What Forbes Can Ask Thaksin Next Time

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STOPPAGE TIME

What Forbes can ask Thaksin next time

Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- It's a long interview so I kind of understand why Forbes did not take its final question a bit further. Thaksin Shinawatra was asked "Anything else you want us to understand?" and basically that was the same as saying, "Anything else you want to add before we finish?" Essentially a blank cheque, which he gladly accepted.

"I am really unlucky that Thailand only has two English newspapers, and both are against me," the man fired away. The barrage must have broken the hearts of Matichon and Thai Rath journalists, among others, many of whom may be taking a long, hard look at their career and asking what's the point. "The international audience might read what's been happening in Thailand through these newspapers (and get blatantly distorted views about me)."

"The phrases The Nation and the Bangkok Post use are prejudiced and biased from the beginning," Thaksin went on. "Not just only in the details, the headlines already are prejudiced. So don't believe them. If you want to know the true me, and you read these newspapers, you'd never know the true Thaksin," he said. And the recorder was apparently switched off.

Earlier in the interview, Thaksin talked about his freedom to roam the world, to go anywhere except Thailand, so I have no doubt he and Forbes can meet again. This piece is written just in case that happens and the Forbes people want to follow up on the issue of Thailand's English media's "bias" against Thaksin. The following questions are proposed in response to his criticism of The Nation and the Bangkok Post and some other things he said in the last interview. It's entirely up to Forbes whether to ask him these questions which, no need to be said, can be used by other international media free of charge:

1. Is it true that neither The Nation nor the Bangkok Post exposed your so-called share concealment scandal? We've learned that the journalist who did the exposure worked for a newspaper that is anything but anti-Thaksin. Is that right? Anyway, do you know why he left that newspaper?

2. Do you have proof that The Nation or the Bangkok Post tricked you and your spouse into buying the Ratchadapisek land while you were in office?

3. Do you have evidence that The Nation or Bangkok Post was in any way involved in writing the law that says such a purchase was illegal? Can you confirm that The Nation or Bangkok Post asked the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand to dismiss the idea to give you amnesty?

4. Please explain what the Pheu Thai Party, specifically Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, meant when saying, in regard to the Ratchadapisek land buy, that you did nothing wrong, but only did something that the law prohibits. Is that law bad?

5. (In case his answer is the law isn't bad) Were The Nation and Bangkok Post wrong to criticise you for violating it?

6. (In case he invokes the everybody-did-it-why-pick-on-me argument) That everybody does it means you can do it, even if it's wrong or illegal?

7. If what you imply is true - that international audiences are being influenced by The Nation and Bangkok Post - why can you still go anywhere you like?

8. Can you give us examples of biased news headlines? Of course, we leave op-ed headlines alone. Opinions are opinions, and they are essential to democracy, right?

9. If some war weapons were seized at a border where illegal arms trading is common, how would you expect "responsible" newspapers to report that?

10. Did The Nation or Bangkok Post lure you into believing that tax evasion schemes were great for the country, especially when they were carried out by people who were already extremely rich, like you?

11. The last time we checked, there were some vehemently anti-coup articles in The Nation. Are there vehement anti-Thaksin articles in the media "on the other side"?

12. You say you are unlucky because the only two English newspapers in Thailand are against you. Is Thailand unlucky because of this, too?

13. (In case he says yes) Why?

14. From your last interview, we take it that you would have been better off with a friendly English media. Will democracy be better off with all media telling the audience the exact same information and giving the exact same opinions?

15. In other words, do you really believe in the freedom of the press or freedom of expression?

16. (In case he says "Yes, but I don't believe in the freedom of lies") Have you and your publicists ever lied?

17. (In case he says no) Are you saying that, for the "true Thaksin" to be presented to the international audience, there should be an English-language press that basically translates what is printed "on the other side"?

18. (In case he says yes) How come nobody has stepped in to fill the void already?

19. Isn't there a lot of pro-Thaksin English content already? Isn't that sufficient to portray the "true" you?

20. Besides the pro-Thaksin English content, are you aware that some pro-Thaksin Thai content is being translated into English?

21. Have you ever been involved in any attempt to take over any of the English newspapers in Thailand?

22. Did the true Thaksin put a massive amount of shares, over Bt10 billion, in nominees' accounts? If yes, why?

23. Did those shares, together with those in mysterious offshore accounts, play any role in the fact that you did not have to pay any tax when you sold Shin Corp to the Singaporeans? Does the true Thaksin think that the tax "exemption" was right?

