I Will Return To Post Of Prime Minister: Thaksin

[ray08]

A self-made millionaire. He won two elections comfortably. It took a military coup to get rid of him. An anti-establishment maverick.

Nearly three years to come up with a hatful of charges, which whilst not trivial, ....were not exactly the unveiling of a secret Holocaust.

He and his party pursued by a judiciary for whom stamping the conviction sheet appeared to be a pre-ordained conclusion.

Of course people are still interested in him. He'll be front page news in Thailand till the day they put him in the ground !

<edit: cremate him >

Exactly. you make the point without invective, without flaming, and by sticking to facts.

a model for other posters - of both persuasions?? i hope so

I agree Jounalist makes his points calmly and with out bile.

I don't always agree, but like his style and methods.

I am always leery of 'Self Made Milionaires'. The ones I have met ,

several, were overdriven ego maniacs with constricted moral compasses.

"Hey, no hard feelings, it's just business."

Granted Thaksin started with his daddy's smaller, but not inconsequencial, pile,

and turned it into a MUCH bigger one. Ah, but the METHODS of doing that

in such a s SHORT time make him quite suspect.

The hat-full of charges are on hold because of arcane Thai laws

about actually showing up in court personally. He doesn't,

and so several cases are on hold till he sets foot on thai soil and gets brought to court.

You can say it is 'pre-ordained convictions' by a pursuing judiciary.

But you can't just easily make convictable charges from thin air, ever here.

There is FAR more than enough questionable dealings out in the open to easily

and fairly question how he did business while in office.

Not looking at these highly questionable dealings would ALSO be

dereliction of duty to the people for sweeping it under the table. Even here.

If he is actually INNOCENT of any charge, I am MORE than happy to see him aquitted.

But for that he must show up and face the charges, not slink in the shadows as a fugitive.

Does he so fear loss of his perks of life, to prefer life on the run and clandestine

radio shows to zeolots to keep his ego floating, to actually clearing his name in open court??

Or does he, as plausibly, truely fear what they ALREADY know about him,

and the time he would be likely to serve,

if ALL facts came to light.

It could be BOTH,

not wanting to die as a caged pauper when he can live 5 Stars now,

and he wouldn't be able to get the ego strokes from fans from the jailhouse.

He can still convince himself he is a big man while on the run,

in jail his whole imagined universe severely constricts to and mentally diminuative state.

The deck is stacked against him in court ,that is a plain fact , at this stage even at such a early stage Abhisit is not looking

very good at running a country ,and his comments from Davos on another thread have a lot to be desired ,so in these hard times

i think Thaksin can afford to wait and let the voters slowly turn their anger towards the current government for not fixing the Thai

economy ,and them Thaksin would be in a very strong position to return,For my money in this economic climate someone with the experience

of Thaksin would not be bad for Thailand ,

[Miserere]

I met Thaksin in Harrods last year he was dressed very smartly and seemed quite nice.

He was buying some cream cakes.

[animatic]

Thailand: A country where anyone can be PM (and they don't even have to grow up)!

I certainly didn't care much for Thaksin, but Abhisit isn't quite the shining star I thought he would be.

What is is with you people ? he's been there 5 mins ,there is world wide financial meltdown and you want everything rosy in the garden overnight. Its not going to happen no matter who is running the country.

No chance Abhisit can work miracles from thin air.

By most unbiased reports he is making large numbers of reasonable moves against pressing issues.

Which is basically all most of us should hope for. Under a month and most things can not be changed,

in the REAL world, not as opposed to political utopian ideal worlds,

that so many seem to think can be achieved in a week.

Real politic for real problems in a real world. =

Move forward from crisis to crisis,

and make decisions as best you can

with the information at hand.

And make efforts to ignore most underinformed pundits,

and most axe grinders who are confusing facts on the ground,

with political baggage being freighted about for personal or team advantage.

