Latest Developments on the Election Front

[Jai Dee]

EC orders collection of all evidence to facilitate investigation into allegations that political parties were hired to run in upcoming election

The chairman of the Election Commission has ordered a collection of all evidence to facilitate investigation into allegations that political parties have been hired to run in this upcoming election.

Maj. Gen. Wassana Permlarp (วาสนา เพิ่มลาภ), the head of the Election Commission, spoke on the case where Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thuagsuban (สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ) disclosed details about the fixing of computerized data on members of political parties. The EC chief said he has ordered a collection of all evidences, but he could not yet answer whether EC officials were involved. He expects the matter to be brought up to a meeting of the Election Commission on March 20th.

When asked how secured the data held by the EC was, the EC chairman said such detailes needed to be acquired from the responsible EC deputy secretary-general as it was not possible for him to know the details of every matter. However, he affirmed this issue will not affect the election on April 2nd.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

Gen Thammarak insisted that he is not involved in payment for candidates from Pattana Chart Thai Party, as alleged.

Deputy party leader of the Thai Rak Thai party General Thammarak Issarangkul na Ayudhaya (ธรรมรักษ์ อิศรางกูร ณ อยุธยา) insisted that he is not involved in the payment for candidates from the Pattanachartthai (พัฒนาชาติไทย) party to run for the election, as alleged.

General Thammarak, who is overseeing the Northeastern region, denied charges claimed by MP candidate for the Bangkok Noi (บางกอกน้อย) constituency from the Pattanachartthai (พัฒนาชาติไทย) party that he is behind the money supporting the election for the Pattanacharthai party MPs. He said that he is overseeing the Northeasternm areas, and has been in the areas for the past two weeks. As for the charges, General Thammarak suspected that some people want to disrupt the election by using his names. He said that those behind the scandal should be careful because his lawyer is drafting a court petition.

General Thammarak said that he is concerned about the problems that the country is facing, adding that the Thai Rak Thai will continue with the election. He said that it is up to the people to decide this election.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Plus]

Brian, I thought you confused Democrats with PAD. PAD is a wonderful phenomenon, but some of their speeches and ideas are at least weird and truly asinine. I still wouldn't worry too much because they will not be anywhere near the next government. Most of them will turn their guns on the Opposition should they manage to get elected. Chamlong is no friend of Democrats, for example.

Speaking of Chamlong, can somebody find any evidence that he was high ranked TRT member during drug war? I remember only that he moved into a hut in the government compound as Taksin's special advisor just months before Liverpool fiasco, and was living quietly at his Kanchanburi school until then. Is he a TRT member at all? When did he become one? He was Palang Dharma party leader, did he dissolved it or merged with TRT?

About 30 baht scheme. As far as I remember, Ammar Siamwalla was a chair of a commitee to reform Thailands national health service and he critisised severly 30 baht scheme for all the same flaws that our posters mentioned, except he did it in 2000, when Taksin was only campaigning.

I suspect Taksin has never really thought about healthcare, he just wanted a catchy name, and he completely ignored Ammar's proposals and put him in his black book of regular critics.

It's unfair to say that 30 baht is the only option Thai people ever had. It was the only option Taksin was willing to give them. Let's not forget SS fund that supposed to cover all employed workers and various SS funds for government employees, state enterprise employees, teachers and who else not, also a large number of people who have private health insuarance. Instead of integrating all those different options and finding solutions for people who are still not covered Taksin just pushed his universal money losing scheme for his political gratification.

[Jai Dee]

Democrat Secretary-general believes he has enough evidence to sue the Thai Rak Thai party.

Secretary-general of the Democrat party Suthep Tuagsuban (สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ) expressed confidence that the evidence he has gathered will be able to convict the Thai Rak Thai party, while thanking the leader of the Pattanachartthai (พัฒนาชาติไทย) party for filing a libel charge against him because it will make all facts clearer.

