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[HerIndoors]

I do so love the one eyed views of so many expats... as if you can even vote for chrissake... it's their country, they stuffed it up, let them dig their way out of this mess of their own making. Some posters here are as bad as the yellow / red divide. Grow up guys...it's all about who has power when that which cannot be mentioned happens.

Some of us have families here, with children. Isn't it normal to worry about where your children should live? I've made my decision.

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Yes, of course it is valid that you worry, I do, but at the end of the day all the hand wringing by expats won't make one iota of difference. Of course you can vent your frustrations as I do, but... we are totally powerless in this country, a country where we are treated as second class aliens reporting every 90 days. Thais are lovely people but do dopey things and this is reflected in their total lack of good governance, transparency and separation of legislative and administrative arms of government. I dare say, we expats are in a much better situation than the Thai, we probably enjoy a higher income and, importantly, we can always leave, which the Thais cannot. This is what I meant when I said that this is a mess of their own making.

I do understand where you are coming from.

[MGP]

The picture that Khaosod has chosen for the article is hilarious.

Here is a better suggestion:

Edited March 23, 2014 by MGP

[Stradavarius37]

Those of you that think that one side is going to "win" and one side "lose" haven't been paying attention....

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Bocking]

With regards to 'Press Freedom Rankings' quoted above, I couldn't say if the freedom of the press was better or worse under any administration. However, although I'd like to think that under Thaksin it was better than under a military or appointed government, I fear that the figures used above simply show what happened around the world post 9/11 and reflect the clampdown on freedom in other nations more than any change within Thailand.

The ratings pretty much doubled not in 2001 when 9/11 occurred, but in 2005/2006 when Thaksin was tossed out.

Unless you think Thailand's' media is operating on a 5 year lag to the rest of the world, you're flat out wrong.

Honest Quite Bob: ''You're flat out wrong''

Really? I'm not sure if you're displaying personal ignorance or just a blind willingness to follow the party line? Perhaps both?

Following 9/11, nobody flicked a magic switch that instantly stilted press freedom on a global basis. It was a gradual process that

affected different nations to different degrees at different times.

[Dogmatix]

This is DEAD wrong, as soon as we have an 'appointed neutral' PM just wait to see how many people come out, they havn't come out in large numbers because the elected PM hasn't been deposed yet-and they don't want to create even more problems for the embattled government. They are waiting for that redline to be crossed.

The PT has WAY more support than the democrat/pad/pdrc, THAT'S WHY THEY WN ELECTIONS IN A LANDSLIDE , previously the military in partcular bought this line that although the TRT wins elections by a landslide 'they don't have any real empassioned supporters like the pad' this is the fundamental miscalculation that brought the coup on-they thought you could just sort of sweep TRT under the rug and it would just go away, and it was exposed as a farce by 2009 and 2010 when the reds brought even more people out onto the streets than what pad did previously. The democracy supporters in this country have way more support that pad/pdrc which is a sham political organization of neo-facists.

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.

A lot of former red shirt supporters may be disillusioned by the actions of the PT government in taking the money that was meant to pay farmers and transferring it to Hong Kong instead, leaving the desperate farmers to commit suicide while they go shopping for Louis Vuitton handbags. They could even see their very own Southern red shirt leader, Nattawut, as deputy commerce minister on TV refusing to answer reporters questions about how much rice they had in stock, how much had been sold at what prices etc. That was before the protests started, so could not be blamed on the PDRC.

Perhaps they have learnt a good lesson not to trust Southerners like Jatuporn, Nattuwut, Veera and Thida in the red shirts and Chinese like Thaksin, Yingluck, Thida plus nearly all of the PT party leaders and former MPs. It is obvious that Thaksin believes the Isaan and Northern people are far too stupid and unreliable to lead themselves. His attitude is typical of Thai-Chinese businessmen who scoff at the idea of hiring Thai-Thais for any job apart from menial jobs like cleaners, security guards and drivers. "Oh, she has a short surname. She'll quit in October to go home to harvest rice (despite having the same qualifications as Thai-Chinese candidates with long made up surnames)". Ha ha." Yes, I have heard this kind of racist stuff so many times from people like him.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Dogmatix

[dickyknee]

With regards to 'Press Freedom Rankings' quoted above, I couldn't say if the freedom of the press was better or worse under any administration. However, although I'd like to think that under Thaksin it was better than under a military or appointed government, I fear that the figures used above simply show what happened around the world post 9/11 and reflect the clampdown on freedom in other nations more than any change within Thailand.

