Jatuporn, Redshirts promise uprising against coup, appointed PM

[ZuluTango70]

"....widespread protests...."

The operative word here is "widespread".

I'm waiting for developments to develop, but whatever actions the UDD/RS's make, will be widespread....Like in "Everywhere".

In the face of this very blatantly orchestrated attack on Democracy, the elected Govt. and Prime Minister by unelectable Elitist political entities artificially masquerading as pseudo solemn, impartial and respectable Independent Agencies, will indeed be far-reaching.

If they miscalculate and involve the military as well, will be an interesting 'boomerang' to watch.......The facts being that in spite of their guns, the military will be heavily outnumbered everywhere.

Preparations for this sham unfolding of the Amart's plans has been "widely' (there is that word again) anticipated, and prepared for all-over-the-place.

The Amart is in the process of throwing down the gauntlet before the Electoral majority.

Let's all watch and see.

Good luck mate. While you are at it, slow down on the Kool aid, will ya?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Crushdepth]

Yet again a less than honest post.

No one said there was a huge spike. It's pretty obvious to anyone that transparency (corruption in other words) has been progressively going downhill since 2001.

Your attempt to defend Thaksin is laughable given the number of serious fraudulent cases outstanding that he ran away from. All you seem to propagate is that he's a victim and all the charges are demonisation - showing abject ignorance (or bias).

AS for the king admonishing Thaksin - that's been openly discussed in the Bangkok Post and Nation on numerous occasions.

The point is that Thaksin is no better and no worse than what Thailand has experienced throughout its sordid and corrupt history.

The anti democracy movement makes Thaksin out to be extraordinarily over the top when it comes to corruption when he plainly is not.

Every international rating, ranking, poll, survey, investigation or report is identical in their lack of extreme aberrations in whatever metric they're using indicating Thaksins' is guilty of a monstrous, unheard of, level of corruption.

When it comes to corruption he is the equal of those opposed to him, no more and no less.

Take away the Thaksin is super corrupt argument from the anti democrats and what have they got left to justify their actions.

Nothing.

Thailand has had 18 coups, do a little research and you will see the same two false justifications given for just about all of them.

Corruption and a threat to the monarchy.

The Thais masses aren't falling for the same claptrap again, the jig is up.

Tell me, if Thaksin is in fact equally or less corrupt than what preceded him and those who currently oppose him, what justification is their for this ongoing attempted coup.

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/thailand

As for the other bit, the admonishing, I'm not denying it occurred because it did. I am simply stating that no robust discussion or debate can take place on such a subject matter. Which is unfortunate, but it's the law, so I obey.

Hello, look at the state of the nation. Thaksin is a pox on this country, he divided it and now nobody can pull it back together.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Mackie]

1. Thailands Press Freedom Rankings

Green = Thaksin backed Administration

Red = Non Thaksin Administration

2002 - 65 (Thaksin)

2003 - 82 (Thaksin)

2004 - 59 (Thaksin)

2005 - 107 (The yellow nonsense kicked off about here)

2006 - 122 (coup admin)

2007 - 135 (coup admin)

2008 - 124 (Samak and Somchai and a lot of yellow nonsense)

2009 - 130 (Abhisit)

2010 - 153 (Abhisit)

2011 - 137 (Abhisit)

2012 - 135 (Yingluck)

Pretty clear that non-Thaksin backed administrations reduce freedom of speech to a greater extent than Thaksin backed governments.

Unelected authoritarian regimes don't like their crimes to be talked about.

(my guess is if you muzzle the media corruption is a hell of a lot more lucrative to)

If only you could get your facts straight. That would be an improvement. Otherwise people might start calling you dishonest Bob. Get your facts straight, please. This one is not coming from me, it's straight from the Deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Lt. Sunisa Lertpakawat:

Sunisa shows that the present government is proud to record that the “Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have been working hard, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Police, to bring the offenders to justice.”

Even more remarkably, Sunisa boasts that:

Yingluck’s government blocked and closed down nearly 22,000 URLs found violating the lese-majeste law, between December 7, 2011 and October 21, 2013; compared to the 2,700 closed down by former prime minister Abhisit’s administration. The number of cases reported cases has also dropped, said the deputy spokesperson.

And this is the report from 2005. So much for freedom of expression under Thaksin. He is an autocrat and a bully. Pretty much like Cambodian Hun Sen. Luckily Thais stopped him from having his way and turning the land of smiles into his personal fiefdom. He hasn't given up on his megalomaniac project though.

SEAPA says Thaksin and his friends in the business community are widely perceived in Thailand to be exerting influence on the print media, either by applying an advertising squeeze on newspapers or by directly influencing management and editorial decisions via the papers' boards.

Thailand's two leading English-language dailies - "The Nation" and the "Bangkok Post" - have been pressured to tone down their criticism of Thaksin. Changes to the executive boards of both companies in 2004 were believed to have been engineered to soften their criticism of the government.

Human Rights Watch has also voiced concerns over what it calls the "steadily eroding respect for human rights" under Thaksin's government. In a briefing paper, the IFEX member says Thailand "has gone from being a beacon of freedom and respect for human rights in the region to being a country of high concern."

Visit these links:

- SEAPA: http://www.seapabkk.org/column/2005/02/20050201.html

- Journalist Killed in Southern Thailand: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64495/

- Human Rights Watch Briefing Paper: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/13/thaila9858.htm

- The Shin Corp. Legal Case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/61047/

[HonestQuietBob]

Yet again a less than honest post.

No one said there was a huge spike. It's pretty obvious to anyone that transparency (corruption in other words) has been progressively going downhill since 2001.

Your attempt to defend Thaksin is laughable given the number of serious fraudulent cases outstanding that he ran away from. All you seem to propagate is that he's a victim and all the charges are demonisation - showing abject ignorance (or bias).

AS for the king admonishing Thaksin - that's been openly discussed in the Bangkok Post and Nation on numerous occasions.

The point is that Thaksin is no better and no worse than what Thailand has experienced throughout its sordid and corrupt history.