Mr. Suthep commented on the Thai Rak Thai party’s comments that the praty is not involved in hiring small parties to run for the election and that his evidence may have been cooked up to defame the Thai Rak Thai party, that he understands that the Thai Rak Thai party is shocked by his claims, as the documents and witnesses he has are clear. He added that his evidence is reliable, adding that he will give the Thai Rak Thai party leader Thaksin Shinnawat (ทักษิณ ชินวัตร) to handle the case today. Otherwise, he said that he will reveal the information that not only did the Thai Rak Thai party hire other parties to field their candidates, it also committed other offenses.

Commenting on a libel lawsuit filed by the Pattanachartthai (พัฒนาชาติไทย) party leader Boontaweesak Amornsin (บุญทวีศักดิ์ อมรสินธุ์) against him, Mr. Suthep said that he felt thankful for the lawsuit, as he wants the matter to follow this course. He said that as soon as he receives the notice, he will report to the court so that everything will be inspected according to the legal process.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

PM will not go to Govt House today.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Prommin Lertsuridej (พรหมินทร์ เลิศสุริย์เดช) said that the premier will not come to Government House today, as he has other important missions and has to travel to Chiang Rai.

Dr. Prommin said that this morning, the Prime Minister will carry on with his duties in Bangkok, as the secretary-general of the Royal Household Bureau has invited the premier to inspect the construction work at the Chakrimahaprasat (จักรีมหาปราสาท) Palace. Then, the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Chiang Rai this afternoon to inspect the border areas. He said that the premier is, therefore, not going to Government House today.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

/Edit - See additional information on the PM's visit to Chiang Rai in this thread.

Edited March 20, 2006 by Jai Dee

[Jai Dee]

Chart Thai party leader Banharn remains in ICU at Ramathibodi hospital.

Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silapa-archa (บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา) still remains in the ICU of the Ramathibodi (รามาธิบดี) hospital, while reporters are prohibited from covering the story there.

Mr. Banharn still remains in the ICU of the Ramathibodi (รามาธิบดี) hospital after suffering a headache and being admitted to the hospital yesterday. Mr. Banharn was diagnosed with bleeding conditions in the digestive system. Mr. Banharn told medical team that reporters are not allowed to cover the story right now, but there will be a press conference on his conditions at around 11AM.

Mr. Banharn suffered the symptoms while inspecting the construction work at the Chawark (บึงฉวาก) pond in Supanburi (สุพรรณบุรี). This is the fourth time that Mr. Banharn suffered the symptoms.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

People are encouraged to cast their ballots in advance this weekend.

Ubonratchatani (อุบลราชธานี) Election Commissioners encourage voters who cannot cast ballots on April 2nd to vote in advance at the central voting booths during March 25-26.

Ubonratchatani Election Commissioner Songsak Chatarukka (ทรงศักดิ์ จันทรุกขา) said that eligible voters in Ubonratchatani can cast their votes in advance at the central voting booths during March 25-26. As for those who want to vote in advance outside the province, he said that voters can cast their votes at the Salaprachakom (ศาลาประชาคม) near Tung Sri Muang (ทุ่งศรีเมือง ) of Ubonratchatani (อุบลราชธานี).

Mr. Sonsak said that voters who want to cast their votes in advance can cast their votes during March 25-26 from 8AM to 5PM.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[sriracha john]

EC orders collection of all evidence to facilitate investigation into allegations that political parties were hired to run in upcoming election

The chairman of the Election Commission has ordered a collection of all evidence to facilitate investigation into allegations that political parties have been hired to run in this upcoming election.

Maj. Gen. Wassana Permlarp (วาสนา เพิ่มลาภ), the head of the Election Commission, spoke on the case where Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thuagsuban (สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ) disclosed details about the fixing of computerized data on members of political parties. The EC chief said he has ordered a collection of all evidences, but he could not yet answer whether EC officials were involved. He expects the matter to be brought up to a meeting of the Election Commission on March 20th.

When asked how secured the data held by the EC was, the EC chairman said such detailes needed to be acquired from the responsible EC deputy secretary-general as it was not possible for him to know the details of every matter. However, he affirmed this issue will not affect the election on April 2nd.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

In the historical spirit of all great stand-up comics, a nice zinger for the last line...

