needs that now.

I am pretty sure that chaos (both economical and political) in Thailand is what he wants so that then he can come back as some kind of 'saviour' with promises to fix everything, this is what the red shirt brigade think will happen, they want it back like the good old days after he came to power in 2001 problem is though the world and Thailand is a VERY different place now.....

[Plus]

"Does anyone seriously think he does this for the good of the Thai people?"

But "the Thai people" are many and varied, and have many different views as to what would be 'good' for them.

They might think it's "good", but the original question was about Thaksin's intentions, not their feelings.

At this point he needs them to come to the streets and fight.

Many many ordinary people actually have other things to do than side with one of the power hungry groups. To many people the outcome of the struggle is not important.

That's just ignorance. Yes, there are many people who don't care. It's illogical to declare that their opinion should have a final say - if they don't care they are not real, fully fledged citizens in the first place.

[Gravelrash]

Thing is after battling an opponent, either completely decimate him so he can never get up again or leave him with his dignity so he doesn't come seeking revenge. Some lessons there from the Treaty of Versailles.

They tossed Taksin out in a coup after winning successive legal elections, locked up his money, charged him and family with crimes and defamed his name, and have now been successful at denying him countries in which to stay, namely the UK. Is he going to be pissed?

Some here, but not many, seem to comprehend that this was never about corruption etc ( a hallmark of any Thai government), it is a power play between different power groups. One problem with the anti-Taksins was that after the first coup they had to justify it with all the corruption charges that went nowhere, the army pointing the finger re corruption .

Also they messed it all up further by having a lame duck replacement junta government that were perceived as such. Even after carefully stacking the odds they still lost the election to Taksin's proxies, so had to roll out the sad old PAD again.

Personally think they should have let PPP run its course and die a natural death of incompetence. But it was not to be, so now the next phase begins...

[hammered]

"Does anyone seriously think he does this for the good of the Thai people?"

But "the Thai people" are many and varied, and have many different views as to what would be 'good' for them.

They might think it's "good", but the original question was about Thaksin's intentions, not their feelings.

At this point he needs them to come to the streets and fight.

Many many ordinary people actually have other things to do than side with one of the power hungry groups. To many people the outcome of the struggle is not important.

That's just ignorance. Yes, there are many people who don't care. It's illogical to declare that their opinion should have a final say - if they don't care they are not real, fully fledged citizens in the first place.

If they dont care their opinion wont have a say anyway becuase they wont do anything

You can of course be a citizen and not get invovled in politics at all. That is a valid thing to do. Even in many western countries swathes of a country cant be bothered to vote in elections. Of course that similalrly means they dont have a say but many places in the world you hear things like "none of them are any good", "a curse on all their houses", "politcs isnt for the likes of us", "none of them represent us" etc. Thailand isnt unique in that. Personally I would say it is a democratic right to choose not to get involved in such things if one chooses so. The idea of a civil society wher eeveryone is equally informed and sit and make correct informed decisons and care about country is a bit of a myth worlwide imho.

[Journalist]

Is it fair/appropriate for people who are not Thai to have a say?

Or if they are not Thai, be a stakeholder in another way, eg an entrepreneur who employs Thais.

(In HK, firms that are of non-Hong Kong origins do have a say in the appointments of the delegates from 'functional constituencies')

[h90]

Thing is after battling an opponent, either completely decimate him so he can never get up again or leave him with his dignity so he doesn't come seeking revenge. Some lessons there from the Treaty of Versailles.

They tossed Taksin out in a coup after winning successive legal elections beside the huge vote buying the last election was not won and the government was outside the constitution already, if you recall that., locked up his money, charged him and family with crimes with crimes he did without any doubtand defamed his name, and have now been successful at denying him countries in which to stay, namely the UK. Is he going to be pissed?

Some here, but not many, seem to comprehend that this was never about corruption etc ( a hallmark of any Thai governmentbut before in the 5% area, Thaksin pushed it to 50%. I recall a school project, I visited the contractor, an old man, just after he met an official and he told us with a white face that it is the first government project he reject as the pay back amount is simply crazy.....that Thaksin amounts he never saw in his 30+years in business), it is a power play between different power groups. One problem with the anti-Taksins was that after the first coup they had to justify it with all the corruption charges that went nowhere, the army pointing the finger re corruption .

Also they messed it all up further by having a lame duck replacement junta government that were perceived as such. Even after carefully stacking the odds they still lost the election to Taksin's proxies, so had to roll out the sad old PAD again.PAD criticized the government and Surayud ("Surayud should stay in jail" from Sondhi. But in compare with this government they were good and they told to go away after 1 year and they did.

Personally think they should have let PPP run its course and die a natural death of incompetence. But it was not to be, so now the next phase begins...

[animatic]

There are millions of Thais that support his political views and they might be happy to have him back.

There are those that will greet him with a ticket to prison, and will be happy to welcome him personally at the airport.

There are those from PAD that are probably pissing themselves with delight as their raison d'etre will have returned.

