TRT Targeted For Dissolution

hammered · April 3, 2007

THAILAND: Anti-coup rallies upset Prem backers
PTV's backers deny involvement in move to oust Privy Council head Gen Prem from office

Supporters of Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the anti-coup rallies led by PTV executives who criticised the Privy Council president for his alleged involvement in politics. The group was outraged by a reported attempt by Gen Prem's opponents to gather 100,000 signatures to support a petition to His Majesty the King to remove the general from his job as president of the Privy Council, alleging he was behind the Sept 19 coup.

Songkhla Mayor Uthit Choochuai, also a leader of Gen Prem's supporters in the province, said Songkhla locals would not stand idly by and allow such a move by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The group is due to meet today to discuss what action it should take to counter the moves against Gen Prem, who was born in the southern province. However, Mr Uthit said they would not opt for any measures that would throw the country into deeper chaos.

Gen Prem's supporters in Songkhla province have put up posters in central Muang district and Hat Yai towns, with messages condemning the anti-coup protesters and expressing support for Gen Prem.

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) chairman Meechai Ruchuphan warned that petitioning His Majesty to dismiss a privy councillor could be an infringement of the royal authority.

He said appointing privy councillors was an issue of royal preference and the positions were not political in nature that others could comment or offer their opinion on.

Such decisions and other affairs in the palace were the King's private business, Mr Meechai said.

He said it was inappropriate for protesters at the PTV-led rallies to drag Gen Prem into their political conflicts.

PTV deputy chairman Chatuporn Prompan denied his group was involved in the move to oust Gen Prem. The move was an initiative of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group which joined the PTV rally on Friday, he said.

However, Sudchai Boonchai, leader of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group, said the campaign to push for the removal of Gen Prem was a joint effort of several anti-coup groups.

Mr Sudchai vowed to continue with the controversial campaign despite the strong opposition from Gen Prem's supporters and some royalists. He claimed that "a large number" of people had joined the signature campaign, which was officially launched on Friday during the PTV-led rally at City Hall.

Mr Chatuporn said PTV will not join the other 12 anti-coup groups planning to rally on April 5 and 11. PTV will hold a separate rally before the long Songkran holiday (April 13-15) and another protest after the festival, he said.

- Asia Media

Reading between the lines it seems that PTV do not want to rule out negotiation with the current regime. As PTV includes some politicians that would no doubt like to remain active this is no surprise. It will be interesting to see if apart from denying they are involved which may seem tenuous to much of the public, they will go as far as stating they do not agree with attacks on the head of the privvy council, a statement which would go a long away to prove their distance from the other fringe TRT lunatic groups. We will see. The other front TRT organizations may not care about negotiations, national reconciliation or roles in upcoming elections.

John K · April 3, 2007

Hammered, are you suggesting that the former TRT members now PTV are trying to cut a deal, or perhaps influence things with the media and public opinion?

If or should I say when the TRT is dissolved, what limitations will they have in talking about politics on PTV? I don’t think any laws have addressed that yet, but I could be wrong.

blaze · April 3, 2007

THAILAND: Anti-coup rallies upset Prem backers
PTV's backers deny involvement in move to oust Privy Council head Gen Prem from office

Supporters of Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the anti-coup rallies led by PTV executives who criticised the Privy Council president for his alleged involvement in politics. The group was outraged by a reported attempt by Gen Prem's opponents to gather 100,000 signatures to support a petition to His Majesty the King to remove the general from his job as president of the Privy Council, alleging he was behind the Sept 19 coup.

Songkhla Mayor Uthit Choochuai, also a leader of Gen Prem's supporters in the province, said Songkhla locals would not stand idly by and allow such a move by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The group is due to meet today to discuss what action it should take to counter the moves against Gen Prem, who was born in the southern province. However, Mr Uthit said they would not opt for any measures that would throw the country into deeper chaos.