[ColPyat]

*edit*.... might we inquire as to your HIV+ relatives take on the pending Thaksin-initiated FTA with the USA? Do they believe their antivirals will continue to be affordable?

You might.

They do not have the educational level to even understand the basics of what an FTA might be, especially the highly complex patent right issue regarding antiretrovirals and lobbying of pharma industries. I don't even attempt to explain that to them as we are still stuck with basic money management lessons, such as why not to take advantage of the easy loan scemes, that these loans offered are not free money, and in case of defaulting nobody is gonna help them.

But obviously they are horrified that something could take away their only chance for survival.

No Thai government ever has shown much consideration for the needs of the poor. The only thing that is different with Thaksin is that he has packaged his disregard far better with his populist scemes. I don't really enjoy to be put in the position here in this discussion to appear to defend his policies. The 30 baht sceme, as all his other scemes are crumbs given to the poor while he and the other large business conglomerates can keep playing the field as they did before the crises.

The large problem though is, that a vast majority of the country does actually believe in his policies. And that is why him being pressed out by demonstrations of mainly middle class city people is going to open a can of worms that very possibly cannot be contained anymore.

The very vocal Anti Thaksin lobby is IMHO very shortsighted. Their only goal is to get Thaksin out of office. But does that bring a closure of Thailand's basic social problems? I doubt.

Sorry to bring the King in again, but have you listened to his last birthday speach? Many people have interpreted his speach as another criticism against Thaksin. I don't want to interpret anything here - i just want to point out the most strongly worded part of his speach, in which he clearly pointed out that he sees the death of the country if the arguing fractions do not start working together for a solution.

In this context - you cannot see Thaksin as the sole evil this society is facing. He is just a product of decades of mismanagement. The underlying causes - a vast, nearly unbridgable gap between the near globalised urban middle class and the incredibly backward rural poor will not be over with the possible disappearance of Thaksin. On the opposite - i fear that because Thaksin with his populist policies has lured them to his side, and because the PAD and the parliamentary opposition both have not managed to find a way to convince those people that they could manage things better, a removal of Thaksin over the head of those rural poor might end up in a catastrophy. A catastrophy that a few years down the line might end up in huge social tensions and finally another series of coups.

Those rural poor have for the first time got the taste of democracy, and that casting their vote gives them a voice. For the first time they have got that way what they perceive as help from a government that pretends to be on their side.

If Thaksin is pressed out by city based demonstrations, and powergames of the elite, the social damage will most possibly be that those millions will lose any confidence that democracy can improve their lot.

Not all is lost if Thaksin stays on until the poor learn by themselves that he only used and deceived them for his own advantage. That might only strengthen democracy here. But that needs an opposition that is going to those rural poor, and does not only speak to and for the interests of city based and educated people.

Sometimes it is better to let things go their natural way, and Thaksin's populist policies will naturally end up in another crises. Things also have gone already so far that no other government can possibly repair the damage and avert another crises.

[lukamar]

It's unfair to say that 30 baht is the only option Thai people ever had. It was the only option Taksin was willing to give them. Let's not forget SS fund that supposed to cover all employed workers and various SS funds for government employees, state enterprise employees, teachers and who else not, also a large number of people who have private health insuarance. Instead of integrating all those different options and finding solutions for people who are still not covered Taksin just pushed his universal money losing scheme for his political gratification.

30Bt is the option for the poor of Thailand at the moment. They don't get government insurance because they don't work for the government and they sure can't afford private insurance. The SS fund was setup to provide a variety of services but the kicker is you have to be employed for between 10 and 15 years to obtain any of the benefits. I don't know of any developed countries, that doesn't mean there aren't any, that combine SS and Health care into one single fund as it would be an accounting nightmare. In essence, in Thailand, if your employer, be it the government or a private sector employer, does not provide you with health insurance your options are to provide your own health insurance funded out of your own pocket or the 30Bt System. Be it good or bad, in need of repair or not, it's the option for a huge number of urban and rural poor.

