Abhisit Vejjajiva Elected New Prime Minister Of Thailand

[Jai Dee]

King suggests new minister to properly perform duty

His Majesty the King graciously suggested new Minister of Social Development and Human Security to properly perform his duty to achieve goals at works to benefit the nation.

His Majesty the King granted an audience to Prime Minister Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday evening (February 10) at his Klai Klang Won Palace in seaside town of Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan province.

The premier brought new Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Mr. Issara Somchai, for swearing in ceremony before the King prior to his officially assuming office.

After the ceremony, His Majesty the King graciously suggested Mr. Issara to properly perform his duty to benefit the country.

His Majesty the King said that he was a little bit late for the function because he went to see white elephants which went to his palace. He believed that it was auspicious occasion. In addition, he also said that nine puppies of Khun Thong Daeng, his personal pet dog, were the elephant’s satellites, adding that it was good to have both raisers of elephants and dogs to work well together.

His Majesty the King graciously likened the animal raisers’ working together with other human works, suggesting that if people jointly worked, the works would be well achieved. He also graciously suggested the new minister to be determined at works in line with his oath taking.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 11 February 2009

[newtronbom]

I still think this is the best man we have seen up to date. Smart, UK educated, seemingly not corrupt and so far doing a good effort for T/L.

[Pierrot]

Hmmm you seem to have failed to post his reply ... but again you seem to be barely cognizant of the rules when it comes to parliamentary governments ... you seem to only wish a return to Thaksin's human rights abuses .. mass murders in the South, killings of innocents during the "war on drugs" and vote buying on a scale massive enough to get entire parties disbanded.

And you seem to be barely cognizant (I like this word, I should try to use it more often) of the rules of democracy. Should the USA had the same constitution that had (so conveniently !) entire parties disbanded, both Republican and Democrats would be history by now. I believe too that, since the Democrat senator Blagojevich has been found guilty and Mr Obama is himself a Democrat, Mr Obama would have been the shortest ruling president in the history of the USA.

And regarding human rights, freedom of expression, ..., Mr Abhisit has been here for less than two month but he seems right on track to set new records ...

In addition to not understanding how a parliamentary system works, you also don't understand how the party dissolution system works. Gov. Blagojevich was not a Democrat Party Leader. His rebuke yesterday where he was removed from office would have absolutely no effect on the Democrat Party as a whole under the Party dissolution laws here.

Perhaps if you spent more time getting acquainted with how the various systems and laws work here instead of expounding misinformation and unequal analogies, it would save on every one having to respond and correct your inaccuracies.

I plead no contest. I definitively don’t have an advance degree in constitutional laws. But I believe neither do 99% of the people reading and posting in this forum.

But as usual you’re playing technicalities to avoid the real debate. And I’m not the only one having this opinion regarding this constitution, judging by today’s editorial of the Bangkok Post :

“…It makes good sense and would be fair, too, for party executives who were not directly involved in election fraud which resulted in the dissolution of their parties and their banishment from politics, to be exonerated. The political punishment imposed on them by virtue of the Constitution and the election law defies the basic legal principle that every man is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But under the laws in question, they were presumed guilty for the fraud committed by their fellow executives even without their prior knowledge or consent. …”

To resume, for the simple minds like me, this constitution is unfair and, whatever your political system of reference, against the basic legal principles of democracy.

[sriracha john]

In the intervening 17 days from the post you replied to, the discussion you mention regarding the so-called Amnesty Bill has been raised over on a different thread, beginning here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2527061

Edited February 18, 2009 by sriracha john

[ThNiner]

I plead no contest. I definitively don't have an advance degree in constitutional laws. But I believe neither do 99% of the people reading and posting in this forum.

Err, honestly, I do believe that 99.99% of the people who have followed the political news regarding the dissolultion of the political parties do know that if a regular member of a political party commits electoral fraud, his party won't get dissolved.

I'm just amazed though how some people could have such strong views on some subject matters that they don't even halfly understand.

To resume, for the simple minds like me, this constitution is unfair and, whatever your political system of reference, against the basic legal principles of democracy.

Why is it unfair when it treats everyone and every political party equally? From what I understand, I don't think it's been written anywhere in the constitution that only certain parties can get dissolved.

[Pierrot]

I'm just amazed though how some people could have such strong views on some subject matters that they don't even halfly understand.

