Thailand’s Deposed Prime Minister Relaxes And Waits

[TheyCallmeScooter]

Sven-Goran Eriksson admits Shinawatra strain at Man City

The former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has told BBC Radio Manchester of his problems he had with former City chairman Thaksin Shinawatra.

He said: "His biggest problem was that he didn't understand football at all and he didn't realise that.

"He thought football was easy just tell the players to be aggressive and we will resolve all the problems."

"I think we did well in the whole league more or less until Thaksin decided I had to go at the end of the season," he added.

"Every time we lost he never spoke to me for a week after but when we won it was dinner and very nice hugs and things, so it's difficult to work with people like that."

More revelations about Thaksin's 'style' from SvenLeaks in the Telegraph today...

Nowhere was worse than at Manchester City under former owner Thaksin Shinawatra. What Eriksson had to endure during the 2007-08 season at Eastlands after stepping down as manager of England is encapsulated in a story told by some of those on the club's end-of-season tour of Thailand. Thaksin took the squad to a karaoke bar in downtown Bangkok and, in front of Eriksson, sang a song for his manager. His selection? The Clash's Should I Stay Or Should I Go.

You cannot imagine many men taking that in good humour, yet incredibly Eriksson remained dignified.

I realise he's a former PM of this country, and may well be a future one (via proxy if not directly), but in 100% seriousness...

...what a massive tool.

[mca]

for more realistic spin on Thaksin's and Amsterdam's lies, check out this ebook.

Riveting stuff. As in I'd rather rivet my hands to the table with an industrial rivet gun than read any more.

[asiawatcher]

Thaksin is only grasping at straws. When it pleases him, he knows them, when not, the reverse.

[ballpoint]

for more realistic spin on Thaksin's and Amsterdam's lies, check out this ebook.

Riveting stuff. As in I'd rather rivet my hands to the table with an industrial rivet gun than read any more.

Just out of interest, once you rivet one hand down, how will you do the other?

[mca]

I knew that was coming! I'd ask a passing luk chin seller who wasn't squeamish, fancied earning 100 baht and was immune to the sounds of piercing bloodcurdling screams.

[ballpoint]

I knew that was coming! I'd ask a passing luk chin seller who wasn't squeamish, fancied earning 100 baht and was immune to the sounds of piercing bloodcurdling screams.

Followed by further screams when he walks off with your whole wallet.

[mca]

LOL mate.

Although I would imagine the pain of being riveted to a table might slightly overcome the concern of the monetary loss to be perfectly honest.

Edited January 9, 2011 by mca

[rubl]

I knew that was coming! I'd ask a passing luk chin seller who wasn't squeamish, fancied earning 100 baht and was immune to the sounds of piercing bloodcurdling screams.

You missed this first step:

have my tongue beaten wafer-thin by a steak tenderizer and then stapled to the floor with a croquet hoop

(Blackadder Goes Forth, Episode 3 - "Major Star")

[Buchholz]

I knew that was coming! I'd ask a passing luk chin seller who wasn't squeamish, fancied earning 100 baht and was immune to the sounds of piercing bloodcurdling screams.

You missed this first step:

have my tongue beaten wafer-thin by a steak tenderizer and then stapled to the floor with a croquet hoop

(Blackadder Goes Forth, Episode 3 - "Major Star")

sounds like something from Thaksin's Revenge - Series 2 :

Whether or not the PT have anyone with charisma is not the point. Would make no difference. Despite all the comments on here to the contrary from those trying to raise the credibility of the red shirts/ the PT/ the UDD, the fact remains that all those movements/groups exist to serve one man and his family. He is the one pulling the strings. He is the one in control. What he wants, he gets, and what he wants right now, is someone at the helm who won't get distracted by personal ambition, and who won't forget that the whole reason for this sham is helping him get money and power back, and then getting revenge.

It's the "getting revenge" aspect of this vindictive tyrant that would be particularly worrying as the list of people that he feels has wronged him over the past 5 years is a extremely lengthy one.

It'd make his drug war massacre look like an afternoon tea party.

[mca]

I knew that was coming! I'd ask a passing luk chin seller who wasn't squeamish, fancied earning 100 baht and was immune to the sounds of piercing bloodcurdling screams.

