TRT Targeted For Dissolution

[sriracha john]

Lights, camera, protest

BANGKOK - Tucked into the decrepit upper floor of a low-grade shopping mall, a group of former politicians cum television journalists plot their next big anti-government street protest.

Established by a small group of loyalists to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, People's Television (PTV) has recently emerged as the most immediate political threat to Thailand's military-led Council for National Security (CNS), which seized power in a bloodless putsch last September 19 and since has maintained restrictions on political association.

The CNS blocked PTV's maiden and subsequent attempted broadcasts last month, and the station's members have in response held three progressively larger street protests in Bangkok. Now, they intend to hold their largest rally yet on Friday - reportedly by shuttling thousands of Thaksin's peeved grassroots supporters from the rural countryside to the capital - to protest perceived anti-democratic measures included in the country's new draft constitution.

Increasingly, it seems the two sides are on a collision course. CNS leader General Sonthi Boonyaratklin last month lobbied to declare a state of emergency, which would have empowered soldiers to crack down on a planned PTV-led rally for reasons of national security. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who was appointed by Sonthi, declined the request.

"You're a military dictatorship, you were created to maintain order, but you don't have the clout to declare a state of emergency," said Jakrapob Penkair, a former government spokesman and one of PTV's four co-founders. "Clearly someone has taken your powers back."

PTV staff members contend that they are the vanguard of a new pro-democracy movement, similar, they say, to the one that finally drove military coup makers from power after a bloody confrontation in 1992. Jakrapob is plain about his group's aim of driving the CNS from power to pave the way for Thaksin's return to Thailand to "reclaim his masses" and finish his truncated term in office as a "democratic hero".

For the CNS, that clearly represents a political worst-case scenario. This month the CNS unveiled a new draft charter and Surayud scheduled new democratic polls for mid-December. So far, PTV's rallies have paled in comparison with the size and fervor of the more than 11 months of anti-government rallies dating back to October 2005 that contributed to Thaksin's downfall.

It's still unclear how many of Thaksin's former Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party associates share PTV's vision of returning him to power through, if necessary, confrontational means. Another former government spokesman during Thaksin's tenure, Surapong Suebwonglee, last week stated his disagreement with PTV's confrontational tactics. And few former prominent TRT members, including present party leader Chaturon Chaisaeng, have moved publicly to support the upstart station's style of rally politics.

To be sure, certain former members of Thaksin's inner circle are reluctant to speak their minds in the current restricted political environment. Former party leaders are at risk of being banned from politics for five years if the TRT party is next month dissolved by the Constitutional Tribunal, which is now weighing electoral fraud charges related to botched 2005 polls against both TRT and the main opposition Democrat party.

Some political analysts suspect Thaksin is tacitly supporting PTV and its threats of a popular uprising to put pressure on both the CNS and Surayud to take a moderate tack in pursuing the various corruption and fraud charges lodged or filed against him, his family members and political associates.

However, with Thaksin no longer providing day-to-day finance, the party is already dissolving organically. Several former powerful faction leaders are breaking away, including one particular politician who has reportedly formed a political alliance with certain CNS members, allegedly to perpetuate their political influence even after the scheduled transition back toward democracy in December.

That fragmentation would appear to indicate that PTV is in reality operating from a position of political weakness - if not desperation. Despite its pro-Thaksin bent, Jakrapob maintains that PTV is a genuine news station and not a front for a political movement. Long-term, he says, PTV aspires to become the "Fox News" of Thailand, by openly supporting a reconstituted TRT's populist policies.

Jakrapob will not divulge how the startup station financed its initial 30 million baht (US$921,600) investment, nor where it generates the cash flow to pay the station's more than 100 news-related staff, but insists that neither Thaksin nor his deep-pocketed wife, Pojamarn Shinawatra, have contributed financially to the station's political cause.

However, Jakrapob openly admits during the interview that he and other senior PTV staff members are in regular telephone contact with Thaksin, who according to them is morally supportive of the station. After telephone discussions with the ousted premier, Jakrapob contends that Thaksin now views last year's coup as an opportunity to reform his political movement and he proceeds to identify a number of once-prominent party members who are allegedly no longer welcome in his political camp.

