How Thaksin's Seized Bt46 Billion Should Be Spent

[webfact]

TWEETPLES

How Thaksin's seized Bt46 billion should be spent

By The Nation

We asked tweetple how Thaksin's seized Bt46 billion should be spent by the state. Here are the suggestions:

@thescratt: Buy Manchester United.

@coldfusionPaul: Buy Phra Viharn back from Hun Sen?

@KhmerYou: Buy Cambodia.

@jadexl: Buy back PTT.

@hinext: Buy back Thaicom.

@JackPrinya: Divide it among each province proportionally by population for microcredit. In Bkk use it to fix drainage.

@khunray: Build a double track rail system to poorest part of Thailand and invest in long-term infrastructure for ongoing investment?

@BenLeigh78: Help small businesses and workers affected by red crisis.

@asaCFC: Buy Montenegro ;-)

@AaronChriste: How bout giving it back to him?

@kanatporn: The money shud b spent on reorganising Thai police dept, the most important justice foundation for Thais.

@SK1688: Use part of the cash to pay Israelis or ex-FBIs to hunt Thaksin, Arisman, Rambo & as goodwill add Hun Sen to the list?

@henly: Give it to the most affected: tourism industry.

@ipiupipiup: Compensate those affected by TS policies like drug war as well as policy corruption.

@LBPLBP: Refund our personal income tax.

@rebel-bay: With our rate of corruption we cannot do much with that money. Maybe lease 2 or 3 buses?

@pondAz: Part of the seized money should be spent on helping farmers, and another part on recovery work after natural disasters.

@apetanque: The seized money should be spent on subsidising the mass transit systems.

@dreamkubd: Repair the road in Soi Nawamin 24, which is being flooded.

@Cake_NBC: Spend the money on helping the poor all over the country and teaching them how to earn a living and make money.

@DeFirenze: The best way is to designate the money as national reserve, in order to strengthen the country's financial status to the level before the economic bubble burst [in 1997].

@ga_me: Set up a fund to promote ethics among politicians.

@aftergrowth: Spend it on leasing NGV-powered buses.

@toangAu: Build Asia's largest orphanage.

@togiab: Spend the money on improving education and suppressing insurgency in the deep South, in order to compensate for many bad things Thaksin did there.

@gundumz: Build three more schools in each district to teach ethics every Sunday, so that children do not grow up clever but corrupt and exploiting society.

@hualookchin: Put the money in investments and spend the returns on public causes.

@NochiPH: Divide the amount with the population of 65 million and deposit the money in state banks under individual accounts. This is to promote saving and start a campaign "Save for the future, no future for the corrupt".

@JerryOu: Why don't we buy Liverpool? Current bid's about 15 billion.

@tuji888: No.... Buy Manchester United....

@mrFex: Let all Thai ppl have a free holiday in England

@Chotechai: Hire back Robert Amsterdam.

@ashbee: Allocate some to fund the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

@taprumy: should go to rural project. 1. It used to be his popularity policy 2. Good image 4 govt.

@saoxiengkhouang: How about two Laptops for Every Child?

@GlobalMouthful: Give the money to Mr T on the condition he never comes back. Oh yes and he has to take Newin with him.

@Uneyv: it'll be super ironic if there's corruption in any project that this 46bn'll be used for finger crossed that won't happen.

@rebel_bay: share the money among all politicians on condition they leave Thailand for good. At that point we can start anew.

@GlobalMouthful: Divide it up among politicians & ask them to leave politics forever. They r useless anyway.

@veen_nt: gather all bad police and politicians, give them loads of money and ship them to Montenegro. contract signed - never to return.

@BangkokBites: Turn farangs' 90 day & work permit system into paperless one & buy shares in Google Earth to take photo of our frnt doors.

@Tulip_Oum: EQUALLY & EVENLY develop education system and infrastructure (esp mass transportation) thru out the country.

@rascottdotcom: Buy 51% of Tem-asek Holdings! After all they started it!

@Hyperzine: Thai govt should hire Apple's marketing team and rule the world...

@dipankarbarua: Built a huge open-air protest site far away fr Bkk so all colours can take turns using it.