The anti democracy movement makes Thaksin out to be extraordinarily over the top when it comes to corruption when he plainly is not.

Every international rating, ranking, poll, survey, investigation or report is identical in their lack of extreme aberrations in whatever metric they're using indicating Thaksins' is guilty of a monstrous, unheard of, level of corruption.

When it comes to corruption he is the equal of those opposed to him, no more and no less.

Take away the Thaksin is super corrupt argument from the anti democrats and what have they got left to justify their actions.

Nothing.

Thailand has had 18 coups, do a little research and you will see the same two false justifications given for just about all of them.

Corruption and a threat to the monarchy.

The Thais masses aren't falling for the same claptrap again, the jig is up.

Tell me, if Thaksin is in fact equally or less corrupt than what preceded him and those who currently oppose him, what justification is their for this ongoing attempted coup.

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/thailand

As for the other bit, the admonishing, I'm not denying it occurred because it did. I am simply stating that no robust discussion or debate can take place on such a subject matter. Which is unfortunate, but it's the law, so I obey.

I don't have any statistics, but many business people are complaining the corruption has gotten worse, now the rate is some 30%+ on government contracts. Other things: the populist policies (rice scheme, first car program etc) and the aborted 2TB infrastructure loan is putting enormous burdens on the Thai economy.

Yes, there was corruption and mismanagement before, but it seems it's been taken to a new level.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

My brother runs a door and window frame distributorship in a state that had the same party in power for 23 years.

When the opposition finally won office and began awarding work to contractors guess what happened.

Those that backed the new government were favoured in almost all occasions over those who were in bed with the previous government.

You cannot begin to imagine the howls and accusations of corruption that flooded the airwaves from those who had had it so good for the past 23 years.

Now that the shoe was on the other foot, they all became anti-corruption campaigners and wanted more transparency in the tendering process.

Now think about Thailand - this is my brothers experience multiplied by a thousand..

On small clique of people had the run of the show for nearly 70 years and then Thaksin comes along and they find themselves on the outer when it comes to winning government contracts and appointments.

Those whose snouts were in the trough for so long before Thaksin want back in.

They are only opposed to corruption because they ain't getting a cut.

Let me guess, the business people you talk to, when they win a contract it's merit and when someone else wins a contract it's corruption.

[ZuluTango70]

One cannot cease to be amazed at the comments of the Shinwatra clan and Red Shirt supporters. We can all clearly see that the political dogma of both the Shinwatra clan and the Red Shirt leaders is founded upon the total stifling and oppression of free speech and that which currently passes for democracy here in Thailand.

Rabid screaming and rants concerning the actions of the P.R.D.C. which have and are even now far more peaceful, less destructive and far less disruptive than the action we witnessed and indeed suffered from during the 2010 Red Shirts Shinwatra sponsored attempt to overthrow a government and replace it with a known criminal administered administration which of course we later saw assume power to the detriment of Thailand and its peoples.

Can any of these supporters really in what may pass for their minds actually believe that Thaksin, Jutuporn, Thida, Ko-Tee etc are benevolent political leaders with only the best interest of Thailand and its people at heart?

Going by the yardstick the supporters of the aforementioned group employ we can but only assume that Joe Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Pol Pot, Adolf Hitler and Ghengis Khan to name but a few were indeed very misunderstood and historically maligned concerning their merciful acts and deeds.

It would certainly seem as if those current supporters and proponents of their proposed actions of the Shinwatra clan and the Red Shirts have learnt nothing from history.

It wasn't the Shinawatras or the reds that enacted the most severe censorship laws. It are these most severe censorship laws that define the limited democracy of Thailand.

I don't think he said that they did.

The most severe censorship law is the Lese Majeste law which has been around for donkey's years. No government, Thaksin's, Abhisit's, Banharn's or Chavalit's (to mention the most recent) have had the guts to change it. However it doesn't 'define' democracy - it's just one of the many deficiencies in democracy here, the worst being a lack of the rule of law.

I remember Thaksin using Lese Majeste laws frequently during his first term to intimidate both foreign and local journalists who did extensive investigative reports on him. Every government, whether they were Democrats, New Aspiration, Chart Thai, TRT, PTP etc, all used Lese Majeste laws, but not at an extensive level like TS did.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[khunken]

Yet again a less than honest post.

No one said there was a huge spike. It's pretty obvious to anyone that transparency (corruption in other words) has been progressively going downhill since 2001.

Your attempt to defend Thaksin is laughable given the number of serious fraudulent cases outstanding that he ran away from. All you seem to propagate is that he's a victim and all the charges are demonisation - showing abject ignorance (or bias).

AS for the king admonishing Thaksin - that's been openly discussed in the Bangkok Post and Nation on numerous occasions.

The point is that Thaksin is no better and no worse than what Thailand has experienced throughout its sordid and corrupt history.

The anti democracy movement makes Thaksin out to be extraordinarily over the top when it comes to corruption when he plainly is not.

Every international rating, ranking, poll, survey, investigation or report is identical in their lack of extreme aberrations in whatever metric they're using indicating Thaksins' is guilty of a monstrous, unheard of, level of corruption.

When it comes to corruption he is the equal of those opposed to him, no more and no less.

Take away the Thaksin is super corrupt argument from the anti democrats and what have they got left to justify their actions.

Nothing.

Thailand has had 18 coups, do a little research and you will see the same two false justifications given for just about all of them.

Corruption and a threat to the monarchy.

The Thais masses aren't falling for the same claptrap again, the jig is up.

Tell me, if Thaksin is in fact equally or less corrupt than what preceded him and those who currently oppose him, what justification is their for this ongoing attempted coup.

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/thailand

As for the other bit, the admonishing, I'm not denying it occurred because it did. I am simply stating that no robust discussion or debate can take place on such a subject matter. Which is unfortunate, but it's the law, so I obey.

More attempted justification of dishonesty.

