Thailand On Edge As Court Rules On Thaksin Billions

[macduff]

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.

Isn't that a good thing?

I'm watching intently today but my greatest hope is that this is all a boring 'much ado about nothing' event.

Many questions to be asked about how Takskin managed to acquire so vast a wealth. Someone earlier made a comparison with the wealth acquired by great entrepreneurs such as Gates and Walton. With both of these you can see their contribution and how their luck, skill, vision or whatever brought them enormous wealth. With Taskin it is difficult to see how this was acquired especially as it all comes from the period when he was otherwise engaged - ie as a politician. Those few people here who make comments in support of him could do well to look no further than people like the Marcos, Shah of Iran, Idi Ami and so on. All gained huge wealth by manipulating national assets, manipulating the rule of law and so on. And all ignored the rights of others. Here we have a man and a family who were so greedy that they considered all their actions to be above the law. They have no shame, no face.

When people steal the wealth of a country in this way, they trample on the human rights of those people at the bottom of the greasy pole - yes those people who grow the rice, kill the chickens and do the work that enables the rest of us to eat and live. Is it really OK to acquire the wealth of a small nation while looking people in the eye and telling them that you are on their side? The poor of the villages - who support T because they once received 500 baht - do themselves a disservice by believing that the return of Thaksin, with his ill-gotten gains would equate to more riches (500b) and democracy. There is nothing more undemocratic than buying votes or ignoring the rule of law or running the nation as if it was your personal fiefdom.

Thaksin has performed a simple sleight of hand with a gullible population believing that the tricks were real - ie that Thanksin really cared about them. It is clear that all he cared about was himself and now he has - unbelievably - created the greatest con trick of all time by making people fight for 'his' wealth that he stole in the first place! Is this Robin Hood in reverse?

He has used every trick in the book to try to gain the hearts and minds of the population. Can you imagine a western politician saying some of the things that Thaksin has said? They would be too embarrased. But this man appears to have no shame at all. He really is the original snake oil salesman with no morals, no shame and, I must say, very little intellect.

I totally agree 100% with the comments made above.Well put ianf

[pramaprow]

Why do they give him such importance???

Money...it sells newspapers...

Edited February 26, 2010 by pramaprow

[ding]

I wonder if that US citizen who Taksin ripped off will get a new and fair hearing in court now?

[hammered]

Court rules AEC legitimate

[Konini]

No updates for a while?????

You can follow it in real time at the Nation home page with frequent twitter updates by Tulsie if you want rapid update sin English

Thanks for that - the original point of the post appears to have gone by the wayside.

[waza]

I wonder if that US citizen who Taksin ripped off will get a new and fair hearing in court now?

You mean this guy?

A greater threat to Thaksin could come from a little-publicized criminal case filed against him by American businessman William Monson. Back in 1989, Monson claims, Thaksin reneged on a deal the two had signed to form Thailand's first cable television operator.

[hammered]

Court rules correct court used and the coup didnt revoke laws that existed before

[h90]

members from all parties have been found to be involved in vote buying. Now post some proof about the pick up or it didn't happen. quite simple really. too many people posting hyperbole hoping to swing the discussion their way, how sad.

Now again: But the others did the same....No they did not....TRT did full scale vote buying. While the Democrats have an almost complete clean record. There were just minor issues like MP gave free cinema tickets for his own cinema, etc etc..

It was clearly TRT and PPP who bought the votes everywhere and not all are the same.

[Caliguy]

Here is the direct link to his twitter. http://twitter.com/tulsathit He updates every few seconds to every few minutes IN ENGLISH.

[Roachiebkk]

I don't know. maybe because they built a stage and Thaksin, is making a televised speech to the supported, I mean supporters.

and like I said, they have already said there will be no protests today, I don't recall them saying thousands were going to turn up today for any purpose, so again why are you expecting there to be more and why are you trying to read something into a subject that is so trivial and has no bearing on anything to be fair. The time will come when we will see how much support Thaksin or his party have at the next election. cock waving about crowd sizes is quite petty really considering it means sod all.

