Prime Minister Worries About Thailand Image

[fobuff]

daaaaaaaaa

Worries about Thailand's image...

Where has he been for the last 5 years... Oh yes... maybe in the UK polishing is economic degree....

UNBELIEVABLE....

Fobuff

[mrukman]

Is it true to keep calling Thailand LOS I think its time that term was dropped as Thailand is not the land of smile's the mob has ended that 1. Why were the main perpertrators not arrested for the damage they caused to the kingdom. Murder of farrangs is on the increase muggings, thefts, Scams, even some local papers are to scare'd to print the crime rate's and what is the gov't doing ZILTCH.

The police are just as corrupt as the beach peddlers the only time they bother to solve a crime is when they can get there picture on the front page aressting druggies is about there limit, who ran away at swampy airport when the mob rushed them. very reliable so is Thailand Truly the land of smile's.

[mrukman]

Is it true to keep calling Thailand LOS I think its time that term was dropped as Thailand is not the land of smile's the mob has ended that 1. Why were the main perpertrators not arrested for the damage they caused to the kingdom. Murder of farrangs is on the increase muggings, thefts, Scams, even some local papers are to scare'd to print the crime rate's and what is the gov't doing ZILTCH.

The police are just as corrupt as the beach peddlers the only time they bother to solve a crime is when they can get there picture on the front page aressting druggies is about there limit, who ran away at swampy airport when the mob rushed them. very reliable so is Thailand Truly the land of smile's.

[henryalleman]

Sorry Pierrot ... but again you are wrong. Abhisit was elected by parliament the same was Samak and Somchai were .. in fact the same was your fearless leader Thaksin was!

Abhi is not the people choice, MP were instructed to vote for him. Abhi never tried to reach to the people because he knows he doesn't have to answer to them. Sorry, but I can't call that democracy.

In every democracy who have an coalition government the PM and the ministers are appointed by the political parties. And its the parliament who give their approval or not by a vote of trust by the MP's elected by the public.

In a genuine democracy the government is the executive power under the control of the parliament. So yes, in this view the PM and the ministers are in fact civil servants. That's why a government can't implement laws or regulations who are not approved by the parliament.

So there is even nothing undemocratic about an PM or minister who is not elected.(this is not even the case with Abhisit)

This is how a genuine democracy works.

The same as an CEO and the executive board of a company are under control of the shareholders.

Edited February 20, 2009 by henryalleman

[Seneque]

I don't see any particular reason why the PM should be worry about Thailand's image. To me basically everything is the same as it was many years ago ... (remember those days when soldiers were killing Thai citizen in the streets ...) Is the PM rather more worry to the fact that people nowadays are not more educated but simply are more informed ...? And for that very reason the powers that be are more bound to be scrutinized on their actions.

I believe the general anxiety Thai people are confronted with comes from the fact that an era is ending and politicians/businesses want to be in a 'power' position when this will happen.

I don’t believe the image of Thailand overseas is a real concern for the PM. Furthermore foreign countries wherever they are have more problems of their own now than to care about the well being of Thailand

[hammered]

Sorry Pierrot ... but again you are wrong. Abhisit was elected by parliament the same was Samak and Somchai were .. in fact the same was your fearless leader Thaksin was!

Abhi is not the people choice, MP were instructed to vote for him. Abhi never tried to reach to the people because he knows he doesn’t have to answer to them. Sorry, but I can’t call that democracy.

Parliamentary democracy is where governments are indirectly elected. People vote for their representatives and the representatives then select the governmnet and PM. The government and PM remain answerable to the parliament which remains answerable to the people. Thailand does not have a presdiential system. Parliament is the supreme body.

Also Somchai could have called an election if he wanted. He didnt and seems to not regret that decision.

Governments formed excluding the largest party are neither unknown nor undemocratic. Isnt Nethanyahu about to form a government in Israel after losing the election. Take a look at the Ukraine. Thailand has a history of it. There was once a PM from a party with barely any seats. Iirc some socialist led Japan as PM in the 90's.

In short in a parliamentary system the PM is not the people's choice but parliaments. That is how the system works.

