UN Blames Thai Govt For Poor Flood Management

[tlansford]

As The Nation's editorial noted in another thread, the gov't will need to make choices in order to find the funds for flood relief and recovery.

Does the military really need this extra US$1.5 billion they have allocated themselves per year. This is what, a nearly 50 billion Bhat increase in the military budget (in 2010 - I did not see the numbers for 2011)...

My feeling is that this is a great place to look for flood relief funding.

The dubious rice price pledging scheme which costs 350 - 410 billion THB and lasts from October 7th , 2011 till February 28th, 2012 seems a great place to look for flood relief funding, assuming it's not all spent yet

why not? I'm not saying to scrap the rice program, but it looks like it could be structured to deliver more value. But then your point becomes one of general government efficiency which is something everyone wants.

I would take the money from the military budget. I recognize this is not likely/easy in Thailand, but in my opinion, a preferred option over taking money from programs that directly help Thailand.

And getting back to this thread's topic, aren't those fake journalists at TAN just out-right liars !?!

[rubl]

Although all the National Budget issues are interesting, the OP is "UN blames Thai Govt for poor flood management". It seems quote given by TAN were a bit 'imaginative' and UN ESCAP demanded a retraction. Looking at original text and TAN report the ESCAP seems in their right, although 'demand to retracted' seems a bit strongly stated for a peaceful UN mission. In 2009 ESCAP in Bangkok had something similar. Makes you wonder, IMHO.

[Buchholz]

I've come up with some slightly different figures..... And let's just concentrate only on Thailand's military expenditure(s), shall we??

See>>> http://www.indexmund...aspx?c=th&v=132

You'll have different figures as your link is for 1997-2005.

My figures are for the much more recent 2010 and 2011.

And this one showing the (Dems) military spending levels - early 90's til' their recent admin tour>>> http://asiapacific.a...DP-Thailand.jpg

Getting closer. That link goes to 2008.

And a wiki page>>>> http://en.wikipedia....ry_expenditures

Closer still. Now we're at 2009.

A few preview ditties here Re: military expenditures but must pay for full report >>> http://www.researcha..._thai_defense_i

Now, we're up to 2011. Yeah!

That link quotes a figure of 1.6% for 2011, which is lower than the 1.8 I had listed.

Sorry for over-stating the military spending.

.

p.s. If you could, please try to clean the quoting of your posts. When they are that mangled, it takes longer to fix and post.

THanks.

[tlansford]

The military's not spending enough, obviously. Let's buy another round of GT200's, slurp.

sweet...

[tlansford]

- snip -

You'll have different figures as your link is for 1997-2005.

My figures are for the much more recent 2010 and 2011.

And this one showing the (Dems) military spending levels - early 90's til' their recent admin tour>>> http://asiapacific.a...DP-Thailand.jpg

Getting closer. That link goes to 2008.

And a wiki page>>>> http://en.wikipedia....ry_expenditures

Closer still. Now we're at 2009.

A few preview ditties here Re: military expenditures but must pay for full report >>> http://www.researcha..._thai_defense_i

Now, we're up to 2011. Yeah!

That link quotes a figure of 1.6% for 2011, which is lower than the 1.8 I had listed.

Sorry for over-stating the military spending.

.

p.s. If you could, please try to clean the quoting of your posts. When they are that mangled, it takes longer to fix and post.

THanks.

so scotbeve stated at the start that this is the largest military budget in Thai history, and all of your slithering around has not managed to deny the truth of that (simple) statement.

Thanks for over-stating the military spending.

Edited October 24, 2011 by tlansford

[Buchholz]

The money shows...

ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

?.? (unreported) Myanmar

4.1 Singapore

3.9 Brunei

2.4 Vietnam

2.0 Malaysia

1.5 Thailand

1.1 Cambodia

1.0 Indonesia

0.8 Philippines

0.4 Laos

ASEAN average (not counting unreported Myanmar) = 1.9

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 89.

Actually when putting in the updated figures for 2011, Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before:

2011 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

4.9 Singapore

4.5 Brunei

3.0 Cambodia

3.0 Indonesia

2.5 Vietnam

2.1 Burma

2.0 Malaysia

1.8 Thailand

0.9 Philippines

0.5 Laos

ASEAN average = 2.5

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 85.