[Plus]

SS security fund provides comprehensive health coverage right from the moment you sign up. Every legal emloyer deducts contributions to SS (750 baht max), so expanding this scheme to cover as many people as possible could have been one of the solutions.

I'm not saying SS and health care should be united - they schould be integrated. Maybe various SS funds schould not have any health benefits at all and one comprehensive health care should be introduced to prevent overlapping and double taxation.

That was exactly Ammar's job - analyse country's health care services and come up with a long term solution. That was too professional for Taksin. "30 baht" or nothing.

[sriracha john]

*edit*.... might we inquire as to your HIV+ relatives take on the pending Thaksin-initiated FTA with the USA? Do they believe their antivirals will continue to be affordable?

You might.

They do not have the educational level to even understand the basics of what an FTA might be...

But that needs an opposition that is going to those rural poor, and does not only speak to and for the interests of city based and educated people.

Thank you for your response...

and perhaps this is a start:

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva explains to people from the Northeast who work in Bangkok why the party is boycotting the April 2 election at a meeting at the party's headquarters yesterday.

[Jai Dee]

Appeal made for Royal intervention

Two of the country’s leading professional guilds – the Press Council of Thailand and the Lawyers Council of Thailand – have called on the public to unite and seek His Majesty the King’s intervention to end the political deadlock and restore peace in the country.

In a joint statement issued over the weekend, the two organizations also urged caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to resign since he has lost the legitimacy to govern after having allegedly committed serious breaches of national security laws.

Press Council president Banyat Tasaneeyavej said the two guilds are asking other organizations and the public in general to advocate the use of the racha pracha samasai approach and Article 7 of the Constitution by asking for His Majesty’s intervention in the political impasse.

They stressed that Thaksin not only lacks the legitimacy to rule, but violated many of the country’s laws.

By way of example, they said that in allowing foreign investors to buy shares in Shin Corp, a Thai telecommunications company, Thaksin as chairman of the National Security Council violated Article 124 of the Penal Code in revealing information, such as the location of national television stations and satellite orbits – all of which are protected by law. He also breached the money exchange law in ordering or supporting his son Phanthongtae to establish a company in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands, lawyers and journalists added.

The statement pointed out that Thaksin and his son have yet to tell the public how and when the money was transferred abroad to set up Ample Rich Investments and Winmark, or clarify the proportion of shares they owned in the two companies.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has fined Phanthongtae over disclosure rules, but the guilds said Thaksin should also be held accountable as he had publicly confirmed a number of times that his family did not evade tax and did nothing wrong.

Regulators should look into the matter and take legal action against Thaksin to set an example, the guilds said.

Lawyers and journalists, however, acknowledged that it would be difficult for government officials to take legal steps against Thaksin, who still possesses administrative power and heads the Royal Thai Police Committee and the Special Investigations Committee.

Check-and-balance mechanisms in organizations, such as the Court of Justice, the Administrative Court, standing committees of the Upper and Lower Houses and the National Counter Corruption Commission, cannot run properly because these are flawed and under Thaksin’s influence, the guilds said.

The Constitutional Court cannot do anything either since the ombudsman, after reviewing the petition of 27 senators seeking Thaksin’s impeachment, said there were no grounds to proceed with the impeachment and did not forward the petition to the Constitutional Court.

The campaign to gather signatures of 50,000 eligible voters who favor impeaching Thaksin could not proceed following his decision to dissolve Parliament, the guilds said.

Thaksin has insisted on pushing through the April 2 general election and said that he is playing by the rules, despite expectations that the snap poll would not pave the way for a new government, lawyers and journalists said in their statement.

Lawyers Council president Dej-Udom Krairit said that these cases indicate that Thaksin is no longer fit to lead the country, and that the simmering political situation had reached a boiling point.

He suggested that Article 7, which gives HM the King the power to resolve unprecedented deadlocks through traditions of the constitutional monarchy, should be applied.

Lawyers and journalists have asked other guilds, such as the Medical Council of Thailand, the Council of Engineers, the Association of Siamese Architects, the Teachers Council of Thailand and the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, to discuss the matter this week before asking for His Majesty’s intervention to end the political crisis.

