Ex-Thai PM Thaksin expresses readiness to help rebuilding efforts

SENDAI, Aug 26 (Kyodo) - Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on a weeklong visit to Japan through Sunday, visited areas hit by the March earthquake and tsunami on Thursday and expressed his readiness to help rebuilding efforts under way in northeastern Japan.

Speaking to reporters after a visit to Natori, a city inundated by the quake-triggered tsunami, and a meeting with Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai in Sendai, the former leader said he was shocked by the magnitude of the devastation wrought by the forces of nature.

Noting that Japan swiftly came to Thailand's aid when a massive tsunami hit southern Thailand in 2004, Thaksin said it was now Thailand's turn to do likewise and that he wants to exchange views and share information with the people concerned based on his experience.

Thaksin proposed that the Thai government waive visas to those displaced by the tsunami if they wish to take a long vacation in his country.

Now a fugitive living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term from a corruption conviction in his home country, Thaksin promised that he will advise his sister, Thailand's new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, on what Japan wants Thailand to do.

Prior to the news conference, held at the prefectural government building, the former Thai leader toured Natori, accompanied by Mayor Isoo Sasaki, and laid flowers on a hill overlooking an area where the tsunami had washed away many homes.

Thaksin, who arrived in Japan with a special entry permit on Monday in his first visit in about three years, is scheduled to visit Kesennuma and the town of Minamisanriku to exchange views with fishing cooperative members. (Kyodo)

-- TNA 2011-08-26

We know any help wont be coming out of his pocket. What a twit

Is the current Thai ambassador to Japan unable, to tell the Thai government about anything the Japanese government needs, why bypass the existing diplomatic & trade-representation ?

I agree about eliminating visas for Japanese visitors, indeed that idea ought to be extended, to citizens of those Western countries, which are currently experiencing economic (rather than nuclear) melt-downs of their own.

Or just make it free 90-day visa-on-arrival, and help generate more & longer tourist-visits for the Thai economy, replacing the existing 30-day v-o-a ?

Edited August 26, 201114 yr by Ricardo

Amazing that the man can be so crass!!

"Thaksin promised that he will advise his sister, Thailand's new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, on what Japan wants Thailand to do"

Forgive my ignorance of international diplomacy, but are not of dicussions similar to this normally carried out at a goverment to goverment level ?

In previous statement Our Man In Dubai has stated he will give advice to dear sister if so asked to do so, so this would mean one of two things either dear sister has asked him for advice on Japan or OMID sees himself acting on behalf of the Thai goverment...

Confused ?.....you soon will be..stay turned for the next exciting episode of As Thailand Spins

Edited August 26, 201114 yr by Soutpeel

I agree about eliminating visas for Japanese visitors, indeed that idea ought to be extended, to citizens of those Western countries, which are currently experiencing economic (rather than nuclear) melt-downs of their own.

Or just make it free 90-day visa-on-arrival, and help generate more & longer tourist-visits for the Thai economy, replacing the existing 30-day v-o-a ?

Ah but Western countries in the mind of OMID will not be making a bee-line to invest in Thailand and most Western countries frown upon little brown envelopes being passing around the table when business deals are going on, so doesnt fit in with with his established business model...."1 for you 19 for me" as the beatles once said....

My goodness, first the Tsunami, then the nuclear disaster and now Thaksing befalls on Japan, what's next? Godzilla on tour?

Thaksin proposed that the Thai government waive visas to those displaced by the tsunami if they wish to take a long vacation in his country.

"his country" says it all. He thinks he now owns Thailand (again).

"rumor" has it that he Thaksin, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX....has offered to volunteer by cleaning the inside of the reactors

Chernobyl style.......

Oh well we got the 30 bath scheme IF he ever comes "home"

Edited August 26, 201114 yr by metisdead
Nickname removed.

Pathetic......if he wanted to help, he should have donated some of his own money. He is after all a billionaire....

More likely that he was looking for business opportunities generated by the forthcoming rebuilding programme.

The Japanese people are up shit creek and Thaksin suggests that they take extended holidays in Thailand? This is an example of high intellectual ability?

I think may be he is shooting a bit too high

Noting that Japan swiftly came to Thailand's aid when a massive tsunami hit southern Thailand in 2004, Thaksin said it was now Thailand's turn to do likewise and that he wants to exchange views and share information with the people concerned based on his experience.

Thaksin proposed that the Thai government waive visas to those displaced by the tsunami if they wish to take a long vacation in his country.

Interesting views from a private person.

'Thaksin proposes the Thai government ... long vacation in his country'. Pray tell me, how will those 'displaced' finance a long vacation. Might those not have other worries, mundane ones like a house, a job, money in general?

