Thailand General Election Thread 2005

[george]

Here is the Election thread updated throghout the election day with news and member comments.

Poll (for foreigners only):

Which party would you vote for?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=26474

/Mod

[george]

Initial election results expected at midnight

BANGKOK: -- Unofficial results of today's general election are expected to be initially known by midnight, according to local journalists.

Given cooperation by all parties concerned, including the Election Commission of Thailand (EC), the local media and CAT Telecom, it was expected that by today's midnight, the initial results of the election could be announced unofficially, the journalists said.

Meanwhile, all local television stations, including TV Channel 3, 5, 7, 11, Modernine TV, iTV and Nation Channel, have joined forces to form an ad hoc alliance to report the election results based on the same sources.

The move is aimed to provide accurate and reliable results to the general public timely.

With the agreed alliance, it is believed that the goal to publicize the initial results of today's general election by midnight will be met, according to the local journalists.

Votors who were unable to cast their ballots on the election day were allowed to exercise their rights in

advance on 29-30 January.

Meanwhile, the leaders of four main political parties, Acting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of the Thai Rak Thak (TRT) Party, Mr. Banyat Bantadthan of the Democrat Party, Mr. Banharn Silpa-archa of the Chart Thai Party and Mr. Anek Laothammathat of the Mahachon Party, already exercised their rights this morning, according to the journalists.

The offiical results of today's polling will be announced by the EC within 30 days.

--TNA 2005-02-06

[george]

Record voter turnout expected

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) expects a record number of voters to turn out for Sunday’s general election.

More than seventy percent of registered electors are expected to cast their ballots, exceeding the previous record set at the last elections four years ago.

The EC has installed three huge monitors to display the results as they are counted, the EC secretary general, Police Maj. Gen. Ekachai Waroonprapa told TNA.

The three monitors have been placed in front of the office building.

The video conference system connecting 27 polling stations throughout the country has been thoroughly tested.

So far there have been no reported incidents, including Saturday night. The rampant vote-buying and violence of the past has not taken place, according to EC officials.

EC officials in the northern capital of Chiang Mai said they expect the vote counting in all the 10 constituencies could begin early tonight.

But it could be delayed in some areas because of the difficult terrain. Vote counting in Om Koi district is expected to start at around 3 a.m. on Monday morning.

The EC is predicting a voter turnout in the north of more than 75%.

The local electoral commissioners in the southern province of Yala have also reported no trouble because of increased security, with combined police and military patrols around the polling stations.

Most registered voters in the province are expected to cast their ballots late in the morning as most of them got up early to work in the rubber plantations, said Maj. Gen. Ekachai.

Officials are on duty at all the 80,000 polling stations throughout the country.

--TNA 2005-02-06

[george]

Four Bangkok constituencies on alert for fraud

BANGKOK: -- The Metropolitan Police are keeping a close watch on four constituencies in Bangkok believed to be at risk of electoral fraud, the metropolitan police commissioner revealed yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting at the Metropolitan Police election command centre, Pol. Lt. Gen. Pansiri Praphawat said that the centre was now fully geared up to cope with the election today when over 1,000 officers would be stationed across the capital from 05.00hrs onwards to oversee voting.

Although the Metropolitan Police had originally identified 12 districts as potential areas of electoral fraud, close monitoring over the past fortnight has enabled the police to reduce this number to four constituencies, including Don Muang, Yannawa, Bang Kho Laem and parts of the Thonburi side, where competition among candidates is particularly fierce.

Police have also blacklisted 16 suspected gunmen and other influential figures, of whom 10 have already been arrested.

However, Pol, Lt. Gen. Pansiri confirmed that there were no indications that violent incidents might occur today, and that all the complaints the Metropolitan Police were currently receiving were unrelated to the election.

Nonetheless, he said that the command centre would continue to watch out for possible violence until the election season had ended.