Source: ThaiDay - 20 March 2006 12:03

[Jai Dee]

Dr. Surapong: There will be solutions for the ongoing politics despite disagreements between 3 parties

The Spokesman to the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee (สุรพงษ์ สืบวงศ์ลี), believes that there will be solutions to the ongoing political situation even though no conclusions have been made at the tripartite discussion. He insisted that the general election will certainly take place on the 2nd of April.

The meeting of the three sides including the government, the Opposition, and the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) was organized by the People’s Network for Elections in Thailand (PNET) at Baan Managkhasila (บ้านมนังคศิลา) this morning.

Dr. Surapong said no conclusions have been made over the broadcast of the discussion. He said even though no agreements have been made, but he believes every party is willing to cooperate as to ease the political turmoil.

Dr. Surapong affirmed that the general election will take place on the 2nd of April as scheduled. He said the general public can propose their opinions on this matter to the government, and it will take the opinions into consideration.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

The Caravan of Poor People has launched a mobile campaign convincing people to cast their votes in the upcoming general election

The Caravan of Poor People has encouraged people around Chatuchak (จตุจักร) area to cast their ballots in the general election on April 2nd. The caravan has also organized a mobile campaign to convince people in other areas exercise their voting rights.

The Village of the Poor in Chatuchak Park is filled with farmers from the northern and northeastern regions of Thailand. They are currently preparing their props for the campaign to urge people to exercise their rights and the stage shows, which are expected to attract people around the area. The caravan has been allowed to stay within the park until they will return to their hometowns to cast their votes.

The caravan has started its mobile campaign at 13:30 hours. In the meantime, many people have written their encouraging words to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to continue his role on the boards in which the caravan has set up in Chatuchak Park.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

Dr. Promin will sue those who alleged him as being behind the hiring small parties to join in the general election

Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Prommin Lertsuridej (พรหมินทร์ เลิศสุริย์เดช) is preparing to sue those who alleged him as being behind the hiring of small political parties to field their members to run in the upcoming general election.

In regard to this allegation, Dr. Prommin countered that the accusation is not based on facts. He will prosecute people who have made such accusation. Meanwhile, the Thai Rak Thai Party is studying through the laws to consider whether or not the allegation has caused damage to the party.

Nevertheless, the Thai Rak Thai Party would like to reaffirm that Dr. Prommin and his ruling party do not have any connection with any subject related to this allegation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[zzap]

Meanwhile, TRT posters have been put up all over our village.

In fact, these are the only posters in the village...

[dukkha]

Have just returned from my partners village in Roi Et and TRT posters outside almost every home, but he tells me they pay little attention to such posters and actually go ahead and not vote for TRT..there was even a street demo in favor of Toxin as in most Esaan cities but wonder how much is window dressing and dont underestimate these rural folk and their political savvy, hopefully my information has some veracity to it....we are all yet to know the outcome of it all...prefer there not be a state of emergency especially as farangs in the Kingdom...dukkha

[Jai Dee]

No conclusions have been made over the tripartite discussion and no debate will take place on the 24th of March

No conclusions have been drawn from the meeting of the three parties and no debate will take place since concerned parties disagreed over the broadcasting of the discussion to the general public.

No agreements have been made from the meeting of the three sides. The members of this meeting included the representative from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Mr. Suriyasai Katasila (สุริยะใส กตะศิลา), Mr. Sathit Wongnongteay (สาทิตย์ วงศ์หนองเตย), the representative of the Opposition, and the Spokesman to the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee (สุรพงษ์ สืบวงศ์ลี), who is the representative from the government.

There were disagreements over the broadcast of the debate stage. The government views that it is unnecessary to organize a debate stage as it could create more conflicts in the society, whereas, the PAD and the Opposition said that broadcasting the discussion is for transparency manner.

The PAD and the Opposition agrees that organizing the debate on the 24th of March will be the best solution to the ongoing turmoil, and the government should not raise any conditions.