As for this private person stating 'it's now Thailand turn to aid'. Well, firstly the disaster was March 11, about five months ago. Secondly the very first day The Thai government offered $165,000 and would consider more if necessary. Lastly it seems that at this moment Japan is not lacking any resources required to cleanup and rebuild. The radiation related problems could use professional external help, but Thailand is hardly the place to find experienced Nuclear Reactor experts.

what may happen is that the Japanese government will grant Thai laborers a visa to help rebuild, paying them a bit more than 300B/day

Thaksin a day late and a dollar short

The ultimate political chancer.

expressed his readiness to help rebuilding efforts

This reminds me that a year-or-so ago we had former-President Carter & friends, up here in Chiang Mai, helping to build housing for poor people, I think the charity was called something-like 'Habitat for Humanity' ?

Now that was a good example to set, putting some hands-on effort into helping the poor, and garnering good publicity for both the charity and his country, perhaps former-PM Thaksin like might to do the same thing ?

Japan is facing a food chain crisis. There is deep felt concern that radiation has contaminated many products in Japan. This presents an opportunity for Thai agricultural product exporters. If Mr. Thaksin is able to raise the profile of one of Thailand's major export sectors, no one in Thailand connected with that industry will complain.

Th reference to family ties is very typical of asian cultures. Some westerners may gasp at such boldness, but it's not much of an eyebrow raiser in that part of the world.

Japan is facing a food chain crisis. There is deep felt concern that radiation has contaminated many products in Japan. This presents an opportunity for Thai agricultural product exporters. If Mr. Thaksin is able to raise the profile of one of Thailand's major export sectors, no one in Thailand connected with that industry will complain.

Th reference to family ties is very typical of asian cultures. Some westerners may gasp at such boldness, but it's not much of an eyebrow raiser in that part of the world.

Well, with Japanese restrictions on food imports, regulations on cleanliness, 'non-Japanese strange foodstuff (like rice)' it's not profiling Thai export sector, but trying to improve quality and lessen import hurdles. That's government business, not private person business.

The Japanese already know about Thai food sector BTW. Even on government-to-government level. Has been going on for decades. Recently it was frozen chicken

"Japan plans to import frozen raw chicken from Thailand

Time:05 May 2011

Posted by 21food.com

The Thai Government planned to carry on the consultation with Japan recently. Thailand exports frozen raw chicken to Japan once more.

The officials in Foreign Trade Department, Thai Ministry of Commerce indicated that the Japanese importer had the contact with the Japanese office in Thai Ministry of Commerce. They indicated that they hoped to import frozen raw chicken from Thailand. This official also simultaneously indicated that Japan relies on frozen chicken excessively imported from Brazil previously. The Japanese importers are worried that they rely on a sole supplier."

http://www.21food.com/news/detail34329.html

Edited August 26, 201114 yr by rubl

I bet this not a free offer. I am sure there will be a fee for services provided.

Publicity stunt by an ego-maniac,

and in poor taste on so many levels it boggles the mind.

He'll have visa fees dropped? Like on his say so?

Edited August 26, 201114 yr by animatic

I'm no Thaksin-lover, but the hysteria in this thread really is hysterical.

"1 for you 19 for me" as the beatles once said....

Let me tell you how it will be,

There’s one for you, nineteen for me,

‘Cause I’m the Taxman,

Yeah, I’m the Taxman.

I'm no Thaksin-lover, but the hysteria in this thread really is hysterical.

Although I tend to believe what you say, this 'hysteria is hysterical' does need some amplification, at least for me. Call me dense if you like, but I do not get the 'hysterical' part. Critical, cynical, variant of those, yes, but hysterical?

I'm no Thaksin-lover, but the hysteria in this thread really is hysterical.

Although I tend to believe what you say, this 'hysteria is hysterical' does need some amplification, at least for me. Call me dense if you like, but I do not get the 'hysterical' part. Critical, cynical, variant of those, yes, but hysterical?

hys·ter·i·calAdjective/hiˈsterikəl/

1. Deriving from or affected by uncontrolled extreme emotion.

2. Extremely funny.

Well, let me say that both definitions apply, but they may need a bit of qualifying here.

Definiton 1 - The 'extreme emotion' is evident in some poster's over-the-top hyperbole which - fair enough - is their opinion, but is nevertheless....their opinion. Insults and accusations the wild scale and improbability of which betray a reluctance to contemplate alternative possibilities and reasons for actions.

Definition 2 - Okay, it's a bit cruel of me to describe these posts as funny, but laughter is sometimes the only response to situations that seem so incongruous with objective thinking.

This 'Add Reply' page doesn't show all the posts in the thread, so I can't quote the best examples with you here, but scroll up a bit and I'm sure you'll be able to guess which ones illustrate my point more clearly.

Just my opinion. Maybe that's the problem

Edited August 26, 201114 yr by hanuman1

Japan is facing a food chain crisis. There is deep felt concern that radiation has contaminated many products in Japan. This presents an opportunity for Thai agricultural product exporters. If Mr. Thaksin is able to raise the profile of one of Thailand's major export sectors, no one in Thailand connected with that industry will complain.

Th reference to family ties is very typical of asian cultures. Some westerners may gasp at such boldness, but it's not much of an eyebrow raiser in that part of the world.

The Japanese know this dude is a convicted criminal on the run... does he think any japs believe one word he says... he has not even made one headline in Japan.. only Tha people know he is there..!