Madam Prime Minister, please just quit: Thai opinion

[sirineou]

Thousands of articles about Thailand by unbiased respectable news outlets every day, Yet every day, TVF chooses to publish THE NATION opinion crap every day or articles by the Voice of Russia .

I dont get it

[Just1Voice]

well written and to the point.good bye poo

Again this educated insider talk. Please gentlemen tell me, who is poo? Or are you playing toilet games? That would be weird!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

A "newbie", huh? Poo is the nickname of Yingluck. Now you know.

[srsv1238]

TELL IT AS IT IS

Madam Prime Minister, please just quit

Pornpimol Kanchanalak

Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- You said two days ago that you were prepared to leave office should that be the wish of the "people". We do not know who the "people" you have in mind are, but millions of us who could legitimately be counted as "people" believe it is about time you matched your rhetoric with action.

The country has suffered enough under your stewardship, or rather lack thereof. Lest you have forgotten, the ultimate honour and dignity of a leader lies with her equally incomparable sense of responsibility and accountability. You have pointed the finger of blame at others for all of the country's woes enough now; it is about time you stopped. The country has failed because you failed in your duty. This is not to say you are evil, it is only to say that you have not done your job right.

We have become a nation of discord and lawlessness. Armed attacks, often involving bombs, against citizens of various political status and involvement have become increasingly common. The cowardly perpetrators are left loose, ready to carry out more dirty work.

You have said it is your duty to protect "democracy"; please spare the country this lofty yet empty notion, and stop treating us like morons. Democracy is not possible if laws are not indiscriminately applied across the board. Democracy is not possible when independent organisations come under armed threat and are subjected to both veiled and open intimidation and coercion by those who want to prevent them from doing their job as part of the check-and-balance mechanism necessary to a genuine democracy.

Democracy is not about elections in which ballot boxes are literally stuffed and technically rigged. Democracy is a mere pipe dream if voters are not equipped with real knowledge about their equal rights under the law and, by electing thieves to parliament, are the unwitting agents of the destruction of their own rights.

Your internal security arm - the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) - is a mockery of our sensibility. In Mafia jargon, Capo means a lieutenant who serves the family's boss - think Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in The Godfather movie series. It is perhaps an intended travesty. Nothing that CAPO has initiated and carried out is meant to serve the best interests of the country, only those of a certain few. The most outrageous suggestion came last week when CAPO declared it would seek royal intervention by asking His Majesty's advice regarding a new prime minister under Article 7 of the Constitution. Our plea to those scoundrels is, please leave your dirty hands off His Majesty. He has already suffered the absolute injustice of people who steal and cheat, of those who lie and distort truth and facts to serve their self-interest and their lust for money, power and self-aggrandisement. They are devoid of any moral scruples. His Majesty does not deserve such iniquity. He has, more than anybody, devoted his life and energy to the wellbeing of the Thai people. He is a righteous monarch, and he has given his all for the country and for us.

Madam Prime Minister, please stop your lieutenants from tampering any longer with our heart and soul. His Majesty is off-limits to both you and your people.

There must be a reason - not yet known to us, perhaps - as to why you, Madam Prime Minister, continue hanging on to your office in disgrace. The country cannot do any worse without you or your government. Whatever scares you, you should turn to face it squarely. That's the only way for you and for the country to move beyond the eclipse that has engulfed us all for too long. The country and the people have had enough of being held as political prisoners.

World history does not lack examples of leaders who have quit with honour by accepting the principle of ultimate accountability. They voluntarily left the office because they knew they had betrayed the trust of the people and thus were unfit to lead. A culture of lack of accountability for our actions is taking deeper root in our society. It is time we stop condoning such a culture.

When King Rama VII abdicated over his disagreement with certain articles in a draft constitution that promised enormous power to a small group of people, not the general public, he did so with honour and dignity intact. The then government was not kind to him and his family, but King Prajadhipok never complained. He left without fanfare, and lived thereafter without it. Trivial things do not interest the great and noble men. King Rama VII never made a single attempt to meddle in government affairs after he left the country. He led a simple life, humble in every respect, until his very last day. When his last remaining close aide asked for leave to join the Free Thai Movement during World War II, he gladly let him go, for he knew that a man's life is only worth living in service to the motherland.