Through that process of subtraction, it's difficult to gauge just how much in-country political support PTV really has. The station's four co-founders, all former TRT members, lack their own political support bases; Jakrapob was one of the few TRT candidates to lose his constituency in Bangkok in 2005.

The three PTV-led rallies to date have generated progressively larger crowds - though Jakrapob's buoyant estimate that 30,000 supporters came out for its most recent protest widely overshoots press reports, which estimated the crowd at about 5,000 people. Not helping the PTV cause was the CNS blocking it from rallying at Bangkok's expansive Sanam Luang park area, and the inexplicable positioning of more than 10 municipal garbage trucks heaped with rotting refuse in the more congested area that it was allowed to use, in front of City Hall.

The CNS "has no good choices", said Jakrapob. "If they crack down on us, they risk making us democratic heroes. If they do nothing, they risk looking like wimps. Either way it demonstrates that after less than one year their power has declined significantly."

If the PTV-inspired crowds start to swell beyond 10,000, it's entirely possible that the CNS opts for the stick rather than the carrot. Assistant army commander and CNS hardliner General Saprang Kalayanamitr, tipped by some to become army commander when CNS leader General Sonthi retires this year, in widely reported public remarks referred to PTV's founders and supporters as "dogs" and claimed that he had "spared their lives" by not cracking down on their protests.

It is not lost on PTV's founders that Bangkok's middle classes enthusiastically supported both the anti-government rallies and the military's extra-constitutional intervention that drove Thaksin's allegedly corrupt administration from power. And the widely attended anti-government rallies were also significantly shrouded in royal symbolism, with tens of thousands of anti-Thaksin protesters donning yellow shirts emblazoned with "We Love the King" messages.

The station's founders also say they are willing to end their street protests if they are allowed to go on air - which likewise may be true or false. What is clear is that PTV's politicians cum journalists cum protest leaders are preparing to go for broke with their street rallies - risking the same type of confrontation and social fragmentation last year's coup was supposedly staged to avoid.

- Asia Times

*portions referencing HRH omitted*

Edited April 27, 2007 by sriracha john

[John K]

A good read, it seems the same old methods are being used. I can’t help but wonder how much money Thaksin is dishing out for this rally. Things are going more or less as predicted as they try to escalate things as much as they can before the chug chug chug of the toilet on May 30.

It seems they may be thinking if they make enough noise the dissolving of the TRT may be nullified by popular demand.

[sriracha john]

ahhhh..... a flare for the over-dramatic...

A supporter of PTV (People's Television) executives hold a rally near Bangkok's Grand Palace April 27, 2007. PTV, founded by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, are running a campaign to reject the country's draft post-coup constitution.

REUTERS

[Plus]

Should these politicians cum journalists cum protesters cum Thaksin's proxies be allowed to go on? Would it be in the name of democracy or in the name of anarchy?

The picture smells of fascism - mask, flags, insignia, resolve to use force and appeal to the masses - it is all "for the people".

Edited April 27, 2007 by Plus

[sriracha john]

How to spell flop? P-T-V

Tiny turnout at anti-junta rally

The banned pro-Thaksin Shinawatra broadcaster PTV drew 1,000 people and 900 police guards. It will switch its rallies in Bangkok from Fridays to Sundays and try to woo a bigger audience. PTV executive Jakrapob Penkair said yesterday that people had asked PTV to organise its weekly rally on Sundays instead to make it more convenient for them to participate and PTV's management agreed with the suggestion. The new schedule will start next week when PTV will introduce the webmaster of the pro-Thaksin website, according to Mr Jakrapob. In its fourth rally at Sanam Luang yesterday, key PTV figures who are former members of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, again directed their criticisms against the Council for National Security and blamed the coup makers for what it described as an economic decline. "During the Thaksin era, at least people felt they had more money to spend," Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the PTV executives told the rally.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=118387

========================================

OOOOoooohhhh!.... Hold onto your hats!.... How exciting!!.... A surprise guest next week!!!....

A web-master!!!!

Who is it???

Will he or won't he wear a bank-robber's ski mask???

Is it a she???

OOOooohhhh ... the intrigue and exhilaration!!!

