Latest Developments on the Election Front

[sushiman]

My opinion to these elections!

I hope the Democrats will come back on the next election after this one.

Khun Abhisit seams to be a more reasonable less corrupt, down to earth politician to me.

"No Vote" I think is the best solution here for this Sunday.

Does anyone know when the results will be normally counted and published?

Days, weeks?

Cheers folks

let's wait and see

[Jai Dee]

Unmask the farce by casting a vote

The biggest losers in the nationwide elections tomorrow will be the general public. Through the combined antics of the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, the opposition parties and groups campaigning for democracy without, apparently, properly understanding the meaning of the word, the people have been deprived of their right to make a free choice between rival candidates. But one they do retain is the right that allows them to mark the box on the ballot rejecting a lone Thai Rak Thai (TRT) candidate by just selecting the equivalent of ''none of the above''. A candidate, if running unopposed as many of the TRT candidates are, has to get at least 20% of registered votes in a constituency to be elected. Without that, a re-election for the seat must be held. Given a similar outcome in other constituencies, especially those in the South, parliament would be in limbo and facing a constitutional crisis. Enough participants in this pseudo-election have trampled on the constitution already. Voters can repair some of this damage by turning out to vote; they must not ignore the law and just stay away.

Mr Thaksin may have been a trifle optimistic when he predicted in Chiang Mai this week that political tensions would ease after the elections. To hear him tell it, he will be returned as prime minister-designate for the third time, at which point he will be open to advice on political reform. Mr Thaksin said that after the next government is formed he expects parliament to amend Article 313 of the constitution to pave the way for charter amendments. A neutral panel would take charge of charter rewriting. Prior to all this, though, he would like the present political turmoil to end and thinks that can be achieved if relevant parties talk to one another instead of fighting for self-serving goals. If he really believes all this, he is indulging in a great deal of wishful thinking.

The single condition his opponents have set _ his resignation _ is non-negotiable. And it is one he is not going to agree to.

TRT will win the electoral numbers game but the suspense will begin if a considerable number of the party's candidates fail to gain the support of that all-important and decisive 20% of eligible voters needed to win a Lower House seat. This will become an even greater nightmare for Mr Thaksin if the 100-MP party-list results based on popular votes fall short of his expectations. If Thai Rak Thai wins fewer than half of the party-list votes, Mr Thaksin has promised to step down.

The greater likelihood is of a government being formed sometime in May, at which point observers have predicted Mr Thaksin will become even more stubborn and prone to a ''bunker mentality''. This will see him blundering from crisis to crisis as his controversial rule causes tempers to flare in homes, offices and on streets throughout the country.

His opponents should also use the breathing space afforded by the election to review their own tactics. While Mr Thaksin is supposed to be reading the 10 books recommended for his edification, the People's Alliance for Democracy, which likes to talk about civil disobedience, should study works relating to the life of Mahatma Gandhi to find out what this actually means. It does not mean mass gatherings outside department stores and schools, which force road closures and alienate the very people whose support it is seeking by stranding them in huge traffic jams and disrupting their livelihood. Democracy would also benefit if those claiming to be Mr Thaksin's supporters in Chiang Mai and elsewhere learned why political rallies and protest meetings are constitutionally and legally acceptable while acts of disruptive hooliganism are not.

So let everyone do their duty tomorrow and cast a vote or mark the box which complies with the law but also registers a heartfelt protest. The politicians might have treated the constitution with contempt but that is no reason for the electorate to do the same. Now it is the turn of voters to show they cannot be easily manipulated and will not be sweet-talked or bribed into acting as a rubber stamp for behaviour and actions they know in their heart to be terribly wrong.

Source: Bangkok Post - Saturday April 01, 2006

[jdinasia]

an Op-Ed piece or a letter JaiDee?

[Jai Dee]

It was in the General News section jdinasia.

This article too is from todays BKK Post - Beneral News section:

Scholars step up call for 'no vote'

Tell the govt it lacks legitimacy, they say

Scholars and civic groups have escalated a call for voters to tick the ''no vote'' box in tomorrow's elections as a move to tell Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that he lacks legitimacy as the leader. Nearly 600 lecturers from 41 universities yesterday backed the no-vote option as a way to prevent caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from making a comeback.

The lecturers were concerned Mr Thaksin's return will widen the country's rifts.

Prinya Thewanarumitkul, assistant rector of Thammasat University, said the ''no-vote'' option was a peaceful way to end the political conflict.