You should trust the advertisement "Amazing Thailand"

Why is it unfair when it treats everyone and every political party equally? From what I understand, I don't think it's been written anywhere in the constitution that only certain parties can get dissolved.

Yeah but only certain parties got dissolved ..."Amazing Thailand"

Sorry, I can't resist this one :

I'm just amazed though how some people could have such strong views on some subject matters that they don't even halfly understand.

[ThNiner]

Yeah but only certain parties got dissolved ..."Amazing Thailand"

Sorry, I can't resist this one :

I'm just amazed though how some people could have such strong views on some subject matters that they don't even halfly understand.

That's because those parties' executive members have commited electoral fraud. Are you saying that all political parties, regardless of how they run their campaigns, must be dissolved for the current constitution to be considered fair? This is what fairness in your Farangland is? For laws to be fair, everyone must be in jail?

Pretty amazing Farangland I'd say.

[ThNiner]

Pierrot, if you don't mind me asking, could you tell me where you are originally from...and what level of your education is.

I'm just curious. Thanks Pierrot.

And to be fair to you, I can tell you that I'm 100% Thai who's got a Master's degree.

Edited February 18, 2009 by ThNiner

[Pierrot]

Pierrot, if you don't mind me asking, could you tell me where you are originally from...and what level of your education is.

I'm just curious. Thanks Pierrot.

And to be fair to you, I can tell you that I'm 100% Thai who's got a Master's degree.

Very interesting question.

If I answer you I'm from Nigeria and I'm a high school drop out, what difference will it make ? Seriously !

In "Farangland" it makes no difference.

I think we're getting somewhere here ...

[Pierrot]

Pierrot, if you don't mind me asking, could you tell me where you are originally from...and what level of your education is.

I'm just curious. Thanks Pierrot.

And to be fair to you, I can tell you that I'm 100% Thai who's got a Master's degree.

Very interesting question.

If I answer you I'm from Nigeria and I'm a high school drop out, what difference will it make ? Seriously !

In "Farangland" it makes no difference.

I think we're getting somewhere here ...

[Pierrot]

That's because those parties' executive members have commited electoral fraud. Are you saying that all political parties, regardless of how they run their campaigns, must be dissolved for the current constitution to be considered fair? This is what fairness in your Farangland is? For laws to be fair, everyone must be in jail?

Pretty amazing Farangland I'd say.

What I say is the law has been applied very selectively.

Actually it's the purpose of this law, to be able to disqualify any politician, any party, at any time. Then, by a selective application of this law, the people behind this constitution disqualify people they don't like.

If to apply this constitution fairly, it means sending everybody to jail, then obviously there is something wrong with this constitution.

[Bangyai]

King suggests new minister to properly perform duty

His Majesty the King granted an audience to Prime Minister Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday evening (February 10) at his Klai Klang Won Palace in seaside town of Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan province.

His Majesty the King said that he was a little bit late for the function because he went to see white elephants which went to his palace. Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 11 February 2009

Interesting that Aphisit was granted an audience on a day that white elephants were being reviewed.

[Pierrot]

King suggests new minister to properly perform duty

His Majesty the King granted an audience to Prime Minister Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday evening (February 10) at his Klai Klang Won Palace in seaside town of Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan province.

His Majesty the King said that he was a little bit late for the function because he went to see white elephants which went to his palace. Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 11 February 2009

Interesting that Aphisit was granted an audience on a day that white elephants were being reviewed.

Spot-on ! It was really the "white elephant" day

From my dictionary :

White Elephant

1. a. A rare, expensive possession that is a financial burden to maintain.

1. b. Something of dubious or limited value.

2. An article, ornament, or household utensil no longer wanted by its owner.

3. An endeavor or venture that proves to be a conspicuous failure.

Edited February 19, 2009 by Pierrot

[ThNiner]

What I say is the law has been applied very selectively.

Actually it's the purpose of this law, to be able to disqualify any politician, any party, at any time. Then, by a selective application of this law, the people behind this constitution disqualify people they don't like.

If to apply this constitution fairly, it means sending everybody to jail, then obviously there is something wrong with this constitution.

Pierrot, err, may I ask how the application of the law has anything to do with the people who wrote? Actually, forget it. I think I should ask a better question. Do you have any proof or evidence that the law has been applied selectively?

