Ousting Thaksin

[Phil Conners]

Sondhi's great achievment on Feb. 4, or any day, will be if he can find a way to explain in simple, memorable, sound-bite terms to the average Thai Somchai rice farmer, just how Toxin's selfish, complex, financial tax-evading shenanigans have screwed the likes of Khun Somchai.

Isn't that what he has been doing for weeks already?

[tettyan]

Anyone notice how much attention The Nation gave tomorrow's rally in today's edition. They've gone from hardly giving Sondhi's previous rallies at Lumpini a mention to overwhelming coverage now.

Me thinks an editorial decision was made to get behind Sondhi and the rally in light of the revelations concerning Shin's sale to Temasek - probably see it as their best chance now, in a climate of anger directed at Thaksin for cheating the treasury out of billions of baht.

Also, they appear to be alluding to a quickly diminishing confidence in Thaksin by some TLT party members and others.

The Thaksin power base will crumble.....and built on fear.....it could crumble at the foundations if the defections increase and loyalty melts away in the next week.

Listen hard you old coots.Thaksin did not cheat the treasury of one baht.There is no tax payable under Thai regulations on listed share sales.You could argue that the sale was politically unwise, but that's another matter.I'm no Thaksin fan but it's tiresome to read these posts from various codgers who simply haven't bothered to get to grips with the facts of this case.There are various questions outstanding mainly relating to tender offer considerations, but Thaksin is clean on the tax side.

Of course, in politics, the PERCEPTION of reality always counts for more than reality itself. Moreover, complicated issues and things ordinary people can't understand can't hurt them. Until now, Mr. Thaksin has relied on these phenomona to keep himself in power - by manipulating news coverage and by making his dealings so complicated that no matter how shady, the avg Isan farmer couldn't understand how he did anything wrong.

Of course, now it's all coming back to bite Thaksin in the a$$. Yes, the whole Ample Rich business and all the other stuff he's pulled before is far more sketchy than not having to pay capital gains tax for the Shin sale. But the whole tax-free business is the one issue that Thakins's critics have finally been able to tar him with and let it stick - easy to understand (e.g. why do I have to pay taxes and not him?) and as an added bonus, also comes with a nationalistic element (oh no! s'pore has taken over Thailand!).

Just my 2 cents worth.

Edited February 3, 2006 by tettyan

[penzman]

Anyone notice how much attention The Nation gave tomorrow's rally in today's edition. They've gone from hardly giving Sondhi's previous rallies at Lumpini a mention to overwhelming coverage now.

Me thinks an editorial decision was made to get behind Sondhi and the rally in light of the revelations concerning Shin's sale to Temasek - probably see it as their best chance now, in a climate of anger directed at Thaksin for cheating the treasury out of billions of baht.

Also, they appear to be alluding to a quickly diminishing confidence in Thaksin by some TLT party members and others.

The Thaksin power base will crumble.....and built on fear.....it could crumble at the foundations if the defections increase and loyalty melts away in the next week.

How about this then?

[bulmercke]

Anyone notice how much attention The Nation gave tomorrow's rally in today's edition. They've gone from hardly giving Sondhi's previous rallies at Lumpini a mention to overwhelming coverage now.

Me thinks an editorial decision was made to get behind Sondhi and the rally in light of the revelations concerning Shin's sale to Temasek - probably see it as their best chance now, in a climate of anger directed at Thaksin for cheating the treasury out of billions of baht.

Also, they appear to be alluding to a quickly diminishing confidence in Thaksin by some TLT party members and others.

The Thaksin power base will crumble.....and built on fear.....it could crumble at the foundations if the defections increase and loyalty melts away in the next week.

Listen hard you old coots.Thaksin did not cheat the treasury of one baht.There is no tax payable under Thai regulations on listed share sales.You could argue that the sale was politically unwise, but that's another matter.I'm no Thaksin fan but it's tiresome to read these posts from various codgers who simply haven't bothered to get to grips with the facts of this case.There are various questions outstanding mainly relating to tender offer considerations, but Thaksin is clean on the tax side.

Suggest you get a copy of today's Nation or read it on-line.

Front page - sub-heading: "The richest man in the kingdom simply does not have the moral fibre to lead us."

It's not just this case - but even here - rules and regulations were deliberately twisted to facilitate this extremely dubious and shady transaction. Thaksin was yet again working the government - the senate etc. - to benefit himself and his cronies.

There's an unprecedented anger brewing now against Thaksin.....not just about the aforementioned matter, but about many other extremely serious matters which relate to Thaksin's corruption and authoritarianism....too many to mention.....