You missed this first step:

have my tongue beaten wafer-thin by a steak tenderizer and then stapled to the floor with a croquet hoop

(Blackadder Goes Forth, Episode 3 - "Major Star")

Nasty.

[SomTumTiger]

But then some posters would have to find something else to be scarily obsessive about.

What is scary is your turning up to make snarky remarks to anyone who dislikes the man. Apparently someone owes T some money...

[mca]

Hit a nerve there obviously. BTW it's " sarky " not " snarky "

Can't stand the odious <deleted> myself.

Edited January 9, 2011 by mca

[brahmburgers]

For those who may still claim that T is a business genius because he's so rich; ....until his late 30's he hadn't had any business success.

[SomTumTiger]

Hit a nerve there obviously. BTW it's " sarky " not " snarky "

Can't stand the odious <deleted> myself.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=snarky

Booya

[TAWP]

Hit a nerve there obviously. BTW it's " sarky " not " snarky "

Can't stand the odious <deleted> myself.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=snarky

Booya

To add:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snarky

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/snarky

[mca]

^^I considered it "sarky" as in "short for sarcastic". Although I'll accept the definition " A witty mannerism, personality, or behavior that is a combination of sarcasm and cynicism. Usually accepted as a complimentary term. " for " snarky " with thanks as it's how it's used in my neck of the woods. And there's me thinking you were trying to insult me. My bad.

Edited January 9, 2011 by mca

[sirchai]

:jap: :jap:

[TheyCallmeScooter]

For those who may still claim that T is a business genius because he's so rich; ....until his late 30's he hadn't had any business success.

I prefer to imagine this period of fail not as suggestive of his ineptitude in commerce, but rather a period of time where he held out against the easy contracts which existed by virtue of his choice of wife and his official profession.

Never does a man fall so hard, as he who remained on his feet so long.

It does beg the obvious question, of course...as to why he spent his entire youth trying (and failing) to establish commercial enterprises...when he was ostensibly being paid by the taxpayer to do the whole Serve / Protect thing. Did he have no Serving and Protecting to do, perhaps.

Perhaps all the criminals on his beat knew better and took a well-advised decade-long holiday.

[Siam Simon]

More on Thaksin's management style at Manchester City.

Sounds like he tried to run it like he did Thailand.

As a "regime"... followed by a "revolt"...

Sven-Goran Eriksson lifts lid on Shinawatra's City regime

Sven-Goran Eriksson has lifted the lid on his stressful relationship with former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra. The Leicester boss crosses paths with the Blues again in Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash at the Walker’s Stadium. And that has brought memories of his eventful year at the City of Manchester Stadium flooding back – especially the difficulties presented by the impatient Shinawatra. That relationship, and the increasing pressure placed on a manager who completed a league double over United and briefly led his team to top spot in the Premier League, almost caused a fan and player revolt.

And Eriksson revealed just how difficult that relationship was at times. He said: “His biggest problem was that he didn’t understand football at all. “He thought football was easy – just tell the players to be aggressive and we will resolve all the problems. I think we did well in the league until Thaksin decided I had to go at the end of the season. Every time we lost he never spoke to me for a week afterwards, but when we won it was dinner and very nice hugs. It’s difficult to work with people like that.”

Eriksson joked he had arrived at City 18 months too early, as he would have relished the chance to work with the current owners.

Continues:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1404693_svengoran_eriksson_lifts_lid_on_shinawatras_city_regime

Manchester Evening News - January 7, 2010

Sven's not the only only ex-City employee who isn't 100% impressed with him: Thaksin went cap-in-hand to fellow former Director John Wardle three times during his ownership, for the mony to pay the club wage bill.

[Siam Simon]

Sven-Goran Eriksson admits Shinawatra strain at Man City

The former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has told BBC Radio Manchester of his problems he had with former City chairman Thaksin Shinawatra.

He said: "His biggest problem was that he didn't understand football at all and he didn't realise that.

"He thought football was easy just tell the players to be aggressive and we will resolve all the problems."

"I think we did well in the whole league more or less until Thaksin decided I had to go at the end of the season," he added.

"Every time we lost he never spoke to me for a week after but when we won it was dinner and very nice hugs and things, so it's difficult to work with people like that."

More revelations about Thaksin's 'style' from SvenLeaks in the Telegraph today...

