Thaksin, Reds Impatient To Claim Benefits From Govt

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Thaksin, Reds impatient to claim benefits from govt

By Avudh Panananda

The Nation

Next week will see the policy debate in Parliament, a final step for inauguration of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.

This week, PM Yingluck and key ministers will assume office. Even before today's Cabinet review of the policy statement, the prime minister is hard at work addressing the people's grievances.

Unfortunately, the publicity about Yingluck's inspection of flood-hit areas in the North and Northeast was overshadowed by reports involving former prime minister Thaksin and the red shirts.

Based on recent headlines, the people appear to stand last in line to benefit from this government.

Last Thursday, new Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul discreetly signalled to the Japanese government to facilitate Thaksin's entry to Tokyo.

Despite concern about Thai diplomacy being at its lowest ebb, Surapong's first act in office had nothing to do with the country and everything to do with benefits for Thaksin's sake.

Under Thai law, Thaksin is a fugitive evading a two-year jail term after being convicted of a conflict of interest. He is also a suspect on the run from at least two graft trials linked to abuse of lottery funds and a project involving substandard rubber saplings.

Just weeks after the Pheu Thai election victory, Thaksin's legal issues seem to have dissipated. He is now seen as the man of the hour. And it looks like just a matter of time before the ruling party demolishes legal hurdles so that he can return to Thailand again.

When Thaksin was in power from 2001 to 2006, his popularity helped him to overcome the system of checks and balances. It is a matter of public record that certain judges in the Constitution Court ruled in his favour - in August 2001 - in order to avoid seeing their court torched by an angry mob.

The majority of judges found him guilty of concealing his assets in a declaration prior to his taking office, but he escaped punishment in a controversial victory by a mere one vote.

Since 2008, he has had difficulty avoiding legal trouble despite a team of expensive lawyers. As Pheu Thai has grabbed power, his fate looks set to change for the better.

Society will soon be faced with a burning question on whether to condone a popular leader like Thaksin for his transgression with the law.

His trip to Japan is just a starter because Thaksin's main course is to get an amnesty and a return of Bt46 billion in seized assets.

Over the weekend, the red shirts stepped out to demand compensation payments for the relatives of 91 people killed in last year's riots. Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan suggested a Bt10-million package for each victim while red-shirt chairwoman Thida Thawornseth said the payments were negotiable.

It is understood that Pheu Thai has already agreed to compensate those killed and injured as part of the reconciliation process although it remains unclear whether the government will spell out plans for the compensation package in its policy statement.

Days after the government's swearing-in ceremony, Thaksin was first in line to claim his reward. He has enjoyed a sudden reversal of fortune after being shunned by the previous government to be the darling of the Yingluck administration.

The red shirts were next to stake their claim. In a mere month or two, they can expect to start receiving compensation payments.

But ordinary Thais have to wait for any tangible benefit to trickle down from the government to them. An increase in the minimum wage to Bt300 a day is likely take more than six months before it comes into being. And despite verbal pledge to rein in rising costs of living, the government has yet to unveil a practical plan to keep the price of essential goods in check.

-- The Nation 2011-08-16

[samurai]

Unfortunately, the publicity about Yingluck's inspection of flood-hit areas in the North and Northeast was overshadowed by reports involving former prime minister Thaksin and the red shirts.

Exactly, its all just media made that this govt is just about Thaksin and cares only about him.

[Who, me ?]

Now we will start to see the new government real agenda....

The truth today.......... Thaksin return, reds being rewarded (compensated if you prefer)..... Those who voted them in charge can wait. Electoral promises were just that...electoral promises.

[sfbandung]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

[jackr]

An increase in the minimum wage to Bt300 a day is likely take more than six months before it comes into being. And despite verbal pledge to rein in rising costs of living, the government has yet to unveil a practical plan to keep the price of essential goods in check

If the 300 baht minimum wage comes to fruition, there will be no reining in of rising costs!

[ianf]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

It's no bad thing that at least one newspaper can write honest opinions. How long before the Thaksin Government gags The Nation? Perhaps we should take bets on that scenario!

