Deceitful Amendment Of Contract By Thaksin´s Administration Causes Severe Public Burden

[webfact]

Special Report:

Deceitful amendment of contract by Thaksin´s administration causes severe public burden

BANGKOK: -- The countdown towards Thaksin’ D-Day seems to raise political tensions in Thailand, as the court has recently scheduled to deliver its verdict on 26 February 2010, whether or not to seize former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Bt76 billion in frozen assets.

Back in September 2002, the Cellular Mobile Telephone Service Agreement was amended so that TOT Public Company Limited would have to help shoulder the roaming cost for AIS, a company commonly known for 43% shares by Shin Corp owned by Mr Thaksin and his family.

The contract amendment had enabled AIS to jointly share network with other concessionaires, resulting in an exemption of 18 billion THB fee to be paid to CAT Telecom Public Company Limited and TOT Public Company Limited as stated in the original contract.

The TOT's contract amendment was done in a bid to make public share the roaming cost. The amendment was conducted in line with the Private Participation in State Undertaking Act BE 2535. The joint burden has cost the public 31.75 billion THB. CAT would not earn any profit in the remaining of its 8.75 billion THB concession, so as the 13 billion THB concession of TOT.

The Office of the Council of State and the following government had come up with the final assertion, announcing deceitful amendment, in breach of the law. The state has the power to revoke the amendment and demand related units to compensate for the public.

Shin Corp, as the main AIS shareholder shared the benefit of tax exemption. Mr Thaksin as SHIN Corps owner manipulated the cases to make prices o the company's stock spiral, before they were sold to the Temasek Holdings of Singapore without having to pay taxes, according to the law shortly issued. All resulted in public uproar and mass demonstrations against him in 2008 and 2009.

-- NNT 2010-02-22

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[Samuian]

Shin Corp, as the main AIS shareholder shared the benefit of tax exemption. Mr Thaksin as SHIN Corps owner manipulated the cases to make prices o the company's stock spiral, before they were sold to the Temasek Holdings of Singapore without having to pay taxes, according to the law shortly issued.

...says it all!

[Donnyboy]

roll on Feb 26th

[Insight]

I don't doubt the facts presented in the article, but in all honesty I found this style of writing pretty cringe-worthy.

[animatic]

Oh and note this is from National News Bureau Of Thailand

and not from The Nation, before the usual crys start up.

Certainly the writing is not by anyone pretending to be English 1st language.

It does explain much of what this is all about.

The TOT's contract amendment was done in a bid to make public share the roaming cost.

People cry he didn't turn a massive profit on the backs of poor Thais, wrong,

ALL Thais paid for this shift of HIS corporate fiscal burden to their backs.

And this is only ONE aspect of what the Thaksin judgment day is about.

But it IS a very large portion.

If he acknowledged his other cases and they proceeded,

I have little doubt that this batch of Shin Corp sale profits would be

well and truly dwarfed in the bigger picture.

Edited February 22, 2010 by animatic

[webfact]

one off-topic/flaming post deleted

[hammered]

I thought the demos against him were in 2005-2006;)

Ok it sounds dodgy that AIS benfitted form the cost being shared by TOT (read taxpayer). Did the other companies also benefit from this or not? DTAC etc

[Samuian]

I don't doubt the facts presented in the article, but in all honesty I found this style of writing pretty cringe-worthy.

You can surely doubt whatever pleases you, these facts are fact, and this is a fact!

Edited February 22, 2010 by Samuian

[whistleblower]

if this site was based in england would your affiliate paper be the star???

[DavidHouston]

I can find the English version of the article as quoted above at http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255302220002 . However, I can't seem to locate the equivalent Thai version at http://thainews.prd.go.th/index_th.php .

The English Version is in the Political section of the website but there is no comparable article - or opinion piece - that I can find at the parallel location on the Thai site.

Has anyone found it yet? Thanks.

[neverdie]

I just googled 'thaksin' and got this:-

ผลการค้นหา 1 - 10 จากประมาณ 1,760,000 รายการ สำหรับคำว่า thaksin (0.15 วินาที)

didnt realise it was such a popular name

Seriously though, I wonder how many times this mans been typed on Thai visa, all versions of it that is.

[moetownblues]

Is there anyone on T.V that actually likes Mr. Thaksin. It seems like all the farangs on here feel personally wronged by this man. What has he actually done to the farangs? and he has only upset the thai elite not the common thai.

[scorecard]

Is there anyone on T.V that actually likes Mr. Thaksin. It seems like all the farangs on here feel personally wronged by this man. What has he actually done to the farangs? and he has only upset the thai elite not the common thai.