''The no-vote ballots mean we don't want a leader who is unable to clear the charge of conflict of interest,'' he said, calling on people to monitor the election to prevent fraud.

Now that the court has allowed voters to use a pen to mark ballots, the assistant rector urged the voters to avoid using rubber stamps provided by the Election Commission.

''It's better for voters to use their own pens to tick the ballots,'' said Mr Parinya.

Lecturer Surachai Yimprasert, of Chulalongkorn University's faculty of arts, said voters have the right not to vote for any party, should they believe the election would not benefit the country.

''Vote no-vote is a must for it's the way to protect the country's interests,'' he said.

Pijitra Suppasawatgul, a lecturer of Thammasat's political science faculty, insisted the no-vote campaign is democratic.

''Mr Thaksin once promised if he gets less than 50% of votes in the election, he will not become prime minister.''

Meanwhile, Mr Prinya said candidates were standing unopposed in more than 46 constituencies, and might get less than 20% votes, the threshhold required by the constitution.

If that was the case, parliament would lack a quorum.

''This election is not a competition between Thai Rak Thai party and other parties, but the TRT and the 'no vote' option,'' Mr Prinya said.

Meanwhile, Mr Thaksin yesterday admitted for the first time that many voters were likely to opt for the ''no-vote'' box in tomorrow's poll in response to the campaign by the former opposition parties and civic groups.

''It will be the first [time] in history that there will be quite a big number of no vote. [This is] because some fans of the opposition want to have it settled. So they try to neutralise their vote by voting no vote,'' he said.

Asked whether it would be a good thing for Thailand if his Thai Rak Thai party wins 480 to 500 seats in parliament, Mr Thaksin said his party had never set such a goal, but it was the former opposition parties that forced such a scenario by boycotting the election.

The campaign to vote for no one carried on in the major provinces yesterday.

In Chumphon, thousands of leaflets were handed out telling people to shun Thaksinocracy by ticking the no-vote box. Pictures of Mr Thaksin dressed in Nazi uniforms were printed on the leaflets.

About 1,500 people from the so-called Korat stakeholder network presented a letter to the provincial office of the Thai Rak Thai Party demanding its deputy party leader Suwat Liptapallop, formerly a Nakhon Ratchasima constituency MP, resign from the party. The network also urged voters to vote for no one.

In Trang, southern branches of the People's Alliance for Democracy rallied for local support for the 'vote for no-vote' campaign while a similar scene was repeated in the northern city of Phrae

Source: Bangkok Post - Saturday April 01, 2006

[Jai Dee]

Number of security officials at 'risky' polling booths in Narathiwat will be doubled

The director of election affairs in Narathiwat has indicated that the number of security officials for risky voting booths will be doubled.

Mr. Pratheep Wutthirattanakowit (ประทีป วุฒิรัตนโกวิท), the director of election affairs for Narathiwat, said that the election commission in Narathiwat has almost completely prepared for the election, both in terms of personnel and equipment. As for security, in which many parties are concerned about, Mr. Pratheep said the number of soldiers and policemen at risky polling booths will be increased from 2 to 4 men. Risky routes will also be stationed by soldiers and policemen, in addition to patrols by rapid-response teams that will cover all routes.

As for the Election Commission's announcement that voters may use either the rubber stamp or a pen in marking the ballot papers, Mr. Pratheep said pens will not be prepared at the polling booths and those who wish to use pens to mark the ballots must take them along on Sunday. However he said that during a previous local election, it was found that the usage of rubber stamps resulted in a drastically reduced number of invalid ballots.

73% of eligible voters in Narathiwat turned up to vote in the last general election.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 April 2006

[jdinasia]

"Scholars step up calls" seems like a news story JaiDee ... the "unmask" reads like Op-Ed or a letter though

Edited April 1, 2006 by jdinasia

[Jai Dee]

... the "unmask" reads like Op-Ed or a letter though

It does doesn't it?

Hoever, it does offer some food for thought.

I suggest that we treat it as a "letter to the editor" for now.

[Jai Dee]

Administrative Court does not accept PAD's petition to order immediate EC probe into the legality of TRT leader's campaign promises

The Administrative Court has resolved to deny consideration an an emergency case submitted by the People's Alliance for Democracy calling on the Court to instruct the Election Commission to launch an inquiry into alleged poll fraud by caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The ruling was issued yesterday after a 7-hour deliberation on the PAD petition which described that the EC has refused to conduct immediate probe into the alleged election fraud committed by the Leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party who is the first party-list candidate of that Party. The petitioners wanted the query to be taken immediately and its result to be concluded by April 2, 2006 in order to disqualify the TRT leader.