During the Songkran holiday, many of us Thais closed our eyes and prayed for peace. We prayed that both the good and the good people prevail. But we must not close our eyes to the lack of accountability shown by our leader. We must not remain oblivious to the fraud that is being carried out every single day under our nose. Reform was never more needed or more relevant than now.

And quitting public office so that the reform process can start is not as scary as you think, Madam Prime Minister.

-- The Nation 2014-04-24

She writes: "When King Rama VII abdicated over his disagreement with certain articles in a draft constitution that promised enormous power to a small group of people, not the general public, he did so with honour and dignity intact."

So the PM is King Rama now? And this "small group of people" is the supposed reform council? I see. Not a very good example.

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[GunterChiangMai]

well written and to the point.good bye poo

Again this educated insider talk. Please gentlemen tell me, who is poo? Or are you playing toilet games? That would be weird!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

A "newbie", huh? Poo is the nickname of Yingluck. Now you know.

Mhhhh. Thank you. But why do you think the PM of Thailand should be adressed like this? By a hillbilly? Or are you a close friend?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[bobonzo]

blah blah blah..reform is fine, but it takes two to tango. real reform will take years to accomplish. if anyone thinks YL stepping down is the end of the problems they have another thing coming...i believe when (and if) she steps down, it will only be the beginning of more problems.

[Rich teacher]

Madame journalist, please just quit!

[bigbamboo]

For all you "vote buying" fanatics....GIVE IT A REST! All parties engage it, and always have. Even Korn, one of the leading Dems flatly admitted that in the last General Election that the PTP won, the Dem actually spent MORE MONEY IN VOTE BUYING THAN THE PTP. and they STILL LOST, and then he stated that vote buying had "no relation to the outcome of the vote". When are you brainless idiots ever going to accept the fact that ALL parties do it, the people take the money offered and then vote for who they want! So your excuse of "they bought the votes" is worthless.

What Korn said was that the Dems spent more money on campaigning than PT did, not on vote buying. You are allowed to spend within a certain budget. The inference is that PT spent their far greater resources in ways other than campaigning.

[Morch]

For all you "vote buying" fanatics....GIVE IT A REST! All parties engage it, and always have. Even Korn, one of the leading Dems flatly admitted that in the last General Election that the PTP won, the Dem actually spent MORE MONEY IN VOTE BUYING THAN THE PTP. and they STILL LOST, and then he stated that vote buying had "no relation to the outcome of the vote". When are you brainless idiots ever going to accept the fact that ALL parties do it, the people take the money offered and then vote for who they want! So your excuse of "they bought the votes" is worthless.

What Korn said was that the Dems spent more money on campaigning than PT did, not on vote buying. You are allowed to spend within a certain budget. The inference is that PT spent their far greater resources in ways other than campaigning.

I don't see how that's inferred. Not from Korn Chatikavanij comments, nor from Alongkorn Ponlaboot's.

Korn said that in some area they would have to spend as much as three times as their rivals, and still risk losing.

Alongkorn said that the Democrat party uses as much money as the Puea Thai (from memory, the first translation of the interview wasn't all that great and caused some misunderstanding).

While both don't admit outright to vote-buying, it is quite clear from both interviews what they refer to. At least to anyone who's a bit familiar with Thai politics.

[ratcatcher]

well written and to the point.good bye poo

Again this educated insider talk. Please gentlemen tell me, who is poo? Or are you playing toilet games? That would be weird!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

A "newbie", huh? Poo is the nickname of Yingluck. Now you know.

Mhhhh. Thank you. But why do you think the PM of Thailand should be adressed like this? By a hillbilly? Or are you a close friend?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

The woman who is presently posing as the caretaker P.M. is often referred to by her Thai nickname "poo" which, as you know Khun Aguirre, is the Thai word for crab.

Abhisit is often referred to as "Mark" which is his real name. Do you think calling the CT PM a crab is disrespectful? I think it is most apt.

After all, she acts like a crab frequently retreating to the safety of her carapace when asked difficult questions, or she wishes to be left alone.

[ratcatcher]

well written and to the point.good bye poo

Again this educated insider talk. Please gentlemen tell me, who is poo? Or are you playing toilet games? That would be weird!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

A "newbie", huh? Poo is the nickname of Yingluck. Now you know.

Mhhhh. Thank you. But why do you think the PM of Thailand should be adressed like this? By a hillbilly? Or are you a close friend?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

The woman who is presently posing as the caretaker P.M. is often referred to by her Thai nickname "poo" which, as you know Khun Aguirre, is the Thai word for crab.