[baht&sold]

Breakingnews

Thaksin kin get key Puea Thai posts

Bangkok Post Feb 3, 2009 - 10:05 PM

The opposition Puea Thai party has embarked on a new strategy to strengthen internal solidarity, appointing members of the Shinawatra family to lead party members in each of the three regions where Puea Thai influence remains strong, said a Puea Thai source on Tuesday.

The source said under the new strategy, Yaowapa Wongsawat, a younger sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, would lead Puea Thai members in the North.

In the Northeast, the leader would be Payap Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger brother.

As for the central region and Bangkok, Yingluck Shinawatra was entrusted to be the chieftain.

The source said the party wanted a Shinawatra family member to lead each of the three regions because the party wanted them to symbolise the party's close connections with Thaksin.

The presence of the Shinawatra siblings in itself would be a message to the constituents that the party has a clear goal to "bring Mr Thaksin back home,'' said the source.

Article continues (link)

[baht&sold]

Breakingnews

Thaksin kin get key Puea Thai posts

The 76 billion baht sweepstakes and exoneration push via constitution change continues. Chok dee with that whole thing then

Edited February 3, 2009 by baht&sold

[DP25]

I met Thaksin in Harrods last year he was dressed very smartly and seemed quite nice.

He was buying some cream cakes.

Yeah and Hitler was a wonderful dancer and loved animals.

[Bangyai]

Read this:

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/02/opi...on_30094723.php

Thanks for including that link- an excellent piece. Hopefully, once the Nation has 'partnered up' with Thai Visa, Chiang Noi will get his own subforum.

Should raise the level of debate.

Yes, an interesting article . Nothing especially surprising about it ( notwithstanding it coming from The Nation ) but its nice to see it all laid out in black and white. Not sure about the submarines though ? I thought the increased spending was for more important national priorities like former air force chief Chalit Phukphasuks new ' mansions '.etc.

I wonder if in recommending any particular piece of military hardware , like Gripen jets from Sweden , there are any kickbacks involved Nah....I guess not. The military are true patriots and always have the best interests in the country at heart, thats why they gave their backing to those other true patriots, the PAD. Mind you, you have to admire their thrift ! They certainly make a soldiers pay go a very long way indeed.

[BigSnake]

Anything is possible, advice DON't Bet that he want return to power. He is a Crafty Dude.

[sriracha john]

I met Thaksin in Harrods last year he was dressed very smartly and seemed quite nice.

He was buying some cream cakes.

I can make him some cream cakes for him and his family to enjoy....

[sriracha john]

Breakingnews

Thaksin kin get key Puea Thai posts

Bangkok Post Feb 3, 2009 - 10:05 PM

The opposition Puea Thai party has embarked on a new strategy to strengthen internal solidarity, appointing members of the Shinawatra family to lead party members in each of the three regions where Puea Thai influence remains strong, said a Puea Thai source on Tuesday.

The source said under the new strategy, Yaowapa Wongsawat, a younger sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, would lead Puea Thai members in the North.

I know it probably doesn't matter to the law-breaking Shinawatras.... but the curvaceous Yaowapa Wongsawat, as a TRT Party executive, has been Banned From Politics since 2007 [lucky number TRT Banned # 13, to be precise] .

Are they trying to get to Puea Thai Party banned as well with such blatant disregard to the law?

[sriracha john]

Apparently Kwanchai hasn't taken too well to the red shirts dissing him on stage on Saturday. He has removed their show from his station not to mention asked Mr. T to back him and his red shirts and not those of Jatuporn. It seems the huggy, smiley moment of Saturday unity is suddenly back into the harsh glare of division and disunity.

* more on the other phone-in Thaksin made *

THAILAND: UDD conflict seems an unpatchable rift

Pro-Thaksin radio host stops relaying 'Truth Today' after the TV show's host criticized him at an anti-government rally

Famous radio host and leader of the Udon Thani-based pro-Thaksin group has stopped relaying the Truth Today political talk show on his radio program in a move seen as an unpatchable rift between the two conflicting groups of red-clad demonstrators.

