Democrat Leader Says He's Ready To Become Pm

[Siripon]

Banharn Silapacha, leader of Chart Thai, to be the next PM is the rumour. It makes sense in some ways.

Banharn as PM would be a return to utter idiocy in Thai politics. At least we would have a lot to laugh about again having our own Joe Pesci - Danny DeVito mix back on the helm.

At the present moment it is all rumor and very little substance, and i doubt that anyone can make any substantiated prediction on who is going to be next PM.

Idiocy is no stranger to Thai politics- no poor people in 5 years, no traffic jams in Bangkok in 6 months,(promised years ago), a million elite card owners within a year, 15 or was it 20 million tourists to visit Thailand within 5 years.

[ColPyat]

Idiocy is no stranger to Thai politics- no poor people in 5 years, no traffic jams in Bangkok in 6 months,(promised years ago), a million elite card owners within a year, 15 or was it 20 million tourists to visit Thailand within 5 years.

I don't know if you lived here under Banharn as PM, but in terms of utter idiocy Banharn beats Thaksin by leagues.

[hammered]

Idiocy is no stranger to Thai politics- no poor people in 5 years, no traffic jams in Bangkok in 6 months,(promised years ago), a million elite card owners within a year, 15 or was it 20 million tourists to visit Thailand within 5 years.

I don't know if you lived here under Banharn as PM, but in terms of utter idiocy Banharn beats Thaksin by leagues.

Your admiration of Thaksin is your own choice but did you live here under Banharn? Yes she came across as a fool, but the country didnt end up in severe political crisis.

[Siripon]

Idiocy is no stranger to Thai politics- no poor people in 5 years, no traffic jams in Bangkok in 6 months,(promised years ago), a million elite card owners within a year, 15 or was it 20 million tourists to visit Thailand within 5 years.

I don't know if you lived here under Banharn as PM, but in terms of utter idiocy Banharn beats Thaksin by leagues.

Of course I lived here, he didn't make idiotic promises though.

[ColPyat]

Your admiration of Thaksin is your own choice but did you live here under Banharn? Yes she came across as a fool, but the country didnt end up in severe political crisis.

Literacy seems to be an art form lost on some.

I do not admire Thaksin, i can't stand him. And i have expressed that countless times already. Just because i can't stand your PAD heros as well, you automatically assume that i must therefore like Thaksin. This is a rather unintelligent and annoying assumption. Actually, it is an outright provocation, as you must have read by now that i have countless times openly expressed that i do not like Thaksin.

Is that clear enough even for you?

[ColPyat]

Of course I lived here, he didn't make idiotic promises though.

No, he didn't.

He had far too many issues with his lack of education to make any promises. And with trying to convince everyone that he was not born in China, and his inability to speak English, and with explaining why Suphanburi got all those great roads...

[Plus]

Banharn is older and wiser now, he won't take Thaksin's offer. Why would he do that? He stuck with the opposition through the PAD protests, why would he choose to become Thaksin's puppet now and ruin his reputation?

[ColPyat]

Banharn is older and wiser now, he won't take Thaksin's offer. Why would he do that? He stuck with the opposition through the PAD protests, why would he choose to become Thaksin's puppet now and ruin his reputation?

Because Banharn has always looked out for himself. When he sees an advantage for himself he will take the opportunity. Ruining Banharn's reputation? Is there still some left to ruin?

[sriracha john]

New general election urged after royal ceremonies in June

BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) - The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has been urged to set a new general election date after royal ceremonies in June marking the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's ascension to the throne, so as not to interfere with the caretaker government's attention to carrying through with the events properly.

His Majesty the King is now the world's longest reigning monarch.

The proposal was raised this weekend by both the Democrat and Chart Thai Parties--the two main parties in the country's former opposition bloc.

"The Election Commission should set a new election date to follow the royal ceremonies," Deputy Democrat Party Spokesman M.L. Apimongol Sonakul said Saturday," ...so the caretaker government can fully perform its duty in honour of His Majesty the King without being concerned over election campaigns and contests in the new poll."

Chart Thai Party deputy secretary-general Kasem Sorasakkasem proposed Sunday that the election agency amend the royal decree regarding the dissolution of the House of Representatives on February 24 to set a new general election date after the royal ceremonies in the third week of June.