The ratings pretty much doubled not in 2001 when 9/11 occurred, but in 2005/2006 when Thaksin was tossed out.

Unless you think Thailand's' media is operating on a 5 year lag to the rest of the world, you're flat out wrong.

Honest Quite Bob: ''You're flat out wrong''

Really? I'm not sure if you're displaying personal ignorance or just a blind willingness to follow the party line? Perhaps both?

Following 9/11, nobody flicked a magic switch that instantly stilted press freedom on a global basis. It was a gradual process that

affected different nations to different degrees at different times.

I can't believe no one has picked up on the bleeding obvious, when you include the stats that got left out from bobs initial post - freedom of the press was basically the same between the Yingkuck administration and the army's coup administration.

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[Dogmatix]

In the event that Yingluck is forced to step down on malfeasance charges and the the rest of the caretaker cabinet also comes unstuck due to the unconstitutional B2.2bn borrowing bill that was clearly intended for fraudulent purposes, it will be interesting to see how Jatuporn's uprising against an appointed interim government plays out in the international media. An uprising against the judiciary and independent agencies, when the main objections are technical details like who is entitled to petition the Constitutional Court and while there has obviously been massive corruption perpetrated by PT and more was to come, will not play nearly as well as the railings against the 2006 coup did. Once the caretaker government has been dinged, the chance for the red shirts to push the military into a coup will be much less and anyway they would not be the injured party if the military ousted an unelected government and installed another unelected government.

[DirtFarmer]

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.

Agreed Law... or lack thereof ..It is no surprise to any here regardless of color, bias lack of bias that there is NO LAW here unless you are very wealthy and then everything is possible... owning judges, influencing MP's.. financing insurrection, rake offs, funding private dim shirted militia and on and on.. rice scheme dice scheme.. ( Abhiset had a rice scheme also though not on the grand scale that PTP had.....but I digress) Law here = price...from the bottom up to the top... enforcement of the law = price... from the bottom to the top... so very very hard to take a high moral ground here if one builds on grains of sand...a rush of money buys speed in expediting attacks either through the corrupt "independent" agencies... or whatever avenue you employ... period.. educating the future generations with some sort of semblance of personal integrity might get the job done in 50 years... if you look at all the Thai politicians former PM's all the intricacies of their connections and rise to power ( or shame) it is predominantly fed by keeping the masses unable to see through the veils of deception through lack of education propaganda and graft ...hush money if you will...and suppression of education...and all sides are guilty.. all of them.. again there is a much bigger play going on here...and as long as the players continue to suppress freedom of speech, through threat of defamation and/or worse and mountains of legal pressure as well as financial back room dealings.. it will not change.. the faces may change the game will not...the one other thing that is definitely changing is that more and more of the PDRC dubbed "non educated, up country folk" are getting more savvy by the minute and are learning how to use the resources of information that even the wealthiest cannot suppress,,. the truth will continue to get out...and more and more Thai people...ordinary hard working Thai people will be gaining the knowledge they need to think independently and not follow blindly like lemmings to the sea "what he said"...It will not happen overnight it will take time... and I have faith that in the end The Thai people will not need some corrupt headman telling them what is good for them...and will also be able to challenge the faux educated upper middle class urban-ites in both ability to understand and contribute to the formation and reformation of a united Thai society less controlled by greed and suppression by those who have historically had their foot on the head of those without the knowledge up to now. The internet can set them free and it will.. A lot of academics on both sides of this current squabble know this already.. some also understand that the vernacular of legalese and articulated legal, constitutional, and human rights oriented discourse is still beyond the masses...so for the time being it will be tit-for-tat.. Cat in the Hat... Mouth from the South, red this yellow that...ad nauseum.. and the historically wealthy players will do their utmost to slow the process of education and learning...in order to maintain their control over the trough...