Wrong on several points:

- I suggest that many farang on this site don't fell personally wronged but they do have great concerns about Thailand, their adopted home and in many cases the home of their offspring, in terms of laying the foundations whereby the greedy, the ruthless, the corrupt can't get their sticky fingers into massive amounts of taxpayers funds, kill people at will, etc. At least thats' my scenario.

- This 'elite' word is massively over used. There are many wealthy honourable sincere fair-minded Thai people who want Thailand to go forward with better quality fo life for all. 'elite is an overused convenient misnoma.

- You say 'he has not upset the common Thai'. Wrong, very wrong. Many middle class people hate the man and how he raped the country and then claimed, with nothing to back it up in any way shape or form ' they want me to be president for life'. He in fact insulted the intelligence of Thais and intimidated anybody who tried to speak out.

[otherstuff1957]

Under Thaksin the Visa fees were increase astronomically. The amount of money needed in the bank for type O - Thai Wife or Retirement were doubled from 200K to 400K and from 400K to 800K. The cost of applying for PR was also increased greatly and NO PR's were granted from Thaksin's election until a year or more after the coup.

So, yes, Farangs do have personal reasons to dislike Thaksin.

[steveromagnino]

Wrong on several points:

- This 'elite' word is massively over used. There are many wealthy honourable sincere fair-minded Thai people who want Thailand to go forward with better quality fo life for all. 'elite is an overused convenient misnoma.

Actually, I like the fact that people now consider me to part of the elite.

Even though I am coming from a peasant family who were mostly illiterate and had no money, solely for the reason because I don't like Thaksin, it means I am now part of the Elite - the people who control the power in Thailand.

Given that I don't get to even control the remote for the VCD player at home when we are playing karaoke, this is for me, a series of giant steps, even bigger than John Coltrane.

I have a new idea, if everyone who dislikes Thaksin is part of the elite, then surely if we can persuade all of Thailand to dislike na-liam together, then we can all be elite.

Now if only someone had some sort of card to mark us as elite....perhaps an elite card with a series of special benefits....I am sure someone could make a lot of money out of corruption with such a scheme.

(silence)

Too soon?

[h90]

Under Thaksin the Visa fees were increase astronomically. The amount of money needed in the bank for type O - Thai Wife or Retirement were doubled from 200K to 400K and from 400K to 800K. The cost of applying for PR was also increased greatly and NO PR's were granted from Thaksin's election until a year or more after the coup.

So, yes, Farangs do have personal reasons to dislike Thaksin.

Almost everyone if Thai or Farang have some personal reason to dislike him. He did not forget many in his greed.....I only recall the minivans to check the mum and paps stores.....

[OzMick]

I remember reading in the Post about the Burmese loan to buy Shin equipment. It was immediately obvious that the deal was shonky, and that a few billion (?) baht had just gone west instead of improving Thailand. Perhaps that's why I developed a distaste for the man; I simply hate thieves.

[hammered]

Is there anyone on T.V that actually likes Mr. Thaksin. It seems like all the farangs on here feel personally wronged by this man. What has he actually done to the farangs? and he has only upset the thai elite not the common thai.

There are lots who still like him, lots who used to like him and changed their minds to neutral or anti and some who never liked him. Trawl through the threads and you can find em.

You can find enough non-elite Thais who dont like him too even among the poor and there are a fair few of the elite on his side

[RKASA]

This is the one area where abuse of power may have really happened even if the reasoning seemed valid at the time and benefits others as well.. I am not sure that even the use of a blind trust could have been enough firewall to handle this type of arrangement given his connection to one of the benefactors of the needed reforms.

CAT and TOT are both seated in the path of progress and not the least bit concerned about it. Both CAT and TOT in a way extort from private business to cover their incompetence and bloat. Saying AIS ripped off the Thai people because ToT didn't screw them itself is a oxymoron.

The telecomm relationship and the government. Oh, but that in itself is a whole other field of abuse of the public trust. The abusers being ToT and CAT.

[ianf]

Is there anyone on T.V that actually likes Mr. Thaksin. It seems like all the farangs on here feel personally wronged by this man. What has he actually done to the farangs? and he has only upset the thai elite not the common thai.

I have been an advocate of human rights and justice all my life. Being from solid English working class stock, I do not like to see the rich get richer on the backs of the poor who get poorer. Whether I'm in Thailand or elsewhere the kinds of greed and excessive behaviours shown by the Thaksin family mirrors that of the worst African despots, the Marcos in the Philippines and so on. Thaksin is only one in a long line of these people who have the possibility of creating positive change for the poor but instead use their positions of power to line their own pockets - at the expense of the poor - to a degree that is simply obscene. How much money do you really need?

