How Many Years In Prison Does Thaksin Deserve?

[Garry9999]

Unbelievable but true.

How many days?

If true, perhaps a cynical ploy to shore up the rice people vote for life. It worked!

Thaksin is often accused of popularism "Popularis (italian: popolarismo) is a political doctrine conceived by Don Luigi Sturzo as a middle way between Socialism and Liberalism and opposed to Fascism because of its stress on Democracy."

Isn't democracy about representing the majority?

[Jingthing]

Thaksin is not pro democracy. When he was in power, he said so! He is a dictator for life type, like Chavez, another so called pro poor people "populist" who use the theater of fake democracy as a prop. The man is POWER MAD. Don't feed him.

Edited August 7, 2009 by Jingthing

[monkfish]

Have to say i am very surprised by the results so far as TV is a renown Thaksin bashing forum.

[britmaveric]

None

[Garry9999]

Thaksin is not pro democracy. When he was in power, he said so! He is a dictator for life type, like Chavez, another so called pro poor people "populist" who use the theater of fake democracy as a prop. The man is POWER MAD. Don't feed him.

Yes, I've seen you type this in BIG BLACK LETTERS before in one of your previous posts.

[cyclone]

Serve Zero Years - obviously the right lad for the job considering the corrupt mess whats in now.

[monkfish]

You only have to look at the results to know we are dealing with extremists.

At the moment 18% think he should get a life sentence because his wife bought a plot of land in an open auction.

There are even 3 who think he should get multiple life sentences!

I wonder who they are?

[catmac]

None. I fail to see what was wrong with his actions in regards to the only prosecution actually brought against him. The rest are just allegations, mostly borne out of malice, and simply not proven at this point in time.

The real criminals are those responsible for the 2006 coup. Overthrowing the government by military force (whether any shots were fired or not) is totally wrong, and deserves punishment. Sort that lot out first, then you may have a case for looking at Thaksin. Trouble is, many of you are so blinded by your unwholesome hatred of one man that you can't see the wood for the trees.

[smokie36]

You only have to look at the results to know we are dealing with extremists.

At the moment 18% think he should get a life sentence because his wife bought a plot of land in an open auction.

There are even 3 who think he should get multiple life sentences!

I wonder who they are?

Maybe the Americans...voting for the near as dammit death penalty option.

[Garry9999]

None. I fail to see what was wrong with his actions in regards to the only prosecution actually brought against him. The rest are just allegations, mostly borne out of malice, and simply not proven at this point in time.

The real criminals are those responsible for the 2006 coup. Overthrowing the government by military force (whether any shots were fired or not) is totally wrong, and deserves punishment. Sort that lot out first, then you may have a case for looking at Thaksin. Trouble is, many of you are so blinded by your unwholesome hatred of one man that you can't see the wood for the trees.

Very well said catmac.

[Garry9999]

I think the Op needs to reflect on the words of Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

[StatlerandWaldorf]

To echo some other members, yes he is a criminal but so are the rest of them! He was only ousted because some other people were not getting their share of the action.

[smokie36]

I think the Op needs to reflect on the words of Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

I don't think Sir Winston was referring to Thailand.

No secret ballot ...one person one vote...no bribing or intimidation of voters.

Or maybe you would like to quote his comments on this?

[monkfish]

You only have to look at the results to know we are dealing with extremists.

At the moment 18% think he should get a life sentence because his wife bought a plot of land in an open auction.

There are even 3 who think he should get multiple life sentences!

I wonder who they are?

Maybe the Americans...voting for the near as dammit death penalty option.

Yes I wonder why he did not include the death sentence.

[Garry9999]

I think the Op needs to reflect on the words of Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

I don't think Sir Winston was referring to Thailand.

No secret ballot ...one person one vote...no bribing or intimidation of voters.

Or maybe you would like to quote his comments on this?

2001 - Thai Rak Thai won the legislative election of 2001 by a landslide margin over the ruling Democrat Party.

2005 - In the legislative election on February 6, 2005, Thai Rak Thai won an even bigger majority with 60.7% of the popular vote.

2006 - In the invalid elections of April 2006, Thai Rak Thai won 61.6% of the vote and 460 out of 500 seats, the rest remaining vacant due to boycotting by the opposition parties.

2007 - Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the 2006 coup d'état. The Peoples Power Party (PPP), a reincarnation of Thai Rak Thai 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.

[smokie36]

I think the Op needs to reflect on the words of Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

I don't think Sir Winston was referring to Thailand.

No secret ballot ...one person one vote...no bribing or intimidation of voters.

Or maybe you would like to quote his comments on this?

2001 - Thai Rak Thai won the legislative election of 2001 by a landslide margin over the ruling Democrat Party.

2005 - In the legislative election on February 6, 2005, Thai Rak Thai won an even bigger majority with 60.7% of the popular vote.

2006 - In the invalid elections of April 2006, Thai Rak Thai won 61.6% of the vote and 460 out of 500 seats, the rest remaining vacant due to boycotting by the opposition parties.

2007 - Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the 2006 coup d'état. The Peoples Power Party (PPP), a reincarnation of Thai Rak Thai 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.

Much more to be said on the 2005 election result. But not on this thread. Let the result here speak for itself.