Abhisit is often referred to as "Mark" which is his real name. Do you think calling the CT PM a crab is disrespectful? I think it is most apt.

After all, she acts like a crab frequently retreating to the safety of her carapace when asked difficult questions, or she wishes to be left

alone.

Respect Mr. Kinski fan!

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If the shoe Fitz Carraldo, wear it!.

[metisdead]

Posts with messed up quotes have been removed.

[dannyshin]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Actually is it you that seem to forget. Last election YL was below half of the majority of those who voted. It would have been even less if they voted at all in the south which was blocked. She lost her majority. So get your facts straight.

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Were the real results ever released for the flawed election? There were some guesses and some leaks but no results.

If what you say is true it would be really easy to get rid of the Prime Minister, just allow an election.

Election is meaningless without reform which would benefit everyone including foreigners who want to see changes in the system. Help to bring foreign investment and development. Without involvement of foreigners thai economy will never improve. But when foreigners are scammed by local Thais, there is no law to protect them. YL government did nothing to help us. She is puppet of thakshin without experience in politics, hence should be removed

[visionchaser45]

The "will of the people" is expressed in the ballot box. The author of this article claims to speak for "millions" without any evidence that the millions agree or are a majority of the Thai people. Let's see free elections again so we can learn the "will of the people."

[visionchaser45]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Actually is it you that seem to forget. Last election YL was below half of the majority of those who voted. It would have been even less if they voted at all in the south which was blocked. She lost her majority. So get your facts straight.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Were the real results ever released for the flawed election? There were some guesses and some leaks but no results.

If what you say is true it would be really easy to get rid of the Prime Minister, just allow an election.

Election is meaningless without reform which would benefit everyone including foreigners who want to see changes in the system. Help to bring foreign investment and development. Without involvement of foreigners thai economy will never improve. But when foreigners are scammed by local Thais, there is no law to protect them. YL government did nothing to help us. She is puppet of thakshin without experience in politics, hence should be removed

"Election is meaningless without reform..." blah, blah, blah. The last election received passing marks from international election observers and His Majesty's endorsement. What reforms are needed and how will they be implemented? All I see is a gang of political losers trying, once again, to seize political power through non-democratic means.

[thesetat2013]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Actually is it you that seem to forget. Last election YL was below half of the majority of those who voted. It would have been even less if they voted at all in the south which was blocked. She lost her majority. So get your facts straight.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Were the real results ever released for the flawed election? There were some guesses and some leaks but no results.

If what you say is true it would be really easy to get rid of the Prime Minister, just allow an election.

Election is meaningless without reform which would benefit everyone including foreigners who want to see changes in the system. Help to bring foreign investment and development. Without involvement of foreigners thai economy will never improve. But when foreigners are scammed by local Thais, there is no law to protect them. YL government did nothing to help us. She is puppet of thakshin without experience in politics, hence should be removed

"Election is meaningless without reform..." blah, blah, blah. The last election received passing marks from international election observers and His Majesty's endorsement. What reforms are needed and how will they be implemented? All I see is a gang of political losers trying, once again, to seize political power through non-democratic means.

But dont forget about the losers who already siezed power using the so called political means you speak of.

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[Tchooptip]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Elections payed 500Baht a voter? In case you forgot.

[Eric Loh]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Elections payed 500Baht a voter? In case you forgot.

Still the Dem can't win. Voters took their money and vote PT.

[smutcakes]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Elections payed 500Baht a voter? In case you forgot.

I know i am generalizing, but 95% of the north east vote for TS aligned parties because one way or another it is beneficial for them.

95% of the south vote for Democrats, why is this? because it is beneficial for them one way or another.

This is politics the world over.

[jayboy]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Actually is it you that seem to forget. Last election YL was below half of the majority of those who voted. It would have been even less if they voted at all in the south which was blocked. She lost her majority. So get your facts straight.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Were the real results ever released for the flawed election? There were some guesses and some leaks but no results.

If what you say is true it would be really easy to get rid of the Prime Minister, just allow an election.

Election is meaningless without reform which would benefit everyone including foreigners who want to see changes in the system. Help to bring foreign investment and development. Without involvement of foreigners thai economy will never improve. But when foreigners are scammed by local Thais, there is no law to protect them. YL government did nothing to help us. She is puppet of thakshin without experience in politics, hence should be removed

What specific reforms are needed to make elections meaningful? There has never been a clear answer to this question.