--TNA 2005-02-06

[george]

Voters flock to return home for election

CHONBURI: -- Ports and bus stations in Thailand's eastern province of Chonburi were overflowing with passengers [yesterday], as workers in nearby industrial estates flocked to return to their home provinces to cast their ballots in tomorrow's election.

By even last night, the trickle of passengers at the Sri Racha Port had swelled to a flood, and although transportation companies had laid on extra buses, they were not enough to accommodate all the passengers.

Factories and other businesses in the country's eastern industrial provinces have closed to allow workers to cast their voters, while the proximity of the election to Chinese New Year means that many workers are taking extended breaks to visit their families and friends.

Thai workers in Malaysia flood across border for election

NARATHIWAT: -- The past two days have seen thousands of Thai workers crossing the border from Malaysia in order to cast their ballots in today's general election, according to the head of the Sungai-Kolok immigration office.

Pol. Col. Thikamporn Kaeowkhao said that around 1,000 Thai workers a day had crossed the border over the past couple of days, a number that was expected to swell this morning as the nation gears up to vote.

He also noted that several workers were choosing to return to Thailand through other checkpoints, including the Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla Province.

Although all eyes are on the movement of people in and out of the country's southern border region, where insurgents have been battling security forces for the past 12 months, the immigration chief insisted that the inspection of the large number of people crossing the border was unproblematic.

The need for heavy security in the region was underlined by Pol. Col. Krajang Suwannarat, spokesman for the Provincial Police Region 9, who said that the regional police force had drawn up operational plans for today's election, when police officers will be reinforced by military officials.

Echoing the upbeat mood of the immigration office chief, he said that there were unlikely to be any problems today.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Kamol Phothiyop, commander of the Narathiwat provincial police force, told reporters that he had ordered officers to fan out to polling stations across the province last night in advance of today's voting.

Close liaison with the military and local administrative officials would help ensure maximum security, he said.

--TNA 2005-02-06

[george]

"The dirtiest election ever in Thailand"

Vote-buying greatest problem for Sunday's Thailand election, poll says

Candidates in Thailand's general election Sunday will spend nearly 10 billion baht (US$260 million, €201.4 million) to buy their way to victory in a campaign marked by corruption, gambling and vote-buying, according to two surveys seen Friday.

One of two polls by Bangkok's Assumption University showed that more than one in three respondents believed massive vote buying was among the greatest concerns for the election.

Vote-buying and other corrupt practices have marred past balloting in Thailand despite efforts in recent years to curb such tactics by an Election Commission and non-government organizations.

"Only a buffalo would spend (billions of baht) for an election. My party has the advantage and there is no need to buy votes," said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last week.

Thaksin's ruling Thai Rak Thai, or Thai Love Thai, party is expected to score a landslide victory in the race for 500 seats in the lower house of Parliament.

The surveys also showed voters were concerned about a lack of understanding on how to cast ballots, disputes between rival candidates and suspected bias by election officials.

One survey was conducted among nearly 14,000 community leaders in 400 constituencies throughout the country.

Another poll, conducted among 13,000 people, showed that more than 7 billion baht (US$17.5 million, €14million) would be spent in gambling on results of the election.

--AP

[pipchatel]

Hello George Just to say so many thanks for your news up dates. You post on so many clips that I would miss. Thank you so much

We just got back from our village (Pop 130 ) very tiny sleepy place 70km north of Lampang in the mountains. But for all the talk of corruption, vote Buying, vote Bullies, shotings, here at least was what democracy is all about. My Wife voted and all very calm and proffessional, a policeman, the Mayor about 6 election officials. All doing a great job and probably what 80% of Thailand are doing too. It was good to see it like that.

I think Thai visa should do more with news coverage, as you are with the Election its great

Pip

[IsaanAlex]

But for all the talk of corruption, vote Buying, vote Bullies, shotings, here at least was what democracy is all about.

Hahaha; where is the 'falling-down-on-the-ground-whilst-laughing-my-ass-off' avatar.

[This will do ]

There has been massive vote buying and if you haven't seen it you have no eyes.