I am a supporter of democracy - not socialism or any other form of 'ism'. There will always be poor people and there will always be rich people. There will always be those with the intellect and opportunity to become legislators and rulers. But I always hope for a world where these people will use their positions (not abuse) to do some good and initiate real change in people's lives to relieve the suffering that the people on the bottom scrapheap have to endure.

So it is not what Mr Thaksin has done to wrong the Farangs as the poster says, its to do with fairness and justice and the way we run our world and unltimatly that affects all of us.

I can't stand cheats and liars and thieves and manipulators at any level of society and our leaders should be setting an example (fat chance I know!).

[animatic]

Wrong on several points:

- This 'elite' word is massively over used. There are many wealthy honourable sincere fair-minded Thai people who want Thailand to go forward with better quality fo life for all. 'elite is an overused convenient misnoma.

Actually, I like the fact that people now consider me to part of the elite.

Even though I am coming from a peasant family who were mostly illiterate and had no money, solely for the reason because I don't like Thaksin, it means I am now part of the Elite - the people who control the power in Thailand.

Given that I don't get to even control the remote for the VCD player at home when we are playing karaoke, this is for me, a series of giant steps, even bigger than John Coltrane.

I have a new idea, if everyone who dislikes Thaksin is part of the elite, then surely if we can persuade all of Thailand to dislike na-liam together, then we can all be elite.

Now if only someone had some sort of card to mark us as elite....perhaps an elite card with a series of special benefits....I am sure someone could make a lot of money out of corruption with such a scheme.

(silence)

Too soon?

How about stars on our bellies.

Marking us better than those without stars!

Certainly having a good tan here is considered low brow...

Oh the HORROR!

The hi so rich in the west actually PAY to be made darker,

here they pay to be so pale the blood vessels show through their skin...

No accounting for who thinks what is hi so...

bunch of so n sos... New money, old money; no matter,

it's HOW you act towards others that really matters.

Of course we all know people with out a sous who are totally classy

and others rich as Crosious who have no class at all.

[earlbrownuk]

Is there anyone on T.V that actually likes Mr. Thaksin. It seems like all the farangs on here feel personally wronged by this man. What has he actually done to the farangs? and he has only upset the thai elite not the common thai.

Some falangs just like to put a nasty speech in, just as long they are happy they don't really care about anyone else or politics. So it could even be your average jo, and they will still moan.

I'd say that 79% of all Thai's like Thaksin, and its just bangkok going south that detest him. And the ones with the fat check books. With Thai's its a Jealous thing, they don't like anyone else who is better than them.

It's all about money, and every one is dipping into the pot.

All the hi profile jobs are bought into, and when Thaksin started sacking most of the people who had paid to get that position, were all angry, and then to top it of sacks an army general which then the coup started.

Since thaksin has left, thailand has gone further down the hill, a hel_l of a lot more drugs are filling the streets, corruption is on the rise.

But at the end of the day, its Thailand, the system is corrupt, and will never change.

[Moonrakers]

I'd say that 79% of all Thai's like Thaksin, 

<deleted>

[scorecard]

I'd say that 79% of all Thai's like Thaksin, 

<deleted>

Triple X double <deleted>!

[britmaveric]

I'd say that 79% of all Thai's like Thaksin, 

This is def the case, and I am happy that some farangs do know the truth of the matter....

[Moonrakers]

I'd say that 79% of all Thai's like Thaksin, 

This is def the case, and I am happy that some farangs do know the truth of the matter....

And so why did over 70% of the population NOT vote for his party in the last election?

Edited February 22, 2010 by Moonrakers

[marshbags]

Is there anyone on T.V that actually likes Mr. Thaksin. It seems like all the farangs on here feel personally wronged by this man. What has he actually done to the farangs? and he has only upset the thai elite not the common thai.

Prior to the TRT and it,s infamous CEO coming to power, he gave many foreigners as well as Thai hope of a new begining and a new style of politics, particulary with his well known business acumen and seemingly Thai for ALL, Thai love Thai ect. ect.

It all went arse about face after his infamous honest / dishonest mistake came to light and he used the same old Thaksin way we are all familiar with, to get out of it.

Gaining favour from those who voted to allow him to continue his dishonest way forward and the years of plundering of mega Thai assets and blatant misuse of governmental / privilidged office, while feeding those gullible to believe in him and voted for his party..... peanuts and mega B..Sh*te.

This is why many foreigners are resentful and annoyed and feel betrayed by the false hopes of being a true peoples champion ( which would also have enhanced ourselves via our Thai relatives and our families)and then continued onwards, free to do as he pleased knowing full well he could do practically anything he wished with his corrupt self serving style of politics and the buying of fellow politicians and everything it could purchase.