[grandpops]

Nobody (abroad) give a dam_n about the red shirts as long as they don't block the airport. I don't remember him to be so concerned when the PAD was putting Thailand on the headlines a few month ago ...

What foreigners really care about are the Rohingya refugees, Giles and Harry Nicolaides. But I believe Abhi comments are directed to a local audience, so far the Thai government has only show disdain to foreign institutions.

Perhaps you should consult your diary and a calendar. The PM wasn't PM 'a few months ago'.

The reds will say and do just about anything to not make this about their own behaviour!

Bit like saying TV is a PAD site just because 4 posters are paid up members and wear the PAD blinkers!

If you want to advance your cause you really need to up your game as much as Thailand needs to up his.

Some of us are giving Abhisit a chance because we don't see him being removed by his army masters anytime soon.

Time and circumstances will tell on this though.

Happy PAD reuniong to you and SRJ! NIce to see plus get a real mauling at the hands of Joetheposter yesterday!! Nice one joe!

[johnefallis]

Asean members know very well what the deal is, who reds are and what they rally for, and it ain't democracy.

So yes, it is a worrying image if so many people keep trying to bring a convicted criminal back to power, a man Asean members don't want in their own countries.

Riiiight, after about 30 years in prison Nelson Mandella should not have come to power either, right????

The whole point of Democracy is that if the system is broken, there's a chance it can be fixed.

Are some of you still living in the dark ages?? Sometimes it's better just to say nothing.

dam_n, I got several tickets, among other things, over the years that I was guilty of, for one reason or another, that makes me a criminal, I guess I should never be allowed to run for office, or even vote any more???

Can you imagine if the U.K. or U.S. complied with that way of thinking? Who would have been the founding fathers??? Certainly not all those CRIMINALS??? Or how about Australia??? Certainly not all those criminals???

Sorry, had to, conscience.

[Plus]

Some Nelson Mandela that Thaksin dude, riiiight.

I can't imagine the UK or US letting Worldcom execs or Madoff running for President all the while slamming the judicial system, or better yet, while on the run from the police and hiding in Nicaragua.

But if you can imagine Thaksin as Nelson Mandela everything else is possible.

[jdinasia]

Asean members know very well what the deal is, who reds are and what they rally for, and it ain't democracy.

So yes, it is a worrying image if so many people keep trying to bring a convicted criminal back to power, a man Asean members don't want in their own countries.

Riiiight, after about 30 years in prison Nelson Mandella should not have come to power either, right????

The whole point of Democracy is that if the system is broken, there's a chance it can be fixed.

Are some of you still living in the dark ages?? Sometimes it's better just to say nothing.

dam_n, I got several tickets, among other things, over the years that I was guilty of, for one reason or another, that makes me a criminal, I guess I should never be allowed to run for office, or even vote any more???

Can you imagine if the U.K. or U.S. complied with that way of thinking? Who would have been the founding fathers??? Certainly not all those CRIMINALS??? Or how about Australia??? Certainly not all those criminals???

Sorry, had to, conscience.

You are comparing 'tickets' to 'abuse of power' etc?

What a VERY sad comparison.

[Plus]

Maybe he's got a quarter billion of dollars in tickets, as Thaksin's kids in the latest KTB loan case.

[jdinasia]

Maybe he's got a quarter billion of dollars in tickets, as Thaksin's kids in the latest KTB loan case.

And his father was PM and just waived them?

[LevelHead]

Is this Abi's attempt at an early "April Fools" joke ?

I thought there might be a cartoon (for fun and nothing insinuated) of him and his Democrat cronies watching starving refugee's in drifting boats, while watching starving kids eat tins of rotten fish and drinking stinking milk, whilst dancing around listening to the latest tunes from the PAD band at a shut down airport with lots of farang tourists all trapped everywhere and crying ?

[jdinasia]

Is this Abi's attempt at an early "April Fools" joke ?

I thought there might be a cartoon (for fun and nothing insinuated) of him and his Democrat cronies watching starving refugee's in drifting boats, while watching starving kids eat tins of rotten fish and drinking stinking milk, whilst dancing around listening to the latest tunes from the PAD band at a shut down airport with lots of farang tourists all trapped everywhere and crying ?