However, the former opposition bloc, which boycotted the April 2 snap election, has rejected the EC's invitation to attend a meeting of all political parties on May 15 to discuss the new election date and other related issues and has reiterated its call for the election commissioners to resign en masse.

The Constitution Court last week ruled that the April 2 general election was unconstitutional and recommended that all the commissioners resign to pave the way for election of a new EC panel, or that the agency seek the court's assistance in organizing and conducting the new general election to ensure its transparency and fairness and to restore the public's confidence in the election commission.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin & Company face a severe credibility crisis

Not long after the Thai Rak Thai Party's House membership was annulled by Monday's decision of the Constitution Court, the party suffered what could eventually be a death blow when an investigation revealed an explosive political scandal.

High-profile leaders were implicated in a scheme to fund small parties to serve as also-rans in election re-runs so that Thai Rak Thai candidates did not have to win as much as 20 per cent of the total ballots cast to qualify for House membership.

This practice, branded a sinister plot to destabilise democratic development and national security, could lead to the party's dissolution if found guilty by the Constitution Court.

The finding of the probe conducted by a subcommittee set up by the Election Commission was a severe blow to the Thai Rak Thai Party in general and its leader Thaksin Shinawatra in particular, whose image and credibility in the eyes of the public has been shattered.

The finding was another shocking revelation that lust for power and vested interests can drive politicians to any lengths, including breaking the law with complete disregard for the legal system.

Thaksin and other party hotshots must have found it difficult to refute the damning report, not to mention the extent of their embarrassment. That's why they tried to stay away from away from public view. Thaksin himself was tight-lipped when reporters pressed him for comment.

After emerging from his political hibernation, Thaksin tried to stay in the limelight with chummy golf sessions and shopping with his wife to check his popularity rating, testing public reaction if he should decide to resume active political adventure.

Whatever little confidence he regained was lost after the new explosive scandal broke. The general public perception is that there is a lot of smoke, so there must be a big fire somewhere. For those already familiar with the party's notorious track record, they see that Thai Rak Thai has been caught again with its hand in the cookie jar.

With Thaksin and the top party hierarchy lying low it became the duty of lower-rung underlings to come out fuming, pointing fingers that the report was the product of dirty politics and a conspiracy by their adversaries.

That was funny. People believed that the Thai Rak Thai excelled at this kind of game. The fact that they have had to face unending predicaments and scandals is solely due to arrogance of power and contempt for the rule of law.

They refuse to accept that it's payback time for all the misdeeds committed in the past five years, such as massive corruption, cronyism, abuse of power and other mischief-making, all of which eventually led to the pro-democracy movement to drive Thaksin from power.

The Thai Rak Thai has to squeeze out of a tight spot, possibly with a helping hand from the Election Commission, which itself has suffered disgrace and public denunciation for its questionable conduct and scandals in the performance of its duty.

Thaksin and his confidants must come up with a means to overcome the latest threat to their survival in politics. There exists a big risk of losing if they hope to contest the investigation report and allegations in court, now that their stars aren't shining brightly as in the past.

The power structure of the Thaksin regime is showing worrisome cracks. Whether it will crumble soon enough depends on court verdicts in the next several weeks involving Thaksin, the Election Commission and their allies.

If they have to continue to struggle amid an increasingly hostile atmosphere, with more scandals and setbacks, Thaksin should realise that it's time for him to step down. Even then, there is no safe exit yet from troublesome legal entanglements resulting from his past business deals and what could be regarded as corruption by policy.

Among the limited options is a plan for party members to encourage him to fight another round of election in the face of increasing disadvantage. At least they still control part of the legal machinery, such as the police force, and hold influence over other independent agencies.

But this time around, Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai are up against the judicial power vested jointly at times in the Constitution Court, the Administrative Court and the Supreme Court, against which the extent of their influence is inadequate.

Given the recent court verdicts and judgements, Thaksin and his crowd should feel that there is indeed not much room to be optimistic about winning.

Opinion polls show that more people think that Thaksin should leave politics for good, now that they are quite accustomed to his absence. What's more, Thaksin has proven he is not an indispensable leader.

Consequently, continuing defeats in messy legal battles could lead to bankruptcy in reputation, a total loss of power - and probably of personal freedom of movement as well.

- TN Editorial

[jdinasia]

Yeppers .... could truly be the end of TRT ... the news since Thursday (and the closing of the other threads) warrants a new thread for TRTgate!