Kwanchai Praipana, leader of the Khon Rak Udon Thani group, yesterday said he had instructed the controller of his FM 97.50MHz radio station in Udon Thani to stop transmitting the evening weekday program.

Truth Today, a program broadcast through the satellite-based DStation, is co-hosted by Jatuporn Promphan, leader of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Kwanchai was reportedly upset with Jatuporn for criticising him while addressing his red-clad demonstrators in Sanam Luang on Saturday.

Kwanchai reportedly called on Thaksin to support his group instead of Jatuporn's camp.

Meanwhile, Jatuporn has responded by saying that the UDD could do without the participation of Kwanchai's group in its anti-government rallies in Bangkok.

Puea Thai MP for Udon Thani Wichien Khaokham said through the local FM 97.50MHz radio station last Friday that Thaksin had phoned Jatuporn and Kwanchai in an unsuccessful bid to patch up their rift.

The MP said the quarrel between the two was affecting the overall image of the reds.

Meanwhile, the three co-hosts of the Truth Today -- Jatuporn, Veera Musikhapong and Natthawut Saikua -- failed to show up at the station yesterday.

Thaksin's Jan 25 phone-in tape was re-run instead.

- Asia Media / 2009-02-03

[animatic]

Puea Thaksin Rak Thaksin Party

For Thaksin Loves Thaksin Party.

Lets just name it what it is.

They have no sense of shame or legal propriety.

Yow a whopper is banned, but still will lead the party up north.

Yes, such familial respect for Thai laws.

But they don't install the so far unsullied Yingluck yet. hhmmm.

Edited February 3, 2009 by animatic

[Cayenne]

Hmm, aren't convicted people barred from becoming PM? I vaguely recall the constitution mentioning something about people with criminal records being barred from high-ranking government positions

[phupaman]

Hi All.

I have read on numerous post's about Thaksin only having to serve 2 years Jailtime,

If he ever returns to Thailand he still has to face high courts again on many serious charges, I would expect him to end up with at least 10 years, and that would be right.

phupaman.

[animatic]

Hi All.

I have read on numerous post's about Thaksin only having to serve 2 years Jailtime,

If he ever returns to Thailand he still has to face high courts again on many serious charges, I would expect him to end up with at least 10 years, and that would be right.

phupaman.

He also has at LEAST 3 years of a 5 year politics ban.

He sure respects that one, right?

If the charges against him are 'proved true in a fair and resonable manner',

yes 10 years wouldn't seem unfair. And he seems MUCH more worriedabout

a '2 year stretch' with his bribed perks coming in the back doors,

than anyone else I have seen.

Q. Why be so worried about a short 2 years,

when you can buy serious comfort from your jailers easily,

UNLESS you are REALLY worried about the OTHER dirt

coming down the pike at you in other cases.

Where there's smoke there's fire.

[wolfmanjack]

A self-made millionaire. He won two elections comfortably. It took a military coup to get rid of him. An anti-establishment maverick.

Nearly three years to come up with a hatful of charges, which whilst not trivial, ....were not exactly the unveiling of a secret Holocaust.

He and his party pursued by a judiciary for whom stamping the conviction sheet appeared to be a pre-ordained conclusion.

Of course people are still interested in him. He'll be front page news in Thailand till the day they put him in the ground !

<edit: cremate him >

Exactly. you make the point without invective, without flaming, and by sticking to facts.

a model for other posters - of both persuasions?? i hope so

I agree Jounalist makes his points calmly and with out bile.

I don't always agree, but like his style and methods.

I am always leery of 'Self Made Milionaires'. The ones I have met ,

several, were overdriven ego maniacs with constricted moral compasses.

"Hey, no hard feelings, it's just business."

Granted Thaksin started with his daddy's smaller, but not inconsequencial, pile,

and turned it into a MUCH bigger one. Ah, but the METHODS of doing that

in such a s SHORT time make him quite suspect.

