Thaksin gained most from coup, Chalerm claims
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra is the winner of the military coup and Pheu Thai Party will end up winning the next general election, former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung has told party colleagues close to him.

Chalerm said Thaksin and Pheu Thai reaped the most from the coup led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha because no corruption charges had been pressed against members of the ousted government led by Thaksin's sister Yingluck, a Pheu Thai source revealed yesterday.

This was exacerbated by the fact that the military rulers had also not branded her government as disloyal to the monarchy, Chalerm said.

"The Democrats and the People's Democratic Reform Committee are the ones coughing blood and gained nothing," he was quoted as saying. "Thaksin seems to be happiest. Because of the coup, Thaksin must reward Prayut with 12 cartons of Petrus [a pricey wine].

"Once the election is held, Thaksin's name will continue to be sellable in the North and Northeast, except if the military-installed government can solve the economic problems of rural people. If that happens, Pheu Thai's chances of an easy win will have to be re-evaluated."

However, Chalerm believes there are only two scenarios that could lead to a Pheu Thai defeat: Thaksin dies or quits politics.

"If either of these two scenarios do not happen, Pheu Thai will always win any general election," he said.

He ruled out the possibility that Prayut would fulfil the wishes of Pheu Thai's rivals by writing a charter that sabotaged the Thaksin camp.

"Prayut is not stupid enough to do such a thing because one day he has to step down and continue living in the country. It is unlikely he would do anything which brings negative consequences onto himself."

Chalerm said the controversial "blanket amnesty" brought an end to the Yingluck government because it provided the PDRC with a valid reason to overthrow the government.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thaksin-gained-most-from-coup-Chalerm-claims-30245771.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-19

This will be good.

This general is doing more good for Thailand than anyone has ever-

He is destroying its image and reputation to such an extent he is turning all the country slowly Red.

By the time Bangkok crashes and businesses vanish and the middle class Thai/Chinese Gold store owners lament their Protests which started almost a year ago-

This Junta would have Galvanised the entire country *(against it

Even right wing elitist mouth pieces like the NATION newspaper are starting to raise questions about the course this THAI_TANIC is on.

Which is extraordinary in itself

Drunk and delusional blabbermouth. Nothing he says ever comes to fruition.

Fade into obscurity please.

Sent from my LG-D858

An astute and balanced assessment of the situation by one in the know (as evidenced by the below quote).

"Chalerm said the controversial "blanket amnesty" brought an end to the Yingluck government because it (finally) provided the PDRC with a valid reason to overthrow the government".

And just think, if the Yellows had let democracy run it's course, Thaksin would probably have been legitimately voted out of office by now.

Who unplugged Chalerm's cork?

Oh well we have been been missing his idiocy.

Prayut is not stupid enough to do such a thing because one day he has to step down and continue living in the country. It is unlikely he would do anything which brings negative consequences onto himself."

This would definitely be considered a "veiled threat"!

I wonder how Prayuth will react to it?

I wonder who or what rattled his cage but it's not a problem because if he feels more and more confident he's bound to really step over the line and the junta will lose face if they let him ramble on given all the edicts on criticism etc.

Vietnam gained most from the coup, with international tourists up 21% in the first 6 months of 2014.

Too early to have exact statistics about investments, but these will be up too.

Lets face it Prayuth has a huge task on his hands and it doesn't help to have drunken fools ranting in nonsensical ways.

If Prayuth ruled with an iron fist he could change LOS quickly, but his softly softly approach is going to take a lot longer!

I'll admit to being sober as I read this interview, but I couldn't swear that Charlem was when gave it.

Chateau Petrus indeed is an exquisite wine. The twelve cartons remark sums it up well: Chalerm is as spunge. Certainly not a person who can appreciate subtlety or see things clearly. Threatening and insulting Prayuth may very well bounce back at him.

Prayut is not stupid enough to do such a thing because one day he has to step down and continue living in the country. It is unlikely he would do anything which brings negative consequences onto himself."

This would definitely be considered a "veiled threat"!

I wonder how Prayuth will react to it?

It is reality.

Prayuth has mounted a tiger, if he ever wants to dismount without being devoured, there a certain things that he cannot do.

The General, though he appears not to realise it, is in a truly unenviable position.

Thaksin on the other hand, is sitting pretty.

The thai people have been robbed twice by coups and their demroracy shredded along with the constitution .

The yellow elite propaganda machine while working overtime at the beginning of this latest farce but now the wheels are falling off and the people are starting to wake up that this latest coup is of no benefit to them and it's just the same old grab for power that they can't win legit so they take by force

Unfortunately for the yellows the ones they refer to as buffalo brains are not quite that stupid and love their demroracy and their elected leaders who win time and time again via the ballot box.

