Thai Emergency Powers Raise Justice, Free Speech Fears

[george]

Thai emergency powers raise justice, free speech fears - Focus

by Rachel O'Brien

BANGKOK, June 6, 2010 (AFP) - Two weeks after turning himself in to police, political activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk is being held without charge at a Thai army base -- one of hundreds of people jailed over "Red Shirt" street protests.

Their detention has dismayed human rights campaigners, who say the government's use of a state of emergency across one third of the country, including Bangkok, lacks transparency and violates freedom of expression.

The Netherlands-based Clean Clothes Campaign, spearheading the call for Somyot's release, says it is "seriously concerned" for the health and safety of the labour- and rights advocate, believed to be in solitary confinement.

Somyot, the editor of a magazine that supports the "Red Shirts", held a news conference on May 21 at which he called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and vowed to continue the opposition movement's struggle.

A day later, an arrest warrant was issued for him under the emergency rule.

"There is no charge against him. He is only suspected of causing violence or chaos," Somyot's lawyer Krisdang Nutjaras told AFP.

The Red Shirts' rally, broken up on May 19 by a military assault on their huge encampment in the heart of Bangkok, sparked outbreaks of violence that left 89 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured.

Critics say the government may be fanning the crisis as it uses sweeping emergency powers to clamp down on and censor the protest movement -- which was calling for immediate elections -- rather than addressing its grievances.

"We're concerned about the chilling effect on society and on freedom of expression," said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International's Southeast Asia researcher. "We're concerned the political space has been closed down."

Abhisit declared a state of emergency in the protest-hit capital on April 7, banning public gatherings of more than five people and giving broad powers to the police and military. While the rally has ended, the strict measures remain.

Determined to weed out the extremists, including those who ended their rally with an onslaught of arson and looting, authorities have jailed more than 300 suspects, the justice ministry told AFP, without elaborating.

Leading rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has written to Abhisit demanding a full list of names, numbers, locations and conditions of the detainees, who can be held for 30 days without charge under emergency rule.

"The public has been kept in the dark about the arrests and detention," said Sunai Phasuk, a Thai analyst at HRW. "The arrests may potentially force the Red Shirts underground and radicalise them."

There are even greater concerns about censorship powers wielded under the emergency decree, which have blocked "Red Shirt" TV channels and community radio stations as well as more than 1,000 websites deemed provocative.

"We think it's really over-the-top. They're shutting down anything that has a tint of red," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at HRW.

"We recognise very clearly that there are websites inciting violence and they should have the government's attention, but they are going much further than that," he added.

A climate is now developing in which people are increasingly afraid to speak or write their mind, according to Supinya Klangnarong, coordinator of the Thai Netizen Network, which campaigns for "cyber freedom".

A 24-hour hotline has been set up by the government enabling citizens to report suspicious websites.

"There is the phenomenon of witch-hunting. If I post something against the government I can be bombarded by a lot of government sympathisers," Supinya said.

Thailand expert Michael Montesano, from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, said the hardline approach was partly linked to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is wanted on terrorism charges.

Thaksin, who himself restricted media and free speech before his ouster in a 2006 coup, has often used new media to address his many Red Shirt followers and is accused by the government of financing the protests and inciting unrest.

"There is general government panic over, and fear of, Thaksin's influence," Montesano said.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-06-06

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[somchaibob]

Somyot, the editor of a magazine that supports the "Red Shirts", held a news conference on May 21 at which he called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and vowed to continue the opposition movement's struggle.

A day later, an arrest warrant was issued for him under the emergency rule.

Excellent work once again by the PM. Me and many of my anti-red brothers on this forum are so proud of our PM and his dedication to democracy, free speech and reconcilliation.

Edited June 6, 2010 by somchaibob

[OzMick]

Poor Somyot! While BKK was still burning he incited people to continue the struggle, not a smart thing to do under a SOE. Now, under the clearly stated laws of the SOE, he can be held for 30 days without charge. The concerns of the dutch do-gooders and HRW have no basis and are only expressed for PR purposes, and it appears he has been allowed contact with his lawyer. som nom naa.

Supinya campaigns for "cyber freedom" and complains that a mass response is received when the govt is criticised. Isn't this an indication that many people hold govt supporting views, and wish to express this by using their "cyber freedom"?