Thailand is far from what 'democracy' is all about.

There is probably less violence this time around because most of the votes have already been bought (so no need for violence), and the violence is less necessary for Thai Rak Thai to get reelected, rather than when initially getting voted in...

I let my wife take Toxins dirty money but she had to promise me to vote for someone else, haha.

The men in the village will be pissed on Toxins Lao Cow and Leo Beer tonight; screw the country as long as the belly's full of the free fire-water.

IA

Edited February 6, 2005 by IsaanAlex

[ChrisP]

Am I right in understanding that Thailand has strict rules to make sure its population ALL vote..? Like sanctions if you don't..??

ChrisP

[george]

Polling for Thailand general elections

BANGKOK: -- Polling for Thailand elections was continued as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra predicted a turnout of up to 70 percent in Thai elections Sunday, as he cast his ballot in the poll that is expected to give him a sweeping victory.

"Democracy is about diversity of opinion. We want to see people come out to

show their power in a democratic way," he said.

The billionaire telecom tycoon drove himself and his 18-year-old daughter

Paetongtarn to the polling station at Bangkok's outlying Bangpald neighborhood,

where he was greeted by a horde of journalists.

"Voting this year is lively. It is a good sign. We want to see people come and vote because that is part of democracy's development," he told reporters. "The estimate of people coming out to vote is about 30 million, or about 70 percent -- it could be between 30.1 million to 30.8 million."

He also voiced confidence that voting would proceed smoothly in Thailand's

southernmost provinces, where separatists have waged an insurgency for more than 13 months.

"I have ask authorities provide high security in the southern provinces so that people will come out to vote. More security has been sent to the south since last week," he said.

Thaksin, the first democratically elected prime minister ever to complete a four-year term, is set to win an unprecedented second term in the elections for 500 seats in the House of Representatives, which will form the next government.

--Agencies 2005-02-06

[george]

Thai poll closes

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's long-awaited general election which kicked off at 8.00 am today are now completed as ballot boxes were sealed and delivered to their respective centres for vote counting.

While election officials are busy with transporting the ballot boxes and counting the votes, let's have a glimpse of some of the highlights of today's seven-hour balloting nationwide.

At Bangplad polling booth, a huge throng of reporters and photographers waited patiently for Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai Rak Thai party leader, who showed up to cast his ballots with his three children while his wife, Khunying Pojaman, separately exercised her right at a different polling booth. Chat Thai Party leader, Banharn Silapa-archa, voted in his home province of Supanburi while Democrat leader Banyat Banthat-than was in Surat Thani. Mahachon party leader Anek Sitthiprasat showed up at a polling booth in Wattana district of Bangkok.

In the northenmost province of Mae Hong Son, the polling booth at Ban Doi Saeng on the Thai-Burmese border, Karen tribespeople mingled with Thai voters in bracing the cold weather to cast their ballots. There were 117 eligible voters at this booth but, surprisingly enough, only 100 sets of ballot were available. The village is about 20 kilometres from the provincial town.

In neighbouring Chiang Rai province, Karen tribespeople on border villages also showed up to cast their votes. Some illiterate tribesmen were alllowed to have their thumb printed instead of having to sign their names to acknowledge their rights to vote.

In the northern province of Pichit, Border Patrol policemen were despatched to a polling booth in Constituency 1 after some influential people reportedly chased out an election official from the booth, accusing him of prejudice. The incident came hot of the heels of the murder of a canvasser in the same constituency last night.

In Nong Khai, a police officer was despatched to a polling booth in Muang district after receiving a report that an 83-year-old voter tore two ballots. Police said no legal action was taken againt the elderly voter who errorneously caused damage to the ballots while unfolding them.

In Yasothorn province, leaflets attacking the Election Commission were distributed in Constituency 3, accusing the EC of withdrawing the right of a candidacy of one of the candidates.

