Thai Army strongly slams Thaksin’s lawyer




BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Army yesterday strongly slammed Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer of fugitive premier Thaksin Shinawatra, over his scathing article criticizing the Army of acting as a force that is hindering Thailand’s struggling for democracy.

Army spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree said the lawyer’s article on his Blog was based on his bias against the Thai Army and could never be regarded as honest criticism.

He said the article was defamatory and filled with groundless and baseless false information ever written by such a person with “narrow-mind” and ” hidden agenda” and evil intention to discredit the army.

The colonel said this lawyer will be considered an “undesirable person” for the country, he said.

Amsterdam wrote in his Blog an article entitled “Life under a Coup – the Thai Army’s Continual Threat to Thai Democracy”, accusing the Thai Army of having a “long and ignoble tradition of stymieing democracy, attacking civilians and meddling in politics.

He also criticized the role of the Army under the current political turmoil, and accused the Army chief of making veiled threats to elected lawmakers and did not help the caretaker government to defend what he called the “political rights of the country’s citizens.”

In response to call by democratically-elected Thai government for help, he said, the Thai Army routinely go missing.

On the Army’s neutral role to the current political crisis, Amsterdam said “Of course, “neutral” in the Thai context, means that you tacitly and explicitly accept anti-democratic forces as a given, natural part of the political discourse. Neutrality in this instance is a non-existent opportunistic chimera created purely to divert a proper analysis of the real conditions within which the Thai Army operate.”

He went on saying “what is clear is that until the Thai Army is brought under lawful, accountable, democratic and civilian control it will act as a force hindering Thailand’s struggling – yet burgeoning – democracy;

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-army-strongly-slams-thaksins-lawyer/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-11

The colonel said this lawyer will be considered an undesirable person for the country, he said.

Since when is it the decision of an army to consider someone an undesirable person?

Love how everyone throws around the "D" word (Democracy). And none of them know the true meaning of it.

The colonel said this lawyer will be considered an undesirable person for the country, he said.

Since when is it the decision of an army to consider someone an undesirable person?

Yes, accuse the Thai army of interfering in the running of the country and what do they do? Assume the role of the immigration department.

That seals the odious Amsterdam's fate, no more trips to Thailand for him, just like his client, who will never be back now. Will the Army now file libel?

he is right the army has already refusing to follow lawful directions from the elected government

Since when was it amsterdams place to blast the Thai army.

Oh yes, he is Thaksins mouthpiece so he is talking for the convicted crim.

How dare the army attempt to prevent the chosen one from returning to claim his rightful place as the dictator.

robert amsterdam is an absolute <deleted>!

Love how everyone throws around the "D" word (Democracy). And none of them know the true meaning of it.

According to some Government supporters it means scribbling an x on a piece of paper every 4 years and during the time in between shut up, bend over and hope that the Government applies enough Vaseline so it does not hurt too much.

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he is right the army has already refusing to follow lawful directions from the elected government

".........the elected government."

There is no government. It is in caretaker mode.

And what "lawful" directions are the army disregarding?

The colonel said this lawyer will be considered an undesirable person for the country, he said.

Since when is it the decision of an army to consider someone an undesirable person?

Since they've had the final say in anything that goes on in Thailand, which is to say at any point in the past.

Since when was it amsterdams place to blast the Thai army.

Oh yes, he is Thaksins mouthpiece so he is talking for the convicted crim.

How dare the army attempt to prevent the chosen one from returning to claim his rightful place as the dictator.

The problem with that is that you would only permit information/news/argument supporting YOUR perspective to be available. It's healthy to be able to hear all sides....even that which might be considered by some to be extreme

Army in every country is a backward force. Their structure is not democratic, is secretive, outside public scrutiny.

In countries like Thailand, where political system is not democratic and where there are large and strong authoritarian currents, army is a status quo force, holding any progress.

It's irrelevant what Amsterdam said. The creepy thing about this story is that army asserts the power to label people as undesirable person based on their speech.

He went on saying “what is clear is that until the Thai Army is brought under lawful, accountable, democratic and civilian control it will act as a force hindering Thailand’s struggling – yet burgeoning – democracy."

Apart from the fact that this statement is bloody stupid in actual terms, it would also be far more appropriately aimed at Mr Amsterdam's client.

He went on saying “what is clear is that until the Thai Army is brought under lawful, accountable, democratic and civilian control it will act as a force hindering Thailand’s struggling – yet burgeoning – democracy;

In other words, what Amsterdam is saying that until the country is accountable and under the control of Thaksin.