The REd Shirts are just hedging their bets. They want to see if they can muster enough support, if they promise a million on the street and only get 10,000 they will look foolish.

[craigt3365]

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.

Isn't that a good thing?

I'm watching intently today but my greatest hope is that this is all a boring 'much ado about nothing' event.

Many questions to be asked about how Takskin managed to acquire so vast a wealth. Someone earlier made a comparison with the wealth acquired by great entrepreneurs such as Gates and Walton. With both of these you can see their contribution and how their luck, skill, vision or whatever brought them enormous wealth. With Taskin it is difficult to see how this was acquired especially as it all comes from the period when he was otherwise engaged - ie as a politician. Those few people here who make comments in support of him could do well to look no further than people like the Marcos, Shah of Iran, Idi Ami and so on. All gained huge wealth by manipulating national assets, manipulating the rule of law and so on. And all ignored the rights of others. Here we have a man and a family who were so greedy that they considered all their actions to be above the law. They have no shame, no face.

When people steal the wealth of a country in this way, they trample on the human rights of those people at the bottom of the greasy pole - yes those people who grow the rice, kill the chickens and do the work that enables the rest of us to eat and live. Is it really OK to acquire the wealth of a small nation while looking people in the eye and telling them that you are on their side? The poor of the villages - who support T because they once received 500 baht - do themselves a disservice by believing that the return of Thaksin, with his ill-gotten gains would equate to more riches (500b) and democracy. There is nothing more undemocratic than buying votes or ignoring the rule of law or running the nation as if it was your personal fiefdom.

Thaksin has performed a simple sleight of hand with a gullible population believing that the tricks were real - ie that Thanksin really cared about them. It is clear that all he cared about was himself and now he has - unbelievably - created the greatest con trick of all time by making people fight for 'his' wealth that he stole in the first place! Is this Robin Hood in reverse?

He has used every trick in the book to try to gain the hearts and minds of the population. Can you imagine a western politician saying some of the things that Thaksin has said? They would be too embarrased. But this man appears to have no shame at all. He really is the original snake oil salesman with no morals, no shame and, I must say, very little intellect.

I totally agree 100% with the comments made above.Well put ianf

Great post....

[hammered]

The decisons are coming in now but it will probably take some time for them all to be worked through

[tonywebster]

members from all parties have been found to be involved in vote buying. Now post some proof about the pick up or it didn't happen. quite simple really. too many people posting hyperbole hoping to swing the discussion their way, how sad.

Now again: But the others did the same....No they did not....TRT did full scale vote buying. While the Democrats have an almost complete clean record. There were just minor issues like MP gave free cinema tickets for his own cinema, etc etc..

It was clearly TRT and PPP who bought the votes everywhere and not all are the same.

I will just highlight the one word in your post and let you work out why I will not bother wasting my time with you anymore. If you can't work it out then get someone to explain to you why your post is full of pot/kettle etc

[commons]

No updates for a while?????

You can follow it in real time at the Nation home page with frequent twitter updates by Tulsie if you want rapid update sin English

yes. thanks to nation, tulsi & twitter --- makes for a fast info today.

---

for those aren't following... here's latest... after _3 hours_ now it starts to heat up:

tulsathit: THE COURT RULES THAT AEC IS LEGITIMATE, meaning its powers and actions regarding the asset case were valid.

Friday, February 26, 2010 4:09:36 PM

-

tulsathit: THE COURT ALSO RULES THAT THE COURT'S DIVISION ON CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS IS ENTITLED TO RULE ON THIS CASE.

Friday, February 26, 2010 4:11:48 PM

-

tulsathit: Thaksin and Co have been landed the first blow.

Friday, February 26, 2010 4:12:35 PM

-

tulsathit: THE COURT RULES THAT THE COUP-LEADERS' ORDERS ISSUED AFTER SEPT 9 COUP DIDNT REVOKE LAWS THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE COUP

Friday, February 26, 2010 4:16:29 PM

-

tulsathit: (THOUGH THEY WERE RELATED TO THE ABOLISHED CONSTITUTION).