The EC earlier declared that the speedy conclusion was not possible as investigators have to travel upcountry to question witnesses involved. EC Chairman Wassana Permlarp (วาสนา เพิ่มลาภ) said the investigation into the legality of Mr. Thaksin's campaign promises would take at least 10 more days and will continue after the Sunday election.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 April 2006

[jdinasia]

... the "unmask" reads like Op-Ed or a letter though

It does doesn't it?

Hoever, it does offer some food for thought.

I suggest that we treat it as a "letter to the editor" for now.

His opponents should also use the breathing space afforded by the election to review their own tactics. While Mr Thaksin is supposed to be reading the 10 books recommended for his edification, the People's Alliance for Democracy, which likes to talk about civil disobedience, should study works relating to the life of Mahatma Gandhi to find out what this actually means. It does not mean mass gatherings outside department stores and schools, which force road closures and alienate the very people whose support it is seeking by stranding them in huge traffic jams and disrupting their livelihood. Democracy would also benefit if those claiming to be Mr Thaksin's supporters in Chiang Mai and elsewhere learned why political rallies and protest meetings are constitutionally and legally acceptable while acts of disruptive hooliganism are not.

Not sure that Ghandi is who the PAD was studying .... or who they want to imitate

[Jai Dee]

Over 500 lecturers from 39 universities to cast "no vote"

A total of 538 lecturers from 39 universities nationwide have announced that they would cast "no-vote" in the April 2 election.

They have signed a statement announcing their intention.

They included 176 Thammasat University lecturers, 95 Silpakorn University lecturers, 29 Chulalongkorn University lecturers, and 51 National Institute of Development Administration lecturers.

Source: The Nation - 1 Apr 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin fears hollow victory as rivals boycott Thai poll

Thailand's prime minister has a giant fortune, a loving and grateful family and the adoration of some, if not all, of his public.

To that list he can now add what might appear every politician's dream: an election without an opposition.

Thaksin Shinawatra stands tomorrow in a poll in which his party's only company on the ballot paper will be a list of fringe groups and "None of the Above" - the box that is his only serious opponent.

But Mr Thaksin, a 56-year-old telecoms billionaire often compared to Italy's Silvio Berlusconi, is poised to win a landslide he doesn't want.

He has called the election three years early to renew his mandate after facing weeks of unprecedented protests in the capital Bangkok demanding his resignation over alleged abuse of power.

The main opposition parties are boycotting the polls, complaining that he refused to agree to democratic reforms.

Therefore Mr Thaksin's ruling Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party is effectively unchallenged for the 500 parliamentary seats.

Mr Thaksin said yesterday "It's quite strange that some parties are not really supporting democracy just because of fear of losing in the elections.

"That's not good for democracy. Democracy must be here in Thailand regardless.

"I'm quite sure that the Thai people will turn out to vote strongly but it will be the first time in history that there will be quite a big number of 'no votes'."

The prospect of a virtually single-party parliament, and its implications for legitimacy, is not one he welcomes.

The election may not produce a valid full parliament, and a constitutional crisis could unfold next week.

Source: Daily Telegraph - 1 April, 2006

[Jai Dee]

Interior Ministry keeping close eyes on the night prior to the general election

The Ministry of Interior has assigned related officials to keep close eyes during the night before the general election, especially in the three southern border provinces of Thailand.

Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana (คงศักดิ์ วันทนา) spoke about the general election which will take place tomorrow (02/04/06). He said all provincial governors have been reinstructed to look over the election, particularly in the three southernmost provinces.

In the meantime, preliminary report has indicated no problems. However, he has assigned related officials in all provinces to be cautious tonight.

In response to the concern from many sides as the election cards might be destroyed, he stated that such action violates the law and the wrongdoers will be prosecuted. He also said that officials involved in fraud activities will be prosecuted as well.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 April 2006

[sushiman]

Taoism: shit happens

Buddhism: if shit happens, it isn't really shit

Islam: if shit happens, it is the will of Allah

Catholicism: if shit happens, you deserve it

Judaism: why does this shit always happen to us?

