Thaksin Returns As Pm

[ando]

I have to wonder now if the courts first priority is not trying to force the resignation of the EC rather than getting the country back on track through fresh elections at the earliest possible time.

So where to from now? Its clear the EC is not going to resign and nobody can force them to, and it appears the courts are going to stick to their guns and not allow fresh elections on a technicality of non-quorum of the EC. If the courts can "recomend" the EC resign, then surely they can recomend an election date agreeable to all parties. Or surely they can recomend a full quorum of Electoral Commissioners be appointed.

[Plus]

The courts feel that the current EC is not qualified to run any elections anymore. They have scheduled a meeting about what next steps they can take. Courts can surely discqulify EC members if there are sufficient legal grounds but it will take time - filing lawsuits, examining evidence and so on. The outcome is certain, but the EC will play til the end. Don't fool yourself with legalities. The EC stays there to protect Thaksin and TRT from certain demise.

Fresh monkey elections like April 2 at any cost will not be allowed. It's called not "getting back on track", it's called "mua".

[ratcatcher]

The courts feel that the current EC is not qualified to run any elections anymore. They have scheduled a meeting about what next steps they can take. Courts can surely discqulify EC members if there are sufficient legal grounds but it will take time - filing lawsuits, examining evidence and so on. The outcome is certain, but the EC will play til the end. Don't fool yourself with legalities. The EC stays there to protect Thaksin and TRT from certain demise.

Fresh monkey elections like April 2 at any cost will not be allowed. It's called not "getting back on track", it's called "mua".

Yes indeed they do. To protect the lid being taken off the worm can.

A while back His Majesty The King called the chief judges together at his palace and requested they sort out "This mess" . It just shows what kind of low life exists in th E.C.that would hang on to an illegitimate position. No pride, no morals, no ethics. You'd think they would respect His majesty The King's words.

Edited May 26, 2006 by ratcatcher

[Siripon]

I would tend to agree that the Finland issue is beyond the sensible realm of discussion here.

There are many more worthy issues to deal with than this 7 year-old, highly-volatile subject.

Long Live The King

Why has the the picture of the garuda, a royal symbol, been removed from the current ID cards?

[sriracha john]

I would tend to agree that the Finland issue is beyond the sensible realm of discussion here.

There are many more worthy issues to deal with than this 7 year-old, highly-volatile subject.

Long Live The King

Why has the the picture of the garuda, a royal symbol, been removed from the current ID cards?

That's a good question. I wasn't aware it had. Are these the new "Smart Cards?"

Not very smart to alter them in such a manner.

Have you seen any rationale mentioned anywhere regarding the change? I haven't, but would be curious to hear it.

[sriracha john]

BANGKOK (Reuters) = Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon told reporters the domestic political situation was among several topics Thaksin discussed on Friday with visiting U.N. chief Kofi Annan.

"Prime Minister Thaksin has informed Secretary-General Annan that our last poll was constitutionally democratic,

but we had to make way for national reconciliation," Kantathi said.

"We expect the new election will take place in October," Kantathi quoted Thaksin as telling Annan.

[sriracha john]

[penzman]

BANGKOK (Reuters) = Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon told reporters the domestic political situation was among several topics Thaksin discussed on Friday with visiting U.N. chief Kofi Annan.

"Prime Minister Thaksin has informed Secretary-General Annan that our last poll was constitutionally democratic,

but we had to make way for national reconciliation," Kantathi said.

"We expect the new election will take place in October," Kantathi quoted Thaksin as telling Annan.

The nerve! How can he constantly keep lying like this in front of cameras and get away with it? Always reinventing himself and political situations...

[sriracha john]

In addition to lying for cameras, they also lie, errr... I mean make "honest mistakes" (that favorite of Thaksin slogans)..... on the Net...

On www.mfa.go.th, webmasters ran a lead picture with a caption that read, "UN Secretary-General addresses a high-level panel on His Majesty the King and Human Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Viewers of the website were unlikely to be surprised by news of Annan's visit, but when they looked at the picture accompanying the caption they might have been shocked. It was a photo of Surakiart delivering a speech to a panel at the Foreign Ministry.

Edited May 26, 2006 by sriracha john

[John K]

I good point about the lies. It certainly suggests some form of mental illness. It would also appear his condition is getting worse in that before he would just lie about things unknown to the public.

[ovenman]

One wonders whether the timing of Mr. Big's return to work and Kofi Annan's scheduled visit to Thailand is coincidental...

[John K]

The way things are going it looks to be much more heated than the last go at it. I guess the next move is up to the court. If he is thrown out he may just ignore that too.

[Losangels]

The way things are going it looks to be much more heated than the last go at it. I guess the next move is up to the court. If he is thrown out he may just ignore that too.

