Thaksin not to blame for soap being canned: Pheu Thai

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was not behind the abrupt termination on Friday night of the soap opera "Nua Mek 2" on Channel 3, a spokesperson for the ruling Pheu Thai Party said yesterday.

Sunisa Lertpakawat, deputy spokesperson for Pheu Thai, said it was "impossible and insensible" for Thaksin to interfere with this matter.

"Former PM Thaksin stays overseas and he certainly could not view this drama, so he had nothing to do with this matter," she said.

She added that the accusations obviously came from political enemies of Thaksin and Pheu Thai.

The ex-PM, who has been in self-exile overseas, is believed to be pulling strings behind the ruling party.

There was no need for the government to request a premature end of the soap opera, Sunisa said. She called for critics to stop linking the matter to politics.

Government spokesman Tossaporn Serirak yesterday expressed suspicion that the abrupt end of the soap "Nua Mek 2" might be a move aimed at boosting its rating.

"This matter certainly has nothing to do with politics. It could be an attempt to boost the rating and draw public interest," Tossaporn said.

He also called on the producers and Channel 3 to explain to the public about this matter.

The spokesman also insisted that there was no political interference.

"Channel 3 is operated by a private company and I don't think they can be told to do this or that. They have independence. The channel does not belong to the government and we can't tell them what we want," he said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-06

Just love how all the nutbags come out and blame Thaksin for everything. If the sun don't shine, bloody Thaksin, if they burn thier toast bloody Thaksin. It is very entertaining listening to them all.

Edited January 5, 201313 yr by chooka

Just love how all the nutbags come out and blame Thaksin for everything. If the sun don't shine, bloody Thaksin, if they burn thier toast bloody Thaksin. It is very entertaining listening to them all.

it must be Abhisit, then?

Obviously the moral of the story, that corrupt politicians go to hell + destroy the country and don't give a monkeys about the conned electorate, all cut a bit close to the bone

Put a few backs up.

Why would a company drop a prime time popular show? Coincidently with the licence renewal hanging over them

So, what is your explanation for why the show was pulled? If it wasn't the government that pulled it because it was seen as demeaning, then who did? And isn't Thaksin directing Pheu Thai's every move from Dubai.

"Former PM Thaksin stays overseas and he certainly could not view this drama, so he had nothing to do with this matter,"

But Thais in new Zealand can, I am reliably (?) informed. I suppose they could have more expertise with telecommunications..........

Obviously the moral of the story, that corrupt politicians go to hell + destroy the country and don't give a monkeys about the conned electorate, all cut a bit close to the bone

Among some the mantra of "corrupt politicians" is a way of saying they hate and fear democracy. In the PAD platform (also in the Pitak Siam,Tui's multicoloreds etc, the yellowshirts and other similar) the propaganda line is that all politicians are corrupt and the fate of the nation is better served by established and non elected institutions.Obviously corruption is a huge problem in Thailand and the standard of politicians is, let us say, variable.But don't be deceived by the 'all politicians are corrupt" line.The reactionaries know that it is an appealing line (it is in every country) but their cure is far worse than the disease.Democracy is a messy business and a daily struggle, and the fights against corruption needs to be fought battle by battle, inch by inch - not giving way to a mindless North Korean type of military worshipping hysteria where elected representatives count for little.

Edited January 6, 201313 yr by Scott
formatting

Just love how all the nutbags come out and blame Thaksin for everything. If the sun don't shine, bloody Thaksin, if they burn thier toast bloody Thaksin. It is very entertaining listening to them all.

Go ahead and laugh, perhaps your laughter will turn to deep concern when your kids live in a family and cronies run dictatorship.

Obviously the moral of the story, that corrupt politicians go to hell + destroy the country and don't give a monkeys about the conned electorate, all cut a bit close to the bone

Among some the mantra of "corrupt politicians" is a way of saying they hate and fear democracy.In the PAD platform (also in the Pitak Siam,Tui's multicoloreds etc, the yellowshirts and other similar) the propaganda line is that all politicians are corrupt and the fate of the nation is better served by established and non elected institutions.Obviously corruption is a huge problem in Thailand and the standard of politicians is, let us say, variable.But don't be deceived by the 'all politicians are corrupt" line.The reactionaries know that it is an appealing line (it is in every country) but their cure is far worse than the disease.Democracy is a messy business and a daily struggle, and the fight sagainst corruption needs to be fought battle by battle, inch by inch - not giving way to a mindless North Korean type of military worshipping hysteria where elected representatives count for little.

