I Am Not Evil

[jdinasia]

I am not evil, Thaksin tells LA Thais

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with Thai children born and raised in the United States who visited Government House yesterday.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday told overseas Thais living in Los Angeles that he is not evil, as his critics have portrayed him to be, and that the current political conflict has come about because the various changes he has introduced have caused unease among certain groups of people who used to enjoy special privileges in the past.

“There has been severe distortion to Thai politics at present,” he told a Los Angeles-based cable network catering to Thais living there that also broadcasts via its internet website. “I am quite tired, but I have to fend off [various obstacles] so that democracy can exist side by side with Thailand.”

Speaking after receiving at Government House a group of Thai children who were born and grew up in the United States, Thaksin said: “You can be sure that I am not evil as being accused. I am determined and dedicated [to work for the country].”

The caretaker premier stated that Thai politics in the past was characterized by a system of patronage with interest groups while the majority of the people was left out. “This has resulted in the bulk of the benefits being concentrated among the interest groups but not being distributed among the people.”

He added that things have changed and the people are being patronized and receiving direct benefits today. “In a real democracy, political parties must clearly spell out their platforms and what they will do for the people.”

Thaksin told his audience that Thailand has come a long way since the 1997 financial crisis and is well accepted in the international community. He noted that the country’s candidate for the post of United Nations secretary-general – caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai – stands a good chance since many countries that he visited recently have expressed their support, except the US.

He added that the fact that Thailand is fielding Surakiart to contest the post has enhanced the country’s reputation since no Thai has assumed this prestigious position before.

Thaksin revealed yesterday that he had canceled plans to fly to Germany tomorrow to watch the final of the World Cup in Berlin on Sunday.

He said he will be spending the weekend in Thailand with his family. Thaksin said that Germany’s failure to reach the final match after losing to Italy on Tuesday played a big part in his decision.

Source: ThaiDay - 6 July 2006

just a reminder

[Jai Dee]

Election Commission chairman Wasana Permlarp is tired of being criticized but still can not resign

Election Commission chairman Wasana Permlarp (วาสนา เพิ่มลาภ) feels tired of his job but still can not quit, he said.

Pol. Gen. Wasana said he has been a target of heavily criticism lately and so did not want to stay in office but was still duty-bound to organize several elections and still has to consider more than 1,800 fraud cases concerning last year’s elections of executives of local administration bodies.

Calls for Pol. Ge. Wasana and two other commissioners have been vocal after the court ruled the April 2 snap election invalid.

The EC chairman said the poll agency could face legal action if it left before deciding on those alleged poll irregularities.

Pol. Gen. Wasana said a new round of senate election would have to be held in certain provinces. Twenty-seven winners of the senate election in April have not yet been endorsed by the EC pending inquiries if they broke election rules.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 July 2006

[Jai Dee]

Four Democrat teams are preparing defence statements against dissolution threat

The Democrat Party has set up four teams to separately prepare statements to defend itself from dissolution threat.

Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon (องอาจ คล้ามไพบูลย์) said the first team, headed by party executive Pichet Panwichartkul (พิเชษฐ์ พันธุ์วิชาติกุล), will counter charges that the party had boycotted the April 2 election and tried to overthrow the government.

The second team will prepare the document in defence of allegation that the party had hired some small parties to contest the snap election in Trang, Mr. Ong-art said, adding this team is headed by deputy leader Witthaya Kaewparadai (วิทยา แก้วภราไดย).

The third team, led by secretary-general Suthep Thuagsuban (สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ), counters a charge of defaming the Thai Rak Thai Party at a press conference on April 22, he said.

The fourth team, headed by deputy secretary-general Thaworn Sen-niam (ถาวร เสนเนียม), fights a charge of obstructing registration of poll candidates in Songkhla, the spokesman said.

All the documents will be submitted to the Constitution Court in 15 days, Mr. Ong-art said.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 July 2006

[John K]

I must say a brilliant move on the military’s part. Something I did not even consider. If Thaksin has his people in key places, he could stage a coup after he is unseated. Now his people are more or less impotent. I wonder what will come of this new twist. I am sure Thaksin must be thrilled that a few more of his claws got pulled.

Story below:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/21Jul2006_news02.php

[lukamar]

If Thaksin has his people in key places, he could stage a coup after he is unseated.

I think you have it 180 degrees out. Even if the CC dissolves the TRT chances are that TS will go free and not be sanctioned or disallowed from running in the next election. Almost everyone agrees that if he runs, along with the other TRT members, he will once again win a majority because of the Northern vote and form the next government. Why would he have to stage a coup? He wouldn't, he'd be in power for another term. Maybe with a new name but the same storefront.

