Exiled Thaksin Inches Closer To Return To Thailand

[bigbamboo]

I'll be home this year, Thaksin tells supporters

.

He said that last year.

He can come home any time he feels like, no problem.

I'll even pay his ticket for him, first class from anywhere on the planet.

Are you Calgaryll in disguise?

[OzMick]

He is not in self-exile....he is a fugitive....he can come back to Thailand any time he wishes

....he can come back to Thailand any time he wishes

Which is why he is in self exile!

If he were a fugitive, there would be law enforcement authorities chasing him.

Those would be the same law enforcement authorities that now tell us lying in court is not perjury? Not to be confused with those who refuse to attempt to collect certain taxes.

As I have said many times these are the same judges that you and yours were proclaiming to be above sin when caught on video discussing the democrat dissolution case and how to get their siblings through civil service entrance exams during the abhisit years and now we have a Yingluck government, suddenly they are not virtuous? That is convenient.

Judges do not pursue fugitive criminals. Nor do they make decisions about whether there is a basis for charges to be laid. Those are the law enforcement authorities to which I referred.

The rest of your straw argument is not worthy of comment.

Edited April 12, 2012 by OzMick

[Buchholz]

Red-shirt People Meet Thaksin in Laos

Members of the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship along with other red-shirt figures have met former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Laos.

However, their number is not as high as expected.

This morning, members of the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship, or UDD, from Nongkhai, Bueng Kan and other provinces traveled to Vientiane in Laos on tour buses.

The group held a gathering to offer well-wishes for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Lao officials did not allow Thai visitors traveling in a group of more than five to wear red clothes.

They permitted only 1,000 people to meet the former premier at Pha That Luang pagoda in Vientiane in order to prevent any possible turmoil.

Only 22 out of 62 buses prepared were used to transport the red-shirt people to Laos.

About 3,000 of them arrived there this morning.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-12

[anterian]

I was in Beijing when the Clinton impeachment hit the news, none of my Chinese friends could understand, to them sex on the side was normal for important people, when I said his lies were the problem, they replied but he is a politician of course he lies. Far too many people in TV are stuck in a western mold of thought, even some who have been here for years. Asians are pragmatists, they don't care about corruption, they want results. They pay the police bribe because it gets the desired result. They admire the successful man and are not bothered by how he got there. Thaksin was corrupt, so were everyone else, it is the Thai style. Thaksin was better than the rest, he had more imagination, so they got rid of him by brute force. Thaksin became a hero to many because he beat the elite at their own game. The Yellows hate him because he beat their best, this is not politics, that is just a western invention, this is all about corruption, the great game that all Thais learn in the cradle. Thaksin is the super star, so of course most Thais admire him.

[unanimosity]

Western thinking - black and white, good and bad. And so it goes..... The fact of the matter is even if you don't like Taksin those who voted for "his party" again and again should not have had their voting rights rendered meaningless. This should have not have resorted to a coup. He certainly did err; tax laws to his advantage, Tak Bai, drug war and Somchai etc. Makes religion rather defunct when people kill like that. Would prefer to take my chances with an atheist. However, it is rather monumental for a country like this to have democracy in this region of this world and that is due to Taksin and his red shirt followers. Perhaps the need for change needed a man like Taksin. Will have to monitor the performance of incumbent government to see if the change was for the better.

You are ranting about things and displaying you have little knowledge of them. Thaksin WAS NOT in Government at the time of the coup. He had dissolved parliament and was a caretaker. You are acknowledging that he made mistakes. The tax laws - criminal, Tak Bai, many people dead - criminal, the extra judicial killings of people allegedly involved in drugs, over 2500 murdered - criminal, now can you remind us again exactly why you are defending this man, who needed removing from power by hook or by crook (pun intended). While he was out of the country and had dissolved parliament (to suit his own needs I might add) the time was correct for those loyal to this country to step in. The coupists did no wrong, Thaksin however did much wrong.

The coup makers did no wrong? The will of the people be damned...and you're okay with that? You cite alleged mistakes. The proper course of action is to impeach, try in the courts, and convict, not militarily seize power.