It is absurd for us to pretend someone who may have been convicted and/or accused or this or that then and now,, should or will ever do time as westerners know it... when the whole thing goes away with a manila envelope...so the argument that this one is a criminal or not and that one is corrupt or not..is equally as specious... they are only guilty of what they cannot afford to buy out of...this is why it all comes down to personal integrity and a set of values taught at home from an early age... and I doubt that any of the players or their spawn in this current conflict are gonna be turning over any new leaves in the near future...what has to happen is...if the Thai people actually want Democracy ( the overwhelming choice of the free world) it has to start with education and true enforcement of those principles and a society that adheres to the laws it's people write and administer.... that brings a plethora of responsibility and virtue and will take decades..... but I am not convinced that those who call themselves Democratic truly are... or aspire to be...the wolf did wear sheep's clothing... but I am very sure that insurrection and polarization and trampling of people's right to express their ideas and exercise them is not in line with Democratic aspiration...not when the platform which is part and parcel of Democracy is achievable through education, political outreach, a decent and formidable manifesto that reflects the needs of the populous and includes them in the construction and rewards them with the outcomes of that effort.. you cannot expect to win anyone over by sitting in a BKK tower and pontificating navel lint as you speed dial your cronies and make back room deals... that mass of people you exclude in that MO will soon be at the door... they are learning and they are growing and they will be moving for the betterment of their families and all Thai people.....color schmuller be damned

[siampolee]

What I found extremely interesting were the comments from '' HonestQuietBob'' linking my post # 121 at 15-41 on 22-03-14 to the alleged restrictions of press freedom which was never mentioned or even suggested in that post or my later post either.

A wonderful diversionary tactic to divert the thread away from its original '' Jutuporn Red Shirts promise uprising against coup appointed P.M.''

A superb course of political disinformation action intended to actually divert posters away from the actual topic and indeed muddy the waters in an attempt to canonize Saint Shinwatra and demonize the military and all the other anti Shinwatra factions by use of grossly distorted facts and figures.

All comments it could be said were written in ''Double Dutch.'' by two lips from Amsterdam

Edited March 23, 2014 by siampolee

[MaxLee]

These hardcore redshirt busters deserve nothing else than eating the rotten rice that they indirectly voted for...

FACT...

Eat it and suffer from eternal diarrhea...

Edited March 23, 2014 by MaxLee

[Skywalker69]

"Let me just say this," he continued, "the day Thailand loses democracy, either by a military coup or the appointment of the so-called neutral Prime Minister, it would be the 'D-Day' for all Redshrits".

What does the "D" stand for, Jatuporn?

Duped.

Dumb?:-D

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Publicus]

"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.

Thx for reminding everyone about fascism, feudalism, fanaticism. (Now some brilliantly nimble yellow posters will take the three descriptives and repost them to say, yes, it's a shame about the Shinawats and the reds being all three, isn't it. A shamelessly weak tactic regularly employed.)

The breadth of commentary and analysis from democracies abroad is wide and their insights go deeply into the roots of the anti-government, anti-democracy movement. To foreign analysts of current developments in Thailand, people such as Thaksin and Jatuporn et al are pretty bad, but Suthep, Abhisit the PAD people who have moved over to the PDRC among others are positively awful, the plague.

I'd been saying the proposed, appointed "People's Council" remains anonymous and officially speaking, it does. However, I do thank those posters who have pointed out that anyone can very likely find its membership among Suthep's listing of his friends at his Facebook page.

