Thaksin: I'll Serve Out Term

[george]

Thaksin: I'll serve out term

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra assured his Cabinet yesterday he would serve out his term in office, expressing confidence that he would ride out any political storms until the general election due in 2009.

"I confirm that I will not dissolve Parliament or resign because nothing will disrupt [this administration's work] before the election scheduled for April, 2009," Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee quoted Thaksin as telling his ministers.

Surapong said Thaksin had also advised his ministers to avoid bickering and devote their full attention to their duties.

"Ministers should explain the details of their work, but make sure not to allow themselves to be drawn into verbal tussles with critics," Thaksin was quoted as saying.

--TNA 2005-11-23

[Golf]

Of course! He won't resign until he sees million of people walking on the street asking for freedom of speach and freedom of press. The soldiers will come out and the situation will get out of control. My ultimate fear is how many people have to die so Toxin will understand? How many times the history have to repeat itself? I don't want to see anyone shot dead again. I really don't.

Golf

[cdnvic]

Of course!  He won't resign until he sees million of people walking on the street asking for freedom of speach and freedom of press.  The soldiers will come out and the situation will get out of control.  My ultimate fear is how many people have to die so Toxin will understand?  How many times the history have to repeat itself?  I don't want to see anyone shot dead again.  I really don't.

Golf

He was returned to office democraticly by people who were bought with free TVs, TRT jackets, and he'll do it again in 2009. I don't see much vision from the opposition or any other alternatives.

cv

[johnnyk]

From Toxin's POV, why the hel_l should he resign?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

He has done no wrong. If you don't believe that, just ask him.

[opothai]

he's not resigning

that must be of comfort to the people who elected him

by the time 2009 comes they will not have to re-elect chairman toxin

[marquess]

Of course!  He won't resign until he sees million of people walking on the street asking for freedom of speach and freedom of press.  The soldiers will come out and the situation will get out of control.  My ultimate fear is how many people have to die so Toxin will understand?  How many times the history have to repeat itself?  I don't want to see anyone shot dead again.  I really don't.

Golf

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He was returned to office democraticly by people who were bought with free TVs, TRT jackets, and he'll do it again in 2009. I don't see much vision from the opposition or any other alternatives.

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The opposition, won't have to have much of a vision! If Taksin keeps shooting himself in the foot. Moreover as his TRT is based around his personality and money, the opposition won't have to do much if Taskin does it for them.

[awarrumbungle]

His supporters need an education before they decide that he's actually no good.

[george]

Analysts: PM's star is waning

Assurance govt will serve out its term `a sign of insecurity'

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's latest assurance to cabinet members that the government will serve out its term is an indication of an insecure leader falling out of favour with the people, according to political analysts and academics. Mr Thaksin, who is avoiding communicating with the media because his planetary alignment is unfavourable, told the cabinet meeting yesterday to leave trivial politics alone and focus more on their work.

The prime minister then said the unexpected.

``You go and work hard. Don't be afraid. I'm not going to dissolve parliament nor will I resign,'' he said.

``Never let politics bother you. There will absolutely be a general election in April 2009 and no sooner. Don't waste time with political bickering. Society still wants us to continue our job,'' the prime minister added.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said Mr Thaksin felt it crucial that people understand what problems were holding back national administration.

Some political commentators said Mr Thaksin's pledge not to quit as prime minister, made at a time when the government is beset by a doubtful administrative performance and allegations of cronyism, certainly raised some eyebrows.

Pornchai Theppanya, a political scientist at King Prajadipok Institute, said Mr Thaksin's words may be ``stirring'' but they served merely as a psychological booster.

He may be aware of what the government was heading for and the problems gripping the government could be unnerving him, especially now that the anti-government sentiment was spreading, the academic said.

Mr Pornchai said Mr Thaksin has apparently opted for a ``silence is golden'' approach, believing that holding his tongue is the best form of defence.

The prime minister appeared convinced that if he engaged in a turf war, more people would turn against the government, fanning resistance beyond its control.

Prayad Hongthongkam, of Chulalongkorn University, however, said the assurance was not an indication of the prime minister being unsure of his power. On the contrary, Mr Thaksin exuded excessive self-confidence in the comfort his government's parliamentary majority would overcome the odds.

Mr Prayad said Mr Thaksin had gone overboard with his confidence, which could push him to the point of complacency.

A deputy Thai Rak Thai party leader said Mr Thaksin may have underestimated the political factors working against the government as allegation after allegation of power abuse kept chiselling away at his popularity.

Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, dean of the public administration faculty, the National Institute of Development Administration, said the most urgent task for the prime minister was to restore public faith and the government must keep its hands off the media.

Surachai Wankaew, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said Mr Thaksin was fighting enemies on too many fronts, particularly with the media. He should not engage in daily tit-for-tat sparring with the media as it only hurt his political maturity.

Meanwhile, Amorn Chantharasomboon, a constitution drafter, has proposed to seek His Majesty the King's order to write a brand new charter, saying the existing one is riddled with holes through which politicians could lay their hands on national assets.

Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the Manager newspaper and a vocal government critic, has warned of the danger of the Senate election in April next year being manipulated with the winners being groomed to be ``spare tyres'' for the government.

Meanwhile, the tabloid version of the controversial Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly) talk show, which was taken off the air, hit the newsstands for the first time yesterday. It was sold out in no time.

The paper featured content from the nine previous editions of the talk show.

--Bangkok Post 2005-11-23

[WhiteShiva]

Surachai Wankaew, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said Mr Thaksin was fighting enemies on too many fronts, particularly with the media. He should not engage in daily tit-for-tat sparring with the media as it only hurt his political maturity.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm sorry, khun Surachai, it could hurt his .......what?????????

[george]

I smell coup odour: Phumtham

BANGKOK: -- A move to topple the government may begin in the next two weeks, Deputy Transport Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Tuesday.

Phumtham said he had been able to smell the unmistakable odour of a possible coup against the government for the past three days. Tuesday he called on all parties to prevent any mobilisation of mass demonstration aimed at ousting the government.

He said he hoped the rumours that media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul's Muang Thai Rai Sapda show on Friday would be the beginning of an all-out attempt to topple the government were not true.

"I've heard the gathering each Friday is a rehearsal for ousting the government. [That would mean] the gathering last Friday was their biggest rehearsal. I am very worried. Every party should be cautious, or the situation will worsen,'' he said.

Phumtham, who was a student leader during the pro-democracy uprising in October 14, 1973, said Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's support for Sondhi was inappropriate, and warned Abhisit to exercise more caution when it came to joining any political activities. "Abhisit has insisted that he upholds democracy. But what he has been doing is inappropriate,'' he said.

"When there is a gathering of large crowds, what if someone throws a bomb at them and the violence spreads? It would be a tragedy,'' he said.

--The Nation 2005-11-23

[george]

PM vows to remain in office until 2009

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has vowed that he will remian in office until his present four-year term ends in 2009.

Chairing a meeting of his ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party here on Tuesday, the prime minister announced that he would continue to fully work for the Thai people and the nation until the completion of his four-year term in 2009.

Mr. Thaksin said that there is now nothing serious in the domestic politics.

The prime minister, however, earlier instructed his cabinet members at the cabinet's weekly meeting at the Government House to avoid exchanging words with the opposition or critics.

He told his cabinet members to, instead, provide facts and proper information to the public, the opoosition and the critics in a constructive manner, according to Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee.

The prime minister also instructed his cabinet members to continue to work hard for the public and the nation in their jurisdictions based on the government's creatively offensive strategies.

--TNA 2005-11-23

[The_Other_Mac]

Meanwhile, Amorn Chantharasomboon, a constitution drafter

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting choice of career...

[Jai Dee]

EX-NCCC SECRETARY-GENERAL KLANARONG JATIK INSISTS THAT HE IS NOT PERSONALLY AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT

Former Secretary-general of the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) Klanarong Jatik (กล้าณรงค์ จันทิก) insisted that he is not personally opposing the government, saying that he is just responding to harassments. Mr. Klanarong said in the second seminar on the Royal power and political reforms that personally he did not want to join Mr. Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of Manager Daily, in his opposition against the government, but he has been harassed by some military officials accusing him of bringing down the Royal family to be involved in the case and conspiring to topple the government.

Mr. Klanarong said that he was a regular viewer of Thailand Daily program, adding that he is not personally against the government. However, he said that he has to respond to those who have been harassing him.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 November 2005

[Rumpole]

His supporters need an education before they decide that he's actually no good.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly right. And Taksin and his ilk will do everything in their power to make sure they don't get one.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Meanwhile, Amorn Chantharasomboon, a constitution drafter

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting choice of career...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's loads of opportunity in Constitution drafting in Muang Thai.

[cdnvic]

Isn't the "threat" of an imminent coup what started the upheaval in Indonesia in 1965?

cv