LOL

ummm Rohingya policies --- Thaksin

PAD --- Thaksin

Milk ? (Chinese? Samak?)

Fish? oops I think for that one a Demo fell on his sword

But you are kinda funny!

[hammered]

Is this Abi's attempt at an early "April Fools" joke ?

I thought there might be a cartoon (for fun and nothing insinuated) of him and his Democrat cronies watching starving refugee's in drifting boats, while watching starving kids eat tins of rotten fish and drinking stinking milk, whilst dancing around listening to the latest tunes from the PAD band at a shut down airport with lots of farang tourists all trapped everywhere and crying ?

LOL

ummm Rohingya policies --- Thaksin

PAD --- Thaksin

Milk ? (Chinese? Samak?)

Fish? oops I think for that one a Demo fell on his sword

But you are kinda funny!

Chalerm has already hastily rushed out to deny any connection. Wonder if it'll break before the censure motion

[warfie]

Thailand's reputation would be dramatically improved if justice was served in cases like Leo Del Pinto, Dale Henry and... oh the list is endless...

But, no... let's invent a new cocktail, that'll fix it!

All part of the fun!

[venturalaw]

Nobody (abroad) give a dam_n about the red shirts as long as they don't block the airport. I don't remember him to be so concerned when the PAD was putting Thailand on the headlines a few month ago ...

What foreigners really care about are the Rohingya refugees, Giles and Harry Nicolaides. But I believe Abhi comments are directed to a local audience, so far the Thai government has only show disdain to foreign institutions.

I haven't read all of the thread - but I venture to say that the increasing number of murders of farang has a significant negative impact on "Thailand's reputation".

[geriatrickid]

Never mind that the "patriot" himself fled to the UK without saying good-bye to his comrades who are left with another LM suit.

There is a strong case to be made that Giles is more effective on the "outside" where he can state his views and "organize". If he was burdened with defending the charges, and dealing with the harassment, he would be unable to do what he is doing now. IMHO that is one of the reasons the LM charges were brought.

[in every democracy who have an coalition government the PM and the ministers are appointed by the political parties. And its the parliament who give their approval or not by a vote of trust by the MP's elected by the public.

This is how a genuine democracy works.

The same as an CEO and the executive board of a company are under control of the shareholders.

Ahh but that gives you Israel. And it is a country with one of the most representative democracies in the world, with proportional representation creating massive political dysfunction. It creates the situation where a small party can hold the balance of power and impose its unpopular policies on the rest of the electorate. As for the CEO and the boards, note that in the USA, it was only recently with the SOX rules that boards were forced to shift to acting on behalf of the shareholders, with the imposition of outside directors. It is also obvious that those rules did not do much to stop the idiocy at Bof A, Citibank or AIG. The former BOD of Merrill Lynch would be crapping themselves right now, if there had been an effective SEC presence.

Thailand's reputation would be dramatically improved if justice was served in cases like Leo Del Pinto, Dale Henry and... oh the list is endless...But, no... let's invent a new cocktail, that'll fix it!

How about one simple act: Cleaning up the corruption in the judiciary and especially the police. Until the police are made into a professional and honest organization, nothing will change. Until then, toss the gullible tourists some booze to dull the senses.

Edited February 21, 2009 by geriatrickid

[jdinasia]

How about one simple act: Cleaning up the corruption in the judiciary <snip>

Corruption in the judiciary? ......... care to tell us what corruption you are speaking of?

You also agree not to post negative comments criticizing the legal proceedings or judgments of the Thai Court of Law.

[SoMeOnEnUlL]

Bit like saying TV is a PAD site just because 4 posters are paid up members and wear the PAD blinkers!

My thought exactly.

[johnefallis]

Asean members know very well what the deal is, who reds are and what they rally for, and it ain't democracy.

So yes, it is a worrying image if so many people keep trying to bring a convicted criminal back to power, a man Asean members don't want in their own countries.

Riiiight, after about 30 years in prison Nelson Mandella should not have come to power either, right????

The whole point of Democracy is that if the system is broken, there's a chance it can be fixed.