If the court rule against Toxin, he will do whatever it takes to remain in power and can turn ugly.

[penzman]

I doubt he will have the freedom to clown around like this much longer.

Like Wyle E. Coyote, he will soon go too far and plunge to his political death. Meep meep!

[John K]

I think he may have passes that point. The only people that want him have a financial gain from doing so.

[ando]

All 16 million of them!

[Old Man River]

BANGKOK (Reuters) = Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon told reporters the domestic political situation was among several topics Thaksin discussed on Friday with visiting U.N. chief Kofi Annan.

"Prime Minister Thaksin has informed Secretary-General Annan that our last poll was constitutionally democratic,

but we had to make way for national reconciliation," Kantathi said.

"We expect the new election will take place in October," Kantathi quoted Thaksin as telling Annan.

The nerve! How can he constantly keep lying like this in front of cameras and get away with it? Always reinventing himself and political situations...

Uh, actually, it was "constitutionally" democratic, it just wasn't democratic as we know democracy since only one party was running and voting was not private. The PM phrased it so that he could honestly make that statement (this is what political advisors are for), but rest assured Koffi - Annan (who has his own political advisors) could see right through it.

[John K]

All 16 million of them!

sorry to say ... yes

[John K]

OK, why did I get a flashback of old news reals of 1930's Nazi Germany when I read this in the Bangkok post?

A library like no other

Only pro-Thaksin material is what you can get to read

Story by TUL PINKAEW

Entering through the sliding glass doors of an area smelling of a potpourri of dried flowers and musky furniture, directly stand shelves that rise tall above the table tops and parquet floors.

On these shelves are economic scriptures and business doctrines on numerous ways one can make money through both conventional and not so conventional means.

The teachings, 109 of them to be exact, are bestowed on to the bookshelves upon the recommendation of the self-proclaimed messiah of the deprived, the eradicator of the poor, whose aura surrounds the 400-square-metre space that resembles a museum which has a handsome collection of his virtual existence.

His presence can be felt from the 55-inch LCD TVs hanging from the ceiling showing constant footage of his speeches and heroic acts, to a 55-inch portrait of him and the children of all races as well as a 36-foot timeline exhibition reliving his accomplishments throughout the five years of his rule.

"This is the Thai Rak Thai library - a knowledge centre for the public open daily from Monday through Friday right here on the ground floor of the party's headquarters," greets a friendly and smiling librarian Yawin Srisamai.

Ms Yawin, a fresh graduate from Chiang Mai, home of Thai Rak Thai leader and caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to whom apparently this library is dedicated to, admits that this Thai Rak Thai public study lounge has everything one needs to know about the prime minister but not so much on anything else.

Ms Yawin, who claims to be a political neutralist and by no means a Thaksin disciple, says all of the 109 must-read books recommended by Mr Thaksin to his fellow Thais are here and there are no other libraries in the country that have this kind of collection.

"This is a library like no other which basically means we don't have to stick to the principle norms of having to carry every category. We can work to a theme which suits us most," she says.

The library of the Stock Exchange of Thailand - the Maruey Knowledge and Resource Centre - focuses on business and financial investment, while at parliament the concept of its library is politics and law. The theme of the Thai Rak Thai library from skimming through the books and watching its digital resources is surely about the good work of Mr Thaksin.

There are sections featuring all the publications Mr Thaksin wrote and a collection of the "Thaksin Talks to the People" radio programme which previously aired every Saturday on Radio Thailand before the prime minister ended the show after his administration dissolved parliament on Feb 24.

A "Let's Share" corner features publications Mr Thaksin donated mostly books about himself and where he has been around the world including a Chinese paperback with pictures of his accomplishments throughout his tenure.

There are also audio-visual materials of Mr Thaksin's speeches and electronic media on party policies, campaign brochures and party jingles.

Despite being surrounded by Thaksin memorabilia, chief librarian Pongnarin Leelaumpaikul claims that it is not all Thaksin-orientated. "This library has nine categories about politics, law, biographies of famous politicians and general interests," he says.

Mr Pongnarin said the Thai Rak Thai library was endorsed by the Election Commission's party budget, a yearly fund given to every political party. He added that there were more than 2,000 Thai language books and 800 foreign language copies with some very rare publications obtained from Singapore.

However, if this library is a study sanctuary for the public like what party secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit said at the opening ceremony, and not a museum of Mr Thaksin's dreams and aspirations, it misses something.

It has lighting, sofas, computers and Mr Thaksin's portrait. But it has no newspapers, something which any library would have. There are also virtually no publications critical of Mr Thaksin or his policies.

