Thaksin Ready To Return And 'Serve The People'

[Lite Beer]

Thaksin woos voters with promises, ready to return and 'serve the people'

By The Nation on Sunday.

Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra expressed confidence yesterday that the Pheu Thai Party will win the upcoming general election and said he was ready to return and "serve the people" if he was needed.

Thaksin addressed a gathering for two hours via video link yesterday at an event to launch the party's political campaign platform and its candidates. The event was broadcast live through red-shirt satellite TV, Asia Update.

Most Pheu Thai bigwigs and a number of red-shirt leaders, including former chairman of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship Veera Musigapong, were present at the event.

Introducing the slogan "Pheu Thai is ready to run the country, allow us to think again, work again, for all Thais once more", Thaksin stressed his loyalty to the throne and went on to try to defend his record at length.

The event, at Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus Convention Hall, began with video footage showing the "success" of Thaksin's previous policies, such as the Bt30 Medicare plan, the war on drugs campaign, village funds and more.

Thaksin later promised to increase the village fund by Bt1 million per village if the opposition Pheu Thai, of which he is the de-facto leader, wins.

Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyuth Vichaidit asked the thousands of attendees whom they missed the most and got a rousing response "Thaksin!" several times. In his address, Thaksin insisted that he still holds Thai citizenship and loves Thailand but needed foreign passports in order to travel around because his Thai passport had been confiscated.

He maintained that he has been unfairly accused of being disloyal to the throne and explained at length how loyal he is to the throne.

"I want people to know that I grew to be what I am today because of my loyalty to those whom I owe it to," Thaksin said at one point, adding that all Thais were loyal to the throne.

"I want to say that someone may carry a "I Love the King" sticker on their car but shove another driver [leading to a fatality] but police would not dare to arrest the driver, while the person who died revered the picture of the King at home," he said.

He added that he agreed with the latest regulation of the Election Commission (EC) barring all political parties from mentioning the monarchy for electoral gains.

Thaksin said Thai democracy had been on the decline since the Democrat Party came to power and people have become fearful of a possible military coup over and over again.

He urged the EC to ensure a free and fair election and asked all parties to accept the electoral outcome.

Thaksin said no one should try to interfere with the working of the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

He urged Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha to defend Thailand's sovereignty and not become a political tool.

Thaksin also urged the amendment of the current charter, which was sponsored by the military junta in 2007, and a return of justice to those affected by the coup in 2006.

Thaksin then vowed that the party, if elected, would solve the flood problem in Bangkok for good by building a mega-dyke some 30 kilometres in length as in the Netherlands.

Thaksin also vowed to reclaim some 300 square kilometres of land from the sea around Samut Prakan and Samut Songkram provinces and build a new city with an excellent environment and rail link to Bangkok and acting as an IT and financial hub.

The former premier also promised:

_ Ten new electric rail lines would be introduced in Bangkok with a fixed fee of Bt20 per ride.

_ New flats and houses would be built to allow students and poor people to rent at Bt1,000 per month.

_ Some 25 river-basin areas would also be improved and water channelled from Burma, Laos and Cambodia.

_ Build a bullet train line from Bangkok to Chiang Mai as well as to other cities like Nakhon Ratchasima, Hua Hin, Rayong

_ Building a two-track rail line linking Bangkok's vicinity together

_ Extend the airport link rail to Chachoengsao province and Pattaya

_ Construct a land bridge linking the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

_ Eliminate the drugs problem within 12 months and eradicate poverty within four years.

_ Debt moratorium to those owing between Bt500,000 to Bt1 million for three to five years.

_ Unmilled rice would be guaranteed at Bt15,000 per tonne.

_ Minimum corporate income tax would be reduced from 30 per cent to 23 per cent within the next year.

_ Fresh university graduates would be guaranteed a minimum monthly salary of Bt15,000 and the minimum wage will be set at Bt300 per day.

_ A Bt1-billion fund would be created to help state and private universities.

_ Tax deductions for those buying their first home or economy car.