It is much more likely that the army under General Sonthi who supports General Prem, and maybe even with Prem's private blessing, is positioning by transfers his loyal commanders into Bangkok area combat units in the event TS wins the next election. They could then overthrow the new TS government with a coup and would have no opposition because Thaksin's supporters would only be in charge of non combat troops.

[Plus]

If TRT is dissolved, or even if only Thamarak and Thaksin are punished they can't run as any party executive members. They can certainly win seats in Parlament, but forget the PM post, it would have to go to someone else, and Thaksin doesn't have people both loyal and marketable to put up front.

According to The Nation, Paesano ministers don't want to resign, they want ot ditch Thaksin and take control of TRT. And those are most attractive guys - Somkid, Chaturong, and guys who control lots of MPs, like Somsak.

[lukamar]

If TRT is dissolved, or even if only Thamarak and Thaksin are punished they can't run as any party executive members. They can certainly win seats in Parlament, but forget the PM post,

The CC would have to prove a link to TS for him to fall and I don't see that happening. Remember this is the Constitutional Court and not the Kangaroo Court of Middle Class Bangkokian Approval that runs on the street, they need a lot of solid evidence and not some innuendo to unseat the Caretaker. If TS can run for parliament and win his seat - he can become the PM once again.

The Nation is a hotbed of weighted anti Thaksin banter even you can see that, or I hope you can. You have to temper everything they print by about 50% and then read between the lines to figure out the truth.

[hammered]

If TRT is dissolved, or even if only Thamarak and Thaksin are punished they can't run as any party executive members. They can certainly win seats in Parlament, but forget the PM post, it would have to go to someone else, and Thaksin doesn't have people both loyal and marketable to put up front.

According to The Nation, Paesano ministers don't want to resign, they want ot ditch Thaksin and take control of TRT. And those are most attractive guys - Somkid, Chaturong, and guys who control lots of MPs, like Somsak.

Dont forget that the constitutional court is not only made up of judges but also political appointees - 4 I believe. Nobody knows what way they will decide but even if they disolve TRT and fo that matter the Democrats they wil both come back as something else. It seems if the courts are going to sort this out it is not the dissolution case that will change anything. Either one or both parties will run under a new name. If your party is dissolved however, it could ethically make it harder for a leader to assume a high ranking position if anyone in the political establishment ever thinks of ethics.

[Martin]

The term for what we are seeing is: "Jockeying for position".

They are foreseeing 'wobble' when the unmentionable occurs.

And each group wants to make sure that they are not 'wobbled', as much as they would like to be 'wobblers'.

Hopes and fears; fears and hopes. As always.

But, in the last decade, the 'penny has dropped' with the rest of the world that Thailand can be trusted to go wobbling along and not get more than a crease in its knickers, certainly not a twist.

If that 'penny hadn't dropped' , we would now be seeing the overseas money being evacuated like Brits from Lebanon, and the baht dropping like a stone.

Instead the baht is holding up well.

The world is worried about its real crazies, who are likely to knacker their US$ and the euro and pound, not the play-acting Thais and Thai-Chinese.

The misunderstanding of the Thais and Thailand lasted a long time, and was largely due to that governess and her fiction that was thought to be fact. But the misunderstanding has gone at last.

(Not that it ever affected Thailand fundamentally.

A country that could feed itself well, be top of the list of how little food it imported, and have other countries, like Singapore, dependant on its rice exports, doesn't have to be worried about being misunderstood. It can just say: "mae pen lai".)

[hammered]

If Thaksin has his people in key places, he could stage a coup after he is unseated.

I think you have it 180 degrees out. Even if the CC dissolves the TRT chances are that TS will go free and not be sanctioned or disallowed from running in the next election. Almost everyone agrees that if he runs, along with the other TRT members, he will once again win a majority because of the Northern vote and form the next government. Why would he have to stage a coup? He wouldn't, he'd be in power for another term. Maybe with a new name but the same storefront.

It is much more likely that the army under General Sonthi who supports General Prem, and maybe even with Prem's private blessing, is positioning by transfers his loyal commanders into Bangkok area combat units in the event TS wins the next election. They could then overthrow the new TS government with a coup and would have no opposition because Thaksin's supporters would only be in charge of non combat troops.