No one argues that corruption has existed prior to 2001 in Thailand. I know of quite a few instances in the 90's. But the level dramatically increased after Thaksin came into power (and allowed to get away with an assets lie by a farcical scrutiny). He surrounded himself with corrupt acolytes and just about every major project had a benefit to himself, his family and friends.

Some examples of unheard of actions before 2001:

Attempting to use taxpayers money to invest in Liverpool FC

Jumping the queue in the PTT IPO

Allowing a crony to benefit from a rake-off with the new airport scanners

Forcing the Exim bank to increase a loan to Myanmar to purchase telecomms equipment from his companies

Changing the law to 25% owner ship to prevent Telenor taking over TAC

Changing the law back to 49% prior to Temasek's takeover of AIS

Appointing his cousin as army chief

Appointing more clan members at the top of the police.

Forcing the Exim bank to increase a loan to Myanmar to purchase telecomms equipment from his companies

Forcing the revenue chief to absolve him & his family from taxes in bringing billions onshore

The above is a sample - there's more. No previous government had come close to even half of those self-serving actions.

I don't know whether it's your ignorance of his self-enrichment acts or that you're so biased that you just cannot admit to the blatantly obvious.

You continue with the dishonesty in mentioning an 'attempted coup'. There is no attempted coup only an effort to tackle the level of corruption & lack of the rule of law before another election. I'll bet you have deliberately ignored the main points that Suthep has advocated. It's so much easier (and doesn't require any thought) to attack him and the protestors

[HonestQuietBob]

Yet again a less than honest post.

No one said there was a huge spike. It's pretty obvious to anyone that transparency (corruption in other words) has been progressively going downhill since 2001.

Your attempt to defend Thaksin is laughable given the number of serious fraudulent cases outstanding that he ran away from. All you seem to propagate is that he's a victim and all the charges are demonisation - showing abject ignorance (or bias).

AS for the king admonishing Thaksin - that's been openly discussed in the Bangkok Post and Nation on numerous occasions.

The point is that Thaksin is no better and no worse than what Thailand has experienced throughout its sordid and corrupt history.

The anti democracy movement makes Thaksin out to be extraordinarily over the top when it comes to corruption when he plainly is not.

Every international rating, ranking, poll, survey, investigation or report is identical in their lack of extreme aberrations in whatever metric they're using indicating Thaksins' is guilty of a monstrous, unheard of, level of corruption.

When it comes to corruption he is the equal of those opposed to him, no more and no less.

Take away the Thaksin is super corrupt argument from the anti democrats and what have they got left to justify their actions.

Nothing.

Thailand has had 18 coups, do a little research and you will see the same two false justifications given for just about all of them.

Corruption and a threat to the monarchy.

The Thais masses aren't falling for the same claptrap again, the jig is up.

Tell me, if Thaksin is in fact equally or less corrupt than what preceded him and those who currently oppose him, what justification is their for this ongoing attempted coup.

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/thailand

As for the other bit, the admonishing, I'm not denying it occurred because it did. I am simply stating that no robust discussion or debate can take place on such a subject matter. Which is unfortunate, but it's the law, so I obey.

Hello, look at the state of the nation. Thaksin is a pox on this country, he divided it and now nobody can pull it back together.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Hello to you too,

I see the state of the nation.

Thaksin has been a flawed gift to this country, for he has united it for all but a small minority.

At his peak, Thaksin won 60.7% of the vote - you tell me how many of the world's politicians have been able to unite such a large portion of the population to their cause.

As inevitable events unfold in the future the Democrat supporter base will only drop and Thaksins' will only grow. History, demography and mortality make this so.

The country is more united than it has ever been, for proof of that just look at how the military have been all but kicked out of political affairs.

[HonestQuietBob]

Yet again a less than honest post.

No one said there was a huge spike. It's pretty obvious to anyone that transparency (corruption in other words) has been progressively going downhill since 2001.

Your attempt to defend Thaksin is laughable given the number of serious fraudulent cases outstanding that he ran away from. All you seem to propagate is that he's a victim and all the charges are demonisation - showing abject ignorance (or bias).

AS for the king admonishing Thaksin - that's been openly discussed in the Bangkok Post and Nation on numerous occasions.

The point is that Thaksin is no better and no worse than what Thailand has experienced throughout its sordid and corrupt history.

The anti democracy movement makes Thaksin out to be extraordinarily over the top when it comes to corruption when he plainly is not.

Every international rating, ranking, poll, survey, investigation or report is identical in their lack of extreme aberrations in whatever metric they're using indicating Thaksins' is guilty of a monstrous, unheard of, level of corruption.

When it comes to corruption he is the equal of those opposed to him, no more and no less.

Take away the Thaksin is super corrupt argument from the anti democrats and what have they got left to justify their actions.

Nothing.

Thailand has had 18 coups, do a little research and you will see the same two false justifications given for just about all of them.

Corruption and a threat to the monarchy.

The Thais masses aren't falling for the same claptrap again, the jig is up.

Tell me, if Thaksin is in fact equally or less corrupt than what preceded him and those who currently oppose him, what justification is their for this ongoing attempted coup.

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/thailand

As for the other bit, the admonishing, I'm not denying it occurred because it did. I am simply stating that no robust discussion or debate can take place on such a subject matter. Which is unfortunate, but it's the law, so I obey.

More attempted justification of dishonesty.

No one argues that corruption has existed prior to 2001 in Thailand. I know of quite a few instances in the 90's. But the level dramatically increased after Thaksin came into power (and allowed to get away with an assets lie by a farcical scrutiny). He surrounded himself with corrupt acolytes and just about every major project had a benefit to himself, his family and friends.

Some examples of unheard of actions before 2001:

Attempting to use taxpayers money to invest in Liverpool FC

Jumping the queue in the PTT IPO

Allowing a crony to benefit from a rake-off with the new airport scanners

Forcing the Exim bank to increase a loan to Myanmar to purchase telecomms equipment from his companies

Changing the law to 25% owner ship to prevent Telenor taking over TAC

Changing the law back to 49% prior to Temasek's takeover of AIS

Appointing his cousin as army chief

Appointing more clan members at the top of the police.

