Thaksin's Two-Fold Mission To Laos

[webfact]

PM'S BROTHER

Thaksin's two-fold mission to Laos

The Nation

Thaksin Shinawatra presents monk robes and undergoes a welcoming ritual to celebrate Songkran at That Luang Temple in Vientiane, Laos, yesterday.

VIENTIANE: -- Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra visited Laos with two purposes: to ward off bad luck and to discuss business as the brother of the prime minister of Thailand.

His activities yesterday started with merit-making according to Laos' New Year tradition. The ceremony was held at That Luang Temple, deemed the royal temple of King Jaya Setthathirath of the Lan Xang Kingdom. This highly revered king promoted good relations with the Lanna Kingdom in what is now Chiang Mai.

Thaksin also took part in a ritual to dispel bad luck at Sri Muang Temple, another temple built by King Jaya Setthathirath.

Nevertheless, the bigger issue was his mission as the brother of the prime minister of Thailand.

In January, Thaksin visited Luang Prabang and was warmly welcomed by the mayor of the northern Laos town and the country's Telecommunications Minister Hiem Phommachanh.

At that time, Laos was having problems with the planned construction of a high-speed railway. They could not agree on how benefits would be generated along the more than 420 kilometres of railroad. Senior government officials in Laos admitted the construction project might be delayed for two years.

The main reason was the Yingluck government's own high-speed train project. The Thai government had announced three key high-speed rail routes: Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok-Hua Hin.

There was uncertainty surrounding the possibility of an eventual high-speed connection between Vientiane and Bangkok. Moreover, the Thai government had decided to implement the construction project only as far as Nakhon Ratchasima, not to the border with Laos in Nong Khai.

For that reason, China saw no reason to hurry the construction of its high-speed train network in Laos, because in order to optimise the benefits of such a project, it would need to link with Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

So it was unsurprising that the Laotian government would welcome Thaksin and lead Thailand's "de facto premier" from his plane to meet leaders of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

Visiting Pak Se, Thaksin was also welcomed by the governor. They were expected to discuss a special economic zone in the Khong or Mahanaty Si Phan Don areas.

-- The Nation 2012-04-13

[plachon]

Pure theatre for his Isaan-based fans, but no doubt effective PR.

Of more concern would be the exact nature of the business deals he is attempting to pull off in Laos and to what extent they are "above board". While he is the Big Brother of the PM and an ex-PM himself with a criminal record, presumably there are some business areas that would be sensitive and of potential concern, both to Thai citizens concerned about transparency and good governance, and Lao citizens who would want to be reassured their natural resources and future chances are not being sold off in "under the table" deals to persons of less than glowing character. After all, he has been known to deal in blood diamonds and hang-out with Mugabe and other unsavouries in Africa and the Middle East during his self-enforced exile. Nevermind his oh, so sweet deals over land, oil, casinos, power stations and other goodies in Cambodia with Hun Sen. Surely, his luck will run out soon, no matter how many bacis he attends?

[MEL1]

His luck has been exposed already!

A mere minion of the huge projection of attendees to this wonderous return to celebrate Song Kran with his millions of supporters, has resulted in complete failure and embarassment.

It's becoming clear that he isn't, nor are the red-shrits, as well-liked as he/they perceive they are. In fact quite the opposite!

It's almost laughable - this great return that tantamounted to little or nothing. Obviously the Esan and northerners have better things to do with family, than support this pathetic dinosaur who thoroughly believes he is as still loved as he always was. Thailand, obviously, including the north, is doing absolutely fine without this greedy cretin of a loser.

It's palletable that his sister does nothing, but unpalletable that any interference he is affecting, or believes he is, Thai status quo as is.

It is also predominantly obvious that if he really does try to step foot in this land then he, along with many others, will be lynched by a majority of haters who are currently quiet but ready to take on the venomosity of he and his cronies.

I look forward to his attempted venture at returning, and the final outcome which will level this land once and for all to where it is intended to end up - with true democracy.

-mel.

[h90]

His luck has been exposed already!

A mere minion of the huge projection of attendees to this wonderous return to celebrate Song Kran with his millions of supporters, has resulted in complete failure and embarassment.

It's becoming clear that he isn't, nor are the red-shrits, as well-liked as he/they perceive they are. In fact quite the opposite!

It's almost laughable - this great return that tantamounted to little or nothing. Obviously the Esan and northerners have better things to do with family, than support this pathetic dinosaur who thoroughly believes he is as still loved as he always was. Thailand, obviously, including the north, is doing absolutely fine without this greedy cretin of a loser.

It's palletable that his sister does nothing, but unpalletable that any interference he is affecting, or believes he is, Thai status quo as is.

It is also predominantly obvious that if he really does try to step foot in this land then he, along with many others, will be lynched by a majority of haters who are currently quiet but ready to take on the venomosity of he and his cronies.

I look forward to his attempted venture at returning, and the final outcome which will level this land once and for all to where it is intended to end up - with true democracy.

-mel.

this time, they didn't pay.

Next time when he pays 500 Baht per person for 1 day he get 50.000 attendees, again.

[AleG]

Usual suspects moaning about unelected elites mingling in government functions in one... two... ... ... infinite plus one, infinite plus two...

[otherstuff1957]

I notice that they mention relations between Lanna and Lan Xang. For those of you who haven't studied the history of the region here is a map showing Lan Xang, Lanna & Ayutthaya in 1400:

You might notice that about 1/3 of Lan Xang is what we now call Issan. Issan was taken over by the Siamese after a Siamese-Lao war in 1829, although the border wasn't formalized until 1909.