[enricobkk]

1,000 people I thought there was supposed to be in the ten's of thousands, I guess they didn't do to well with every thing he gave them,

Probably he had only small pocket money to pay for only 1000 " supporters "...or maybe were already to drunk from celebrating Songkran

and got lost on the way...555

[JohnAllan]

"This is understandable. Their culture is different from ours. The rumours of an assassination threat may have worried the Laotian government so they provided special security measures," Kwanchai said.

Pardon??????

[MAJIC]

'Death threat' report disrupts Thaksin's Laos arrival

The Nation

Photo : Watcharachai Klaipong

VIENTIANE: -- Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was given special protection when he arrived in the capital of Laos yesterday, amid rumours of an assassination threat against him, according to people close to the former leader.

Red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana, a coordinator of the red-shirts' trip to Laos during Thaksin's visit, said yesterday the ex-premier's plane was diverted from Vientiane's Wattay International Airport to a military airport at short notice.

"The Laotian authorities took Thaksin to Government House. They cited safety reasons and the need to provide special treatment for him," Kwanchai said.

He said the Laotian government kept Thaksin's schedules in Laos secret and even red-shirt leaders from Thailand were not informed about changes set by Laotian authorities.

"This is understandable. Their culture is different from ours. The rumours of an assassination threat may have worried the Laotian government so they provided special security measures," Kwanchai said.

According to a source close to Thaksin, the Laotian authorities changed Thaksin's original schedules for security reasons. Some were cancelled while the times for others were changed. Even people close to Thaksin were informed of the new schedules at short notice, according to the source.

Kwanchai was among many red-shirt leaders and politicians from the ruling Pheu Thai Party waiting at the Wattay airport yesterday to welcome Thaksin. They included Suporn Atthawong, Jaral Dittha-apichai, Sutham Sangprathum, Sermsak Pongpanit, General Panlop Pinmanee and Sitha Tiwari.

They were informed of the sudden change shortly before Thaksin's plane landed at Vientiane's military airport.

There were also Thaksin supporters from many provinces, as well as his Laotian admirers. Most refrained from wearing red at the suggestion of the Laotian authorities who prohibit political campaigning.

Last night, Thaksin was scheduled to give a lecture on economic matters at a large riverside hotel in Vientiane located opposite the Thai province of Nong Khai. About 1,000 Laotian businesspeople and executives as well as some 300 Thai businesspeople were expected to attend.

Later in the day, Thaksin was expected to address a gathering of red shirts at the Nong Khai Provincial Stadium through the Skype Internet-based communication network. Many red shirts, mostly from the northeastern provinces, and the movement's leaders yesterday gathered in Nong Khai, just across the Mekong River from Vientiane, in a function held to offer moral support to Thaksin.

Thaksin is scheduled to offer alms to Buddhist monks and to meet his red-shirt supporters this morning in Vientiane. Thousands of red shirts are expected to gather in the Laotian capital during the Songkran festival to attend a ceremony to offer blessings to Thaksin.

Before noon today, Thaksin is scheduled to meet with another group of red shirts at Vientiane's morning market. Later in the day, he is scheduled to fly to the southern Laotian city of Pakse.

According to his schedule, Thaksin will remains in Laos until tomorrow before leaving for Cambodia, where he is scheduled to stay on Saturday and Sunday.

-- The Nation 2012-04-12

Unbelievable,a stadium address via Skype,hasn't he the guts,to walk over the friendship Bridge?

Edited April 12, 2012 by MAJIC

[apetley]

It is not unusual for important people to use a private aircraft when they have to attend a meeting at specific time.

It is also not unusual that people will notice and comment on the contradiction, when the "important person" travelling in a luxurious manner is the same person making the claim of being at one with the poor. Of course those blinded by adoration, may fail to see any contradiction.

Much as I dislike Taksin, he's a businessman and I appreciate his need of a personal jet. He's got the money so why not.

I wonder what your view is on tremendously wealthy people espousing the self sufficiency principle here in Thailand?

Taksin has enough faults and dubious history so no need to pick on an irrelevance.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[bigbamboo]

1,000 people I thought there was supposed to be in the ten's of thousands, I guess they didn't do to well with every thing he gave them,

Probably he had only small pocket money to pay for only 1000 " supporters "...or maybe were already to drunk from celebrating Songkran

and got lost on the way...555

Could it not be that he isn't as popular as his supporters would have you believe?

