Bangkok Police Chief Hits The Thaksin Iceberg

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Bangkok police chief hits the Thaksin iceberg

The Nation September 9, 2012 1:00 am

Bangkok: -- Khamronwit under fire for meeting with exiled former PM

The "line" is barely there. Although Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Khamronwit Thoopkrajang did cross it, the current legal and ethical campaign against him for having met his "beloved" Thaksin Shinawatra is unlikely to lead to anything. The man in exile has greeted and been greeted by many people, from unknowns associated with his political base in Thailand to who's who in the world's exclusive diplomatic club.

Khamronwit is just one of several high-profile visitors who have come - and will keep coming - from everywhere. It's natural for Khamronwit's professional ethics to come under attack for his lavish praise of the former PM. But then, his big boss, national police chief Priewphan Damapong, is also known to have had a friendly meeting with Thaksin. Washington has allowed the former Thai prime minister to visit the United States, and he has visited London, Tokyo, Moscow since his sister became PM.

The Khamronwit incident only underlines the Thai political impasse, which has infected much of the world. Either Thaksin is a fugitive criminal using his political, financial and diplomatic clout to evade legal punishment, or he is a political victim whose only way to seek justice is let his enemies in Bangkok see how much positive recognition he is receiving elsewhere.

Khamronwit had Thaksin decorated him with police medals, and the Bangkok police chief proudly put a photo of the "honourable" meeting on the wall of his office. Loving Thaksin "is not a crime", Khamronwit declared, gingerly avoiding the more sensitive issue of professional ethics. That Khamronwit immediately received moral support from Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who insisted that Thaksin was nothing more than a political fugitive, is anything but a surprise. And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time, Khamronwit must have done nothing wrong from the government's point of view.

Suriyasai Katasila, a well-known anti-Thaksin political activist, has voiced concern about the integrity of the justice system if senior policemen kept flocking to Hong Kong or Dubai. The other camp, though, said the fact that Thaksin had become a criminal convict at all damaged the integrity of the Thai justice system to begin with. One side has focused argument on his family’s purchase of the Ratchadapisek land plot, while the other only pays attention to the fact that Thaksin's conviction came through a military-imposed investigation which followed a coup against him in 2006.

The debate has reached an impasse a long time ago. If a common ground exists, both rival camps have come nowhere near it. Khamronwit is either a straightfoward cop brave enough to wear his heart on his sleeve, or an irresponsible officer betraying his own profession. He's either an indebted man who never forgets whom he owes - the Bangkok police chief suggested that, but for Thaksin, he would never have become who he is - or a typical bureaucratic symbol of nepotism.

As with the case of Priewphan, the Khamronwit debate will fade away. Suriyasai was planning to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission but that will be more likely to lead to a political uproar than a legal conclusion. Unless "the other side" returns to power, that is. And Khamronwit wouldn't care less even if a political wind of change blows. "I will never be ungrateful to Thaksin," the Bangkok police chief has declared. Even this has divided opinions. Either he is a total fool speaking in complete disregard for his professional duty, or he a bold warrior not afraid of sacrificing himself.

Khamronwit has crossed a line that had become so blurred already. In other words, the rest of the Thaksin iceberg has long been exposed. Everyone knows where the giant berg is floating. For Thailand and much of the world which is getting entangled with Thaksin and his implications now, it's not a matter of not spotting it, but rather a question of how ready one is to go head-on into it, like Khamronwit just did.

-- The Nation 2012-09-09

[theblether]

I like the iceberg analogy.......you only see so much of it and the danger lies beneath.

As icebergs break up they cause calving......and this calving can be fatal as it is so unpredictable and random.

Khamronwit hit the iceberg........but the iceberg has already spun off dozens of hidden dangers. There will be more casualties.

[BookMan]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time, Khamronwit must have done nothing wrong from the government's point of view.

Nothing wrong indeed from the government's point of view. If anything he has declared his loyalty.

[Buchholz]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time

Why does she feel the need to deceptively obfuscate?

Thaksin has already admitted that he speaks to her in phone-calls daily.

Why does she try to conceal or spin that into something less?

Is that her way of trying to get people to actually buy in to the silly notion that she's the one actually running the show? yeah, right...

Sorry, but that rings up a "no sale".

.