Atheism: I don't believe this shit

Unquote

I like this one, let me add:

Thaksinomics: if s...t happens, i'll sit on to clean it (in reality: whitewash it)

Edited April 1, 2006 by sushiman

[sushiman]

Strange campaign, odd election

By Peter Janssen, dpa

One of Thailand's oddest election campaigns in its 64 years of democracy wound up Saturday evening with neither fanfare nor violence but plenty of confusion about the post-polling period.

Campaigning was officially closed at 6:00 p.m., Saturday. Voting starts Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.

The past two months of campaigning have been marked by mass protests in the streets of Bangkok calling for the resignation of caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra prior to the polls, and an oddly quiet countryside.

Instead of usual poster wars and frantic canvassing for votes, campaigning has been a staid, one-party affair, similar to a communist country, with the prime minister and his leading Thai Rak Thai party encouraging people to come out and vote.

Thailand's three main opposition parties, for the first time in decades, have boycotted the snap election to protest Thaksin's alleged dictatorial powers.

Thaksin, whose Thai Rak Thai party won the 2001 and 2005 elections on a platform of populist policies, has chided the opposition for not playing by the rules and for being "undemocratic."

The opposition leaders have argued that Thailand doesn't need another election but instead needs a new round of political reforms to guard against what they view as the rise of populist prime ministers who use their popularity among poor voters to undermine democratic principles such as checks and balances, press freedom and respect of parliamentary procedure.

Thaksin, whose party won 19 million votes of the 32 million votes cast in the last election in February 2005, has vowed to stay on as prime minister if he secures more than half of the ballots on Sunday.

The opposition, civic groups, students and academics have staged near daily anti-Thaksin protests in Bangkok over the past two months and are urging supporters to vote against him.

The three opposition parties won 13 million votes in the 2005 election, so observers estimate that 16 million "no" votes would be needed to block Thaksin's return to power.

According to pre-polling surveys an estimated 31 million Thais, about 70 per cent of the 45.2 million eligible voters, will cast their ballots in what has been dubbed a virtual referendum on Thaksin's popularity.

Thaksin dissolved parliament and scheduled a snap election in response to a groundswell of popular opposition to his rule, especially in Bangkok, the capital and home to Thailand's middle and upper classes.

A broad swathe of Bangkok's better-informed, better-educated denizens were outraged by Thaksin's family sale on January 23 of their 49 per cent stake in Shin Corp, the Shinawatra business empire that hold government concessions in the country's largest mobile phone service, the national satellite network, a TV station, an Internet service and a no-frills airline.

The Shinawatras sold the family-held Shin Corp to Temasek Holding, an investment arm of the Singapore government, for 1.9 billion dollars in a tax-free deal via the stock exchange.

Besides highlighting the benefits that the Shinawatra clan has allegedly accrued during Thaksin's five years in power, many accused the prime minister of selling off sensitive national concessions to a foreign entity.

The post-election period is expected to be chaotic, no matter what the outcome at the polls.

"We're clearly in unchartered waters," said Chris Baker, a long time political observer and co-author of the book, "Thaksin: The Business of Politics in Thailand."

"Nobody really knows what's going to happen," said Baker of the post-polling period.

Analysts predict the election results could lead to violence, more protests or a constitutional crisis, since it is unlikely that the Thai Rak Thai will be able to fill the 500 contested seats in Parliament.

Thai Rak Thai candidates will be the sole contenders in more than half of the contested constituencies. Under the Thai constitution, they must secure more than 20 per cent of the votes in uncontested constituencies.

Given Thaksin's unpopularity, especially in the southern provinces which are the traditional stronghold of the opposition Democrat party, it is seen as unlikely that Thai Rak Thai will win enough seats to form a Parliament.

Source - Bangkok Post 01. April 2006

[jdinasia]

Hmmmm lots of mention of the Opposition parties and the opposition onthis page ...

[Hermano Lobo]

Thaksin fears hollow victory as rivals boycott Thai poll

Source: Daily Telegraph - 1 April, 2006

What ! WHAT !

You see that salute, the position of the fingers ! Clinton has done it. Bush has done it ! Without doubt that is high level Masonry/Skull & Bones stuff !

If you don't believe me check it out on the Web !

[Hermano Lobo]

Looking at the news reports from around the World there is a fear that a 'One Party Government' run by Thaksin will become draconian and have the same effect as a military coup !

Which is BAD for all of us !

Mobs, bombs and crackdowns

Historically, Thailand's political imbroglio has significant regional precedents. Thailand's PAD has obviously cribbed its protest cues from the people-power movement that coalesced in 1986 to oust from power the Philippines' democratically elected dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. A similar popular movement unceremoniously pushed democratically elected Indonesian strongman Suharto from power in 1998.