[Jim walker]

I was under the impression that there is no democracy in Thailand and never was because the elitist establishment would not allow this and the country is run and overseen by the Privy Council and the so called elected government is just a front to keep the rest of the western world happy, and then Thaksin came to power and this threw the elitist in a proper flap, minimum wage, health service, proper housing for the poor. Quick we need a coup get him out and make sure he stays out cant upset the norm establishment..

With all these wonderful knowledgeable posts [excluding all the propaganda crap posts] Who Should govern Thailand ?

[inquisitive]

The tycoon arrived on his personal jet in the Lao capital Vientiane...

I'm sorry sir the cabin is full, you'll have to climb on top and hold on tight!

Good to see the champion of the poor downtrodden masses and scurge of the amarts leads by example.

Jealous?

It is not unusual for important people to use a private aircraft when they have to attend a meeting at specific time. How did you expect the guest speaker to make his way to the location? Do you know what the flight schedules are from his departure point? The use of a private aircraft also meant that he would not have to enter Thai airspace or use Bangkok as a transit Hub. I do not think the time is right for his return, although, you apparently think it is.

Do I understand correctly that you believe that the time for the meeting of the Red Shirts at the airport was set without any consideration for the arrival times of aircraft? That Thaksin's handlers just picked a time out of a hat and later discovered that there were no commercial flights at that time? Surely you must realize how stupid that sounds. And when we stop to consider that you have absolutely zero information about who, when, where, or even why that particular decision was made it becomes vividly clear that you are talking through your hat.

Of course it is Thaksin's right to choose his mode of transportation. Why do you have to humiliate yourself in defending that point as you just did? The fact remains that Thaksin has always managed to convince the poor and uneducated that he is poor the same as them and at the same time he claims that he can help them because he is richer and more powerful than the oh so nasty amart (which to any educated person would make Thaksin himself amart by definition). Thaksin has not been as successful at convincing the educated masses as he has been with the uneducated farmers. It is sort of the "taking candy from a baby" syndrome. He can easily trick the baby to get the candy, but the adults watching the activity are neither fooled or pleased. Get over it.

[pimay11]

I was under the impression that there is no democracy in Thailand and never was because the elitist establishment would not allow this and the country is run and overseen by the Privy Council and the so called elected government is just a front to keep the rest of the western world happy, and then Thaksin came to power and this threw the elitist in a proper flap, minimum wage, health service, proper housing for the poor. Quick we need a coup get him out and make sure he stays out cant upset the norm establishment..

With all these wonderful knowledgeable posts [excluding all the propaganda crap posts] Who Should govern Thailand ?

Obviously you were under the wrong impression.

[Buchholz]

It is not unusual for important people to use a private aircraft when they have to attend a meeting at specific time.

It is also not unusual that people will notice and comment on the contradiction, when the "important person" travelling in a luxurious manner is the same person making the claim of being at one with the poor. Of course those blinded by adoration, may fail to see any contradiction.

Much as I dislike Taksin, he's a businessman

He says he's unemployed.

.

[Breville]

The only place this guy should be stepping into is Bangkok Prison, along with all his henchmen, and the braindead morons from Western countries stupid enough to support him.

[AleG]

I was under the impression that there is no democracy in Thailand and never was because the elitist establishment would not allow this and the country is run and overseen by the Privy Council and the so called elected government is just a front to keep the rest of the western world happy, and then Thaksin came to power and this threw the elitist in a proper flap, minimum wage, health service, proper housing for the poor. Quick we need a coup get him out and make sure he stays out cant upset the norm establishment..

With all these wonderful knowledgeable posts [excluding all the propaganda crap posts] Who Should govern Thailand ?

Please point to the social programs cancelled by the evil elites after the coup.

I mean, if they overthrew him because he established a minimum wage (which he didn't by the way), provided healthcare and housing to the poor. Surely the first thing this evil elites would have done would be to cancel those programs, right?

Thaksin didn't bring the concept of a minimum wage into Thailand, a quick search tells me it was established in 1973, and the 30 Baht healthcare scheme was changed into a 0 Baht scheme by the Abhisit administration. I don't have the faintest idea what you referred to about housing for the poor, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you are probably wrong on that too.

