Thaksin Interviewed In Time Magazine

[likewise]

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

Please substaniate that claim with some facts.

Not going into details here, but if you have an educated Thai partner ask her her/him.

[rixalex]

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

Please substaniate that claim with some facts.

Not going into details here, but if you have an educated Thai partner ask her her/him.

You were the one who made the claim.

[likewise]

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

Please substaniate that claim with some facts.

Not going into details here, but if you have an educated Thai partner ask her her/him.

You were the one who made the claim.

YEs, so.... does that mean I have to go into details on a public forum?

Like I said, ask your educated thai partner.

Still waiting for answers on my questions as well.

[rixalex]

YEs, so.... does that mean I have to go into details on a public forum?

Yes that's generally the way it works. If you can't go into details there's not much point in making the claim in the first place because it means nothing - it's just something you said.

[henryalleman]

Taxin may not be a saint but the fact that he still has very strong support in the villages is down to his social policies that gave the poor hope, something that is now in very short supply since the yellow shirt coup. The country has to accept one person one vote and stop appointing unelected oligarchs!

His kind of social politics put the people in the villages deeper in debt

http://web.nso.go.th/indicator/eco/ind_eco08.htm

One wonders where on earth they get the figures from, how they're collated and who does the math? If it's anything like the methodology I've seen being practised here then it was probably done after a long weekend at a fancy resort hotel and they made the figures up to fit what they wanted to see. Taxin still commands lots of support in the provinces and that's undeniable although finding people who will openly admit it is becoming more diffificult in the current intimidating atmosphere.

'What's the use of glasses and candles when the owl don't want to see.'

an old and appropriate quote

[animatic]

And again lots of anti Thaksin propaganda here.

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

Time to stop the witch hunt on Mr Thaksin.

Few questions for all you PAD lovers.

1. IS the country much better off now?

Considering the world economy, the ineptness of the Thaksin puppet governments of the last year

no it's not but it seems finally to have some direction from the top.

2. Have they been democratically elected?

Yes, in the legislature by people democratically elected by the people.

3. Who's really in charge here, puppet Abhisit or his "elders"?

Likely the same powers that be who were in charge when Thaksin was the front man.

4. When will they bring Suthep to justice?

Is there something concrete to nail him with?

Lots of inuendo and no-one has presented concrete facts, including during

ALL of Thaksin's tenures and his puppet governments also.

What is he prosecutable for they couldn't bring to trial during 5-7 years

Where there's smoke screen doesn't mean there's fire.

5. When will the PAD leaders get their day in court?

Their lawyers have been several times, it proceeds at glacial speed, but it keeps moving.

6. What is the current government doing for the rural poor?

Trying to restart the economy is a darned good place to start, saving exports.

In three months you can only do so much.

7. .....................................? and much more but will be happy with some reasonable answers to these questions first

There are few reasonable answers that bridge the cultural and political gaps of the extremists.

A waste of energy to try reconciling the extremes... neither side cares to listen.

Their minds are set and positions intractable.

Edited March 8, 2009 by animatic

[likewise]

And again lots of anti Thaksin propaganda here.

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

Time to stop the witch hunt on Mr Thaksin.

Few questions for all you PAD lovers.

1. IS the country much better off now?

Considering the world economy, the ineptness of the Thaksin puppet governments of the last year

no it's not but it seems finally to have some direction from the top.

2. Have they been democratically elected?

Yes, in the legislature by people democratically elected by the people.

3. Who's really in charge here, puppet Abhisit or his "elders"?

Likely the same powers that be who were in charge when Thaksin was the front man.

4. When will they bring Suthep to justice?

Is there something concrete to nail him with?

Lots of inuendo and no-one has presented concrete facts, including during

ALL of Thaksin's tenures and his puppet governments also.

What is he prosecutable for they couldn't bring to trial during 5-7 years

Where there's smoke screen doesn't mean there's fire.

5. When will the PAD leaders get their day in court?

Their lawyers have been several times, it proceeds at glacial speed, but it keeps moving.

6. What is the current government doing for the rural poor?

Trying to restart the economy is a darned good place to start, saving exports.

In three months you can only do so much.

7. .....................................? and much more but will be happy with some reasonable answers to these questions first

There are few reasonable answers that bridge the cultural and political gaps of the extremists.