"What is clear is that they want a transition to a fascist system."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/12/10/thailand-elections-government-politics/3950305/

"Yet Suthep and his establishment friends insist on their right, and their right alone, to rule. His crowds evoke memories of fascist bullies in other nations cowing the majority and forcing their way into power. He claims to represent the nation but has only contempt for those who do not recognize his pretensions. On election day the Black Shirts even attacked Thais seeking to vote, throwing punches as well as water bottles and other objects."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/dougbandow/2014/02/03/in-thailand-opposition-assaults-democracy-as-voters-reelect-government-yellow-shirt-protestors-act-like-mussolinis-black-shirts/2/

"Thailand’s latest poll was triggered by mobs which sought to drive Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office. Although the protestors wear yellow, they are the modern equivalent of Benito Mussolini’s Black Shirts, who seized power through the infamous 1922 march on Rome. The misnamed Democrat Party and its ally, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), led by former DP deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, then attempted to block Sunday’s vote."

http://www.conservativehq.com/article/16254-thailand-votes-opposition-yellow-shirt-protesters-threaten-democracy

"The Kingdom of Thailand, the land of the smiling people, the gorgeous countryside and a storied history as the once-upon-a-time Siam, now has a severe case of the political uglies. This constitutional democracy, anchored by a long-running monarchy, is in danger of heading down a fascist path."

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/12/24/commentary/the-tragedy-of-thailands-politics/#.UyvN9J2S1dg

The list of citations of foreign commentators or analysts who cite a developing fascism in Thailand, due to Suthep, Abhisit and the DP, among other forces and factors, gets very long.

(It's the busy time of the week for my business so I'll respond to the opposition later tonight.)

[HonestQuietBob]

What I found extremely interesting were the comments from '' HonestQuietBob'' linking my post # 121 at 15-41 on 22-03-14 to the alleged restrictions of press freedom which was never mentioned or even suggested in that post or my later post either.

A wonderful diversionary tactic to divert the thread away from its original '' Jutuporn Red Shirts promise uprising against coup appointed P.M.''

A superb course of political disinformation action intended to actually divert posters away from the actual topic and indeed muddy the waters in an attempt to canonize Saint Shinwatra and demonize the military and all the other anti Shinwatra factions by use of grossly distorted facts and figures.

All comments it could be said were written in ''Double Dutch.'' by two lips from Amsterdam

"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".

I can only assume you didn't go and re-read post #121 before clicking "add reply", otherwise you wouldn't have been so completely and laughably wrong in the above post.

Superb course of political disinformation by me or a pre-school level error by you?

I think it's pretty self evident what this is.

[HonestQuietBob]

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.

It's not a final backstop, it's a statement of fact.

It's a fact oft repeated in the hope that it may do some good and break the cult-like spell Suthep and his backers have cast over a feeble minded few.

Thaksin can only gain power through winning elections and he can also have power stripped from him by losing elections.

Those opposed him are in quite the opposite situation, they can only gain power by ignoring, sabotaging or annulling elections and can only be removed from power by the good citizens taking to the streets and giving their lives to stare down the barrels of their oppressors guns.

The only way this country is going to see the back of Thaksin is by legitimately beating him in an election.

Do that, and he's history.

Gone forever.

Keep up with all the coup nonsense and you just make him more popular and more powerful.

Yes, it seems like Thaksin is becoming more and more powerful, like if he were feeding and growing with the opposition of those who can open their eyes and see corruption, disrespect of law, tyranny, and abuse of power.

He reminds me of an evil creature in one story at the Suttas (Buddhist scriptures) about an evil bad smelling creature that takes the throne of the king, and the more the villagers fight him, the stronger he grows, feeding himself from the opposition of the people.

Fairy tales don't work on the masses anymore.

They all have iPhones.

[3NUMBAS]

quite right as they have had their votes shat on so many times they have to draw a line in the sand ,otherwise the BKK elites and corrupt puppet courts will just carry on doing the same thing time and again ,just because they can never win a fair contest .

[Mackie]

I followed the link and read the article.

Even that land destroyer goose can't make Bob look bad.

Awesome fellow, even if I do say so myself.

I wouldn't call Robert Amsterdam an awesome fellow. He is simply a lucky man. Getting handsomely paid for spreading drivel and nonsense about Thailand and Thais in general without having a clue about the country and its rich culture. I wouldn't be surprised that he was also wearing a sanitary napkin on that particular day. What a hideous character.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Mackie

[metisdead]

Posts with allegations of paid to post have been removed as well as other off topic posts and replies.