The original point had to do with the change of the military budget within Thailand, not with Thailand's military spending as % of GDP relative to its neighbors.

Thailand's military budget increased from $3.6 B in 2006 to $5.1 B in 2010.

That is a 70% increase in the military budget.

<snip>

As economies increase, baht budgets are expected to increase. Percentage of GDP is a valid comparison to differentiate true increase. It's a standard benchmark when discussing budget issues. That's why scotbeve could find all those references.

Regional comparisons are equally legitimate.

Between the last 2 years posted there was a 0.3% increase by Thailand.

Rather reasonable in comparison to the

2.0% increase for Indonesia (over 6 times the increase of Thailand)

1.9% increase for Cambodia (over 6 times the increase of Thailand)

0.9% increase for Singapore (3 times the increase of Thailand)

0.6% increase for Brunei (2 times the increase of Thailand)

Edited October 24, 2011 by Buchholz

[rubl]

so scotbeve stated at the start that this is the largest military budget in Thai history, and all of your slithering around has not managed to deny the truth of that (simple) statement.

Thanks for over-stating the military spending.

'Largest ever' may be true, but it would be nice if we could put the figure in relation to other expenditures in Thai National budgets of 2010, 2011 and 2012. Where is the RPPS 350 - 410 billion THB for instance?

(edit: add: maybe start from about 2000 for a better historical trend if there is)

(edit: add: sorry to be off topic, but no one here seems interested in what UN ESCAP thinks or says)

Edited October 24, 2011 by rubl

[Buchholz]

<snip>

so scotbeve stated at the start that this is the largest military budget in Thai history

<snip>

As a part of the largest budget in history, it's not unexpected.

Every year is the largest overall budget in history (unless the economy contracts), so it's not expected that many ministries will have their largest budget year after year.

Which is why consideration for percent of GDP is necessary to see things in proper perspective.... unless you're just babbling.

.

Edited October 24, 2011 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

The military's not spending enough, obviously. Let's buy another round of GT200's, slurp.

sweet...

Is anyone suggesting an increase in military spending as a percentage of GDP?

It would seem there are only these two.

.

Edited October 24, 2011 by Buchholz

[serenitynow]

The money shows...

ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

?.? (unreported) Myanmar

4.1 Singapore

3.9 Brunei

2.4 Vietnam

2.0 Malaysia

1.5 Thailand

1.1 Cambodia

1.0 Indonesia

0.8 Philippines

0.4 Laos

ASEAN average (not counting unreported Myanmar) = 1.9

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 89.

Actually when putting in the updated figures for 2011, Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before:

2011 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

4.9 Singapore

4.5 Brunei

3.0 Cambodia

3.0 Indonesia

2.5 Vietnam

2.1 Burma

2.0 Malaysia

1.8 Thailand

0.9 Philippines

0.5 Laos

ASEAN average = 2.5

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 85.

The original point had to do with the change of the military budget within Thailand, not with Thailand's military spending as % of GDP relative to its neighbors.

Thailand's military budget increased from $3.6 B in 2006 to $5.1 B in 2010.

That is a 70% increase in the military budget.

As The Nation's editorial noted in another thread, the gov't will need to make choices in order to find the funds for flood relief and recovery.

Does the military really need this extra US$1.5 billion they have allocated themselves per year. This is what, a nearly 50 billion Bhat increase in the military budget (in 2010 - I did not see the numbers for 2011)...

My feeling is that this is a great place to look for flood relief funding.

Alternatively, if the government had called up the militarily sooner and more broadly, they'd be spending some of their budget on flood relief RIGHT NOW and a lot less of it would end up in the hands of general's mia nois..

[Mosha]

Thanks Sven, but still haven't been able to find a chart which compares rainfall stats from one year to the next. The URL didn't provide that, as far as I could find.

OK Braahms, I hold your hand and you follow me:

1. Go to the site I told you Click here

2. Click on "Climate" in the upper right corner.

3. When that page comes up, click on "Annual" under "Weather Summary" in the upper left corner.

4. Choose the year you want to see, (only choices are 2008-2009-2010)

5. Click on "More detail" and a PDF-file will be loaded. The statistics for 2008 and 2009 are more detailded than 2010.

:D

They changed the site. This page http://www.tmd.go.th/en/climate.php used to have a column that did show the average rainfall. e.g. Ranong average about 3300 mm, this ytd 4072mm

[webfact]

UN Story Retraction and Apology

To Whom It May Concern,

On Friday, October 21, 2011, the Thai-ASEAN News (TAN) Network broadcasted a news story entitled “UN Blames Govt for Poor Flood Management”. The story quoted UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer for something she did not say. However, in actuality, the quote belonged to Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific.

