SPECIAL REPORT
Pheu Thai raises its head again
Praphan Jindalertudomdee
The Nation


A screen capture of the animation film

After months of silence, politicians, red-shirt leaders making public appearances after getting Thaksin okay

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party chose to go silent after its government was overthrown in the May 22 coup, and its politicians and party leaders began maintaining a low profile where the media was concerned.

Many appeared to refrain from making any political comments, because those who did say something were either summoned or received warnings from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is widely believed to be controlling Pheu Thai from behind the scenes, obviously didn't want any politician from his party to get in the NCPO's way for fear that he might be blamed for the junta's failure to attain its goals.

However, on Monday, Thaksin's son Panthongtae posted the following message on Facebook and Instagram: "In three days, he will be back."

This message left many wondering if Panthongtae was referring to his father, and if he would indeed return to Thailand.

Thaksin fled the country in 2008, shortly before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders sentenced him in absentia to two years in jail for abuse of power.

He has since lived in exile overseas.

On Tuesday, Panthongtae again posted the message: "In two days and everyone will stop missing him", along with the YouTube link (youtube.com/thaksinstory).

The link leads to a 2.14-minute animation clip, titled "Ta Doo Dao, Thao Tid Din" (Looking at Stars with Feet on the Ground), depicting Thaksin's life.

The lyrics in the accompanying soundtrack say: "Looking at the stars with feet on the ground, this is Thaksin who always defies his fate."

The clip ends with the words "coming soon" in English.

The trailer says the entire film is available from yesterday, but does not say where one can find it.

The phrase "Ta Doo Dao, Thao Tid Din" is familiar to both supporters and detractors of Thaksin.

It was the title of Thaksin's popular biography, though plans of turning it into a television series had to be suspended after the anti-Thaksin movement went into full swing.

This animation seems to have been timed with Thaksin's recent comment, saying it was time for his political allies to resume their activities.

He recently met Pheu Thai politicians and red-shirt leaders overseas and reportedly said: "We should wait until there is a new government before making political moves again."

Yingluck, former PM and Thaksin's younger sister, has started posting messages on Facebook again, as have leaders of the leaders of the red-shirt United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and Pheu Thai politicians, who are also making public appearances. Those back in the public eye include red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua and party spokesman Prompong Nopparit.

Red-shirt leaders in the provinces also seem to be meeting frequently to exchange political views, though some hardline red shirts are being closely watched by the NCPO.

It seems like Thaksin, Pheu Thai and the UDD are trying to reclaim their space in the political arena and it would be interesting to see if they succeed and what the NCPO would do in response.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Pheu-Thai-raises-its-head-again-30243121.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-12

Any rice farmer with a death-wish will be cheering this news. Looks like they are getting set up for the next plundering spree.

"He has since lived in exile overseas"

He's not in exile. He's a criminal fugitive evading justice. It's not the same thing.

"The trailer says the entire film is available from yesterday, but does not say where one can find it."

Thank goodness for that.

Yet it show clearly that it is on You Tube.

Thaksin and Yingluck are still very popular with the thai people and the junta knows it and I think there are deals being done int the background to allow a more peaceful transition of government with new rules for the politicians when the next election is announced.

Maybe there will be no red and yellow shirts or black and pink shirts but one thing for sure is when that day comes you can rest assured that if Thaksin and Yingluck are still around which they will be then it will be another landslide just as it has been in the past .

The junta knows this so compromises will be made on both sides maybe even allowing Thaksin to return and granted amnesty which would go along way to calming the situation and allowing Thailand to move ahead.

Thaksin and Yingluck are still very popular with the thai people and the junta knows it and I think there are deals being done int the background to allow a more peaceful transition of government with new rules for the politicians when the next election is announced.

Maybe there will be no red and yellow shirts or black and pink shirts but one thing for sure is when that day comes you can rest assured that if Thaksin and Yingluck are still around which they will be then it will be another landslide just as it has been in the past .

The junta knows this so compromises will be made on both sides maybe even allowing Thaksin to return and granted amnesty which would go along way to calming the situation and allowing Thailand to move ahead.

"even allowing Thaksin to return and granted amnesty which would go along way to calming the situation and allowing Thailand to move ahead."

You clearly do not remember, but less than 1 year ago, Thaksin tried to ram through his amnesty at 4am, which also would have freed from prison about 25,000 rapists, murderers and thieves. The effect of this could not be described as "calming", in fact it was the precursor to pure anarchy. Try again.