Friday, February 26, 2010 4:16:39 PM

* * *

twitter updates as it happens;

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/

[rayw]

What this case is about is Thaksin breaking Thai laws and not about who is in power at the moment or in the future. So if proved guilty by the Thai independent courts then Thaksin must legally face the punishment that is imposed with the judges wisdom. That Thailand needs a peoples party to overcome the elite ruling class is another issue entirely and lets not forget that. Thaksin it seems has almost certainly been cashing in on this need for a peoples government for many years and corruptly using his power to primarily feather his own nest. So Thaksin is not the answer to fair democracy for the people by the people. All Thaksin did was to give them hope using his skill as a confidence trickster, a very normal con of offering a few attractive small carrots to allow him to reap a huge harvest of personal wealth. Of that I cannot see how anyone can disagree without pulling the wool over their eyes.

So lets peacefully get this case out of the way and all honest Thais to accept its judgement and then get the people to form a none elitist peoples party and democratically and fairly stand for an election in the near future. An election monitored by the UN or other outside independent unbiased body to preclude election fraud. Is this so difficult to achieve or just too much common sense and intelligence ??

Just how would you classify the 5000 baht being doled out in some selected rural moo baans. Logic would require that you condem the current policy 15 times harder that the 300 baht that many of you claim Thaksin gave to poor farmers.

Unless you live in the selected moo baans you probably haven't heard this program mentioned.

I condemn ALL vote buying whether 300 Baht or 5000 Baht ( 300 Baht to a poor Thai farming family is worth as much as 5000 Baht to say a Bangkok professional office administrator say). It is illegal and undemocratic in Thailand and virtually the whole democratic world. Yes I had heard just a little about this what you call moo baans scheme but it is still just the principal of vote buying that matters and is wrong not the actual amount paid for votes and we all should if honest folk agree with that statement. Thus I said in my earlier post that the next elections here need independent and outside monitoring for them to be fully acceptable as the peoples true will.

[waza]

I wonder if that US citizen who Taksin ripped off will get a new and fair hearing in court now?

You mean this guy?

A greater threat to Thaksin could come from a little-publicized criminal case filed against him by American businessman William Monson. Back in 1989, Monson claims, Thaksin reneged on a deal the two had signed to form Thailand's first cable television operator.

A complaint was filed with the Thai Supreme Court by Nataporn Toeprayoon, attorney for William L. Monson, a former business partner of Thaksin Shinawatra. Named in the Complaint are Chalerm Yubumrang, the Mass Communications Organization of Thailand (MCOT), its Board Members, International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), now TrueVision, and others. The charges stem from a Cable TV contract granted illegally by MCOT to IBC in 1989. The concession became the base for Thaksin’s telecommunications empire. In late 1985, when Thaksin was still a policeman, a joint venture between Monson’s companies and Thaksin’s (Shinawatra Computer and IBC) became the first Wireless Cable TV system to go on air in Asia. A government delay caused the partnership to be terminated Thaksin was paid to help clear the government blocks while Monson operated a company delivering CNN to Hotels in Bangkok. In mid 1988 Chalerm, Thaksin’s friend and fellow policeman became the Minister overseeing MCOT and its Chairman of the Board. Later, Thaksin informed Monson that he was going to operate the Cable TV concession himself.

When Monson asked about the contracts and payments from Clearview to Thaksin for the business, Thaksin’s response was “This is Thailand”. Police confiscated Monson’s equipment and filed Criminal Charges against him and his staff. After 7 years the Supreme Court cleared them of all these charges. Thaksin’s IBC received the concession using Monson’s equipment and without bidding. When IBC went Public the value of the company in the Stock Market was $760,000,000 USD giving Thaksin the base for his future telecom empire

[webfact]

UPDATE

AEC empowered to prosecute Thaksin: court says

The high court ruled by an unanimous decision that the Assets Examination Committee was empowered to prosecute former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on charges of being unusually rich.