Both authoritarian leaders famously manipulated elections to lend democratic legitimacy to their long and heavy-handed rule. In Indonesia, Suharto famously orchestrated what he referred to as "festivals of democracy", dressing up polls that were tightly controlled by his Golkar party's formidable political and military machinery. Marcos similarly stage-managed elections, mainly to please his military allies in the US.

Rampant corruption and abuse of power finally undercut the legitimacy of both Southeast Asian authoritarian regimes. Now with similar allegations being lodged against Thaksin's democratically elected government, the question is whether Thailand has reached a similar point of political inflection.

For Thailand's protest movement, the historical signposts are just as worrying as they are hopeful. Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva recently noted to reporters that his party boycotted elections in 1957, in a similar bid to undermine the authority of an abusive regime. The end result of that political brinkmanship was a military coup and an even heavier-handed military government.

Both Suharto and Marcos came under varying degrees of popular pressure to resign their posts, and both leaders cracked down viciously against their opponents, suspending civil liberties and jailing dissenters in the process. A series of mysterious bombs blasted public buildings, private offices and department stores in Manila in 1972, blamed on communists but planted by Marcos's allies, provided the pretext for Marcos to declare martial law, crack down on the media, jail the opposition and maintain an unrivaled grip on power for an additional 16 years.

It is not inconceivable that Thaksin will attempt to do the same, particularly if the protests intensify after the election. There are growing hints that Byzantine politics are at play. A series of mysterious bombs have been planted in front of the offices and headquarters of various PAD leaders. In late March, a bomb was defused before detonating in front of the Democrat Party's Bangkok headquarters. A bomb also exploded in front of the residence of chief privy councilor Prem Tinsulanonda, widely viewed as reclusive King Bhumibol's public conscience.

Thai police investigating the incidents have failed to uncover any leads or suspects behind the small-scale explosions. At the same time, police have started to record the critical public speeches made by PAD protest leaders, and last week Thaksin filed criminal defamation lawsuits against four Thai newspapers that published in full the speeches of protest leaders. Criminal defamation charges in Thailand carry a possible two years in prison.

Thai Rak Thai officials have also said they have compiled enough evidence to file as many as 40 different criminal defamation suits against PAD ringleader and media personality Sondhi Limthongkul. They are also investigating allegations that one of Sondhi's recent speeches could be construed as lese majeste for referring to the monarchy.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HD01Ae06.html

[hammered]

Looking at the news reports from around the World there is a fear that a 'One Party Government' run by Thaksin will become draconian and have the same effect as a military coup !

Which is BAD for all of us !

Mobs, bombs and crackdowns

Historically, Thailand's political imbroglio has significant regional precedents. Thailand's PAD has obviously cribbed its protest cues from the people-power movement that coalesced in 1986 to oust from power the Philippines' democratically elected dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. A similar popular movement unceremoniously pushed democratically elected Indonesian strongman Suharto from power in 1998.

Both authoritarian leaders famously manipulated elections to lend democratic legitimacy to their long and heavy-handed rule. In Indonesia, Suharto famously orchestrated what he referred to as "festivals of democracy", dressing up polls that were tightly controlled by his Golkar party's formidable political and military machinery. Marcos similarly stage-managed elections, mainly to please his military allies in the US.

Rampant corruption and abuse of power finally undercut the legitimacy of both Southeast Asian authoritarian regimes. Now with similar allegations being lodged against Thaksin's democratically elected government, the question is whether Thailand has reached a similar point of political inflection.

For Thailand's protest movement, the historical signposts are just as worrying as they are hopeful. Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva recently noted to reporters that his party boycotted elections in 1957, in a similar bid to undermine the authority of an abusive regime. The end result of that political brinkmanship was a military coup and an even heavier-handed military government.

Both Suharto and Marcos came under varying degrees of popular pressure to resign their posts, and both leaders cracked down viciously against their opponents, suspending civil liberties and jailing dissenters in the process. A series of mysterious bombs blasted public buildings, private offices and department stores in Manila in 1972, blamed on communists but planted by Marcos's allies, provided the pretext for Marcos to declare martial law, crack down on the media, jail the opposition and maintain an unrivaled grip on power for an additional 16 years.