Red shirt leaders making public appearances after getting Thaksin okay.

What should we do Mr. T we are incapable of thinking for ourselves ? Actually we can, after a fashion, but are afraid you'll stop our allowances.

Different situation now Jaidam to 12 months ago as it's a whole new ball game.

If you think the Shinawatras are just going to go away then you are sadly mistaken.They remain extremely popular and that is just a fact and I would prefer to see a deal done to allow Thaksin back otherwise the whole situation will just keep going around in circles.

Thaksin and Yingluck are still very popular with the thai people and the junta knows it and I think there are deals being done int the background to allow a more peaceful transition of government with new rules for the politicians when the next election is announced.

Maybe there will be no red and yellow shirts or black and pink shirts but one thing for sure is when that day comes you can rest assured that if Thaksin and Yingluck are still around which they will be then it will be another landslide just as it has been in the past .

The junta knows this so compromises will be made on both sides maybe even allowing Thaksin to return and granted amnesty which would go along way to calming the situation and allowing Thailand to move ahead.

If PT or whatever they become win the election then fine, but they will have to govern in a legitimate manner and not as they have done in the past.

No problems with that anywhere I would guess, however.....no more amnesties.

thaksin broke the law. He is a criminal. He has to go to gaol or there will never be any rule of law.

Gen. Prayuth is a man of action, Thaksin is a man of promises, all broken. I personally believe that those who continue to suggest that the Shin popularity will never fade are fooling themselves. Many independent polls have indicated that Prayuth's popularity is growing day by day; that therefore suggests that the support of the people has to shift from elsewhere, in this case, it can only be the Shin family.

I believe, and truly hope, that the people of Thailand who they threw their support behind Thaksin and his bunch of thieves have now seen through the selfish, corrupt practices (failed populist policies) that they stood for (and will always stand for) and instead, throw their support behind the rising tide of anti-corruption, thereby ensuring that Thaksin, and all others like him, will be kept out of politics in the future.

However they are still in deep denial over any wrong doing in 2010 in spite of the increasing proof.

Thanawut Wichaidit, spokesman for the red-shirt United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, said the red shirts were confident there were no "men in black" among their protesters during the unrest of 2010.

"We fight peacefully, and the red shirts had nothing to do" with the violent attack, he said.

I don't see Thaksin coming back in the short term but quite sure he will be back,or at the very least a Thaksin related party will be in power again within the next couple of years.

And as mentioned now on numerous occasions there must have been many deals done with the Junta and Thaksin's mob as the current big boss knows that the majority of the populace will only vote one way and the old adage "keep your enemies closer" probably applies here.

Interesting times as pre coup all deals were done with Suthep and the Dems and now they have moved in to insignificance.

However they are still in deep denial over any wrong doing in 2010 in spite of the increasing proof.

Thanawut Wichaidit, spokesman for the red-shirt United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, said the red shirts were confident there were no "men in black" among their protesters during the unrest of 2010.

"We fight peacefully, and the red shirts had nothing to do" with the violent attack, he said.

I thought that yesterday the MIB had confessed to attacking the redshirts and the military?

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

The article clearly states that the men in black shot army troops and civilians, not red shirts. All the video from 2010 shows the black shirts among the red shirts. Please don't muddy the waters with these statements.

However they are still in deep denial over any wrong doing in 2010 in spite of the increasing proof.

Thanawut Wichaidit, spokesman for the red-shirt United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, said the red shirts were confident there were no "men in black" among their protesters during the unrest of 2010.

"We fight peacefully, and the red shirts had nothing to do" with the violent attack, he said.

I thought that yesterday the MIB had confessed to attacking the redshirts and the military?

...No, they confessed to attacking civilians and the military.

Those back in the public eye include red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua and party spokesman ... Prompong Nopparit...!

How the &*%@ is this guy still walking free? His sentence was custodial and non-suspended...!!

Thaksin and Yingluck are still very popular with the thai people and the junta knows it and I think there are deals being done int the background to allow a more peaceful transition of government with new rules for the politicians when the next election is announced.

Maybe there will be no red and yellow shirts or black and pink shirts but one thing for sure is when that day comes you can rest assured that if Thaksin and Yingluck are still around which they will be then it will be another landslide just as it has been in the past .