[elektrified]

He is not in self-exile....he is a fugitive....he can come back to Thailand any time he wishes

If he is only 12 km from Thai soil then why doesn't someone grab the bastard and bring him home to a jail cell to serve his time?

[Buchholz]

I was under the impression that there is no democracy in Thailand and never was because the elitist establishment would not allow this and the country is run and overseen by the Privy Council and the so called elected government is just a front to keep the rest of the western world happy, and then Thaksin came to power and this threw the elitist in a proper flap, minimum wage, health service, proper housing for the poor. Quick we need a coup get him out and make sure he stays out cant upset the norm establishment..

With all these wonderful knowledgeable posts [excluding all the propaganda crap posts] Who Should govern Thailand ?

Please point to the social programs cancelled by the evil elites after the coup.

I mean, if they overthrew him because he established a minimum wage (which he didn't by the way), provided healthcare and housing to the poor. Surely the first thing this evil elites would have done would be to cancel those programs, right?

Thaksin didn't bring the concept of a minimum wage into Thailand, a quick search tells me it was established in 1973, and the 30 Baht healthcare scheme was changed into a 0 Baht scheme by the Abhisit administration. I don't have the faintest idea what you referred to about housing for the poor, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you are probably wrong on that too.

He's referring to corruption-riddled Ua-arthorn housing scam

.

[MAJIC]

Seems a poor turn out for Thaksin in Laos, 1,000 supporters,I wonder if he had to pay per person for his Red Rent a Mob,doesn't seem much in it for Laos?

[longway]

I was under the impression that there is no democracy in Thailand and never was because the elitist establishment would not allow this and the country is run and overseen by the Privy Council and the so called elected government is just a front to keep the rest of the western world happy, and then Thaksin came to power and this threw the elitist in a proper flap, minimum wage, health service, proper housing for the poor. Quick we need a coup get him out and make sure he stays out cant upset the norm establishment..

With all these wonderful knowledgeable posts [excluding all the propaganda crap posts] Who Should govern Thailand ?

You forgot that he is an angel sent down from heaven, with him in charge then this country can become a democratic and free paradise, just same as all the countries in south east asia.

I was in Beijing when the Clinton impeachment hit the news, none of my Chinese friends could understand, to them sex on the side was normal for important people, when I said his lies were the problem, they replied but he is a politician of course he lies. Far too many people in TV are stuck in a western mold of thought, even some who have been here for years. Asians are pragmatists, they don't care about corruption, they want results. They pay the police bribe because it gets the desired result. They admire the successful man and are not bothered by how he got there. Thaksin was corrupt, so were everyone else, it is the Thai style. Thaksin was better than the rest, he had more imagination, so they got rid of him by brute force. Thaksin became a hero to many because he beat the elite at their own game. The Yellows hate him because he beat their best, this is not politics, that is just a western invention, this is all about corruption, the great game that all Thais learn in the cradle. Thaksin is the super star, so of course most Thais admire him.

That's all very well, but whats galling is that after he shits out whats left of what he gobbles up, some of his followers gather it up and call it democracy and freedom, and claim its never tasted so good.

Edited April 12, 2012 by longway

[MAJIC]

1,000 people I thought there was supposed to be in the ten's of thousands, I guess they didn't do to well with every thing he gave them,

Probably he had only small pocket money to pay for only 1000 " supporters "...or maybe were already to drunk from celebrating Songkran

and got lost on the way...555

Could it not be that he isn't as popular as his supporters would have you believe?

Or perhaps on this occasion he has been a bit Kineow,with the attendance cash,and expenses.

[jambodave]

I have only been in Thailand 1 year,please take this in to account when reading this post.I am amazed at the venomous attacks on Mr T has he caused Farangs living here so much pain and misery.I think the best people to decide if and when Mr T returns are the Thai people themselves.If the prospect of living here under a Mr T governments fills farangs with such dread,the only course of action is too cut your loses and run.If the Thai people decide to elect a monkey to govern it"s ok with me,as long as I can have my visa stamped every year and the price of cigarettes stay the same

[unanimosity]

I was under the impression that there is no democracy in Thailand and never was because the elitist establishment would not allow this and the country is run and overseen by the Privy Council and the so called elected government is just a front to keep the rest of the western world happy, and then Thaksin came to power and this threw the elitist in a proper flap, minimum wage, health service, proper housing for the poor. Quick we need a coup get him out and make sure he stays out cant upset the norm establishment..