_ The oil-subsidy fund would be managed reasonably and alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and water would be developed.

_ Thai food will be promoted abroad and Suvarnabhumi Airport will be developed into a regional travel hub.

Regarding the southern violence, Thaksin admitted he had been too

hard when he was the premier and said dialogue is needed. He said the region should be turned into a special administrative zone like Bangkok or Pattaya.

-- The Nation 2011-04-24

[whybother]

But he's not ready to return and serve his sentence?

[Buchholz]

and said he was ready to return and "serve the people"

right after you return and serve your time

[Buchholz]

What the OP photo doesn't show is that at other times during the 2 hour-long speech, 2 of the previously unknown Thaksin Triplets were shown on the monitor.

unaltered photo from Thai News:

http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNd016VTJOekE1TlE9PQ==&sectionid=

[geriatrickid]

Nothing mysterious in the photos as I believe it is due to the lighting. The center screen is much brighter than the other screens, hence the color distortion.

[Buchholz]

^ free packets of sense of humor nutritional supplement are available in the lobby.

[yoshiwara]

For how long is it? months? years? we have been putting up with the forum red apologists telling us that 'its not about Thaksin?' The whole speech is 'I, I, I'

Not even the smallest scintilla of doubt.

A summary? 'I am Father Christmas, and these are the goodies', but first (and please listen carefully) you must bring me back, or no presents.'

And on the other side of his mouth he will be telling Jatuporn to keep the boys ready for some action. Not that Jatuporn needs to be told, just encouraged.

[ratcatcher]

What the OP photo doesn't show is that at other times during the 2 hour-long speech, 2 of the previously unknown Thaksin Triplets were shown on the monitor.

unaltered photo from Thai News:

http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNd016VTJOekE1TlE9PQ==&sectionid=

In the photograph, Thaksin's mouth is open. I assume he is speaking the truth?

[timekeeper]

he said before everyone would be rich in six months now we have to wait 4 years?

flip flopper!

[rogerdee123]

It's often been said that winning politicians in Thailand think of the country's wealth as their "buffet table".

In Taksin's mind (and many others) the word "serve" is probably defined in this context.

The problem is, those at Taksin's level "serve" themselves way too much of the main course while "serving" the people perhaps a dinner roll with a bit of butter.

Yes indeed Taksin wants to come back to serve .... he is still hungry! .... his billions must need topping up.

[Soutpeel]

The only thing is appears he hasnt promised on that list is to come back to Thailand and walk on water..... ...or is that on his next list ?

Also when was his Thai passport confiscated ?

The man is a fruit loop

My favourite line

"Eliminate the drugs problem within 12 months and eradicate poverty within four years"

What is he running for...? Miss World.... .

[Aromaz]

For those that lived through the 1997 economic disaster and that has been in business . . . We know the miracles Thaksin did.

It is a fact of history; go look at the Asian economic disater after the financial colapse in 1997.

Remember the thousandfs of semi-completed construction sites, the baht gone to 47 agains the USD, unemployment, bankrupsies et all.

To this day the neigbouring countries in ASEAN are still suffering.

Only Thailand got out of it, in the last year of Thaksin - Thailand even repaid all debts to the World Bank; clearing out the help they got.

A large number of devellopment sin Thailand got underway during his reign.

I know to a great extend Thaksin was not very Pro-Farang; but he really did a LOT of good for this country.

Imagine Thailand still be in the financial oposition like Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia.

THAT took a businessman to get thailand back on its feet.

I remain out of politics, not interested in it here or home BUT all respect and honour due to those who desrves it.

I am amazed at the people, including foreigners - failing to realize what S. Thaksin did for this country and its people; including foregn businesses.

[TAWP]

I remain out of politics, not interested in it here or home BUT all respect and honour due to those who desrves it.

I am amazed at the people, including foreigners - failing to realize what S. Thaksin did for this country and its people; including foregn businesses.

We probably fail to realize what he did since for many of us he did nothing. Why would we credit the growth of our companies to a man that did nothing [but work against us]?