In the tsunami-hit province of Pang-nga in the South, it was reported that people in a village struck by the tidal waves enthusiastically showed up to cast their ballots. Some voters said they received their new ID cards on Jan. 11. Some said they were more inspired to exercise their rights after the disaster.

In Samut Prakarn province, police at a patrol booth found that more than 30 per cent of people did not carry their ID cards, suspecting that canvassers had confiscated their IDs to prevent them from casting their ballots.

National police chief, Pol Gen Kovit Watana, said police received 264 election-related complaints between Jan 11 and Feb 5.

--TNA 2005-02-06

[Axel]

Yes, and up and down Sukhumvit Road in BKK they are collecting already the

elections posters. Saw some 'private' collectors as well.

[george]

Thai leader Thaksin expected to win overwhelming mandate in general election

BANGKOK: -- Exit polls showed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ruling party heading for a massive victory in Sunday's general election.

A Suan Dusit-TV Channel 9 poll showed Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party seizing 399 out of 500 parliamentary seats, while a poll by The Nation newspaper gave the Thai leader 340 seats.

The main rival Democrat party was expected to win 80 seats, according to the television poll, while The Nation gave the opposition party 110 seats. Unofficial results were not expected until late Sunday and the spokesman for Thaksin's party, Surananda Vejjajiva, said he would make no comments until the count was in.

Thaksin was widely expected to win an unprecedented second term with an even bigger mandate, boosted by strong support from the rural poor and his adroit handling of the tsunami disaster.

Opponents of the strong-willed and hugely popular prime minister accuse him of seeking dictatorship through the ballot box, and had hoped to limit his ruling party's expected landslide by netting at least enough seats to launch motions of no-confidence.

-- AP 2005-02-06

[george]

Exit polls give Thai PM big win

Exit polls from Thailand's general election suggest that the party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has won a landslide victory.

BANGKOK: -- Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party had won 399 seats in the 500-seat parliament, the polls said. Mr Thaksin, who has been prime minister since 2001, has vowed to eradicate poverty if he is re-elected.

The opposition have accused him of being authoritarian, saying the country risks becoming a one-party state.

Some critics - including the Human Rights Watch - have also expressed concerns over a crackdown in the Muslim dominated southern provinces.

Thaksin confident

Polls opened across Thailand at 0800 local time (0100 GMT) and closed at 1500 (0800 GMT).

Some 44 million people are eligible to vote, with unofficial results expected as early as Sunday.

The electoral commission has banned voters from taking mobile phones into polling booths in an attempt to stop vote-buying. It suspects that people will use phones with cameras to photograph their ballot papers, to prove that they voted for the party offering to buy their vote.

Smiling confidently, Mr Thaksin spent Friday and Saturday campaigning in and around Bangkok.

"Please vote to give Thai Rak Thai a sweeping victory, then I can work for you," the billionaire tycoon said.

"The economic solutions are bearing fruit, but this government needs stability to make decisions quickly."

'Step backwards'

The Democrat Party appeared to be reduced to campaigning for enough votes to provide an effective opposition, correspondents say.

"We have clearly taken a step backwards over the past four years in terms of checks and balances," Democrat deputy leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told Reuters news agency.

The Democrats have asked the voters to give them 201 seats in the House of Representatives - the minimum required to be able to call no-confidence motions against the government.

--BBC 2005-02-06

[george]

Less electoral complaints this election

BANGKOK: -- The election commission (EC) expects to receive far less complaints of electoral law violations this election, according to an EC member, Prinya Nakchatri.

There were 4,000 complaints lodged with the EC during the last election in 2001.

The EC had received almost 400 complaints before polling day according to Mr. Prinya. Most of them involved government officials acting partiality, he said. All those accused have been transferred.

The deputy minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Newin Chidchob, was invited on Saturday to defend himself against accusations lodged by Thavorn Saen-niam, a Democrat candidate, who had earlier claimed that the minister had attended a meeting with officials and Thai Rak Thai campaigners in Songkhla province last month.