[khunsuar]

These hardcore redshirt busters deserve nothing else than eating the rotten rice that they indirectly voted for...

FACT...

Eat it and suffer from eternal diarrhea...

Well, they do. Only it's verbal, and gets posted here on the TVF.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[metisdead]

Posts intended to deflect the topic into a discussion of the rice subsidy problem have been removed as well as the replies.

[wolfmanjack]

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

I do no doubt what you say but just out of curiosity how would using lese majeste prevent someone from criticizing thaksin? He is not par tof the royal family.

I do remember that thakisn filed lawsuits against quite a few people that criticized him in print.

[Publicus]

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

I do no doubt what you say but just out of curiosity how would using lese majeste prevent someone from criticizing thaksin? He is not par tof the royal family.

I do remember that thakisn filed lawsuits against quite a few people that criticized him in print.

Yes, reading TVF lately and reading the Nation, listening to Suthep et al, witnessing the courts in action along with the military and others, to include coup lovers and advocates of purges, one can begin to gain a more clear view of it.

[MGP]

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.

It's not a final backstop, it's a statement of fact.

It's a fact oft repeated in the hope that it may do some good and break the cult-like spell Suthep and his backers have cast over a feeble minded few.

Thaksin can only gain power through winning elections and he can also have power stripped from him by losing elections.

Those opposed him are in quite the opposite situation, they can only gain power by ignoring, sabotaging or annulling elections and can only be removed from power by the good citizens taking to the streets and giving their lives to stare down the barrels of their oppressors guns.

The only way this country is going to see the back of Thaksin is by legitimately beating him in an election.

Do that, and he's history.

Gone forever.

Keep up with all the coup nonsense and you just make him more popular and more powerful.

Yes, it seems like Thaksin is becoming more and more powerful, like if he were feeding and growing with the opposition of those who can open their eyes and see corruption, disrespect of law, tyranny, and abuse of power.

He reminds me of an evil creature in one story at the Suttas (Buddhist scriptures) about an evil bad smelling creature that takes the throne of the king, and the more the villagers fight him, the stronger he grows, feeding himself from the opposition of the people.

Fairy tales don't work on the masses anymore.

They all have iPhones.

Seriously? And what does it means to have an iPhone?

Your master, Thaksin Shinawatra, may have an iPhone but he is one of the most ridiculously superstitious tycoons on this planet.

Describing his irrational behavior, or the visits to sorcerers and khemer voodoo gurus to perform rituals and Black Magic could fill thousands of pages. Not to mention his business with the Dhammakaya Cult.

Some of his most notorious freaky moments, that called the attention of the international newspapers, were the ordering to the Red Shirts to spill their own blood in front of the Government House and the house of Abhisit to perform a Voodoo Black Magic ceremony, and digging Magic Crystal Balls and golden elephants at the Manchester Stadium.

Just google ‘Thaksin Shinawatra black magic voodoo blood”.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1278403/Manchester-City-ball-digging-Thaksin-Shinawatras-magic-crystals.html

http://ce399esoterica.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/black-magic-politics-bangkok-post-16309/

Those people are nuts! and they have iPhones.

Amsterdam & Peroff should review the mental sanity of its customers

Edited March 23, 2014 by MGP

[MGP]

Reading between the lines, this is showing that there is people that feel smarter, rational, superior, powerful, modern, members of an elite, kings of vanity, or any other unsubstantial and void illusion just because they own and iPhone, drive an Audi, wear a Rolex, etc.

Where is humanity going?

[MGP]

Jatuporn has recently said, in his capacity of supreme leader of the Red Shirts, that all the future PMs of Thailand should be Shinawatra.

Pure North Korea Style!

Not yet reflected on the English speaking media. They may be overwhelmed with all that verbal diarrhea coming from so many mouths.

[ZuluTango70]

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

I do no doubt what you say but just out of curiosity how would using lese majeste prevent someone from criticizing thaksin? He is not par tof the royal family.

I do remember that thakisn filed lawsuits against quite a few people that criticized him in print.

Yes, reading TVF lately and reading the Nation, listening to Suthep et al, witnessing the courts in action along with the military and others, to include coup lovers and advocates of purges, one can begin to gain a more clear view of it.

