Thailand On Edge As Court Rules On Thaksin Billions

[khunjamespittman]

Now if anyone have doubts if these thugs are peaceful or not...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

some news station says some other station are inciting unrest.

does not mean it is true, so yes i still think there guys are a lot more peacefull then the yellows

I agree.

Please everyone remember many of the posters here have a hatred driven motivation to inflame the situation. Don't believe anything an anonymous poster posts on the forum. Believe something only it you personally see it yourself.

[kiwikoppy]

A reader comment on The Nation's blog.

My assessment is the verdict will be guilty and that all will be seized, without any change given. After all, if one is decided guilty, one has to pay a penalty in addition to returning the money that was wrongfully gained.

But of course there are, in cases of this kind, other tempering factors are could be considered. But legally speaking, with no intention of disrespect to the courts, but just expressing an opinion, all has to be seized.

Let's say you win the lottery 100 Billion Baht when you are 45. When you are 55 you sell your house and don't pay your taxes on the profit. Are you really telling that the court should then take the 100 Billion Baht that you won from the lottery before you sold you house?

That is clearly a definition of insanity.

I totally agree, it is nuts seizng all of his money as the government can never proof whether it is all crooked money.

As soon as the verdict is ruled the government must first print a paper on this money explaining where every thb came from or else they cant seize it.

But whatever happens, it is a mickey mouse verdict, as the people pronouncing the verdict are all as corrupt as he is in their eyes.

And the current government / yellow / red / blue shirt or who ever is out there, they all do it. Don't make a marter out of one guy, and especially not if you are corrupt yourself.

My idea, everybody above the age of 35 or with any relations to anybody who has been in the governmen over the last 50 years should not be able to work for the government, flush out the corruption and start over!!!

And in the end I dont care how much thanksin might have stolen, cause he is the only one in a long time who actually did something good for Thailand. It all sucked before and after him, and will suck even more in the near future, if the unthinkable might happen.

[01322521959]

Am I the only one waiting for the baht to take a whacking great hit against the pound so I can transfer some money at more than 50 bhat to the pound.

Pound and Euro have been tanking since late last year. Lets hope a little "hiccup" is in the wind!

Here Here!

[vespajw]

There are richer and far more corrupt men than Thaksin. They are waking freely in Thailand today and will never see the inside of a courtroom, much less a jail cell.

These anti-TRT show trials are a symptom of the sickness of Thai society rather than a meaningful attempt at a cure.

[silk]

His ex-wife is in a safe house in BKK ????????

What about her jailtime ?

Is it allready forgotten?

I saw her "entre' " on the thai news,she was treated as a queen !

Everyone bowing as slaves (also police and military)

Is this normal?

Nothing is normal here. 30 years ago Taksin was a police man. Over a period of 30 years he earned approx. 7 Mill THB per day. Not sure when he started in politics.

Calculation:

THB 76 Billion is THB 76 000 000 000

divided by 30 years =

THB 2 533 333 333 per year=

THB 211 111 111 per month =

THB 7 037 037 per day

[WillArzonia]

A reader comment on The Nation's blog.

My assessment is the verdict will be guilty and that all will be seized, without any change given. After all, if one is decided guilty, one has to pay a penalty in addition to returning the money that was wrongfully gained.

But of course there are, in cases of this kind, other tempering factors are could be considered. But legally speaking, with no intention of disrespect to the courts, but just expressing an opinion, all has to be seized.

Let's say you win the lottery 100 Billion Baht when you are 45. When you are 55 you sell your house and don't pay your taxes on the profit. Are you really telling that the court should then take the 100 Billion Baht that you won from the lottery before you sold you house?

Let's say you purposely change the law so you can avoid taxes on your profits from the sale of a company you own. Your corrupt the system for your own personal benefit. You pass shares to family and others to spread the wealth -- just in case. You can try to figure out what money came from where, or you can find him guilty of taking advantage of his office and judge him accordingly. Taksin is never going to be broke and selling flowers on Asoke. But he is going to lose big time. And that's what you want for a criminal -- particularly one who believe he was bigger than his country.

That is clearly a definition of insanity.

[WillArzonia]

So what's happening -- I'm in the US and waiting to hear what's up!!!

[waza]

His ex-wife is in a safe house in BKK ????????

What about her jailtime ?

Is it allready forgotten?

I saw her "entre' " on the thai news,she was treated as a queen !

Everyone bowing as slaves (also police and military)

Is this normal?

Nothing is normal here. 30 years ago Taksin was a police man. Over a period of 30 years he earned approx. 7 Mill THB per day. Not sure when he started in politics.

Calculation:

THB 76 Billion is THB 76 000 000 000

divided by 30 years =

THB 2 533 333 333 per year=

THB 211 111 111 per month =

THB 7 037 037 per day

Actually you need to revise your calculations...........Thaksin and his wife ventured into several businesses while he was still in the police, including a silk shop, a movie theater, and an apartment building. All were failures and left him over 50 million baht in debt.1982

So in 28 years Thaskin went from a debt of 50 million baht to assests over 76 billion baht. Plus what he hid overseas and what was in the suitcases his wife took to him. Remember the money used to buy Manchester City and the profit he made from its sale is not included in the frozen assets.