*Editor's note: Our sincere thanks for all your feedback - be it serious, witty or sarcastic - including ones that did not get published. Since the tweets came very thick and fast (and there's also the issue of closing time), we apologise if some missed the publication

-- The Nation 2010-08-12

[metroman]

If we are looking for suggestions I could use a new car. I'd settle for one of those cheap import Fords. Call me.....

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

Why don't they use the money to fulfill all of Thaksin's broken promises about helping the rural poor? Then, how could he complain that his frivolous appeal request was denied? This is some of the money that he stole from the Thai people, and it should be returned in the way that his government had promised to the poor. Maybe, this time, they will get more than an air conditioner and TV out of the deal.

[thailandbluegrass]

Why don't they use the money to fulfill all of Thaksin's broken promises about helping the rural poor? Then, how could he complain that his frivolous appeal request was denied? This is some of the money that he stole from the Thai people, and it should be returned in the way that his government had promised to the poor. Maybe, this time, they will get more than an air conditioner and TV out of the deal.

EXACTLY. I AGREE. FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH HE STOLE FROM THE ELITE AND GIVE THAT MONEY BACK IN A WAY THAT IT WILL SERVE THEIR PUROPOSE (WISELY) AND HOW MUCH HE STOLE FROM THE POOR AND DO THE SAME

[slapout]

The monies seized are only a small part of the total siphoned out of the Thai economy during his time in office, by those on the receiving end.

[march]

I like the idea of how the actual disbursement that has been chosen will be done. That is the plan to use it entirely to pay down on the national debt.

I think it is a wise decision considering its multiple benefits to all.

[mrtoad]

Why don't they use the money to fulfill all of Thaksin's broken promises about helping the rural poor? Then, how could he complain that his frivolous appeal request was denied? This is some of the money that he stole from the Thai people, and it should be returned in the way that his government had promised to the poor. Maybe, this time, they will get more than an air conditioner and TV out of the deal.

Hear, hear.

[animatic]

Schools.

For kids to learn reality based facts and their application, and creativity.

For training old and new teachers in proper, modern, teaching techniques,

and for adults to learn new trades and small business management.

No single investment would pay off greater.

Edited August 12, 2010 by animatic

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

Schools.

For kids to learn reality based facts and their application, and creativity.

For training old and new teachers in proper, modern, teaching techniques,

and for adults to learn new trades and small business management.

No single investment would pay off greater.

Ideally, this would be best. But, for any of the funds to actually get to the uses that you've brilliantly set out, you would have to remove all the corrupt education administrators (well, let's face it, all the administrators). No small task and probably impossible.

[Groongthep]

Why don't they use the money to fulfill all of Thaksin's broken promises about helping the rural poor?

That would be nice, but the present government is even less likely to do anything to help the rural poor than Thaksin did. At least Thaksin began the 30 baht insurance scheme which the present government has wisely decided to keep but they have done nothing else of any significance to help the poor. Face it, the elites despise the poor and want to keep the class structure alive. Meanwhile rampant corruption in the police and traditional bureaucracy continue unabated today.

By the way, the majority of the allegations of Thaksin's financial corruption stem from his sale of Shin Corp's telecommunications divisions to Singapore's Temasek without paying enough taxes on the profits. He owned the company before he became PM and the taxes were avoided by routing the sale through offshore banks, a practice common in western countries.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

Why don't they use the money to fulfill all of Thaksin's broken promises about helping the rural poor?

That would be nice, but the present government is even less likely to do anything to help the rural poor than Thaksin did. At least Thaksin began the 30 baht insurance scheme which the present government has wisely decided to keep but they have done nothing else of any significance to help the poor. Face it, the elites despise the poor and want to keep the class structure alive. Meanwhile rampant corruption in the police and traditional bureaucracy continue unabated today.

By the way, the majority of the allegations of Thaksin's financial corruption stem from his sale of Shin Corp's telecommunications divisions to Singapore's Temasek without paying enough taxes on the profits. He owned the company before he became PM and the taxes were avoided by routing the sale through offshore banks, a practice common in western countries.