Gen Prem's supporters in Songkhla province have put up posters in central Muang district and Hat Yai towns, with messages condemning the anti-coup protesters and expressing support for Gen Prem.

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) chairman Meechai Ruchuphan warned that petitioning His Majesty to dismiss a privy councillor could be an infringement of the royal authority.

He said appointing privy councillors was an issue of royal preference and the positions were not political in nature that others could comment or offer their opinion on.

Such decisions and other affairs in the palace were the King's private business, Mr Meechai said.

He said it was inappropriate for protesters at the PTV-led rallies to drag Gen Prem into their political conflicts.

PTV deputy chairman Chatuporn Prompan denied his group was involved in the move to oust Gen Prem. The move was an initiative of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group which joined the PTV rally on Friday, he said.

However, Sudchai Boonchai, leader of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group, said the campaign to push for the removal of Gen Prem was a joint effort of several anti-coup groups.

Mr Sudchai vowed to continue with the controversial campaign despite the strong opposition from Gen Prem's supporters and some royalists. He claimed that "a large number" of people had joined the signature campaign, which was officially launched on Friday during the PTV-led rally at City Hall.

Mr Chatuporn said PTV will not join the other 12 anti-coup groups planning to rally on April 5 and 11. PTV will hold a separate rally before the long Songkran holiday (April 13-15) and another protest after the festival, he said.

- Asia Media

Reading between the lines it seems that PTV do not want to rule out negotiation with the current regime. As PTV includes some politicians that would no doubt like to remain active this is no surprise. It will be interesting to see if apart from denying they are involved which may seem tenuous to much of the public, they will go as far as stating they do not agree with attacks on the head of the privvy council, a statement which would go a long away to prove their distance from the other fringe TRT lunatic groups. We will see. The other front TRT organizations may not care about negotiations, national reconciliation or roles in upcoming elections.

Are there any organizations currently demonstrating against the junta that are not front organizations for the TRT?

Plus · April 3, 2007

Who knows what have actually happened at the last PTV rally? Now PTV tries to distance themselves from signature campaign yet a few thousand people have already signed up. How many of them were PTV supporters? How many of them regret doing that now? Did Jatuporn agreed with the idea initially only to retreat on the second thought and sue everyone for a gazillion if they mention his name in public.

They publicised their rallies for weeks, then when shit happened they claim total innocence and deny all responsibility. For average Somchai PTV and petition to the King to sack his Privy Council president are one and the same now. I don't know if PTV's damage control will do them any good.

I think now it's too late.

hammered · April 3, 2007

THAILAND: Anti-coup rallies upset Prem backers
PTV's backers deny involvement in move to oust Privy Council head Gen Prem from office

Supporters of Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the anti-coup rallies led by PTV executives who criticised the Privy Council president for his alleged involvement in politics. The group was outraged by a reported attempt by Gen Prem's opponents to gather 100,000 signatures to support a petition to His Majesty the King to remove the general from his job as president of the Privy Council, alleging he was behind the Sept 19 coup.

Songkhla Mayor Uthit Choochuai, also a leader of Gen Prem's supporters in the province, said Songkhla locals would not stand idly by and allow such a move by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The group is due to meet today to discuss what action it should take to counter the moves against Gen Prem, who was born in the southern province. However, Mr Uthit said they would not opt for any measures that would throw the country into deeper chaos.

Gen Prem's supporters in Songkhla province have put up posters in central Muang district and Hat Yai towns, with messages condemning the anti-coup protesters and expressing support for Gen Prem.

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) chairman Meechai Ruchuphan warned that petitioning His Majesty to dismiss a privy councillor could be an infringement of the royal authority.

He said appointing privy councillors was an issue of royal preference and the positions were not political in nature that others could comment or offer their opinion on.

Such decisions and other affairs in the palace were the King's private business, Mr Meechai said.

He said it was inappropriate for protesters at the PTV-led rallies to drag Gen Prem into their political conflicts.