Both the government and the PAD have shown their clashes of opinions, and thus, no debate will take place on the 24th of March.

Nevertheless, PNET insisted that all parties will be asked to send their representatives to make a conclusion over the debate stage.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

Government insists not to participate in the debate

Dr. Surapong insisted that the government will not join the debate on the 24th of March. He said the preliminary discussion has shown that the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the government have different stand points.

He said PAD insists that the debate should be broadcasted through TV but has unclear progress of the conclusion; whereas the government views that there should be the participation from the general public in solving the issues. He said the general election on the 2nd of April will be the answer to what the general public wants.

However, Dr. Surapong confirmed that the government is willing to negotiate with concerned parties through the meeting stage of the rectors from all the universities.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[boppia]

This thread is good because it offers information. I can't understand why Thaksin supporters would need to read it afterall Thaksin believes people don't need to know anything.

[Siripon]

TRT don't want any discussions before the election, they could only lead to a loss of votes, the only important factor according to Sudarat and Thaksin is the number of votes TRT obtain on April 2, anything above a majority,( is that a majority of votes cast or a majority of the total number of the electorate?)means no one from then on has the right to criticise TRT from then on- true participatory democracy.

[hammered]

TRT don't want any discussions before the election, they could only lead to a loss of votes, the only important factor according to Sudarat and Thaksin is the number of votes TRT obtain on April 2, anything above a majority,( is that a majority of votes cast or a majority of the total number of the electorate?)means no one from then on has the right to criticise TRT from then on- true participatory democracy.

A true parliamentary dictatorship awaits Thailand.

[Plus]

By refusing to participate in talks Taksin is walking a very very dangerous road indeed. You can't just ignore Privy Council in this country, and what he does is actually challenge it. They tell him to sit down and negogitate, he tells them to look at election results.

With royal celebrations just around the corner they can't have a lame duck PM who is afraid to go to his own office. He's such an embarassment.

[sriracha john]

There will be solutions

No conclusions

don't want any discussions

c'mon Jai Dee and Siriporn... keep 'em coming.... we got some good song lyrics going thus far....

[sriracha john]

This is shaping up to be a VERY interesting Monday (April 3):

We will march on Govt House after winning the election: PM

Vows to 'reclaim' compound after winning election, if his opponents don't vacate area

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday he would urge his supporters to accompany him to Government House if his opponents continue their protest outside the compound after the April 2 general election.

"From now on, until April 2, you should think about one thing - electing Thaksin as the next prime minister and waiting for the news on April 3. If they [the protesters] don't budge, I'll ask all of you to send me to Government House," Thaksin said during an evening election rally in Chiang Rai.

He asked the audience if they would help him into his office if the protesters besieging the compound did not allow him in after the election victory. The response was a resounding "Yes!" from the audience of more than 50,000.

Thaksin said he had asked the same question of supporters at election rallies in other provinces.

Using fiery language, he attacked his opponents and members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has been staging a continuous anti-Thaksin rally outside Government House since last Tuesday.

"Those people at Rajdamnoen Avenue were involved in bringing down several previous governments. But they forget that they won't be able to overthrow a government with strong popular backing," Thaksin said in the northern dialect to more than 50,000 supporters.

"Those people look down on people like you. They think they are smarter than you are. You must think out loud so they can hear that you want Thaksin to be your prime minister," he said.

He pointed to what he viewed as the weaknesses of media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul and austere Buddhist Chamlong Srimuang, who are among the PAD's five leaders. The premier said Sondhi

was bankrupt, while Chamlong was "neither a layman nor a priest".

"The Campaign for Popular Democracy [CPD] is now campaigning for no democracy," he said, referring to the PAD's demand that he - an elected prime minister - should quit. The CPD's secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila is one of the alliance's leaders.

Thaksin said the Democrat Party, which is boycotting the ballot with two other opposition parties, was afraid of losing in the polls.

"The reason the opposition and the protesting senators want a change in the Constitution is so that Thaksin will get out of politics. They don't think they can ever beat me so they want me to stay away from the contest," he said.