With all these wonderful knowledgeable posts [excluding all the propaganda crap posts] Who Should govern Thailand ?

Thongchai Jaidee, a Thai that truly earned his success.

[unanimosity]

It is not unusual for important people to use a private aircraft when they have to attend a meeting at specific time.

It is also not unusual that people will notice and comment on the contradiction, when the "important person" travelling in a luxurious manner is the same person making the claim of being at one with the poor. Of course those blinded by adoration, may fail to see any contradiction.

Much as I dislike Taksin, he's a businessman

He says he's unemployed.

.

His investments and holdings generate revenues and with revenues come taxes. Using chartered or fractional ownership aircraft qualifies as a business expense and is deductable, allowing business people, celebrities, and professional athletes to pay for private jet usage with pretax dollars. If they don't spend money on deductable expenses they have to give that money to the government in taxes. What would you do?

Edited April 12, 2012 by unanimosity

[Jim walker]

The Golfer ?

[yeeowww]

"If everything is over and I return home, I don't necessarily have to become prime minister. I can serve people," Thaksin told his supporters in televised remarks.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-04-12

This is the part I don't get...

What's stopping him from doing that now?

He's free to serve people anytime, anywhere with his mega-wealth.

No one is stopping him from sending money to support hospitals, schools, farmers and the poor... He's free to donate and support any cause for the poor and needy of his choosing! But so far I haven't seen this mighty philanthropist, man of the people who loves them all, jump to cause. Instead he prefers to use his mega-billions buying & selling sport teams and developing gold mining operations to further stuff his portmanteau.

I ask his brainwashed lemmings about this every time they start babbling on about how "great" this man is. The truth is he is a man who would not spend even 1 Baht out of his own, much ill-gotten, massive wealth. Man of the People?! HAH!

[rixalex]

It is not unusual for important people to use a private aircraft when they have to attend a meeting at specific time.

It is also not unusual that people will notice and comment on the contradiction, when the "important person" travelling in a luxurious manner is the same person making the claim of being at one with the poor. Of course those blinded by adoration, may fail to see any contradiction.

Much as I dislike Taksin, he's a businessman and I appreciate his need of a personal jet. He's got the money so why not.

I wonder what your view is on tremendously wealthy people espousing the self sufficiency principle here in Thailand?

Taksin has enough faults and dubious history so no need to pick on an irrelevance.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

Yes you are quite right, in the general scheme of things, there are other issues of greater importance.

As for my view on other wealthy people, well if they too are championing themselves as being different from the rest of the elite, as being in touch with the common people, i would frown on them also and question their integrity, were they to indulge themselves in unnecessary excesses. Guess it comes down to whether one considers ownership of a private jet as being an unnecessary excess.

[bigbamboo]

I have only been in Thailand 1 year,please take this in to account when reading this post.I am amazed at the venomous attacks on Mr T has he caused Farangs living here so much pain and misery.I think the best people to decide if and when Mr T returns are the Thai people themselves.If the prospect of living here under a Mr T governments fills farangs with such dread,the only course of action is too cut your loses and run.If the Thai people decide to elect a monkey to govern it"s ok with me,as long as I can have my visa stamped every year and the price of cigarettes stay the same

I heard Thaksin isn't a Hi-So, he's a Hi-Bee...!

Edited April 12, 2012 by bigbamboo

[Jingthing]

I have only been in Thailand 1 year,please take this in to account when reading this post.

...

Obviously ...

[whybother]

Western thinking - black and white, good and bad. And so it goes..... The fact of the matter is even if you don't like Taksin those who voted for "his party" again and again should not have had their voting rights rendered meaningless. This should have not have resorted to a coup. He certainly did err; tax laws to his advantage, Tak Bai, drug war and Somchai etc. Makes religion rather defunct when people kill like that. Would prefer to take my chances with an atheist. However, it is rather monumental for a country like this to have democracy in this region of this world and that is due to Taksin and his red shirt followers. Perhaps the need for change needed a man like Taksin. Will have to monitor the performance of incumbent government to see if the change was for the better.

Why do people follow someone that has "erred" so much? Wouldn't they be better off following someone that doesn't err?