Are some of you still living in the dark ages?? Sometimes it's better just to say nothing.

dam_n, I got several tickets, among other things, over the years that I was guilty of, for one reason or another, that makes me a criminal, I guess I should never be allowed to run for office, or even vote any more???

Can you imagine if the U.K. or U.S. complied with that way of thinking? Who would have been the founding fathers??? Certainly not all those CRIMINALS??? Or how about Australia??? Certainly not all those criminals???

Sorry, had to, conscience.

You are comparing 'tickets' to 'abuse of power' etc?

What a VERY sad comparison.

More so, I was comparing a military coup de etat to the tickets, other extreme.

If abuse of power, of any kind, was the focus, why didn't it take place it the courts whilst Thaksin was in office???

Yet, I agree, if Abhisit can hold it together, then let him have a go at it. Since he was "apparently" elected into office.

[Ricardo]

If abuse of power, of any kind, was the focus, ]why didn't it take place it the courts whilst Thaksin was in office ???

Yet, I agree, if Abhisit can hold it together, then let him have a go at it. Since he was "apparently" elected into office.

(my highlight above)

Perhaps you just had to be here four years ago, seeing the checks-and-balances being sytematically removed or subverted, to understand why this would never have happened. "Democracy is not my aim" & 'I'm here for the next 20 years' ring any bells ?

Abhisit & the Democrats' coalition-government, elected by MPs voted-in a year ago by the people, currently remain the best of a very short list of not-very-good alternatives, IMHO of course. Better than civil-war on-the-streets, another military-government, or a kleptocracy/dictatorship ala Marcos, let-alone the marxist vision of a peoples' uprising, which simply isn't going to happen.

If it fails, then one can then hope for an election, to try & break the log-jam.

[0zz1]

Asean members know very well what the deal is, who reds are and what they rally for, and it ain't democracy.

So yes, it is a worrying image if so many people keep trying to bring a convicted criminal back to power, a man Asean members don't want in their own countries.

For sure Asean members understand Abhi's problems. In Burma, they have Aung San Su Kyi , in Malaysia they have Anwar, Hun Sen has problem on his own too ... even in Singapore , they talk about an opposition party ! Definitely Abhi will find a lot of support during the next Asean meeting

Equating Thaksin with Aung San Su Kyi? Should I laugh, choke or just sit back in stunned silence? I rarely agree with what you say, but you are normally one of the more level headed red supporters. I didn't think you would stoop so low Pierrot.

equating Thaksin with Aung San Su Kyi... makes me want to vomit. There you have extreme opposites. Sad..

[Plus]

There is a strong case to be made that Giles is more effective on the "outside" where he can state his views and "organize".

I heard that some of Giles collegues back in Thailand are mightily pissed with him putting out that freak manifesto and thus burning all bridges.

I suppose they want to cut him loose, as a loose cannon.

Maybe Giles thought he could fight better from the UK, retarded idiot that he is, but back home no one buys his latest raves about buregoning democracy under Thaksin. Well, lots of red shirts would buy into that, if they find time away from beating each other senseless now that there's no PAD outlets for their violence. Giles can be their next leader, if he wants to, with phone ins, life size cutouts and all the crap.

[LevelHead]

I have noticed that the "Thread Starters" of the Thailand News Clippings Forum, tend not to start threads on anything that is to do with potential Democrat corruption.

I mean say the recent headlines over the stinking milk.

I think perhaps some of the people on here have become "too far PAD/Democrat" supporters and too "I personally hate Thaksin" that they know lose their neutrality.

Can the moderators please ensure that the threads reflect a general spread of news, and we do not fall into the trap of having mods decide to "not report" certain kinds of news.

[grantbkk]

The talking head that is Thailand's Prime Minister is articulate, well educated and is the perfect spokes model for power behind him. He says all the right things that the international community want to hear and puts a happy face on the Kingdom known as the Land of Smiles. The problem is credibility in all things controversial. I watched him on an interview with Bloomberg Voices a couple of weeks ago. Bernard Lo and others there to comment were at the very least stunned after the interview. The Prime Minister talked about democracy, the economy and political unrest, etc. All three commentators basically said after the interview that the Prime Minister seemed like a really nice guy but everything he said was BS. In fact you could see on Lo's face that he wanted to say just that. The bottom line is that he puts a good face on for Thailand but there is no substance and he is losing credibility fast. A coin operated Japanese robot could do the same job much cheaper.

