The Charmer Making A Mess Of His Country

[NanLaew]

Here's The Times Asia desk's take on the Thai PM's plans to speak at Oxford.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/c...icle5897588.ece

I would suggest that it's evidence of how insignificant the media restrictions and alleged human right violations in Thailand are, if not on the worlds radar, certainly in the hallowed halls of Oxford academia.

Mods may chose to move this to Thailand News Clippings.

[Jai Dee]

Although it's an interesting read, the article is in fact an editorial opinion and not a breaking news bulletin, so I think we'll leave this topic in the General Forum for further discussion/comment.

[Briggsy]

If you look carefully at Abhisit when he is giving an interview, you will see that one of his arms is oddly and uncomfortably positioned halfway up his back as if some force is holding it there.

[somluck]

I particularly like this comment

To imagine the election which followed in footballing terms: the Democrat Party was playing downhill, against a team without a striker, in a game refereed by one of their dads. And still Thaksin's side won.

[monkfish]

Prime Minister of Thailand-Abhisit Vejjajiva CANCELLED

no surprise he would be eaten alive by the academics.

http://www.oxford-union.org/term_events/pr...hisit_vejjajiva

[DP25]

I particularly like this comment

To imagine the election which followed in footballing terms: the Democrat Party was playing downhill, against a team without a striker, in a game refereed by one of their dads. And still Thaksin's side won.

Not really, Thaksin's side didn't 'win' because the got far under 50% of the vote, and less than 50% of the seats. They formed a coalition government, just like the Democrats now have, with parties that formerly ran on anti Thaksin platforms. The combined anti Thaksin parties received over 60% of the vote, the current government is as 'democratic' as before, and at least now the smaller parties are actually honoring the pledges they made to their millions of voters not to ally with Thaksin.

[Texpat]

The red shirts were robbed -- plain and simply.

Abshit was installed, not elected. Despite their name, this group of Thais never claimed to be democratic.

[samran]

The red shirts were robbed -- plain and simply.

Abshit was installed, not elected. Despite their name, this group of Thais never claimed to be democratic.

This is more of a parliamentary democracy, not a presidential one.

Government of the day is formed by the parliament electing it.

Each of the members are elected by the constituents.

The prime ministers of the UK, Australia, Canada and a bunch of other countries are only ever elected by the people who live in their seat, but parliamentary democracy sees fit that they run the government, based on a handfull of votes (their consitutents, their own party room and finally their parliament).

No one complains about those systems being 'undemocratic', nor do you have to go to a general election each time to form a new government.

[caf]

Prime Minister of Thailand-Abhisit Vejjajiva CANCELLED

no surprise he would be eaten alive by the academics.

http://www.oxford-union.org/term_events/pr...hisit_vejjajiva

Can anyone update on this. I have been told he is in Oxford, or is this a misunderstanding by a Thai of a Thai tv report giving his reasos for the debate topic.

[mc2]

Prime Minister of Thailand-Abhisit Vejjajiva CANCELLED

no surprise he would be eaten alive by the academics.

http://www.oxford-union.org/term_events/pr...hisit_vejjajiva

Can anyone update on this. I have been told he is in Oxford, or is this a misunderstanding by a Thai of a Thai tv report giving his reasos for the debate topic.

this report is incorrect apparently the interview went ahead

hopefully it gets posted up on you tube .

[endure]

Prime Minister of Thailand-Abhisit Vejjajiva CANCELLED

no surprise he would be eaten alive by the academics.

http://www.oxford-union.org/term_events/pr...hisit_vejjajiva

Can anyone update on this. I have been told he is in Oxford, or is this a misunderstanding by a Thai of a Thai tv report giving his reasos for the debate topic.

this report is incorrect apparently the interview went ahead

hopefully it gets posted up on you tube .

The Oxford Union isn't an interviewing society it's a debating society. According to its own website the debate involving the Thai Prime Minister was cancelled.

[mc2]

ok thanks for that clarification

found this on the nation

Democracy is strong and alive, Abhisit tells London audience

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted yesterday that Thailand's democracy remained alive and strong and was no longer on the retreat.

Ji Ungpakorn, a political-science lecturer from Chulalongkorn University who has been charged with lese majeste at home, was in the audience.

continued

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/15...cs_30097927.php

[Thai at Heart]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1337...ss-on-democracy

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/15/pol...cs_30097927.php

A very brief report from the Bangkok Post and the Nation about the speech. Got to love Ungkaporns spirit. Hand clappers.

I am sure Abhisit came through largely unscathed, but at least the spirit of free speech is alive and well somewhere in the world.

[caf]

Prime Minister of Thailand-Abhisit Vejjajiva CANCELLED

no surprise he would be eaten alive by the academics.

http://www.oxford-union.org/term_events/pr...hisit_vejjajiva

Apparently it took place and he was certainly not eaten alive.