His days are seriously numbered now.

And, sorry, I beg to differ, but Thaksin is absolutely not clear on the tax matter. In fact, he's now in deep, deep doodoo by all accounts concerning his relationship with Ample Rich and the relevant declarations he made at the time - or didn't!

[merlin1]

There will certainly be violence. Talk to any decent Thai astrologer. Mars is very powerful now in the horoscope of Thailand (Apr 21 1782 6.55 am).

But not a blood bath fortunately.

Still, there are big changes afoot in Thailand in the coming month or two. Leaders will suffer, and the people will feel loss. Sorry for the slightly vague wording but it's a way of incorporating a variety of outcomes. I think one critical period will be mid-March.

Edited February 3, 2006 by merlin1

[sriracha john]

A little pre-rally warm-up

Shin employees told to leave office afterwork

Published on Feb 03 , 2006

Some employees of Shin Corp received mails from the higher-ups in the afternoon to leave office immediately after work, following a rumour that those who are dissatisfied with the company's share sale to Temasek Holdings would storm into the office.

The message was then passed on to other employees who worked in the Shin I Building on Phaholyothin Road. They were informed of the rumour that those protesters gathered in front of the Revenue Department and they would move onto the Shin building.

"I don't understand why we have to encounter this," an employee said with watery eyes.

But no protest turned up at the office as feared.

- The Nation

=============================================

28 senators petition Constitution Court to investigate Thaksin

Published on Feb 03 , 2006

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's involvement in the Shin Corp sell-off was circumstantial evidence to warrant a judicial review on whether he had violated a ban against having businesses while holding office, a senator said Friday.

"The Constitution bans prime minister and Cabinet members from having conflict of interest but the Shin Corp deal has raised a key question whether Thaksin had abandoned shares or business influence before assuming office," Kaewsan Atibhodi said.

To answer that question, 28 senators petitioned the Consitution Court to open an inquiry into the link between Thaksin and the Shin sell-off, he said.

The petition was submitted via Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua.

Kaewsan said Thaksin would face a mandatory impeachment if he was found to retain business influence, directly or indirectly.

"The real issue is not about tax avoidance or about insider trading but Article 209 of the Constitution forbidding conflict of interest," he said.

The court inquiry would force Thaksin to show evidence verifying his claim that he had transferred all of his Shin Shares to his children before assuming office, he said.

In his defence for the asset concealment case in 2001, Thaksin argued that he had made a transfer of ownership for Ample Rich located in the British Virgin Islands to his son Panthontae but did not present any evidence as proof, he said.

Ample Rich circulated again in the Shin sell-off and Thaksin should not be allow to elude the law a second time, he said, claiming that authorities did not demand to see the ownership transfer document in 2001.

======================================================

More former allies abandoning ship:

Snoh denounced Thaksin as "shameless"

Published on Feb 03 , 2006

TRT Party Wang Nam Yen faction leader Snoh Thienthong Friday denounced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as being "shameless" for not paying taxes over the Shin Corp sale.

"I don't understand why he wasn't ashamed of himself regarding the sale of Shin Corp. Even, the Crown Property Bureau also pays taxes. So why did he had to make plans to enact laws to help him avoid paying taxes," Snoh said.

He said he was sorry for having supported Thaksin to the power and the political situation under the Thaksin government was "dark, not grey".

But he said it appeared that the sky would turn bright again after the anti-Thaksin rally at the Royal Plaza on Saturday.

"The sky is opening up again on February 4," Snoh said.

=============================================

More government workers getting in on the rally:

Some 10,000 state enterprise workers to join Sondhi's rally

Published on Feb 03 , 2006

The State Enterprise Labour Relations Confederation will deploy some 10,000 members to join the anti-Thaksin rally at the Royal Plaza on Saturday.

Sirichai Mai-ngarm, secretary-general of the confederation, said the confederation fully supported the rally and had issued a statement inviting general members of the public to attend the rally.

=======================================================

ANTI-THAKSIN RALLY: DAY OF RECKONING

Published on February 04, 2006

PM should be hoping that thousands of marchers don’t face the kind of violence that saw three predecessors disgraced. As Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vows not to surrender to mounting pressure to resign, he may very well find out at the end of the day that it is not he who will decide his destiny.

The outcome of today’s rally at the Royal Plaza will almost surely dictate what will happen next in his career.

Ongoing tensions over Thak-sin have led to speculation that there are four directions in which he could head – stay on in defiance, resign in disgrace, dissolve the House or leave the country.