PTV deputy chairman Chatuporn Prompan denied his group was involved in the move to oust Gen Prem. The move was an initiative of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group which joined the PTV rally on Friday, he said.

However, Sudchai Boonchai, leader of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group, said the campaign to push for the removal of Gen Prem was a joint effort of several anti-coup groups.

Mr Sudchai vowed to continue with the controversial campaign despite the strong opposition from Gen Prem's supporters and some royalists. He claimed that "a large number" of people had joined the signature campaign, which was officially launched on Friday during the PTV-led rally at City Hall.

Mr Chatuporn said PTV will not join the other 12 anti-coup groups planning to rally on April 5 and 11. PTV will hold a separate rally before the long Songkran holiday (April 13-15) and another protest after the festival, he said.

- Asia Media

Reading between the lines it seems that PTV do not want to rule out negotiation with the current regime. As PTV includes some politicians that would no doubt like to remain active this is no surprise. It will be interesting to see if apart from denying they are involved which may seem tenuous to much of the public, they will go as far as stating they do not agree with attacks on the head of the privvy council, a statement which would go a long away to prove their distance from the other fringe TRT lunatic groups. We will see. The other front TRT organizations may not care about negotiations, national reconciliation or roles in upcoming elections.

Are there any organizations currently demonstrating against the junta that are not front organizations for the TRT?

Yes there are organizations that are not TRT fronts but we are not talking about those who opposed Thaksin and the Junta. We are talking about a TRT front rally that has landed the various groupings in a bad position. This is particularly true of PTV who organised the rally where the signature campaign took off from even if theoretically they were not the initiating group.

John K · April 3, 2007

Blaze, I don’t know but certainly that is a very good question.

Plus, I agree it may be too late for the people that signed, and although many put a fictitious ID number (according to SJ post), the police may be walking in the crowd at the next rally looking to match correct numbers with names. My guess would be if news of that got out prior to the rally, there would be about 2000 less sheep there.

That also would suggest the involvement of Thaksin is being handicapped because of not real time involvement.

Knowing Thaksin’s nature not to be at the hot spot, I would think that at the exact time of the rally he would be in a public place like a restaurant, mall or something similar so he could say he was not involved.

hammered · April 3, 2007

Hammered, are you suggesting that the former TRT members now PTV are trying to cut a deal, or perhaps influence things with the media and public opinion?
If or should I say when the TRT is dissolved, what limitations will they have in talking about politics on PTV? I don’t think any laws have addressed that yet, but I could be wrong.

John. I am suggesting that there are ex-TRT politicians that would like to cut a deal with the current government if the terms are not too harsh for them. I would actually guess that fron PTVs changing stance on what happened that there is even disagreement between those in PTV. If PTV directly admits being linked to teh signature campaign the politicos in PTV are finished at least in the short term. If they can squirm out of direct connection there is still an opportunity for soem of those involved to do a deal and have their politcal careers up and running again fairly quickly albeit maybe for a new master. It comes down to was PTV set up as a bargaining tool or was it set up as a pure attack dog. Only those inside can truly answer that, but I would guess there are different motives for different founders.

blaze · April 3, 2007

THAILAND: Anti-coup rallies upset Prem backers
PTV's backers deny involvement in move to oust Privy Council head Gen Prem from office

Supporters of Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the anti-coup rallies led by PTV executives who criticised the Privy Council president for his alleged involvement in politics. The group was outraged by a reported attempt by Gen Prem's opponents to gather 100,000 signatures to support a petition to His Majesty the King to remove the general from his job as president of the Privy Council, alleging he was behind the Sept 19 coup.

Songkhla Mayor Uthit Choochuai, also a leader of Gen Prem's supporters in the province, said Songkhla locals would not stand idly by and allow such a move by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The group is due to meet today to discuss what action it should take to counter the moves against Gen Prem, who was born in the southern province. However, Mr Uthit said they would not opt for any measures that would throw the country into deeper chaos.