But please, humor us, tell us what he did that helped us.

[givenall]

He can start by serving in jail the time he owes to thepeople of Thailand. No one should be above the law, but he think otherwise

[animatic]

^ free packets of sense of humor nutritional supplement are available in the lobby.

It is NOT possible to overdose,

but easily possible to not take enough....

[inmysights]

Almost every time I visit this forum I see the name Thaksin.

Is it he, or the administrators, trying to bore us all into submission? 'Oh okay then, enough already, you can come back yawn'

[TAWP]

Almost every time I visit this forum I see the name Thaksin.

Is it he, or the administrators, trying to bore us all into submission? 'Oh okay then, enough already, you can come back yawn'

I woulds be fairly bored having to sit and listen to his drivel for 2 hours...but it seems his groupies was full ears the full speech through.

Must have been waiting for details how Thaksin will enable all his promises to go through...but alas, we will never be told.

[otherstuff1957]

Thaksin paid off the World Bank loan? Actually it was the IMF and all he did was to continue the policies of the Chuan Leakpai government:

Thai-Asean News Network story

For those who don't like to click links, here is the relevant part of the article:

After the BOT decided to let the baht float on July 2, 2007 under the managed float system, the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh government requested a loan from the International Monetary Fund on August 14 of the same year.

Under the loan agreement, Thailand would receive an installment of the total loan package every three months. With each installment received, the Thai government signed a letter of intent, or LOI, acknowledging its obligation to repay each installment in its entirety within a period of three years. According to the original borrowing plan, Thailand should have received the last installment of loan around the middle of 2001 with repayment deadline in 2004.

Thai people know how hard life was back in 1997. However, after Thai baht became weaker, exports soared. This sparked off a chain reaction towards economic recovery in forms of improvement in the private sector and finance industry, lowered interest rates and the rise of investments. As the Thai economy picked up and the country’s international reserve increased, Thailand fulfilled the repayment obligation it had with the IMF. The real unsung heroes here were the Thai citizens who each bore the burden of the economic hardship and prevailed over the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

Things got better faster than it was earlier expected and, in the middle of 2000, Chuan Leekpai administration decided to prematurely end the borrowing scheme with IMF by one year. Keeping this in mind, it means the new deadline to repay the last installment became 2003 instead of 2004. By that time, Thailand became a debt-free country regardless of whoever was in the office at that time.

But don't let the facts get in the way of your propaganda.

[animatic]

For those that lived through the 1997 economic disaster and that has been in business . . . We know the miracles Thaksin did....

It is a fact of history; go look at the Asian economic disater after the financial colapse in 1997....

Only Thailand got out of it, in the last year of Thaksin - Thailand even repaid all debts to the World Bank; clearing out the help they got.

A large number of devellopment sin Thailand got underway during his reign....

Do you understand :

a ) Thaksin was standing 1 step behind Chavalit when he said 'We will not devalue the baht' on friday, and on monday Chavalit devalued the baht causing the Asian Tiger economimic crash. Thaksin was Deputy PM. and was one of the ONLY people who turned a profit from hedging his baht investments, before the devaluation....

Please read in the assumtions of how that happened with his position at the time. This also goes to the heart of the Sondhi/Thaksin bad blood. Sondhi was not let in on the deal and was ruined and knew Thaksin could have given him the same insider trading knowledge but didn't. Fearing Sondhi and the Lao Satellite deal would be too great a competition for Shinsat... Later Thaksin used banker friend leverage to drive final nails into Sondhi financially for many years.. and the seed of an intense desire for vendetta was planted.

b ) Thaksin did NOT like the "World Banks*" reporting restrictions. It prevented him from cooking the books and doing deals he wanted to do. So he SOLD the "World Banks*" or more correctly IMF International Monetary Fund debt to... TEMASEK, yes Singapore bought it,

as LONG TERM DEBT, with no oversight restrictions, lower interest, but because of the longer time MORE COST TO THAILAND.

c ) Thailand was an original signatory of the IMF was and STILL IS, a member and contributor yearly based on % of national revenues. As short term safety valve, in times of financial distress. This is why Thailand joined and used the IMF funds. Because it is like a global insurance pool for members if they ever needed.