A waste of energy to try reconciling the extremes... neither side cares to listen.

Their minds are set and positions intractable.

I can agree with a few of your answers but as far as I know this government is not elected by the people.

[Oberkommando]

If you can't go into details there's not much point in making the claim

That's exactly why there's been a severe clampdown on certain thought crimes recently by this unelected government.

And as a result, free and fair discussion on this and related topics is not allowed on this website nor most others in Thailand.

Just because we can't discuss certain things doesn't mean they are untrue.

[animatic]

And again lots of anti Thaksin propaganda here.

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

Time to stop the witch hunt on Mr Thaksin.

Few questions for all you PAD lovers.

1. IS the country much better off now?

Considering the world economy, the ineptness of the Thaksin puppet governments of the last year

no it's not but it seems finally to have some direction from the top.

2. Have they been democratically elected?

Yes, in the legislature by people democratically elected by the people.

3. Who's really in charge here, puppet Abhisit or his "elders"?

Likely the same powers that be who were in charge when Thaksin was the front man.

4. When will they bring Suthep to justice?

Is there something concrete to nail him with?

Lots of inuendo and no-one has presented concrete facts, including during

ALL of Thaksin's tenures and his puppet governments also.

What is he prosecutable for they couldn't bring to trial during 5-7 years

Where there's smoke screen doesn't mean there's fire.

5. When will the PAD leaders get their day in court?

Their lawyers have been several times, it proceeds at glacial speed, but it keeps moving.

6. What is the current government doing for the rural poor?

Trying to restart the economy is a darned good place to start, saving exports.

In three months you can only do so much.

7. .....................................? and much more but will be happy with some reasonable answers to these questions first

There are few reasonable answers that bridge the cultural and political gaps of the extremists.

A waste of energy to try reconciling the extremes... neither side cares to listen.

Their minds are set and positions intractable.

I can agree with a few of your answers but as far as I know this government is not elected by the people.

We can debate if the legalities surrounding TRT/PPP's demise were followed.

We can debate whether the former PPP coalition partners were bought into leaving.

We can debate if Thaksin's ouster was for good or bad, or it's leaglity, though that is fait acompli.

We can even debate whether voting yes/no, on only ONE choice of constitution is valid or not.

In the USA it was; by a state by state ratification up or down process; take it or leave it.

Same choice Thailand got in last constitution. (Oh and USA got theirs from running off the

last national leader too. A minor point.)

But there is no debate about the legality of the current government, by the laws of Thailand.

The law says if the MINORITY party the votes can not make a coalition government,

then the next highest vote getter can try. If that government falls and the leading party can't

rebuild another coalition, then the 2nd place can try. And Somchai HAD the chance to dissolve

things, he waited too long. and the dems got the chance to form a coalition.

If anyone anger should be directed at lil SOMCHAI for allowing the Dems that chance.

PPP no longer existed.

But most of the PPP MP's voted into parlement MP.s STILL ARE IN PARLEMENT,

only PPP leadership was banned. And the a PArty itself.

The people still have most all of the MP's that they voted for.

PTP did NOT as a party list win anything. It didn't exist during the last election.

It's MEMBERS who were non banned PPP MP's are STILL in the legislature,

as largest minority but COULD NOT MAKE A COALITION.

The democratic party came second, a CLOSE SECOND, in one type of voting counting

and BEAT PPP in another type of vote counting.

When PPP was dissolved for vote fraud, the Dems as next party by ALL counts

had ever right LEGAL RIGHT under the law to try and make a coalition.

Newin saw the sea change and switched his crew's boats.

That allowed a coalition to form.

This makes them a LEGAL government by Thailand's Laws.

The Shinatwatra Buldings War Room of banned TRT schemers

attempting to control PPP, puts paid the Newin can take his people and

help the Dems argument. What's good for the goose etc.

Similar happens in most European countries with similar parlementary systems.

A similar thing is going on right now in Israel;

The party with most votes CAN'T MAKE A COALITION.

so the next party is getting a shot at it.

Net ah yahoo is not the biggest vote getter...

There's a lot that can be debated, but ALL OF ASEAN,

and the laws of Thailand all agree Abhisit and his cabinet

are the LEGAL GOVERNMENT OF THAILAND.

You may likely NOT like that, but it is fact.