24. (In case he says "Right or wrong is not as important as the fact that the law allows it") What about when the law prohibits it, like when you let your wife buy that land?

25. Last but not least, we are a bit confused. Thailand's English media are against you but you said you are free to go anywhere and everyone treats you well. On the other hand, you can't return to your country, where the market for The Nation and Bangkok Post is relatively small. Which exactly is your "unlucky" situation - you being able to go wherever people read "biased" reports about you, or you being unable to return to Thailand where fewer than 1 per cent of the population reads the English press?

-- The Nation 2012-11-07

[Buchholz]

Questions numbered 1 through 25 are inappropriate. Ask another.

.

[asiawatcher]

Some great questions and obviously by an intelligent journalist, Khun Tulsathit. Well done but I wonder if any of those questions will be seen by the red followers and voters?

[endure]

Is there anyone who isn't a partisan member of either side of the argument who actually cares?

[rkidlad]

"Do you regret anything you've done since being in power to where you are now?"

Also, "How would you spend your perfect day?"

[MunterHunter]

I would ask him... "How do you sleep at night?"

[metisdead]

A series of nonsense troll posts have been removed.

[nurofiend]

i would ask him does he think power goes to people's head when put in a position of authority like he was?

[OzMick]

If Forbes asked any of the above questions, they would be doing a Clint Eastwood impression.

[givenall]

A good question would be; how much of his money that he lost has he recovered since her sister became a PM

But i do not expect a true answere

[Crushdepth]

11. The last time we checked, there were some vehemently anti-coup articles in The Nation. Are there vehement anti-Thaksin articles in the media "on the other side"?

Love this one.

[noitom]

The Thai English press can take all the credit for aggrandizing him. Making him into something big everyday. Congratulations to the English press in Thailand. He is larger than life as the result of your daily countless stories and coverage. The proposition of 25 questions is a preposterous approach to kicking the can down the road. 25 hypothetical questions is nonsensical tripe.

[bigbamboo]

Quite obviously all 25 questions are politically motivated.

And why are they not mulitple choice?

[bendejo]

Forbes has a fondness for iron-heeled dictators, goes back to the Cold War era. The former president of Singapore still does the occasional column, talking about the communist threat like it was 1967. The body count of T's 'shoot first ask no questions' war on drugs locks him in as a Forbes sweetheart. Too bad he's a wanted criminal in his own country, he'd probably have a once a month column otherwise.

[smedly]

Are you willing to tell the Thai people how you got stinking rich through corruption, abuse of power and greed, do you think the average Thai can actually understand the amount of money you took from them - would they really understand all the zeros (probably not)

[jerrysteve]

They forgot one ?: When are you turning yourself in you Pompous Ponticating A1919ahola

Edited November 7, 2012 by jerrysteve

[Soupdragon]

How do you think history will remember you ???

[Nickymaster]

I would ask him if he has ever been diagnosed with NPD.

[Keesters]

and you read these newspapers, you'd never know the true Thaksin," he said

I read neither of those 2 newspapers yet I know who the true Thaksin is. A thief, a crook, a criminal, and a Thai court has made its verdict as such.

Oh I forgot one...a coward for not coming back to Thailand to take his punishment.

Edited November 7, 2012 by Keesters

[Thai at Heart]

Are you willing to tell the Thai people how you got stinking rich through corruption, abuse of power and greed, do you think the average Thai can actually understand the amount of money you took from them - would they really understand all the zeros (probably not)

Most journalists at the nation gets there pan lans, seins, and meauns all mixed up, forget the average Thai.

[patjem]

Some great questions and obviously by an intelligent journalist, Khun Tulsathit. Well done but I wonder if any of those questions will be seen by the red followers and voters?

about 50% of 1%?

[LuckyLew]

yada yada yada

Good questions ... no answers

Life goes on

As per Thaksin, only people who talk good about him are telling the truth.

and only media that sides with him are telling the truth

All the others are liars and not worth reading

[bigbamboo]

yada yada yada

Good questions ... no answers

Life goes on

As per Thaksin, only people who talk good about him are telling the truth.

and only media that sides with him are telling the truth

All the others are liars and not worth reading

Exactly.

Cheque or cash?