-- The Nation 2010-02-26

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[thaihome]

I see that Thanong Khanthong at 2:00 Pm today is reporting on his Nation webpage blog that

"Khunying Pojaman na Pompejra and Unnotice.g-Ing, her youngest daughter, have slipped out of the country on Thursday. Their destination is Hong Kong. Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatras' whereabout is not known. But they, too, are prepared to leave the country in the shortest notice."

TH

[webfact]

UPDATE

Court says suspension of 1997 charter had no impact on Thaksin's prosecution

Second legal issue is whether legal provisions can be applied to former prime minister Thaksin in the wake of the coup and the suspension of the 1997 charter.

The high court ruled the suspended charter has not impacted on law enforcement.

-- The Nation 2010-02-26

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[marshbags]

I wonder if that US citizen who Taksin ripped off will get a new and fair hearing in court now?

For anyone who needs feedback on what took place

Courteousy of Wikipedia :-

The latest develpoments re court references ect.

Quote

Press Release

Bangkok - October 30, 2008….11:15 AM

Thaksin’s Associates Face Criminal Complaint

A complaint was filed today with the Thai Supreme Court by Nataporn Toeprayoon, attorney for William L. Monson, a former business partner of Thaksin Shinawatra. The Supreme Court convicted Thaksin of corruption charges last week. Named in the Complaint are Chalerm Yubumrang, the Mass Communications Organization of Thailand (MCOT), its Board Members, International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), now TrueVision, and others. The charges stem from a Cable TV contract granted illegally by MCOT to IBC in 1989. The concession became the base for Thaksin’s telecommunications empire. Monson has fought a long legal battle with Thaksin and his companies in both Thai and US courts. Monson’s company Clearview International Ltd., pioneered telecommunications in Asia in the 1980’s. Starting in 1982 Clearview worked with MCOT to develop the framework to introduce the technology. In late 1985, when Thaksin was still a policeman, a joint venture between Monson’s companies and Thaksin’s (Shinawatra Computer and IBC) became the first Wireless Cable TV system to go on air in Asia. A government delay caused the partnership to be terminated with Thaksin’s companies selling their interest to Monson’s companies. Thaksin was paid to help clear the government blocks while Monson operated a company delivering CNN to Hotels in Bangkok. In mid 1988 Chalerm, Thaksin’s friend and fellow policeman became the Minister overseeing MCOT and its Chairman of the Board. Later, Thaksin informed Monson that he was going to operate the Cable TV concession himself. When Monson asked about the contracts and payments from Clearview to Thaksin for the business, Thaksin’s response was “This is Thailand”. After Chalerm became the Minister overseeing MCOT he reversed MCOT approval of Clearview for the contract corrupting the process of granting the concession for Clearview’s benefit. Police confiscated Monson’s equipment and filed Criminal Charges against him and his staff. After 7 years the Supreme Court cleared them of all these charges. During this period it was extremely difficult for Monson to travel to and do business in Thailand. Civil courts have ruled that Monson’s company owned the equipment. Thaksin’s IBC received the concession using Monson’s equipment and without bidding. When IBC went Public the value of the company in the Stock Market was $760,000,000 USD giving Thaksin the base for his future telecom empire. Monson claims losses of $4.5 billion USD dollars.

On December 1, 2008 the Court accepted the case and appointed the Counter Corruption Commission to investigate.