[jbowman1993]

Great article with PM Abhisit on CNBC, and the transcript is printed in The Nation. This guy is going to save Thailand. All of you Thaksinistas can just shut it - I don't want to hear about your savior, or the only other PM candidate - Charlerm the Idiot

Edited February 21, 2009 by jbowman1993

[jcon]

Great article with PM Abhisit on CNBC, and the transcript is printed in The Nation. This guy is going to save Thailand. All of you Thaksinistas can just shut it - I don't want to hear about your savior, or the only other PM candidate - Charlerm the Idiot

Saw that the PM will be on CNBC's "The Conversation." Is this what you're referring to jowman? Sorry, I couldn't be bothered to read the entire thread... can you post a link to the transcript (if it's from "The Conversation")? Thanks.

[Steve2UK]

Great article with PM Abhisit on CNBC, and the transcript is printed in The Nation. This guy is going to save Thailand. All of you Thaksinistas can just shut it - I don't want to hear about your savior, or the only other PM candidate - Charlerm the Idiot

Saw that the PM will be on CNBC's "The Conversation." Is this what you're referring to jowman? Sorry, I couldn't be bothered to read the entire thread... can you post a link to the transcript (if it's from "The Conversation")? Thanks.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/rea...newsid=30096274

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1036540435

Largely economy/business-oriented (fair enough and no surprise given that it's CNBC's Martin Soong doing the interview) and sound economic stuff from Abhisit. The usual on the non-economic subjects that are touched on briefly.

A fair amount of detail on the economic aspects - stimulus measures, regional/ASEAN issues etc - and the prime need to concentrate on stability for now. Interesting that, early on, Soong picks up on the potential for trades unions to oppose PPP (that's as in Public/Private Partnerships) and privatisation. Abhisit appears to favour the privatisation/PPP notion at least on a "project to project basis" - how will PAD's union elements respond to positive moves in that direction?

[jbowman1993]

Great article with PM Abhisit on CNBC, and the transcript is printed in The Nation. This guy is going to save Thailand. All of you Thaksinistas can just shut it - I don't want to hear about your savior, or the only other PM candidate - Charlerm the Idiot

Saw that the PM will be on CNBC's "The Conversation." Is this what you're referring to jowman? Sorry, I couldn't be bothered to read the entire thread... can you post a link to the transcript (if it's from "The Conversation")? Thanks.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/rea...newsid=30096274

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1036540435

Largely economy/business-oriented (fair enough and no surprise given that it's CNBC's Martin Soong doing the interview) and sound economic stuff from Abhisit. The usual on the non-economic subjects that are touched on briefly.

A fair amount of detail on the economic aspects - stimulus measures, regional/ASEAN issues etc - and the prime need to concentrate on stability for now. Interesting that, early on, Soong picks up on the potential for trades unions to oppose PPP (that's as in Public/Private Partnerships) and privatisation. Abhisit appears to favour the privatisation/PPP notion at least on a "project to project basis" - how will PAD's union elements respond to positive moves in that direction?

thanks - i cannot figure out that post link thing - im dumb lol

[Steve2UK]

thanks - i cannot figure out that post link thing - im dumb lol

No problem

For your, jcon's and others' benefit, here's a link to a similar and lengthy piece from the Financial Times interview with Abhisit at Davos:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1db20060-f960-11...0077b07658.html

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

For future reference, a "quick and dirty" way to get the links is:

1) In your browser, when you have the source page open, highlight the address link in the address bar by dragging your cursor from left to right to get all of it - not just what you can see (some are way longer than the address bar shows)

2) Right-click your mouse and select "copy" from the drop-down menu - good idea to paste this immediately into a Notepad text window and re-copy it from that text

3) Paste it into the post window where you want it to be.

4) Use "Preview Post" to show the link and click on it there to test that the link works and does actually link to the source page you want.

[samgrowth]

Cabinet approves local officials' 100 per cent pay increase

The Cabinet Tuesday approved 100 per cent pay increase for village heads, kamnan, their assistants.

Deputy Government Spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the increase would be implemented under two budget years, each of 50 per cent.

Currently a village heads get a monthly salary of Bt4,000 while a kamnan or tambon chief receives a monthly salary of Bt5,000. Their assistants receive Bt2,500 a month each.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...00-per-cent-pay

==== =

Good move Mark.