Edited April 28, 2007 by sriracha john

[hammered]

How to spell flop? P-T-V

Tiny turnout at anti-junta rally

The banned pro-Thaksin Shinawatra broadcaster PTV drew 1,000 people and 900 police guards. It will switch its rallies in Bangkok from Fridays to Sundays and try to woo a bigger audience. PTV executive Jakrapob Penkair said yesterday that people had asked PTV to organise its weekly rally on Sundays instead to make it more convenient for them to participate and PTV's management agreed with the suggestion. The new schedule will start next week when PTV will introduce the webmaster of the pro-Thaksin website, according to Mr Jakrapob. In its fourth rally at Sanam Luang yesterday, key PTV figures who are former members of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, again directed their criticisms against the Council for National Security and blamed the coup makers for what it described as an economic decline. "During the Thaksin era, at least people felt they had more money to spend," Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the PTV executives told the rally.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=118387

========================================

OOOOoooohhhh!.... Hold onto your hats!.... How exciting!!.... A surprise guest next week!!!....

A web-master!!!!

Who is it???

Will he or won't he wear a bank-robber's ski mask???

Is it a she???

OOOooohhhh ... the intrigue and exhilaration!!!

Although there will be some debate over the exact numbers at the demo (Forbes say 4000) it is obvious that the numbers needed to attract attention is a long way off and without a new issue arising will not be achieved. It is beginning to look like the Stratfor analysis may be correct in that PTV are desperate and urgently seeking any issue to raise numbers at their demos.

By the way, before the last PTV demo (not this one) I drove from the north of Thailand to Bangkok at the time people would have been travelling for the demo. I was surprised that there was not a single roadblock all the way, very differnet from when I tried the same just before a PAD demo. It could be that there just isnt support for what PTV is doing. Certainly, from a lack of roadblocks it seems whatever the Junta are saying in public that right now they are fully aware that PTV cannot mobilise many.

[blaze]

It could be that there just isnt support for what PTV is doing. Certainly, from a lack of roadblocks it seems whatever the Junta are saying in public that right now they are fully aware that PTV cannot mobilise many.

What possible purpose could it serve the generals to exaggerate the PTV threat?

It's not like they WANT to impose a nation wide martial law.... is it?

[hammered]

It could be that there just isnt support for what PTV is doing. Certainly, from a lack of roadblocks it seems whatever the Junta are saying in public that right now they are fully aware that PTV cannot mobilise many.

What possible purpose could it serve the generals to exaggerate the PTV threat?

It's not like they WANT to impose a nation wide martial law.... is it?

Exactly the same reason as the security guys under the previous government exaggerated things: it scares some people from attending, it demonises your opposition, it winds up and frustrates the opposition, it sets the agenda of discussion. On this subject the Junta are doing exactly the same as the Thaksin government did and exactly the same as every government does towards demonstrations calling for its downfall - stress security. There is nothing new in this at all. It is a tried and tested tactic that has been used worldwide by both democratic and unelected governments.

[blaze]

It could be that there just isnt support for what PTV is doing. Certainly, from a lack of roadblocks it seems whatever the Junta are saying in public that right now they are fully aware that PTV cannot mobilise many.

What possible purpose could it serve the generals to exaggerate the PTV threat?

It's not like they WANT to impose a nation wide martial law.... is it?

Exactly the same reason as the security guys under the previous government exaggerated things: it scares some people from attending, it demonises your opposition, it winds up and frustrates the opposition, it sets the agenda of discussion. On this subject the Junta are doing exactly the same as the Thaksin government did and exactly the same as every government does towards demonstrations calling for its downfall - stress security. There is nothing new in this at all. It is a tried and tested tactic that has been used worldwide by both democratic and unelected governments.

In fact, governments usually down play these kind of threats. (legal demonstrations). By playing them 'up' they tend not to dissuade people from attending -but to publicize them- to make them sound like they are popular movements (and who doesn't want to be part of a pop cause). Playing them up does NOT frustrate the opposition- it empowers them- gives them confidence. This is why this gov't as well as the previous one, consistently plays DOWN the threat in the south.

And if the threat in this instance is perceived by the public as great enough- what will the public call for- more power to the military- or less?