So Thaksin sold everyone the fiction that the debt was paid off, when it only was shifted to a less observent local 'owner', so he was not under such strong scrutiny, and played the nationalist card to make it seem he was getting some great satan off of Thailands back. But in reality sold the debt to a commercial entity, rather than the international governmental safety valve insurance agency, that Thailand is a part of.

Masterfully played since some still believe this fiction even now.

Ignoring the fact that he was in the heart of the cockup that CAUSED the need for that loan. Chuan took those fair and typical IMF loan agreements, for a time, in an attempt to clean up the Thai banking world. Thaksin made nationalist points while dialing back all those reforms to an ailing system, while benefiting from a return to strength of the REGIONAL economy. And taking full credit for the tough love repairs of others, while blaming them for the pain needed to do those repairs.

Similarly to how Abhisit is being blamed for external factors to Thailand's economy beyond his control.

* "World Banks*" or more correctly IMF

Edited April 24, 2011 by animatic

[Crushdepth]

Thaksin then vowed that the party, if elected, would solve the flood problem in Bangkok for good by building a mega-dyke some 30 kilometres in length as in the Netherlands.

That should provide some long-term amusement. I can see it now, allegations of 'cracks in the dyke', official denials, aircraft refusing to land, protesters could occupy it. Megabucks would need to be laundered ummm... spent increasing the height to fight sea level rise. It could go on for centuries.

[animatic]

Thaksin then vowed that the party, if elected, would solve the flood problem in Bangkok for good by building a mega-dyke some 30 kilometres in length as in the Netherlands.

That should provide some long-term amusement. I can see it now, allegations of 'cracks in the dyke', official denials, aircraft refusing to land, protesters could occupy it. Megabucks would need to be laundered ummm... spent increasing the height to fight sea level rise. It could go on for centuries.

It's always mega this mega that,

why not enter this century and got for Terra Projects?

[Ricardo]

Thaksin then vowed that the party, if elected, would solve the flood problem in Bangkok for good by building a mega-dyke some 30 kilometres in length as in the Netherlands.

That should provide some long-term amusement. I can see it now, allegations of 'cracks in the dyke', official denials, aircraft refusing to land, protesters could occupy it. Megabucks would need to be laundered ummm... spent increasing the height to fight sea level rise. It could go on for centuries.

Dam right !

[Buchholz]

Fugitive former premier runs election campaign, promises to return

Bangkok - Thailand can expect a new capital reclaimed from the sea, higher minimum wages and improved relations with the Middle East if the main opposition party wins the upcoming general election, fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Saturday. Thaksin, in a video conference address from abroad to thousands of followers in his Puea Thai party, spelled out his campaign policies for polls planned in late June or early July.

If the party wins, Thaksin promised the new government would almost double daily minium wages to 300 baht, slash corporate taxes from 30 per cent to 23 per cent and construct a 60-kilometre dyke in the Gulf of Thailand to prevent flooding in Bangkok and to extend the capital into the sea.

He also promised to allow all tourists from the Middle East to get visas on arrival in Thailand, and said he would improve relations with Saudi Arabia. Thaksin was prime minister between 2001-06. He has lived abroad since 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence for abuse of power. The billionaire former telecommunications tycoon has remained a powerful player in Thailand's political scene as the de-facto leader of the Puea Thai party, and the chief financier behind the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) street protest movement.

The UDD staged 69 days of demonstrations in Bangkok last March-May that led to bloody street battles with authorities that left 92 dead, including nine police and soldiers. The protest was partly motivated by Thaksin's desire to overturn a court decision to seize 1.6 billion dollars of his assets on a malfeasance conviction, sources close to him have confirmed.

Read more:

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1634744.php/Fugitive-former-premier-runs-election-campaign-promises-to-return

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - April 23, 2011

Edited April 24, 2011 by Buchholz

[Oberkommando]

It's almost an inevitability PT are going to win and he's going to come back eventually. Isn't it?