Once informed of the misquote, TAN Network corrected the story on the evening of Friday, October 21, 2011. The corrected version can still be found at http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1048976.

There is no excuse for the mistake that was made. TAN Network, its management and its editorial team sincerely apologizes for the error that was made. However, we must stress that there were no ill intensions.

This incident has served as an important lesson to all of our staff. We apologize and will do our utmost to never allow this to happen again in the future.

Our sincere apologies.

The Thai-ASEAN News Network

Bangkok, Thailand

October 24, 2011

[webfact]

UN Concerned On How Flooding Might Trigger Humanitarian Crisis

UPDATE : 20 October 2011

The United Nations has warned that natural disasters and floods in ASEAN are triggering a humanitarian crisis, claiming that no integrated effort to solve the turmoil will result in failure in tackling the after effects.

The Voice of America or VOA has reported that natural disasters in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines have killed more than 700 people already and affected eight million residents.

Moreover, Thailand's capital of Bangkok is under threat of floods, which have already submerged industrial estates and crippled the growing economy.

UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer said the UN is ready to give assistance to communities that have been affected by the flood crisis.

Meanwhile, Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific pointed out that the main weakness to tackling the flood crisis in Thailand is the abundance of organizations to oversee water management.

He noted the Thai government has failed to streamline the eight agencies involved, resulting in policies going in different directions.

Velasquez said this problem is not only limited to Thailand but is being seen in other countries in the region. He further warned that this crisis may be just a prelude to future natural calamities.

Various foreign media have pointed out the fact that what is seen in Thailand may not be a natural disaster but rather a human disaster as dams were not discharging as much water as they should, perhaps in hope of storing water for irrigation during the drought season.

Therefore, when the rainy-season peaks, the dams are in full capacity and have to discharge water, causing this massive flooding.

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1048976.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-20

[jaidam]

Men with weapons confronted officials building sandbag levee & destroyed it

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-23/thailand-s-navy-downplays-flooding-concern-while-waters-threaten-bangkok.html

V interesting link TAWP.

Is this the same incident that was alleged to be caused by esteemed PTP MP Khun Karun? Or just a coincidence?

[hanuman1]

UN Story Retraction and Apology

To Whom It May Concern,

On Friday, October 21, 2011, the Thai-ASEAN News (TAN) Network broadcasted a news story entitled “UN Blames Govt for Poor Flood Management”. The story quoted UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer for something she did not say. However, in actuality, the quote belonged to Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific.

Once informed of the misquote, TAN Network corrected the story on the evening of Friday, October 21, 2011. The corrected version can still be found at http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1048976.

There is no excuse for the mistake that was made. TAN Network, its management and its editorial team sincerely apologizes for the error that was made. However, we must stress that there were no ill intensions.

This incident has served as an important lesson to all of our staff. We apologize and will do our utmost to never allow this to happen again in the future.

Our sincere apologies.

The Thai-ASEAN News Network

Bangkok, Thailand

October 24, 2011

Yay for Yellow Journalism!!!! :lol:

[hammered]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

[serenitynow]

UN Story Retraction and Apology

To Whom It May Concern,

On Friday, October 21, 2011, the Thai-ASEAN News (TAN) Network broadcasted a news story entitled “UN Blames Govt for Poor Flood Management”. The story quoted UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer for something she did not say. However, in actuality, the quote belonged to Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific.

Once informed of the misquote, TAN Network corrected the story on the evening of Friday, October 21, 2011. The corrected version can still be found at http://www.tannetwor...DataID=1048976.

There is no excuse for the mistake that was made. TAN Network, its management and its editorial team sincerely apologizes for the error that was made. However, we must stress that there were no ill intensions.

This incident has served as an important lesson to all of our staff. We apologize and will do our utmost to never allow this to happen again in the future.

Our sincere apologies.