<as to the central figure of the flame wars starting yet again in this thread ...

[sriracha john]

A very telling incident of the TRT Party's future .......

Pongsak Ruktapongpisal

Minister's rocket veers off course, explodes

A Bang Fai festival in the northeastern town of Yasothon almost ended in tragedy yesterday when a one-tonne rocket slammed into a mango tree and exploded.

The rocket, billed as the world's biggest home-made one, damaged property but caused no injuries. Onlookers said that if it were not for the mango tree the rocket would have ended up in someone's house.

It was launched by Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, Thai Rak Thai Party deputy secretary-general and caretaker transport minister, who was chairman of the festival.

With thousands of startled villagers looking on, the rocket veered off course and zoomed towards a village about four kilometres away. It sliced the mango tree in two before exploding and sending shrapnel over a wide area, damaging a van and windows of nearby houses.

"I heard a sound like a storm, which then turned into the sound of thunder," said Kanchit Chantarasarn, 32, whose garage was slightly damaged.

After the rocket mishap at about 1.30pm, an obviously upset Pongsak cancelled the rest of his itinerary and left to board a flight to Ubon Ratchathani.

Pongsak is one of a number of senior Thai Rak Thai figures accused by an Election Commission panel of being involved in a scheme to hire small parties to provide "fake" competition for his party in the April 2 general election.

Pongsak has denied the charges.

- TN

[sriracha john]

Somkid is favoured to be new PM

Thaksin 'will not take top job if TRT wins'

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is the frontrunner to lead the new government if the Thai Rak Thai party emerges as the winner of the new general election, according to high-ranking party sources.

With caretaker prime minister and party leader Thaksin Shinawatra set to announce a more limited role for himself after the election at a party meeting tomorrow, party factions are scrambling to find a new person to take the top job.

Mr Thaksin will declare his decision to run with his name at the top of the party list, as he did in the previous two polls.

But the telecommunications tycoon will tell party members that he will not take the top job this time even if Thai Rak Thai wins, to free the House to work on political reform.

Reform is demanded by Mr Thaksin's rivals _ the opposition Democrat party and the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Key party members have considered a choice other than Mr Thaksin to lead the nation since the Constitution Court's ruling last Monday that the April 2 election was unconstitutional. The verdict means a new poll must be organised.

Sources in several factions said most members now favoured Mr Somkid, who is also caretaker commerce minister, to take that role given his experience as a key figure in handling the party's economic policy over the past five years.

Key factions were behind him, said the sources, including the Wang Bua Ban faction under caretaker Labour Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, the Wang Phaya Nak faction of caretaker Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat and a group of party members based in the eastern provinces led by Sonthaya Khumpleum (son of the notorious murderer-on-the-run Somchai).

Another name mentioned was former House speaker Pokin Polakul.

Although Mr Thaksin is inclined to support Mr Pokin for the job, other members disagreed because they could not get along with him, one source said. They also doubted his ability to run the government and strike compromises between the various interest groups in Thai Rak Thai.

Most factions were for Mr Somkid because he was accessible, consistent in his performance and unlikely to encounter objections from voters.

One problem was whether the party leader would trust him, the sources said. Mr Thaksin was worried about whether he could control Mr Somkid once he leads the government, according to the sources.

''So do not expect Mr Thaksin to announce him as a candidate this Tuesday. What Mr Thaksin will do is to tell the party that he will not accept the post,'' one source said.

Support for Mr Somkid is in line with the result of a poll in late April conducted by Abac of Assumption University, in which most respondents backed the caretaker deputy prime minister as a future prime minister.

He emerged way ahead of the second choice, caretaker Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan.

The poll asked who in Thai Rak Thai should run the country if Mr Thaksin wanted to take a break.

Mr Somkid was probably a wise choice, given that Mr Thaksin could face strong street protests if he came back, said Noppadon Kannikar, the Abac Poll director.

People wanted Mr Somkid to tackle economic problems, he added.

The political impasse, coupled with high oil prices, is taking its toll. The Bank of Thailand has already cut its economic growth projection for this year by a half-point, to 4.25-5.25%.

Tomorrow's announcement by Mr Thaksin that he will run on the party list will allay party members' fears that he was about to retire from politics. Key figures believe that without Mr Thaksin on the party list, Thai Rak Thai would not do nearly as well in the new poll.