Edited September 9, 2012 by Buchholz

[BookMan]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time

Why does she feel the need to deceptively obfuscate?

Thaksin has already admitted that he speaks to her in phone-calls daily.

Why does she try to conceal or spin that into something less?

.

She wants everyone to think that it is she who is calling the shots, not her brother.

[Buchholz]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time

Why does she feel the need to deceptively obfuscate?

Thaksin has already admitted that he speaks to her in phone-calls daily.

Why does she try to conceal or spin that into something less?

.

She wants everyone to think that it is she who is calling the shots, not her brother.

yes... I put her rationale into my edited post.

You were quick.

.

[chainarong]

We've got eleven years of this , statute of limitations, time for a cuppa

[ianf]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time

Why does she feel the need to deceptively obfuscate?

Thaksin has already admitted that he speaks to her in phone-calls daily.

Why does she try to conceal or spin that into something less?

.

She wants everyone to think that it is she who is calling the shots, not her brother.

Must not lose face, eh?

[BookMan]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time

Why does she feel the need to deceptively obfuscate?

Thaksin has already admitted that he speaks to her in phone-calls daily.

Why does she try to conceal or spin that into something less?

.

She wants everyone to think that it is she who is calling the shots, not her brother.

yes... I put her rationale into my edited post.

You were quick.

.

[asiawatcher]

"... has voiced concern about the integrity of the justice system "

Says it all...

[geriatrickid]

I like the iceberg analogy.......you only see so much of it and the danger lies beneath.

As icebergs break up they cause calving......and this calving can be fatal as it is so unpredictable and random.

Khamronwit hit the iceberg........but the iceberg has already spun off dozens of hidden dangers. There will be more casualties.

And the ship that was the Democratic party captained by Mr. Abhisit was the Titanic?

Guess which political bigwigs dressed up as women in order to get into the lifeboats?

Edited September 9, 2012 by geriatrickid

[Pimay1]

I like the iceberg analogy.......you only see so much of it and the danger lies beneath.

As icebergs break up they cause calving......and this calving can be fatal as it is so unpredictable and random.

Khamronwit hit the iceberg........but the iceberg has already spun off dozens of hidden dangers. There will be more casualties.

And the ship that was the Democratic party captained by Mr. Abhisit was the Titanic?

Guess which political bigwigs dressed up as women in order to get into the lifeboats?

For some reason I thought the OP was about Bangkok police chief hits the Thaksin iceburg.

I suppose the only response some posters can think of is.....but....but....but the Democrats and Mr. Abhisit.....

Edited September 9, 2012 by Pimay1

[jerrysteve]

Nothing New Here, and the Beat Goes On!

[rixalex]

And the ship that was the Democratic party captained by Mr. Abhisit was the Titanic?

Guess which political bigwigs dressed up as women in order to get into the lifeboats?

Guess whose idea it was to launch pre-election a project named "Thaitanic", in which every voter was promised they would be issued with their very own scaled-down version of the Titanic that could carry a family of four, for use getting around the klongs, in an ingenious brainwave that promised would solve traffic congestion problems in six months?

Tag line, "God may have succeeded in sinking the Titanic, but Buddha will guarantee your Thaitanic never does"

Edited September 9, 2012 by rixalex

[geriatrickid]

The usual farangs have their knickers in a knot. Meanwhile, the majority of foreigners and everyday Thais get on with their lives and don't give a sh*t.

[jayboy]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time

Why does she feel the need to deceptively obfuscate?

Thaksin has already admitted that he speaks to her in phone-calls daily.

Why does she try to conceal or spin that into something less?

Is that her way of trying to get people to actually buy in to the silly notion that she's the one actually running the show? yeah, right...

Sorry, but that rings up a "no sale".

.

In Thailand politics there is always someone or a group of people who run the show or exert massive influence from behind the scene.Nobody except the wilfully blind seriously think that Abhisit was not "controlled"? In the case of Yingluck the situation is obviously unsatisfactory for obvious reasons.But at least she and the party associated with Thaksin have a legitimate mandate, as opposed to the unelected feudalists and generals that sought to control the previous government.

[softgeorge]

"... has voiced concern about the integrity of the justice system "

Says it all...

Agree, I hardly think the integrity of the Justice System has been damaged at all. It will continue to turn as it always has in Thailand.