Edited March 8, 2009 by animatic

[Oberkommando]

You may likely NOT like that, but it is fact.

You might not like the fact the Democrats did not, and still could not win an election.

They will not call elections because they know they are not representing the electorate, no matter how you try to twist it.

Without the illegal actions of the PAD and the military and the assistance of courts in banning all their opponents while they got off without punishment for the same offences, this Government would be nowhere near office.

Let's be honest for a change.

[phuketkenny]

One almost has to compose oneself and reach for a tissue after reading the above heart-rending account... Mr Thaksin does raise 'some' points which 'may' have 'some' validity but many valid factual points were also 'conveniently' left out.

The TIME reporter either incredibly doesn't know some of the facts, or was reluctant to bring them up (oddly) as is standard in professional journalism. Such as, neither Mr Thaksin nor the reporter mention the fact the new Govt was legally voted in by a majority in Parliament. Nor do either raise the fact, it was Mr Thaksin's very own proxy-party MP's whom opportunistically slithered across the aisle to form a majority with the Dems.

However, it was interesting to read the 'fact' (as presented by Dr Thaksin) regarding quote: "I wanted to retire. I wanted to spend my life with my family. But they were bullying me"... Apparently these 'bullies' are also responsible for the Thaksin's divorce then (??) The 'poor' man, when will all this injustice end...

It's perhaps beneficial to Mr Thaksin's 'tragic tale' of democracy stolen for the reporter to state/paint "Thailand remains roiled by political turbulence... This will go down well in the foreign press but doesn't help Thailand's already battered image (or was this the point?).

Nor does Mr Thaksin help Thailand's image when he talks of "the chaos in Thailand, the civil war in Thailand"... (all looked fine on Sukhumvit this afternoon but perhaps I missed 'the civil war and chaos' somehow???)

Mr Thaksin doesn't help his own image by suggesting people are out to assassinate him (unless it's self-character assassination he's referring to, in which case a look in the mirror might nail the main culprit)

After stating "We have to ask those who are behind the divisiveness to stop meddling" (again, mirror please) Mr Thaksin closes the lonely, bitter and somewhat rambling interview by repeating (again) how "bullied" he's been...

All in all, a mostly puff-piece which will likely give Thailand a black eye but squarely-faces Mr Thaksin as a 'heroic freedom fighter' by some of the sympathetic western media (thus, the main 'goals' of the piece were achieved then?)

-----------

PS: What next? Surely an op-ed piece by 'The Economist' extolling the 'virtues' of Thailand's next PM-in-waiting Mr. Chalerm can't be that far off...

Interesting to me, as one Canadian poster to another , ( your pen name Baht & Sold speaks volumes about the country we choose to reside in ! ) how you have not touched on the one statement Thaksin makes about Thailand, that I see confirmed over and over again on these posts:

1) There is no real rule of law.

2) There is no real democracy.

I take it those who opt to live here would never find it as entertaining a place for them to live if there were!

But this country belongs to the Thai's, not the expat posters who are so amused by the state of affairs here.

I feel sorry for the Thai people, who live under a false pretense and pay for it daily.

One solution for those with money, another for those without.

[animatic]

You may likely NOT like that, but it is fact.

You might not like the fact the Democrats did not, and still could not win an election.

They will not call elections because they know they are not representing the electorate, no matter how you try to twist it.

Without the illegal actions of the PAD and the military and the assistance of courts in banning all their opponents while they got off without punishment for the same offences, this Government would be nowhere near office.

Let's be honest for a change.

It makes not a jot of difference if they could or could not win.

In fact they won more the PPP in per person voting,m but lost in Party List voting.

But guess what the PPP party list don't exist.

They did not NEED to call elections because there was a LEGAL mechanism,

and cheaper for the country, to form a government.

I note you didn't call the courts illegal.

PAD and the army may or may not have sped things up,

but the courts would have arrived at the same decisions

in a not to different time frame. So crying PAD and ARMY is moot.

I could care less about PAD, they've made their bed too.

They were the barking dog in the night.

The dog bit back when hit with a stick too many times.

TRT and PPP got caught with hands in the till.

PPP had fair warning and ignored it.

They fell from their own actions.

End of story.

[Oberkommando]

It makes not a jot of difference if they could or could not win.