The revisionists are already having at the assets verdict I see. No, you're wrong. The allegations were that Thaksin used his position in government to inflate the worth of his holdings in Shin Corp. These policies were to the benefit of Thaksin's wife and children when they sold the stock, and to the detriment of all the shareholders of AIS and to the government's holdings in CAT Telecom and TOT Thailand.

Regarding the 46.37 billion baht confiscated by the state, the majority of judges ruled that this lawsuit as filed by the Office of Attorney-General was centred on the allegations that a former public office holder had amassed his wealth illegally while in office.

Therefore, the judges voted to confiscate about 6 billion baht in dividends earned from the massive stockholdings, as this amount represented gains from abuse of public office.

The judges also voted to confiscate the remainder of the money from the sale of all 1.41 billion shares to Temasek Holdings of Singapore - after deducting the 30.2-billion-baht portion owned by Thaksin and his family before the start of the former's public office.

Regarding the abuse-of-power charge while in public office, the judges ruled that Thaksin had clearly executed government policies to benefit Advance Info Service (AIS), the flagship of Shin Corp.

The prepaid mobile-phone concession contract between state-owned TOT and AIS was amended, with the revenue-sharing percentage reduced from 25 per cent to 20 per cent, resulting in a loss of revenue to the state estimated at 70 billion baht.

State-owned TOT's interests were also hurt when telecom roaming charges were deducted from concession fees, even though AIS was not the direct beneficiary at the time.

The judges ruled that the amendments to the concession contract between the transport ministry and Shin Satellite (now called Thaicom) - another unit of Shin Corp - had clearly benefited the latter.

Originally, Shin Satellite was supposed to send Thaicom4, a back-up satellite, into orbit, according to the concession contract.

However, this was later changed so that Shin Satellite could switch to iPSTAR, a different type of commercial satellite, into orbit.

The judges ruled that Shin Satellite had also clearly benefited from Thaksin's verbal order to the foreign ministry and state-owned Exim Bank to provide a 4-billion-baht loan to the Burmese government.

The loan was used to buy equipment and satellite services from Shin Satellite, while the finance ministry later had to set aside a budget to subsidise the low-interest loan. http://thaksin-verdict.blogspot.com/

About 12 billion baht is still claimed to be owed in back taxes, and that case is still pending.

In a historic anti-graft case, the majority of nine Supreme Court judges yesterday voted to confiscate 46.37 billion baht (US$1.4 billion) of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's 76.6-billion-baht ($2.3 billion) frozen assets. The 46.37 billion baht is in 35 bank accounts and unit trusts frozen by the state. The judges ruled that 30.24 billion baht would be returned because they belonged to the former premier and his family before Thaksin took office as prime minister in 2001.

However, 12 billion baht of the 30.24 billion baht is likely to remain frozen because of back taxes claimed by the revenue department. The case is current in the legal process.

The judges spent seven hours and 20 minutes, taking turns to read the lengthy landmark verdict.

They voted unanimously that the fugitive ex-premier had illegally concealed his massive wealth during his two terms as premier.

The judges also ruled by a majority that Thaksin had abused his authority on several counts to benefit his family-owned Shin Corp and its subsidiaries, resulting in massive damage to the state.

The verdict clearly states that more than half of the entire 76.6-billion-baht assets frozen by the state following the Sept 19, 2006 coup was ill-gotten. http://www.asianewsn...?id=10387&sec=1

So, you are wrong on 2 counts: first, a majority of the frozen assets were not being held for failure to pay excise taxes, only 12 billion baht of the 76 billion baht frozen was held for taxes; second, the verdict did not encompass an explicit ruling on back taxes. It found that the holding of the Shin shares by Thaksin's children was in their capacity as nominees for him. That finding exposed the gains to excise taxes.

"The problem is that the Revenue Department is following up by asking that some Bt12 billion in unpaid tax allegedly owed by Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra on Shin Corp share transactions involved with Ample Rich. This tax case is contradictory in legal term. The Supreme Court has ruled that Bt76 billion belonged to Thaksin and Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra in the first place. But Thaksin and Pojman fought in the court that the money belonged to their children and relatives -- not them. The Supreme Court did not believe the couple and ordered a seizure of Bt46 billion of their assets for abuse of power.