''A key factor in Thai Rak Thai's popularity is Mr Thaksin. Without him as a choice for prime minister, the party cannot expect to get as many votes,'' one source said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

...with apologies for spelling/punctuation/grammar errors (copied directly from the Ministry of Finance website):

DR. SOMKID JATUSRIPATAK

Minister of Finance

March 11, 2004 - August 2. 2005

March 10, 2003 - March 10. 2004

October 3, 2002 - February 8, 2003

February 17, 2001 - October 3, 2002

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: July 15, 1953 Bangkok, Thailand

EDUCATION

- Bechlor’s Degree

Finance Economy and International Economics, Thammasart University

- Master’s degree

MBA Finance Management, National Institute of Development

- Administration Doctorate:

Business Administration (Marketing) J.L.Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, USA

WORKING EXPERIENCES

- Secretary, Minister of finance

- Adviser, Minister of foreign Affairs

- Adviser of vice-president, Government’s Residence

- Adviser, Minister of Commerce

- Member, Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT Oil)

- Member, PTT Public Company Limited

- adviser of The Stock Exchange of Thailand

- Member in subcommittee investigate to receive and withdrawn the property, The stock Exchange of Thailand

- Secretary, Minister of finance (Dr. Thanong Bidaya)

- Adviser, Minister of foreign Affairs (Thaksin Shinawatra)

- Adviser of vice-president (Thaksin Shinawatra)

- Adviser, Minister of Commerce (Dr. Som Jatusripitak)

- Adviser, Board Committee vested with authority of Industry (House of Representatives)

- February 17, 2001 - October 2001 Finance Minister

- October 9, 2001- October 3, 2002 Deputy Prime Minister

- October 3, 2002 - February 8, 2003 Finance Minister

- February 8, 2003 - March 9, 2004 Deputy Prime Minister

- March 10, 2004 Finance Minister

[tettyan]

Banharn is older and wiser now, he won't take Thaksin's offer. Why would he do that? He stuck with the opposition through the PAD protests, why would he choose to become Thaksin's puppet now and ruin his reputation?

Never underestimate an old snake like Banharn. The guy is a survivor, first and foremost.

Remember he was the most reluctant to join the opposition boycott. He just decided to go along with it because he saw the way the wind was blowing.

The "No" vote also did pretty poorly in his home-base Suphan Buri, despite his best efforts. Thaksin is still quite popular among his constituents, and I'm sure he's their first choice for PM were it not for the patron-client network of the Sipla-Archa family. So despite the fact that Banharn felt betrayed by Thaksin in the 2005 election, Chart Thai's strategy for survival probably involves convincing upcountry voters that he's a potential coalition partner for TRT.

BTW, does anyone here remember the whole Bangkok Bank of Commerce fiasco?

Edited May 15, 2006 by tettyan

[sriracha john]

... the news since Thursday (and the closing of the other threads) warrants a new thread for TRTgate!

<as to the central figure of the flame wars starting yet again in this thread ...

TRTgate... Watergate....

Coincidental timing or do you secretly have access to BP's articles just before they're published?

Scandal evokes memories of another

Remember Watergate? Many Thai Rak Thai party hotshots were too young or were not born yet when the Watergate scandal broke in 1972. What began as a foiled break-in at the Democratic Party's national headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC, and was treated as a minor story by most US media, eventually turned into one of America's most infamous political scandals. Two intrepid young reporters at the Washington Post, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein _ with the help of a mysterious informant known as ''Deep Throat'' who was 30 years later identified as the then No 2 man at the FBI, W. Mark Felt _ were credited with uncovering the scandal.

Their relentless digging revealed a web of conspiracy to undermine the Democratic Party and its candidates, and implicated then-president Richard Nixon and his closest aides.

Two years later, Nixon announced his resignation in disgrace to avoid the prospect of impeachment.

A two-part question became famous when it was asked during the Watergate hearings. What did the president know and when did he know it?

The probe eventually revealed that Mr Nixon was intimately involved from the beginning and he was also involved in the subsequent cover-up attempt.

Is Watergate relevant in any way to the current political scandals in this country? I refer particularly to the allegation that Thai Rak Thai bankrolled some small parties to contest the April 2 snap elections in order to get around the electoral requirement that candidates running unopposed in a constituency must receive at least 20% of the total eligible vote in order to win a House seat.