Nowhere was worse than at Manchester City under former owner Thaksin Shinawatra. What Eriksson had to endure during the 2007-08 season at Eastlands after stepping down as manager of England is encapsulated in a story told by some of those on the club's end-of-season tour of Thailand. Thaksin took the squad to a karaoke bar in downtown Bangkok and, in front of Eriksson, sang a song for his manager. His selection? The Clash's Should I Stay Or Should I Go.

You cannot imagine many men taking that in good humour, yet incredibly Eriksson remained dignified.

I realise he's a former PM of this country, and may well be a future one (via proxy if not directly), but in 100% seriousness...

...what a massive tool.

The bit that's missing from that Bangkok karaoke bar story is the best bit. Thaksin invited Sven up to sing the song with him, only to get a retort of pure wit from Sven: "No. Absolutely not. You are the big man in this town."

[MaiChai]

Taksin is clearly not a reasonable man. Absolute power is his aim. I think that is pretty clear. That is why he was removed. Like all dictators he would not compromise and work with others. In fact, as I remember at the time, it seemed he was running everything personally with everyone else just carrying out his orders. The press lived in fear of being sued (or receiving death threats) if they said anything against Taksin and his governemt. Government and democracy does not work this way. The country cannot be run by one man alone; it needs to be run by a government, whose head is the PM who provides guidance. The processes of voting in parliament/senate provides the checks and balances to ensure the right decisions are made and the system is not totally corrupted.

Regarding the red shirts: why do they have to operate in the way they do? Why can't they use the parliamentary and democratic processes that are already in place? If they want to rule, they need to persuade the majority that they are the best party to run the country, and then win a general election. To do this, they need to operate within the law and win the hearts and minds of most Thais. What is their approach: a communist revolution? Well that didn't work anywhere. Everyone knows their agenda is to get Taksin off the hook and back in power. Why is one person so important? Politicians come and go; its the normal political process where no one totally controls the system.

[hyperdimension]

More on Thaksin's management style at Manchester City.

Sounds like he tried to run it like he did Thailand.

As a "regime"... followed by a "revolt"...

I wonder if Robert Amsterdam is fervently writing a rebuttal of all these recent articles about Eriksson's account of working with the tyrant. His rebuttal on the "Bad Exes" article a while back was a good effort at whitewashing.

[TheyCallmeScooter]

I wonder if Robert Amsterdam is fervently writing a rebuttal of all these recent articles about Eriksson's account of working with the tyrant. His rebuttal on the "Bad Exes" article a while back was a good effort at whitewashing.

It was a mighty effort. I'm not sure how good it was. In Amsterdam's defence, he's really been given an almost impossible argument to try and make. I guess one cannot be too hard on him when the argument comes out as mostly fluff and misrepresentation which cannot really withstand scrutiny.

Thankfully for Thaksin and Amsterdam, this isn't exactly a world which ever burdens itself with things like scrutiny.

I will say his effort was a lot better than Jane Foley's. Her effort was ridiculous. How has no one seriously taken that B 1,000,000 already. Surely the easiest 1 mil baht to be made in history...

[kimamey]

Thaksin is not one of the old guard of wealthy Bangkok families who have ruled Thailand since the country became a democracy in 1932. He was born in rural Thailand near Chiang Mai of Chinese descent. His father was a politician and later a businessman and the family was one of the richest and most influential in Chiang Mai. Thaksin was a member of the 10th class of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and was then admitted to the Thai Police Cadet Academy. Upon graduation in 1973, he joined the Royal Thai Police Department. He received a master's degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in the United States in 1975, and three years later was awarded a doctorate in Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University in Texas.

He resigned from the police department in 1987 after several failed business attempts while he was still in the service and began to build his business empire at first by leasing computers to the government then later gaining a license to establish a mobile phone network (AIS) which grew rapidly to list on the Thai stock exchange and which eventually became the largest mobile phone operator in Thailand.

He moved into politics in 1994 and was appointed foreign minister in the same year. After serving as a minister in several governments he founded the Thai Rak Thai party in 1998 and when the prime minister dissolved parliament in 2000 Thaksin was elected as Prime Minister. At the time some academics called it the most open and corruption free election in Thai history.