Now the Revenue Department will be going after Panthongtae and Pinthongta for Bt12 billion in unpaid tax related to the Bt76 billion transactions." http://blog.nationmu...nt.php?id=13157

Edited August 12, 2010 by zaphodbeeblebrox

[chantorn]

I don't care how.

But can I get a 20% cut?

[Thai at Heart]

Quickly.

[rubl]

That would be nice, but the present government is even less likely to do anything to help the rural poor than Thaksin did. At least Thaksin began the 30 baht insurance scheme which the present government has wisely decided to keep but they have done nothing else of any significance to help the poor. Face it, the elites despise the poor and want to keep the class structure alive. Meanwhile rampant corruption in the police and traditional bureaucracy continue unabated today.

By the way, the majority of the allegations of Thaksin's financial corruption stem from his sale of Shin Corp's telecommunications divisions to Singapore's Temasek without paying enough taxes on the profits. He owned the company before he became PM and the taxes were avoided by routing the sale through offshore banks, a practice common in western countries.

The revisionists are already having at the assets verdict I see. No, you're wrong. The allegations were that Thaksin used his position in government to inflate the worth of his holdings in Shin Corp. These policies were to the benefit of Thaksin's wife and children when they sold the stock, and to the detriment of all the shareholders of AIS and to the government's holdings in CAT Telecom and TOT Thailand.

Regarding the 46.37 billion baht confiscated by the state, the majority of judges ruled that this lawsuit as filed by the Office of Attorney-General was centred on the allegations that a former public office holder had amassed his wealth illegally while in office.

Therefore, the judges voted to confiscate about 6 billion baht in dividends earned from the massive stockholdings, as this amount represented gains from abuse of public office.

The judges also voted to confiscate the remainder of the money from the sale of all 1.41 billion shares to Temasek Holdings of Singapore - after deducting the 30.2-billion-baht portion owned by Thaksin and his family before the start of the former's public office.

Regarding the abuse-of-power charge while in public office, the judges ruled that Thaksin had clearly executed government policies to benefit Advance Info Service (AIS), the flagship of Shin Corp.

The prepaid mobile-phone concession contract between state-owned TOT and AIS was amended, with the revenue-sharing percentage reduced from 25 per cent to 20 per cent, resulting in a loss of revenue to the state estimated at 70 billion baht.

State-owned TOT's interests were also hurt when telecom roaming charges were deducted from concession fees, even though AIS was not the direct beneficiary at the time.

The judges ruled that the amendments to the concession contract between the transport ministry and Shin Satellite (now called Thaicom) - another unit of Shin Corp - had clearly benefited the latter.

Originally, Shin Satellite was supposed to send Thaicom4, a back-up satellite, into orbit, according to the concession contract.

However, this was later changed so that Shin Satellite could switch to iPSTAR, a different type of commercial satellite, into orbit.

The judges ruled that Shin Satellite had also clearly benefited from Thaksin's verbal order to the foreign ministry and state-owned Exim Bank to provide a 4-billion-baht loan to the Burmese government.

The loan was used to buy equipment and satellite services from Shin Satellite, while the finance ministry later had to set aside a budget to subsidise the low-interest loan. http://thaksin-verdict.blogspot.com/

About 12 billion baht is still claimed to be owed in back taxes, and that case is still pending.

In a historic anti-graft case, the majority of nine Supreme Court judges yesterday voted to confiscate 46.37 billion baht (US$1.4 billion) of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's 76.6-billion-baht ($2.3 billion) frozen assets. The 46.37 billion baht is in 35 bank accounts and unit trusts frozen by the state. The judges ruled that 30.24 billion baht would be returned because they belonged to the former premier and his family before Thaksin took office as prime minister in 2001.

However, 12 billion baht of the 30.24 billion baht is likely to remain frozen because of back taxes claimed by the revenue department. The case is current in the legal process.

