OSCE Hearing Is Just Another PR Stunt For Thaksin

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

OSCE hearing is just another PR stunt for Thaksin

By The Nation

If and when the ousted former PM testifies in Washington, he will make hypocritical statements and shame Thailand in the eyes of the world

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra may visit Washington DC in the middle of the month to testify against the Thai government at an enquiry hearing that could put Thai-US relations in a tight corner - only if Bangkok makes a big stink about it.

According to his lawyer, Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin has accepted an invitation to testify before the US Helsinki Commission.

According to its website, the commission is "an independent US Government agency created by Congress in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE (Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe) commitments in the 56 OSCE participating states. The Commission consists of nine members from the US Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the departments of State, Defence and Commerce."

Besides advancing US interest in the OSCE region, the commission also conducts public hearings on various issues pertaining to human rights violations, democratisation and economic development.

Lots on its plate, indeed. But one has to wonder how the ongoing political strife in Thailand got onto the OSCE radar screen when many areas around the world are suffering far worse violence.

According to Thaksin's trusted aide, the commission is interested in learning about the crackdown on red-shirt protesters in April and May when more than 90 people were killed and over 2,000 injured as demonstrators clashed with government troops on the streets. He said the commission wanted Thaksin to provide information and evidence on human rights violations in Thailand. They also want Thaksin to provide a briefing on the insurgency in the deep South and on current freedom of expression in Thailand.

What can Thaksin say? "Yes, I violated all these rights when I was the premier". If his political career has shown us anything at all, it is that the man loves to milk any situation for his favour. If he can play the victim, he will.

Bangkok, on the other hand, stands to look foolish as a result of this invitation. The Thai authorities have tried their best to get countries around the world to refuse entry to this fugitive. Will the Obama administration now ask this "independent" agency to cancel its invitation? Hardly likely. But instead of going after Thaksin like a bunch of vengeful old men, perhaps it's best to let this fugitive die a natural death. There is an old saying: If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. In other words, we shouldn't get all worked up about this public hearing. After all, every man and woman, regardless of how displaced, or disgraced, he or she may be, deserves an opportunity to have a say.

In Thaksin's case, it would have been better if he had chosen a Thai public forum to raise his concerns. He can rent out a football stadium in a neighbouring country like Cambodia and invite every Thai reporter to ask as many questions as they want. But he won't. Such an arrangement is not high-profile or newsworthy enough for this man who can't stay out of the spotlight.

Perhaps the best thing the Thai government can do is to stay calm and not raise a big stink. Let Thaksin have his moment and let's hope that these American lawmakers and representatives have done their homework. To make it worthwhile, they should ask Thaksin how his policies drove a bigger wedge between Malay Muslims in the deep South and the rest of the Thai state. It was under his watch that nearly 90 unarmed young men suffocated to death in the back of military trucks at the infamous Tak Bai massacre. Did he punish anybody for it? That was about the same number of people who died in the April and May clashes.

And let's not forget about the "drug war" that ended in the deaths of more than 2,000 people in just a few months. And certainly let's not forget how Thaksin constantly interfered with the media in an attempt to stifle any news he didn't like.

Thaksin has spent much of his time in self-imposed exile discrediting Thailand in order to make his case - that he was wrongly ousted from power. But was there ever a "rightful" military coup? To show his supporters that he is still relevant, he flies around the world making speeches and taking pictures with statesmen and leaders who are willing to let him into their country. Let's hope that the Helsinki Commission will not permit this hearing to be another walk in the park for this fugitive. The Thai people deserve better.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

[siampolee]

Helsinki Commission Hearing Focuses on U.S. Support for Western Balkan Countries.

Perchance that there has been an unnoticed geographical landslip that has moved either Thailand towards and into the Western Balkan States or is it possibly the fact that the Western Balkan States have slipped land mass wise into Asia ?

Possibly the actual agenda concerns Thaksins residence and citizenship of Montenegro and its somewhat spotty reputation not Thailand ?

[whybother]

Helsinki Commission Hearing Focuses on U.S. Support for Western Balkan Countries.

Perchance that there has been an unnoticed geographical landslip that has moved either Thailand towards and into the Western Balkan States or is it possibly the fact that the Western Balkan States have slipped land mass wise into Asia ?