PS.Thaksin entered politics in late 1994

Edited February 26, 2010 by waza

[marc11864]

Nice that you hold your own greed in higher regard than the people of Thailand.

When it is so glaring that an American observes it, it's truly disgusting.

Am I the only one waiting for the baht to take a whacking great hit against the pound so I can transfer some money at more than 50 bhat to the pound.

Pound and Euro have been tanking since late last year. Lets hope a little "hiccup" is in the wind!

:D

[StevieH]

nipping into downtown chiang mai in a minute so will report back in a bit. assuming i get back in one piece of course.

[khunstuart]

Am I the only one waiting for the baht to take a whacking great hit against the pound so I can transfer some money at more than 50 bhat to the pound.

Pound and Euro have been tanking since late last year. Lets hope a little "hiccup" is in the wind!

:D

Me also its linked to the dollar so we will be waiting a while i think

[khunjamespittman]

His ex-wife is in a safe house in BKK ????????

What about her jailtime ?

Is it allready forgotten?

I saw her "entre' " on the thai news,she was treated as a queen !

Everyone bowing as slaves (also police and military)

Is this normal?

Nothing is normal here. 30 years ago Taksin was a police man. Over a period of 30 years he earned approx. 7 Mill THB per day. Not sure when he started in politics.

Calculation:

THB 76 Billion is THB 76 000 000 000

divided by 30 years =

THB 2 533 333 333 per year=

THB 211 111 111 per month =

THB 7 037 037 per day

Remember he started Shin Corp. Do you hate all people who became wealthy. Do you feel the same animus for Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. What about Sam Walton? Do you hate him also?

Get over it man! If you have the ambition and drive of those people you wouldn't feel so inferior.

[ozzieovaseas]

His ex-wife is in a safe house in BKK ????????

What about her jailtime ?

Is it allready forgotten?

I saw her "entre' " on the thai news,she was treated as a queen !

Everyone bowing as slaves (also police and military)

Is this normal?

Nothing is normal here. 30 years ago Taksin was a police man. Over a period of 30 years he earned approx. 7 Mill THB per day. Not sure when he started in politics.

Calculation:

THB 76 Billion is THB 76 000 000 000

divided by 30 years =

THB 2 533 333 333 per year=

THB 211 111 111 per month =

THB 7 037 037 per day

Crivvens

but to be fair we would have to know many hours he worked per day

if we assume a hefty 12 hour working day, means he was only collecting a mere 586,420 PER HOUR

[WillArzonia]

Am I the only one waiting for the baht to take a whacking great hit against the pound so I can transfer some money at more than 50 bhat to the pound.

Pound and Euro have been tanking since late last year. Lets hope a little "hiccup" is in the wind!

Me also its linked to the dollar so we will be waiting a while i think

Can we get the monetary freaks out of this thread!!!

[opalhort]

Hasn't Thaksin frequently said that he wants to eradicate poverty, help the poor and stimulate the economy?

Here is how he could achieve his goal indirectly:

Should his assets be seized why not divide them equally among all Thais who earn less than 100K a year?

opalhort

[coconutmonkey]

Now if anyone have doubts if these thugs are peaceful or not...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

some news station says some other station are inciting unrest.

does not mean it is true, so yes i still think there guys are a lot more peacefull then the yellows

I agree.

Please everyone remember many of the posters here have a hatred driven motivation to inflame the situation. Don't believe anything an anonymous poster posts on the forum. Believe something only it you personally see it yourself.

True, though I wouldn't even believe that.

A red shirt causing violence may not even be a red shirt. It's only the way it looks. Something the media and politicians know lots about.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

nipping into downtown chiang mai in a minute so will report back in a bit. assuming i get back in one piece of course.

That's going to be uneventful. If you'd like to return with some meaningful observations, head to the Grand Warorot hotel. It's on Rattanakosin Road near Rama IX Bridge on the West side of the river.

[george]

Timeline update:

11.30 am: Thaksin may phone in via a video link to his Pheu Thai supporters while the verdict is being read this afternoon, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit says.

The video link will take place at Phue Thai headquarters on Rama IV Road. The main opposition party has set up two large projectors for live broadcast of the verdict. Party supporters are expected to turn out in full force.

Key figures in the pro-Thaksin camp, including Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Somchai Wongsawat, Yaowapha Wongsawat, Pongthep Thepkanchana, Chaturon Chaisang, Chusak Sirinil and Sukhumpong Ngonkham are scheduled to arrive at the party headquarters before the verdict session at 1.30 pm.

After the judges read out the verdict, the Pheu Thai legal team will issue a statement. Thaksin is scheduled to give an interview reacting to his verdict via the video link. Web-based TV journalist Tuangporn Asvavilai is in Dubai to act as his interviewer.