Mr. Newin acknowledged that he had attended the meeting, but said he had not asked the officials and canvassers to vote for his party, according to Mr. Prinya.

The EC plans to consider the matter next week, after Mr. Thavorn provides more tapes of the meeting, Mr. Prinya said.

Unofficial election results for Bangkok, Nonthaburi and neighbouring provinces are expected to be known at midnight on Sunday, and the rest by midday Monday, he said.

The EC could organise re-elections on 13 and 21 February, in cases where the electoral law was violated. This would mean that official results could still be announced before 8 March -- the last possible day under the election law.

--TNA 2005-02-06

[samran]

Hopefully the one good thing to come out of all of this is that the Democrats get rid of that incompetent Banyat as leader and install Aphisit as leader.

Had a listen to BBC Thailand this morning which did an interview with all the leaders of all the main parties. Thaksin (and I hate to admit it) sounded fresh, forward looking and spoke using 'modern' Thai figures of speech which conveyed a sense of someone who knew what he was doing.

Banyat on the other hand sounded defensive, had nothing in the way of policy or ideas to talk about, and sounded like an old style civil servant harping along that would make the even the most interested of listeners fall asleep in 2 seconds flat. He was not in any way shape or form an viable alternative to Thaksin and any future blame that Thaksin has too much power should be left soley at his feet for running such an incompetent campaign.

Interestingly Thaksin floated the idea on BBC that before the next election TRT will hold a series of American style primaries to select candidates. I will be interested to see how that one goes.

Edited February 6, 2005 by samran

[VanZam]

Well, so much for democratic elections, so many of my friends around Thailand were brought off for their vote, 200b seemed to be the going rate.

Thailand is set for another term of lies, cover stories, and conflict of interest.

very sad, although it came as no surprise.

[snoophound]

and what has really changed?

Still think its better than the geriatric generals and their loser sons

Well, so much for democratic elections, so many of my friends around Thailand were brought off for their vote, 200b seemed to be the going rate.

Thailand is set for another term of lies, cover stories, and conflict of interest.

very sad, although it came as no surprise.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[rockhardbkk]

Oh sure, Thailand is a democracy. Take a look around if you truly believe that. Vote buying?! Oh, isn't that the foundation of what democracy is based? I despise Toxin with a passion along with his pumpkinhead logic. One other thing not many make mention of...people have to vote where their house is registered??!! Please, so everyone runs home to the baan naawk from Bangkok, leaving work and their families, so they can cast their vote??!!! PLEASE! Get real, Toxin running the government of Thailand is like Mickey Mouse running Disneyland. I truly wish I could get the true feelings out of those in the south who Toxin turned down financial aid for.....If I wasn't so entrenched in my life here after nearly 10 years I would leave in a minute until Toxin is GONE......

[cdnvic]

If I wasn't so entrenched in my life here after nearly 10 years I would leave in a minute until Toxin is GONE......

Or just ignore him and go on with your life like most of the locals.

As someone whose lived in four countries this past few years I can honestly say there was always a reason to be upset about the guys (or girls) in power. ya just gotta detatch a bit and accept what you have control over and learn to deal with the rest.

He really doesn't give a crap if you leave so why go to all that trouble over him?

cv

[_Echinochloa_]

Thai PM heads for landslide win

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is heading for an unprecedented second term after apparently winning a landslide victory in general elections.

The opposition admitted defeat a short time after exit polls gave Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party 399 seats in the 500-seat parliament.

He could form the first single party cabinet under Thai democratic rule.

The opposition have accused Mr Thaksin of being authoritarian, saying Thailand risks becoming a one-party state.

Some critics - including Human Rights Watch - have also expressed concerns over a crackdown in the Muslim-dominated southern provinces.

The BBC's Kylie Morris says the result is a nightmare for the opposition.

They had asked voters only to give it enough seats to be able to censure the government in parliament.

We have a strategy, we have a plan

Thaksin Shinawatra

But not enough voters listened, our correspondent says.