Edited April 28, 2007 by blaze

[Tony Clifton]

How to spell flop? P-T-V

Tiny turnout at anti-junta rally

The banned pro-Thaksin Shinawatra broadcaster PTV drew 1,000 people and 900 police guards. It will switch its rallies in Bangkok from Fridays to Sundays and try to woo a bigger audience. PTV executive Jakrapob Penkair said yesterday that people had asked PTV to organise its weekly rally on Sundays instead to make it more convenient for them to participate and PTV's management agreed with the suggestion. The new schedule will start next week when PTV will introduce the webmaster of the pro-Thaksin website, according to Mr Jakrapob. In its fourth rally at Sanam Luang yesterday, key PTV figures who are former members of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, again directed their criticisms against the Council for National Security and blamed the coup makers for what it described as an economic decline. "During the Thaksin era, at least people felt they had more money to spend," Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the PTV executives told the rally.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=118387

========================================

OOOOoooohhhh!.... Hold onto your hats!.... How exciting!!.... A surprise guest next week!!!....

A web-master!!!!

Who is it???

Will he or won't he wear a bank-robber's ski mask???

Is it a she???

OOOooohhhh ... the intrigue and exhilaration!!!

Did the foreigner begging for money around the skytrain look anything like this?

[sriracha john]

How to spell flop? P-T-V

Tiny turnout at anti-junta rally

The banned pro-Thaksin Shinawatra broadcaster PTV drew 1,000 people and 900 police guards. It will switch its rallies in Bangkok from Fridays to Sundays and try to woo a bigger audience. PTV executive Jakrapob Penkair said yesterday that people had asked PTV to organise its weekly rally on Sundays instead to make it more convenient for them to participate and PTV's management agreed with the suggestion. The new schedule will start next week when PTV will introduce the webmaster of the pro-Thaksin website, according to Mr Jakrapob. In its fourth rally at Sanam Luang yesterday, key PTV figures who are former members of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, again directed their criticisms against the Council for National Security and blamed the coup makers for what it described as an economic decline. "During the Thaksin era, at least people felt they had more money to spend," Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the PTV executives told the rally.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=118387

========================================

OOOOoooohhhh!.... Hold onto your hats!.... How exciting!!.... A surprise guest next week!!!....

A web-master!!!!

Who is it???

Will he or won't he wear a bank-robber's ski mask???

Is it a she???

OOOooohhhh ... the intrigue and exhilaration!!!

Although there will be some debate over the exact numbers at the demo (Forbes say 4000) it is obvious that the numbers needed to attract attention is a long way off and without a new issue arising will not be achieved. It is beginning to look like the Stratfor analysis may be correct in that PTV are desperate and urgently seeking any issue to raise numbers at their demos.

By the way, before the last PTV demo (not this one) I drove from the north of Thailand to Bangkok at the time people would have been travelling for the demo. I was surprised that there was not a single roadblock all the way, very differnet from when I tried the same just before a PAD demo. It could be that there just isnt support for what PTV is doing. Certainly, from a lack of roadblocks it seems whatever the Junta are saying in public that right now they are fully aware that PTV cannot mobilise many.

Regarding the disappointing (to PTV) numbers attending, I think it's rather revealing that:

"Rally organisers could not be reached for their estimate."

- AFP

I also believe Stratfor is correct... PTV is desperately grasping at straws. The most that PTV can come up with to raise an issue is a 2nd wife for Sonthi or some already disproven land encroachment by Surayud?

Balanced against the atrocities of Thaksin... it's laughable.

Although there were lots of police on hand at the rally, it seems they were there just in case the intel the government was receiving was erroneous. Prior to the rally, several government folks were playing down the possibility of any real serious incidents happening prior to the rally and that seems to be the case.

However, who knows what will happen when that rabble-rousing hi-thaksin.net webmaster comes on stage next week. The geek could cause pandemonium.

[hammered]

How to spell flop? P-T-V

Tiny turnout at anti-junta rally

The banned pro-Thaksin Shinawatra broadcaster PTV drew 1,000 people and 900 police guards. It will switch its rallies in Bangkok from Fridays to Sundays and try to woo a bigger audience. PTV executive Jakrapob Penkair said yesterday that people had asked PTV to organise its weekly rally on Sundays instead to make it more convenient for them to participate and PTV's management agreed with the suggestion. The new schedule will start next week when PTV will introduce the webmaster of the pro-Thaksin website, according to Mr Jakrapob. In its fourth rally at Sanam Luang yesterday, key PTV figures who are former members of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, again directed their criticisms against the Council for National Security and blamed the coup makers for what it described as an economic decline. "During the Thaksin era, at least people felt they had more money to spend," Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the PTV executives told the rally.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=118387

========================================

OOOOoooohhhh!.... Hold onto your hats!.... How exciting!!.... A surprise guest next week!!!....