Ji Ungpakorn, was made to look rather foolish by the very quick response to his question from Abhisit. The audience applauded.

[mc2]

it would appear so from the report,

the transcript or video will surface soon then we will know for sure about his performance.

[caf]

it would appear so from the report,

the transcript or video will surface soon then we will know for sure about his performance.

i agree, let's wait for it.

was there anything in the thai press referring to "the restrictions Abhisit thought he would have been under in choosing a topic"; anything in the thai press about what the college wanted him to really talk about.

sorry to be vague, but the comments i heard last night involved an area we can not discuss and which i did not pursue last night either.

[Thai at Heart]

Found this hiding in the depths of the Nation website.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/14/pol...cs_30097896.php

Thai Oxford students to petition Thai PM

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Published on March 14, 2009

A group of Thai students at Oxford University plans to petition Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva today, calling for a reform of the lese-majeste law and the Computer Crime Act while the PM visits the school to speak at his old college.

[yumidesign]

The red shirts were robbed -- plain and simply.

Abshit was installed, not elected. Despite their name, this group of Thais never claimed to be democratic.

these are the facts like it or not......

Not really, Thaksin's side didn't 'win' because the got far under 50% of the vote, and less than 50% of the seats. They formed a coalition government, just like the Democrats now have, with parties that formerly ran on anti Thaksin platforms. The combined anti Thaksin parties received over 60% of the vote, the current government is as 'democratic' as before, and at least now the smaller parties are actually honoring the pledges they made to their millions of voters not to ally with Thaksin.

[DP25]

k

Edited March 15, 2009 by DP25

[caf]

Prime Minister of Thailand-Abhisit Vejjajiva CANCELLED

no surprise he would be eaten alive by the academics.

http://www.oxford-union.org/term_events/pr...hisit_vejjajiva

Can anyone update on this. I have been told he is in Oxford, or is this a misunderstanding by a Thai of a Thai tv report giving his reasos for the debate topic.

this report is incorrect apparently the interview went ahead

hopefully it gets posted up on you tube .

just reported on tv5 in thai. seemed very pro- monarchy and anti-taksin

hope u tube put out the english original

[wefearourdespot]

I particularly like this comment

To imagine the election which followed in footballing terms: the Democrat Party was playing downhill, against a team without a striker, in a game refereed by one of their dads. And still Thaksin's side won.

Not really, Thaksin's side didn't 'win' because the got far under 50% of the vote, and less than 50% of the seats. They formed a coalition government, just like the Democrats now have, with parties that formerly ran on anti Thaksin platforms. The combined anti Thaksin parties received over 60% of the vote, the current government is as 'democratic' as before, and at least now the smaller parties are actually honoring the pledges they made to their millions of voters not to ally with Thaksin.

Are you paid to write lies like the paper loiterers of Bangkok Bullshit and the AbomiNation ?

PPP had relative majority , 45% , and democrats were many points behind. Smaller parties pledged to form a coalition with PPP since before the elections. To form his gov, Malfoy had to bribe not only all the minor parties, but also a portion of PPP itself.

[DP25]

I particularly like this comment

To imagine the election which followed in footballing terms: the Democrat Party was playing downhill, against a team without a striker, in a game refereed by one of their dads. And still Thaksin's side won.

Not really, Thaksin's side didn't 'win' because the got far under 50% of the vote, and less than 50% of the seats. They formed a coalition government, just like the Democrats now have, with parties that formerly ran on anti Thaksin platforms. The combined anti Thaksin parties received over 60% of the vote, the current government is as 'democratic' as before, and at least now the smaller parties are actually honoring the pledges they made to their millions of voters not to ally with Thaksin.

Are you paid to write lies like the paper loiterers of Bangkok Bullshit and the AbomiNation ?

PPP had relative majority , 45% , and democrats were many points behind. Smaller parties pledged to form a coalition with PPP since before the elections. To form his gov, Malfoy had to bribe not only all the minor parties, but also a portion of PPP itself.

No, I'm not paid, and everything I said was FACT. Although I'm guessing you may be, given your registration date you are probably yet another Thaksinfile sockpuppet. PPP had no where NEAR 45% of the vote. They got 36% of the Constituency vote, slightly more than the Democrats, and 39% of the proportional vote, LESS than the Democrats got. And the smaller parties did not pledge to ally with the PPP, they actually pledged the opposite and ran on anti Thaksin platforms.

[Travel2003]

Seems like if the "reds" gain gowernment control, the opposition cry foul play.

If the "yellows" gain control. the opposition cry foul play.

Guess they both are more or less correct.

Anyhow, I believe, nomatter how the present PM got his seat, he should be given some time, before he is removed or re-elected.