The hat-full of charges are on hold because of arcane Thai laws

about actually showing up in court personally. He doesn't,

and so several cases are on hold till he sets foot on thai soil and gets brought to court.

You can say it is 'pre-ordained convictions' by a pursuing judiciary.

But you can't just easily make convictable charges from thin air, ever here.

There is FAR more than enough questionable dealings out in the open to easily

and fairly question how he did business while in office.

Not looking at these highly questionable dealings would ALSO be

dereliction of duty to the people for sweeping it under the table. Even here.

If he is actually INNOCENT of any charge, I am MORE than happy to see him aquitted.

But for that he must show up and face the charges, not slink in the shadows as a fugitive.

Does he so fear loss of his perks of life, to prefer life on the run and clandestine

radio shows to zeolots to keep his ego floating, to actually clearing his name in open court??

Or does he, as plausibly, truely fear what they ALREADY know about him,

and the time he would be likely to serve,

if ALL facts came to light.

It could be BOTH,

not wanting to die as a caged pauper when he can live 5 Stars now,

and he wouldn't be able to get the ego strokes from fans from the jailhouse.

He can still convince himself he is a big man while on the run,

in jail his whole imagined universe severely constricts to and mentally diminuative state.

Almost any one can make it rich if they are given a monopoly over a product most every one wants. No brainer there.

I have to admit i would stay on the lamb with my 500 million $$$$$ sipping champagne instead of coming back to thailand to sit in the pokie.

[wolfmanjack]

Hmm, aren't convicted people barred from becoming PM? I vaguely recall the constitution mentioning something about people with criminal records being barred from high-ranking government positions

Hadn't Samart already been convicted when he became PM? Wasn't he supposed to be out of jail waiting for the appeal process to be completed?

[wolfmanjack]

The deck is stacked against him in court ,that is a plain fact , at this stage even at such a early stage Abhisit is not looking

very good at running a country ,and his comments from Davos on another thread have a lot to be desired ,so in these hard times

i think Thaksin can afford to wait and let the voters slowly turn their anger towards the current government for not fixing the Thai

economy ,and them Thaksin would be in a very strong position to return,For my money in this economic climate someone with the experience

of Thaksin would not be bad for Thailand ,

Give me a break. The evidence laid out by the newspapers make it obvious that he is guilty of so many charges he deserves 20 years minimum and that does not include evidence that it took the courts 3 years to gather.

He should have been convicted in the assets concealment case when he was first elected. Giving shares of shin corp to the hired help. Remember he had a millionaire for a maid for many years. How many non corrupt people can you say that about??

[Journalist]

Creeping totalitarianism was very evident in the last couple of years of Thaksin's term.

I think what keeps us all fascinated, and yapping about it, is that we subconsciously feel there is a chance he will be back at the helm,

If we sincerely felt otherwise, then we wouldn't even contemplate the subject anymore. Iraq got rid of its BigBoss once and for all by strangling him in a dungeon - Thailand doesn't treat its tyrants badly, and there always seems to be a pragmatism via which they can be rehabilitated.

In few countries would spending a cathartic spell as a Monk count for anything, yet in Thailand....

[henryalleman]

Breakingnews

Thaksin kin get key Puea Thai posts

Bangkok Post Feb 3, 2009 - 10:05 PM

The opposition Puea Thai party has embarked on a new strategy to strengthen internal solidarity, appointing members of the Shinawatra family to lead party members in each of the three regions where Puea Thai influence remains strong, said a Puea Thai source on Tuesday.

The source said under the new strategy, Yaowapa Wongsawat, a younger sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, would lead Puea Thai members in the North.

In the Northeast, the leader would be Payap Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger brother.

As for the central region and Bangkok, Yingluck Shinawatra was entrusted to be the chieftain.

The source said the party wanted a Shinawatra family member to lead each of the three regions because the party wanted them to symbolise the party's close connections with Thaksin.

The presence of the Shinawatra siblings in itself would be a message to the constituents that the party has a clear goal to "bring Mr Thaksin back home,'' said the source.