The Thai-ASEAN News Network

Bangkok, Thailand

October 24, 2011

A statement like that in Thailand comes less often than a 1000 year flood. Bravo to anyone who takes responsibility for their actions, learns a lesson and pledges to improve their standards. Where are my smelling salts?

[whybother]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

This sounds like the UN pointing out poor flood management to me.

Meanwhile, Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific pointed out that the main weakness to tackling the flood crisis in Thailand is the abundance of organizations to oversee water management.

He noted the Thai government has failed to streamline the eight agencies involved, resulting in policies going in different directions.

[rubl]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

All clear now, it wasn't the local UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, but Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific. Makes sense for Dr. Heyzer only being co-operative and talking about helping now and leaving it to others outside Thailand to talk about info probably 'only' provided by her. Mind you, Mr. Velasquez was talkng about a problem he sees in the region, not just Thailand.

[serenitynow]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

All clear now, it wasn't the local UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, but Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific. Makes sense for Dr. Heyzer only being co-operative and talking about helping now and leaving it to others outside Thailand to talk about info probably 'only' provided by her. Mind you, Mr. Velasquez was talkng about a problem he sees in the region, not just Thailand.

Sure that was diplomatic speak for "blame", but the news provider could have quoted directly and everyone would have groked that fact. No need to spoon feed it.

[hammered]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

All clear now, it wasn't the local UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, but Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific. Makes sense for Dr. Heyzer only being co-operative and talking about helping now and leaving it to others outside Thailand to talk about info probably 'only' provided by her. Mind you, Mr. Velasquez was talkng about a problem he sees in the region, not just Thailand.

Velasquez is also no doubt talking about Thai government in general over a period as I doubt any true UN bureaucrat would expect a government elected only a few months ago to sort out bureaucratic problems of decades so even in that context the TAN spin seems a little noticeable.

[koosdeboer]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

All clear now, it wasn't the local UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, but Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific. Makes sense for Dr. Heyzer only being co-operative and talking about helping now and leaving it to others outside Thailand to talk about info probably 'only' provided by her. Mind you, Mr. Velasquez was talkng about a problem he sees in the region, not just Thailand.

Velasquez is also no doubt talking about Thai government in general over a period as I doubt any true UN bureaucrat would expect a government elected only a few months ago to sort out bureaucratic problems of decades so even in that context the TAN spin seems a little noticeable.

you are unbelievable. you must been hammered (hit with a hammer)for sure. What a change. There was a time I respected your opinion. Now you are just a government defender.

[Crushdepth]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

It was clearly an inappropriate headline right from the start.

[DP25]

The original point had to do with the change of the military budget within Thailand, not with Thailand's military spending as % of GDP relative to its neighbors.

Thailand's military budget increased from $3.6 B in 2006 to $5.1 B in 2010.

That is a 70% increase in the military budget.

Since you're taking figures in dollars spent at that time, you might recall, if you were here, how much the Thai BAHT has changed in that time. The Baht has gone from 40 to 30 in that time. $3.6 billion at 40 baht per dollar is 144 billion baht, 5.1 now is 153 billion baht. I believe total military budget is around 170 billion baht this year actually, which would be about $5.6 billion.

Also note that the TOTAL budget in that time period has skyrocketed in dollar terms too. The total budget for this year was about $75 billion dollars, of which military was about $5.5 billion or about %7 of total budget. Compare THAT number to other countries and Thailand's military budget is very small compared to not only it's neighbors but worldwide.

The idea that military budget skyrocketed and gobbled up all other budgets is simply not true. There has been a modest increase in line with the growing economy and budget, but the biggest increase has been the stronger Baht has allowed them to buy much more with the same amount of Baht.

Edited October 24, 2011 by DP25

[tlansford]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed as the UN statement made it quite clear that they had never said anything critical of the Thai government and had offered support.

All clear now, it wasn't the local UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, but Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific. Makes sense for Dr. Heyzer only being co-operative and talking about helping now and leaving it to others outside Thailand to talk about info probably 'only' provided by her. Mind you, Mr. Velasquez was talkng about a problem he sees in the region, not just Thailand.

The quote from Velasquez also was not a criticism of the government. But you've read that quote and know that already.

[tlansford]

constant dollar figures.

yes, the military budget would be around 170 billion baht.