All new governments inherit some baggage from the previous one.

Im not a political strategist, but I understand that it will take some time before the a policy has some impact on the society.

Give the guy some time.

Maybe a bit unfair to say he is making a mess of his country. He has not had the time to do that yet.

PS. Have to admit he should have done a much better interview a few weeks ago. I think it was BBC or CCN?

[h90]

I particularly like this comment

To imagine the election which followed in footballing terms: the Democrat Party was playing downhill, against a team without a striker, in a game refereed by one of their dads. And still Thaksin's side won.

Not really, Thaksin's side didn't 'win' because the got far under 50% of the vote, and less than 50% of the seats. They formed a coalition government, just like the Democrats now have, with parties that formerly ran on anti Thaksin platforms. The combined anti Thaksin parties received over 60% of the vote, the current government is as 'democratic' as before, and at least now the smaller parties are actually honoring the pledges they made to their millions of voters not to ally with Thaksin.

Are you paid to write lies like the paper loiterers of Bangkok Bullshit and the AbomiNation ?

PPP had relative majority , 45% , and democrats were many points behind. Smaller parties pledged to form a coalition with PPP since before the elections. To form his gov, Malfoy had to bribe not only all the minor parties, but also a portion of PPP itself.

PPP and Democrats had almost the same amount of votes (and this with massive vote buying from PPP). A relative majority is not enough for a government, you need at least more than 50 % of the seats. Now the Democrats have with their partners more than 50 %. That is normal and democratic, many times in many countries the strongest party did not form the government. There is no real evidence of bribe, while there is a lot evidence that Thaksin offered up to 50 Million for coming back to him.

There was an ugly trade of positions in the government, but that happens in every country at every coalition government.

Even I see the government as low quality, it is democratic. And compare it with Samak and Somchai government, which was complete incompetent.

[somluck]

The removal of the previous elected PPP government by military coup and court orders as undemocratic also.

[ballpoint]

The removal of the previous elected PPP government by military coup and court orders as undemocratic also.

So you suggest that once someone is voted into office they can break the law, kill and steal from the people, change the rules to suit and profit themselves, and basically get away with doing whatever they feel like without there being any controlling mechanism? Your version of democracy is all too common on this forum, unfortunately for you, but fortunately for democracy, it's also wrong.

[jumnien]

I could have sworn this thread was about Abhisit making a mess of Thailand. Unfortunately, the one-trick ponies always bring it back to Thaksin.

[wefearourdespot]

I particularly like this comment

To imagine the election which followed in footballing terms: the Democrat Party was playing downhill, against a team without a striker, in a game refereed by one of their dads. And still Thaksin's side won.

Not really, Thaksin's side didn't 'win' because the got far under 50% of the vote, and less than 50% of the seats. They formed a coalition government, just like the Democrats now have, with parties that formerly ran on anti Thaksin platforms. The combined anti Thaksin parties received over 60% of the vote, the current government is as 'democratic' as before, and at least now the smaller parties are actually honoring the pledges they made to their millions of voters not to ally with Thaksin.

Are you paid to write lies like the paper loiterers of Bangkok Bullshit and the AbomiNation ?

PPP had relative majority , 45% , and democrats were many points behind. Smaller parties pledged to form a coalition with PPP since before the elections. To form his gov, Malfoy had to bribe not only all the minor parties, but also a portion of PPP itself.

No, I'm not paid, and everything I said was FACT. Although I'm guessing you may be, given your registration date you are probably yet another Thaksinfile sockpuppet. PPP had no where NEAR 45% of the vote. They got 36% of the Constituency vote, slightly more than the Democrats, and 39% of the proportional vote, LESS than the Democrats got. And the smaller parties did not pledge to ally with the PPP, they actually pledged the opposite and ran on anti Thaksin platforms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2007

Despite being the junta's target for suppression, the PPP managed to win 226 out of 480 of the MP seats, close to controlling the majority in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party came in a distant second with 166 seats, Chart Thai 39, For the Motherland 26, Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana 10, the Neutral Democratic Party 7, and Pracharat 4.

I guess you will ask the Royal Police to censure also Wikipedia now.

[monkfish]

Can you see the link?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1373...-speech-protest

[ballpoint]

I could have sworn this thread was about Abhisit making a mess of Thailand. Unfortunately, the one-trick ponies always bring it back to Thaksin.

and they have total backing by the moderators who ban whoever dares to speak against their lies, in perfect lese majeste style

14 posts in and already complaining about the moderation? As for the Thaksin comment, let's see... Apart from him being mentioned in the linked story, making him extremely relevant to the thread, the first time his name is used is post #4, an anti Abhist post. You're so correct jumnien, the one trick Thaksin ponies sure do like to bring his name up.