Gen Prem's supporters in Songkhla province have put up posters in central Muang district and Hat Yai towns, with messages condemning the anti-coup protesters and expressing support for Gen Prem.

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) chairman Meechai Ruchuphan warned that petitioning His Majesty to dismiss a privy councillor could be an infringement of the royal authority.

He said appointing privy councillors was an issue of royal preference and the positions were not political in nature that others could comment or offer their opinion on.

Such decisions and other affairs in the palace were the King's private business, Mr Meechai said.

He said it was inappropriate for protesters at the PTV-led rallies to drag Gen Prem into their political conflicts.

PTV deputy chairman Chatuporn Prompan denied his group was involved in the move to oust Gen Prem. The move was an initiative of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group which joined the PTV rally on Friday, he said.

However, Sudchai Boonchai, leader of the Saturday Voice anti-coup group, said the campaign to push for the removal of Gen Prem was a joint effort of several anti-coup groups.

Mr Sudchai vowed to continue with the controversial campaign despite the strong opposition from Gen Prem's supporters and some royalists. He claimed that "a large number" of people had joined the signature campaign, which was officially launched on Friday during the PTV-led rally at City Hall.

Mr Chatuporn said PTV will not join the other 12 anti-coup groups planning to rally on April 5 and 11. PTV will hold a separate rally before the long Songkran holiday (April 13-15) and another protest after the festival, he said.

- Asia Media

Reading between the lines it seems that PTV do not want to rule out negotiation with the current regime. As PTV includes some politicians that would no doubt like to remain active this is no surprise. It will be interesting to see if apart from denying they are involved which may seem tenuous to much of the public, they will go as far as stating they do not agree with attacks on the head of the privvy council, a statement which would go a long away to prove their distance from the other fringe TRT lunatic groups. We will see. The other front TRT organizations may not care about negotiations, national reconciliation or roles in upcoming elections.

Are there any organizations currently demonstrating against the junta that are not front organizations for the TRT?

Yes there are organizations that are not TRT fronts but we are not talking about those who opposed Thaksin and the Junta. We are talking about a TRT front rally that has landed the various groupings in a bad position. This is particularly true of PTV who organised the rally where the signature campaign took off from even if theoretically they were not the initiating group.

I'm not really sure I understand what you are saying, but isn't it the case that one or more of the opportunist groups have landed the PTV in a bad position (unless the signature drive was organized by the PTV)? What is the relationship of the Saturday Voice to TRT and/or Thaksin?

Edited April 3, 2007 by blaze

Plus · April 3, 2007

TRT has officially distanced itself from PTV and TRT leader Chaturon is less than happy PTV is percieved as "his" party's front end. He gave a rather angry interview on the matter.

Perhaps he wasn't in those pictures of Thaksin and Veera in China.

blaze · April 3, 2007

TRT has officially distanced itself from PTV and TRT leader Chaturon is less than happy PTV is percieved as "his" party's front end. He gave a rather angry interview on the matter.
Perhaps he wasn't in those pictures of Thaksin and Veera in China.

OK- let's try this: what is the relationship between Saturday Voice and the PTV people? (aside, right now, from being at each others throats).

hammered · April 3, 2007

TRT has officially distanced itself from PTV and TRT leader Chaturon is less than happy PTV is percieved as "his" party's front end. He gave a rather angry interview on the matter.
Perhaps he wasn't in those pictures of Thaksin and Veera in China.

OK- let's try this: what is the relationship between Saturday Voice and the PTV people? (aside, right now, from being at each others throats).