Well that's rather off topic, but I see mindless military worshipping no different that mindless worshipping of Thaksin by the red shirts - remember most people in rural areas are 'told' who to vote for by village headmen.

As far as the story goes, it's full of holes, and no indication is given of how or why Thaksin could or would have wanted to get the show pulled off the air.

What next, is he going to issue a statement saying he wasn't to blame for the Holocaust.

Anything to keep his name in print.

"The ex-PM, who has been in self-exile overseas, is believed to be pulling strings behind the ruling party."

Really? Another original statement from The Nation.

I await the story of the draft dodging rich kid who wants to be a politician, or the policeman wrongly accused of sitting another policeman in a bar.

"Former PM Thaksin stays overseas and he certainly could not view this drama, so he had nothing to do with this matter,"

But Thais in new Zealand can, I am reliably (?) informed. I suppose they could have more expertise with telecommunications..........

More, from what has been reported the episodes which strongly focused on corrupt politicians, telecoms stuff etc., had not yet been aired, so the paymaster / nobody has yet seen these episodes via broadcast.

Is it possible however that a Channel 3 person, or somebody not even strongly connected with Chanel 3 who heard whispers about the upcoming concent (it is contraversial) and called a buddy inside pt.

More, the pt spokespeople are trying to suggest that Channel 3 possibly deliberately cancelled the programs / cut them up unto one 'cleaner' program, all just for publicity. Does anybody really believe that Channel 3 (a private enterprise company, accountable to it's shareholders ) would invest all the very considerable costs of making three television episdoes then destroy them. I think not.

More, pt says it cannnot interfere or direct Channel 3 to do anything because it's a private company. Well that's the laugh of the day, who would belive pt would not interfere, and regardless of the law.

More, In fact Channel 3 doesn't have total freedom to broadcast anything they wish, there is a tv content watchdog, and there is no doubt in my mind the government can and would exert influence, if they desired to, through this watchdog.

Edited January 6, 201313 yr by scorecard

They should have rebranded it as a documentary based on true events.

Given that "no one" has told them that they can't air the show, they should be able to put on the last 3 episodes.

And no surprise either to hear that the DSI has been alerted to possible irregularities in the 2010 franchise contract extension between Channel 3 and MCOT which was alleged to be "suspicious and non-transparent."

Clearly DSI is being used as a pressure weapon to bring Channel 3 back into line.

Investigating contract extensions seem to be DSI's main function nowadays.

And no surprise either to hear that the DSI has been alerted to possible irregularities in the 2010 franchise contract extension between Channel 3 and MCOT which was alleged to be "suspicious and non-transparent."

Clearly DSI is being used as a pressure weapon to bring Channel 3 back into line.

Investigating contract extensions seem to be DSI's main function nowadays.

Well on the basis that there is barely a contract in the country that doesn't involve a brown envelope, it isn't hard for the dsi to bring pressure to bear.

What next, is he going to issue a statement saying he wasn't to blame for the Holocaust.

Anything to keep his name in print.

the irony!! His opponents in the media, and to a lesser extent people on here keep him in the print far more than any of his supporters. On TV any subject is within 5 posts brought or blamed on Thaksin, and his name is not raised by his supporters or people who are more rational about the situation on here.

As if Thaksin could be bothered about a) trying to view some thai soup opera if he was watching it, which is probably a 1 in a million chance, he could be bothered to phone up and get them to cut it. Some people are really living in another universe on here.

And no surprise either to hear that the DSI has been alerted to possible irregularities in the 2010 franchise contract extension between Channel 3 and MCOT which was alleged to be "suspicious and non-transparent."

Clearly DSI is being used as a pressure weapon to bring Channel 3 back into line.

Investigating contract extensions seem to be DSI's main function nowadays.

Probably, but it is also quite clear that channel 3 and their personnel are probably well overdue an investigation into their practices/procedures which was illustrated recently. Further still channel 3 have seemingly disregarded all the problem and brushed it under the carpet as the tv anchor is still on air.