11.45 am: Red Siam rally organiser Surachai Danwattananusorn says protesters would not move to the Supreme Court compound regardless of the outcome of the verdict.

The Red Siam rally site is at Sanam Luang, Surachai says, denying the linkage to the verdict on the asset seizure case.

Before noon, Chart Thai Pattana Party spokesman Watchara Kannikar calls on parties concerned to respect the judicial decision. If rival camps continue to carry on the fight, then the political struggle might escalate into a civil war, he says.

Watchara urges the authorities to exercise restraints and refrain from using force to crackdown on protesters. And the military should not exploit the situation to seize power, he says.

-- The Nation 2010-02-26

[ding]

Nice that you hold your own greed in higher regard than the people of Thailand.

When it is so glaring that an American observes it, it's truly disgusting.

At least Thailand is not so corrupted that it is unable to investigate, if not confiscate, greed without bounds. Many Americans now admire Thailand longingly.

[h90]

There are richer and far more corrupt men than Thaksin. They are waking freely in Thailand today and will never see the inside of a courtroom, much less a jail cell.

These anti-TRT show trials are a symptom of the sickness of Thai society rather than a meaningful attempt at a cure.

So the next murder should not be put in jail because there are other murder which are still free?

Beside I think it will be hard to find more corrupt men.

[unclejunta]

As mentioned befire, this respect is called BURAMME.

[WillArzonia]

Now if anyone have doubts if these thugs are peaceful or not...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

some news station says some other station are inciting unrest.

does not mean it is true, so yes i still think there guys are a lot more peacefull then the yellows

I agree.

Please everyone remember many of the posters here have a hatred driven motivation to inflame the situation. Don't believe anything an anonymous poster posts on the forum. Believe something only it you personally see it yourself.

True, though I wouldn't even believe that.

A red shirt causing violence may not even be a red shirt. It's only the way it looks. Something the media and politicians know lots about.

So nothing is true and we can simply ignore the lot. BS -- BOTH sides have an agenda -- I believe one is responding without thought (Reds) and one is trying to move Thailand into a democratic era -- tough job with so little national education

[neverdie]

Its sure to be a fizzer people, the court decision will come and go and that will be it, except for more threats and properganda.

[unclejunta]

Here! Here!

Thaksin is the victim/loser caught in a politcal struggle. He might be a spent force but lets hope what he start carries on

[hanuman1]

This ruling is to be made by judges in accordance with the set of laws which prevailed at the time of the alledged crimes.

Did Taksin - with his army of lawyers at the time - break the law in passing cash to other members of his family, setting up the low-interest deal with Burma etc? Probably not. Did he act against the spirit of the responsibilities invested in him as Prime Minister at the time? Definitely yes. But that isn't the same as breaking the law.

Now we'll see just how seriously the judiciary itself respects the law.

The failure was with the law itself - i.e. the constitution - which allowed Taksin to fly in the face of his perceived responsibilities. He's a business man. Don't blame the guy for using his wealth to find loopholes in the law - doing that is what businesses and lawyers do routinely all around the world every day. If you're going to have an explicit, written constitution then you can't suddenly start interperating it in ways you consider are implied - that way lies endless disagreement.

Blame the legal environment of the time. Sort out the constitution.

Mind you, there's about as much chance of doing that as there is of Thailand winning ice hockey gold at the Olympics.

The soap opera continues.....boring boring boring.

[ivowatson]

"If you go down to the court today your in for a big surprise,

if you go down to the court today you won't believe your eyes,

for every red that ever there was,

is gathered round eating in force,

for today's the day the Shinawatra's have their loooot nicked."

Does this mean you don't believe in an "honest mistake" scenario this time?

[khunjamespittman]

Now if anyone have doubts if these thugs are peaceful or not...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

some news station says some other station are inciting unrest.

does not mean it is true, so yes i still think there guys are a lot more peacefull then the yellows

I agree.

Please everyone remember many of the posters here have a hatred driven motivation to inflame the situation. Don't believe anything an anonymous poster posts on the forum. Believe something only it you personally see it yourself.

True, though I wouldn't even believe that.

A red shirt causing violence may not even be a red shirt. It's only the way it looks. Something the media and politicians know lots about.

So nothing is true and we can simply ignore the lot. BS -- BOTH sides have an agenda -- I believe one is responding without thought (Reds) and one is trying to move Thailand into a democratic era -- tough job with so little national education

Your self-procalimed infinite wisdom is duly noted although I think a majority of the Thai people would disagree with the hatred contained in your words.

[niller74]

If they were to seize the money, who would benefit? The Thai people? I don't think so!! You would see all the entire 'elite' fight for their share.

[h90]

If they were to seize the money, who would benefit? The Thai people? I don't think so!! You would see all the entire 'elite' fight for their share.

It goes in the countries budget, like normal tax. That there is corruption is not question but much less than under Thaksin. So most of it will benefit the citizen of Thailand.

[hanuman1]

Here we go - the verdict's started.