[scorecard]

Just the paymaster ensuring (being up front and vocal) that his thugs and the unaware poor that he manipulates are paid big money (money coming out of taxpayers funds), and then he can claim again that he is their HERO.

Greatest manipulator of all time.

[samurai]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

Cheap anti Thaksin shots are easy to produce, don't need lot of journalistic work for it.

It is also a sales tactic.

[nong38]

I see prices rising already so what will happen when the 300bt a day promise comes to fruition will be an eye opener, this will not benefit the sole trader who would love to make 300bts a day but struggles by and thos ewho will get it think they will double their money overnight, they forget things will rise to pay for it and soon all will be back where we started. Except of course for the sole trader in the street who will feel the true force of this election pledge. The people will not be too happy and if then big brother returns what will then happen? More rioting, more fighting a coup maybe. The new governemnt had better put the country first and quick and stop looking after number 1 and big brother, dread to think what happen otherwise. What looked like a rosey future a few weeks ago might soon be a disaster.

[JurgenG]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

"journalists" working for The Nation are mostly kids freshly out of school. Those kids have been brainwashed for years by their extremist professors, what can you expect from them ?

Working for the english press is just an entry job, there is no future there. If you really want to know what's going on in Thailand, you have to read the Thai press or watch the Thai TV

[Thaddeus]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

It's no bad thing that at least one newspaper can write honest opinions. How long before the Thaksin Government gags The Nation? Perhaps we should take bets on that scenario!

Just a guess, I'd say about 6 months.

[Ricardo]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

I think it goes back to the first two Thaksin/TRT-governments, when he tried very hard to control the media, only to write positive-stories about his government. Reporters would get fired, people would get 1-Billion-Baht law-suits slapped on them, advertising would be withdrawn, it was all fairly clumsy & obvious. Not that the press has ever been all-that-free, before or after, IME.

This explains the jokes on TV, about his Good-Question/Bad-Question Cross/Tick hand-signs, or about Billion-Baht law-suits, you might not 'get' the references if you weren't here at the time.

Hopefully the rise of the internet might make this sort of manipulation less-successful nowadays ? And sometime someone might look at reforming the LM-law. One can only hope !

[samurai]

I see prices rising already so what will happen when the 300bt a day promise comes to fruition will be an eye opener, this will not benefit the sole trader who would love to make 300bts a day but struggles by and thos ewho will get it think they will double their money overnight, they forget things will rise to pay for it and soon all will be back where we started. Except of course for the sole trader in the street who will feel the true force of this election pledge. The people will not be too happy and if then big brother returns what will then happen? More rioting, more fighting a coup maybe. The new governemnt had better put the country first and quick and stop looking after number 1 and big brother, dread to think what happen otherwise. What looked like a rosey future a few weeks ago might soon be a disaster.

If the people are not happy with the current government, in the next election they will vote for a new one. We just saw that how it works (albeit the last government was a government the people not really voted for in the first place).

Edited August 16, 2011 by samurai

[samurai]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

I think it goes back to the first two Thaksin/TRT-governments, when he tried very hard to control the media, only to write positive-stories about his government. Reporters would get fired, people would get 1-Billion-Baht law-suits slapped on them, advertising would be withdrawn, it was all fairly clumsy & obvious. Not that the press has ever been all-that-free, before or after, IME.

This explains the jokes on TV, about his Good-Question/Bad-Question Cross/Tick hand-signs, or about Billion-Baht law-suits, you might not 'get' the references if you weren't here at the time.

Hopefully the rise of the internet might make this sort of manipulation less-successful nowadays ? And sometime someone might look at reforming the LM-law. One can only hope !

The press freedom index was falling under Abhisit and far worse than during the Thaksin days.

Time to get real.

[REM]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

"journalists" working for The Nation are mostly kids freshly out of school. Those kids have been brainwashed for years by their extremist professors, what can you expect from them ?

Working for the english press is just an entry job, there is no future there. If you really want to know what's going on in Thailand, you have to read the Thai press or watch the Thai TV

Really??? It seems that everything is biased here, and the nation seems balanced with pro/anti statements. I would like to know your definition of extremist, because I have yet to see professors calling for bombings and burning buildings, then asking to be paid for it. Sounds like the Middle East, and this is the far east.