[dannyshin]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Actually is it you that seem to forget. Last election YL was below half of the majority of those who voted. It would have been even less if they voted at all in the south which was blocked. She lost her majority. So get your facts straight.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Were the real results ever released for the flawed election? There were some guesses and some leaks but no results.

If what you say is true it would be really easy to get rid of the Prime Minister, just allow an election.

Election is meaningless without reform which would benefit everyone including foreigners who want to see changes in the system. Help to bring foreign investment and development. Without involvement of foreigners thai economy will never improve. But when foreigners are scammed by local Thais, there is no law to protect them. YL government did nothing to help us. She is puppet of thakshin without experience in politics, hence should be removed

What specific reforms are needed to make elections meaningful? There has never been a clear answer to this question.

Equally and fair justice for everyone. Win confidence of foreigners and law to protect their rights. Law to punish scammers. Many of them ate PTP supporters.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[slapout]

Jayboy, you have followed the Thai political scene long enough that you are aware that the ruling group dictate how the populist monies are spread around, they also control the entire farm product purchases, supply of needed farm supplies (most are imported) and they have virtually monoplies on the supply chain to the consumer. They can overlook the enforcement the tax collection on various imports, refund of vat, real or imagined, inspection of dumps, after hour clubs, transport companies, the RTP, etc.

Meaningful reform would take these and many other avenues for theft/corruption out of the political arena, without complete oversite by watchdog groups. Both groups would be open to internal audit by the various legal organizations, with severe consquences, if illegal acts are found. These pentalities would include forfiture of all assits, manditory jail terms of at least 5 years, ban from politics for life. with like penality for the private sector individuals/companies who made the proven charges possible

Now there you have a clear answer, maybe not agreeable to you or the corrupt politicans and their cronies, but a answer.

[jayboy]

There are other millions who want her to stay. So who are you to made such a statement. That is why they have elections, in case you forgot.

Actually is it you that seem to forget. Last election YL was below half of the majority of those who voted. It would have been even less if they voted at all in the south which was blocked. She lost her majority. So get your facts straight.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Were the real results ever released for the flawed election? There were some guesses and some leaks but no results.

If what you say is true it would be really easy to get rid of the Prime Minister, just allow an election.

Election is meaningless without reform which would benefit everyone including foreigners who want to see changes in the system. Help to bring foreign investment and development. Without involvement of foreigners thai economy will never improve. But when foreigners are scammed by local Thais, there is no law to protect them. YL government did nothing to help us. She is puppet of thakshin without experience in politics, hence should be removed

What specific reforms are needed to make elections meaningful? There has never been a clear answer to this question.

Equally and fair justice for everyone. Win confidence of foreigners and law to protect their rights. Law to punish scammers. Many of them ate PTP supporters.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Just babble.No clear answer provided.

[jayboy]

Jayboy, you have followed the Thai political scene long enough that you are aware that the ruling group dictate how the populist monies are spread around, they also control the entire farm product purchases, supply of needed farm supplies (most are imported) and they have virtually monoplies on the supply chain to the consumer. They can overlook the enforcement the tax collection on various imports, refund of vat, real or imagined, inspection of dumps, after hour clubs, transport companies, the RTP, etc.

Meaningful reform would take these and many other avenues for theft/corruption out of the political arena, without complete oversite by watchdog groups. Both groups would be open to internal audit by the various legal organizations, with severe consquences, if illegal acts are found. These pentalities would include forfiture of all assits, manditory jail terms of at least 5 years, ban from politics for life. with like penality for the private sector individuals/companies who made the proven charges possible

Now there you have a clear answer, maybe not agreeable to you or the corrupt politicans and their cronies, but a answer.

Sorry this just won't do.

You refer to a ruling group spreading populist money around.It could equally be described as a government that by international standards has won a general election, and is fulfilling its programme.The same could be said of democratically elected governments in for example Japan, UK and Germany.There is nothing wrong with populist programmes - the NHS in the UK is a populist programme.If there is corruption involved it should obviously be dealt with under the law.

The interests involved in agriculture are corporates like CP strongly opposed to the government so your comment doesn't make sense.Obviously it would be excellent if corruption was reduced or eradicated, but this doesn't affect the election process.

So your "answer" is irrelevant and inadequate, and the question is unresolved.