Forcing the Exim bank to increase a loan to Myanmar to purchase telecomms equipment from his companies

Forcing the revenue chief to absolve him & his family from taxes in bringing billions onshore

The above is a sample - there's more. No previous government had come close to even half of those self-serving actions.

I don't know whether it's your ignorance of his self-enrichment acts or that you're so biased that you just cannot admit to the blatantly obvious.

You continue with the dishonesty in mentioning an 'attempted coup'. There is no attempted coup only an effort to tackle the level of corruption & lack of the rule of law before another election. I'll bet you have deliberately ignored the main points that Suthep has advocated. It's so much easier (and doesn't require any thought) to attack him and the protestors

Your list is pitiful.

The corruption in this nation by unelected rulers would fill bookshelves.

Suthep is a nutsack.

All he wants is to rewrite the constitution so an electoral minority can win a parliamentary majority.

What he absolutely does not want is and end to corruption in this land.

[khunken]

Yet again a less than honest post.

No one said there was a huge spike. It's pretty obvious to anyone that transparency (corruption in other words) has been progressively going downhill since 2001.

Your attempt to defend Thaksin is laughable given the number of serious fraudulent cases outstanding that he ran away from. All you seem to propagate is that he's a victim and all the charges are demonisation - showing abject ignorance (or bias).

AS for the king admonishing Thaksin - that's been openly discussed in the Bangkok Post and Nation on numerous occasions.

The point is that Thaksin is no better and no worse than what Thailand has experienced throughout its sordid and corrupt history.

The anti democracy movement makes Thaksin out to be extraordinarily over the top when it comes to corruption when he plainly is not.

Every international rating, ranking, poll, survey, investigation or report is identical in their lack of extreme aberrations in whatever metric they're using indicating Thaksins' is guilty of a monstrous, unheard of, level of corruption.

When it comes to corruption he is the equal of those opposed to him, no more and no less.

Take away the Thaksin is super corrupt argument from the anti democrats and what have they got left to justify their actions.

Nothing.

Thailand has had 18 coups, do a little research and you will see the same two false justifications given for just about all of them.

Corruption and a threat to the monarchy.

The Thais masses aren't falling for the same claptrap again, the jig is up.

Tell me, if Thaksin is in fact equally or less corrupt than what preceded him and those who currently oppose him, what justification is their for this ongoing attempted coup.

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/thailand

As for the other bit, the admonishing, I'm not denying it occurred because it did. I am simply stating that no robust discussion or debate can take place on such a subject matter. Which is unfortunate, but it's the law, so I obey.

More attempted justification of dishonesty.

No one argues that corruption has existed prior to 2001 in Thailand. I know of quite a few instances in the 90's. But the level dramatically increased after Thaksin came into power (and allowed to get away with an assets lie by a farcical scrutiny). He surrounded himself with corrupt acolytes and just about every major project had a benefit to himself, his family and friends.

Some examples of unheard of actions before 2001:

Attempting to use taxpayers money to invest in Liverpool FC

Jumping the queue in the PTT IPO

Allowing a crony to benefit from a rake-off with the new airport scanners

Forcing the Exim bank to increase a loan to Myanmar to purchase telecomms equipment from his companies

Changing the law to 25% owner ship to prevent Telenor taking over TAC

Changing the law back to 49% prior to Temasek's takeover of AIS

Appointing his cousin as army chief

Appointing more clan members at the top of the police.

Forcing the Exim bank to increase a loan to Myanmar to purchase telecomms equipment from his companies

Forcing the revenue chief to absolve him & his family from taxes in bringing billions onshore

The above is a sample - there's more. No previous government had come close to even half of those self-serving actions.

I don't know whether it's your ignorance of his self-enrichment acts or that you're so biased that you just cannot admit to the blatantly obvious.

You continue with the dishonesty in mentioning an 'attempted coup'. There is no attempted coup only an effort to tackle the level of corruption & lack of the rule of law before another election. I'll bet you have deliberately ignored the main points that Suthep has advocated. It's so much easier (and doesn't require any thought) to attack him and the protestors

Your list is pitiful.

The corruption in this nation by unelected rulers would fill bookshelves.

Suthep is a nutsack.

All he wants is to rewrite the constitution so an electoral minority can win a parliamentary majority.

What he absolutely does not want is and end to corruption in this land.

So pitiful that you can't counteract it apart from making yet another unverified accusation.

Suthep is no angel but pales into insignificance against Thaksin, Chalerm, Samak, Plodprasop, Surapong and many others. The last sentence is a complete lie.

Your answer to Crushdepth is so off-the-wall that you yourself are what you accuse Suthep of being. Thaksin united the country? Pretty well sums up your trolling effort to prompt a reaction.

[473geo]

This has to be one of the most relevant posts regarding the current situation but the blind hatred by so many Farangs over a Thai Political issue is staggering..

Its not staggering that westerners can spot corruption, theft and low life peddlers of dictatorial rule on all sides. But when it is on the scale that these Shinawatra and Phea Thai soi dogs are applying it and with immunity above the law cause oh let me see the only requirement for democracy is to win an election then the hatred is very understandable for low life scum.

Not a very wise post Roadman, corruption is corruption, the amount people siphon off just reflects how successful they are or not!!

Besides in a country where financial compensation has been accepted as a get out of jail card, and is in many cases available through the courts....who exactly is going to push to implement the changes required to bring the full force of the law on those that can afford to stay above the law?

Shins go.... corruption sorted........what a truly bizarre concept

[HonestQuietBob]

Your list is pitiful.

The corruption in this nation by unelected rulers would fill bookshelves.

Suthep is a nutsack.

All he wants is to rewrite the constitution so an electoral minority can win a parliamentary majority.

What he absolutely does not want is and end to corruption in this land.

So pitiful that you can't counteract it apart from making yet another unverified accusation.

