Forums 'will Be Like Rallies' Says Abhisit

[Lite Beer]

Forums 'will be like rallies'

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- The government's plan to hold reconciliation forums across the country except in the South is nothing more than an opportunity for Pheu Thai to hold political rallies paid for by taxpayers in hope of amending the charter, Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has said.

The government was hoping for political benefit for the ruling party to whitewash the red-shirt movement from ties with the "men in black" to push its proposed amnesty law, he said. Premier Yingluck Shinawatra assigned the Interior Ministry to host the forums earlier this month.

"I want [deputy premier] Chalerm Yoobamrung responsible for this look into the booklet produced by King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI), which states how to hold deliberative forums and choosing resource speakers that must be impartial.

"But looking at the names of people like Sutham Saengprathum and Adisorn Piengket, it's clear that there's no impartiality."

Both Sutham and Adisorn are among the red-shirt leaders.

"People who attend the forums must also be diverse and the Democrat Party has sent text SMS to all its members to monitor the holding of such forum in all areas. The Democrat Party will not hold a parallel forum but will hold 'Truth forums' as normal in all areas," Abhisit said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-21

[Rich teacher]

Previously they were pulling chairs and tossing paper claiming PT was trying to bulldoze through the legislation.

[nurofiend]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

[scorecard]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

Care to expand, what's your point?

[scorecard]

Previously they were pulling chairs and tossing paper claiming PT was trying to bulldoze through the legislation.

?

[nurofiend]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

Care to expand, what's your point?

that was my point.

[whybother]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

Care to expand, what's your point?

that was my point.

But, why is it fast dwindling?

[nong38]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

Why is that then?

The incumbent lot signed up most of the small parties which virtually isolated the democrats and made the opposition pretty much impotent, clever for them but does not serve democracy well. As Abhisit says they are just rallies that will appear to give public opinion to the will of the government, is this what Thailand wants or wanted?

[Rich teacher]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

Why is that then?

The incumbent lot signed up most of the small parties which virtually isolated the democrats and made the opposition pretty much impotent, clever for them but does not serve democracy well. As Abhisit says they are just rallies that will appear to give public opinion to the will of the government, is this what Thailand wants or wanted?

Well at least they didn't have to have several meetings at the army chief's residence to sort out their coalition

[asiawatcher]

Abhisit is correct in what he assumes. It will be a way for the PTP to profile themselves at taxpayers expense. No idea what the OP is on about losing respect for Mark...

[Moruya]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

I don't think he will be particularly concerned

[Nickymaster]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

And i don't think anybody cares whether or not you respect AV.

[dinooz]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

Why is that then?

The incumbent lot signed up most of the small parties which virtually isolated the democrats and made the opposition pretty much impotent, clever for them but does not serve democracy well. As Abhisit says they are just rallies that will appear to give public opinion to the will of the government, is this what Thailand wants or wanted?

Well at least they didn't have to have several meetings at the army chief's residence to sort out their coalition

No just a few meetings in Dubai instead

[nurofiend]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

And i don't think anybody cares whether or not you respect AV.

so that's why three people have asked why i think that, in the space of half an hour.

[McMagus]

Grow up guys, how anybody can use the word 'democracy' and Thailand in the same sentence is breathtakingly naive. Even in the west where we have had hundreds of years to fine tune democracy, we still stuff it up, so as for here, it is a joke, irrespective of what party happens to be in power. Go back, read through my posts, I am consistent in saying IMHO that Thailand does not have a democracy it is feudal with 'aspects' of democratisation as a facade. Personally I don't give a rat's asre about who is in power they all have their respective snouts in the pig swill.

[Fozfromoz]

Grow up guys, how anybody can use the word 'democracy' and Thailand in the same sentence is breathtakingly naive. Even in the west where we have had hundreds of years to fine tune democracy, we still stuff it up, so as for here, it is a joke, irrespective of what party happens to be in power. Go back, read through my posts, I am consistent in saying IMHO that Thailand does not have a democracy it is feudal with 'aspects' of democratisation as a facade. Personally I don't give a rat's asre about who is in power they all have their respective snouts in the pig swill.

And all the huff and puff about this colour and that colour, isn't going to change a thing. Foreigners can't vote for change, so I guess no need to get wound up to the point of needing a Valium.

[rubl]

19 comments and most only barely related to the OP. Strange guys those TV posters guys.

The interesting part of the OP is in the suggestion that the government and Pheu Thai party is the same. IMHO the government can (impartially) explain, but a political party may be less impartial.

