Relaunching Thaksin Shinawatra

[webfact]

FOLLOW IT WITH THE EDITORS

Relaunching Thaksin Shinawatra

By Tulsathit Taptim

Published on July 26, 2009

Follow the most talked-about "sae yid" (60th birthday celebration) of the decade as it happens.

We will do it the old-fashioned way _ I'll keep updating this space and you keep refreshing your page. I have both twitter and facebook accounts but for now will let Thaksin Shinawatra boom ahead using the two social network channels. He announced the twitter and facebook plans on Friday and it caused quite a stir in our newsroom. Good old Thaksin. Catch him if you can.

Preamble: Michael, I know you are resting in peace, but if by any chance talks about your memorial service being overhyped have annoyed you, point your critics toward Thailand. Rub it in their faces by asking "Have I ever held a birthday party like that you sorry nitpickers?"

If this whole intro makes me sound like a big nitpicker myself, sorry. It's true that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva launched his hi-5 account a few years ago and I didn't say a word. And there are the likes of President Obama when twitter is concerned. But trying to organise a birthday party of the century and promoting it this way three months after our close shave with a bloodbath? I guess we have the right to be a bit sceptical and anxious.

It is believed that Thaksin will use the occassion to repaint himself as a peaceful man now ready to forgive and forget. That's the only strategy left apparently, after the Songkran turmoil damaged his pretty fine image overseas. He became a tainted good, and a shrewd businessman like him always knows what to do with a tainted good. You don't throw it away. Just add a few new features and relaunch it.

Merit-making events will take place nationwide barring the South. What message he will convey to his supporters and how he will convey it have been a subject of speculation, thanks to his close aides' claims that there will be a "big surprise".

Rumours that he would appear in the form of a hologram have been dismissed but still persisted. We expect some kind of video footages of him making merits in Dubai to be shown one way or another to his supporters to make them feel he is "there" with them.

Events will take place in about a dozen provinces, starting in the morning. Focus will be on the Kaewfah Temple in Nonthaburi, the Uthai-tharam Temple on the Rama IX Road and a public venue in Roi-et. And just because the whole thing is about relaunching a political product doesn't mean it won't be superstitious. Religious ceremonies, according to news reports, include using a holy knife to "cut" or remove karma from Thaksin. I must have been a bad Buddhist because this is the first time I know we can do that.

So, a rumoured hologram and a holy knife will make Sunday quite interesting, if not "exciting" as promised on Thaksin's twitter. My update will start around 10 pm so please stay tuned.

In the meantime, I have compiled some speculations on what the "big surprise" will be. The link is here. http://http://www.nationmultimedia.com/sea...;keyword=tulsat

-- The Nation 2009/07/26

[MiG16]

people can accuse him of many things

but I dont think anyone can accuse him of lacking creativeness

[Koo82]

After 3 years having "corruption", "fugitive", "cheater", "killers" brands with him, if he is back, he will be elected to be PM again. Amazing!

[Jingthing]

After 3 years having "corruption", "fugitive", "cheater", "killers" brands with him, if he is back, he will be elected to be PM again. Amazing!

Yes but all those brands are provably true. Lets add another: COWARD.

[webfact]

After 3 years having "corruption", "fugitive", "cheater", "killers" brands with him, if he is back, he will be elected to be PM again. Amazing!

<quote>if he is back, he will be elected to be PM again. Amazing!<end quote>

calm down, chai yen yen...

Take off the pink glasses...

Edited July 26, 2009 by webfact

[Jingthing]

if he is back, he will be elected to be PM again.

Maybe squarehead will best be known for inspiring a new psychiatric diagnosis classification: Nelson Mandela Complex. The delusion that you are a savior of a nation and will be elected even though a fugitive/jailbird. Mandela was the real deal. Thaksin is a corrupt delusional pitiful has been, never will be again. Reds, get over him, for your sake and your countries sake!

Edited July 26, 2009 by Jingthing

[geriatrickid]

After 3 years having "corruption", "fugitive", "cheater", "killers" brands with him, if he is back, he will be elected to be PM again. Amazing!

Yes but all those brands are provably true. Lets add another: COWARD.