Possibly the actual agenda concerns Thaksins residence and citizenship of Montenegro and its somewhat spotty reputation not Thailand ?

Maybe he's actually going there to talk about Montinegran issues.

[geriatrickid]

It will be a successful PR stunt if people start obsessing over this non-event. He certainly knows how to keep his name in the news. The Thai government is allowing itself to be controlled by his agenda. It's time to move on. Build the nation. Attempt reconciliation and peacemaking. Positive results will push Mr. Thaksin off to the side.

[brahmburgers]

I agree with the above two comments. It smells like more Thaksin grandstanding being orchestrated by his handlers, Noppadon and Amsterdam. Those stooges will do anything to keep the big poser on the front pages.

Let's see if I got this right, The esteemed commission is asking a person who was a world away from Thailand to comment on events in Thailand. They're asking a man who publicly claims to not be funding the Reds to comment on the Reds, even though anyone who knows anything about the events, knows that T and his family and close associates were shoveling billions of baht in to the fracas - with the intention of toppling the current government. Much of that money also funded the Black Shirts and other nefarious operatives. It's a commission which focuses on European affairs doing an inquiry about an Asian country. Everything about Noppadon's announcement stinks of manure tacos left out in the sun for a week.

[hanuman1]

For quite a while now, I've doubted the government's sincerity about wanting to get Taksin back to Thailand.

The government is aware of the potential for social divides growing dangerously wider if they got him back. And Taksin knows that too. Far better from the government's point of view to keep him marginalized - having to constantly be on the move and being forced to communicate to his followers only through makeshift channels like Twitter and mobile phone calls. Over time, this policy is seeing his influence gradually and continually weaken.

Now Taksin is exploiting this apparent lack of sincerity by forcing the government's hand. If they apply for his extradition from the States and he isn't extradited, the Thai government looks toothless and misguided. If they don't apply for extradition, they look insincere in their efforts to get him back to Thailand. The other option, of Taksin going to the US and being extradited following a request from the Thai government is something no doubt Taksin will have thought of and wouldn't go without US assurances that this wouldn't happen. And if the US extradites him having given him assurances about not being extradited, its own reputation would be damaged among future individuals called to appear at various US tribunals - not good for the US.

So Taksin is just doing what he does best. He's exploiting gaps and turning them into opportunities. In the past, such gaps were apparent in the constitution and other Thai legal frameworks. In this case, the gap in question is between what the Thai government says, and what it actually does. If this gap didn't exist, Taksin would remain out in the cold.

ADDED: Just saw a report that Taksin's canceled the trip to the US. Looks like he didn't get assurances about not being extradited. Relief for the Thai government. No potential loss of face on this one.

Edited December 9, 2010 by hanuman1

[whybother]

For quite a while now, I've doubted the government's sincerity about wanting to get Taksin back to Thailand.

The government is aware of the potential for social divides growing dangerously wider if they got him back. And Taksin knows that too. Far better from the government's point of view to keep him marginalized - having to constantly be on the move and being forced to communicate to his followers only through makeshift channels like Twitter and mobile phone calls. Over time, this policy is seeing his influence gradually and continually weaken.

Now Taksin is exploiting this apparent lack of sincerity by forcing the government's hand. If they apply for his extradition from the States and he isn't extradited, the Thai government looks toothless and misguided. If they don't apply for extradition, they look insincere in their efforts to get him back to Thailand. The other option, of Taksin going to the US and being extradited following a request from the Thai government is something no doubt Taksin will have thought of and wouldn't go without US assurances that this wouldn't happen. And if the US extradites him having given him assurances about not being extradited, its own reputation would be damaged among future individuals called to appear at various US tribunals - not good for the US.

So Taksin is just doing what he does best. He's exploiting gaps and turning them into opportunities. In the past, such gaps were apparent in the constitution and other Thai legal frameworks. In this case, the gap in question is between what the Thai government says, and what it actually does. If this gap didn't exist, Taksin would remain out in the cold.

ADDED: Just saw a report that Taksin's canceled the trip to the US. Looks like he didn't get assurances about not being extradited. Relief for the Thai government. No potential loss of face on this one.

It looks like he's still marginalized.

[hanuman1]

For quite a while now, I've doubted the government's sincerity about wanting to get Taksin back to Thailand.