It is not inconceivable that Thaksin will attempt to do the same, particularly if the protests intensify after the election. There are growing hints that Byzantine politics are at play. A series of mysterious bombs have been planted in front of the offices and headquarters of various PAD leaders. In late March, a bomb was defused before detonating in front of the Democrat Party's Bangkok headquarters. A bomb also exploded in front of the residence of chief privy councilor Prem Tinsulanonda, widely viewed as reclusive King Bhumibol's public conscience.

Thai police investigating the incidents have failed to uncover any leads or suspects behind the small-scale explosions. At the same time, police have started to record the critical public speeches made by PAD protest leaders, and last week Thaksin filed criminal defamation lawsuits against four Thai newspapers that published in full the speeches of protest leaders. Criminal defamation charges in Thailand carry a possible two years in prison.

Thai Rak Thai officials have also said they have compiled enough evidence to file as many as 40 different criminal defamation suits against PAD ringleader and media personality Sondhi Limthongkul. They are also investigating allegations that one of Sondhi's recent speeches could be construed as lese majeste for referring to the monarchy.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HD01Ae06.html

I would guess the world media will pick up on freedom of the press or lack of it stories rapidly. Powerful politicians filing defamation cases galore against the media usually creates a cause celebre and often results in local stories gaining widespread international coverage. TRT would probably do better sitting back and ignoring the stories.

[ColPyat]

I would guess the world media will pick up on freedom of the press or lack of it stories rapidly. Powerful politicians filing defamation cases galore against the media usually creates a cause celebre and often results in local stories gaining widespread international coverage. TRT would probably do better sitting back and ignoring the stories.

I believe you overestimate the interest of the international media in Thailand's momentary political problems. I fear that as long as nobody gets killed in a massacre there is no hope that this will make headlines in the western world. And even then it will only be a passing interest until something else happpens closer to the western circle of interest. Thailand is not exactly seen as an overly important country to the western media.

[hammered]

I would guess the world media will pick up on freedom of the press or lack of it stories rapidly. Powerful politicians filing defamation cases galore against the media usually creates a cause celebre and often results in local stories gaining widespread international coverage. TRT would probably do better sitting back and ignoring the stories.

I believe you overestimate the interest of the international media in Thailand's momentary political problems. I fear that as long as nobody gets killed in a massacre there is no hope that this will make headlines in the western world. And even then it will only be a passing interest until something else happpens closer to the western circle of interest. Thailand is not exactly seen as an overly important country to the western media.

I would normally agree with your analysis. However, in a few months there will be a high profile event that will be covered by world media. There is also the continuing daily coverage of the political situation which a quick google news search seems to list at 300+ reports per day, and than there is the recent victory over the Shin defamation claim which was also widely reported around the world. The Somchai case has also received coverage outside of Thailand. Sure I wouldnt expect the western media to headline it, but there should be enough reports to outline what is going on.

[Plus]

Worse still, it's various royals attending celebrations who will definitely notice the situation. How does that reflect on His Majesty?

Will Thaksin be allowed to embarass the King in such a way? I hope not.

Invitations have been sent out and people have given a thought to visiting Thailand and checked the latest news. It's been ugly.

One person one vote philosophy might give him premiership here but it doesn't work with the world's hi-so.

Edited April 1, 2006 by Plus

[seonai]

With respect ColPyat, Thailand was the number 2 story on BBC World News recently and has been 1st news from AP this week. Australia did another good job at getting the current Thai sitch into the international press also. The Independent - one of Britains quality broadsheets - is regularly reporting on Thailand's current affairs.

[Zorro 69]

Thaksin fears hollow victory as rivals boycott Thai poll

Is this lot in the same boy scouts troop ?

Edited April 1, 2006 by Zorro 69

[lukamar]

Thaksin fears hollow victory as rivals boycott Thai poll

Source: Daily Telegraph - 1 April, 2006

What ! WHAT !

You see that salute, the position of the fingers ! Clinton has done it. Bush has done it ! Without doubt that is high level Masonry/Skull & Bones stuff !

Lobo... If you are a member of one or both of those organizations please feel free to enlighten us to the meanings you elude to. Will you give it to me?

It looks more like the Illuminati hand-sign and if that is the case Thaksin's detractors may as well pack their bag and go home as I'm sure they are not part of the planned hierarchy of the New World Order.

[lung]

this look's like >

i'm bad and i know this

khun thaksin copie bak bush in more thing's

but they are both not in the FAMILY

viva la...

[LaoPo]

Link about the election from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4868456.stm

LaoPo

[Jai Dee]

Election Day is finally here.

The subject continues in this thread.

/Closed.