[lazygourmet]

Being myself half Belgian/ half Indonesian ; I don't believe and I don't give a dam_n regarding what it is coming out from Batavians.

Edited June 6, 2010 by lazygourmet

[bababobo54]

Poor Somyot! While BKK was still burning he incited people to continue the struggle, not a smart thing to do under a SOE. Now, under the clearly stated laws of the SOE, he can be held for 30 days without charge. The concerns of the dutch do-gooders and HRW have no basis and are only expressed for PR purposes, and it appears he has been allowed contact with his lawyer. som nom naa.

Supinya campaigns for "cyber freedom" and complains that a mass response is received when the govt is criticised. Isn't this an indication that many people hold govt supporting views, and wish to express this by using their "cyber freedom"?

Absolutely , the PM is a great democrat , and his adversaries deserve what they got . Detention without trial or charges, arbitrary arrest , censorship of the medias and the internet , killing of unarmed protesters , SOE maintained after events ,and double standards bear witness to the PM democratic leanings . I think along my anti-red brothers that his greatness and dedication to the democratic process will be best served by posponing elections forever and forbiding any lowly educated smelly peasant from the North to travel to Bangkok

Edited June 6, 2010 by bababobo54

[bababobo54]

Perhaps those honest farangs in TV who are anti-reds just because the reds are supporting Thaksin and Thaksin is morally bankrupt , on which i agree , will be more careful on whether they want to support a governement that censor any thai medias critical of them , detain people without charges , practice double standard (reds versus yellows) , and practice arbitrary arrest . Opposing Thaksin does not necesseraly mean supporting the current governement unless they drastically change . Can they ?

Otherwise posters here may well wake up one day and find out that they have supported one more dictatorship in Thailand

[Rucharee]

I wonder when will ThaiVisa get block under the SOE rules.

[somchaibob]

I wonder when will ThaiVisa get block under the SOE rules.

Only if members air critical views of the government.

Thats why Abhisit is such a great leader - he crushes/kills/jails/silences all his political opponents.

[animatic]

I wonder when will ThaiVisa get block under the SOE rules.

Only if members air critical views of the government.

Thats why Abhisit is such a great leader - he crushes/kills/jails/silences all his political opponents.

There is a distinct difference between criticising the government in a rational manner,

and fomenting inssurection and 'continue the fight incitment' right after there were

grenades lobbed at army random shootings from snipers and mass arsons.

There is every reason to continue stronger than usual vigilence.

Which includes some limits on incendiary speech. I am pro free speach by the way.

But sometimes there must be limits for the safety of the majority,

not the open ended freedom to harangue or incite violence for the smaller minorities.

Please tell why so many here can say horrendous things about the PM and Suthep,

and yet TVF is NOT shut down?

One main reason is because it IS two sided discourse here,

and many ALSO call out the blatent liars for what they are.

The most idiotic things get said here daily, and TVF is still around.

The sites, blogs and media shut down are almost exclusively those that

actively and repeatedly as an entity encourage disorder, violence against the government

in any form, meaning ampurs in the country side, telcoms because they are liscensed etc,

and grossly disrespectful attacks on the monarchy.

In other words those sites and media outlets inciting people to commit illegal acts.

Not for something as simple as criticising the government. It is done here daily with no action.

Just the fact that your can post your final line above proves censorship isn't as bad as you portray it.

Edited June 7, 2010 by animatic

[somtampet]

FREE SPEECH FEARS WAS THE POST

Thailand is getting as bad as the worst communist state.

Thousands of websites have no access

no freedom of speech,regarding the elitists

open racism to the majority of the country

Thaivisa is brilliant though for open speech

[cdnvic]

A swath of posts removed and several members sent off. Figured by now people would get it that name calling was not acceptable.

[animatic]

FREE SPEECH FEARS WAS THE POST

Thailand is getting as bad as the worst communist state.

Thousands of websites have no access

no freedom of speech,regarding the elitists

open racism to the majority of the country

Thaivisa is brilliant though for open speech

Next you will start comparing Da Torpedo and Giles Ungpakorn to Alexander Solzehnitzen...

Seems to me regardless of the logic of your statement you are exercizing free speach RIGHT NOW...