He began to bring in policies that would for the first time give real benefits to Thailand's rural poor. He started a scheme where farmers could borrow modest sums of money at low interest to use to expand their businesses; he provided the first universal health care, where for 30 baht anyone could attend a public hospital and receive treatment from a doctor. At this time, Thailand was in the grip of a meth amphetamine epidemic which was creating social havoc. Thousands of people were taking the cheap pills manufactured and smuggled into Thailand daily from Burma, (some say by senior military figures). Old and young alike were taking the drug to help them work longer hours and earn more money, not realising the dangers of addiction and psychosis that the drug produced.

Thaksin acted quickly and firmly to rid Thailand of the scourge that was sweeping through the country. He gave orders that every citizen must attend a meeting held at their local village and give the names of anyone they knew who was taking or selling the drug. He also gave the police unprecedented powers to arrest and charge anyone who they considered to be involved with Methamphetamine. It is widely reported that the police gave two warnings to suspects and the third time they were simply disposed of by hit squads operating under the guidance and protection of the police. This however had a dramatic effect on the problem and within six months the drug had all but disappeared from the streets. It is estimated that around 2500 people disappeared or died during this time. The majority of Thai people however supported this strong action and it won him new supporters. Thaksin began to move to cement his position at the top of the political system. He promoted many of his former colleagues and friends over better-qualified and more senior officers. Thaksin often interfered in the annual promotions of the military, which the corps saw as its purview.

Under the slogans "Four Years of Repair – Four years of Reconstruction" and "Building Opportunities", Thaksin and the TRT won landslide victories in the February 2005 elections, sweeping 374 out of 500 seats in Parliament. The election had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. But his second term was soon beset by protests, with claims that he presided over a "parliamentary dictatorship."

He also used his position to create huge wealth for himself and his family by expanding his satellite communication and media businesses which also fed the Thai hunger for salacious gossip about celebrities and politicians. This made him some powerful enemies in political and elite social circles. He also used his media machine to associate himself with the monarch, sometimes pictures of the king with himself superimposed next to him were posted onto huge billboards along the freeways. He also placed pressure on the government's public servants to be more service oriented, to do their jobs and not demand extra payments, to work a full day and to respond to the public's demands for value for money. This once again made him unpopular with those who had been getting an easy ride with the former governments' laissez faire attitude towards the poor.

It is clear that in his quest to remain at the top, he went too far and upset the Bangkok elite. Whether it was jealousy or fear by the powerful establishment it will never be known, however when he refused to pay income tax on the sale of his media empire to a Singapore company, it was reason enough to commence a series of events which would eventually lead to his downfall.

What a crock of sh1t, and a terribly uninformed article from a crappy Toronto-based tabloid. Hope it gets hit by a libel case.

The "crappy" I can agree to, but where exactly is the libel that you discern?

Having re-read it, I can see that, despite printing Thaksin's blatant lies, there's not sooo much that's factually incorrect on the part of the tabloid. Other than...

- The 61-year-old former leader has kept a low profile since being ousted in a military coup Sept. 19, 2006 (This one really got my goat and, because it was in the first paragraph, probably influenced my opinion of the rest of the article.)

- But his popularity remains high in the countryside because of policies that included micro-lending programs, erasing farmers' debts and a form of universal health care. (Erasing farmers' debts? What???)

- Thaksin, who won two elections (Did he really?)

If he put pressure on public servents to be more service orientated and give value for money what happened to the police? Did he leave them alone because of his previous connection or have they just forgotten?

[TheyCallmeScooter]

Thaksin acted quickly and firmly to rid Thailand of the scourge....they were simply disposed of by hit squads operating under the guidance and protection of the police. This however had a dramatic effect on the problem and within six months the drug had all but disappeared from the streets. It is estimated that around 2500 people disappeared or died during this time.

One could be forgiven for wondering aloud whether or not you were smoking the ya-baa which was (and remains) a scourge of Thailand's poor, when you make such an outrageous statement.

It may have disappeared from the streets (people were getting slaughtered, one would think people wouldn't advertise the fact they're using it) but are you really saying that either drug use stopped or declined?

Or are you suggesting that the blood of 2250 innocents killed is an acceptable price to pay for simply forcing the issue "out of sight, out of (idiot) mind"?

How did Thaksin's quick and decisive human rights violations end up, if you're being honest instead of ridiculously dishonest? Did his actions rid the nation of that scourge like you assert so definitively?