She says Mr Thaksin's political management of the situation after the 26 December tsunami - and the Thai economy's strong performance - appear to have convinced voters to give him an unprecedented second consecutive term.

Mr Thaksin, who has been prime minister since 2001, has vowed to eradicate poverty if he is re-elected.

Thaksin confident

Polls opened across Thailand at 0800 local time (0100 GMT) and closed at 1500 (0800 GMT).

Some 44 million people were eligible to vote, with unofficial results expected as early as Sunday.

Mr Thaksin drove himself and his 18-year-old daughter to cast their votes early at a school in a neighbourhood.

"Democracy is about diversity of opinion. We want to see people come out to show their power in a democratic way," he told reporters.

The single-party prospect would "be better, because we have a strategy, we have a plan", he said after the vote.

THAI ELECTION

500 posts in House of Representatives

400 chosen from constituencies and 100 from party lists

Voting mandatory

Economy, southern violence and tsunami relief seen as key issues

Opposition Democrat Party chief Banyat Bantadtan said he was shocked by the result.

"We have to accept the outcome because that is the voters' will," he said.

Earlier, he said vote-buying had increased on the eve of the poll.

"There was a huge vote-buying effort last night" in southern provinces, which are Democrat strongholds, Mr Banyat told Thai television after voting in the southern town of Surat Thani.

The electoral commission banned voters from taking mobile phones into polling booths in an attempt to stop vote-buying.

It suspected that people would use phones with cameras to photograph their ballot papers, to prove that they voted for the party offering to buy their vote.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/worl...fic/4240523.stm

[Orion76]

Oh sure, Thailand is a democracy. Take a look around if you truly believe that. Vote buying?! Oh, isn't that the foundation of what democracy is based? I despise Toxin with a passion along with his pumpkinhead logic. One other thing not many make mention of...people have to vote where their house is registered??!! Please, so everyone runs home to the baan naawk from Bangkok, leaving work and their families, so they can cast their vote??!!! PLEASE! Get real, Toxin running the government of Thailand is like Mickey Mouse running  Disneyland. I truly wish I could get the true feelings out of those in the south who Toxin turned down financial aid for.....If I wasn't so entrenched in my life here after nearly 10 years I would leave in a minute until Toxin is GONE......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like cdnvic said, you could also just ignore him. This is not your country so why care. If you have a legitimate reason for being here then Taksin has no effect on your life and you would never know the difference if his predecessor was still in power. That is unless you insist on seeing 15 year old girls pimped out by gogo bars.

Taksin is no angel, but nor was his predecessor, nor will his successor be.

To think there is any better alternative is just plain ignorant.

I think if his government would not have cracked down on the sex industry so hard 99% of the expats wouldn't have even know the name of Thailand's prime minister. Most of you Taksin haters probably don't even know the name of the previous prime minister

btw is that larry?

Edited February 6, 2005 by Orion76

[sonnyjc7]

Well at least they get to vote. The violence, well I was here in '73 and it was not very pretty then, but then this is Thailand where a hostile take over is kill the other guy and take his whatever.

[JacknDanny]

Hey Orion

As a relatively newcomer to this site, I enjoy the banter and the views that I read.

I have to say your latest piece is total nonsense!!!!

I dont know how long you have been here, it sounds to me as not very long. If you beleive that Thaksin cannot and will not affect our life style, then you are living in dreamworld.. Here is a power hungry egotistical man who will stop at nothing until he has got everything he wants.

It has nothing to do with closing Pat Pong and other areas early. If you think that was done as a moral crusade then again I think you are the most naive person in Thailand.

Finally, I think to basically say that most farangs over here only know Thaksin because of the closure of these places is ludicrous. I abhor the man and get sickened listening to his cover ups and lies time after time, from the chickn flu saga to the drugs arrests/ deaths to Tak Bai.