Certainly now Mr. Thaksin must be worried about his military flank, and your scenario is a possibility. I just wonder if the election issue is clouding things. When will the next election take place? At the moment there is no date. At the moment there is still the election commission question including many court cases. At the moment there is no royal decree announcing the election. This election could be a long way off, in which case maybe your scenario would need ammending to before TS can run in an election.

Somewhere I fel time is the issue but I dont know what constraints there are on time or who they favor.

[Jai Dee]

The Constitution Court president may not attend meetings as party dissolution cases is on-going

The Constitution Court agrees that its president, Ura Wang-omklang (อุระ หวังอ้อมกลาง), should avoid all external meetings, particularly the ones with presidents of the Supreme and Administrative courts during the consideration of dissolution cases against five political parties.

Court secretary-general Paiboon Warahapaithoon (ไพบูลย์ วราหะไพฑูรย์) said judges did not want the public to think that the cases may be discussed at those meetings or results of the consideration could be manipulated.

Mr. Paiboon said the court also was not concerned that eight of its judges have been sued in connection with their invalidation of the April 2 snap election.

The lawsuit was brought against these judges by Chucheep Cheewasut (ชูชีพ ชีวสุทธิ์, chairman of the Constitution Protection Club.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 July 2006

[lukamar]

At the moment there is still the election commission question including many court cases.

I've always wondered about this..

If the Supreme Court finds the EC guilty, the EC can appeal and keep their jobs through the appeal process. If the EC appeal on the grounds that the SC had prejudged and prejudged them because the SC justices had told them and also the press, prior to the start of the trial that the EC should step down. That's a conflict with the process of the SC. The EC could ask that the SC judges be replaced for the appeal because they all had prejudice against them and prejudged the case in the press.. On those grounds the case, because of a lack of judicial quorum, may have to be thrown out and the EC acquitted.

Edited July 21, 2006 by lukamar

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Ong-art demands EC to stricty observe the final stage of the BMC and District Council election

Democrat Spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon (องอาจ คล้ามไพบูลย์) has demanded the Election Commission (EC) to keep a close eye on the final stage of the election of Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) member and District Council, as he is worried that many illegal actions will take place.

Besides, Mr. Ong-art has requested every party to solicit votes in a transparent manner. He said the Democrat has observed that some parties have misused people’s taxes in order to support its MPs.

As for the statements on boards and posters used for soliciting votes that aim to attack the works of Bangkok Governor Aphirak Kosayothin, Mr. Ong-Art said that those statements are groundless, while insisting that Mr. Aphirak has never involved himself in corruption

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 July 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thai army chief delivers 'counter punch' to Thaksin

Thailand's army chief has transferred most of the middle-ranking officers under generals deemed loyal to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in what observers described Thursday as a "counter punch" to the embattled premier.

Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaatglin has signed an order transferring 129 middle-ranking officers, nearly half of whom had been under the command of a clique of generals known to be close to the prime minister, the army's Web site has revealed.

The order, which has caught many by surprise as such transfers usually occur after the top-level military reshuffle on Oct. 1, was seen by political observers as intended to send a message to Thaksin not to interfere in the military's affairs.

"I see it as a counter punch," said Thitinan Pongsudhivak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University. "This a message to Thaksin that they [the military] have some muscle that they can flex too."

"And second it's an outflanking maneuver to try to remove some to the key commanders on Thaksin's side who could be in place to stage a coup," Thitinan added.

Battalion leaders, especially those stationed in Bangkok, have played crucial roles in many of the past 19 military coups d'etat or coup attempts in Thailand over the past seven decades.

Former Thai prime minister, General Prem Tinsulanonda, in a speech delivered last week at a military academy, likened the military to a horse and the government to a jockey, explaining that governments come and go but the military's true loyalty must always be to the nation and the king.

Prem's remarks were made amid rumors that Thaksin was planning to interfere in the annual military reshuffle of top generals, replacing Army Commander-in Chief Sonthi, deemed a Prem loyalist, by his deputy General Pornchai Kranlert, deemed a Thaksin loyalist.

Thaksin yesterday declined to comment on the mid-level military reshuffle, saying it was an internal affair of the military and the responsibility of the army chief.

"The government is only responsible for the reshuffle of top generals, because the list needs to be submitted to the king for approval," Thaksin told reporters.

Source: Taipei Times - 21 July 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thai army shake-up flags new tension

Thailand's army chief has unexpectedly reassigned more than 100 middle-ranking officers thought to be supporters of embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the latest twist in a deepening political crisis.