The junta knows this so compromises will be made on both sides maybe even allowing Thaksin to return and granted amnesty which would go along way to calming the situation and allowing Thailand to move ahead.

You have a VERY short memory.

"The link leads to a 2.14-minute animation clip, titled "Ta Doo Dao, Thao Tid Din" (Looking at Stars with Feet on the Ground), depicting Thaksin's life."

That video and the newer, longer one posted on the same YouTube channel are seriously demented depicting their lying propaganda BS with animation.

It takes a sick, delusional mind to create that crap.

I like how people turn to the independent polls of 1275 from in and around bangkok in a society where under this political climate are really going to allow their true feelings to be aired in public!!

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

The article clearly states that the men in black shot army troops and civilians, not red shirts. All the video from 2010 shows the black shirts among the red shirts. Please don't muddy the waters with these statements.

Red shirts are civilians.

Thaksin and Yingluck are still very popular with the thai people and the junta knows it and I think there are deals being done int the background to allow a more peaceful transition of government with new rules for the politicians when the next election is announced.

Maybe there will be no red and yellow shirts or black and pink shirts but one thing for sure is when that day comes you can rest assured that if Thaksin and Yingluck are still around which they will be then it will be another landslide just as it has been in the past .

The junta knows this so compromises will be made on both sides maybe even allowing Thaksin to return and granted amnesty which would go along way to calming the situation and allowing Thailand to move ahead.

If PT or whatever they become win the election then fine, but they will have to govern in a legitimate manner and not as they have done in the past.

No problems with that anywhere I would guess, however.....no more amnesties.

thaksin broke the law. He is a criminal. He has to go to gaol or there will never be any rule of law.

There was generally no issue with the PPP and PTP governments when they first came to power. The issues started when they began their efforts to whitewash Thaksin. If a Thaksin proxy party wins the next election, it will be exactly the same. Initially all will be fine. Then they will start their moves to whitewash Thaksin. Then the protests will start.

Thaksin and Yingluck are still very popular with the thai people

SOME Thai people... read: those easily bought/brainwashed.

However they are still in deep denial over any wrong doing in 2010 in spite of the increasing proof.

Thanawut Wichaidit, spokesman for the red-shirt United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, said the red shirts were confident there were no "men in black" among their protesters during the unrest of 2010.

"We fight peacefully, and the red shirts had nothing to do" with the violent attack, he said.

I thought that yesterday the MIB had confessed to attacking the redshirts and the military?

...No, they confessed to attacking civilians and the military.

"Somyot said the suspects confessed to being involved with the M79 grenade attacks on the red shirt protesters and the military officials on April 10. He however refused to reveal details of the investigation in which the suspects were implicated."

Hasn't Thaksin let us farangs roam free? Also haven't his policies kept Thais miserably poor, which in turn allowed steady supply of cheap virgin meat to expat joints, not to mention exquisitly low maid/housekeeping wages nationwide? Doesn't it make him our best friend?

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

The article clearly states that the men in black shot army troops and civilians, not red shirts. All the video from 2010 shows the black shirts among the red shirts. Please don't muddy the waters with these statements.

"Deputy police chief Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang identified the suspects as Kittisak Soomsri, 45, Preecha Yuyen, 24, Ronnarit Surisa, 33, Chamnarn Pakichai, 45 and Punika Chusri. Two others - Wattanachok Jeenpui, 23 and Thanadet Ekapiwat, 39 - are still at large;"

"Somyot said the suspects confessed to being involved with the M79 grenade attacks on the red shirt protesters and the military officials on April 10. He however refused to reveal details of the investigation in which the suspects were implicated."

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

The article clearly states that the men in black shot army troops and civilians, not red shirts. All the video from 2010 shows the black shirts among the red shirts. Please don't muddy the waters with these statements.

Red shirts are civilians.

Actually, red shirts are employees.

Hasn't Thaksin let us farangs roam free? Also haven't his policies kept Thais miserably poor, which in turn allowed steady supply of cheap virgin meat to expat joints, not to mention low-cost maid/housekeeping wages nationwide? Doesn't it make him our best friend?

Even if he has done all that, the answer is still NO.

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

The article clearly states that the men in black shot army troops and civilians, not red shirts. All the video from 2010 shows the black shirts among the red shirts. Please don't muddy the waters with these statements.

It was not me that made that statement mate it was a red shirt leader, see the topic on the MIB being arrested post #109.