The judges spent seven hours and 20 minutes, taking turns to read the lengthy landmark verdict.

They voted unanimously that the fugitive ex-premier had illegally concealed his massive wealth during his two terms as premier.

The judges also ruled by a majority that Thaksin had abused his authority on several counts to benefit his family-owned Shin Corp and its subsidiaries, resulting in massive damage to the state.

The verdict clearly states that more than half of the entire 76.6-billion-baht assets frozen by the state following the Sept 19, 2006 coup was ill-gotten. http://www.asianewsn...?id=10387&sec=1

So, you are wrong on 2 counts: first, a majority of the frozen assets were not being held for failure to pay excise taxes, only 12 billion baht of the 76 billion baht frozen was held for taxes; second, the verdict did not encompass an explicit ruling on back taxes. It found that the holding of the Shin shares by Thaksin's children was in their capacity as nominees for him. That finding exposed the gains to excise taxes.

"The problem is that the Revenue Department is following up by asking that some Bt12 billion in unpaid tax allegedly owed by Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra on Shin Corp share transactions involved with Ample Rich. This tax case is contradictory in legal term. The Supreme Court has ruled that Bt76 billion belonged to Thaksin and Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra in the first place. But Thaksin and Pojman fought in the court that the money belonged to their children and relatives -- not them. The Supreme Court did not believe the couple and ordered a seizure of Bt46 billion of their assets for abuse of power.

Now the Revenue Department will be going after Panthongtae and Pinthongta for Bt12 billion in unpaid tax related to the Bt76 billion transactions." http://blog.nationmu...nt.php?id=13157

The August 2001 verdict by the NCCC "yes we believe he made a very honest mistake in 1997" was very controversial (millions of dollars of shares transferred to his domestic staff - including maids, a security guard and a chauffeur which he 'forgot' to declare). K. Thaksin's role in dubious money transfers around the Baht devaluation in 1997 was never clarified, but same goes for more influencial figures at that time.

Some people never learn, some never seem to have enough. Funny his supporters tend to get by on less than 500B a day.

[rixalex]

Face it, the elites despise the poor and want to keep the class structure alive.

Give me a break...a Thaksin apologist telling others to face up to things. You've got more facing up to do than anyone.

And Thaksin was as elitist as they come...

[MAJIC]

Why don't they use the money to fulfill all of Thaksin's broken promises about helping the rural poor?

That would be nice, but the present government is even less likely to do anything to help the rural poor than Thaksin did. At least Thaksin began the 30 baht insurance scheme which the present government has wisely decided to keep but they have done nothing else of any significance to help the poor. Face it, the elites despise the poor and want to keep the class structure alive. Meanwhile rampant corruption in the police and traditional bureaucracy continue unabated today.

By the way, the majority of the allegations of Thaksin's financial corruption stem from his sale of Shin Corp's telecommunications divisions to Singapore's Temasek without paying enough taxes on the profits. He owned the company before he became PM and the taxes were avoided by routing the sale through offshore banks, a practice common in western countries.

Almost correct,in actual fact Thaksin and his Government,passed a bill before Parliament,three weeks before the sale,which enabled him to avoid paying any taxes at all.

I think the figure was 40% tax,unpaid.

Many believe this was a major factor in his ousting,by Coup.

[metroman]

Seriously, however it is spent I hope there adequate safeguards so there is no need for an investigation 10 years from now.

[march]

The revisionists are already having at the assets verdict I see. No, you're wrong.

So, you are wrong on 2 counts

Thank you for that.

It's amazing how many times on here that real events and proper chronology need to be re-emphasized and re-stated to counter the distortions and revisions made to actual occurrences.

Your efforts on this occasion are much appreciated.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

I think the figure was 40% tax,unpaid.

The capital gains excise tax is 30%. But, I think Thaksin would have a fair argument that the 30% should be taxed on the amount his investment in Shin Corp gained from his time of purchase, until his time he assumed the role of PM, as the court seized all gains in the Shin Corp investment following his taking office as PM.