Of course it does. The electorate should have been given a chance to vote again after the last government was annulled.

In fact they won more the PPP in per person voting,m but lost in Party List voting.

But guess what the PPP party list don't exist.

They didn't win enough support to create a Government though, and that's the important point. But don't forget most of the opposition was banned and they still couldn't win after numerous attempts at trying and rigging the game, so that should tell you something.

They did not NEED to call elections because there was a LEGAL mechanism,

and cheaper for the country, to form a government.

They were asked to call elections from many sections of the community, both locally and internationally yet chose not to do so.

They do not have a mandate from the people and until they call elections and win them, this will remain so.

I note you didn't call the courts illegal.

The courts were selective in who they prosecuted.

PAD and the army may or may not have sped things up,

but the courts would have arrived at the same decisions

in a not to different time frame. So crying PAD and ARMY is moot.

It certainly is not moot with the long history of military involvement in Thai politics and that this Government is now a proxy for the military and their backers in the elite who fund and control the PAD.

I could care less about PAD, they've made their bed too.

They were the barking dog in the night.

The dog bit back when hit with a stick too many times.

TRT and PPP got caught with hands in the till.

PPP had fair warning and ignored it.

They fell from their own actions.

End of story.

No, it's far from the end of the story, which is unfortunate for this country as it spirals into the abyss.

[rixalex]

If you can't go into details there's not much point in making the claim

That's exactly why there's been a severe clampdown on certain thought crimes recently by this unelected government.

And as a result, free and fair discussion on this and related topics is not allowed on this website nor most others in Thailand.

Just because we can't discuss certain things doesn't mean they are untrue.

This is just a cop-out excuse used to try and disguise a lack of facts.

How can a poster feel he has the freedom to write the following without repercussion:

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

but yet is unable to give the reasons for his claim? How can stating the reasons be any more dangerous for him to post than that statement?

Stating allegations of corruption commited by politicians is simply not a topic that falls under the umbrella you are refering to, as frequently demonstrated on threads such as this.

[misterman21]

The new PM has been installed by higher powers. He is a good front man _English by all intents and purposes (in that he was born and raised in the Uk and highly educated - genuinely)

However, he could lose a lot of support in attempting to install new tax rules and regs as common in the UK. I would guess his mindset is more British than Thai - so he will have to be wise or well advised in forgoing western logic

[Oberkommando]

If you can't go into details there's not much point in making the claim

That's exactly why there's been a severe clampdown on certain thought crimes recently by this unelected government.

And as a result, free and fair discussion on this and related topics is not allowed on this website nor most others in Thailand.

Just because we can't discuss certain things doesn't mean they are untrue.

This is just a cop-out excuse used to try and disguise a lack of facts.

How can a poster feel he has the freedom to write the following without repercussion:

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

but yet is unable to give the reasons for his claim? How can stating the reasons be any more dangerous for him to post than that statement?

Stating allegations of corruption commited by politicians is simply not a topic that falls under the umbrella you are refering to, as frequently demonstrated on threads such as this.

That is up to the poster that made the allegation to quantify.

And you know fine well that the laws I was referring to, the libel laws in particular, do allow politicians, including Thaksin himself, to deflect allegations of wrongdoing.

As far as I am concerned corruption is just as entrenched in the Democrat Party as has been proven so - their Chief Spokesman has previously been found guilty by the National Counter Corruption Commission as a minor example. I won't get into specifics about people, the facts are all there if you look for them.

In Thailand you cannot speak your opinion against the rich and powerful because you could be either sued or arrested, or both, as just happened to that Swiss Journalist. Bottom line.

Edited March 8, 2009 by Oberkommando

[rixalex]

This is just a cop-out excuse used to try and disguise a lack of facts.

How can a poster feel he has the freedom to write the following without repercussion:

What about Suthep? He's more of a corrupt c...t then Thaksin ever was yet he is still in politics.

but yet is unable to give the reasons for his claim? How can stating the reasons be any more dangerous for him to post than that statement?

Stating allegations of corruption commited by politicians is simply not a topic that falls under the umbrella you are refering to, as frequently demonstrated on threads such as this.

That is up to the poster that made the allegation to quantify.