For someone with a name of Publicus and Statue of Liberty Avatar, you sure know how democracy works well. If you are an American your forefathers who fought the British for independence would be tossing in their graves for every word you said.

TS and his faithful accepted the court rulings in 2001 and 2006 when it was in his favour. Now they bitch and moan and slander the courts of having double standards when they don't get their way.

Supreme Court in the US, Federal Court in Australia and I am sure lots of highest courts in other democracies handed down decisions that were against ruling governments but these governments didn't go around slandering the courts as biased.

People like you surely deserves to live in TS's lala land to actually see what life would be like under him.

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[Publicus]

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.

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I do no doubt what you say but just out of curiosity how would using lese majeste prevent someone from criticizing thaksin? He is not par tof the royal family.

I do remember that thakisn filed lawsuits against quite a few people that criticized him in print.

Yes, reading TVF lately and reading the Nation, listening to Suthep et al, witnessing the courts in action along with the military and others, to include coup lovers and advocates of purges, one can begin to gain a more clear view of it.

For someone with a name of Publicus and Statue of Liberty Avatar, you sure know how democracy works well. If you are an American your forefathers who fought the British for independence would be tossing in their graves for every word you said.

TS and his faithful accepted the court rulings in 2001 and 2006 when it was in his favour. Now they bitch and moan and slander the courts of having double standards when they don't get their way.

Supreme Court in the US, Federal Court in Australia and I am sure lots of highest courts in other democracies handed down decisions that were against ruling governments but these governments didn't go around slandering the courts as biased.

People like you surely deserves to live in TS's lala land to actually see what life would be like under him.

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The Constitution Court in 2008 dismissed from government the People's Power Party PM Samak who consequently did honor and respect the CC by immediately vacating the office. Samak retained his MP status, which had been unaffected by the Constitution Court decision, but silently vacated the office of prime minister, as ordered by the Constitution Court.

Again in 2008, the Constitutional Court dissolved the People's Power Party which honored and respected the CC's ruling, thus being abolished from the political landscape by the CC ruling.

Simultaneously in 2008, the Constitutional Court thus dismissed the People's Power Party led coalition government which consequently honored and respected the Constitution Court decision by immediately vacating their offices of government.

The Constitution Court in 2008 thus conducted a radical cancelling of the election outcome and completely dissolved the parliamentary coalition government.

Indeed, the elected coalition government of the People's Power Party quietly and respectfully obeyed the Constitution Court by vacating its offices of government. The party that received the plurality of votes, the PPP, and the coalition government it had formed in the parliament, disappeared, quietly and respectfully, thus honoring and obeying the ruling of the Constitutional Court. (Yeah, some vocal complaining was of course done, but the party and the government honored and respected the Constitution Court decision.)

So in 2008 the orders of the Constitutional Court were honored and obeyed by the PPP and by its coalition in government.

I know reality is a strange place for you to be, but welcome to it anyway and try to make yourself at home with it.

You might begin by comparing and contrasting the quiet and respectful compliance of the Constitution Court by the TRT, the PPP, and presently by the PTP to the rabble of the Democrat Party of Abhisit, Suthep, and their pals of the PCAD and its predecessor anarchist organization the PAD, as noted by distinguished publications and commentators, most of which are from established democratic societies..

**********************************

"It’s just that when it comes to Thai democracy, the ironically named Democrat Party is among the worst practitioners.

"The Democrat Party last won a majority in 1992. Its power base is the Bangkok bourgeoisie, described as “timid, selfish, uncultured, consumerist and without any decent vision of the future of the country” by Cornell University Professor Benedict Anderson. As such, the party finds no support among the rural poor of the nation’s northeast — which is Red Shirt territory — and flounders at the ballot box. But instead of developing manifestos and platforms that could compete for rural votes, the party alienates the heartland electorate further by petulantly calling upon powerful allies — such as the military or judiciary — to undermine its rival."

http://world.time.co...ously-misnamed/

"Critics have said the group's name appears to be a misnomer as its opposition to the results of three elections show it is neither populist nor does it want representative democracy.