P.S What is the Thai definition of "Integrity"

[rixalex]

The usual farangs have their knickers in a knot. Meanwhile, the majority of foreigners and everyday Thais get on with their lives and don't give a sh*t.

Think it is more a case of the unusual farangs feigning nonchalance at the light being shone on acts of government hypocrisy and stupidity, and hitting back in spite of these silly "couldn't care less", "i'm just a neutral observer" claims, in the only way they know how, with a "but the Dems..", "but the airport..." or a "but the elite...".

[mahtin]

Iceberg with shark teeth.

Extra-judicial killings under the carpet?

[Nickymaster]

The usual farangs have their knickers in a knot. Meanwhile, the majority of foreigners and everyday Thais get on with their lives and don't give a sh*t.

Says the guy who again has NOTHING to add to the topic.

So why don't you go on with your... uuhh.. life instead of being a hypocrite!

[rixalex]

In Thailand politics there is always someone or a group of people who run the show or exert massive influence from behind the scene.Nobody except the wilfully blind seriously think that Abhisit was not "controlled"? In the case of Yingluck the situation is obviously unsatisfactory for obvious reasons.But at least she and the party associated with Thaksin have a legitimate mandate, as opposed to the unelected feudalists and generals that sought to control the previous government.

If we are weighing up the merits of who we prefer lurking the shadows, pulling the strings, i'm not sure how much better off we are with a criminal fugitive who has been banned from politics and who is on the run and living overseas, albeit a criminal fugitive who does have some popularity, than with a member of the military or aristocracy, who lives legally within the country, also with a following albeit a smaller and less vocal one.

At the end of the day, neither have been elected, and neither from a democratic stand-point - or any other stand-point for that matter - appeal. Can it really be argued that one is better than the other?

Seems like a poke in the eye over a kick between the legs type of argument to me.

Edited September 9, 2012 by rixalex

[phiphidon]

The usual farangs have their knickers in a knot. Meanwhile, the majority of foreigners and everyday Thais get on with their lives and don't give a sh*t.

Says the guy who again has NOTHING to add to the topic.

So why don't you go on with your... uuhh.. life instead of being a hypocrite!

This could be amusing, who is going to be first to break the circle by admitting posting something like the above 'riposte' also adds nothing to the topic whereas the "accused" has already made his point in a previous post?

and yes I am well aware that this post adds nothing to the topic but it could stop more unnecessary posts..................

[stefb1964]

I like the iceberg analogy.......you only see so much of it and the danger lies beneath.

As icebergs break up they cause calving......and this calving can be fatal as it is so unpredictable and random.

Khamronwit hit the iceberg........but the iceberg has already spun off dozens of hidden dangers. There will be more casualties.

Probably they only will know what hit them when it's to late already.

[terryp]

Another parasite that should be sacked then fully investigated regarding his financial worth .... NO pension etc......he knows perfectly well that he was associating with a felon what ever some airheads on this forum think

[SOTIRIOS]

...one would think that meeting with a fugitive should be shunned.......especially by a police chief.......

[how241]

I like the iceberg analogy.......you only see so much of it and the danger lies beneath.

As icebergs break up they cause calving......and this calving can be fatal as it is so unpredictable and random.

Khamronwit hit the iceberg........but the iceberg has already spun off dozens of hidden dangers. There will be more casualties.

Good post.

[Arkady]

Isn't it time that police promotions were made on ability and genuine achievements rather than seniority, amount of corruption money funneled upstream and degree of brown nosing to Thaksin or whoever else happens to be in power?

[kiwiinasia]

Does this story matter?

Is anyone surprised?

I think its yet more smoke and mirrors to detract people from the current regime.

It works too.

[givenall]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time, Khamronwit must have done nothing wrong from the government's point of view.

Nothing wrong indeed from the government's point of view. If anything he has declared his loyalty.

For god sake, her sister is PM, You must be a moron to think Thaksin is no longer in charge

[BookMan]

And with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting she had talked to her brother from time to time, Khamronwit must have done nothing wrong from the government's point of view.

Nothing wrong indeed from the government's point of view. If anything he has declared his loyalty.

For god sake, her sister is PM, You must be a moron to think Thaksin is no longer in charge

Settle down tiger