There are many discrepancies between the two cases and they might not otherwise be related to each other, except for at least one common aspect _ they are both about conspiracies by the ruling administration to perpetuate their political aspirations. And both cases have far-reaching consequences for the leaders of the administrations.

In the case of Thai Rak Thai, a handful of top party executives were implicated by an investigating panel set up by the Election Commission (EC) with bankrolling small parties to contest the April 2 election and devising a scam to tamper with official information on party membership to enable unqualified members to stand for the polls. Unlike the Watergate scandal, there was no break-in at an opposition party's office. There was, however, an attempt to distract public attention from the case when Thai Rak Thai filed a counter-charge with the EC, accusing the Democrats of paying small parties to stay away from the election.

In the Watergate scandal, ''Deep Throat'' played a crucial role in supplying damning information against the Nixon White House to the media. But in the Thai Rak Thai case, the incriminating information was leaked to the press purportedly by someone on the EC's probe team.

In the Watergate probe, a famous question was asked. What did the president know and when did he know it?

In the Thai Rak Thai case, the EC's investigating panel has already fingered a few party executives and their aides as alleged election cheats and wants charges brought against the accused as well as their party leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, on the grounds that they were acting on the party's behalf.

The scandal represents an extremely ''hot potato'' for the EC, which is yet to deliberate and rule on the case, and for the ruling party, which is reportedly frantically scrambling to control the damage. The party will probably sacrifice a few ''rotten apples'' in order to spare the party and their dear leader.

The focus now rests on EC commissioners, who are already under pressure from opponents and the judiciary to resign. But even if they raise the same questions as did the Watergate investigation, which may or may not spare Mr Thaksin of wrongdoing, the party as a whole appears to be in deeply troubled waters if the EC treats the case in a straightforward manner.

- BP

[Plus]

Banharn is opposition weakest link, true, but if he decides to take PMship on behalf of TRT he'll face possible wrath of PAD and street protests and I don't think he's ready for this shit at his age.

TRT is sinking, and sinking fast. With Thaksin's out of the picture and the lastest bribery allegations confirmed it has lost ALL credibility and clutching at last straws.

People have been deserting it for a while now, why would Banharn go against the flow and prop them up?

Not impossible, just very unlikely, IMO.

[ColPyat]

BTW, does anyone here remember the whole Bangkok Bank of Commerce fiasco?

That was a lovely one. I don't remember all the details though. Do you have a good article of that one on hand?

[Plus]

It involved brother of Tarin Nimmahamenda (sp?), the finance minister in Democrat's governement.

I couldn't find a thread to post this in, so here it goes, interesting article by Chang Noi from the Nation:

Who pays for politics?

Last week, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra was reported telling a Thai Rak Thai Party meeting that she would bear only half the costs of the coming election.

She called on other leaders to chip in. How much do they need? And where does the money come from?

Matichon recently calculated that the average cost per constituency in the 2005 election was Bt20 million, shared half-half between the candidate and the party. That would make the Thai Rak Thai Party's share about Bt4 billion for the whole country.

Besides these campaign costs, the party also needs a regular budget. Most Thai Rak Thai MPs are said to receive a regular monthly retainer from the party or their faction head. One senator recently said that some 70 to 80 of the previous senators were also on the payroll. These payments have been estimated as high as Bt200,000 per head per month, but Matichon plumped for a more conservative estimate of Bt50,000. On top of this there are large publicity costs. Political leaders and political parties no longer advertise themselves only at campaign time, but keep up a constant drip-feed of ads, just like detergent brands. Then there are the operating costs of Thai Rak Thai's splendid big building. With sundries, this must all add up to Bt2 billion to Bt3 billion a year.

Thai Rak Thai's exceptional presence in Thai politics over the past six years has been underwritten by exceptional amounts of cash. Where does this come from? Since the party's foundation, Pojaman has been the largest donor according to official figures. But her generous largesse nowhere near covers the estimated budget for the party's operating expenses and election campaign costs. Other leaders of this billionaires' party have chipped in. In 2005, party-list candidacies and minister posts were awarded to some big moneybags, including alleged stock market fraudsters. Still, it's difficult to account fully for Thai Rak Thai's massive financial power in Thai politics.