For me personally, I was one of the many foreigners who truly believed in him and his phoney persona

The saddest thing of all is both he and Thailand could have been so much more and his reputation would have been one to admire.

He was capable of great things with his business savvy ect. ....if only he,d used it honestly, his integrity would have still been intact and greatly admired and advanced not only in Thailand but Internationally.

I cannot help but reflect on what happened to a certain leader in Iraq, who could have walked away with so much, but had the same self destroying greed for power and position.

( not the execution, but the self inflicted destruction he caused to himself and his family )

marshbags and

Edited February 22, 2010 by marshbags

[scorecard]

Is there anyone on T.V that actually likes Mr. Thaksin. It seems like all the farangs on here feel personally wronged by this man. What has he actually done to the farangs? and he has only upset the thai elite not the common thai.

Some falangs just like to put a nasty speech in, just as long they are happy they don't really care about anyone else or politics. So it could even be your average jo, and they will still moan.

I'd say that 79% of all Thai's like Thaksin, and its just bangkok going south that detest him. And the ones with the fat check books. With Thai's its a Jealous thing, they don't like anyone else who is better than them.

It's all about money, and every one is dipping into the pot.

All the hi profile jobs are bought into, and when Thaksin started sacking most of the people who had paid to get that position, were all angry, and then to top it of sacks an army general which then the coup started.

Since thaksin has left, thailand has gone further down the hill, a hel_l of a lot more drugs are filling the streets, corruption is on the rise.

But at the end of the day, its Thailand, the system is corrupt, and will never change.

All the hi profile jobs are bought into, and when Thaksin started sacking most of the people who had paid to get that position, were all angry, and then to top it of sacks an army general which then the coup started.

Since thaksin has left, thailand has gone further down the hill, a hel_l of a lot more drugs are filling the streets, corruption is on the rise.

Lets see:

Yes, Thailand has had political turmoil, and who was the root cause of the problem? I'm talking about cause and effect here.

However I invite you to take another look at the current economic situation:

- Korn massively softened the posssible blow on Thailand from the global meltdown.

- Exports are rising rapidly.

- Taxation revenues are massively bigger than forecast.

- Expert economists are forecasting 4.75% growth for the coming year. Pretty impressive in fact.

- The Thai chamber of Commerce is signalling that they are quite pleased with the way things are developing.

You say corruption is on the rise. Well that's new news. It's been endemic for decades, thaksin made it an open art form. So is it going to go away overnight? Of course not, but you fail to mention that PM Abhisit recently ordered two of his people to resign over collusion and graft. That's an absolute first. I say again, that's an absolute first!

You say drugs are filling the streets, and there is no doubt whatever that Thailand does have a serious drug problem.

So why, after Thaksin proclamation that Thailand was "drug free", didn't the police keep it that way. But let's also not forget that thaksins personal vendetta drug campaign (organized death squads) didn't get anywhere near any of the senior figures in the drug trade (manufacturers or distributors).

In fact new drug initiatives have recently been announced.

You say: "All the hi profile jobs are bought into, and when Thaksin started sacking most of the people who had paid to get that position, were all angry, and then to top it of sacks an army general which then the coup started."

Never ever heard of this before, would you like to quote a source for your statement that thaksin sacked large numbers of people who had bought senior jobs. If you can quote this then it would be new news. In fact Thaksin promoted many of his relatives into high military positions and police positions, I recall one instance where a thaksin army man was promoted 5 ranks in one jump, pure open nepotism which is just as bad as buying of positions.

What thaksin did do is sack anybody who wouldn't succumb to his demands for all beaurocrats etc., to be total yes men. and/or people who had previously shown alignment to thaksins opposition.

You seem to be suggesting that the sacking of an army general (by thaksin) caused the coup. I suggest that you start your research again and you will easily discover that the coup happened for a totally different reason.

Edited February 22, 2010 by scorecard

[senshusband]

Why is everyone assuming and insinuating that Thaky did this on purpose to benefit his company? I mean, is it not possible that he was trying to do something good for the country and ACCIDENTALLY screwed everyone while he ACCIDENTALLY got mega-richer? Think about it. Would someone really do something like that?

[Moonrakers]

Why is everyone assuming and insinuating that Thaky did this on purpose to benefit his company? I mean, is it not possible that he was trying to do something good for the country and ACCIDENTALLY screwed everyone while he ACCIDENTALLY got mega-richer? Think about it. Would someone really do something like that?

You mean as in a genuine mistake?