A web-master!!!!

Who is it???

Will he or won't he wear a bank-robber's ski mask???

Is it a she???

OOOooohhhh ... the intrigue and exhilaration!!!

Although there will be some debate over the exact numbers at the demo (Forbes say 4000) it is obvious that the numbers needed to attract attention is a long way off and without a new issue arising will not be achieved. It is beginning to look like the Stratfor analysis may be correct in that PTV are desperate and urgently seeking any issue to raise numbers at their demos.

By the way, before the last PTV demo (not this one) I drove from the north of Thailand to Bangkok at the time people would have been travelling for the demo. I was surprised that there was not a single roadblock all the way, very differnet from when I tried the same just before a PAD demo. It could be that there just isnt support for what PTV is doing. Certainly, from a lack of roadblocks it seems whatever the Junta are saying in public that right now they are fully aware that PTV cannot mobilise many.

Regarding the disappointing (to PTV) numbers attending, I think it's rather revealing that:

"Rally organisers could not be reached for their estimate."

- AFP

I also believe Stratfor is correct... PTV is desperately grasping at straws. The most that PTV can come up with to raise an issue is a 2nd wife for Sonthi or some already disproven land encroachment by Surayud?

Balanced against the atrocities of Thaksin... it's laughable.

Although there were lots of police on hand at the rally, it seems they were there just in case the intel the government was receiving was erroneous. Prior to the rally, several government folks were playing down the possibility of any real serious incidents happening prior to the rally and that seems to be the case.

However, who knows what will happen when that rabble-rousing hi-thaksin.net webmaster comes on stage next week. The geek could cause pandemonium.

The hi-Thaksin guy is probably just mentioned to insure some media coverage. It is the kind of thing that will bring in the media rather than the people. With repeatedly low numbers and no hint of critical mass PTV will be more worried about just fizzling out with little media attention (especially foreign) right now.

[John K]

Hammered now you got me confused, is not PTV the media?

[Tony Clifton]

The Hi-Thaksin guy.

Remember last year when they wanted to get their hands on the author of the ''Na Liam'' (Square face) song?

[hammered]

Hammered now you got me confused, is not PTV the media?

so they claim. dont they do a serialization on a lonely aging man in London who wants to return home or something? Not really a news station as such more of a soap opera form of media.

[mbkudu]

Fear is the ultimate weakness.

[sriracha john]

Threat from 'large' anti-government rally much overrated

Government and military leaders must have heaved a big sigh of relief after the pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on Friday failed to draw a huge crowd as earlier feared.

The turnout ranged between 800 and 3,000 people, according to estimates in news reports.

The rally's organisers, who are ex-Thai Rak Thai members, earlier boasted that there could be up to 30,000 people attending, and that they would stay on until the Constitutional Court passes its judgement on the fate of the Thai Rak Thai Party late next month.

With the number falling far short of the expectations, the powers that be now have a clearer picture of the potential of the pro-Thaksin faction and of whether future hisses about organising large demonstrations should be taken seriously or treated as exaggeration.

The protesters loyal to Thaksin must have felt disappointed by the low turnout as well. Friday was a vital indicator of whether the various groups against the government and the military could pose a serious threat to national security by means of turbulent street protests and demonstrations. The bark was proven to be more harmful than the bite, so to speak. It also raised questions about whether the so-called undercurrent elements have actually been as well-funded by politicians of the previous Thaksin administration as speculated.

It has been long perceived that the pro-Thaksin crowd received financial support to organise protest rallies and cause problems for the government and discredit the military junta, the Council for National Security (CNS), which serves as the protector of the Surayud administration.

The previous rally at Sanam Luang drew a larger crowd due to other, non-political events in the area. The high turnout must have led the PTV activists, who were formerly with Thai Rak Thai, to believe that they had enough support for a bigger show of force on Friday, but it failed to materialise.

What was behind the low turnout? The main problem is still the lack of credibility of the PTV activists, who obviously could not come up with fresh ideas and selling points to draw a crowd, especially middle-class and educated people.