"We intend to have newspapers. It's just that we are having trouble with the supplier of the newsstands. We also are thinking of getting the whole series of Roo Than Thaksin (Seeing Through Thaksin) soon. It's just that we prefer books that are accepted by all parts of society," says Ms Yawin.

Roo Than Thaksin is a series of books written by outgoing Bangkok senator Chirmsak Pinthong together with a group of people including academics and former diplomats.

The books contain criticisms of Mr Thaksin's policies and practices and sold tens of thousands of copies.

A library user, the only one found there, said she found out about the library through the newspaper but was very disappointed about the fact that the library itself had no newspapers.

"A library is not a library if it doesn't have newspapers," she said.

[ColPyat]

OK, why did I get a flashback of old news reals of 1930's Nazi Germany when I read this in the Bangkok post?

The constant comparism between Thaksin and Hitler are an insult to every victim of the Nazis. I am sick and tired of it. It shows only a complete disregard towards history.

[John K]

I think what actually triggered the memory was the single sided nature of the library. Most libraries reflect books from all sources regardless of view. The book burnings of that era, intolerance of other opinions, self promotion... the more I think about it the more I understand why that memory came up. It is not from what others may have said about him and made a similar connection, this is simply a truthful statement that it reminded me of the news reals about Germany in that era. There seems to be a parallel going on. Perhaps we should look at history to see the future.

[ando]

Why would anyone expect a TRT library to promote anything else but TRT doctrine?

No one would go into a Christian library and expect to see a detailed explanation of Buddist or Hindu philosophy.

Comparisons with Hitler seem to be a little bit hysterical.

[womble]

Why would anyone expect a TRT library to promote anything else but TRT doctrine?

No one would go into a Christian library and expect to see a detailed explanation of Buddist or Hindu philosophy.

Comparisons with Hitler seem to be a little bit hysterical.

The vatican libary carries many forms of literture, not all pro christian.

Many christian priests have a great interest in other religions and read up on them often, and why shouldn't they compare religions, a homeopathic doctor will more than likley compare his work to that of a general practitioners.

[stumonster]

and people who rely on tourists/investors in thailand for their business will continue to tell you everything is wonderful.

mr 't' is a meglomaniac , of that I have no doubt. It remains to be seen how dire the outcome for thailand is.

[ColPyat]

this is simply a truthful statement that it reminded me of the news reals about Germany in that era. There seems to be a parallel going on. Perhaps we should look at history to see the future.

I am sorry, but this is ridiculous and utterly hysterical.

What TRT wants in their library is their own thing. You can still get extremely critical books on Thaksin in any bookstore here in Thailand. In Nazi Germany of the '30s you had writers deemed critical, or of Jewish descend, or Homosexual, or Socialist/Communist, leaving Germany in masses or face imprisonment in the concentration camps.

[John K]

Your reading my comment too deeply. There is nothing unusual about things triggering thoughts and memories. Also history often repeats itself so I fail to see what you find humourous.

[sriracha john]

The victims of Thaksin-ism are just as dead as the victims of Hitler-ism, Stalin-ism, Marcos-ism, et al.

The only differences are the current tallies. Thaksin is up around 5,000 thus far and counting. Certainly it is granted that the scale is just not as high as the others, howver the techniques and motivations aren't much different, the results are the same... death... and so I do see the comparisons as justified, perhaps just need a fine tuning on the precise vernacular.

Thaksin is Hitler-ish.

[John K]

I never mentioned Hitler only the era. I know several of the banners in the demonstrations this year made the connection but that was an after thought.

There are a few major court rulings in the next several days. One could end the TRT. By no means am I saying all members of the TRT are bad, however they will suffer the pains of guilt by association. So if you want to dance with the devil.....

[ColPyat]

The victims of Thaksin-ism are just as dead as the victims of Hitler-ism, Stalin-ism, Marcos-ism, et al.

The only differences are the current tallies.

And that Hitler propagated an insanely racist ideology, allowed no dissent whatsoever, slaughtered about 90% of the European jews, countless Homosexuals, Socialists, Communists, Gypsies, started WW2 which cost around 40 million people their lives, etc.

Comparing Thaksin with Hitler, or any of the mentioned dictators, is completely off the mark. Thaksin is definately not a nice person, and guilty of a lot of things, but a Hitler he is not.

[ColPyat]

I never mentioned Hitler only the era. I know several of the banners in the demonstrations this year made the connection but that was an after thought.

There are a few major court rulings in the next several days. One could end the TRT. By no means am I saying all members of the TRT are bad, however they will suffer the pains of guilt by association. So if you want to dance with the devil.....

And that disproves your comparism with Hitler already.

In Nazi Germany there could not have been a courtcase possible against the NSDAP or Hitler.