"Instead, the PAD advocate scrapping the one-man-one-vote system in Thailand, and say only 30 per cent of parliament's members should be directly elected by the people. The remaining 70 per cent should be chosen from various occupations and professions and be appointed, they say."

http://www.aljazeera...2059385189.html

"At the Democracy Monument, in Bangkok’s historic district, tens of thousands of protesters gather nightly to speak of their skepticism of the notion of one person, one vote."

http://www.nytimes.c...gewanted=2&_r=0

"One-person, one-vote democracy may or may not be the best of all possible systems; but it is the one indicated by the Thai Constitution, and the one deserving the respect and support of all decent Thais.

"But the many thousands of angry protesters in Bangkok, the capital city where the anti-government movement is boiling, are not marching for democracy but, in effect, for an end to it.

"They would thus end the system of universal suffrage in place since 1933 and substitute an elitist, authoritarian system."

http://www.japantime...s/#.UyvpoJ2S1dg

[MGP]

Publicus, you can write hundreds of papers about the technicalities regarding the legality and appropriateness of how the governments are usually overthrown or dissolved in this country but, would you mind to spare a thought about their rampant corruption, abuse of power, and disrespect of law?.

People with good will and optimism is expecting that something better will come from all this mess, in the form of stronger anti-corruption laws, better implementation of justice, more transparency, and better checks and balances system; pessimists are expecting nothing but a catastrophe; and Thaksin’s lovers are expecting to kiss the ass of his master again, and to get rid of the “elite” to become themselves the one and only elite in the country (North Korea Style).

[Publicus]

Publicus, you can write hundreds of papers about the technicalities regarding the legality and appropriateness of how the governments are usually overthrown or dissolved in this country but, would you mind to spare a thought about their rampant corruption, abuse of power, and disrespect of law?.

People with good will and optimism is expecting that something better will come from all this mess, in the form of stronger anti-corruption laws, better implementation of justice, more transparency, and better checks and balances system; pessimists are expecting nothing but a catastrophe; and Thaksin’s lovers are expecting to kiss the ass of his master again, and to get rid of the “elite” to become themselves the one and only elite in the country (North Korea Style).

North Korea, eh?

Yeah, I really want to listen to you.

[MGP]

Publicus, you can write hundreds of papers about the technicalities regarding the legality and appropriateness of how the governments are usually overthrown or dissolved in this country but, would you mind to spare a thought about their rampant corruption, abuse of power, and disrespect of law?.

People with good will and optimism is expecting that something better will come from all this mess, in the form of stronger anti-corruption laws, better implementation of justice, more transparency, and better checks and balances system; pessimists are expecting nothing but a catastrophe; and Thaksin’s lovers are expecting to kiss the ass of his master again, and to get rid of the “elite” to become themselves the one and only elite in the country (North Korea Style).

North Korea, eh?

Yeah, I really want to listen to you.

North Korea Style, yes. Not Gangnam Style

And Dennis Rodman will play for Thailand. Sorry... I mean, for the "Lanna Republic of North Thailand Under the Command of the Supreme Dear Leader Thaksin I:

Edited March 26, 2014 by MGP

[Publicus]

Publicus, you can write hundreds of papers about the technicalities regarding the legality and appropriateness of how the governments are usually overthrown or dissolved in this country but, would you mind to spare a thought about their rampant corruption, abuse of power, and disrespect of law?.

People with good will and optimism is expecting that something better will come from all this mess, in the form of stronger anti-corruption laws, better implementation of justice, more transparency, and better checks and balances system; pessimists are expecting nothing but a catastrophe; and Thaksin’s lovers are expecting to kiss the ass of his master again, and to get rid of the “elite” to become themselves the one and only elite in the country (North Korea Style).

North Korea, eh?

Yeah, I really want to listen to you.

North Korea Style, yes. Not Gangnam Style

And Dennis Rodman will play for Thailand. Sorry... I mean, for the "Lanna Republic of North Thailand Under the Command of the Supreme Dear Leader Thaksin I:

Don't stop now.

This is better than Jon Stewart.