So you continue to say this is a race war. You must mean Chinese to Lao/Thais.

Red party line all the way here.

To the average western farang observing Thailand there are only

• those who's SOCIAL culture makes them successful organizers in business and societies,

• those that can't seem to get their organizations together in a proper collaborative way to profit for the majority.

To attempt to make it a race war is a prop, solely to play on the envy of those

who haven't been as successful. Classic demagogue hate speech.

Oh wait if we disagree with this, then we must ALL be brainless sexpats.

I really don't think that blanket condemnation is anything but a stereo typical group flame.

Oh yes, please note the logical end product of Dr. Weng's and Giles' and Jakrapob's social

leanings is EXACTLY the kind of STATE control that Solzehnitzen escaped and wrote about.

Seems our trio of 'theorists' haven't learned anything from the multiple DOWNFALLS of that same system

in most all it's actual installations.

Edited June 7, 2010 by animatic

[somtampet]

FREE SPEECH FEARS WAS THE POST

Thailand is getting as bad as the worst communist state.

Thousands of websites have no access

no freedom of speech,regarding the elitists

open racism to the majority of the country

Thaivisa is brilliant though for open speech

Next you will start comparing Da Torpedo and Giles Ungpakorn to Alexander Solzehnitzen...

Seems to me regardless of the logic of your statement you are exercizing free speach RIGHT NOW...

So you continue to say this is a race war. You must mean Chinese to Lao/Thais.

Red party line all the way here.

To the average western farang observing Thailand there are only

• those who's SOCIAL culture makes them successful organizers in business and societies,

• those that can't seem to get their organizations together in a proper collaborative way to profit for the majority.

To attempt to make it a race war is a prop, solely to play on the envy of those

who haven't been as successful. Classic demagogue hate speech.

Oh wait if we disagree with this, then we must ALL be brainless sexpats.

I really don't think that blanket condemnation is anything but a stereo typical group flame.

Oh yes, please note the logical end product of Dr. Weng's and Giles' and Jakrapob's social

leanings is EXACTLY the kind of STATE control that Solzehnitzen escaped and wrote about.

Seems our trio of 'theorists' haven't learned anything from the multiple DOWNFALLS of that same system

in most all it's actual installations.

OK

I totaly agree with that garbage,is that better

[mazeltov]

"We think it's really over-the-top. They're shutting down anything that has a tint of red," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at HRW.

Of course, it is totally over the top.

They are shutting down what isn't in the line of the government propaganda and the government version of the events.

Look at this example:

Surely, it’s just a coincidence

[animatic]

FREE SPEECH FEARS WAS THE POST

Thailand is getting as bad as the worst communist state.

Thousands of websites have no access

no freedom of speech,regarding the elitists

open racism to the majority of the country

Thaivisa is brilliant though for open speech

Next you will start comparing Da Torpedo and Giles Ungpakorn to Alexander Solzehnitzen...

Seems to me regardless of the logic of your statement you are exercizing free speach RIGHT NOW...

So you continue to say this is a race war. You must mean Chinese to Lao/Thais.

Red party line all the way here.

To the average western farang observing Thailand there are only

• those who's SOCIAL culture makes them successful organizers in business and societies,

• those that can't seem to get their organizations together in a proper collaborative way to profit for the majority.

To attempt to make it a race war is a prop, solely to play on the envy of those

who haven't been as successful. Classic demagogue hate speech.

Oh wait if we disagree with this, then we must ALL be brainless sexpats.

I really don't think that blanket condemnation is anything but a stereo typical group flame.

Oh yes, please note the logical end product of Dr. Weng's and Giles' and Jakrapob's social

leanings is EXACTLY the kind of STATE control that Solzehnitzen escaped and wrote about.

Seems our trio of 'theorists' haven't learned anything from the multiple DOWNFALLS of that same system

in most all it's actual installations.

OK

I totaly agree with that garbage,is that better

It is better when hyperbole doesn't masquerade as reasoned thought.

[mazeltov]

Listen what they said at the European Parliament about the Abhisit government, the crackdown, the censorship, the violation of basic civil rights ...

[/url][/url]

[Publicus]

Listen what they said at the European Parliament about the Abhisit government, the crackdown, the censorship, the violation of basic civil rights ...