Those concerned about their standing and self respect would not want to be perceived as participating for financial inducement following news reports earlier that every person would be paid Bt300 to Bt500 per day if they showed up for the rally at Sanam Luang.

It could also be that the speculation about pro-Thaksin rally organisers spending money to woo a crowd was misplaced and based on rumours, because it would take a tidy sum to attract a large crowd, especially if there were to be many days of protracted protest.

The pro-Thaksin groups also failed again to convince people with good reputation and credibility to join their campaign against the government and the CNS. No academic or public figure expressed support for the rally - in their view, the campaigners have serious image and credibility problems, not to mention character flaws.

Among those who still had some love for Thaksin before Friday's rally should be some who regard such a campaign as a lost cause now that the former premier and his family members are destined to face long and complex legal problems, including claims for back taxes and criminal proceedings.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont also made it explicit that Thaksin has slim chances of returning to Thailand after several months of forced exile because more and more people have come to realise that the goodies disbursed under his populist programmes were just temporary, with no long-lasting benefit.

The prospect of criminal prosecution makes it less tempting for Thaksin to return home, though Surayud said he knew his predecessor well as a tough and tenacious fighter who would not give in easily. Instead the disgraced billionaire would spend his plentiful financial resources to pave a way back to power.

"My message for him is 'Don't come back'", especially now that investigations into wrongdoing during his premiership will soon move towards due legal process, Surayud told a group of senior journalists on Thursday. That message must have also sunk into the minds of many pro-Thaksin people.

Should the government and the military still be worried by the undercurrent movement, which continues to cause jitters in the business community? This point should be assessed realistically rather than getting jumpy whenever the PTV activists hiss about more action and larger protests.

Of course, they should not be taken lightly. Desperate men usually resort to desperate means to get some level of recognition. Thaksin is a die-hard sort of man and so far he has been trying to get even with the military leaders who ousted him from power. Using his big fortune to solicit assistance from American lobbyists has yielded some result so far, but without any impact.

What then could possibly enable him to regain his place in the sun back home? That's not difficult to answer. Premier Surayud must fulfil his promise to shape up or ship out and get non-performing Cabinet members to earn their salaries and plush offices. Failure to do so would be tantamount to laying down a red carpet for Thaksin to return to Government House.

That is indeed a thought to make one shudder.

Sopon Onkgara

The Nation Editorial

[Jai Dee]

Deputy Minister of Public Health is unconcerned with biased allegation of TRT

The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Dr. Wallop Thainua, commented on the Thai Rak Thai Party’s allegation that the current government has been set up with an intention to abolish the Thai Rak Thai Party. Dr. Wallop said he is not worried about such claim because the government has been working openly and honestly.

He said once the facts have been revealed, the general public would decide whether the government’s actions are biased or not.

Dr. Wallop said he is interested to inspect the corruption cases within the Ministry of Public Health. He said he will inspect the 900 million baht computer procurement project and the ambulance project first because many people are interested in these two issues.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 May 2007

[slimdog]

Dr. Wallop said he is interested to inspect the corruption cases within the Ministry of Public Health. He said he will inspect the 900 million baht computer procurement project and the ambulance project first because many people are interested in these two issues.

Well I am sure he can help in the computer procurement project, after all he was sacked for refusing to scrap it when he was permanent secretary of Public Health in 2005, and is currently being investigated for corruption regarding the case.....

[slimdog]

A-G upsets Democrats

The Democrat Party is considering taking legal action against Attorney-General Pachara Yutithamdamrong for what it describes as unfair treatment in the electoral fraud case against the party.

Thaworn Senneam, deputy secretary-general, yesterday criticised Pachara for his closing statement submitted to the Constitution Tribunal, which is set to rule in the case later this month.

He said the statement contained incorrect facts and was biased against the party.

Attorney-General's Office spokesman Poramet Intarachumnum, responding to the Democrats' threat, said public prosecutors had simply carried out their duty with no ill intention towards any party.

The tribunal is also set to rule on May 30 in a separate electoral fraud case against the Thai Rak Thai Party.

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/02...cs_30033163.php

[Jai Dee]

Democrat Party all ears to Tribunal verdicts of party dissolution

The Democrat Party has declared its readiness in hearing the Tribunal’s upcoming verdicts of party dissolution, affirming it will not submit a petition if the Tribunal rules against the party.