The government is aware of the potential for social divides growing dangerously wider if they got him back. And Taksin knows that too. Far better from the government's point of view to keep him marginalized - having to constantly be on the move and being forced to communicate to his followers only through makeshift channels like Twitter and mobile phone calls. Over time, this policy is seeing his influence gradually and continually weaken.

Now Taksin is exploiting this apparent lack of sincerity by forcing the government's hand. If they apply for his extradition from the States and he isn't extradited, the Thai government looks toothless and misguided. If they don't apply for extradition, they look insincere in their efforts to get him back to Thailand. The other option, of Taksin going to the US and being extradited following a request from the Thai government is something no doubt Taksin will have thought of and wouldn't go without US assurances that this wouldn't happen. And if the US extradites him having given him assurances about not being extradited, its own reputation would be damaged among future individuals called to appear at various US tribunals - not good for the US.

So Taksin is just doing what he does best. He's exploiting gaps and turning them into opportunities. In the past, such gaps were apparent in the constitution and other Thai legal frameworks. In this case, the gap in question is between what the Thai government says, and what it actually does. If this gap didn't exist, Taksin would remain out in the cold.

ADDED: Just saw a report that Taksin's canceled the trip to the US. Looks like he didn't get assurances about not being extradited. Relief for the Thai government. No potential loss of face on this one.

It looks like he's still marginalized.

Yep, good for the government and - in the long run - the red shirt movement itself.

[whybother]

Yep, good for the government and - in the long run - the red shirt movement itself.

Yep. Mrs Weng is making some of the right noises with her red shirt faction.

Let's see how she goes with her "Democracy schools" and see if all the other red shirt factions agree with her.

[SamritT]

I'm sure the SOE will lift before Dec 16 (US time).

[jayjay0]

Yep, good for the government and - in the long run - the red shirt movement itself.

Yep. Mrs Weng is making some of the right noises with her red shirt faction.

Let's see how she goes with her "Democracy schools" and see if all the other red shirt factions agree with her.

Particularly the part where she could not find any peace activist's who subscribe to the red shirt position.

[jayjay0]

It will be a successful PR stunt if people start obsessing over this non-event. He certainly knows how to keep his name in the news. The Thai government is allowing itself to be controlled by his agenda. It's time to move on. Build the nation. Attempt reconciliation and peacemaking. Positive results will push Mr. Thaksin off to the side.

Beg to differ.

It will not be. It is.

[SomTumTiger]

PR Fail - lol

[SamritT]

OSCH should not get involve. Busy body. This is a Thailand domestic matter.

[Ricardo]

OSCH should not get involve. Busy body. This is a Thailand domestic matter.

Perhaps someone made a tactical-error, in asking them to get involved, the phrase "The U.N. is not my father" keeps slipping into my mind ?

But I'd disagree that this is a purely-domestic matter, several foreigners were hurt or killed, and many more inconvenienced by these 'peaceful protests'. "No man is an island" etcetera, to which one might add, nor is Thailand either !

[apollo13]

OSCH should not get involve. Busy body. This is a Thailand domestic matter.

If you want your country to be part of the world community then you have to be prepared to be scrutinized by the world community. Your response is similar to that given by China concerning the Tiananmen Square protests .

[swerver]

For quite a while now, I've doubted the government's sincerity about wanting to get Taksin back to Thailand.

The government is aware of the potential for social divides growing dangerously wider if they got him back. And Taksin knows that too. Far better from the government's point of view to keep him marginalized - having to constantly be on the move and being forced to communicate to his followers only through makeshift channels like Twitter and mobile phone calls. Over time, this policy is seeing his influence gradually and continually weaken.

Now Taksin is exploiting this apparent lack of sincerity by forcing the government's hand. If they apply for his extradition from the States and he isn't extradited, the Thai government looks toothless and misguided. If they don't apply for extradition, they look insincere in their efforts to get him back to Thailand. The other option, of Taksin going to the US and being extradited following a request from the Thai government is something no doubt Taksin will have thought of and wouldn't go without US assurances that this wouldn't happen. And if the US extradites him having given him assurances about not being extradited, its own reputation would be damaged among future individuals called to appear at various US tribunals - not good for the US.