I for one wish he'd stay away if only to spare Thailand of the arguments, fights, bitterness and attempted military coup that will follow his return.

If he returns at Christmas time and there are disruptions at airports and tourist venues, and senseless violence, the already ailing tourist industry will have been dealt a horrible blow. No one needs that now.

I am pretty sure that chaos (both economical and political) in Thailand is what he wants so that then he can come back as some kind of 'saviour' with promises to fix everything, this is what the red shirt brigade think will happen,

they want it back like the good old days after he came to power in 2001 problem is though

the world and Thailand is a VERY different place now.....

Pretty much spot on.

He has little hope except in chaos,

And he can't return the country to the way it was.

Less likely he could even go back to even 2006 let alone 2002 happiness....

The problem remains his mind is clearly focused on fantasies of

new face being regrown on old skin.

New Thaksin II! Savior of world banking and social systems. Get your's TODAY!!

He started sounding delusional around late 2005,

and when the pressure goes up he doesn't move up his game

to match the REALITY... But his ego moves up a notch anyway...

[sibeymai]

I thought Thaksin and another 110 TRT executives were banned from politics for 5 years. Whatever happened to that ? When will charges be laid against Thaksin and the other TRT executives who have remained active in politics despite being banned ?

God help us when Thaksin's sister becomes Thailand's first woman prime minister. Don't Thais think there is something wrong with rotating members of the same family as a country's prime minister ? Thailand doesn't need a dynasty who seek to promote themselves as the country's first family.

[CRUNCHER]

I thought he had quit. Check out this thread:-

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-PM-Thak...ui-t104517.html

In the quoted article in that thread, when asked if he would return to politics, he said,

”Right after I was ousted by the coup, I had mixed feelings. The negative feeling was that this was unfortunate for Thailand and its democracy, that the confidence I tried very hard to restore after the 1997 financial crisis would be lost. The positive part was, oh, I can retire now, I can have time for myself, for my family, I can meet friends and relax. Life is not that long, so if you can bring some happiness to yourself and your family, that's good ... I'm quite confident that if I ran [for election] today, I would win, [but] I have no political ambitions. I am calling it quits.”

I must confess that when Thaksin came to power I thought that he would be good for Thailand. I expect that some of the posters on this thread, who currently want him garroted, disemboweled and castrated, felt, to some degree at least, the same.

Indeed at first he did quite a bit of good. He did a lot for the rural poor and for Thailand’s economy in general. That is why he remains hugely popular with a lot of people, especially that large number of poor people (who collectively have a lot of votes).

But, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. He decided to fill his boots and those of his family and cronies by illegal means. This is in no way justified by the good he did and he should suffer the appropriate punishment under the law. This process is under way. Where it will end who knows. (I say this on the basis that the evidence substantiates the charges and with limited knowledge of Thai law. I have not seen the evidence and nor, I suspect, have any of the posters in this thread.) There should be no more place in Thai politics for Thaksin. Unless he comes back to do his time he should stay away.

Having said that is he any worse than many of the other politicians, from whatever party, who have run this country? Not that that is an excuse either.

As has been pointed out elsewhere this does not imply support for PAD. They are in no way democratic. They are just a bunch of hooligans who want power for themselves not democracy. They are as bad, if not worse, than Thaksin.

[h90]

I thought Thaksin and another 110 TRT executives were banned from politics for 5 years. Whatever happened to that ? When will charges be laid against Thaksin and the other TRT executives who have remained active in politics despite being banned ?

God help us when Thaksin's sister becomes Thailand's first woman prime minister. Don't Thais think there is something wrong with rotating members of the same family as a country's prime minister ? Thailand doesn't need a dynasty who seek to promote themselves as the country's first family.

If you can read Thai search a bit on the internet. there are Buddhas with Thaksins square face. There was a Chang Mai King without picture and Thaksin let someone made it with his face.

That guy is complete sick...They see themself as the new royals already....

[snuggzzz]

I do feel that with his 'Character' blighted by his conviction in Thailand, his Visa withdrawn by the UK, he has designed a 'comeback' to Thailand. I must say, a Thai friend of mine did say to me after the military coup that Thaksin will be back, he endorsed this again recently believing that Thaksin would be back after he has settled money and family issues.

Thaksin has shedloads of money, he's made over 800 million GBP on the sale of Manchester City, plus he has other amounts no doubt, enough, to put in an appeal against his conviction, support the PPP, and drum up support, whether it leads to a civil war as one post suggests, I really don't know.................

[plachon]

I do feel that with his 'Character' blighted by his conviction in Thailand, his Visa withdrawn by the UK, he has designed a 'comeback' to Thailand. I must say, a Thai friend of mine did say to me after the military coup that Thaksin will be back, he endorsed this again recently believing that Thaksin would be back after he has settled money and family issues.

Thaksin has shedloads of money, he's made over 800 million GBP on the sale of Manchester City, plus he has other amounts no doubt, enough, to put in an appeal against his conviction, support the PPP, and drum up support, whether it leads to a civil war as one post suggests, I really don't know.................