The movements were taken by analysts to be a sign of tension between telecoms billionaire Thaksin and General Prem Tinsulanonda, a former prime minister and now King Bhumibol Adulyadej's most trusted adviser.

With Thailand mired in political crisis since April's inconclusive and then annulled election, and given its long history of military coups, rumors have swirled about a divided army and factions ready to step in either for or against Thaksin.

Most of the officers moved out of Bangkok served under a group of generals who graduated from the national military academy at the same time as Thaksin, and he is said to have close ties to them.

Thaksin became a policeman after graduating from the military academy, rising to lieutenant-colonel before leaving to start a computer business that grew into the Shin Corp telecommunications giant.

As such, the reshuffle was a clear move by Prem against Thaksin, his opponent in weeks of increasingly high- stakes political shadow-boxing, said analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak, of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

"The recent quiet battle between Thaksin and Prem has forced the military to take sides: you are either with Prem - and intrinsically the king - or you are with Thaksin."

An army spokesman confirmed 129 officers had been reassigned by army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

More and more signs are emerging of a looming head-to-head between Thailand's "old school" elite, whose power has centered on the palace and armed forces, and Thaksin, a rich provincial businessman of Chinese descent.

The self-styled "chief executive PM" ruffled royal feathers last year when he became the first political leader to officiate at a high-profile ceremony at a venerated Buddhist temple inside the palace complex.

Last month, with political opponents accusing him of trying to undermine the crown, Thaksin alleged that "charismatic individuals" were trying to oust him by "unconstitutional means" - remarks taken to be a reference to Prem. The 85-year-old Prem responded by dressing up in his old uniform to tell new military cadets that it was the role of the armed forces to serve the king, not the government of the day.

Thaksin said Thursday he knew nothing of army changes but it would be business as usual as commanders could rotate majors and colonels without necessarily informing him.

He spoke as the king was being prepared for surgery on his spine Thursday night at Bangkok's Siriraj hospital. Hundreds of well-wishers were there as Bhumibol, 78, walked unaided into the hospital, accompanied by Queen Sirikit and other relatives. The king, who celebrated 60 years on the throne last month, is revered by Thais as a champion of the poor and a pillar of stability in a turbulent, coup-prone period in the country's history.

Source: Reuters - 21 July 2006

[Old Man River]

If Thaksin has his people in key places, he could stage a coup after he is unseated.

I think you have it 180 degrees out. Even if the CC dissolves the TRT chances are that TS will go free and not be sanctioned or disallowed from running in the next election. Almost everyone agrees that if he runs, along with the other TRT members, he will once again win a majority because of the Northern vote and form the next government. Why would he have to stage a coup? He wouldn't, he'd be in power for another term. Maybe with a new name but the same storefront.

It is much more likely that the army under General Sonthi who supports General Prem, and maybe even with Prem's private blessing, is positioning by transfers his loyal commanders into Bangkok area combat units in the event TS wins the next election. They could then overthrow the new TS government with a coup and would have no opposition because Thaksin's supporters would only be in charge of non combat troops.

Lukamar, on your first paragraph above, that is exactly what I have been saying. The PM does not need a clampdown, they need and election, and so does the country. On the second paragraph, it makes good reading, but the military would never stage a coup after a democratic election. The military won't overthrow democracy, regardless of who wins. The re-positioning of the military is to ensure that the military decision makers stay the line and protect The King and Country.

[Old Man River]

If TRT is dissolved, or even if only Thamarak and Thaksin are punished they can't run as any party executive members. They can certainly win seats in Parlament, but forget the PM post, it would have to go to someone else, and Thaksin doesn't have people both loyal and marketable to put up front.

According to The Nation, Paesano ministers don't want to resign, they want ot ditch Thaksin and take control of TRT. And those are most attractive guys - Somkid, Chaturong, and guys who control lots of MPs, like Somsak.

I still can help but think that Banharn is cooking up something with the PM. If they join together, then the Paesano ministers really wouldn't have any place to go. None of them have PM experience and all are pretty much on the same level as it relates to power and influence. A marriage of equals in politics seldom works. You normally need the Phu Yai to pull it all together and if, for any reason, Dr.Thaksin is prohibited from becoming PM, his money influence and Banharn would make for a tough team to beat. Failing all this, as it relates to the TRT, you might see Dr. Bhokin move up. While not well loved by the Democrates (Chuan specifically), he is well schooled by and loyal to the PM, and comes from the very powerful Lamsam family.

On a micro basis, the next few months are going to be very interesting.