[Buchholz]

Opposition Puea Thai Party members discuss election campaign

BANGKOK -- Members of the major opposition Puea Thai Party today held discussions on general election campaign strategy as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva plans to dissolve the House of Representatives early next month and call for a general election.

Several prominent figures of the party attended the meeting including Party Leader Yongyuth Vichaidit, Chairman of MPs Chalerm Yubamrung and former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of fugitive, ousted ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The party announced that it had selected all the 375 candidates to contest in the election nationwide and some out of the total 175 party list members as required by the Constitution.

It is expected that Puea Thai Party would appoint the rest of the party list candidates after the House is dissolved.

Sharp divisiveness was seen among party members in recent weeks and many of them planned to abandon ship as they are dissatisfied that Mr Thaksin, de facto leader of Puea Thai Party now living in self-imposed exiled mostly in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, wants to appoint his younger sister as party leader while contesting the election.

Core leaders of the party said Mr Thaksin had talked to party members via video conference during the meeting and gave advice on party policy and since the House is not officially dissolved, the party did not violate any election law.

In his speech, Mr Thaksin said he was confident that the party would be able to form a new government after the election. He also confirmed his allegiance to the country’s monarchy and urged the Election Commission to issue a regulation banning all political parties from involving the monarchy in their campaign.

Meanwhile, Nattawut Saikua, a core leader of anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said the selection of UDD leaders to contest in the election under the Puea Thai Party banner depends on the decision of party’s executives, as Mr Nattawut himself plans to run under the party-list MP.

-- TNA 2011-04-23

Edited April 24, 2011 by Maestro
Deleted confusing comment that was not part of the news article.

[arrowsdawdle]

For those that lived through the 1997 economic disaster and that has been in business . . . We know the miracles Thaksin did....

It is a fact of history; go look at the Asian economic disater after the financial colapse in 1997....

Only Thailand got out of it, in the last year of Thaksin - Thailand even repaid all debts to the World Bank; clearing out the help they got.

A large number of devellopment sin Thailand got underway during his reign....

Do you understand :

a ) Thaksin was standing 1 step behind Chavalit when he said 'We will not devalue the baht' on friday, and on monday Chavalit devalued the baht causing the Asian Tiger economimic crash. Thaksin was Deputy PM. and was one of the ONLY people who turned a profit from hedging his baht investments, before the devaluation....

Please read in the assumtions of how that happened with his position at the time. This also goes to the heart of the Sondhi/Thaksin bad blood. Sondhi was not let in on the deal and was ruined and knew Thaksin could have given him the same insider trading knowledge but didn't. Fearing Sondhi and the Lao Satellite deal would be too great a competition for Shinsat... Later Thaksin used banker friend leverage to drive final nails into Sondhi financially for many years.. and the seed of an intense desire for vendetta was planted.

b ) Thaksin did NOT like the "World Banks*" reporting restrictions. It prevented him from cooking the books and doing deals he wanted to do. So he SOLD the "World Banks*" or more correctly IMF International Monetary Fund debt to... TEMASEK, yes Singapore bought it,

as LONG TERM DEBT, with no oversight restrictions, lower interest, but because of the longer time MORE COST TO THAILAND.

c ) Thailand was an original signatory of the IMF was and STILL IS, a member and contributor yearly based on % of national revenues. As short term safety valve, in times of financial distress. This is why Thailand joined and used the IMF funds. Because it is like a global insurance pool for members if they ever needed.

So Thaksin sold everyone the fiction that the debt was paid off, when it only was shifted to a less observent local 'owner', so he was not under such strong scrutiny, and played the nationalist card to make it seem he was getting some great satan off of Thailands back. But in reality sold the debt to a commercial entity, rather than the international governmental safety valve insurance agency, that Thailand is a part of.

Masterfully played since some still believe this fiction even now.