That's what i have asked for but what the poster is unwilling to do. As i say, if you have no fear in making a comment such as the one he did, don't try and tell me that fear of censorship prevents him from giving the reasons behind the comment. It's just a sad excuse for not having facts to support his claim.

And you know fine well that the laws I was referring to, the libel laws in particular, do allow politicians, including Thaksin himself, to deflect allegations of wrongdoing.

Yes i do know the laws you are refering to. But in the case of discussing allegations of corruption regarding Mr Suthep and Mr Thaksin that you post on some website (no offence TV!), there is no reason whatsoever to feel unable to state what you know or believe.

If you really do think that posting something on Thaivisa that the authorities don't agree with could lead to a knocking on your door, you really have lost the plot!

[Ricardo]

You may likely NOT like that, but it is fact.

You might not like the fact the Democrats did not, and still could not win an election.

Nor did Samak or Somchai, unless you understand how minority-parties can form a majority-coalition government, which is how the PPP managed to gather support to form two governments.

They will not call elections because they know they are not representing the electorate, no matter how you try to twist it.

Ditto for Somchai, no matter how you try to forget it or ignore it, he had the chance but didn't call the election, which you clearly believe (and I don't) he would have won hands-down. Why do you think that was ?

Without the illegal actions of the PAD and the military and the assistance of courts in banning all their opponents while they got off without punishment for the same offences, this Government would be nowhere near office.

The courts didn't ban "all their opponents", they banned three political parties for cheating, in the last election. Most of the actual MPs are still in parliament, although they have so far failed to form a credible Opposition, or even to select a leader. Their disarray, and some clever manouvering by the Dems, enabled a different coalition to come to the front. That's politics for you.

Let's be honest for a change.

(my comments above in red)

This is all wandering off from the article in Time, which was just a classic of self-serving humbug, IMHO.

[Rtwo]

http://web.nso.go.th/indicator/eco/ind_eco08.htm

One wonders where on earth they get the figures from, how they're collated and who does the math? If it's anything like the methodology I've seen being practised here then it was probably done after a long weekend at a fancy resort hotel and they made the figures up to fit what they wanted to see. Taxin still commands lots of support in the provinces and that's undeniable although finding people who will openly admit it is becoming more diffificult in the current intimidating atmosphere.

[/quote

'What's the use of glasses and candles when the owl don't want to see.'

an old and appropriate quote

Well I think we can see which side you're on from your backkground colour

[Oberkommando]

You may likely NOT like that, but it is fact.

You might not like the fact the Democrats did not, and still could not win an election.

Nor did Samak or Somchai, unless you understand how minority-parties can form a majority-coalition government, which is how the PPP managed to gather support to form two governments.

Their party was still elected and they were voted into office by MPs.

They will not call elections because they know they are not representing the electorate, no matter how you try to twist it.

Ditto for Somchai, no matter how you try to forget it or ignore it, he had the chance but didn't call the election, which you clearly believe (and I don't) he would have won hands-down. Why do you think that was ?

Why should he have called an election? His party was elected in the most recent election and he to the post of PM when the former PM was removed by legal process. The courts removed him anyway so the point is moot.

Without the illegal actions of the PAD and the military and the assistance of courts in banning all their opponents while they got off without punishment for the same offences, this Government would be nowhere near office.

The courts didn't ban "all their opponents", they banned three political parties for cheating, in the last election. Most of the actual MPs are still in parliament, although they have so far failed to form a credible Opposition, or even to select a leader. Their disarray, and some clever manouvering by the Dems, enabled a different coalition to come to the front. That's politics for you.

They are deliberately targeting certain political parties and individuals without targeting others accused of similar crimes. A clear bias.

You seem to be trying to convince us, and most probably yourself, that it was just a bit of shrewd politics that allowed the Democrats into power, which we know is the stuff of deluded fantasy, after months of PAD campaigning, court bias, military posturing and other measures.

We're tired of the lies.

Let's be honest for a change.

(my comments above in red)

This is all wandering off from the article in Time, which was just a classic of self-serving humbug, IMHO.

[animatic]

Well this all pretty much comes down to Thaksin's money talking,

and later inthe picture getting caught talking against the rules.

PPP didn't have a clear mandate either,

only a VERY slim party list MINORITY percentage over the Dems.

The majority of the ELECTED MP's still held their positions.