PTV organized the demos of the last two weeks. At the first demo PTV speakers claimed that Gen. Prem was behind the coup. At the second demo the Saturday Voice umbrella group called for the signature campaign against Gen. Prem for being behind the coup. There are conflicting reports to whether PTV speakers backed it directly or not at the second demo, but they were the organizers of the rally where the campaign was launched, and l;ike the PAD before them have to take responsibility for what happens at their events. Both PTV, the Saturday Voice and TRT all make exactly the same public demands. Both PTV and the Saturday Voice include (ex) TRT politicians. Did those politcos leave for reasons of convenience or because of a difference of opinion. That everyone can judge for themself. At any time TRT and PTV can vigorously condemn the campaign against Gen. Prem and end all the speculation. To date they choose not to. We should probably not forget that the first atatcks on Gen. Prem came from the previous head of the TRT while they were still governing the country.

sriracha john · April 3, 2007

Blaze, I don’t know but certainly that is a very good question.
Plus, I agree it may be too late for the people that signed, and although many put a fictitious ID number (according to SJ post), the police may be walking in the crowd at the next rally looking to match correct numbers with names. My guess would be if news of that got out prior to the rally, there would be about 2000 less sheep there.

That also would suggest the involvement of Thaksin is being handicapped because of not real time involvement.

Knowing Thaksin’s nature not to be at the hot spot, I would think that at the exact time of the rally he would be in a public place like a restaurant, mall or something similar so he could say he was not involved.

The petition made it even easier for the sheep-hunting as it recorded and published their name, Thai ID card number and the ISP address they logged in through to sign the petition...

sriracha john · April 3, 2007

Not surprisingly.... the sheep-hunting has begun and rightfully so, IMHO:

CNS to take action against Prem's critics

The Council for National Security is to order police to take legal action against anti-coup protesters who planned to gather 100,000 signature calling for the removal of Prem Tinsulanonda as president of the Privy Council.

According to CNS spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, such move is considered inappropriate as the post can be appointed by HM the King, thus doing so means challenging his authority.

Col Sansarn said the CNS has assigned the Royal Thai Police to take care of the issue. He also called on the protesters to end the act.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=117854

John K · April 3, 2007

I can clearly visualize 2000 people right now hitting their forehead with their open palm say “Oh what an idiot I am” followed immediately with the desire to flee.

Just another dance with the devil.

blaze · April 3, 2007

I can clearly visualize 2000 people right now hitting their forehead with their open palm say “Oh what an idiot I am” followed immediately with the desire to flee.
Just another dance with the devil.

If the coup was such a noble and heroic action as many believe, saving the nation from certain calamity- why wouldn't supporters of Prem want his name associated with it?

John K · April 3, 2007

I can clearly visualize 2000 people right now hitting their forehead with their open palm say “Oh what an idiot I am” followed immediately with the desire to flee.
Just another dance with the devil.

If the coup was such a noble and heroic action as many believe, saving the nation from certain calamity- why wouldn't supporters of Prem want his name associated with it?

I am not talking about the supporters, I am talking about the people who signed the petition that triggered post #443, that may have challenged the authority of HRH. It does not matter what side of the fence they stand on when it comes to that.

John K · April 3, 2007

TRT refutes charges of meetings to plan election fraud

Details of alleged meetings to plan election fraud in last April's poll are incorrect, according to a former Thai Rak Thai government minister and the party's current party acting secretary-general.

Pongsak Ruktapongpisal told the Constitution Tribunal yesterday earlier testimony of alleged meetings contained errors of fact.

He said witnesses accusing the Thai Rak Thai of electoral fraud must never have been to party headquarters as claimed.

The tribunal was in its 12th day of evidence against Thai Rak Thai for allegedly employing small political parties to run against it in the April 2 election last year.

The allegations assert Thai Rak Thai did so to ensure its candidates need not accumulate a minimum requirement of 20 per cent of the vote in constituencies where candidates ran unopposed.

Pongsak disputed earlier testimony from witnesses who said they had attended the party headquarters. He said they incorrectly positioned the office of former defence minister Thamarak Isarangura on the fourth floor of the building. It is on the third, he told the tribunal.

He said their descriptions of his own fourth-floor office were wrong, too. His room is just four metres by five metres and too small to host a large meeting.

In addition, Pongsak told the tribunal he had left the party by the time the alleged meetings with himself and Thamarak took place.