Ignoring the fact that he was in the heart of the cockup that CAUSED the need for that loan. Chuan took those fair and typical IMF loan agreements, for a time, in an attempt to clean up the Thai banking world. Thaksin made nationalist points while dialing back all those reforms to an ailing system, while benefiting from a return to strength of the REGIONAL economy. And taking full credit for the tough love repairs of others, while blaming them for the pain needed to do those repairs.

Similarly to how Abhisit is being blamed for external factors to Thailand's economy beyond his control.

* "World Banks*" or more correctly IMF

a) So, regarding Thaksin/Sondhi, you advocate Macy should tell Saks? That's left of Castro and Kim Jong Il.

Supposition rarely rings authoritative and this is no exception. Did or did not Thailand weather the financial crisis better than other regional governments? Believing your own conjecture does not reality make.

c) So what really bothers you is not that the country benefitted, but that he may have. You can say that the country did not benefit, but who is one supposed to believe, the articulate crowing of isolated foreigners that should not be involved in Thai politics, or the legions of people to whom the country truly belongs?

Edited April 24, 2011 by Maestro
Corrected spelling of name.

[swerver]

I remain out of politics, not interested in it here or home BUT all respect and honour due to those who desrves it.

I am amazed at the people, including foreigners - failing to realize what S. Thaksin did for this country and its people; including foregn businesses.

We probably fail to realize what he did since for many of us he did nothing. Why would we credit the growth of our companies to a man that did nothing [but work against us]?

But please, humor us, tell us what he did that helped us.

Yes, you are absolutely correct with: Pls, humor us, tell us what he did that helped us.

Aromaz should correct its Archive about Thailand that is if he has an Archive about Thailand.

My Archive about Thailand shows it was a Mr. Chun Leekpai who took the country from the brink of disaster when Chavalit Yongchaiyudh had driven the country over the cliff into the ravine of financial disaster and threw in the towel. Mr. Motormouth Thaksin at that time was nowhere to be seen.

It was Chun Leekpai and his Thai Democratic Party – the oldest political party in Thailand, starting in the early thirties – who was asked to take on to lead the country out of its financial disaster and held the Thai people's nose to the grindstone saving money as fast as possible to give it back the IMF so as to get out from under the IMF dictates. Chun's austerity the Thai people didn't appreciate so at the election Thaksin with his bags of falls-goodies arrived on the scene and the Thais like always when shown red, blue and grey bills fall over themselves to grab them regardless of the consequences after the orgy. Then when Thai people had fallen for Thaksin bullshit and he was in the driver seat Thaksin took the money Chun had saved and with great fanfare in all the Thai dis-news Medias presented the money to the IMF with the foolish Thais telling themselves it was Thaksin's own money. And this Thai people Cinderella behavior is still prevailing today 2011. Don't believe it, take a look around Thailand and you will be blinded by RED, shirts that is. Next election it will be interesting to see if Thai people have awakened from their brain-dead slumber.

Edited April 24, 2011 by swerver

[janverbeem]

It is still behind me why a banned politician and fugitive convict is allowed to run a political party in this country?

[Oberkommando]

Thaksin then vowed that the party, if elected, would solve the flood problem in Bangkok for good by building a mega-dyke some 30 kilometres in length as in the Netherlands.

That should provide some long-term amusement. I can see it now, allegations of 'cracks in the dyke', official denials, aircraft refusing to land, protesters could occupy it. Megabucks would need to be laundered ummm... spent increasing the height to fight sea level rise. It could go on for centuries.

Better spent on dykes and railways for the people than the billions upon billions squandered on broken cold-war era submarines, airships with cameras that cannot see from the level they operate at, non-functional bomb detectors that were sold by a convicted conman and 1960's era Ukrainian Soviet designed armoured vehicles IMO.

[Thaddeus]

The man is a fruit loop

My favourite line

"Eliminate the drugs problem within 12 months and eradicate poverty within four years"

What is he running for...? Miss World.... .

If he thought he had any chance of winning that, he would probably have some gender surgery...... perhaps that's why he really wants to come back.