Think you need to check your sources on that supposed 800 million GBP!

And as for predicting Thaksin would be back after the 2006 coup, your friend was right on the money there - but hardly a tough call, given that bees generally return to the hive like flies to s....... But making this call again at this stage, now Thaksin is a convicted criminal is a bit harder. The ground rules are different, as it'll take more than revoking the Constitution to get him off this one. And it is definitely not a case of coming back "AFTER he has settled money and family issues", but rather TO SETTLE money and power issues that will draw him back once more. Trouble is he has less spine than a jellyfish and he'd quite happily allow another 3,000 people die in advance of his home-coming, IF it meant that his route was clearer.

Quite frankly, the man is so deluded and twisted right now, I would not put anything past this man's lust for money and power. There is also the lost face issue to consider and it all bodes ill for Thailand and the Thai people I'm afraid.

[JacknDanny]

His and his wife's primary interest is getting their money or at least some of it and politics is their route because the courts are finding against them. Even if they could get just 10% of what is frozen, that would be more than US $ 200,000,000 if my recollection of the amounts is in the ball park.

Its more than the money now.

His ego has took a huge knock, and he is out to get even with those who he believes are responsible.

His insatiable appetite for power means that its going to get nasty.

Do the Thais have the equivalent of Mossad? I think a discreet visit followed by a quick disappearance is the order of the day

[JacknDanny]

I do feel that with his 'Character' blighted by his conviction in Thailand, his Visa withdrawn by the UK, he has designed a 'comeback' to Thailand. I must say, a Thai friend of mine did say to me after the military coup that Thaksin will be back, he endorsed this again recently believing that Thaksin would be back after he has settled money and family issues.

Thaksin has shedloads of money, he's made over 800 million GBP on the sale of Manchester City, plus he has other amounts no doubt, enough, to put in an appeal against his conviction, support the PPP, and drum up support, whether it leads to a civil war as one post suggests, I really don't know.................

He made between 40 and 50 million pound

I dont know where you have got your figure from

[Rinrada]

Singapore,Japan,Hong Kong,most of Europe have now gone into economic recession with the UK and the US having one foot each on a bar of soap and the other on Tin Tacks trying to avoid it... so would recon only a matter of TIME before LOS hits the Bucket and then WOT?

300 bt to the pound £ ,taxi fares at 150 bt a throw ...rice at 500 bt a kilo ...$20 for a scabby duck ...NO TOURISTs (apart from a few farang drop outs inhabiting the doss houses of Patti......)

and then...................history repeats itself.

Recon Mr T will be back in power is say..................................................well....wotcha ...Paddy Power...

[rheinwiese]

There are millions of Thais that support his political views and they might be happy to have him back.

There are those that will greet him with a ticket to prison, and will be happy to welcome him personally at the airport.

There are those from PAD that are probably pissing themselves with delight as their raison d'etre will have returned.

I for one wish he'd stay away if only to spare Thailand of the arguments, fights, bitterness and attempted military coup that will follow his return.

If he returns at Christmas time and there are disruptions at airports and tourist venues, and senseless violence, the already ailing tourist industry will have been dealt a horrible blow. No one needs that now.

I am pretty sure that chaos (both economical and political) in Thailand is what he wants so that then he can come back as some kind of 'saviour' with promises to fix everything, this is what the red shirt brigade think will happen, they want it back like the good old days after he came to power in 2001 problem is though the world and Thailand is a VERY different place now.....

You hit the nail.

A perfect scenario for his comeback.

The struggling economy, rising unemployment, weak government etc will play perfectly in his cards.

People will cry for a strong arm to lead them out of misery.

And here he comes. The man who walks on water.

[Artisi]

There are millions of Thais that support his political views and they might be happy to have him back.

There are those that will greet him with a ticket to prison, and will be happy to welcome him personally at the airport.

There are those from PAD that are probably pissing themselves with delight as their raison d'etre will have returned.

I for one wish he'd stay away if only to spare Thailand of the arguments, fights, bitterness and attempted military coup that will follow his return.

If he returns at Christmas time and there are disruptions at airports and tourist venues, and senseless violence, the already ailing tourist industry will have been dealt a horrible blow. No one needs that now.

I am pretty sure that chaos (both economical and political) in Thailand is what he wants so that then he can come back as some kind of 'saviour' with promises to fix everything, this is what the red shirt brigade think will happen, they want it back like the good old days after he came to power in 2001 problem is though the world and Thailand is a VERY different place now.....

You hit the nail.

A perfect scenario for his comeback.

The struggling economy, rising unemployment, weak government etc will play perfectly in his cards.

People will cry for a strong arm to lead them out of misery.

And here he comes. The man who walks on water.

People will be crying alright as they are lead INTO misery by the crazy one who is only hel_l-bent on self-serving gratification.

[JohnBKKK]

He would like to contribute to the global society jesus some people have an ego ...

Edited November 29, 2008 by JohnBKKK