Suthep is no angel but pales into insignificance against Thaksin, Chalerm, Samak, Plodprasop, Surapong and many others. The last sentence is a complete lie.

Your answer to Crushdepth is so off-the-wall that you yourself are what you accuse Suthep of being. Thaksin united the country? Pretty well sums up your trolling effort to prompt a reaction.

Mate, There's a decent chance everything on your list is true and if it were all 100% true and if you multiplied by it 10,000 it would still be less than what the unelected ruling elite have cheated from the people of this country over their decades of corrupt maladministration.

When it comes to corruption, Suthep and Thaksin are twins (and that is being a little harsh on Thaksin).

Nothing supports the claim that all the Thaksinites you list are several magnitudes more corrupt than those opposed to them.

In fact all the evidence actually disproves this silly accusations.

The claim is utter, utter, utter crap.

Crap that only the most gullible, indoctrinated or mentally defective could swallow.

THERE ARE NO ANGELS IN THAI POLITICS!

(Although in my opinion Yingluck comes close, I hope her leg is healing well)

Thaksin has united more Thais under his political umbrella than any Thai since the beginning of the Constitutional Monarchy in 1932.

It is indisputable that he is the most popular politician that Thailand has ever seen.

The country has never been more united than on election day in 2005 when Thaksin had his most commanding victory.

Despite everything thrown at him, including a dubious criminal conviction and prison sentence, nothing has been able to dent his movements overwhelming popularity.

The impeachment of Yingluck has been designated as the line in the sand that the Reds will not allow the coup-mongers to cross.

When this repulsive Yellow minority do cross that line (for they are clueless fools unaware of their own unpopularity) you will then witness just how united Thailand really is.

[Baerboxer]

As with previous red shirt protests, it will be fully justified. Without them to uphold democracy the country would be run by the judges and army generals.

Maybe, maybe not, what is certain is that thanks to the Red Shirts the country has been governed by a bunch of, amoral, incompetent, thieving, lying crooks who have dragged it down to the brink of civil war. Well done Red Shirts, now go bomb someone to show them how much you love DemocracyTM.

I and the electoral majority respectfully disagree, and do so with a full knowledge of reality in this instance....

PAD-Dem self-serving rhetoric they are afraid to expose to the electorate at election time, and avoid doing in Parliament where they would be judged by the voters, speaks to its accuracy and veracity.

What electoral majority?

Your delusion continues even though many posters have pointed out that PTP didn't receive a majority of votes cast. Still nice that this large minority allows you, a farang, to speak for them. Now take your medication like a good boy.

PTP have lost a lot of support from last time, People who want change but now see what they got - a bunch of crooks run by a crooked fugitive. That simple.

Edited March 22, 2014 by Baerboxer

[khunken]

Your list is pitiful.

The corruption in this nation by unelected rulers would fill bookshelves.

Suthep is a nutsack.

All he wants is to rewrite the constitution so an electoral minority can win a parliamentary majority.

What he absolutely does not want is and end to corruption in this land.

So pitiful that you can't counteract it apart from making yet another unverified accusation.

Suthep is no angel but pales into insignificance against Thaksin, Chalerm, Samak, Plodprasop, Surapong and many others. The last sentence is a complete lie.

Your answer to Crushdepth is so off-the-wall that you yourself are what you accuse Suthep of being. Thaksin united the country? Pretty well sums up your trolling effort to prompt a reaction.

Mate, There's a decent chance everything on your list is true and if it were all 100% true and if you multiplied by it 10,000 it would still be less than what the unelected ruling elite have cheated from the people of this country over their decades of corrupt maladministration.

When it comes to corruption, Suthep and Thaksin are twins (and that is being a little harsh on Thaksin).

Nothing supports the claim that all the Thaksinites you list are several magnitudes more corrupt than those opposed to them.

In fact all the evidence actually disproves this silly accusations.

The claim is utter, utter, utter crap.

Crap that only the most gullible, indoctrinated or mentally defective could swallow.

THERE ARE NO ANGELS IN THAI POLITICS!

(Although in my opinion Yingluck comes close, I hope her leg is healing well)

Thaksin has united more Thais under his political umbrella than any Thai since the beginning of the Constitutional Monarchy in 1932.

It is indisputable that he is the most popular politician that Thailand has ever seen.

The country has never been more united than on election day in 2005 when Thaksin had his most commanding victory.

Despite everything thrown at him, including a dubious criminal conviction and prison sentence, nothing has been able to dent his movements overwhelming popularity.

The impeachment of Yingluck has been designated as the line in the sand that the Reds will not allow the coup-mongers to cross.

When this repulsive Yellow minority do cross that line (for they are clueless fools unaware of their own unpopularity) you will then witness just how united Thailand really is.

You have absolutely no grasp of Thai politics, history or current affairs. You just appear to be quoting from some sort of red 'democracy' book which forms the basis of many posters here. Anyone who can't tell the difference between paying for votes (in more ways than one) and popularity is suffering a delusion. Thaksin has divided the country like no politician before. That's the current state of affairs here and no obfuscation can disguise it. Nor can blind support.

That's enough for me tonight - you can have the last troll if you want.

[The Deerhunter]

It's becoming more and more apparent that Jatuporn, Thida, and the UDD are a spent force. After their last rally only drew 6,000 attendees, when it was touted to be 100,000 plus, and their poorly attended 'leaders' meeting (which gloried over the killing of children) it is obvious they no longer have broad support. People are disillusioned with the current government and no longer consider them as representing their interests, as evidenced by the very low turnout in Red districts for the February 2 elections. Jatuporn can shout all he wants but nobody is listening except the news media, those on the payroll, and a hand full of fanatics. All these grand pronouncements he makes and veiled threats are just so much hot air. He is like a barking soi dog; annoying but of no consequence. If it weren't for Dr. Thaksin's continued funding, this organization would have dissipated and vanished already. It only exists now to be used as a stick by Thaksin. So sad that beautiful Thailand is marred my this soi dog's incessant barking.