The colonel said this lawyer will be considered an undesirable person for the country, he said.

Since when is it the decision of an army to consider someone an undesirable person?

Be careful... you might be next.

Thai Army take moral high ground shocker...give me a break.

The colonel said this lawyer will be considered an undesirable person for the country, he said.

Since when is it the decision of an army to consider someone an undesirable person?

Yes, accuse the Thai army of interfering in the running of the country and what do they do? Assume the role of the immigration department.

Funny how by trying to deny what Amsterdam said, they pretty much confirmed his statement.

Since when was it amsterdams place to blast the Thai army.

Oh yes, he is Thaksins mouthpiece so he is talking for the convicted crim.

How dare the army attempt to prevent the chosen one from returning to claim his rightful place as the dictator.

Please highlight what part of Amsterdams article was factually incorrect so we can all discuss

On the Army’s neutral role to the current political crisis, Amsterdam said “Of course, “neutral” in the Thai context, means that you tacitly and explicitly accept anti-democratic forces as a given, natural part of the political discourse. Neutrality in this instance is a non-existent opportunistic chimera created purely to divert a proper analysis of the real conditions within which the Thai Army operate.”

I do recall the army was called upon by a former PM and they did came out to protect the country against non-democratic forces. I remember that particular mob attempted to burn Bangkok. Mr. Amsterdam, do you know who the paymaster of that mob was?

Now, this government also has a puppeteer. Mr. Amsterdam, do you know who this puppeteer is?

You need look no further, just raise you head and look up above you!

Perhaps you may like to teach us your definition of Democracy, and we will gladly listen when your strings are no longer being pulled.

Did he mean the army or the RTP?

You have to admire the way the government and Shincorp talk about "lawful", and try to hide behind "the law" yet when the country's laws don't fit their agenda, they ride roughshod over them. Rulings of the Constitutional Court....fleeing the country to avoid a jail term....giving a convicted fugitive a passport...etc etc. The other bunch who are occupying Bangkok are just as selective in their regard for the law, before the usual TV headbangers start wailing.

It is time for some major house cleaning, which in turn could....could....sideline the role of the army in Thai politics.

Oh yes......one must not criticise the Thai forces......!

The Army and the Navy just can't take it when someone tells the truth about them.

The Army and the Navy just can't take it when someone tells the truth about them.

So, there it is. You officially endorse and support Amsterdam's statements. That might be a foolhardy action if your side doesn't win. Frankly, I continue to be amazed at many of the posts on this forum that routinely engage in what Thai law regards as criminal defamation. The people doing so, I assume, do not reside in nor plan to visit Thailand anytime soon.

Since when was it amsterdams place to blast the Thai army.

Oh yes, he is Thaksins mouthpiece so he is talking for the convicted crim.

How dare the army attempt to prevent the chosen one from returning to claim his rightful place as the dictator.

Please highlight what part of Amsterdams article was factually incorrect so we can all discuss

Right! Amsterdam my be a dubious person, just as much as his client, but even he sometimes may be right. The Thai Army has a history of coups and violence against the Thai people.

The colonel said this lawyer will be considered an undesirable person for the country, he said.

Since when is it the decision of an army to consider someone an undesirable person?

I guess the foreign minister is too busy issuing passports to his cousin

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The subtext of this story is clear - Thaksin is terribly worried. Robert Amersterdam has been Thaksin's ever faithful - albeit richly rewarded - mouthpiece and propaganda tool. And he says whatever Thaksin instructs him to say.

" He said the article was defamatory and filled with groundless and baseless false information ever written by such a person with “narrow-mind” and ” hidden agenda” and evil intention to discredit the army. "

​It is clear from this what the army really thinks of the man behind Amersterdam - Thaksin. And it's not pretty. Thaksin knows that, of course. Hence Amsterdam's current marching orders. What is striking is how few options Thaksin has left. The introduction of the amnesty bill on October 13 meant that he could never come back. That wasn't clear to him then. It is clear to him now. But he still wants his power and his influence. And if the Yingluck administration goes - so does both. And one suspects, Amsterdam's handsome commission along with it.

It's irrelevant what Amsterdam said. The creepy thing about this story is that army asserts the power to label people as undesirable person based on their speech.

The army is annoyed at another interfering farang. Whether we like it or not, Amsterdam is not a nobody, so what is says is sucked up by the local supporters and international press. What bugs the military is that they can do nothing about is, as he is not on Thai soil.