Coward? Hardly. A true coward would have done the exile under wraps routine. Remember Idi Amin the cannibal mass murderer of Uganda? He lived his life out in Saudi Arabia. Baby Doc Duvalier is living it up in France as did Empereror for Life Bokassa of the Congo. Scores of overthrown despots went off to their homes in Geneva and London, and yet there is old Thaksi tweaking the current gov'ts nose and popping up within reach of the authorities.

If you mean his making a dash to avoid the Thai courts, I don't think anyone that has observed the Thai justice system would argue that Thaksin received a fair trial free of political interference. He was judged guilty before he set foot in the courtroom. That doesn't mean I think he is innocent of some of the accusations leveled. Rather, the government the case against him was bungled by introducing the political hijinks and by politicians making statements while the case was being adjudicated. Rule number 1 in court proceedings is that politicians are supposed to defer to the courts and to keep their opinions to themselves when the case is being argued.

As a sidenote, I am really getting tired of all this endless news about Thaksin. What's next, a report on his daily bowel movements? Bless his hardy and tenacious soul, but I really don't care anymore. My advice to Thaksin would be to stay quiet for a few months and to let the dust settle. It's like a scab that keeps getting picked. In the meantime, if the media so despises the man, then just ignore him. Like gas, it will eventually pass. These endless threads on Thaksin rank right up there with the "I met a bargirl and was shafted"or "How many tats do you have on your buttocks" etc.

[Jingthing]

Coward? Hardly

Yes COWARD.

Leading his failed black Songkran Molotov cocktail violent revolutionary attempt from exile was the ultimate cowardly act. Let others die for him, if they fail, a few months later act like it never happened and make a stink about birthday parties.

You cannot believe even ONE WORD out that man's face. Get real. BTW, it is obvious that the root of his motivation is holding on to his MONEY. Big hero.

Edited July 26, 2009 by Jingthing

[Samuian]

Coward? Hardly

Yes COWARD.

Leading his failed black Songkran Molotov cocktail violent revolutionary attempt from exile was the ultimate cowardly act. Let others die for him, if they fail, a few months later act like it never happened and make a stink about birthday parties.

You cannot believe even ONE WORD out that man's face. Get real. BTW, it is obvious that the root of his motivation is holding on to his MONEY. Big hero.

After it's failure immediately denying any involvement and sponsorship!

Live on TV!

HE could come back anytime if he got that "many staunch supporters" and take over - or face the music the coward!

instead stirring up national divide, hurting the nation, stirring up dissent, discord, disunity - only for his very OWN sake -

"his" illegally gained money, "his" usurped power and what he already assumes "his country and his people"...

This guy is a bad example of what influence, money and power mixed with highly corruptible individuals, can do with a humand being!

[Jingthing]

Yes, he is bad news. This country won't even begin to get anywhere until they let him go. He is no savior.

[Insight]

After 3 years having "corruption", "fugitive", "cheater", "killers" brands with him, if he is back, he will be elected to be PM again. Amazing!

Yes but all those brands are provably true. Lets add another: COWARD.

Coward? Hardly. A true coward would have done the exile under wraps routine. Remember Idi Amin the cannibal mass murderer of Uganda? He lived his life out in Saudi Arabia. Baby Doc Duvalier is living it up in France as did Empereror for Life Bokassa of the Congo. Scores of overthrown despots went off to their homes in Geneva and London, and yet there is old Thaksi tweaking the current gov'ts nose and popping up within reach of the authorities.

If you mean his making a dash to avoid the Thai courts, I don't think anyone that has observed the Thai justice system would argue that Thaksin received a fair trial free of political interference. He was judged guilty before he set foot in the courtroom. That doesn't mean I think he is innocent of some of the accusations leveled. Rather, the government the case against him was bungled by introducing the political hijinks and by politicians making statements while the case was being adjudicated. Rule number 1 in court proceedings is that politicians are supposed to defer to the courts and to keep their opinions to themselves when the case is being argued.