I agree and as I have said before.... they are espousing MILLIONS OF REDSHIRTS and can hardly get a rabble mob together now.

All talk hot air and garbage and that is why the army is not doing a coup and why the courts - non political appointees (supposedly) are looking at the law and applying it to the PTP which they cannot stand because they are as corrupt as hell.

As for all those like Fryslan Boppe and Kikomans and so forth, DEMOCRACY is acting for the people when that trust is by an election - not democracy being for a petty few who steal everything and want absolute power. That is how dictatorships and Communism played out.

And speaking of Kikoman, where is he lately? Retired, on vacation, defected or banned from TVF? He's got it all wron but he is not rude. so banned doesn';t seem likely.

[Why ask]

Only one comment about this article.

Hilarious.

[DrDweeb]

This has to be one of the most relevant posts regarding the current situation but the blind hatred by so many Farangs over a Thai Political issue is staggering..

Its not staggering that westerners can spot corruption, theft and low life peddlers of dictatorial rule on all sides. But when it is on the scale that these Shinawatra and Phea Thai soi dogs are applying it and with immunity above the law cause oh let me see the only requirement for democracy is to win an election then the hatred is very understandable for low life scum.

Not a very wise post Roadman, corruption is corruption, the amount people siphon off just reflects how successful they are or not!!

Besides in a country where financial compensation has been accepted as a get out of jail card, and is in many cases available through the courts....who exactly is going to push to implement the changes required to bring the full force of the law on those that can afford to stay above the law?

Shins go.... corruption sorted........what a truly bizarre concept

Shins go .. Shin corruption sorted ... on to the next bastard until we run out of them (a long time I admit)

[tilac2]

Whatever the arguments are, we have a corrupt moron "acting" prime minister now, who doesn't even know which box to put her own ballot in and who lies, cries and tries to pull the wool over uneducated people's eyes so that her corrupt, evil brother can come back to Thailand.

Thaksin is a coward. Can't even face the music. You do something wrong, you pay the price. What a sissy coward punk.

I think you may have missed a cliche

Yes, fab4, quite a few cliches were missed out here. A relatively poor job of cliche writing in my view. Here are some of the cliches that could have been included:

"the man from Dubai"

"the fugitive accused criminal"

"bambi"

"golf caddy"

"ear medicine" (I still don't understand that one)

"15 principles of democracy"

"Suthep, the Mandela of the East" (my personal favorite)

The good news is that at least we got "corrupt", "evil", "lies", cries". Then, "coward punk" is a new phrase, and worth applauding, I feel.

Further cliches could have been included about those who don't demonise PT and the Shinewatras. Such people are deemed to be:

new to Thailand

naiive

stupid

from Isan

drunk or on drugs

being paid by Thaksin

part of a "boiler room" pro-Thaksin writing team.

Well, my cheque hasn't arrived from Thaksin, but maybe I was too drunk or drugged to see it while I was comatose in the boiler room in Khon Kaen among the rest of my herd of newly-arrived falang buffaloes.

[473geo]

This has to be one of the most relevant posts regarding the current situation but the blind hatred by so many Farangs over a Thai Political issue is staggering..

Its not staggering that westerners can spot corruption, theft and low life peddlers of dictatorial rule on all sides. But when it is on the scale that these Shinawatra and Phea Thai soi dogs are applying it and with immunity above the law cause oh let me see the only requirement for democracy is to win an election then the hatred is very understandable for low life scum.

Not a very wise post Roadman, corruption is corruption, the amount people siphon off just reflects how successful they are or not!!

Besides in a country where financial compensation has been accepted as a get out of jail card, and is in many cases available through the courts....who exactly is going to push to implement the changes required to bring the full force of the law on those that can afford to stay above the law?

Shins go.... corruption sorted........what a truly bizarre concept

Shins go .. Shin corruption sorted ... on to the next bastard until we run out of them (a long time I admit)

If ever a statement indicated a total miscomprehension of how things are in the real world...the above is it!

[SheungWan]

1. Thailands Press Freedom Rankings

Green = Thaksin backed Administration

Red = Non Thaksin Administration

2002 - 65 (Thaksin)

2003 - 82 (Thaksin)

2004 - 59 (Thaksin)

2005 - 107 (The yellow nonsense kicked off about here)

2006 - 122 (coup admin)

2007 - 135 (coup admin)

2008 - 124 (Samak and Somchai and a lot of yellow nonsense)

2009 - 130 (Abhisit)

2010 - 153 (Abhisit)

2011 - 137 (Abhisit)

2012 - 135 (Yingluck)

Pretty clear that non-Thaksin backed administrations reduce freedom of speech to a greater extent than Thaksin backed governments.

Unelected authoritarian regimes don't like their crimes to be talked about.

(my guess is if you muzzle the media corruption is a hell of a lot more lucrative to)

If only you could get your facts straight. That would be an improvement. Otherwise people might start calling you dishonest Bob. Get your facts straight, please. This one is not coming from me, it's straight from the Deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Lt. Sunisa Lertpakawat:

Sunisa shows that the present government is proud to record that the “Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have been working hard, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Police, to bring the offenders to justice.”

Even more remarkably, Sunisa boasts that:

Yingluck’s government blocked and closed down nearly 22,000 URLs found violating the lese-majeste law, between December 7, 2011 and October 21, 2013; compared to the 2,700 closed down by former prime minister Abhisit’s administration. The number of cases reported cases has also dropped, said the deputy spokesperson.

And this is the report from 2005. So much for freedom of expression under Thaksin. He is an autocrat and a bully. Pretty much like Cambodian Hun Sen. Luckily Thais stopped him from having his way and turning the land of smiles into his personal fiefdom. He hasn't given up on his megalomaniac project though.

SEAPA says Thaksin and his friends in the business community are widely perceived in Thailand to be exerting influence on the print media, either by applying an advertising squeeze on newspapers or by directly influencing management and editorial decisions via the papers' boards.