The electorate DID vote and their MP's were and are serving their terms and voting on issues.

The electorate does NOT vote for the PM and never the cabinet he horse trades to install.

Governments are asked to resign by disgruntled people every day, in every country.

If that was sufficient grounds to resign there would NEVER be a government installed anywhere.

All courts are selective in who they prosecute. It's called discretion.

Remember before the courts weigh in the Attorney Generals formulate the charges.

Funny how the attorney generals under PPP still continued to do their jobs despite massive pressure applied.

This is not one controlled entity like the executive branch, but many layers of intertwining bureaucracy.

There was not any legal necessity to call a snap election.

Dems and PPP got roughly equal votes, and if any other major party had bowed

out early, it could have tipped in Dems favor as easily as PPP.

It was a much closer race than is being bandied about long post election, Somchai knew that.

Somchai would have called the election too, so IF he had believed they had the chance you

credit them with. He didn't, and so they just were disolved. THAT is food for thought.

Why did your man ALSO, not make the move you scream at the Dems to make....???

And lastly; the Government is ALWAYS a proxy for the powers that be here and the army.

You just don't seem to get that. Thaksin was a PROXY too, but he started stepping on toes,

and started looking at an endgame that he was NEVER equipped to win except in his mind.

Arrogance has it's price.

The abyss is being generated externally, the fall in it likely will be from

people riling this bullshit up for partisan reasons during the coming next year or so.

Regardless of HOW we got here, we are here now, and with a functioning government in place.

Removing them in favor of a lamer repeat of 2008; PTP in charge without any leadership skills,

is surely the recipe for the abyss to search Thailand out gobble it whole.

Not to mention the last thing this country needs is to PAY for another national horror show

of an election. The country needs the money to stave off approaching, eminent, external disaster,

and it needs BADLY a continuity of organized government. PPP proved they could not do that.

Why should I possibly believe the 3rd string Junior Varsity is capable of doing better...

The blind would be leading the slowly dying to the edge and saying follow me, as they step off.

I love Thailand, I wouldn't wish a change of government on these people till 2011 at the earliest.

Edited March 8, 2009 by animatic

[baht&sold]

One almost has to compose oneself and reach for a tissue after reading the above heart-rending account... Mr Thaksin does raise 'some' points which 'may' have 'some' validity but many valid factual points were also 'conveniently' left out.

The TIME reporter either incredibly doesn't know some of the facts, or was reluctant to bring them up (oddly) as is standard in professional journalism. Such as, neither Mr Thaksin nor the reporter mention the fact the new Govt was legally voted in by a majority in Parliament. Nor do either raise the fact, it was Mr Thaksin's very own proxy-party MP's whom opportunistically slithered across the aisle to form a majority with the Dems.

However, it was interesting to read the 'fact' (as presented by Dr Thaksin) regarding quote: "I wanted to retire. I wanted to spend my life with my family. But they were bullying me"... Apparently these 'bullies' are also responsible for the Thaksin's divorce then (??) The 'poor' man, when will all this injustice end...

It's perhaps beneficial to Mr Thaksin's 'tragic tale' of democracy stolen for the reporter to state/paint "Thailand remains roiled by political turbulence... This will go down well in the foreign press but doesn't help Thailand's already battered image (or was this the point?).

Nor does Mr Thaksin help Thailand's image when he talks of "the chaos in Thailand, the civil war in Thailand"... (all looked fine on Sukhumvit this afternoon but perhaps I missed 'the civil war and chaos' somehow???)

Mr Thaksin doesn't help his own image by suggesting people are out to assassinate him (unless it's self-character assassination he's referring to, in which case a look in the mirror might nail the main culprit)

After stating "We have to ask those who are behind the divisiveness to stop meddling" (again, mirror please) Mr Thaksin closes the lonely, bitter and somewhat rambling interview by repeating (again) how "bullied" he's been...

All in all, a mostly puff-piece which will likely give Thailand a black eye but squarely-faces Mr Thaksin as a 'heroic freedom fighter' by some of the sympathetic western media (thus, the main 'goals' of the piece were achieved then?)

-----------

PS: What next? Surely an op-ed piece by 'The Economist' extolling the 'virtues' of Thailand's next PM-in-waiting Mr. Chalerm can't be that far off...