As a sidenote, I am really getting tired of all this endless news about Thaksin. What's next, a report on his daily bowel movements? Bless his hardy and tenacious soul, but I really don't care anymore. My advice to Thaksin would be to stay quiet for a few months and to let the dust settle. It's like a scab that keeps getting picked. In the meantime, if the media so despises the man, then just ignore him. Like gas, it will eventually pass. These endless threads on Thaksin rank right up there with the "I met a bargirl and was shafted"or "How many tats do you have on your buttocks" etc.

He is a coward. I've said it before but I believe it worth repeating - he's definitely no stranger to the media and could summon up as much media attention he needed to ensure any bias by the courts was highlighted worldwide. Instead he chooses to run and attack Thailand from the outside. What does that say to you?

Happy Birthday, scum.

(edit - above directed at the obvious, not geriatrickid)

Edited July 26, 2009 by Insight

[Jingthing]

He is a man who doesn't realize when the PARTY IS OVER. We all know the type.

[njpski]

Such invective about a person who if he were allowed by the hi-so to come back to Thailand and be subject to a true thai election would be Prime Minister again.

Call him names by all means but see what would happen if he as back in the country - you would still be allowed to call him names but he would be in charge much to the chagrin of the jealous who wear the yellow colour of cowardice

[mc2]

haha you guys are jealous

anyway here is a happy birthday clip from his sisters

[mc2]

another clip with everyday thais and some big names wishing Thaksin a happy birthday

in Thai but eng subs at the bottom but you can get the idea from body language and voice

[timekeeper]

Such invective about a person who if he were allowed by the hi-so to come back to Thailand and be subject to a true thai election would be Prime Minister again.

Call him names by all means but see what would happen if he as back in the country - you would still be allowed to call him names but he would be in charge much to the chagrin of the jealous who wear the yellow colour of cowardice

there was an election but thaksin did not win it outright, he too had to make a coalition with other parties

why would it be any different now?

especially when his support has declined not increased........

as to the yellow colour of cowardice, isn't thaksin the one that ran away ?

[SpoliaOpima]

Creative? Creative like a megalomaniac maybe.

[Samuian]

another clip with everyday thais and some big names wishing Thaksin a happy birthday

in Thai but eng subs at the bottom but you can get the idea from body language and voice

Yeah, all the "well wishers" and "hope he comes back"

are those "big names" who lost their place at the feeding trough,

the others are misguided "hope fulls", caught in his luring web

of promises which are cost the country dearly already!

yes, yes, I can hear the shouting already

"it's the failure of the Abhisit led Government!"

yes, yes, yes - that is for sure so.... any prove for this, any prove

that he ever ONLY served the Nation as a humble politician?

many argre now the the "big surprise" is this one - a song he sang in one of the transmissions:

One day I will come back as I promised

With faith and unsevered ties

I was forced to acquiese, although I was not ready

I will come back, so, Thai people, please wait for me

There must be a day when I return

You are the inspiration. I was touched, and tears brimmed in my eyes

I will endure all the slanting

Go ahead and step on me

I'll wait for the day the sky changes its colours

I have become a wanderer, sleeping in different places like a criminal

Oh yellow birds, you have your land to live on

You are so different from me.

There must be a day when I return

Please, everyone, wait for the day when a bruised man triumphs

I'll be back to join your forces and your hearts

I'll be back for Thai people and the land

I'll be back to unify

To solve Thai problems and bring back happiness.

" wait for the day when a bruised man triumphs

"

ohoh!

When a bruised man comes back and triumphs...

Edited July 26, 2009 by Samuian

[ratcatcher]

Such invective about a person who if he were allowed by the hi-so to come back to Thailand and be subject to a true thai election would be Prime Minister again.

Call him names by all means but see what would happen if he as back in the country - you would still be allowed to call him names but he would be in charge much to the chagrin of the jealous who wear the yellow colour of cowardice

Are you naive? There's nothing stopping this craven coward from returning to Thailand, certainly not the "hi-sos".

He just hasn't got the guts to face his accusers. He seeks a pardon for crimes he claims he never comitted?

In the photos above posted by Sriracha John, it seems his gik Lydia has more balls than him.

Fact: He is a convicted criminal on the run from Thai justice.

Fact: He is a cheat and a liar.

Fact: He is responsible for the deaths of thousands in his misguided "drug dealer cleanup"

Fact: He will never again be allowed the privilege of being the Prime Minister of this Kingdom.