[/url]

Thaksin got thrown out of Germany, UK, France, Sweden, doesn't even attempt to enter Spain or even Andorra. He can buy passports in Honduras, Nicaragua, Montenegro, petty Pacific Island countries but not even would the corrupt bankers or a single canton of Switzerland admit him. 

Thaksin doesn't dare step foot into Russia 'cause he'd probably never be heard from again (a blessed thought). Thaksin is unwelcome in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, got booted out of persistently democratic Hong Kong when he originally tried to make that Special Administrative Region of the PRC his base immediately after being deposed in 2006 of his position as Acting Interim Prime Minister of a government without a parliament due to the most massively corrupt election in the country's history (the Election Commission went to jail, a rarity of Thailand) . 

I respect the European Parliament, have associates/friends who were employed there as professional staff, but they assure me the European Parliament knows as much about Thailand and Thaksin as it knows about the US state of Mississippi or of the state of Western Australia.      

The posturing European Parliament is a poor entity to cite in relation to Thailand so get real, which is more than the European Parliament is capable of doing relative to Thailand and Thaksin a half a world  away. 

[Siam Simon]

Listen what they said at the European Parliament about the Abhisit government, the crackdown, the censorship, the violation of basic civil rights ...

[/url][/url]

Thaksin got thrown out of Germany, UK, France, Sweden, doesn't even attempt to enter Spain or even Andorra. He can buy passports in Honduras, Nicaragua, Montenegro, petty Pacific Island countries but not even would the corrupt bankers or a single canton of Switzerland admit him. 

Thaksin doesn't dare step foot into Russia 'cause he'd probably never be heard from again (a blessed thought). Thaksin is unwelcome in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, got booted out of persistently democratic Hong Kong when he originally tried to make that Special Administrative Region of the PRC his base immediately after being deposed in 2006 of his position as Acting Interim Prime Minister of a government without a parliament due to the most massively corrupt election in the country's history (the Election Commission went to jail, a rarity of Thailand) . 

I respect the European Parliament, have associates/friends who were employed there as professional staff, but they assure me the European Parliament knows as much about Thailand and Thaksin as it knows about the US state of Mississippi or of the state of Western Australia.      

The posturing European Parliament is a poor entity to cite in relation to Thailand so get real, which is more than the European Parliament is capable of doing relative to Thailand and Thaksin a half a world  away. 

So now the latest stage of your TV propaganda mission is to trash the EU because their department dealing with Thailand doesn't sing from the 'correct' Hymn sheet. But you have friends who worked there. As you have made it clear that they no longer work there, it must be safe for them to expose their former employee's shortcomings in detail. How about you ask them and report back? Let's get this stuff verified.

[animatic]

Listen what they said at the European Parliament about the Abhisit government, the crackdown, the censorship, the violation of basic civil rights ...

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=NMlbFwEM7uQ

Thaksin got thrown out of Germany, UK, France, Sweden, doesn't even attempt to enter Spain or even Andorra. He can buy passports in Honduras, Nicaragua, Montenegro, petty Pacific Island countries but not even would the corrupt bankers or a single canton of Switzerland admit him.

Thaksin doesn't dare step foot into Russia 'cause he'd probably never be heard from again (a blessed thought). Thaksin is unwelcome in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, got booted out of persistently democratic Hong Kong when he originally tried to make that Special Administrative Region of the PRC his base immediately after being deposed in 2006 of his position as Acting Interim Prime Minister of a government without a parliament due to the most massively corrupt election in the country's history (the Election Commission went to jail, a rarity of Thailand) .

I respect the European Parliament, have associates/friends who were employed there as professional staff, but they assure me the European Parliament knows as much about Thailand and Thaksin as it knows about the US state of Mississippi or of the state of Western Australia.

The posturing European Parliament is a poor entity to cite in relation to Thailand so get real, which is more than the European Parliament is capable of doing relative to Thailand and Thaksin a half a world away.

So now the latest stage of your TV propaganda mission is to trash the EU because their department dealing with Thailand doesn't sing from the 'correct' Hymn sheet. But you have friends who worked there. As you have made it clear that they no longer work there, it must be safe for them to expose their former employee's shortcomings in detail. How about you ask them and report back? Let's get this stuff verified.

This seems to be attacking the poster and not the arguement.