Interesting to me, as one Canadian poster to another , ( your pen name Baht & Sold speaks volumes about the country we choose to reside in ! ) how you have not touched on the one statement Thaksin makes about Thailand, that I see confirmed over and over again on these posts:

1) There is no real rule of law.

2) There is no real democracy.

I take it those who opt to live here would never find it as entertaining a place for them to live if there were!

But this country belongs to the Thai's, not the expat posters who are so amused by the state of affairs here.

I feel sorry for the Thai people, who live under a false pretense and pay for it daily.

One solution for those with money, another for those without.

Hi Kenny,

Canucks, loonies (and hidden agendas) aside, I'm very much not amused by the ongoing charade and illusion of 'rule of law' or 'democrazy' in Thailand and moreover very much hope this may improve. Fully expect it will in fact, despite the best/worst self-serving efforts by Mr Thaksin, Mr Sondhi et al. With imagination (and actual action) hopefully we'll ALL get there despite trying times.

------------

PS: since you brought it up, speaking of Canadians (a quietly 'subversive' yet hopeful lot) here's another I rather admire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorne_Michaels

And:

And finally, if all else fails, blame Canada:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYSYipouABI

(hopefully not the same Kenny in SouthPark) Cheers! (eh?)

Edited March 8, 2009 by baht&sold

[peecee]

Thailand has never got over the political turmoil of the 1930's when the country moved from an absolute monarchy to one ruled by a constitution. The King (Prajadhipok), 70th son of Rama V; was overthrown by facist's wilst abroad and never came back, choosing to settle in England. He was suceeded by his nephew who as a teenager stayed in europe (Switzerland) during WW2.

The new King (Ananda) was said to want to impliment suffrage for all the country and hoped to introduce a constitution that would move the country away from the dark year's of the war; when Thailand had aligned with the Axis, declaring war on Britain & the USA.

He was assassinated seven month's after arriving back in Thailand and the crown was passed on to his brother, the present King. Three of the King's household who may have been able to shed light on who had access to the King were arrested, tried, found not guilty; then retried by a higher court and executed.

The country has drifted between military government & coup's ever since.

My point?

Well Thailand, or Prathet Thai mean's "Land of the Free", so when are the Thai's going to be free? Taksin failed, but he did try to give the plebe'ans some hope & they still love him for that!

Edited March 8, 2009 by peecee

[Publicus]

the media in Thailand should just block Thaskin related news, its about as useful as the crap I take everyday. He is gone, he will not come back so forget him. He will never spend time in jail, he will die a rich man and his family will live a very comfortable life. End of. Forget the prick

Unbelievable, you want to block news but you seem want to offer you opinions here. Are we to assume that you are now the news policeman? I am very often upset by the blatnat bias of many journalist. I don't like it but just look at China, Burma, Venezuela, etc. to see the alternative. Do you seriously wish to deny freedom of the press? If so I suggest that you seek residence in one of the aforementioned counries. They provide what you are asking for.

Thanks for getting on the guy for his advocacy of the censorship Toxin and other autocrats love to implement and practice. Up here in the PRC "foreign television" is prohibited, news is controlled and precisely directed; the Chinese people know nothing of the world except as their government says. (The ubiquituous internet is of limited value when used through the prisim of indocrination that staturates these folk. It is truly a nation of sheep.)

Yeah, Toxin is a bore and the same old news, especially in this neck of the woods. One however can find amusement in the guy and his endless and limitless self-rightousnes. Amusement only goes so far tho. Toxin once was quoted as saying he'd rather die than lose. Let's hope that sometime soon not winning becomes the same to him as losing.

As to another return to Thailand by the man, I'd also add that one never should say never. No one lives forever and a place can change overnite.

[phuketkenny]

One almost has to compose oneself and reach for a tissue after reading the above heart-rending account... Mr Thaksin does raise 'some' points which 'may' have 'some' validity but many valid factual points were also 'conveniently' left out.

The TIME reporter either incredibly doesn't know some of the facts, or was reluctant to bring them up (oddly) as is standard in professional journalism. Such as, neither Mr Thaksin nor the reporter mention the fact the new Govt was legally voted in by a majority in Parliament. Nor do either raise the fact, it was Mr Thaksin's very own proxy-party MP's whom opportunistically slithered across the aisle to form a majority with the Dems.