Thailand's two leading English-language dailies - "The Nation" and the "Bangkok Post" - have been pressured to tone down their criticism of Thaksin. Changes to the executive boards of both companies in 2004 were believed to have been engineered to soften their criticism of the government.

Human Rights Watch has also voiced concerns over what it calls the "steadily eroding respect for human rights" under Thaksin's government. In a briefing paper, the IFEX member says Thailand "has gone from being a beacon of freedom and respect for human rights in the region to being a country of high concern."

Visit these links:

- SEAPA: http://www.seapabkk.org/column/2005/02/20050201.html

- Journalist Killed in Southern Thailand: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64495/

- Human Rights Watch Briefing Paper: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/13/thaila9858.htm

- The Shin Corp. Legal Case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/61047/

The final backstop for the Thaksin cheerleaders is the assertion that Thaksin is just another corrupt individual, no more and no less. Its a last play of a 'get out of jail' card. Unfortunately it is rather a weak card. If Thaksin was just about financial corruption he wouldn't be where he was now. Instead he would be just another member of the Thai establishment. What singles out Thaksin is that his aim is total state power. The corruption is his means of getting there.

[Skywalker69]

Neither do the yellows, So who is left?

Snowwhite?

[englishoak]

What do you expect ?

if people can protest cause mayhem and get elections nullified for blocking the ability to hold them then why would anyone expect people here to respect an appointed gov or coup ?

Anyone with an ounce of sense can see the we dont give a s**t what the majority or electoral process wants brigade have given the green light to anything a disenfranchised and frustrated public might do,

If you continuously try to go against the will of the voting population something serious at some point is liable to happen.

In the event SHTF here after calming things down it will be totally self inflicted and not surprising at all this is exactly where radicals or hotter heads start getting listened to.

[SheungWan]

What do you expect ?

if people can protest cause mayhem and get elections nullified for blocking the ability to hold them then why would anyone expect people here to respect an appointed gov or coup ?

Anyone with an ounce of sense can see the we dont give a s**t what the majority or electoral process wants brigade have given the green light to anything a disenfranchised and frustrated public might do,

If you continuously try to go against the will of the voting population something serious at some point is liable to happen.

In the event SHTF here after calming things down it will be totally self inflicted and not surprising at all this is exactly where radicals or hotter heads start getting listened to.

The election was just smoke and mirrors to deflect from the government's screw up on putting everything on Thakin's restoration and getting caught out. No election is going to legitimise that. However, it is not so nice to see the Red Boiler Room getting in its excuses early for blaming anyone except Jatuporn for ramping up some anticipated violence. We have been here before in 2010 and the playbook is the same. Thaksin thinks and the forum cheerleaders dance.

[englishoak]

What do you expect ?

if people can protest cause mayhem and get elections nullified for blocking the ability to hold them then why would anyone expect people here to respect an appointed gov or coup ?

Anyone with an ounce of sense can see the we dont give a s**t what the majority or electoral process wants brigade have given the green light to anything a disenfranchised and frustrated public might do,

If you continuously try to go against the will of the voting population something serious at some point is liable to happen.

In the event SHTF here after calming things down it will be totally self inflicted and not surprising at all this is exactly where radicals or hotter heads start getting listened to.

The election was just smoke and mirrors to deflect from the government's screw up on putting everything on Thakin's restoration and getting caught out. No election is going to legitimise that. However, it is not so nice to see the Red Boiler Room getting in its excuses early for blaming anyone except Jatuporn for ramping up some anticipated violence. We have been here before in 2010 and the playbook is the same. Thaksin thinks and the forum cheerleaders dance.

Sorry pal im not at all red interested or yellow, when people take things into their own hands and destroy a voting system do not be surprised when there is blowback or noise from the radicals... it just gives them a platform to work off.

Congratulations to the bananas for shredding whatever was left of a badly run but still in part until now a democratic voting system, it just gave people like Jatuporn a voice that may be listened to again. Fools.

[Skywalker69]

As with previous red shirt protests, it will be fully justified. Without them to uphold democracy the country would be run by the judges and army generals.

Abject nonsense. There is no democracy in Thailand. The current regime can be best described as kleptocracy mixed with blatant nepotism from the top to the bottom. It is so obvious that even students with learning difficulties should be able to spot it. Let alone teachers.

The moment you let any country be run by a convicted criminal via social media you automatically lose your credibility and legitimacy. In any western democracy, there is no way the electorate would allow their government to be run by a convicted criminal. The government would be gone. As simple as that.

The government wouldn't be run via social media if the PM wasn't overthrown by a military coup & subsequent judicial witch hunt.

Thaksin was a Caretaker PM on overtime.

[Skywalker69]

The Reds wouldn't know Democracy if it bit them in the arse...........hence the headline of this post..........

On the contrary, Every single Red shirt could quite easily give you 6 examples of democracy by citing their last 6 outings at elections.

An uprising against a coup and non-elected government is a pro-democracy action.

Back to school for you sunshine.

Sigh!!!

[lovetotravel]

"methinks you forgot what started these grass root protests. An attempt by the PM to ram through an amnesty bill........ Do some research."

If anyone thinks the amnesty thing was a trigger for the coup-mongers, look no further than their 'full speed ahead" reaction, even after it was withdrawn. I'm sure withdrawing of the amnesty thing dissapointed them...All of a sudden, they needed to move to other issues as cover.

First, "coup mongers" is getting old. Over used and mismused just like facist. Stop listening to the red shirt news channels. Way too biased. And yes, ignore bluesky.com also.

The amnesty bill was never killed, just not voted into law by the senate. It is very active, for another few weeks. Again, do some research.

[lovetotravel]

The Reds wouldn't know Democracy if it bit them in the arse...........hence the headline of this post..........

On the contrary, Every single Red shirt could quite easily give you 6 examples of democracy by citing their last 6 outings at elections.

An uprising against a coup and non-elected government is a pro-democracy action.

Back to school for you sunshine.

Sigh!!!