Developments in the Thaksin camp over the past few days have shown the prime minister believes he will survive his worst crisis since assuming power five years ago. He is striking back at media maverick Sondhi Limthongkul and other anti-Thaksin camps.

Pojaman, Thaksin's wife, called a meeting of Thai Rak Thai Party leaders at Ban Phitsanulok (the PM's official residence) on Wednesday to block Sondhi’s supporters.

At the meeting it was decided that the interior minister would order governors across the country to stop provincial people from joining Sondhi's rally.

Moreover, a number of people led by TRT MPs have rallied in several provinces in support of Thaksin.

The government has opened Government House to welcome more and more people from business people to teachers and actors coming to show their support for Thaksin to stay on in the premiership. The premier himself has escorted them one by one.

Thaksin has been heading to his party strongholds as a tactic to regain popularity. He changed his regular schedule yesterday by going to Bangkok's Klong Toei district, greeting local community residents and giving promises to alleviate their poverty. TRT spokesman Sita Divari held the event as he is the local MP.

As Sondhi leads today's rally, Thaksin will be heading north to his hometown and TRT's stronghold of Chiang Mai for a mobile Cabinet meeting. It is believed Thaksin plans to stand in front of a crowd of his supporters, who will shout words of support.

Thaksin is desperately attempting to restore the positive media coverage he enjoyed for so long as once cowed journalists start to turn the heat on him.

Thaksin has been reminding the public that the 19-million voters who supported his ruling party in the 2005 election are still alive and siding with him. He hopes their enormous support will overwhelm Sondhi's movement and save his sinking ship.

However, all of Thaksin's desperate attempts could be rendered meaningless if the rally ends with an eruption of violence.

Thailand's political history shows that mass rallies that leave people dead and wounded eventually involve a government leader being forced to step down.

Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, Field Marshal Prapas Jarusathien and General Suchinda Kraprayoon are good examples of leaders who were disgraced after uprisings against their administrations ended in fatalities.

Thaksin could face the same destiny as these three should today's rally overflow the streets and tempers flare.

If things go badly wrong, Thaksin might choose to resign. He might appoint one of his inner circle as his successor. But there would have to be serious doubts about whether the people would accept a government operating in Thaksin's shadow.

Another possibility if the situation turns violent is that Thaksin might declare a House dissolution, which needs royal approval.

This scenario would give Thaksin a chance to come back as premier if his party again achieved a majority.

But under these circumstances, you can expect the anti-Thaksin forces to fight tooth and nail to push him out of the political scene permanently.

In the worst-case scenario, if the situation spirals way out of control, Thaksin might be left with no choice but to leave the country, possibly on the Cabinet's new aircraft, dubbed "Air Force 1."

So today will be Thaksin's real test. He must be praying the rally will end peacefully.

======================================================

The other very crucial person involved tomorrow:

Royal petition success hinges on Prem staying home

Published on February 04, 2006

Apart from the two high-profile sworn enemies, all eyes today will be on the man living at the Sisao Thewes residence. Whether statesman Prem Tinsulanonda, who chairs the Privy Council, will personally accept the petition handed over by anti-Thaksin protesters carries great political significance.

Sondhi Limthongkul would love for Prem to be there, hoping the former prime minister’s appearance with the demonstrators will inject new momentum into their campaign.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on the other hand, would want General Prem to lock himself up inside his house or leave for somewhere else, and only let the protesters meet his representative.

In a few recent encounters with the media, Prem called for restraint from both sides. He said the bloody confrontation between strongman Suchinda Kraprayoon and political maverick Chamlong Srimuang in May 1992 should serve as a good lesson for Thaksin and Sondhi.

“October 14 [the 1973 pro-democracy uprising] happened for [solid] reasons, but the case between General Suchinda and Chamlong should teach us about whether we want anything like that again,” Prem was quoted by Matichon as saying.

He urged Matichon to tell the public that he is a neutral figure in this Thaksin vs Sondhi bout.

When asked if he would be on hand to receive the protesters’ petition – which seeks to convey their feelings to His Majesty the King that Thaksin has lost his legitimacy to rule – Prem was elusive.

“Please wait and see whether I will be at home. In fact, I’m not involved. It’s all Sondhi’s words, which I have either heard or read about. I have no idea what he’s going to propose.”

Edited February 3, 2006 by sriracha john

[penzman]

As Sondhi leads today's rally, Thaksin will be heading north to his hometown and TRT's stronghold of Chiang Mai for a mobile Cabinet meeting. It is believed Thaksin plans to stand in front of a crowd of his supporters, who will shout words of support.