[MAJIC]

What a crock of sh1t, and a terribly uninformed article from a crappy Toronto-based tabloid. Hope it gets hit by a libel case.

Care to explain why a libel case would be justified?

The Toronto Star is not a tabloid and it has won numerous awards for outstanding journalism. It is probably the largest circulation newspaper in Canada and its only competitor is the Globe & Mail which is a national newspaper. You may wish to reconsider who might get hit by a libel suit with an ignorant comment like yours. If you are angry about Thaksin, that's your problem. Don't take it out on a newspaper for carrying the interview. The paper should be commended for offering insight into a subject most Canadians are oblivious to. Papers like the Tupelo Express and the Sao Paulo review don't run original international stories like this.

For a paper with such high journalism standards as you say, perhaps you can explain why they did not ask a single difficult question. You don't suppose they were spooned fed this as an easy story by Amsterdam do you?

Sample questions

If you, as you claim, don't know any of the UDD, how do you explain your meetings with the leaders leading up to April/May protests? Are you scheduled for a phone to address a rally this weekend?

Did the government not sit down with the UDD in the first days of the protests and offer to negotiate a way to have early elections? The meetings were shown on Thai national television, one of the leaders received a text as it became apparent one of the other UDD leaders was becoming receptive to a negoaited settlement, was that text from you? Why did the UDD leadership walk away from those meetings?

What is your reaction to comments made by Seh Deang, widely reported locally, on the day he was killed saying you had dismissed the moderate leadership and him and the radical were now in charge and would fight to the end?

So on and so. That is real journalism. What this article is nothing more the a hack taking the easy way out with an unquestioned PR feed from Amsterdam.

TH

And what about:

Mr. Thaksin, you claimed in our interview here that you "don't know" the people in UDD. Would you care to comment on these photos showing you meeting with various members of UDD, or quotes from Jatuporn and others that you had phoned them?

And another question: why bother with regular video phone ins,in large hired venues,alledgedly to incite the UDD? members,if you "don't know" them?

[MAJIC]

Taksin is clearly not a reasonable man. Absolute power is his aim. I think that is pretty clear. That is why he was removed. Like all dictators he would not compromise and work with others. In fact, as I remember at the time, it seemed he was running everything personally with everyone else just carrying out his orders. The press lived in fear of being sued (or receiving death threats) if they said anything against Taksin and his governemt. Government and democracy does not work this way. The country cannot be run by one man alone; it needs to be run by a government, whose head is the PM who provides guidance. The processes of voting in parliament/senate provides the checks and balances to ensure the right decisions are made and the system is not totally corrupted.

Regarding the red shirts: why do they have to operate in the way they do? Why can't they use the parliamentary and democratic processes that are already in place? If they want to rule, they need to persuade the majority that they are the best party to run the country, and then win a general election. To do this, they need to operate within the law and win the hearts and minds of most Thais. What is their approach: a communist revolution? Well that didn't work anywhere. Everyone knows their agenda is to get Taksin off the hook and back in power. Why is one person so important? Politicians come and go; its the normal political process where no one totally controls the system.

Think Simple Here....... The Paymaster Returns?

Edited January 11, 2011 by MAJIC

[Buchholz]

Sven: City lucky to be rid of Thaksin Shinawatra

Sven-Goran Eriksson makes his first return to City as a manager since his unpopular sacking in 2008, declaring the fans should be glad Eastlands is now a Thaksin-free zone. Eriksson, who put the attacking verve back in City and pulled off a memorable derby double over United, is sure to get a warm welcome from Blues fans. Eriksson has fond memories of City, even though his reign lasted a year and he suffered extreme frustration at the ownership of Thaksin Shinawatra before his untimely sacking. Eriksson revealed recently how the Thai tycoon would shun him when City lost, but be full of hugs and dinner invitations when they won, as well as exhibiting a serious lack of football knowledge.

“The year I was at City the people treated me extremely well,” said Eriksson. “The fans always got behind the team and there were good people working in the club, so I am looking forward to going back. I have nothing against anyone at City. The only one who didn’t understand anything was the owner at that time."

"They are lucky he is not there any more and he should never have come."

"But now they have good owners."

Continues:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1405549_sven_city_lucky_to_be_rid_of_thaksin_shinawatra

Manchester Evening News - January 18, 2011