[Hermano Lobo]

Certainly now Mr. Thaksin must be worried about his military flank, and your scenario is a possibility. I just wonder if the election issue is clouding things. When will the next election take place? At the moment there is no date. At the moment there is still the election commission question including many court cases. At the moment there is no royal decree announcing the election. This election could be a long way off, in which case maybe your scenario would need ammending to before TS can run in an election.

Somewhere I fel time is the issue but I dont know what constraints there are on time or who they favor.

Election decree endorsed by His Majesty

His Majesty the King has endorsed a royal decree to hold the election on October 15, the Cabinet Secretariat announced.

The secretariat announced that His Majesty signed the decree on Thursday and the decree will take effect on August 24 to set October 15 as the election date.

The Nation

Edited July 21, 2006 by Hermano Lobo

[John K]

All the court stuff will be finished by then... I think.... I lost track... So if Thaksin is gone by then is he gone for good?

[Plus]

CC is not a kangaroo court, it has consistently voted pro-Thaksin and his government, beginning in 2001 with Thaksin's aquittal in share hiding scandal. It all started with that bizzare vote counting (7-4-4), then admissions of making decisions to please the voters, promises of money and promotions by Thaksin's wife and so on. Recently appointed CC president Ura has consistently voted pro-Thaksin, too, but it's difficult to say where his loyalties lie now.

If CC dissolves TRT, Thaksin will lose PMship opportunity automatically, if CC decides to punish individuals only, then Thaksin might get convicted as Thamarak's superior (as was recommended by Nam's investigative panel). Either way it's a guesswork at the moment.

If Thaksin escapes the CC, wins the elections, and takes the PMship, people will remind him of his April 4 promise. There has been a precedent - 1992 uprising against Suchinda who went back on his word to give up power ot civilian government after ousting Chatichai in a coup.

Thaksin is completely isolated now and I doubt Banharn will prop up his regime. When Thaksin loses the war, Banharn will be viewed as an accomplice and he doesn't want that. He already drew a flak by simply proposing to take on mediator's role, exactly as he feared.

Paesano group might chose one of them to be the PM, it does not have to be some poo-yai pooling them together - look how Democrat party operates. Somkid would be acceptable to all. They just want to salvage whatever is left of TRT after Thaksin is gone. Bhokin, btw, has resigned from the Cabinet on his real superiors advice and I bet he is not coming back to work for Thaksin.

[lukamar]

If Thaksin escapes the CC, wins the elections, and takes the PMship, people will remind him of his April 4 promise.

Politics has a very short memory. If TS wins another mandate the people will have already accepted that his April 4 statement is down the drain. All he has to say is " I had to do and say what I did, as hard and embarrassing as it was for me, so the street protesters would stop and we could protect the King's Celebrations and Thailand would look great while the eyes of the world were looking on."

The people that march around the street probably won't be happy but their numbers will dwindle fast. We have seen that already. Thai workers in Bangkok can't afford to march around for days or months on end without working. If TS wins he has time on his hands and I don't think that the street protests would be handled in the same way.

[Old Man River]

CC is not a kangaroo court, it has consistently voted pro-Thaksin and his government, beginning in 2001 with Thaksin's aquittal in share hiding scandal. It all started with that bizzare vote counting (7-4-4), then admissions of making decisions to please the voters, promises of money and promotions by Thaksin's wife and so on. Recently appointed CC president Ura has consistently voted pro-Thaksin, too, but it's difficult to say where his loyalties lie now.

If CC dissolves TRT, Thaksin will lose PMship opportunity automatically, if CC decides to punish individuals only, then Thaksin might get convicted as Thamarak's superior (as was recommended by Nam's investigative panel). Either way it's a guesswork at the moment.

If Thaksin escapes the CC, wins the elections, and takes the PMship, people will remind him of his April 4 promise. There has been a precedent - 1992 uprising against Suchinda who went back on his word to give up power ot civilian government after ousting Chatichai in a coup.

Thaksin is completely isolated now and I doubt Banharn will prop up his regime. When Thaksin loses the war, Banharn will be viewed as an accomplice and he doesn't want that. He already drew a flak by simply proposing to take on mediator's role, exactly as he feared.

Paesano group might chose one of them to be the PM, it does not have to be some poo-yai pooling them together - look how Democrat party operates. Somkid would be acceptable to all. They just want to salvage whatever is left of TRT after Thaksin is gone. Bhokin, btw, has resigned from the Cabinet on his real superiors advice and I bet he is not coming back to work for Thaksin.