I love Thailand and the people. I really fear what this man is capable of

[marquess]

Having been here for five years, I was around at the time of the last election. At that time I was a Thaksin supporter, on the basis that he could do a great deal to eliminate corruption. Mainly due to his great wealth, however I have long since reversed my postion for obvious reasons. I think the Thai people have sounded the death knell to democracy here, if indeed it turns out that he does have such a huge majority. This is a guy who always thinks that he knows best and never really seems to listen to anyone. He will now have even less cause to do so.

[IsaanAlex]

If you have a legitimate reason for being here then Taksin has no effect on your life and you would never know the difference if his predecessor was still in power. That is unless you insist on seeing 15 year old girls pimped out by gogo bars.

What a fool.

An utterly contemptible fool.

With a Thai wife and 2 kids, I would think I have a legitimate reason for being in Thailand; at least as legitimate a reason as my wife had for living in Canada.

And I have felt a 'difference' since Toxin has been in power...

And btw, who do you think is 'pimping' out 15 year old Thai girls, you clown?

Thais is your answer. Thais are also the ones turning them out to buy the Lao cow for their father, pay for the school and mea noi for the brother, and the barbershop for the mother.

The 15 year old Thai girls are also being, primarily, ######ed, by....yes, Thais...again.

IA

[Orion76]

If you have a legitimate reason for being here then Taksin has no effect on your life and you would never know the difference if his predecessor was still in power. That is unless you insist on seeing 15 year old girls pimped out by gogo bars.

With a Thai wife and 2 kids, I would think I have a legitimate reason for being in Thailand; at least as legitimate a reason as my wife had for living in Canada.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you have a job in Thailand? How did you meet your wife? What was your wife's profession before you two met?

You don't have to answer and I am sure you are the exception but the majority of expats will clearly show they do not have a legitimate reason for being here after answering those 3 questions

[Orion76]

Hey Orion

As a relatively newcomer to this site, I enjoy the banter and the views that I read.

I have to say your latest piece is total nonsense!!!!

I dont know how long you have been here, it sounds to me as not very long. If you beleive that Thaksin cannot and will not affect our life style, then you are living in dreamworld.. Here is a power hungry egotistical man who will stop at nothing until he has got everything he wants.

It has nothing to do with closing Pat Pong and other areas early. If you think that was done as a moral crusade then again I think you are the most naive person in Thailand.

Finally, I think to basically say that most farangs over here only know Thaksin because of the closure of these places is ludicrous. I abhor the man and get sickened listening to his cover ups and lies time after time, from the chickn flu saga to the drugs arrests/ deaths to Tak Bai.

I love Thailand and the people. I really fear what this man is capable of

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have been here for seven years and was here most of the previous PM's time in office, were you?

If you were then feel free to set me straight and explain how the previous PM was better for Thailand than Taksin

[RDN]

Yes, and up and down Sukhumvit Road in BKK they are collecting already the

elections posters. Saw some 'private' collectors as well. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Somebody need some firewood?

[LaoPo]

Or just ignore him and go on with your life like most of the locals. 

As someone whose lived in four countries this past few years I can honestly say there was always a reason to be upset about the guys (or girls) in power. ya just gotta detatch a bit and accept what you have control over and learn to deal with the rest.

He really doesn't give a crap if you leave so why go to all that trouble over him?

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Basically I agree.

Guys, look around a little...is there any news? NO!

Look West: Burma. Look East: Vietnam. Look South: Indonesia...just a few examples about what's going on:

POWER & MONEY, that's all there is, World-Wide.

Why would any Man or Woman like to be in control of any country in the World?* Because of ideologycal reasons or Power&Money?

Whatever we think or feel by the Power Mr. T., let's go on by loving this country so much; or would you like to leave and go to another country and if so....which country would you choose and is more fun than TH?

The answer is yours.

LaoPo

*PS: I agree that there are some exeptional cases it really is (was) about Ideology like Mrs. Aung San Su Kyi of Burma but she was 'shut down' by other Power&Money seekers like the Dictatorial regime of the Generals...