Yes, big sigh. Unfortunately, Bob is right. Most associate democracy with just voting. But it is only one small part of being a democratic nation. If voting was the only thing, then North Korea would be as decocratic as any other nation.

[Robby nz]

It's becoming more and more apparent that Jatuporn, Thida, and the UDD are a spent force. After their last rally only drew 6,000 attendees, when it was touted to be 100,000 plus, and their poorly attended 'leaders' meeting (which gloried over the killing of children) it is obvious they no longer have broad support. People are disillusioned with the current government and no longer consider them as representing their interests, as evidenced by the very low turnout in Red districts for the February 2 elections. Jatuporn can shout all he wants but nobody is listening except the news media, those on the payroll, and a hand full of fanatics. All these grand pronouncements he makes and veiled threats are just so much hot air. He is like a barking soi dog; annoying but of no consequence. If it weren't for Dr. Thaksin's continued funding, this organization would have dissipated and vanished already. It only exists now to be used as a stick by Thaksin. So sad that beautiful Thailand is marred my this soi dog's incessant barking.

Saying all of this doesn't make it true. PM Yingluck is the elected PM. If she is removed from office by something other than another election, her supporters have every right to protest. I mean, if Suthep can shut down Bkk for months, surely those who voted for the PM have the same rights, also. Respect their votes!

You seem to have forgotten one little word LAW.

Everyone including an elected PM is bound by law (the same law) and should they break that law they are answerable to the country and the people.

If a court decides on the evidence that a PM has broken the law that PM is subject to the same penalties as anyone else.

However there is also stricter criteria for someone in the position of PM as they are, or should be, a role model and have integrity and a sense of right and wrong.

A PM is not only answerable to the people through the ballot box but also during the term of office.

If they are found guilty of a crime and refuses to accept that verdict and step aside, what does that say to the country and the people ?

Answer : If you are caught doing a crime and don't like the courts verdict you can ignore it.

Should a PM not have the aforementioned 'integrity and a sense of right and wrong' and refuses to accept proven guilt then there is, and should be, ways in which they can be removed from office.

Unless you believe that democracy is only about elections and that a proven criminal should be allowed to stay on as PM until the next election.

[rametindallas]

It's becoming more and more apparent that Jatuporn, Thida, and the UDD are a spent force. After their last rally only drew 6,000 attendees, when it was touted to be 100,000 plus, and their poorly attended 'leaders' meeting (which gloried over the killing of children) it is obvious they no longer have broad support. People are disillusioned with the current government and no longer consider them as representing their interests, as evidenced by the very low turnout in Red districts for the February 2 elections. Jatuporn can shout all he wants but nobody is listening except the news media, those on the payroll, and a hand full of fanatics. All these grand pronouncements he makes and veiled threats are just so much hot air. He is like a barking soi dog; annoying but of no consequence. If it weren't for Dr. Thaksin's continued funding, this organization would have dissipated and vanished already. It only exists now to be used as a stick by Thaksin. So sad that beautiful Thailand is marred my this soi dog's incessant barking.

Saying all of this doesn't make it true. PM Yingluck is the elected PM. If she is removed from office by something other than another election, her supporters have every right to protest. I mean, if Suthep can shut down Bkk for months, surely those who voted for the PM have the same rights, also. Respect their votes!

You seem to have forgotten one little word LAW.

Everyone including an elected PM is bound by law (the same law) and should they break that law they are answerable to the country and the people.

If a court decides on the evidence that a PM has broken the law that PM is subject to the same penalties as anyone else.

However there is also stricter criteria for someone in the position of PM as they are, or should be, a role model and have integrity and a sense of right and wrong.

A PM is not only answerable to the people through the ballot box but also during the term of office.

If they are found guilty of a crime and refuses to accept that verdict and step aside, what does that say to the country and the people ?

Answer : If you are caught doing a crime and don't like the courts verdict you can ignore it.

Should a PM not have the aforementioned 'integrity and a sense of right and wrong' and refuses to accept proven guilt then there is, and should be, ways in which they can be removed from office.

Unless you believe that democracy is only about elections and that a proven criminal should be allowed to stay on as PM until the next election.

Jawnie didn't say Ms. Yingluck had the right to flout the court's decision or break any law. He said, "PM Yingluck is the elected PM. (true) If she is removed from office by something other than another election, her supporters have every right to protest" and he is correct that they have every right to protest. He also said that Ms Yingluck's supporters have the same right as Suthep to shut down Bangkok the same way as Suthep's group. I have to agree with him 100% that Yingluck's supporters have the exact same right as Suthep's supporters to protest whatever and to behave as Suthep's group. No double standards.

BTW, Jawnie did not argue even one point in my post; he just wrote that saying it doesn't make it true. Again, I have to agree with him. I agree with you also as there are three completely different arguments in this thread.

[rametindallas]

As with previous red shirt protests, it will be fully justified. Without them to uphold democracy the country would be run by the judges and army generals.

Abject nonsense. There is no democracy in Thailand. The current regime can be best described as kleptocracy mixed with blatant nepotism from the top to the bottom. It is so obvious that even students with learning difficulties should be able to spot it. Let alone teachers.

The moment you let any country be run by a convicted criminal via social media you automatically lose your credibility and legitimacy. In any western democracy, there is no way the electorate would allow their government to be run by a convicted criminal. The government would be gone. As simple as that.

The government wouldn't be run via social media if the PM wasn't overthrown by a military coup & subsequent judicial witch hunt.

Thaksin was a Caretaker PM on overtime.

He was not even caretaker PM any longer. Seven months after he dissolved Parliament and four and a half months after his crooked election was annulled due to cheating by Thai Rak Thai, for which they were dissolved and the executives were banned for five years, Dr. Thaksin still had not made any moves toward holding new elections. He had already resigned as caretaker PM (replaced by a deputy PM) and then two weeks later, and without any legal justification, retook the PM's chair. There being no higher authority to enforce the constitution, the Army stepped in and removed a pretender from power.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/07/01/thailand.timeline/index.html?iref=allsearch