No matter which way you spin it, no matter how many phone-ins, videos and pathetic pleas to his worshippers,there's only one place good enough for this character and it's in Nonthaburi province at Bang Kwang. Have a nice day.

[monkfish]

I just counted 7 Thaksin bashing threads on the go!

[Maestro]

A nonsensical post about a toxin and the reply to it have been deleted.

--

Maestro

[Scott]

Warm wishes for a happy 60th birthday.

[givenall]

FOLLOW IT WITH THE EDITORS

Relaunching Thaksin Shinawatra

By Tulsathit Taptim

Published on July 26, 2009

Follow the most talked-about "sae yid" (60th birthday celebration) of the decade as it happens.

We will do it the old-fashioned way _ I'll keep updating this space and you keep refreshing your page. I have both twitter and facebook accounts but for now will let Thaksin Shinawatra boom ahead using the two social network channels. He announced the twitter and facebook plans on Friday and it caused quite a stir in our newsroom. Good old Thaksin. Catch him if you can.

Preamble: Michael, I know you are resting in peace, but if by any chance talks about your memorial service being overhyped have annoyed you, point your critics toward Thailand. Rub it in their faces by asking "Have I ever held a birthday party like that you sorry nitpickers?"

If this whole intro makes me sound like a big nitpicker myself, sorry. It's true that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva launched his hi-5 account a few years ago and I didn't say a word. And there are the likes of President Obama when twitter is concerned. But trying to organise a birthday party of the century and promoting it this way three months after our close shave with a bloodbath? I guess we have the right to be a bit sceptical and anxious.

It is believed that Thaksin will use the occassion to repaint himself as a peaceful man now ready to forgive and forget. That's the only strategy left apparently, after the Songkran turmoil damaged his pretty fine image overseas. He became a tainted good, and a shrewd businessman like him always knows what to do with a tainted good. You don't throw it away. Just add a few new features and relaunch it.

Merit-making events will take place nationwide barring the South. What message he will convey to his supporters and how he will convey it have been a subject of speculation, thanks to his close aides' claims that there will be a "big surprise".

Rumours that he would appear in the form of a hologram have been dismissed but still persisted. We expect some kind of video footages of him making merits in Dubai to be shown one way or another to his supporters to make them feel he is "there" with them.

Events will take place in about a dozen provinces, starting in the morning. Focus will be on the Kaewfah Temple in Nonthaburi, the Uthai-tharam Temple on the Rama IX Road and a public venue in Roi-et. And just because the whole thing is about relaunching a political product doesn't mean it won't be superstitious. Religious ceremonies, according to news reports, include using a holy knife to "cut" or remove karma from Thaksin. I must have been a bad Buddhist because this is the first time I know we can do that.

So, a rumoured hologram and a holy knife will make Sunday quite interesting, if not "exciting" as promised on Thaksin's twitter. My update will start around 10 pm so please stay tuned.

In the meantime, I have compiled some speculations on what the "big surprise" will be. The link is here. http://http://www.nationmultimedia.com/sea...;keyword=tulsat

-- The Nation 2009/07/26

Same Shi...t with different look but same smell

[Xangsamhua]

Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved the parliament in February 2006 because he wanted his personal mandate reconfirmed.

If Thaksin had not dissolved the parliament, TRT would not have been dissolved for vote-buying in the phoney election of April 2006.

If Thaksin had then really resigned as he said he would in April 2006, TRT would have continued in government with a new leader.

If Thaksin had not dissolved the parliament and had not called new elections for April 2006, there would have been no dissolution of TRT, they would still be in power and from a position of strength would have done some deals to get Thaksin off the hook on his legal matters.

Sondhi Limthongkul and the PAD would have had less impact after Thaksin's resignation.

By clinging to power and his own cult of personality it seems Thaksin Shinawatra has created Thailand's current political problems as well as his own difficulties.

Blaming Sondhi Limthonkul, Sondhi Boonyaratglin, Prem Tinsulanonda, the Army or the Thai power elite misses the point. Thaksin's plight is not the result of anti-democratic forces, but his own errors of poltical judgment.