Lanna was a tributary kingdom to Siam from 1775 to 1885, after which it was formally annexed and the Kings of Chiang Mai lost all real power. BTW, Thaksin and Yingluck are descended from the Kings of Lanna through their paternal grandmother, Princess Jantip Na Chiang Mai.

[noisyboy]

A useful link would be regular flights from Bangkok to Huay Xai - would provide an alternative entry to Laos in addition to the Vientianne/Luang Prabhang route. Though that would give a boost to that awful casino at the Golden Triangle and frankly don't see that happening anytime soon.

[anterian]

Perhaps this illustrates what many have suggested, that there are two types of reds, Thaksin reds and ordinary reds.

[MEL1]

I notice that they mention relations between Lanna and Lan Xang. For those of you who haven't studied the history of the region here is a map showing Lan Xang, Lanna & Ayutthaya in 1400:

You might notice that about 1/3 of Lan Xang is what we now call Issan. Issan was taken over by the Siamese after a Siamese-Lao war in 1829, although the border wasn't formalized until 1909.

Lanna was a tributary kingdom to Siam from 1775 to 1885, after which it was formally annexed and the Kings of Chiang Mai lost all real power. BTW, Thaksin and Yingluck are descended from the Kings of Lanna through their paternal grandmother, Princess Jantip Na Chiang Mai.

I'm descended from a 16th Century Spanish Prince, but that doesn't make me wealthy or entitled to leadership or sovereignty in Spain. In fact, I am nobody nowadays... same as Mr Thaksin.

-mel.

[Skywalker69]

I notice that they mention relations between Lanna and Lan Xang. For those of you who haven't studied the history of the region here is a map showing Lan Xang, Lanna & Ayutthaya in 1400:

You might notice that about 1/3 of Lan Xang is what we now call Issan. Issan was taken over by the Siamese after a Siamese-Lao war in 1829, although the border wasn't formalized until 1909.

Lanna was a tributary kingdom to Siam from 1775 to 1885, after which it was formally annexed and the Kings of Chiang Mai lost all real power. BTW, Thaksin and Yingluck are descended from the Kings of Lanna through their paternal grandmother, Princess Jantip Na Chiang Mai.

I'm descended from a 16th Century Spanish Prince, but that doesn't make me wealthy or entitled to leadership or sovereignty in Spain. In fact, I am nobody nowadays... same as Mr Thaksin.

-mel.

[OzMick]

I notice that they mention relations between Lanna and Lan Xang. For those of you who haven't studied the history of the region here is a map showing Lan Xang, Lanna & Ayutthaya in 1400:

You might notice that about 1/3 of Lan Xang is what we now call Issan. Issan was taken over by the Siamese after a Siamese-Lao war in 1829, although the border wasn't formalized until 1909.

Lanna was a tributary kingdom to Siam from 1775 to 1885, after which it was formally annexed and the Kings of Chiang Mai lost all real power. BTW, Thaksin and Yingluck are descended from the Kings of Lanna through their paternal grandmother, Princess Jantip Na Chiang Mai.

There is a theory that through DNA we can all be traced back to a common descendant. Another theory suggests that the more successful humans tend to show psychopathic/sociopathic tendencies, ignoring the feelings of others in the rush to self advancement.

In light of such, I am quite happy to announce no royal lineage that I am aware of. Even more so when I look at Thaksin.

[MEL1]

I notice that they mention relations between Lanna and Lan Xang. For those of you who haven't studied the history of the region here is a map showing Lan Xang, Lanna & Ayutthaya in 1400:

You might notice that about 1/3 of Lan Xang is what we now call Issan. Issan was taken over by the Siamese after a Siamese-Lao war in 1829, although the border wasn't formalized until 1909.

Lanna was a tributary kingdom to Siam from 1775 to 1885, after which it was formally annexed and the Kings of Chiang Mai lost all real power. BTW, Thaksin and Yingluck are descended from the Kings of Lanna through their paternal grandmother, Princess Jantip Na Chiang Mai.

There is a theory that through DNA we can all be traced back to a common descendant. Another theory suggests that the more successful humans tend to show psychopathic/sociopathic tendencies, ignoring the feelings of others in the rush to self advancement.

In light of such, I am quite happy to announce no royal lineage that I am aware of. Even more so when I look at Thaksin.

I notice that they mention relations between Lanna and Lan Xang. For those of you who haven't studied the history of the region here is a map showing Lan Xang, Lanna & Ayutthaya in 1400:

You might notice that about 1/3 of Lan Xang is what we now call Issan. Issan was taken over by the Siamese after a Siamese-Lao war in 1829, although the border wasn't formalized until 1909.

Lanna was a tributary kingdom to Siam from 1775 to 1885, after which it was formally annexed and the Kings of Chiang Mai lost all real power. BTW, Thaksin and Yingluck are descended from the Kings of Lanna through their paternal grandmother, Princess Jantip Na Chiang Mai.

There is a theory that through DNA we can all be traced back to a common descendant. Another theory suggests that the more successful humans tend to show psychopathic/sociopathic tendencies, ignoring the feelings of others in the rush to self advancement.

In light of such, I am quite happy to announce no royal lineage that I am aware of. Even more so when I look at Thaksin.

Oh come on Mick! Announce your lineage. I'm sure it's much better than that of Mr T. His lineage, if pursued in depth and short history, would surely take him to a load of flies; he being the object of their excited flying rotation, waiting for him to cool down in the hot sun before they could indulge in landing.

-mel.