And not based on his statements as fact, but on some ill-perceived 'mission'.

[somchaibob]

"We recognise very clearly that there are websites inciting violence and they should have the government's attention, but they are going much further than that," he added.

Abhisit shows once again that he is a shining beacon of democratic leadership... much like my good friend Robert Mugabe.

Abhisit controls the judiciary and the military in a way not unlike Mugabe. He kills off, jails and harrasses his political opponents not unlike Mugabe.

One thing he does better than Robert though is media censorship and internet censorship.

My anti-red friends and I don't care if this country turns into a Burma styled juntu or a Mugabe style democracy, as long as Abhisit does what ever it takes to deny the Thai people their right to vote for a pro-Thaksin for as long as possible then it is OK with me.

Edited June 8, 2010 by somchaibob

[yoshiwara]

"We recognise very clearly that there are websites inciting violence and they should have the government's attention, but they are going much further than that," he added.

Abhisit shows once again that he is a shining beacon of democratic leadership... much like my good friend Robert Mugabe.

Abhisit controls the judiciary and the military in a way not unlike Mugabe. He kills off, jails and harrasses his political opponents not unlike Mugabe.

One thing he does better than Robert though is media censorship and internet censorship.

My anti-red friends and I don't care if this country turns into a Burma styled juntu or a Mugabe style democracy, as long as Abhisit does what ever it takes to deny the Thai people their right to vote for a pro-Thaksin for as long as possible then it is OK with me.

Zimbabwe may be an economic basket case but Thailand is not.

Thaksin probably raging that he has been beaten out of Bangkok.

It is probably too much to hope for that individuals such as Arisman should be locked up for a long time.

That would be justice. No free speech for incitement.

That Thaksin now attacks the head of the army for not being his boy one can just add to Thaksin's revenge list.

What really hurts the red cheerleaders though is that Abhisit has proved to be smarter than Thaksin.

That hurts.

They will just have to wait for the election up to end 2011.

And as for Thaksin pocketing the army...

...no dice.

Edited June 9, 2010 by yoshiwara

[Rucharee]

SOE is an effective weapon.

It keeps the bad (RED) people lock up.

[jayboy]

There is a distinct difference between criticising the government in a rational manner,

and fomenting inssurection and 'continue the fight incitment' right after there were

grenades lobbed at army random shootings from snipers and mass arsons.

There is every reason to continue stronger than usual vigilence.

Which includes some limits on incendiary speech. I am pro free speach by the way.

But sometimes there must be limits for the safety of the majority,

not the open ended freedom to harangue or incite violence for the smaller minorities.

The sites, blogs and media shut down are almost exclusively those that

actively and repeatedly as an entity encourage disorder, violence against the government

in any form, meaning ampurs in the country side, telcoms because they are liscensed etc,

and grossly disrespectful attacks on the monarchy.

In other words those sites and media outlets inciting people to commit illegal acts.

And so it begins.

People whom I accept are genuinely free speech start to make shoddy compromises for political reasons.The clamp down has gone far beyond curbing incendiary talk, and not to recognise this is a pity.Many Thais sympathetic to this government are genuinely worried and concerned.To have some foreigners dismiss their concerns is not an impressive spectacle.

[321niti123]

FREE SPEECH FEARS WAS THE POST

Thailand is getting as bad as the worst communist state.

Thousands of websites have no access

no freedom of speech,regarding the elitists

open racism to the majority of the country

Thaivisa is brilliant though for open speech

U have a misconception of communism, communism isn't a political stand point but it is more of an economical/social view. It is the view that one day naturally the human race would face each other, work together, and share everything without the concept of classes. But the original idea by Karl Marx had atleast 2 more steps between current humans and communism, and that is the reason most communism states fail, it is because they skipped the steps and they force communism down the throats of people in their country, which is not true communism. Therefore Thailand is not as bad as a communist state because there has never been a true communist state in a large scale, large scale meaning anything bigger than a village or a small town.

[Rucharee]

Free speech on happens in Utopia.

This is Thailand.

[mazeltov]

All asked to stop calling for emergency decree revocation

BANGKOK, 14 June 2010 (NNT) – The ruling Democrat Party has pleaded all organizations to stop pressing the government to revoke the state of emergency enforcement, reasoning that absence of the security law will help spawn the terrorism network.