..and then take a left turn, heading west to the Burmese border?

[sriracha john]

Asia News Network-

Organisers say Sondhi has vowed to take the lead of the mass protest this time, with plans to stay overnight at the Royal Plaza. He will try to avoid committing the same blunder as on Jan 13, when some protestors suddenly stormed Government House and 40 of them were arrested for trespassing on government property. Sondhi took the blame for the mishap.

This time, Sondhi and his crew have done a better job organising the event after spending the past two weeks forming an alliance with various anti-Thaksin movements, organisers say.

The rally plan has been carefully laid out. Uaychai Watha will lead thousands of teachers, mostly from the Northeast, to take their position at the Royal Plaza between 8am and noon before Sondhi’s team formally takes over the stage from 1pm until 8am tomorrow.

In case of interference – such as an attack by a pro-government mob on Uaychai’s group that would block Sondhi’s access to the Royal Plaza – the organisers would resort to plan B and move the mass gathering to another location.

Sondhi will only move his followers in case of an emergency. He will show up at the stage at 6pm before leading a small group to Prem’s residence in Teves, where he will deliver the royal petition at about 8pm. Then he will return to the Royal Plaza and declare that he has done his job.

Later Sondhi will take to the stage every two to three hours to keep the audience informed about the situation and to show his leadership.

His Buddhist master, Buddha Issara from Nakhon Pathom, will help keep the protesters in a calm and peaceful mood by leading prayers at 8pm, while Sondhi departs the Royal Plaza for Prem’s home about 1.5-kilometres away.

The monk will lead prayers again at 6am tomorrow morning. A merit-making ceremony for 99 monks will follow and Sondhi will proclaim the end of the rally not later than 8am.

For smooth proceedings and safety, security for Sondhi and the stage will be tightened. Some 550 “sentries”, mostly volunteers from Phetchaburi and teachers groups, will provide security for the demonstrators.

About 4,500 police will also be on alert to control the situation outside the venue, preventing pro-government groups from sabotaging the protest.

Sondhi and his crew are quite confident that the demonstration will proceed smoothly and peacefully. It might not be able to jettison Thaksin overnight but such a huge movement will definitely pile pressure on the government, an organiser said.

[Cassandra]

Anyone notice how much attention The Nation gave tomorrow's rally in today's edition. They've gone from hardly giving Sondhi's previous rallies at Lumpini a mention to overwhelming coverage now.

Me thinks an editorial decision was made to get behind Sondhi and the rally in light of the revelations concerning Shin's sale to Temasek - probably see it as their best chance now, in a climate of anger directed at Thaksin for cheating the treasury out of billions of baht.

Also, they appear to be alluding to a quickly diminishing confidence in Thaksin by some TLT party members and others.

The Thaksin power base will crumble.....and built on fear.....it could crumble at the foundations if the defections increase and loyalty melts away in the next week.

Listen hard you old coots.Thaksin did not cheat the treasury of one baht.There is no tax payable under Thai regulations on listed share sales.You could argue that the sale was politically unwise, but that's another matter.I'm no Thaksin fan but it's tiresome to read these posts from various codgers who simply haven't bothered to get to grips with the facts of this case.There are various questions outstanding mainly relating to tender offer considerations, but Thaksin is clean on the tax side.

Suggest you get a copy of today's Nation or read it on-line.

Front page - sub-heading: "The richest man in the kingdom simply does not have the moral fibre to lead us."

It's not just this case - but even here - rules and regulations were deliberately twisted to facilitate this extremely dubious and shady transaction. Thaksin was yet again working the government - the senate etc. - to benefit himself and his cronies.

There's an unprecedented anger brewing now against Thaksin.....not just about the aforementioned matter, but about many other extremely serious matters which relate to Thaksin's corruption and authoritarianism....too many to mention.....

His days are seriously numbered now.

And, sorry, I beg to differ, but Thaksin is absolutely not clear on the tax matter. In fact, he's now in deep, deep doodoo by all accounts concerning his relationship with Ample Rich and the relevant declarations he made at the time - or didn't!

.I challenge you on this forum to give chapter and verse specifically on the tax issue on how Thaksin acted illegally.This means tax evasion as opposed to tax avoidance, the latter being legal in every jurisdiction.Be specific not just general blather about cronyism etc.

[ilyushin]

Anyone notice how much attention The Nation gave tomorrow's rally in today's edition. They've gone from hardly giving Sondhi's previous rallies at Lumpini a mention to overwhelming coverage now.