Press Release Bangkok – June 17th, 2009 Thai Supreme Court Rejects Shinawatra Appeal The Thai Supreme Court issued a ruling today in a long running dispute between William Monson and Thaksin Shinawatra, et. al. Lower Courts had ruled that Monson’s company owned telecom equipment required to obtain a license granted by the Mass Communications Organization of Thailand (MCOT) in 1989. The Supreme Court rejected Shinawatra’s appeal. Ownership of the equipment is at the heart of Criminal Charges filed (October 2008) with another division of the Supreme Court handling corrupt public officials. Shinawatra had always claimed that Monson had stolen the equipment and testified in a number of legal suits to that fact. Because of long legal delays, Thaksin was able to avoid perjury charges based on a statute of limitation legal defense, even though Thai Courts have ruled in Monson’s favor over the ownership issues. The Supreme Court division handling corrupt government officials has accepted the Criminal case filed October 20th 2008 and sent it to the Counter Corruption Commission for investigation. A report from the Counter Corruption Commission to the Prosecuting Attorney is expected soon so that the case can be presented to the Supreme Court for action.

Unquote

For more in depth background going back to his days as a police officer in the eighties and the mention of another certain officer named Chalerm please go to:-

Ref url :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_L._Monson

Once a thief always a thief is fair comment IMHO and as for being rich before, this is how he managed to get started re his initial making of his fortune / l self enrichment

marshbags

Edited February 26, 2010 by marshbags

[webfact]

UPDATE

Court says coup order to appoint AEC legally sanctioned

Third legal issue is whether the coup announcement to form the AEC was legally sanctioned.

The high court ruled that the coup-issued law is classified as an equivalent to an act of Parliament, hence it is legally binding.

-- The Nation 2010-02-26

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[khunjamespittman]

members from all parties have been found to be involved in vote buying. Now post some proof about the pick up or it didn't happen. quite simple really. too many people posting hyperbole hoping to swing the discussion their way, how sad.

Now again: But the others did the same....No they did not....TRT did full scale vote buying. While the Democrats have an almost complete clean record. There were just minor issues like MP gave free cinema tickets for his own cinema, etc etc..

It was clearly TRT and PPP who bought the votes everywhere and not all are the same.

Please clarify "almost clean". Is that like "partly pregnant"?

[unclejunta]

I see that Thanong Khanthong at 2:00 Pm today is reporting on his Nation webpage blog that

"Khunying Pojaman na Pompejra and Unnotice.g-Ing, her youngest daughter, have slipped out of the country on Thursday. Their destination is Hong Kong. Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatras' whereabout is not known. But they, too, are prepared to leave the country in the shortest notice."

TH

Prelude of more things to come. Remember last Songkran. Not wise to force a tiger to the wall, it will do desperate things

[rixalex]

Which just about sums up Thaksin supporters. If they dont agree with what is said, or if something criticises their illustrious leader, then give it the big old X.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

UPDATE

Court says coup order to appoint AEC legally sanctioned

Third legal issue is whether the coup announcement to form the AEC was legally sanctioned.

The high court ruled that the coup-issued law is classified as an equivalent to an act of Parliament, hence it is legally binding.

-- The Nation 2010-02-26

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Brilliant. Actions of a military regime are equivalent to an act of Parliament.. Sad thing is they probably genuinely believe it too.

[Sabre]

Whatever the result one group will be unhappy.

Troubled times.

An, in all probability, both groups will be unhappy.

[cdnvic]

For the 1000th time, when posting in the news forum, use the actual name of the subject, no nicknames and such. Posts that don't follow these well known guidelines may be deleted.

[plachon]

I wonder if that US citizen who Taksin ripped off will get a new and fair hearing in court now?

For anyone who needs feedback on what took place

Courteousy of Wikipedia :-

The latest develpoments re court references ect.