[Ricardo]

The bottom line is that he puts a good face on for Thailand

So an improvement on PM-Somchai, and a vast improvement on PM-Samak, then.

Edited February 22, 2009 by Ricardo

[johnefallis]

If abuse of power, of any kind, was the focus, why didn't it take place it the courts whilst Thaksin was in office???

Yet, I agree, if Abhisit can hold it together, then let him have a go at it. Since he was "apparently" elected into office.

(my highlight above)

Perhaps you just had to be here four years ago, seeing the checks-and-balances being sytematically removed or subverted, to understand why this would never have happened. "Democracy is not my aim" & 'I'm here for the next 20 years' ring any bells ?

Abhisit & the Democrats' coalition-government, elected by MPs voted-in a year ago by the people, currently remain the best of a very short list of not-very-good alternatives, IMHO of course. Better than civil-war on-the-streets, another military-government, or a kleptocracy/dictatorship ala Marcos, let-alone the marxist vision of a peoples' uprising, which simply isn't going to happen.

If it fails, then one can then hope for an election, to try & break the log-jam.

Good points, well said.

Hopefully a new election would include people being free to vote for whoever they want in office. Whoever they think will best represent their issues. Good or bad, this is the road to democracy, unfortunately, it usually has some potholes and even the occasional collapsed bridge.

Maybe this would be a good time to add another option to the ballot "_ none of the above", that would effectively reject the candidates presented. Maybe even an additional blank line allowing the people to fill in the name of their nomination.

Now that would be something.

[johnefallis]

I don't get why red shirt supporters always bring up the elections won by TRT.

Vote buying= INVALID election results. How many times you need to be told? Get over Taksin, he wouldn't give a hoot about you. You think even if he did come back that he's gonna be foriegner/Thai friendly?

Taksins supporters held a special ceremony to rid him of bad luck. They included names of his enemies, including Abhisit and Prem. If you agree that Prem is his enemy, then 'you-know-who' must certainly be as well. Maybe another reason why Taksin didn't get his pardon???????????? Got an excuse for this one?

If you disagree, then what are you complaining about??

Taksin, TRT, Samak, PPP, Somchai...... who cares! Did they ever promote transparency? I never saw their govt spending plans aired on TV. If you need someone to hate, how about the guy that's got your tax dollars too, and he's been living it up in Dubai. If you're happy to pay for that, sure, go ahead.

I'm sure if he could ever come back to Thailand, he's gonna love foreigners!! Another war on drugs, but this time mostly foreigners and southerners will be the victims. Nothing to do with drugs I assure you.

Who's living it up in Dubai with tax dollars???

[wrecker]

The government of Thailand, at least certain figures like Suthep are truly insincere. If they were really worried about the image of Thailand. They would never allowed to be a writer imprisoned, they would free a lady activist already in jail and they would withdraw legal procedures against a Chulalongkorn lecturer. They would show to be even handed by prosecuting the people who caused so much damage to Thailand by closing the airport. Abhisit would rectify the position of boat refugees and there would not have any ministers in this cabinet who have links with prostitution and elements who close airports. Abhisit is not really interested in making things right. He is interested in power and feeding power to the provincial godfathers in his government.

If the PM was really worried about Thailand's Image abroad he would have sat down with Thaksin and struck a deal. The headline should read that the PM is worried about the UDD and the fact that they muster far more support than the PAD and that is very damaging for a government who came to power without a mandate from the voters in which the Democrat party and Suthep in particular does not believe. After all any new election they will use again. On top of that Thaksin gets a free ride. The economy will slow down, hundreds of thousands of worker will be out of a job and return to the provinces where they can vote for his ex wife in the new elections and Thaksin only have to tell them: Look how they mishandled the country and nobody will refer to a credit crisis in 3 years time.