However, it was interesting to read the 'fact' (as presented by Dr Thaksin) regarding quote: "I wanted to retire. I wanted to spend my life with my family. But they were bullying me"... Apparently these 'bullies' are also responsible for the Thaksin's divorce then (??) The 'poor' man, when will all this injustice end...

It's perhaps beneficial to Mr Thaksin's 'tragic tale' of democracy stolen for the reporter to state/paint "Thailand remains roiled by political turbulence... This will go down well in the foreign press but doesn't help Thailand's already battered image (or was this the point?).

Nor does Mr Thaksin help Thailand's image when he talks of "the chaos in Thailand, the civil war in Thailand"... (all looked fine on Sukhumvit this afternoon but perhaps I missed 'the civil war and chaos' somehow???)

Mr Thaksin doesn't help his own image by suggesting people are out to assassinate him (unless it's self-character assassination he's referring to, in which case a look in the mirror might nail the main culprit)

After stating "We have to ask those who are behind the divisiveness to stop meddling" (again, mirror please) Mr Thaksin closes the lonely, bitter and somewhat rambling interview by repeating (again) how "bullied" he's been...

All in all, a mostly puff-piece which will likely give Thailand a black eye but squarely-faces Mr Thaksin as a 'heroic freedom fighter' by some of the sympathetic western media (thus, the main 'goals' of the piece were achieved then?)

-----------

PS: What next? Surely an op-ed piece by 'The Economist' extolling the 'virtues' of Thailand's next PM-in-waiting Mr. Chalerm can't be that far off...

Interesting to me, as one Canadian poster to another , ( your pen name Baht & Sold speaks volumes about the country we choose to reside in ! ) how you have not touched on the one statement Thaksin makes about Thailand, that I see confirmed over and over again on these posts:

1) There is no real rule of law.

2) There is no real democracy.

I take it those who opt to live here would never find it as entertaining a place for them to live if there were!

But this country belongs to the Thai's, not the expat posters who are so amused by the state of affairs here.

I feel sorry for the Thai people, who live under a false pretense and pay for it daily.

One solution for those with money, another for those without.

Hi Kenny,

Canucks, loonies (and hidden agendas) aside, I'm very much not amused by the ongoing charade and illusion of 'rule of law' or 'democrazy' in Thailand and moreover very much hope this may improve. Fully expect it will in fact, despite the best/worst self-serving efforts by Mr Thaksin, Mr Sondhi et al. With imagination (and actual action) hopefully we'll ALL get there despite trying times.

------------

PS: since you brought it up, speaking of Canadians (a quietly 'subversive' yet hopeful lot) here's another I rather admire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorne_Michaels

And:

And finally, if all else fails, blame Canada:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYSYipouABI

(hopefully not the same Kenny in SouthPark) Cheers! (eh?)

In reverse order, no, not the same Kenny, they keep killing that one!

Blame Canada is a laugh, thanks.

Don Cherry is one of my favourite broadcasters, but Ron McLean as his straight man makes it all work. Love them both but miss the absolute total lack of hockey, broadcasts, games, even hi-lites in Asia.

Went to school with Lorne Michaels ( Lipovitz) at U of T in 64, who knew he would make it so big, but I am certain his marriage to Roz

helped immensely. Still Saturday Night Live was at one time, one of the sharpest biting satircal shows on American network television after they canned The Smothers Brothers. Would that my Thai was better so I could understand if there is anything even close to that kind of satire with respect to Thai poltics in Thai media of any form, my guess is there is not.

While Harry Connick Jr. is fine, since Frank is no longer with us to croon, your implication that Thailand needs a little imagination is I think in error, they have too much, imagining they are a democracy and have a rule of law. I do admire your optimism that they will get there, but I fear, not in our lifetime. The entrenchment is too deep in greed and corruption, the power too much in the hands of the millitary and the Privy Council and far too little in the hands of the people. As long as they remain uneducated, things will not change.

Witness Thailand's history and the outcome of the efforts of students tryng to bring democracy to this country and the crushing blow they were given.That horror of that event made Kent State look like a college prank.

IF you have not seen this analysis from a Thai professor, you may find it intersting reading, albeit, heavy going.

Since it was edited out last time I posted it, I will try and send it to your private mailbox.

CFRbook.pdf