Quote

Press Release

Bangkok - October 30, 2008….11:15 AM

Thaksin’s Associates Face Criminal Complaint

A complaint was filed today with the Thai Supreme Court by Nataporn Toeprayoon, attorney for William L. Monson, a former business partner of Thaksin Shinawatra. The Supreme Court convicted Thaksin of corruption charges last week. Named in the Complaint are Chalerm Yubumrang, the Mass Communications Organization of Thailand (MCOT), its Board Members, International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), now TrueVision, and others. The charges stem from a Cable TV contract granted illegally by MCOT to IBC in 1989. The concession became the base for Thaksin’s telecommunications empire. Monson has fought a long legal battle with Thaksin and his companies in both Thai and US courts. Monson’s company Clearview International Ltd., pioneered telecommunications in Asia in the 1980’s. Starting in 1982 Clearview worked with MCOT to develop the framework to introduce the technology. In late 1985, when Thaksin was still a policeman, a joint venture between Monson’s companies and Thaksin’s (Shinawatra Computer and IBC) became the first Wireless Cable TV system to go on air in Asia. A government delay caused the partnership to be terminated with Thaksin’s companies selling their interest to Monson’s companies. Thaksin was paid to help clear the government blocks while Monson operated a company delivering CNN to Hotels in Bangkok. In mid 1988 Chalerm, Thaksin’s friend and fellow policeman became the Minister overseeing MCOT and its Chairman of the Board. Later, Thaksin informed Monson that he was going to operate the Cable TV concession himself. When Monson asked about the contracts and payments from Clearview to Thaksin for the business, Thaksin’s response was “This is Thailand”. After Chalerm became the Minister overseeing MCOT he reversed MCOT approval of Clearview for the contract corrupting the process of granting the concession for Clearview’s benefit. Police confiscated Monson’s equipment and filed Criminal Charges against him and his staff. After 7 years the Supreme Court cleared them of all these charges. During this period it was extremely difficult for Monson to travel to and do business in Thailand. Civil courts have ruled that Monson’s company owned the equipment. Thaksin’s IBC received the concession using Monson’s equipment and without bidding. When IBC went Public the value of the company in the Stock Market was $760,000,000 USD giving Thaksin the base for his future telecom empire. Monson claims losses of $4.5 billion USD dollars.

On December 1, 2008 the Court accepted the case and appointed the Counter Corruption Commission to investigate.

Press Release Bangkok – June 17th, 2009 Thai Supreme Court Rejects Shinawatra Appeal The Thai Supreme Court issued a ruling today in a long running dispute between William Monson and Thaksin Shinawatra, et. al. Lower Courts had ruled that Monson’s company owned telecom equipment required to obtain a license granted by the Mass Communications Organization of Thailand (MCOT) in 1989. The Supreme Court rejected Shinawatra’s appeal. Ownership of the equipment is at the heart of Criminal Charges filed (October 2008) with another division of the Supreme Court handling corrupt public officials. Shinawatra had always claimed that Monson had stolen the equipment and testified in a number of legal suits to that fact. Because of long legal delays, Thaksin was able to avoid perjury charges based on a statute of limitation legal defense, even though Thai Courts have ruled in Monson’s favor over the ownership issues. The Supreme Court division handling corrupt government officials has accepted the Criminal case filed October 20th 2008 and sent it to the Counter Corruption Commission for investigation. A report from the Counter Corruption Commission to the Prosecuting Attorney is expected soon so that the case can be presented to the Supreme Court for action.

Unquote

For more in depth background please go to:-

Ref url :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_L._Monson

marshbags

While obviously serious (esp if you were Mr Monson), on a scale of one to ten of Thaksin's crimes, this would only register a two or three in my book. Not a patch on the each and every one of the EJKs he sanctioned and will one day meet his karma over, wouldn't you agree. This is where I must thank you for keeping that important part of this man's murky history alive in the minds of TV readers over these past few years of reckoning and hoping for justice (albeit partial and not for the real crimes this person has committed).

Thanks Marshie for the dilligent work.

Where's SRJ gone these days, btw? I miss his posts.

[LaoPo]

UPDATE

Court says coup order to appoint AEC legally sanctioned

Third legal issue is whether the coup announcement to form the AEC was legally sanctioned.

The high court ruled that the coup-issued law is classified as an equivalent to an act of Parliament, hence it is legally binding.

How democratic if a High Court rules that a coup-issued law is legal and equal to an act of Parliament.....

A Soap Opera it is.

LaoPo

[james24]

does anyone else think its a weird conicondence that thai airways profits amazingly sore on this day....