Now you can assure that the poor and uneduacted farmers will be voting for you.

Plus the 9 million people who receives your 2,000 Baht.

Keep up the hand out, and people will forget about Thaksin.

[permanent_disorder]

For your, jcon's and others' benefit, here's a link to a similar and lengthy piece from the Financial Times interview with Abhisit at Davos:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1db20060-f960-11...0077b07658.html

"I explain that our conversation is meant to take place against a background of eating and drinking. “OK. I will comply,” he says. But he makes no movement towards the food." [ibid.]

it's a nice read, that text. literariness. much more than only similar to a 'normal' interview.

the "Lunch with the FT" is a column format in the FT that has the communal meal and the listing of the food as structural characteristic. that is the fixed frame. the author takes this task writerly with a subtle narrative style. so it's all about World Economic Forum pastries and a text montage of abhisits cv with reports of negligibilities in contrast , the ringtone is an expansive guitar chord. It sounds a bit like U2 .... the interview part is a "dialogue" of paragraphs with abhisit in direct speech (serious business) and remarks like All this talk of liquidity prompts me to pour myself a coffee. I gesture weakly towards the silver-plated Thermos flask but Abhisit is not to be deflected. in between. entertaining and open for the readers own interpretation.

p.s. and on a side note we learn that our Old Etonian got nicknamed "Veggie" at that precious school.

i always thought he got the name 'Mark' by his foreign mates during his time in england, because they had some difficults with his thai name and he brought that nickname back home, but now it seems to me that it's more likely that Veggie get called that way by his thai comrades because of his time in england and he get called Mark (in thai: มาร์ค) in thai all the time.

as far as i understand 'Mark' is only his nickname, and not a given name, registred somewhere, right? i ask because i am still puzzled about for what the abbreviation "M.A." stands for as in "M.A. Vejjajiva" on the frontcover board of his M.Phil thesis. i wrote and ask about this before.

Richard W came up with the guess that this are initials, 'M.A.' for Mark Abhisit, but M.A. could be also stand for an academic title and Mark maybe not his 'real' name. and why is there not a notation of his full name, instead of this M.A. abbreviation which imho unclear and could be misleading, but easily avoided. in the form of "Vejjajiva, Mark Abhisit" or "MA Abhisit Vejjajiva" would it be much more clear. furthermore other Nuffield College theses in the OPAC are usally recorded with the full surname and given name.

so does anyone knows more about the origin of his nickname 'Mark'?

[hammered]

Cabinet approves local officials' 100 per cent pay increase

The Cabinet Tuesday approved 100 per cent pay increase for village heads, kamnan, their assistants.

Deputy Government Spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the increase would be implemented under two budget years, each of 50 per cent.

Currently a village heads get a monthly salary of Bt4,000 while a kamnan or tambon chief receives a monthly salary of Bt5,000. Their assistants receive Bt2,500 a month each.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...00-per-cent-pay

==== =

Good move Mark.

Now you can assure that the poor and uneduacted farmers will be voting for you.

Plus the 9 million people who receives your 2,000 Baht.

Keep up the hand out, and people will forget about Thaksin.

I still remember the effect of Chavlit as interior minister under Chuan promising the kamanan and headmen a lifelong post back in the day. Think that is changed now. He became PM pretty pronto after that. Probably one of the worst but he knew how to get there. Isnt the interior minister with Newin's boys right now? I reckon this is more about BJT party trying to cement a competetive electoral advantage over PTP personally although the Dems wont mind their star rising too, but they aint going to storm the Isaan. BJT however, ........

Never ever underestimate the influence a kamnan or headman has on how a village votes. Far more important than vote buying or even policies.

[Jai Dee]

EC to review Democrat's Bt258 million donation tomorrow

The Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) is preparing to review a donation to the Democrat party of 258 million baht tomorrow while assuring that they are not delaying considering the money hand out case of Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat.

EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagghanond disclosed today (March 23rd) that the commission will tomorrow meet on the controversial 258 million baht donation made to the Democrat party allegedly by TPI Polene founder before its rise to the administration. The matter has been forwarded to the EC by the Department of Special Investigations which recently concluded its own investigation into the matter. Mr. Apichart noted that despite the EC previously validating a Democrat party expense registry, it can retroactively inspect their donations again.