Plus, the easiest thing in the world to do is wait for someone else to go out on the line with their opinion and then knock it down. What do you think will happen during the next 6 months and why? In case you believe in this sort of thing, in Bangkok, the well known astrologists are saying that something bad will happen to the PM in March 2007.

On your comments, I am completely surprised at your announcement that Dr. Bohkin has resigned his post from the TRT. I must have missed this and can't seem to find it anywhere else, TV included.

Relating to Khun Banharn, Dr. Thaksin still continues to hold the power. The question is what Dr. Thaksin will offer to Khuh Banharn in return. This is what Khun Banharn is waiting to find out.

On your comment on how the Democrate Party operates, you are forgetting that they have a long history, with plenty of political experience at the most senior levels. There is a reason that while Khun Abhisit is Party leader that Khun Chuan is doing most of the talking these days (as Chairman of the Advsory Committee). A Phu Yai in Thai politics is very important. Not much different really from other countries.

[Martin]

This all reminds me of what used to happen, as a lad, before we played football. We "picked up".

That is, the two opposing captains chose who would play on their side, one player at a time, and having alternative 'picks'.

They tossed a coin for who got the advantage of 'first pick'.

Suppose the winner of the toss chose, as his first pick, the best goalkeeper to be on his side?

Then the other captain would choose the best centre-forward to balance things.

And so it would go on.

When about five players had been chosen for each side, you began to see what sort of people the two captains were.

One might be a self-confident leader (as he would say----though his detractors would say he was an overbearing dictator) and go on making his decisions all on his own.

The other might be more democratic and listen to the advice being offered by his already-chosen players as to who next to pick. He would be seen as 'more sensible' by his supporters---and as 'unable to make up his own mind' by his detractors.

Many keen players never wanted to be a captain, as they saw that all that happened was that a captain had all this pressure during 'picking up', and ended up with a load of aggro.

The Sport's Master had the problem of who to choose to be captains.

If he chose two who wanted to be captains, he ended up wih two 'big heads' who might well cock things up.

But if he left it to the class to decide who should be the captains, a lot of potential playing time could be lost before 'picking up' even started!

(But, 'mae pen lie'. Time is not pressing in Krung Thep).

[John K]

Thaksin 'to take a break after election'

NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will take a break from politics and not accept the prime ministership after the Oct 15 election, said a highly-placed source in the Thai Rak Thai party yesterday. The source's remarks came as government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said Mr Thaksin would stand as Thai Rak Thai's number-one party-list candidate in the poll.

The source insisted that the party leader would take a break from politics after the election.

''However, the issue could not be officially announced as the party feared it could jeopardise the party's election campaign and Thai Rak Thai supporters' confidence,'' he said.

The comments came after the government announced that a royal decree had set the election for Oct 15.

A cabinet minister said an opinion poll would be conducted to check the popularity rating of all Thai Rak Thai deputy party leaders to see who among them is the most suitable choice for the party leadership during Mr Thaksin's absence from politics.

Previous polls had shown that Somkid Jatusripitak and Sudarat Keyuraphan were the most popular with the party's supporters in Bangkok.

A source said the party leader was not worried about his replacement as he believed there were several people good enough to step into his shoes. However, Mr Thaksin's preferred choice may not be acceptable to most party members and the public.

Mr Thaksin has reportedly backed Pongthep Thepkanchana as his successor, but several leading figures in the party have opposed the move. Some issued an ultimatum, threatening to leave the party if Mr Pongthep became prime minister after the election.

The People's Alliance for Democracy has asked Mr Thaksin to keep his word, made on April 4 at the height of the protests against him.

Mr Thaksin said then that he would not assume the premiership until political reform has been completed

more here

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/22Jul2006_news02.php

[John K]

Now talk about 60-20-20 here is a perfect example.

You know there is not a word of truth to this, as soon as he steps down his a** is finished.

[hammered]

Now talk about 60-20-20 here is a perfect example.

You know there is not a word of truth to this, as soon as he steps down his a** is finished.

Interseting developments.

Considering the next parliament has been called on and will be under pressure to make electoral reforms it will probably be a short a parliament. In that case I could see Mr. Thaksin taking a break and leaving a proxy of some sort in his place before returning to contest the next election. Somewhere behind the scenes compromises have been/are being made and the details of these will probably come out over the next few days/weeks/months.

[Jai Dee]

The election date of October 15 has set by Royal Decree.

Read and discuss the latest political developments in this thread.

/Closed.