Article continues (link)

Puea Thai party should change the name to Shinawatra Party. the sole goal of that party is to create a political dynasty like the Ghandi Dinasty in India and the Bhutto Dinasty in India who can rob the country for her own benifits.

[henryalleman]

Read this:

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/02/opi...on_30094723.php

Thanks for including that link- an excellent piece. Hopefully, once the Nation has 'partnered up' with Thai Visa, Chiang Noi will get his own subforum.

Should raise the level of debate.

Yes, an interesting article . Nothing especially surprising about it ( notwithstanding it coming from The Nation ) but its nice to see it all laid out in black and white. Not sure about the submarines though ? I thought the increased spending was for more important national priorities like former air force chief Chalit Phukphasuks new ' mansions '.etc.

I wonder if in recommending any particular piece of military hardware , like Gripen jets from Sweden , there are any kickbacks involved Nah....I guess not. The military are true patriots and always have the best interests in the country at heart, thats why they gave their backing to those other true patriots, the PAD. Mind you, you have to admire their thrift ! They certainly make a soldiers pay go a very long way indeed.

And the submarines can become an excellent goal for a nice Sunday out with the family like the airplane carrier.

[ballpoint]

Apparently Kwanchai hasn't taken too well to the red shirts dissing him on stage on Saturday. He has removed their show from his station not to mention asked Mr. T to back him and his red shirts and not those of Jatuporn. It seems the huggy, smiley moment of Saturday unity is suddenly back into the harsh glare of division and disunity.

* more on the other phone-in Thaksin made *

THAILAND: UDD conflict seems an unpatchable rift

Pro-Thaksin radio host stops relaying 'Truth Today' after the TV show's host criticized him at an anti-government rally

Famous radio host and leader of the Udon Thani-based pro-Thaksin group has stopped relaying the Truth Today political talk show on his radio program in a move seen as an unpatchable rift between the two conflicting groups of red-clad demonstrators.

Kwanchai Praipana, leader of the Khon Rak Udon Thani group, yesterday said he had instructed the controller of his FM 97.50MHz radio station in Udon Thani to stop transmitting the evening weekday program.

Truth Today, a program broadcast through the satellite-based DStation, is co-hosted by Jatuporn Promphan, leader of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Kwanchai was reportedly upset with Jatuporn for criticising him while addressing his red-clad demonstrators in Sanam Luang on Saturday.

Kwanchai reportedly called on Thaksin to support his group instead of Jatuporn's camp.

Meanwhile, Jatuporn has responded by saying that the UDD could do without the participation of Kwanchai's group in its anti-government rallies in Bangkok.

Puea Thai MP for Udon Thani Wichien Khaokham said through the local FM 97.50MHz radio station last Friday that Thaksin had phoned Jatuporn and Kwanchai in an unsuccessful bid to patch up their rift.

The MP said the quarrel between the two was affecting the overall image of the reds.

Meanwhile, the three co-hosts of the Truth Today -- Jatuporn, Veera Musikhapong and Natthawut Saikua -- failed to show up at the station yesterday.

Thaksin's Jan 25 phone-in tape was re-run instead.

- Asia Media / 2009-02-03

Coming soon, the founding of the United Peoples Front for Thaksin, and the Peoples United Front for Thaksin, and the Thaksin United Peoples.... Since they don't have the PAD to attack any more they'll just start attacking themselves. The best solution would be to put Kwanchai in a room on his own. Sooner or later he'd beat himself up and then kill himself in retaliation.

[hammered]

Creeping totalitarianism was very evident in the last couple of years of Thaksin's term.

I think what keeps us all fascinated, and yapping about it, is that we subconsciously feel there is a chance he will be back at the helm,

If we sincerely felt otherwise, then we wouldn't even contemplate the subject anymore. Iraq got rid of its BigBoss once and for all by strangling him in a dungeon - Thailand doesn't treat its tyrants badly, and there always seems to be a pragmatism via which they can be rehabilitated.