Thai TV/newspapers are all a joke as well. I have yet to see people look at this fairly, without calling names that weren't earned. So again, can you tell me how these professors earned the title of extremists? And can you say how Thai media is better? Maybe you just like cartoon sounds effects while the government rapes you.

[thaicbr]

Well i think on the news this morning that the Phua Thai are NOT doing the 300b and 15,000b salary for 3 years.... Not sure .

[whybother]

Well i think on the news this morning that the Phua Thai are NOT doing the 300b and 15,000b salary for 3 years.... Not sure .

They said a couple of weeks ago that the 300 baht would be in place in 1 year nationwide.

[Bakseedaa]

An increase in the minimum wage to Bt300 a day is likely take more than six months before it comes into being. And despite verbal pledge to rein in rising costs of living, the government has yet to unveil a practical plan to keep the price of essential goods in check

If the 300 baht minimum wage comes to fruition, there will be no reining in of rising costs!

The 300 baht daily wage should be PTP priority... give the people their reward for voting you in Yinluck.. shut down 100,s of small businesses, and some large ones to move to Vietnam.. This will drop the value of the baht and give us Farangs a lot more spending power ... Rock on Yinluck..!

[Bakseedaa]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

"journalists" working for The Nation are mostly kids freshly out of school. Those kids have been brainwashed for years by their extremist professors, what can you expect from them ?

Working for the english press is just an entry job, there is no future there. If you really want to know what's going on in Thailand, you have to read the Thai press or watch the Thai TV

Jurgen, Stop believing ALL your wife is telling you... which "kid" are you talking about... All the Nation journalists are grown men and women... name me one kid..

[sfbandung]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

"journalists" working for The Nation are mostly kids freshly out of school. Those kids have been brainwashed for years by their extremist professors, what can you expect from them ?

Working for the english press is just an entry job, there is no future there. If you really want to know what's going on in Thailand, you have to read the Thai press or watch the Thai TV

Unfortunately my command of Thai, though improving, is not yet up to following the news telecasts. And I fear a year or so away from being able to read it effectively.

[sfbandung]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

I think it goes back to the first two Thaksin/TRT-governments, when he tried very hard to control the media, only to write positive-stories about his government. Reporters would get fired, people would get 1-Billion-Baht law-suits slapped on them, advertising would be withdrawn, it was all fairly clumsy & obvious. Not that the press has ever been all-that-free, before or after, IME.

This explains the jokes on TV, about his Good-Question/Bad-Question Cross/Tick hand-signs, or about Billion-Baht law-suits, you might not 'get' the references if you weren't here at the time.

Hopefully the rise of the internet might make this sort of manipulation less-successful nowadays ? And sometime someone might look at reforming the LM-law. One can only hope !

That's interesting. There hasn't been any talk of filtering the internet has there?

I asked a long term resident what the best source of news was and he said here. So far I enjoy the vigorous debates, does get a tad heated at times though!

Are we allowed to talk about the LM law? I don't want to get into trouble with the moderators.

Edited August 16, 2011 by sfbandung

[hammered]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

In fairness to the Nation they were one of the last newspapers willing to say negative things about TRT when TRT were at the height of their power and had "requested" other free organs not publish anti-government stuff. As a result the Nation had its advertising crushed by government influence. It isnt a bad thing to have a newspaper that has an anti-angle and the standard of journalism isnt really any better in other newspapers. It is just a matter of what bias you have.

By the way, right now I disagree with most of the Nation comment and editorial. However, it is good than can say what they want to say and hopefully will be able to in the future. A variety of different opinions and biases is no bad thing in a world where everyone has a bias and opinion and there is no such thing as an objective media source. Good luck to the red and yellow media too as an alternative to the blow with the wind organs

[sfbandung]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

In fairness to the Nation they were one of the last newspapers willing to say negative things about TRT when TRT were at the height of their power and had "requested" other free organs not publish anti-government stuff. As a result the Nation had its advertising crushed by government influence. It isnt a bad thing to have a newspaper that has an anti-angle and the standard of journalism isnt really any better in other newspapers. It is just a matter of what bias you have.