In the 90s there was a TV show called Sergeant Yai (I think in Thai it is Sarawat Yai) which was about an honest policeman. There was also a book but the TV show was abruptly cancelled as I assume it was too close to the bone, much as this current furore is.

When someone gives a long, detailed, and justified explanation of how they did not do something it usually means they are as guilty as hell.

A lot of people in this part of the world don't get that, which is ok with me as it helps me weed out liars.

And no surprise either to hear that the DSI has been alerted to possible irregularities in the 2010 franchise contract extension between Channel 3 and MCOT which was alleged to be "suspicious and non-transparent."

Clearly DSI is being used as a pressure weapon to bring Channel 3 back into line.

Investigating contract extensions seem to be DSI's main function nowadays.

Well on the basis that there is barely a contract in the country that doesn't involve a brown envelope, it isn't hard for the dsi to bring pressure to bear.

Or easy to wipe out those that oppose the party

And no surprise either to hear that the DSI has been alerted to possible irregularities in the 2010 franchise contract extension between Channel 3 and MCOT which was alleged to be "suspicious and non-transparent."

Clearly DSI is being used as a pressure weapon to bring Channel 3 back into line.

Investigating contract extensions seem to be DSI's main function nowadays.

Probably, but it is also quite clear that channel 3 and their personnel are probably well overdue an investigation into their practices/procedures which was illustrated recently. Further still channel 3 have seemingly disregarded all the problem and brushed it under the carpet as the tv anchor is still on air.

BEC World, which is the holding company of Channel 3, is one of those super-rich family conglomerates (in this case the Maleenont clan, with no less than 7 family members on the board) so it's hard to feel much sympathy for them.

Still, it would be a pity if DSI became established as a purely political tool -- or maybe it always has been.

And no surprise either to hear that the DSI has been alerted to possible irregularities in the 2010 franchise contract extension between Channel 3 and MCOT which was alleged to be "suspicious and non-transparent."

Clearly DSI is being used as a pressure weapon to bring Channel 3 back into line.

Investigating contract extensions seem to be DSI's main function nowadays.

Well on the basis that there is barely a contract in the country that doesn't involve a brown envelope, it isn't hard for the dsi to bring pressure to bear.

Or easy to wipe out those that oppose the party

Well it's called integrity versus hypocracy. People in glass houses can't throw stones. Planks in eyes versus specks and all that.

If you want to criticise, better be squeaky clean oneself. Where these people or organisations are in Thailand, i wouldn't really know where to start digging.

They should put the final episode on Youtube! Think of the hits they would get.

Just love how all the nutbags come out and blame Thaksin for everything. If the sun don't shine, bloody Thaksin, if they burn thier toast bloody Thaksin. It is very entertaining listening to them all.

Go ahead and laugh, perhaps your laughter will turn to deep concern when your kids live in a family and cronies run dictatorship.

DO YOU REALLY THINK that thaksin has the time or inclination to watch such trash? I think not,

I would guess that his time would be on a few things other than this trip!!!

All the thaksin and red shirt bashers have an OVER active imadgination what a joke!!! GET A LIFE

Thaksin might not be blamed directly, but I'm pretty sure that the idiots in power got a little hot under the collar.

With the DSI, anything & everything is suspicious and not transparent, if they don't have a "hand in the basket".

They are increasingly becoming a political tool for the PT, I'm temping to call the a sort of "Gestapo".

What a mess this country is heading towards.

1st car scheme - filling up roads faster than ever before (as if we need more cars here)

1st home - kinda disappeared

rice buying -

300baht/day wage hike -

to name a few

Just love how all the nutbags come out and blame Thaksin for everything. If the sun don't shine, bloody Thaksin, if they burn thier toast bloody Thaksin. It is very entertaining listening to them all.

Go ahead and laugh, perhaps your laughter will turn to deep concern when your kids live in a family and cronies run dictatorship.

DO YOU REALLY THINK that thaksin has the time or inclination to watch such trash? I think not,

I would guess that his time would be on a few things other than this trip!!!

All the thaksin and red shirt bashers have an OVER active imadgination what a joke!!! GET A LIFE

If that is the case the PTP spokesperson should have said "would not" rather than "could not", don't you think. Instead they fed any old BS to their gullible supporters.

Let's face it any reason that removes any lakorn from TV has got to be a good thing. Christ they make Telenovelas look like "Citizen Kane"