Pattana Chart Thai Party coordinator Chawakarn Tosawat has already told the tribunal his group was approached by Thai Rak Thai executives to hire candidates to represent small parties.

Chawakarn testified his group met Thamarak at his party headquarters on March 2 last year. Pongsak was present to assist in payment negotiations. Chawakarn and the group visited Thamarak at the Defence Ministry the following day to receive the money, he has told the hearing.

Defence Ministry chief-of-staff at the time General Trairong Intaratat told the tribunal yesterday this was not possible. Thamarak was busy with other meetings that day and there was no appointment for him with Chawakarn and his colleagues.

Trairong denied any payments were made to or meetings held with members of the Thai Ground Party, another organisation alleged to have been employed by the Thai Rak Thai.

He said he was with his family on Saturday, March 4, another day in question, and at the Royal Turf Club the day after that.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation

sriracha john · April 4, 2007

Anti-Prem campaign fears

The Council for National Security has expressed fears the signature campaign against General Prem Tinsulanonda could spiral out of control and offend the monarchy.

The CNS called for an unconditional halt to the campaign to oust the Privy Council president, as it could be construed as dictating to His Majesty the King regarding the appointment or removal of royal advisers.

Following yesterday's weekly meeting, the CNS asked relevant agencies to curtail the campaign, he said. If allowed to continue, the campaign would likely lead to the involvement of the monarchy in politics.

The CNS was fully responsible for the coup, and critics should take it to task if deemed necessary instead of trying to smear such a revered institution, he said.

- The Nation

hammered · April 4, 2007

It is interesting to watch those TRT cadres who go on about you cannot say PTV and TRT are the same without total proof and who say you cannot say Saturday Voice and PTV are the same without irrefutable proof and who say you cannot speculate on who is funding all the said groups, but who are quite willing to name Gen. Prem as the man behind the coup without one shred of evidence, and who expect to not face any form of censure for their allegation without evidence. Hypocrisy is a difficult word to spell.

John K · April 4, 2007

It is interesting to watch those TRT cadres who go on about you cannot say PTV and TRT are the same without total proof and who say you cannot say Saturday Voice and PTV are the same without irrefutable proof and who say you cannot speculate on who is funding all the said groups, but who are quite willing to name Gen. Prem as the man behind the coup without one shred of evidence, and who expect to not face any form of censure for their allegation without evidence. Hypocrisy is a difficult word to spell.

Sounds like the TRT to me, the laws don’t apply to them, arrogance, self centered. Oh have a stumbled across a piece of signature evidence?

blaze · April 4, 2007

It is interesting to watch those TRT cadres who go on about you cannot say PTV and TRT are the same without total proof and who say you cannot say Saturday Voice and PTV are the same without irrefutable proof and who say you cannot speculate on who is funding all the said groups, but who are quite willing to name Gen. Prem as the man behind the coup without one shred of evidence, and who expect to not face any form of censure for their allegation without evidence. Hypocrisy is a difficult word to spell.

True enough Hammered. Re the PTV/TRT/Saturday Voice people- certainly most people would acknowledge that PTV and TRT are pretty much the same. Saturday Voice? I don't know- do you? I find it hard to believe that there are NO groups in this country who oppose(d) TRT/Thaksin and ALSO oppose the type of government that is currently in place.

However there is a difference between supporting some of the same goals as another group- and being funded by that other group. One doesn't follow the other (as anybody who has ever participated in demonstrations knows).

Some reports state that Saturday Voice accuses Prem of 'masterminding the putsch" others, of his being 'unduly involved in politics'. What is the actual translation of their accusation? Certainly, if they accuse him of masterminding the coup- that's a lot more serious than saying he has inappropriately involved himself in politics. And I would agree with you- proof needs to be provided.