Spokesperson to the Democrat Party Leader, Thepthai Senpong, shrugged off the demands and pressures to have the state of emergency inactivated. He believed that those organizations had been misled or had not received correct information.

Many organizations both domestic and international, such as the National Human Rights Commission, the opposition Puea Thai Party, and Amnesty International, have been pressing the government to put an end to the security law as they deem it a violation against human rights.

The spokesperson expressed his opinion that the state of emergency must be kept in effect and said that only ill-intentioned people would be suffering from the law while ordinary citizens would neither be affected nor have their human rights violated.

Mr Thepthai explained that revoking the security law would only promote terrorism to expand further as these ill-intentioned people would make their movements after the security law inactivation. He noted that cancelling the security law without thorough assessment would affect the nation.

Deputy Chairperson of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and Puea Thai MP, Jatuporn Prompan, earlier warned the government of the third round of protest after the revocation of the state of emergency.

All asked to stop calling for emergency decree revocation : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 14 June 2010

[Rucharee]

Why don't Thailand just set the "state of emergency" as default. Only grant normalcy state if and when required, for the period necessary. This will save the government a lot of PR work, paper work, unnecessary ministerial meetings, etc.

If explained properly by MFA (perhaps Kasit himself), I am sure the whole world will understand and sympatise with Thailand. Afhangistan and South Africa included.

[scorecard]

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Somyot, the editor of a magazine that supports the "Red Shirts", held a news conference on May 21 at which he called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and vowed to continue the opposition movement's struggle.

A day later, an arrest warrant was issued for him under the emergency rule.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Excellent work once again by the PM. Me and many of my anti-red brothers on this forum are so proud of our PM and his dedication to democracy, free speech and reconcilliation. <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

So, are you saying that the editor was arested the next day specifically because he 'held a press conference calling on PM Abhisit to resign'. Is that correct?

Can you please substantiate that this is specifcally true, or is it perhaps possible the arrest was speciically in regard to previous actions / written articles from the editor?

[mazeltov]

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Somyot, the editor of a magazine that supports the "Red Shirts", held a news conference on May 21 at which he called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and vowed to continue the opposition movement's struggle.

A day later, an arrest warrant was issued for him under the emergency rule.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Excellent work once again by the PM. Me and many of my anti-red brothers on this forum are so proud of our PM and his dedication to democracy, free speech and reconcilliation. <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

So, are you saying that the editor was arested the next day specifically because he 'held a press conference calling on PM Abhisit to resign'. Is that correct?

Can you please substantiate that this is specifcally true, or is it perhaps possible the arrest was speciically in regard to previous actions / written articles from the editor?

Abhisit will sue you and you will get 6 month or one year jail term if you claim that he is unusual rich or if you dare to say that Abhisit had improperly behaved during an audience, he will bring you to the criminal court too.

[eggomaniac]

Why don't Thailand just set the "state of emergency" as default. Only grant normalcy state if and when required, for the period necessary. This will save the government a lot of PR work, paper work, unnecessary ministerial meetings, etc.

If explained properly by MFA (perhaps Kasit himself), I am sure the whole world will understand and sympatise with Thailand. Afghanistan and South Africa included.

There are much closer examples to choose from, Burma / N Korea.

Seriously, if Thailand wants to 'succesfully' keep the corrupt system where the political leaders, red AND yellow, use their positions to line their pockets the only way they could do it would be Burmese style. Thailand has a serious SPLIT personality! Open for International business, but don't let any communication outside of the Upper Classes transpire. At least Burma and North Korea have the brains to CUT off foreign 'interference', instead of saying "Yes Come" 'NO Don't say"

Why don't the Thai Elite copy what the American Elite does and use the politicians as smoke screens. If they could only see they get more green light by putting puppets in the lime light, they could join Globalization and get away with creaming and skimming.

They want Fame and Fortune, silly them; instead of taking Fortune and paying off actors to have the fame.

They could have more yachts and private jets if they ran things from behind the curtains, like it is done in the West, instead of wanting their faces on every news page.

Sondhi 'sort of' 1/2 way did it. He should have bought himself a layer of anomonity and he might have been fully running Thailand, instead of losing his 'invisible' cloak.