The original point had to do with the change of the military budget within Thailand, not with Thailand's military spending as % of GDP relative to its neighbors.

Thailand's military budget increased from $3.6 B in 2006 to $5.1 B in 2010.

That is a 70% increase in the military budget.

Since you're taking figures in dollars spent at that time, you might recall, if you were here, how much the Thai BAHT has changed in that time. The Baht has gone from 40 to 30 in that time. $3.6 billion at 40 baht per dollar is 144 billion baht, 5.1 now is 153 billion baht. I believe total military budget is around 170 billion baht this year actually, which would be about $5.6 billion.

Also note that the TOTAL budget in that time period has skyrocketed in dollar terms too. The total budget for this year was about $75 billion dollars, of which military was about $5.5 billion or about %7 of total budget. Compare THAT number to other countries and Thailand's military budget is very small compared to not only it's neighbors but worldwide.

The idea that military budget skyrocketed and gobbled up all other budgets is simply not true. There has been a modest increase in line with the growing economy and budget, but the biggest increase has been the stronger Baht has allowed them to buy much more with the same amount of Baht.

[rubl]

All clear now, it wasn't the local UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, but Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific. Makes sense for Dr. Heyzer only being co-operative and talking about helping now and leaving it to others outside Thailand to talk about info probably 'only' provided by her. Mind you, Mr. Velasquez was talkng about a problem he sees in the region, not just Thailand.

The quote from Velasquez also was not a criticism of the government. But you've read that quote and know that already.

Coordinator Velasquez pointed out some weaknesses in tackling flood in Thailand and failings of the Thai government. That's obviously not the same as criticising of the government. But you know that already, don't you TL?

Meanwhile, Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator for UN/ISDR Asia & Pacific pointed out that the main weakness to tackling the flood crisis in Thailand is the abundance of organizations to oversee water management.

He noted the Thai government has failed to streamline the eight agencies involved, resulting in policies going in different directions.

Velasquez said this problem is not only limited to Thailand but is being seen in other countries in the region. He further warned that this crisis may be just a prelude to future natural calamities.

Edited October 24, 2011 by rubl

[DP25]

constant dollar figures.

yes, the military budget would be around 170 billion baht.

ok, but at even if constant dollars $3.6 billion to $5.1 billion is a 41.6% increase over 5 years of increasing total budgets, not a 70% increase

[xthAi76s]

Looks as though the Japanese firms (and others presumably) are not happy with the way the current administration has handled the crisis.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/45009767/

+1 for those of us who think the government has failed miserably. Time will tell and the government's next actions in appeasing these large firms will help determine how much economic damage results from this mismanagement.

[scotbeve]

so scotbeve stated at the start that this is the largest military budget in Thai history, and all of your slithering around has not managed to deny the truth of that (simple) statement.

Thanks for over-stating the military spending.

'Largest ever' may be true, but it would be nice if we could put the figure in relation to other expenditures in Thai National budgets of 2010, 2011 and 2012. Where is the RPPS 350 - 410 billion THB for instance?

(edit: add: maybe start from about 2000 for a better historical trend if there is)

(edit: add: sorry to be off topic, but no one here seems interested in what UN ESCAP thinks or says)

Okie, dokie (to coin an annoying colonialism for you) Uncl rubl,

Here we go... just a simple <<<<snip/copy/paste>>> from a very obvious wiki page concerning your esteemed Mark... excerpts of (and I really don't give a rats @rse whethter it is indexed or in proper order)

He administered two economic stimulus packages: a $40 billion, three-year infrastructure improvement plan, and a more than $3 billion program of cash subsidies and handouts.^[12] By 2010, the stock market and the value of the baht had rebounded to their highest levels since the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Abhisit censored thousands of Web sites, shut down hundreds of radio stations, and arrested and silenced many media figures and opposition and labor leaders, claiming that they insulted King Bhumibol.^[13][14] Human Rights Watch called Abhisit "the most prolific censor in recent Thai history" and Freedom House downgraded Thailand's rating of media freedom to "not free."^{[15] [16]} Abhisit also advocated for stronger anti-corruption measures, although several members of his Cabinet resigned due to corruption scandals and parts of his economic stimulus packages were criticized for instances of alleged corruption.

Underlings misbehaving and already a high budget....