Me thinks an editorial decision was made to get behind Sondhi and the rally in light of the revelations concerning Shin's sale to Temasek - probably see it as their best chance now, in a climate of anger directed at Thaksin for cheating the treasury out of billions of baht.

Also, they appear to be alluding to a quickly diminishing confidence in Thaksin by some TLT party members and others.

The Thaksin power base will crumble.....and built on fear.....it could crumble at the foundations if the defections increase and loyalty melts away in the next week.

Listen hard you old coots.Thaksin did not cheat the treasury of one baht.There is no tax payable under Thai regulations on listed share sales.You could argue that the sale was politically unwise, but that's another matter.I'm no Thaksin fan but it's tiresome to read these posts from various codgers who simply haven't bothered to get to grips with the facts of this case.There are various questions outstanding mainly relating to tender offer considerations, but Thaksin is clean on the tax side.

Behind the curtains.

Well, I guess the other Baht 270 Billion missing from the government's ( Tox's) special budget 2005 won't be a problem to disclose to the public. Also , I recently saw message from the Agri co-operative asking the MoF to make payment for past deals which used "Barter Trade" as the method of purchase before they proceed to ask for additional rice or other produce from the agri co-op.

The Shin shares was a business deal. I agree, but the government isn't his business. He should be investigated for the corruption within his office.

What has this man actual done for the country? I haven't found a successful program yet.

Edited February 4, 2006 by ilyushin

[sriracha john]

What has this man actual done for the country? I haven't found a successful program yet.

The start-up of the Hub Creation Department along with the Crackdown Announcement Department within the newly started Ministry of Oppression have kept him quite busy.

[Heng]

Bring back Chavalit!

[chownah]

From the Nation:

"Thailand's political history shows that mass rallies that leave people dead and wounded eventually involve a government leader being forced to step down."

According to this it is in Sondhi's interests for people to die and against Thaksin's interests....who then would be most likely to try to stop deaths?...and who would benefit if there were any?

[Golf]

The clock is ticking, the drum is rolling, what have we missed? The People of Thailand! Rise, Thai people! Let him hear your voices!

I am not in Thailand, but I would join you if I were there.

Fight to the end!

Golf

[ilyushin]

Bring back Chavalit!

Who was the backbone of the Chavalit government? It wasn't Chavalit.

[sriracha john]

Only King can tell me to leave: Thaskin

Published on Feb 04 , 2006

The Nation

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Saturday that he will not quit as long as His Majesty the King does not tell him to go.

"The only person who can tell me to quit is His Majesty the King. If His Majesty whispers to me that 'Thaksin please leave, then I'll go," Thasin said during his weekly radio programme Saturday morning.

[Golf]

The King will tell you to leave very soon!

Golf

[penzman]

Whisper?

[Ricardo]

As Sondhi leads today's rally, Thaksin will be heading north to his hometown and TRT's stronghold of Chiang Mai for a mobile Cabinet meeting. It is believed Thaksin plans to stand in front of a crowd of his supporters, who will shout words of support.

..and then take a left turn, heading west to the Burmese border?

.. or south to Singapore, to do some more highly-lucrative 'shopping' ?

[bendejo]

Only King can tell me to leave: Thaskin

Published on Feb 04 , 2006

The Nation

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Saturday that he will not quit as long as His Majesty the King does not tell him to go.

"The only person who can tell me to quit is His Majesty the King. If His Majesty whispers to me that 'Thaksin please leave, then I'll go," Thasin said during his weekly radio programme Saturday morning.

And if he doesn't say "please"....?

[alexth]

This guy is advocating violence saying it will dwarf October 14, 1973. How can anyone support someone who is telling his supporters to kill.

Don't they have laws in Thailand to safeguard the public and prevent lunitics from disrupting good order and dicipline of society in this fashion?

If he wants to give his life for his beliefs thats his business but he should not ask others to die along side him.

He should probably be committed to a mental institution.

For how long have you been around?

Only King can tell me to leave: Thaskin

Published on Feb 04 , 2006

The Nation

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Saturday that he will not quit as long as His Majesty the King does not tell him to go.

"The only person who can tell me to quit is His Majesty the King. If His Majesty whispers to me that 'Thaksin please leave, then I'll go," Thasin said during his weekly radio programme Saturday morning.

When will that going to happen? I think the King is the heart of Thailand, unfortunately a weakened one, I am praying for his health and ask him to keep up the good work and eventually invite the thief to step down