Having the government represented by Pheu Thai party list MPs who happen to be UDD leaders seems inproper. Now where would that leave us with a Dept. Minister of Agriculture who's a Pheu Thai party list MP and a UDD leader?

[siampolee]

Rather a telling comment that The South is excluded from these rallies.

Shows clearly the contempt that current maladministration holds for a section of the Thai people.

Seem to recall Thaksin stating vote for me your area will prosper, don't vote fro me you will get nothing.

Red democracy in action

[nurofiend]

Rather a telling comment that The South is excluded from these rallies.

Shows clearly the contempt that current maladministration holds for a section of the Thai people.

Seem to recall Thaksin stating vote for me your area will prosper, don't vote fro me you will get nothing.

Red democracy in action

what section of thai society would that be?

or are you strictly talking geography?

[Bakseedaa]

Abhisit is the closest thing Thailand ever had to a Democrat... and he knows they will hang themselves..

[siampolee]

what section of thai society would that be?

or are you strictly talking geography?

The Thai people who live in the area who in the main are not involved in the violence and would indeed like to be able to return to the not so far past when all religious persuasions and ethnic sectors lived in harmony.

By virtue of a deal made many years back those people geographically are in Thailand..

Edited October 21, 2012 by siampolee

[Tywais]

any respect i had for abhisit, which in fact i did, is fast dwindling.

Not sure why they need to start a new forum. They just have to join Thaivisa and will be in good company.

[nong38]

Grow up guys, how anybody can use the word 'democracy' and Thailand in the same sentence is breathtakingly naive. Even in the west where we have had hundreds of years to fine tune democracy, we still stuff it up, so as for here, it is a joke, irrespective of what party happens to be in power. Go back, read through my posts, I am consistent in saying IMHO that Thailand does not have a democracy it is feudal with 'aspects' of democratisation as a facade. Personally I don't give a rat's asre about who is in power they all have their respective snouts in the pig swill.

Surely not, that would be just like any other politician! Do they all go the same school to learn this trick do you think? Edited October 21, 2012 by nong38

[firestar]

Instead, they had their meetings with a criminal and used his stolen cash to buy their coalition.

The fortune of those bankrolling the Democrats, including some that have been in the news lately, dwarf Thaksins.

At least each member of the current coalition has been elected under it's own banner, unlike Abhisit's coalition were not only Newin's group, but individual MPs very strangely crossed the aisle.

Edited October 21, 2012 by firestar

[sysardman]

Abhisit - born in Newcastle upon Tyne - Educated at Eton - a real man of the people.

Edited October 21, 2012 by Scott
Deleted posts edited out

[whybother]

Abhisit - born in Newcastle upon Tyne - Educated at Eton - a real man of the people.

I would think that no Thai politician is "a real man of the people". They've always got back grounds and connections to get them where they are.

[Scott]

A lot of off-topic, baiting and inflammatory posts have been deleted. Please stay on the topic of the OP. The topic is not about what you think of other posters or their opinions.

[rixalex]

Abhisit - born in Newcastle upon Tyne - Educated at Eton - a real man of the people.

I would think that no Thai politician is "a real man of the people". They've always got back grounds and connections to get them where they are.

Just imagining the sort of trumpet blowing that would be going on from the likes of sysardman had Thaksin received the sort of education that Abhisit had.

Get educated from an average educational institution and come back to Thailand with poorer English skills than many Thais who have never had the privilege of studying overseas and i guess perhaps that makes you "a real man of the people".

[rubl]

Instead, they had their meetings with a criminal and used his stolen cash to buy their coalition.

The fortune of those bankrolling the Democrats, including some that have been in the news lately, dwarf Thaksins.

At least each member of the current coalition has been elected under it's own banner, unlike Abhisit's coalition were not only Newin's group, but individual MPs very strangely crossed the aisle.

'own banner'? Where does that put UDD leaders and other nobel red-shirts who were only Pheu Thai party list candidates and having been put high up on the list couldn't avoid becoming MPs?

Anyway the topic is the government explaining all it's good deeds using impartial Pheu Thai party list MPs who happen to be UDD leaders as well. Nothing unusual. 'we the government could have done more if only those pesky Democrats would shut up. Let's eradicate them'

[Scott]

Wow, folks, this topic is about some Forums to be held--not about who was born where and other nonsense.

Stick to the topic.

Posts have been deleted.