Recently a suggestion appeared in the fourth of the series of "Ru Than Thaksin" (Understanding Thaksin) books edited by former senator Chirmsak Pinthong. This volume is subtitled "The Insiders", though "The Rat Laundry" might have been more appropriate. Four former supporters of Thaksin explain why they have defected (ratted), and try to justify (launder) their past actions in supporting him.

The longest confession is from Snoh Thienthong, who truly qualifies as an "insider". He was formerly adviser, whip, and deputy leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, and number 18 on the Thai Rak Thai party list in both 2001 and 2005. He connived with Thaksin in the infamous land deal over the Alpine golf course, and has often claimed to be the kingmaker who put Thaksin in power.

In this book, Snoh makes the following allegation.

"He placed one of his own people in every ministry. These people did not need to have a powerful post, but everybody knew who they were ... If any minister wanted to propose a project using the central budget, the minister would first have to clear it with 'his person' first. Many ministers were approached by 'his person' saying, 'The budget is coming. You can have five or six billion, but 10 per cent must go to the party ... Any minister who would not do this, could not remain."

Snoh then explained how the system worked.

"For this 10 per cent policy, the minister would have to pad the budget proposed for approval to include the 10 per cent that would go to the party. Then once it was agreed with 'his person' via Khunying, the matter could be sent to his trusted 'permanent political representative', who used to be his company employee. To date nobody knows how much this 10 per cent amounts to. Probably need to ask Khunying."

Snoh claims to have asked Pojaman what she needed so many billions for, and got this answer: "In politics you have to hand out money. It has to be considered a business." Snoh asked her what would happen if things blew up, and she replied, "If Thaksin falls, the Thai Rak Thai Party will have to stay in power for at least two more terms for safety."

Of course, allegations over percentage commissions on budget projects are nothing new at all. It is other aspects of this allegation which make it so arresting.

First, the centralisation. We are used to hearing about gangs of ministers, senior officials, and businessmen conspiring to take a percentage on budget projects through overpricing and similar devices. But this allegation suggests another subtraction which supplants or (more likely) supplements that form of corruption. We are told there is a centrally directed network that reaches into "every ministry". Ten per cent of the total capital budget is about Bt20 billion.

Second, the proceeds are allegedly channelled to the Thai Rak Thai Party. In other words, Snoh alleges that the party's massive financial strength is financed by the taxpayer.

Is Snoh credible? He's a very old-style politician. He gave Thaksin considerable help and has a lot to excuse himself for. He has been gradually sidelined by Thaksin over the past five years, and has reasons for feeling aggrieved. He still has political ambitions and has already launched his own new party. His allegation could be seen as nothing more than another move in the political chess game.

But that makes it all the more extraordinary that the accusation has brought forth no pained denial, no counter-charge, and none of the defamation suits which have become the confetti of Thai politics. This allegation was not some careless words heard by a few people. It was not one of those newspaper reports that the speaker can deny on the following day and blame on journalistic incompetence. It appeared in print in a signed article in a book that has quickly become very popular. Is there silence because Snoh is so lacking in credibility that denial is deemed unnecessary? Or is he too close to the truth for comfort?

Chang Noi

[Jai Dee]

Democrat party views that TRT is trying to work out the political game

Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thuagsuban (สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ) has pointed out that the Thai Rak Thai Party’s lawsuit against his party is another political game relating to the violation of the previous election. Meanwhile, he has supported the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in holding a grand rally to oust the Election Commission (EC).

In regard to the Thai Rak Thai Party’s proposal to dissolve the Democrat Party, Mr. Suthep views that Thai Rak Thai Party just wants to shift public concentration from its hiring of small political parties to join in the past election. Besides, he has reaffirmed that the Democrat Party was not involved in this case. He however has asked the general public not to be fed up of Thai politics.

He emphasizes that the most important thing of the new poll is its legitimacy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 May 2006

[ColPyat]

Or is he too close to the truth for comfort?

I have no doubts that this might have happened. I do know for a fact that over the last 5 years all ministries had a huge influx of TRT affiliated civil servants, and that every anti TRT civil servants lived in fear.

Nevertheless - the really frustrating aspect is that this sort of behaviour and attitude is inherent in the whole Thai political system. Thailand has been for far too long a selfservice shop for whoever was in power, or behind the ones in power. Don't think that this will change anytime soon. It is moot who may have been the worst offender (Thaksin may very well have been that), the problem is not the amounts skimmed off, but the basic attitude.