The Democrat Party remained in the opposition after the December 2007 parliamentary election. In a parliamentary vote to select a new prime minister on 28 January 2008, Samak Sundaravej of the People's Power Party defeated Abhisit by a vote of 310 to 163.^[47] On 9 September 2008, Mr. Samak was removed from the post by the Constitutional Court for receiving payment as the host of a TV cooking program.

In the crisis that followed, some Democrat Party members became leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which organized a six-month-long demonstration and seized Government House, Don Muang Airport, and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Abhisit voiced displeasure at the sieges, but did not stop his deputies from their leadership of the PAD.^[48] The sieges ended after the Constitutional Court banned the People's Power Party. Army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, General Anupong Paochinda, allegedly coerced several PPP MPs from the Friends of Newin Group to defect to the Democrat Party, allowing Abhisit to be elected Prime Minister.^[49][50]

Upon becoming Premiere, Abhisit promised to enforce the rule of law and prosecute the 21 Peoples Alliance for Democracy leaders who were responsible for seizing Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi Airports. As of February 2010, arrest warrants still had not been issued for the airport seizures.^[51] On 24 February 2010, government prosecutors deferred a decision for the eighth time to decide whether to indict the nine leaders of the PAD over the 7-month long seizure of Government House. However, as the PAD leaders did not come testify voluntarily, the judge could not make the decision and the process was thereby delayed.

Above.... Please make sure if you're PM that you don't take one baht for cooking on TV (but you can splurge the masses tax money on 200,000 baht meals - verifiable folks!!!) BUT no problems whatsoever if you close down govt House and/ or 2 x airports indefinitely!

Abhisit raised more than Bt200 million at the Democrat Party's 60th Anniversary dinner. He outlined several energy policies, including increasing dividend payments from state-owned oil company PTT and using the funds to repay Oil Fund debts, and having state-owned electric utility EGAT absorb part of the rising fuel prices.^[55] Abhisit later outlined plans to reduce retail petrol prices by eliminating the 2.50 baht/litre tax used to maintain the government's Oil Fund.^[56]

^{Above.... anyone remember how many seconds it took to sell the IPO for the PTT stocks (200 or 300 mill shares) - I know very well 83 seconds!!! I wanted 20,000 shares... What did I get??? 1,000 shares. Why is this boys and girls????? I know why..... Petrol prices went sky-high and stayed there - not parallel with the world oil prices at ALL.}

Abhisit's first act as Prime Minister was to send SMS texts to tens of millions of Thai mobile phone users. The message, signed "Your PM," asked people to help him solve the country's crisis. Interested phone users were asked to send back their postal codes, at a cost of three baht. Abhisit was criticized for violating privacy regulations in the mass SMS. The National Telecommunication Commission says that mobile phone service providers may not exploit client information, including phone numbers, without their consent. However, it did not seek actions against Abhisit.^[66][67]

^{Above.... cooking the phones??? Privacy??? Massive effin' censors on the web???? &lt;deleted&gt;}

^{Below is the coup de gras!!!! Can any of you em effers whom so love this smooth-talkin' snake refute this (well documented) FACT!!!!!!!!!??????? Without the slip-slidin' greasy footwork you all usually do!!!???}

Government debt

Abhisit borrowed heavily to finance his various populist policies and stimulus packages. The government borrowed a record-breaking 1.49 trillion baht from 2009 to early 2011, compared to the previous 26 Prime Ministers who had combined borrowings of only 870 billion baht. Thailand's national debt at the end of February 2011 was 3.59 trillion baht, or 40% of GDP.^[70] By April 2011, the Governor of the Bank of Thailand, Thailand's central bank, warned that implementing Abhisit's populist policies might cause public debt to surge past the legal debt ceiling of no more than 50% of GDP. The government countered the BoT's warning by claiming it was just expression of opinion in a technical manner.^[71] Abhisit noted that several countries had experienced debt crises – but not Thailand.^[72]

A TECHNICAL MANNER???? Can someone translate snake PULEEZE!!! So can someone explain WHERE THE EFF IS >>>

The government borrowed a record-breaking 1.49 trillion baht<<<<<<<<<<<< HUH??? Where did this go!!!???

But I have an idea where the order came from / money has gone!

Edited October 24, 2011 by scotbeve