The verdict of the Tribunal is expected to be announced on May 30th; however, Democrat Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva (อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ) confirms his party will not arrange political movements to pressure the Tribunal.

The Democrat Party will clarify the truth of the case via documents, which will be distributed on May 15th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 May 2007

[sriracha john]

Former TRT'ers Somkid and Somsak

Highway billboard - January 27, 2005

Translation Above for Mahachon Party No.11 - "New alternative of Bangkok residents - Capitalist dictation of politics leads the country to disaster". The billboard does not mention the man's name. He is Dr. Anek Laothammatad, the leader of the Mahachon Party.

(courtesy of 2bangkok.com)

Somkid to lead new party: Somsak

Three political veterans met in Hong Kong earlier this week and agreed to form a new party designed to replace the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party and become a dominating force to form the next government.

The soon-to-be-formed party would be led by former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak and former Mahachon Party leader Anek Laothammatad was close to joining the new alliance, Matchima Group leader Somsak Thepsuthin said Friday.

Somsak spoke after his return from Hong Kong where he held talks with Somkid and Anek.

"I have agreed to support Somkid's bid to lead the new party and would give him a free rein to name the party, set policies and schedule the launch date," he said.

He conceded that he and Somkid took the trip in order to forge the new political alliance though he said the talks with Anek happened by chance.

He said he was also talking to former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh with the aim to bring him into the alliance.

- The Nation

Edited May 4, 2007 by sriracha john

[Plus]

Dr. Wallop said he is interested to inspect the corruption cases within the Ministry of Public Health. He said he will inspect the 900 million baht computer procurement project and the ambulance project first because many people are interested in these two issues.

Well I am sure he can help in the computer procurement project, after all he was sacked for refusing to scrap it when he was permanent secretary of Public Health in 2005, and is currently being investigated for corruption regarding the case.....

He was the one who initially blew the whistle on that project and implicated no one else but Sudarat. She ordered an investigation and sacked him first.

[sriracha john]

Plans for new Somkid-led party sealed in Hong Kong

Three political veterans met in Hong Kong earlier this week and agreed to form a new party designed to replace the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party and become a force capable of forming the next government.

The soon-to-be-formed party will be led by former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak. Former Mahachon Party leader Anek Laothamatas is expected to join the new alliance soon, Matchima Group leader Somsak Thepsuthin said yesterday.

Somsak spoke after his return from Hong Kong, where he held talks with Somkid and Anek.

"I have agreed to support Somkid's bid to lead the new party and will give him a free rein to name the party, set policies and schedule the launch date," he said.

He conceded that he and Somkid had taken the trip in order to forge the new political alliance, but said the talks with Anek "had happened by chance".

He said he was also talking to former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh with the aim of bringing him into the alliance.

Should everything click into place, the new party could be unveiled before May 30.

This is the date set for the crucial verdict on electoral fraud by Thai Rak Thai that could lead to the dissolution of the former ruling party, he added.

Somsak said he wanted the new party launched as soon as possible in order to have sufficient time for campaigning ahead of the general election, even though Somkid prefers to review the new electoral rules first.

He dismissed the allegation the party would be a puppet for Thaksin Shinawatra, arguing he had not had any contact with the ousted premier since the September coup, and that Thaksin and Somkid found themselves "incompatible" with one another.

In the meantime, the Matchima Group yesterday sought permission from Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to be an observer at a meeting between the premier and party leaders about issues in the draft constitution.

Chaturong Pengnorapath, who represented Somsak, said the group wanted to participate in the meeting, at which political parties are to offer their opinions about the first charter draft in a brainstorming session scheduled for Tuesday.

Chaturong said the group was a civic organisation and that at least 120 of its members had held political positions as governors, senators and members of Parliament.