As for the matter of Deputy Minister of Interior Boonjong Wongtrairat's dispersal of money to citizens, the EC Chairman assured that the commission has not let the issue to lag and the results of the investigation is due tomorrow.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 23 March 2009

[Koo82]

I guess no Prime Minister has received such a support!

Edited March 23, 2009 by Koo82

[Thanh-BKK]

Yeah.

I guess no prime minister has ever robbed the country out of so much money that he can keep paying so many people for this "support". Red shirted fools who sell their soul for 200 Baht a time.

Regards....

Thanh

[Virin]

I guess no prime minister has ever robbed the country out of so much money that he can keep paying so many people for this "support". Red shirted fools who sell their soul for 200 Baht a time.

Is it possible for 200 baht per post or unlimited posts per day?

[Jai Dee]

DSI to be held responsible if 258 million baht case details leaked to the public

The Election Commission (EC) indicated this morning that the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) would be held responsible if details of the Democrat Party's donation case were leaked to the public while assuring that consideration would be made on whether or not the EC would take on the issue for ruling.

Election Commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham remarked today on the missing details of the 258 million baht donation to the Democrat party case from the file sent to the Commission by the DSI, saying that the fault was most likely on the part of DSI as it did not follow standard procedure in forwarding the files.

Mrs. Sodsri elaborated that the file should have been sent to her division for review but was instead directly sent to EC Chairman Apichart Sukkakanon's office. She stated that the DSI must now send agents to work with the EC in rectifying the matter which had grave consequences.

The Commission will today consider whether or not they will take on the case, with the matter of transparency within the DSI a major issue in their decision.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 24 March 2009

[Jai Dee]

Opposition to forward Bt258 ml donation case to EC

Chairman of Puea Thai MPs Chalerm Yubamrung says the Opposition will lodge complaints against the Democrat party over the controversial 258-million-baht donation with the Election Commission (EC).

Mr Chalerm said the party has collected all related evidence on the questionable donation allegedly made by TPI Polene and dismissed the allegation that he had obtained information on the donation from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Mr Chalerm said if the information was from DSI, he could not show it to the press before the no-confidence debate.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 24 March 2009

[Jai Dee]

Justice Minister affirms no need to set up investigative commission to check 258MB donation case's information leak out

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga affirmed there would not be a need to establish the investigative commission after the information had been leak out on the 258-million-baht donation to the Democrat Party case under the investigation of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Mr. Pirapan stated today (March 24) about the examination of information provided by the Opposition during the censure debate against the Government on the 258-million-baht support money to the Democrat Party. He said the Permanent Secretary for Justice was assigned to check on the matter without deadline and no support team, while believing that some of information had come from the investigative officials.

To examine public sector's system, Mr. Piraphan said that it would not be necessary to set up a commission to support the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC)

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 24 March 2009

[jbowman1993]

Pheu Thai take PM, Suthep

By The Nation

Published on April 4, 2009

The Pheu Thai Party yesterday filed a petition with the Senate asking for the impeachment of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Premier Suthep Thaugsuban for malfeasance.

In their petition handed to Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej, the opposition party said the prime minister had violated the law by failing to serve the ex-officio post of Police Commission chairman, assigning the duty instead to Suthep.

The petition, supported by 120 Pheu Thai MPs, also accused Suthep of chairing the Police Commission's recent meetings without authority. One such meeting on February 6 approved the transfer of 73 high-ranking police officers all over the country. Suthep was accused also of interfering with the Culture Ministry's internal affairs, an act in violation of the Constitution.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit led a group of MPs to submit the petition with Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej.

"I am confident the provisions go against [Abhisit and Suthep]. I have already consulted with former public prosecutors and former judges about this matter. Some former high-ranking police officers also agreed the law was violated in this case," said the spokesman.

Prasopsuk told the MPs the Senate would first verify the signatures in the petition and that the process should be completed by April 18.

The petition cited Article 270 of the Constitution, which empowers the Senate to remove from office any senior public-office holder, including the prime minister and any other Cabinet member, who is "under the circumstance of unusual wealth, or purports to commit corruption, malfeasance in office or an intentional exercise of power contrary to the provisions of the Constitution or law, or gravely violates or fails to observe ethical standards".