[stumonster]

Snoh claims to have asked Pojaman what she needed so many billions for, and got this answer: "In politics you have to hand out money. It has to be considered a business." Snoh asked her what would happen if things blew up, and she replied, "If Thaksin falls, the Thai Rak Thai Party will have to stay in power for at least two more terms for safety."

2 more terms ? I wonder if they have the money to secure this or if adding up the benefits and costs might decide its cheaper to run away?

[Zorro 69]

Banharn is opposition weakest link, true, but if he decides to take PMship on behalf of TRT he'll face possible wrath of PAD and street protests and I don't think he's ready for this shit at his age.

TRT is sinking, and sinking fast. With Thaksin's out of the picture and the lastest bribery allegations confirmed it has lost ALL credibility and clutching at last straws.

People have been deserting it for a while now, why would Banharn go against the flow and prop them up?

Not impossible, just very unlikely, IMO.

Banharn ? Banharn ? - surely you mean BARNUM ?

Edited May 15, 2006 by Zorro 69

[penzman]

Open the front doors of TRT headquarters and bring out the circus clowns!!!

[tettyan]

It involved brother of Tarin Nimmahamenda (sp?), the finance minister in Democrat's governement.

No, the BBC (Bangkok Bank of Commerce) fiasco happened in 1995, Tharrin's bro served as president of KTB (Krung-Thai Bank) later during the 2nd Chuan government and was suspected of stetchy dealings there.

The whole BBC involved a fellow called Ranesh Saxena (who fled the country), while the clowns in the gov't charged with tackling the issue was a certain Surakiart Sathirathai (finance minister at the time) and Newin Chidchob (Deputy Finance minister). All this talk of Banharn just reminded me of how little some things have really changed.

Banharn is opposition weakest link, true, but if he decides to take PMship on behalf of TRT he'll face possible wrath of PAD and street protests and I don't think he's ready for this shit at his age.

TRT is sinking, and sinking fast. With Thaksin's out of the picture and the lastest bribery allegations confirmed it has lost ALL credibility and clutching at last straws.

People have been deserting it for a while now, why would Banharn go against the flow and prop them up?

Not impossible, just very unlikely, IMO.

Sometimes people forget that ideology and principle matter very little in Thai politics. Beneath all the rhetoric, raw power is the name of the game. For instance, the fact that Thaksin himself played no small role in the downfall of Banharn's government didn't stop Banharn from prostrating himself before Thaksin and joining the TRT-led coalition as a junior partner. Nothing stopped him again from joining forces with his former arch-enemy the Democrats to topple Chavilit's government (in which Thaksin also served) in 1997.

Point is, most of these guys, including Banharn, Snoh, Sanan, Chalerm, etc, will do ANYTHING just for a seat at the table of power. Sure the PAD may cry foul, but if the election is really going to be pushed all the way to the fall as is being reported, then most people may just become too apathetic to care. One side-effect of this entire mess I think is that the general population is becoming more and more disillusioned with politics.

I have no doubts that this might have happened. I do know for a fact that over the last 5 years all ministries had a huge influx of TRT affiliated civil servants, and that every anti TRT civil servants lived in fear.

Nevertheless - the really frustrating aspect is that this sort of behaviour and attitude is inherent in the whole Thai political system. Thailand has been for far too long a selfservice shop for whoever was in power, or behind the ones in power. Don't think that this will change anytime soon. It is moot who may have been the worst offender (Thaksin may very well have been that), the problem is not the amounts skimmed off, but the basic attitude.

One reason why the Democrats opposed never bothered to introduce elections for provincial governors when they had the chance is exactly that - they found it convenient to parachute their people in key positions in the civil bureaucracy while they were in power. But at least they were smart enough leave the military and independent commissions alone, more or less. What Thaksin's done is far worse in terms of scale, but in principle, it's not too much different. Unless that changes, well, things will be business as usual.

Officially, the civil service is independent and the politicians have no say in personnel decisions. In practice, a minister can order the permanent secretary (the top civil servant) to transfer officials. Personally, I think that a system like Japan's that insulates the bureaucracy would be ideal. Maybe one constitutional reform should be guaranteeing the independence of state officals.

Edited May 15, 2006 by tettyan

[jdinasia]

I agree ... one of the reason that Thailand is a Fledgling democracy is that your local people are not elected to represent you. A bit to centralized for my taste ... but hey It's still great here!