By the way, right now I disagree with most of the Nation comment and editorial. However, it is good than can say what they want to say and hopefully will be able to in the future. A variety of different opinions and biases is no bad thing in a world where everyone has a bias and opinion and there is no such thing as an objective media source. Good luck to the red and yellow media too as an alternative to the blow with the wind organs

Hear, hear!

Without a free press we're on a very bad road to nowhere.

[zakk9]

This is a comedy. Thaksin had a fair trial, at least as fair as one can expect in this country, and he's a fugitive on the run. The way things are developing, my guess is a military takeover within 8 months, before Songkran.

[ballpoint]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

Cheap anti Thaksin shots are easy to produce, don't need lot of journalistic work for it.

...

That's because he's such an obvious criminal.

[Ricardo]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

I think it goes back to the first two Thaksin/TRT-governments, when he tried very hard to control the media, only to write positive-stories about his government. Reporters would get fired, people would get 1-Billion-Baht law-suits slapped on them, advertising would be withdrawn, it was all fairly clumsy & obvious. Not that the press has ever been all-that-free, before or after, IME.

This explains the jokes on TV, about his Good-Question/Bad-Question Cross/Tick hand-signs, or about Billion-Baht law-suits, you might not 'get' the references if you weren't here at the time.

Hopefully the rise of the internet might make this sort of manipulation less-successful nowadays ? And sometime someone might look at reforming the LM-law. One can only hope !

The press freedom index was falling under Abhisit and far worse than during the Thaksin days.

Time to get real.

You clearly missed my saying "Not that the press has ever been all-that-free, before or after, IME" ?

Easier to sling mud, than try to explain to the poster I responded to, who wondered why 'The Nation' might take an anti-Thaksin stance.

[phupaman]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

Cheap anti Thaksin shots are easy to produce, don't need lot of journalistic work for it.

...

That's because he's such an obvious criminal.

Working for the english press is just an entry job, there is no future there. If you really want to know what's going on in Thailand, you have to read the Thai press or watch the Thai TV

Yes and get educated to DAAD style Democracy.

phupaman

[Samuian]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

It's no bad thing that at least one newspaper can write honest opinions. How long before the Thaksin Government gags The Nation? Perhaps we should take bets on that scenario!

In his day's he sued "The Nation" and all other media if they published anything slightly critical of his dealings, for defamation, I think the 'damage demand' was somewhere in the region of 500 million!

Didn't he say "I'll be back!"?

[nong38]

This is a comedy. Thaksin had a fair trial, at least as fair as one can expect in this country, and he's a fugitive on the run. The way things are developing, my guess is a military takeover within 8 months, before Songkran.

Would not surprise me either, I cannot see the electorate waiting 4 years when they dont get the promises, there will be a bit of unrest for sure as a minimum and ask for the big brother, if he comes back that will be the excuse the military need to stick him in the chokey and chuck out the current lot on the pretence that they did not deliver on their promises and have let decieved the people, so you have another election soon, this time get it right ok.

[Thaddeus]

Most of the editorial comment from The Nation seems vociferously anti Thaksin.

Is there a pedigree there I'm unaware of? Who owns it?

I think it goes back to the first two Thaksin/TRT-governments, when he tried very hard to control the media, only to write positive-stories about his government. Reporters would get fired, people would get 1-Billion-Baht law-suits slapped on them, advertising would be withdrawn, it was all fairly clumsy & obvious. Not that the press has ever been all-that-free, before or after, IME.

This explains the jokes on TV, about his Good-Question/Bad-Question Cross/Tick hand-signs, or about Billion-Baht law-suits, you might not 'get' the references if you weren't here at the time.

Hopefully the rise of the internet might make this sort of manipulation less-successful nowadays ? And sometime someone might look at reforming the LM-law. One can only hope !

The press freedom index was falling under Abhisit and far worse than during the Thaksin days.

Time to get real.

Really, is that so.

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/101381/Thai-Journalists-Fight-an-Unexpected-Revival-of-Press-Restrictions.aspx

There are probably more than a couple of people currently in the press industry that remember those dark days, and can see them emerging again, so they are getting their feelings out now before it happens.