Does the above scenario hang together? I'm not really into political analysis, but Jakapob Penkair's comments somewhere blaming everything on the 2006 coup made me think.

[ratcatcher]

Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved the parliament in February 2006 because he wanted his personal mandate reconfirmed.

If Thaksin had not dissolved the parliament, TRT would not have been dissolved for vote-buying in the phoney election of April 2006.

If Thaksin had then really resigned as he said he would in April 2006, TRT would have continued in government with a new leader.

If Thaksin had not dissolved the parliament and had not called new elections for April 2006, there would have been no dissolution of TRT, they would still be in power and from a position of strength would have done some deals to get Thaksin off the hook on his legal matters.

Sondhi Limthongkul and the PAD would have had less impact after Thaksin's resignation.

By clinging to power and his own cult of personality it seems Thaksin Shinawatra has created Thailand's current political problems as well as his own difficulties.

Blaming Sondhi Limthonkul, Sondhi Boonyaratglin, Prem Tinsulanonda, the Army or the Thai power elite misses the point. Thaksin's plight is not the result of anti-democratic forces, but his own errors of poltical judgment.

Does the above scenario hang together? I'm not really into political analysis, but Jakapob Penkair's comments somewhere blaming everything on the 2006 coup made me think.

I think you summed it up quite nicely.

[SpoliaOpima]

[geriatrickid]

Meanwhile, more people are sick with the flu, more people have died on the roads, more people have lost their jobs, some woman has been subject to conjugal violence, some kid has been abused, land has been defoliated and pollutants dumped into the water table.

The point being is that having this Thaksin issue alive certainly distracts from the more important issues. I can see why some people in the government like to have thaksin around but not in custody. Keeps the 5th estate wretches occuped................A birthday party? Seriously, why is this important?

It's like getting news alerts on whether or not the Jonas Brothers are coming to Bangkok.

You folks can't do anything about Thaksin, but if you are that concerned about Thailand's future, ouble your efforts and do something good for the country today. How about picking up 1 piece of trash and putting it in a garbage bin, or just smiling at your neighbour. Decency is more contagious than the flu.

[webfact]

Thaksin sings in 'big surprise'

'I will come back,' he croons to birthday bash

Writer: POST REPORTERS

Published: 27/07/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Thaksin Shinawatra's "big surprise" on his 60th birthday has failed to live up to the expectations of many people.

Monks perform ceremonies to lift ill-fortune from ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The ousted prime minister yesterday clearly avoided touching on politics and only performed a song as a treat for his supporters.

The much-hyped "big surprise" turned out to be a VCD of him carrying a monk's robes for making merit, accompanied by singing.

The VCD was screened at Kaew Fa Chula Manee in Nonthaburi's Bang Kruai district, where religious and merit-making ceremonies were performed to mark his birthday yesterday.

Tens of thousands of his supporters flocked to the ceremony. Those present included former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and his wife Yaowapa, Thaksin's younger sister, banned executives of the dissolved People Power Party, politicians from the Puea Thai Party and red shirt supporters led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.

story continues: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2098...in-big-surprise

-- Bangkok Post 2009/07/27

[khonkaen man]

Yeah, all the "well wishers" and "hope he comes back"

are those "big names" who lost their place at the feeding trough,

the others are misguided "hope fulls", caught in his luring web

of promises which are cost the country dearly already!

The question you should be asking is who is at the feeding trough at the moment. They have been milking the country for decades. A thai friend who studies politics at uni described them (not 100%sure) as the 'Brotherhood of Twelve' refering to the families that run Thailand. The faceless thieves who get a cut from every piece of action going ...

[animatic]

Yeah, all the "well wishers" and "hope he comes back"

are those "big names" who lost their place at the feeding trough,

the others are misguided "hope fulls", caught in his luring web

of promises which are cost the country dearly already!

The question you should be asking is who is at the feeding trough at the moment. They have been milking the country for decades. A thai friend who studies politics at uni described them (not 100%sure) as the 'Brotherhood of Twelve' refering to the families that run Thailand. The faceless thieves who get a cut from every piece of action going ...

And STILL did under Thaklsin.

Same, same, no difference.