In few countries would spending a cathartic spell as a Monk count for anything, yet in Thailand....

Put into the mix that there are only really two ways to return:

The traditional do a mea culpa and accept forgiveness possibly via s tint in the monkhood or something. That is over to Thaksin ans seemingly he doesnt want it.

The other way is thorugh some kind of revolution decimating those who oppose him. It also relies on nobody else coming to the forefront, such adivisive figure being appropriate to whoever led the revolution and of course it being a revolution with absolutley no politcal end. That puts him very much in the hands of others in a country which has no real revolutionary history but rather an evolutionary one.

[sriracha john]

Apparently Kwanchai hasn't taken too well to the red shirts dissing him on stage on Saturday. He has removed their show from his station not to mention asked Mr. T to back him and his red shirts and not those of Jatuporn. It seems the huggy, smiley moment of Saturday unity is suddenly back into the harsh glare of division and disunity.

THAILAND: UDD conflict seems an unpatchable rift

Pro-Thaksin radio host stops relaying 'Truth Today' after the TV show's host criticized him at an anti-government rally

Famous radio host and leader of the Udon Thani-based pro-Thaksin group has stopped relaying the Truth Today political talk show on his radio program in a move seen as an unpatchable rift between the two conflicting groups of red-clad demonstrators.

Kwanchai Praipana, leader of the Khon Rak Udon Thani group, yesterday said he had instructed the controller of his FM 97.50MHz radio station in Udon Thani to stop transmitting the evening weekday program.

Truth Today, a program broadcast through the satellite-based DStation, is co-hosted by Jatuporn Promphan, leader of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Kwanchai was reportedly upset with Jatuporn for criticising him while addressing his red-clad demonstrators in Sanam Luang on Saturday.

Kwanchai reportedly called on Thaksin to support his group instead of Jatuporn's camp.

Meanwhile, Jatuporn has responded by saying that the UDD could do without the participation of Kwanchai's group in its anti-government rallies in Bangkok.

Puea Thai MP for Udon Thani Wichien Khaokham said through the local FM 97.50MHz radio station last Friday that Thaksin had phoned Jatuporn and Kwanchai in an unsuccessful bid to patch up their rift.

The MP said the quarrel between the two was affecting the overall image of the reds.

Meanwhile, the three co-hosts of the Truth Today -- Jatuporn, Veera Musikhapong and Natthawut Saikua -- failed to show up at the station yesterday.

Thaksin's Jan 25 phone-in tape was re-run instead.

- Asia Media / 2009-02-03

Coming soon, the founding of the United Peoples Front for Thaksin, and the Peoples United Front for Thaksin, and the Thaksin United Peoples.... Since they don't have the PAD to attack any more they'll just start attacking themselves. The best solution would be to put Kwanchai in a room on his own. Sooner or later he'd beat himself up and then kill himself in retaliation.

Jatuporn disagreeing with Bangkokians in 2007.

76% disagree with UDD move: poll

More than 76% of people living in Bangkok questioned in a Bangkok University poll disagree with the red-shirt group's threat to prolong anti-government rally if the government fails to meet their demands. They said the demands of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to the government -- to remove Foreign Minister Kasit Pirom, to reshuffle the Cabinet, and to speed up cases against People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) over airport closure -- could damage the country and prolong the national crisis. Only 23.7% agree with the demands, saying that they want clearer action on the government's stance on PAD, and because they do not like Prime Minister Abhisit and the Democrat Party.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...h-udd-move-poll

[Old Man River]

Creeping totalitarianism was very evident in the last couple of years of Thaksin's term.

I think what keeps us all fascinated, and yapping about it, is that we subconsciously feel there is a chance he will be back at the helm,

If we sincerely felt otherwise, then we wouldn't even contemplate the subject anymore. Iraq got rid of its BigBoss once and for all by strangling him in a dungeon - Thailand doesn't treat its tyrants badly, and there always seems to be a pragmatism via which they can be rehabilitated.