If the government permits Matchima to take part in the meeting, the group will assign its political affairs chief, Sophon Petchsawang, and members to attend.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

POLITICS JUGGLING FOR SURVIVAL

Matchima courting Chavalit

Somsak Thepsuthin, leader of the Matchima political group, has approached former PM Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to join his group and may get an answer next week. Paichit Srivorakhan, a former Thai Rak Thai MP for Nakhon Phanom who is close to Gen Chavalit, said yesterday that Mr Somsak had asked Gen Chavalit late last month to be a political adviser to his group and if the Constitution Tribunal dissolves the Thai Rak Thai party on May 30, he wants Gen Chavalit to take care of the politicians in his group on his behalf. If Thai Rak Thai is dissolved, its present and former executives, including Mr Somsak, will lose their political rights for five years. On the report that New Alternative party leader Chalerm Yubamrung had earlier approached Gen Chavalit to join his party, Mr Paichit said that if Gen Chavalit decides to join Mr Somsak's group, Pol Capt Chalerm could follow suit.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/05May2007_news15.php

=================

Quite a party they could form.... with Somsak, Somkid, Chavalit, and Chalerm..... all they need to do is to add Samak.... Newin... and Sudarat........

Edited May 5, 2007 by sriracha john

[John K]

This is all but an admission that the TRT is days from becoming history. Will any of the names mentioned be included in the 5 year off line as part of the TRT being dissolved?

Perhaps the Thai people may decide fresh blood is needed and this group should be left on the sidelines.

[Abrak]

This is all but an admission that the TRT is days from becoming history. Will any of the names mentioned be included in the 5 year off line as part of the TRT being dissolved?

Perhaps the Thai people may decide fresh blood is needed and this group should be left on the sidelines.

Somkid Jatsripitak is certainly an executive of TRT and would face a five year ban if the party is dissolved by the constitutional tribunal. Considering he is the big draw, and the acceptable face of the whole party, its very success and maybe its existence may well depend on the ruling.

[John K]

One does get the feeling that if Somkid or any of the present TRT members are looking to start a new party simply says the don’t plan to follow what laws there are and stay inactive for 5 years. However was there ever any doubt based on their arrogance that they ever would stay away.

If I were in a position of influence I would simply tell them if you can’t stay away voluntarily, then we can help you by putting you in Jail for the 5 years. That certainly would get there attention. Perhaps that may be the case as it would be contempt of court if they don’t stay away.

[younghusband]

This is all but an admission that the TRT is days from becoming history. Will any of the names mentioned be included in the 5 year off line as part of the TRT being dissolved?

Perhaps the Thai people may decide fresh blood is needed and this group should be left on the sidelines.

I think apologists for this illegal and incompetent junta should really examine their consciences when using phrases like "the Thai people may decide".The reality is that the unholy alliance of feudalists,generals and monopolistic businessmen are determined the Thai people will not be in a position to decide their future.I believe however their effort will fail.

I haven't posted much on political topics recently but it's quite interesting no-one bothers now to dispute the sheer awfulness and incompetence of this government, quite a change from just a few months ago.I sense also that Thaksin is increasingly a non-issue, buzzing around in the background but much less significant than the junta believes (or more likely pretends).

I understand incidentally that there has yet to be confirmation of the pardon the junta sought for launching the coup.Anyone have background on this?Hopefully we will have the pleasure -though I don't for a moment really believe it - of seeing the key offenders who have dishonored their uniform put on trial for this crime.

[John K]

Younghusband, Please consider the following threads before you label the Junta criminals. Please also remember that this is The Kingdom of Thailand.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=84697

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=84332

I have yet to see anything the junta has done that has not been in the interest of Thailand. In fact most everything they have done has been to fend off attacks from Thaksin and try to reunite the country. I have not (yet) seen anything self serving. The task to keep Thaksin at bay is significant. The continued delaying tactics by Thaksin and his buddies to make the government look bad, Billions of baht in tax money being recovered from Thaksin’s wallet. I agree in that on the surface it appears the government in incompetent, and some members of the government have made bad decisions, but if you dig deeper you will see a lot of very tedious work is being done all while Thaksin is trying to delay it and at the same time trying to say they are incompetent. It is a bit like deliberately blocking the road for emergency vehicles and then complaining they can’t get to the scene of the emergency.

I can understand the junta’s desire to have a get out of jail free card. Even in the states people with the most noble intentions are often perused by someone for whatever reason. You can’t please everyone and most certainly legal attacks on the junta will come from Thaksin and the TRT, that is absolutely a no brainer.

I have not read the language on that but I would limit it to being protected to only doing things as seen in the best interest of the country. I can’t see a blanket one size fits all law as it allows too much temptation.

One note; to clarify, I see the Junta and the government as two entities and some of my comments may overlap.