[brahmburgers]

regardless of how it's spent, don't leave it up to Thais to do the spending. Everything big ticket expenditure is mired in back-alley payoffs. Pick a random group of Scandinavians to administer the funds - that way it will get spent on what it's earmarked for.

If you have a comparatively more honest nationality type to pick from, let me know.

And while we're at it, get a group of Scandinavians or Swiss to act as mediators for some of the political messes Thailand can't get resolved, such as

A. Troubles in South: BB suggests: Admission and compensation for past trespasses by gov't (killing of detainees, etc). Dialog and some measure of autonomy.

B. Prear Vihar: BB suggests: cooperative management of the site. Canadians and Americans cooperate on a giant park which straddles both countries' borders. The Germans and Poles joint-manage a park on their borders. If farang can do such things, then perhaps Asians can also.

A common currency and visa-free travel among SE countries might be 100 years away, but there are some things that SE countries can do now to improve their lot. ....or maybe not, if prevailing small-mindedness, selfishness and paranoia persists.

[rubl]

regardless of how it's spent, don't leave it up to Thais to do the spending. Everything big ticket expenditure is mired in back-alley payoffs. Pick a random group of Scandinavians to administer the funds - that way it will get spent on what it's earmarked for.

If you have a comparatively more honest nationality type to pick from, let me know.

And while we're at it, get a group of Scandinavians or Swiss to act as mediators for some of the political messes Thailand can't get resolved, such as

A. Troubles in South: BB suggests: Admission and compensation for past trespasses by gov't (killing of detainees, etc). Dialog and some measure of autonomy.

B. Prear Vihar: BB suggests: cooperative management of the site. Canadians and Americans cooperate on a giant park which straddles both countries' borders. The Germans and Poles joint-manage a park on their borders. If farang can do such things, then perhaps Asians can also.

A common currency and visa-free travel among SE countries might be 100 years away, but there are some things that SE countries can do now to improve their lot. ....or maybe not, if prevailing small-mindedness, selfishness and paranoia persists.

Now here's a novel idea. At first glance it looks like the modern version of sending a gunboat and chop-off some of the natives. Remember that no country will freely allow the type of interference you advocate here. Also the type of co-operation like in the West sound nice, but took ages to get to that level. You should not forget one of the basic human rights: "The right to make your own mistakes rather than learn from others". Sorry, but true.

Edited August 13, 2010 by rubl

[Ricardo]

That would be nice, but the present government is even less likely to do anything to help the rural poor than Thaksin did. At least Thaksin began the 30 baht insurance scheme which the present government has wisely decided to keep but they have done nothing else of any significance to help the poor. Face it, the elites despise the poor and want to keep the class structure alive. Meanwhile rampant corruption in the police and traditional bureaucracy continue unabated today.

<snip for brevity>

One minor correction, the present government didn't simply keep the 30-Baht medical scheme, they found it was costing more than 30 Baht to collect the fee, so they made it FREE instead.

And didn't they also boost the old-age pension-payment ? And announce a loan-forgiveness/amelioration scheme for the indebted-poor ? And try to boost education ? (Which incidentally, I would agree with Animatic, is the best use of this spare cash, recovered from a tax-sinner.

[brahmburgers]

regardless of how it's spent, don't leave it up to Thais to do the spending. Everything big ticket expenditure is mired in back-alley payoffs. Pick a random group of Scandinavians to administer the funds - that way it will get spent on what it's earmarked for.

If you have a comparatively more honest nationality type to pick from, let me know.

And while we're at it, get a group of Scandinavians or Swiss to act as mediators for some of the political messes Thailand can't get resolved, such as

A. Troubles in South: BB suggests: Admission and compensation for past trespasses by gov't (killing of detainees, etc). Dialog and some measure of autonomy.

B. Prear Vihar: BB suggests: cooperative management of the site. Canadians and Americans cooperate on a giant park which straddles both countries' borders. The Germans and Poles joint-manage a park on their borders. If farang can do such things, then perhaps Asians can also.

A common currency and visa-free travel among SE countries might be 100 years away, but there are some things that SE countries can do now to improve their lot. ....or maybe not, if prevailing small-mindedness, selfishness and paranoia persists.