In few countries would spending a cathartic spell as a Monk count for anything, yet in Thailand....

Put into the mix that there are only really two ways to return:

The traditional do a mea culpa and accept forgiveness possibly via s tint in the monkhood or something. That is over to Thaksin ans seemingly he doesnt want it.

The other way is thorugh some kind of revolution decimating those who oppose him. It also relies on nobody else coming to the forefront, such adivisive figure being appropriate to whoever led the revolution and of course it being a revolution with absolutley no politcal end. That puts him very much in the hands of others in a country which has no real revolutionary history but rather an evolutionary one.

There is no chance of his return without going to prison. None. He has been deemed a threat and anything he says going forward will not be believed. He has said too many things only to do the opposite soon after.

However, in time family members will not carry the same stigma and will have opportunities in politics etc. I would not be surprised in 10 years or so to see his son enter Thai politics.

[egg6447]

So in Thailand we allow convicted criminals to govern the country then ?

....... there all criminals, just not convicted, come to that there are a lot of convicted murderers as i understand it, already in and out of office.

[Journalist]

There is no chance of his return without going to prison. None.

Yes, there is. He can be pardoned.

Its a big 'if', ....but if a bookmaker had odds of five to one against on him rising like a phoenix, i'd have a little dabble.

And whilst TV topics have mused on his impertinence on his asking for a pardon; whatever discussions, accommodations and deals that would be made are never going to be transparent or publicly disclosed.

[sriracha john]

Creeping totalitarianism was very evident in the last couple of years of Thaksin's term.

I think what keeps us all fascinated, and yapping about it, is that we subconsciously feel there is a chance he will be back at the helm,

If we sincerely felt otherwise, then we wouldn't even contemplate the subject anymore. Iraq got rid of its BigBoss once and for all by strangling him in a dungeon - Thailand doesn't treat its tyrants badly, and there always seems to be a pragmatism via which they can be rehabilitated.

In few countries would spending a cathartic spell as a Monk count for anything, yet in Thailand....

Put into the mix that there are only really two ways to return:

The traditional do a mea culpa and accept forgiveness possibly via s tint in the monkhood or something. That is over to Thaksin ans seemingly he doesnt want it.

The other way is thorugh some kind of revolution decimating those who oppose him. It also relies on nobody else coming to the forefront, such adivisive figure being appropriate to whoever led the revolution and of course it being a revolution with absolutley no politcal end. That puts him very much in the hands of others in a country which has no real revolutionary history but rather an evolutionary one.

There is no chance of his return without going to prison. None. He has been deemed a threat and anything he says going forward will not be believed. He has said too many things only to do the opposite soon after.

However, in time family members will not carry the same stigma and will have opportunities in politics etc. I would not be surprised in 10 years or so to see his son enter Thai politics.

He's got Minister of Culture written all over him...

[sriracha john]

There is no chance of his return without going to prison. None.

Yes, there is. He can be pardoned.

Its a big 'if', ....but if a bookmaker had odds of five to one against on him rising like a phoenix, i'd have a little dabble.

And whilst TV topics have mused on his impertinence on his asking for a pardon; whatever discussions, accommodations and deals that would be made are never going to be transparent or publicly disclosed.

Which is precisely why his very publicly disclosed and grossly inappropriate request will not be considered. That's not how it's done.

[Plus]

Several columnists said that unless Thaksin has something new to say he should hold on with his phone ins. Thaksin obviously took it seriously and raised the stakes once again.

It did a good job of raising PTP spirits in Khao Yai but will have no impact on the rest of the country, on both sides.

The reds can't grow into political force with Thaskin on their shoulders, they completely lack credibility serving only as his political front. Thaksin's enemies are laughing it off - the man has no means to fight left whatsoever, only words that he can't back up and no one takes seriously. It's like Osama Bin Laden threatening to take over the world - ha ha, not funny. What else is on TV?