If on the other hand, the accusation is only that he encouraged the coup or even was unduly involved in politics- well the following statement tends to support that-

'Individuals who have no ethics and morals are bad people who are full of greed ... But if they have acquired wealth through illegal or unethical means, they no longer deserve to be in this country...We soldiers belong to the country and to the king.'

Does that constitute inolvement in state poltics? I would certainly say so. Is it inappropriate- now that I don't know because I don't know what the limits are for privy councillors regarding public statements.

hammered · April 4, 2007

It is interesting to watch those TRT cadres who go on about you cannot say PTV and TRT are the same without total proof and who say you cannot say Saturday Voice and PTV are the same without irrefutable proof and who say you cannot speculate on who is funding all the said groups, but who are quite willing to name Gen. Prem as the man behind the coup without one shred of evidence, and who expect to not face any form of censure for their allegation without evidence. Hypocrisy is a difficult word to spell.

True enough Hammered. Re the PTV/TRT/Saturday Voice people- certainly most people would acknowledge that PTV and TRT are pretty much the same. Saturday Voice? I don't know- do you? I find it hard to believe that there are NO groups in this country who oppose(d) TRT/Thaksin and ALSO oppose the type of government that is currently in place.

However there is a difference between supporting some of the same goals as another group- and being funded by that other group. One doesn't follow the other (as anybody who has ever participated in demonstrations knows).

Some reports state that Saturday Voice accuses Prem of 'masterminding the putsch" others, of his being 'unduly involved in politics'. What is the actual translation of their accusation? Certainly, if they accuse him of masterminding the coup- that's a lot more serious than saying he has inappropriately involved himself in politics. And I would agree with you- proof needs to be provided.

If on the other hand, the accusation is only that he encouraged the coup or even was unduly involved in politics- well the following statement tends to support that-

'Individuals who have no ethics and morals are bad people who are full of greed ... But if they have acquired wealth through illegal or unethical means, they no longer deserve to be in this country...We soldiers belong to the country and to the king.'

Does that constitute inolvement in state poltics? I would certainly say so. Is it inappropriate- now that I don't know because I don't know what the limits are for privy councillors regarding public statements.

This is all politics and as such to find irrefutable evidence of anything is probably impossible. People are going to believe what they want depending on their slant. Mud is going to be slung by all and sundry hoping some will stick. Maybe it is wrong to legally try to stop criticism of a member of the Privvy council but then again maybe it is wrong to try to use legal recourse to stop open speculation on what group is linked to what and who is funding them. That is really my point. What is good for the goose is good for the gander especially in the realm of politcs.

It was reported that at the first PTV rally at Sanam Luang that people identified as PTV organizers made statements that Gen. Prem was behind the coup. It was only at the second rally that the signature campaign was launched and by a group not present at the first rally iirc. It has been said by PTV that the campaign was launched by a single group. It has also been stated by Saturday Voice that the campaign was launched by a multitude of groups. At the end of the day it really is going to come down to who do you believe as it is quite unlikely that everyone will suddenly agree to play by queensbury rules.

Plus · April 4, 2007

Do you think your average Somchai will go into details of exactly who did exactly what at the rallies?

It was a PTV rally and people signed a petition agains Prem, a petition to the King against Privy Council long term president appointed by the King himself. That's all your average Somchai will remember.

hammered · April 4, 2007

Do you think your average Somchai will go into details of exactly who did exactly what at the rallies?
It was a PTV rally and people signed a petition agains Prem, a petition to the King against Privy Council long term president appointed by the King himself. That's all your average Somchai will remember.

A good summation of the realities of the situation although a fair few Somchais may not even know or care about the little rally, but for those who do yes.

blaze · April 4, 2007

Do you think your average Somchai will go into details of exactly who did exactly what at the rallies?

Probably true but he is not the one making decisions to prosecute those responsible for organizing the petition. I hope the legal system is more exacting than "your average Somchai'.

marshbags · April 4, 2007

DUPLICATED POST SORRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Edited April 4, 2007 by marshbags

marshbags · April 4, 2007

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