[Narratio]

As LuckyLew says, except he may be understating the case.

<Insert Tongue in Cheek>

I read that Forbes comment as you're either with him or you're a deluded fool who doesn't understand reality. Why, you should probably undergo psychiatric treatment for your own good. After all, the USSR under Stalin etc did that to dissidents. And if it was good enough for Uncle Joe, then...

[khunPer]

The article gave a new subject for my quotation list:

»Thaksin Shinawata (ousted Thai primeminister):

I did nothing wrong, but only did something that the law prohibits.«

[Ferangled]

So effectively The Nation are confirming the sentiments expressed by Thaksin by crediting him with a direct response and making yet another article all about Thaksin... imbeciles!

Really the standard of journalism here is appalling, most of those hypothetical questions read like they have been written by a disgruntled teenager who has just been grounded by his parents. Ridiculous stuff.

I have a novel idea, rather than acting as political propaganda merchants why don't some of Thailand's journalists actually turn to journalism as a profession. Investigate, report, follow up, investigate, report. Crazy stuff eh? Perhaps some impartiality, you know, where you report in such a manner that the reader can make up their own mind rather than being force fed childishly obviously biased pieces of drivel?

Disclaimer for the TV frothing mouth brigade - this post is meant to be critical of the Nation's woeful reporting and not taken as blanket approval for Thaksin. What's the saying with friends like these who needs enemies? Well with the Nation's obvious agenda I'd venture with enemies like these, who needs friends?

Edited November 7, 2012 by Ferangled

[smedly]

So effectively The Nation are confirming the sentiments expressed by Thaksin by crediting him with a direct response and making yet another article all about Thaksin... imbeciles!

Really the standard of journalism here is appalling, most of those hypothetical questions read like they have been written by a disgruntled teenager who has just been grounded by his parents. Ridiculous stuff.

I have a novel idea, rather than acting as political propaganda merchants why don't some of Thailand's journalists actually turn to journalism as a profession. Investigate, report, follow up, investigate, report. Crazy stuff eh? Perhaps some impartiality, you know, where you report in such a manner that the reader can make up their own mind rather than being force fed childishly obviously biased pieces of drivel?

Disclaimer for the TV frothing mouth brigade - this post is meant to be critical of the Nation's woeful reporting and not taken as blanket approval for Thaksin. What's the saying with friends like these who needs enemies? Well with the Nation's obvious agenda I'd venture with enemies like these, who needs friends?

I tend to agree with you, the Nation shouldn't have involved Forbes at all in their article, they should have published a direct challenge to TS in the form of a series of question directly to him and given him the opportunity to respond, I wouldn't expect him to respond but at least a line of questions that I think a lot of falangs and Thais would like answered would be be directed straight at him putting the ball firmly in his court, in my opinion TS has two goals - get his convictions overturned and any possible future cases against him dropped and get his money back or if that can't be achieved - totally destroy Thailand politically socially and finacially, either way it will either be forgiveness or revenge in the form of destruction

[yoshiwara]

It will be the English language articles from The Nation and the other newspaper which will be referenced by journalists abroad and it is these which upset Thaksin's lie machine from having a clear run peddling his Leadership and Freedom BS as he rattles from country to country. Clearly incandescent with the fury of having to read this stuff himself, let's have a little campaign to impugn their motives. We get the same stuff on TVF. They don't like it one bit. Criminals are so sensitive, particularly when they want to be considered in the same pantheon as King Taksin.

[philw]

It will be the English language articles from The Nation and the other newspaper which will be referenced by journalists abroad and it is these which upset Thaksin's lie machine from having a clear run peddling his Leadership and Freedom BS as he rattles from country to country. Clearly incandescent with the fury of having to read this stuff himself, let's have a little campaign to impugn their motives. We get the same stuff on TVF. They don't like it one bit. Criminals are so sensitive, particularly when they want to be considered in the same pantheon as King Taksin.

How does that fit into the Thaksin as Polpot reincarnate thing ??

Can king Thaksin be a maoist ???

Consistency please.....

[GiHadOrange]

Is there anyone who isn't a partisan member of either side of the argument who actually cares?

No.

As even those who are partisans have nothing new to add we can stop arguing repost over opinion pieces like that one.

ps. on the other hand topics like that are also kinda fun if you wanna play buzzword bullshit bingo.

Edited November 7, 2012 by GiHadOrange