Edited August 7, 2009 by smokie36

[basjke]

To echo some other members, yes he is a criminal but so are the rest of them! He was only ousted because some other people were not getting their share of the action.

I think you are quite right here.He wanted Thailand to be free from corruption but he forgot to include himself in this process.I read somewhere how much he gained in net worth during his time as prime minister but I don't recall correctly if he doubled or tripled his money.Where you think this came from?

Yes he did a lot for the thai people.

For example at the start of his term he gave 77 billion baht to the villages.But at the end who pays for it???

He started the 30 baht medical scheme.But at the end who pays for it????

I also can give away money and gain popularity as long as I don't have to pay for it myself.

I didn't vote because he will not serve one day in prison after all,same as all the other corrupt politicians.

[Insight]

What other Thai Prime Minister has rolled up his sleeves at 0700 in the morning and gone to work in Isaan fields day after day?

Yeah, Thaksin was out there in the fields planting rice 12 hours a day every day, while his daughter was working at McDonalds. Unbelievable.

Didn't he build the skytrain as well, single handedly?

Thailand taught me what PR is.

[Jingthing]

Yes I wonder why he did not include the death sentence.

I considered it but the question was limited to number of years in PRISON so I decided not to go there. A case could be made for treason though if someone wanted to make the case (based on Black Songkran); don't know the penalty for that here but in many countries it is a death penalty offense.

You only have to look at the results to know we are dealing with extremists.

Poppycock! The poll is open to each and every member here.

Edited August 7, 2009 by Jingthing

[monkfish]

Yes I wonder why he did not include the death sentence.

I considered it but the question was limited to number of years in PRISON so I decided not to go there. A case could be made for treason though if someone wanted to make the case (based on Black Songkran); don't know the penalty for that here but in many countries it is a death penalty offense.

Black Songran as you call it wall clearly started by the military and government.

There was no violence until the Soldiers started firing M16's at protesters.

[Jingthing]

Black Songran as you call it wall clearly started by the military and government.

There was no violence until the Soldiers started firing M16's at protesters.

Revisionist history. Most people know the REAL "truth today" about that one ...

BTW, rule of thumb, any movement using the word truth as their mantra is ALWAYS full of BIG LIES.

The treason thing is a non-starter, there is no political will to go that far against him. The trick is to keep him out of politics for life and that's a tough nutcase to crack.

Edited August 7, 2009 by Jingthing

[rixalex]

He wanted Thailand to be free from corruption

I agree with most of your post but this comment puzzles me. What gave you this impression?

[rixalex]

Black Songran as you call it

What do you call it?

[Garry9999]

Yes I wonder why he did not include the death sentence.

I considered it but the question was limited to number of years in PRISON so I decided not to go there. A case could be made for treason though if someone wanted to make the case (based on Black Songkran); don't know the penalty for that here but in many countries it is a death penalty offense.

You only have to look at the results to know we are dealing with extremists.

Poppycock! The poll is open to each and every member here.

Today, most countries are considered by Amnesty International as abolitionists, which allowed a vote on a nonbinding resolution to the UN to promote the abolition of the death penalty. But more than 60% of the worldwide population live in countries where executions take place insofar as the four most populous countries in the world (the People's Republic of China, India, United States and Indonesia) apply the death penalty and are unlikely to abolish it at any time soon

[basjke]

He wanted Thailand to be free from corruption

I agree with most of your post but this comment puzzles me. What gave you this impression?

Because when I talk with thai business people they told me how he changed the whole system.Computerized all the departments and built in controls so it was more difficult to demand tea money.But at the end I think he just did it because he couldn't stand that someone else then himself profited from anything.

[Garry9999]

He wanted Thailand to be free from corruption

I agree with most of your post but this comment puzzles me. What gave you this impression?

Because when I talk with thai business people they told me how he changed the whole system.Computerized all the departments and built in controls so it was more difficult to demand tea money.But at the end I think he just did it because he couldn't stand that someone else then himself profited from anything.

Are you sure?

[DP25]

Black Songran as you call it wall clearly started by the military and government.

There was no violence until the Soldiers started firing M16's at protesters.

I weep for humanity. I guess Hitler was right, tell a lie big enough and "no one will believe that someone could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously."

When's Takky gonna role out all those secret videos he claimed on cnn to have of military gunning down hundreds of protesters?

[Garry9999]

Black Songran as you call it wall clearly started by the military and government.

There was no violence until the Soldiers started firing M16's at protesters.

I weep for humanity. I guess Hitler was right, tell a lie big enough and "no one will believe that someone could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously."

When's Takky gonna role out all those secret videos he claimed on cnn to have of military gunning down hundreds of protesters?

[Jingthing]

What matters for both the present and for history is what most people BELIEVE or are led to BELIEVE. What is the truth really? Thaksin's propaganda machine is slipping because fewer and fewer people are swallowing his stuff.

When's Takky gonna role out all those secret videos he claimed on cnn to have of military gunning down hundreds of protesters?

They don't exist but a better propagandist would have CREATED them ...

He still has his "red army" though.

Edited August 7, 2009 by Jingthing

[scottyd]

Thaksin is a nice guy, leave him alone.