So Taksin is just doing what he does best. He's exploiting gaps and turning them into opportunities. In the past, such gaps were apparent in the constitution and other Thai legal frameworks. In this case, the gap in question is between what the Thai government says, and what it actually does. If this gap didn't exist, Taksin would remain out in the cold.

ADDED: Just saw a report that Taksin's canceled the trip to the US. Looks like he didn't get assurances about not being extradited. Relief for the Thai government. No potential loss of face on this one.

Cancelled his US trip

Most likely a case of the US State Dept. not wanting to get entangled with a guy whose picture is by now well know worldwide as being the ex-pm of Thailand but at immigration checkpoints he presents a Montenegro Gov. Passport which as all passports do show Citizenship: Montenegro.

[animatic]

Yep, good for the government and - in the long run - the red shirt movement itself.

Yep. Mrs Weng is making some of the right noises with her red shirt faction.

Let's see how she goes with her "Democracy schools" and see if all the other red shirt factions agree with her.

Yep. Mrs Weng is making some of the right noises with her red shirt fiction.

[brahmburgers]

Canceled his trip?

I didn't hear that, but from the first moment I saw the contrived reports (of the Big Poser going off the Washington) I knew it was a grand hoax, with a capital HO. Thaksin recommending human rights fixes is like Vlad The Impaler suggesting better band-aids for cuts.

[rubl]

BREAKINGNEWS

Noppadon claims CSCE postpones hearing on Thailand

Noppadon Pattama, a legal advisor of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, claimed Sunday that the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe has postponed the hearing on Thailand to next month.

Noppadon said the CSCE informed Thaksin that the hearing on human rights violations in Thailand would have to be postponed because of changes in the Congresss, which resulted in the change in the CSCE members.

Noppadon said Thaksin thanked the CSCE for showing its interest in the situation in Thailand and informed the panel that the delay would provide him more time to process for an entry visa to the US.

The Nation

At least someone is still earning his keep. Apart from that, just ignore this

[Siripon]

Note the receiver of the King's scholarship to further his studies, Mr Noppadon, announced this non-news the day after the King's birthday.

Anything to divert attention to his ailing boss.

He should be ashamed of himself.

[DickFarang]

For quite a while now, I've doubted the government's sincerity about wanting to get Taksin back to Thailand.

The government is aware of the potential for social divides growing dangerously wider if they got him back. And Taksin knows that too. Far better from the government's point of view to keep him marginalized - having to constantly be on the move and being forced to communicate to his followers only through makeshift channels like Twitter and mobile phone calls. Over time, this policy is seeing his influence gradually and continually weaken.

Now Taksin is exploiting this apparent lack of sincerity by forcing the government's hand. If they apply for his extradition from the States and he isn't extradited, the Thai government looks toothless and misguided. If they don't apply for extradition, they look insincere in their efforts to get him back to Thailand. The other option, of Taksin going to the US and being extradited following a request from the Thai government is something no doubt Taksin will have thought of and wouldn't go without US assurances that this wouldn't happen. And if the US extradites him having given him assurances about not being extradited, its own reputation would be damaged among future individuals called to appear at various US tribunals - not good for the US.

So Taksin is just doing what he does best. He's exploiting gaps and turning them into opportunities. In the past, such gaps were apparent in the constitution and other Thai legal frameworks. In this case, the gap in question is between what the Thai government says, and what it actually does. If this gap didn't exist, Taksin would remain out in the cold.

ADDED: Just saw a report that Taksin's canceled the trip to the US. Looks like he didn't get assurances about not being extradited. Relief for the Thai government. No potential loss of face on this one.

Cancelled his US trip

Most likely a case of the US State Dept. not wanting to get entangled with a guy whose picture is by now well know worldwide as being the ex-pm of Thailand but at immigration checkpoints he presents a Montenegro Gov. Passport which as all passports do show Citizenship: Montenegro.

A passport is not the same as nationality (citizenship).

From Wikipedia: “In exceptional circumstances, a diplomatic passport is given to a foreign citizen with no passport of his own, such as an exiled VIP who lives, by invitation, in a foreign country.”

And even Montenegro does better than Thailand on the “Press Freedom Index 2010”: number 104 versus 153.

See:

http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010,1034.html