The premier said he would protect democracy with his life and would never allow anyone to disrupt Thai democracy.

He said the reason he had stayed away from the besieged Government House was he wanted to avoid a confrontation. "I am not a coward as they have said. I want peace in our society. I don't want to see a clash [between the two sides]." (at least not until April 3rd? )

- TN

[sriracha john]

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra greets farmers during yesterday’s visit with his son Panthongtae to Ayutthaya, where his supporters rallied in the Wang Noi area of Phaholyothin Road.

Thank you for the pic, Jai Dee.

There is an important issue that has the missus absolutely livid about these Thaksin rallies and it's evident in your posted photo.

The issue is that the flags that are being handed by Thaksin staff to attendees of Thaksin's rally.

Particularly, the phrase ทรงพระเจริญ that is inscribed on many of the flags, which is more evident in this photo:

This phrase translates as "Long Live"... and has always been exclusively used to refer to His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family.

His self-importance has become a bitter pill to swallow for many, many Thais who refuse to swallow it... eg http://www.thainewyork.com/

I'm told that historically in the past, the punishment for such thievery of Royal terms and phrases

was beheading, not only for the offender, but also for next seven generations of the offender.

(of course I'm not advocating that, but it gives an indication of the level of affront that he has given to many Thais).

Not sure if there's been a change in Thaksin's campaign strategy, but photos of yesterday's rally in Chiang Rai with the obligatory flag-waving failed to depict the insulting flags previously flown at other rallies or maybe his staff are just more adept at confiscating the offensive photos.

I am STILL very interested in hearing what Thais think of the above photo depictions and what they implied... ask your significant others what their opinion of this. Mine was abhorred by it.

An additional news photo and info scanned from Thai newspaper:

[Plus]

There won't be any talks on March 24, though organisers, P-Net, are still hoping that there will be a meeting tomorrow that will solve the impasse.

Alternative group, univeristy rectors, are still trying to organise a private meeting between the parties but it's not clear if PAD and Opposition will accept any closed door talks.

[ColPyat]

*edit*.... might we inquire as to your HIV+ relatives take on the pending Thaksin-initiated FTA with the USA? Do they believe their antivirals will continue to be affordable?

You might.

They do not have the educational level to even understand the basics of what an FTA might be...

But that needs an opposition that is going to those rural poor, and does not only speak to and for the interests of city based and educated people.

Thank you for your response...

and perhaps this is a start:

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva explains to people from the Northeast who work in Bangkok why the party is boycotting the April 2 election at a meeting at the party's headquarters yesterday.

This is not a start, this is the usual halfarsed bullshit.

They have to go deep into Isaarn and the North. They have to support pro Democrat villagers in building up small local party groups. They have to research strategies in how to counter TRT arguments on village level.

Abhisit and his leadership have to travel through villages, stay in villages, eat with villagers, listen to their problems and convince them that handing out money will not solve their problems. They have to convince those villagers that they have programs that will help them long term.

They have to change from a regional and city based party that came to power by forming complex coalitions into a modern, countrywide people's party.

[Jai Dee]

Opposition Coalition may enter forum with Thai Rak Thai Party on March 24

The Opposition Coalition is willing to find solutions to the current political crisis on a public forum, but only if the Thai Rak Thai party does not set any conditions.

Mr. Sathit Wongnongteoy (สาทิตย์ วงศ์หนองเตย), chairman of the management board of the Democrat Party, stated that a meeting of the 3 former opposition parties suggested that the coalition would be willing to conduct public speeches on March 24 as proposed by the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation. But if the Thai Rak Thai party sets any conditions on the forum that can be manipulated on the election day,or calls for any protest groups to cease protesting, they will not attend the forum.

The Opposition Coaltion views that the Thai Rak Thai's conditional forums are not conducive to resolution talks, and was merely used to buy time to gain credibility for the upcoming election. The Opposition Coalition will not attend the March 22 meeting to set boundaries for the political situation, but stated that it will attend the March 24 forum if the Thai Rak Thai abides by the coalition's request.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 March 2006