Now here's a novel idea. At first glance it looks like the modern version of sending a gunboat and chop-off some of the natives. Remember that no country will freely allow the type of interference you advocate here. Also the type of co-operation like in the West sound nice, but took ages to get to that level. You should not forget one of the basic human rights: "The right to make your own mistakes rather than learn from others". Sorry, but true.

Not quite true that "no country will freely allow the type of interference ....."

Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon enabled 'outside' mediators/observers.

Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan allow some degree of interference.

Sri Lanka allowed Scandinavian advisors to mediate their rebel problems.

There have been Danish UN troops patrolling in Cyprus since before most people alive today were born.

I'm not saying all those scenarios are good.

I admit, the adverb 'freely' is open for interpretation, as is the suggestion that a 'foreign' advisors administer the earmarked funds of another government.

China, Japan and to some degree SE Asia often boast, in their history chronicles, how civilized they've been for centuries. Well, let's see how that long history of civil institutions manifest in today's world.

[Heng]

20-25 (don't forget to save some for gas) Gulfstream V's for execs/top cats in the army, police, parliament, and of course Thai Airways. Sorted.

[SomTumTiger]

Spend it on the rural poor - who were duped by this charlatan for so very very long

[Groongthep]

The revisionists are already having at the assets verdict I see.

Give me a break...a Thaksin apologist telling others to face up to things. You've got more facing up to do than anyone.

Oh for fv<k sake. I am neither a revisionist or an apologist. I didn't like Thaksin either folks. Please go back and re-read my post, the point of which was that the current government is very unlikely to spend any of this money on the rural poor and that corruption is still alive and well within the new Utopian status quo government, a government which would not exist if it were not for coup de tat. Zphodbeeblebrox pointed out my mistake that only part of the court settlement involved tax evasion and I accept his critique. However, if rixalex believes that this government is going to do anything significant to try to change the incredible disparity in the distribution of wealth and power between classes in Thailand he is absolutely blind to reality. The coup came about as a result of the traditional elitist's fears that their status and power was being diminished by Thaksin's manipulation of the rural poor, to his advantage and their disadvantage. There was nothing altruistic about the coup and the corruption charges were just an excuse. It's the same excuse that could be used against just about every other Thai government in the last half century. The old elitists were simply envious of Thaksin's cornering of the corruption market and they wanted their share back so they took it with their allies, the army. It is the same pattern we have seen throughout Thailand's history over the last 70 years.

20-25 (don't forget to save some for gas) Gulfstream V's for execs/top cats in the army, police, parliament, and of course Thai Airways. Sorted.

Spot on.

[rixalex]

However, if rixalex believes that this government is going to do anything significant to try to change the incredible disparity in the distribution of wealth and power between classes in Thailand he is absolutely blind to reality.

As far as this current government is concerned, i remain pessimistic as i have done with all governments in power since my arrival, that much in the way of real change will occur. The Democrat party, like most other parties, is on the whole made up of individuals who are driven by power and greed. A ray of hope does exist however, in a way it never existed under TRT, and that is in the leader. Abhisit i believe has good intentions. How much influence those intentions will prove to have i do not know, but at least there is hope.

[rixalex]

Oh for fv<k sake. I am neither a revisionist or an apologist.

People can only go on what they read:

By the way, the majority of the allegations of Thaksin's financial corruption stem from his sale of Shin Corp's telecommunications divisions to Singapore's Temasek without paying enough taxes on the profits. He owned the company before he became PM and the taxes were avoided by routing the sale through offshore banks, a practice common in western countries.

[Sao Jiang Mai]

I think the government is fairly wise if it is going to spend the entire bulk on national debt. This will curb speculation of corruption, of rich/versus poor spending (giving it to their elite mates, or trying to bribe the farmers argument we keep hearing) and basically pays off a debt accrued by previous governments and which will alleviate our entire national debt. And of course, be fully transparent. Pretty good reasoning if they go through with it.

[way2muchcoffee]

I don't believe they have any legal recourse for doing anything other than putting the money into the general coffers for the country. It would be irresponsible, and probably illegal, to do otherwise.