Preventing them from voting then taking away their elected leader in yingluck has the exact opposite effect on the people on which the yellow elite desire .

Hold an election tomorrow and the PTP would walk in and the junta knows it that's why anywhere yingluck goes she is closely monitored because they know how popular she is.

You know the people are wearing thin of this government when you have seen the press over the last couple of weeks asking a little bit harder questions of the government and the angry no responsive answers they are receiving .

Koh Tao is a big player in all of thus as the PM has thrown his weight behind the RTP which is looking very shaky.

Prayuth didn't do too badly - got to be PM, go on telly, give out posts to his pals.

His real reward will come when he is kicked upstairs to a Privy C position.

I note that Prayut's strategy of ending the old style politics and bringing reconciliation is having the effects (lack of) many of us expected.

The fact is that he is right and that what bother so many of the TV Junta. PT would win because the current so called government is one sided.

An astute and balanced assessment of the situation by one in the know (as evidenced by the below quote).

"Chalerm said the controversial "blanket amnesty" brought an end to the Yingluck government because it (finally) provided the PDRC with a valid reason to overthrow the government".

And just think, if the Yellows had let democracy run it's course, Thaksin would probably have been legitimately voted out of office by now.

The people have the democratic right to protest.

When a govt is trying to pass an amnesty bill for criminals and corrupt politicians because their leader is both they are especially entitled to do so.

The right to protest inept govt and corruption is part of democracy.

They're putting Thaksin in the news again. It didn't take long and they are quoting Chalerm.

Why does Chalerm even make these statements? "Chalerm believes there are only two scenarios that could lead to a Pheu Thai defeat: Thaksin dies or quits politics."

Didn't Thaksin assert that he was finished with politics? Or, is was this a lie?

Why does Chalerm even make these statements? "Chalerm believes there are only two scenarios that could lead to a Pheu Thai defeat: Thaksin dies or quits politics."

Didn't Thaksin assert that he was finished with politics? Or, is was this a lie?

Yes it was.

Vietnam gained most from the coup, with international tourists up 21% in the first 6 months of 2014.

Too early to have exact statistics about investments, but these will be up too.

Yes a friend of mine works for flight centre in Sydney and this time of year they average 50-70 bookings a week in their busy city office to Thailand.

She said her agency sold 15 tickets a fall of 65% on last year and its constant.

Not just a bad week.

Their High season won't materialise *(if this trend is global in western countries)

Interesting Chalerm forgot to mention the ongoing investigation into supplying weapons and finance to support terrorism.

many pages of this book yet to be turned Chalerm

Despite the man being a complete cretin he is probably right.

Thaksin must be delighted with the way the current administration is assisting his future plans, whatever they may be,and probably much quicker than he could have ever anticipated.

If the reforms limit those that can vote to those that have achieved a military rank of captain or equivalent then the election in the distant future will go the elites way. Simply make sure that only their boys can stand. But that would just be unlikely- wouldn't it?

He is well known for the intellectual sharpness and the overwhelming truth of his statements from the time when he was in office

Why does Chalerm even make these statements? "Chalerm believes there are only two scenarios that could lead to a Pheu Thai defeat: Thaksin dies or quits politics."

Didn't Thaksin assert that he was finished with politics? Or, is was this a lie?

Terminalogical inexactitude.

Prayut is not stupid enough to do such a thing because one day he has to step down and continue living in the country. It is unlikely he would do anything which brings negative consequences onto himself."

This would definitely be considered a "veiled threat"!

I wonder how Prayuth will react to it?

It is reality.

Prayuth has mounted a tiger, if he ever wants to dismount without being devoured, there a certain things that he cannot do.

The General, though he appears not to realise it, is in a truly unenviable position.

Thaksin on the other hand, is sitting pretty.

Sitting pretty but impotently in the desert, counting the grains of sand as the years go by and he's still no nearer to coming home. All he can do is hope Prayud fails abysmally so come the next election the north and Issan are still loyal to his sad bunch of minions.

Don't you red supporters feel ashamed that someone like Chalerm, a perfect example of the Thai patronage system at its worst, is his main supporter?

..or if Thaksin dies or quits politics ...... just a question of when then as the first is a given.

Prayut is not stupid enough to do such a thing because one day he has to step down and continue living in the country. It is unlikely he would do anything which brings negative consequences onto himself."

This would definitely be considered a "veiled threat"!

I wonder how Prayuth will react to it?

It is reality.

Prayuth has mounted a tiger, if he ever wants to dismount without being devoured, there a certain things that he cannot do.

The General, though he appears not to realise it, is in a truly unenviable position.

Thaksin on the other hand, is sitting pretty.

Chalerm had a case to make but his comments don't support it.Most of us will have recognised his errors and illogicalities.Interestingly he attaches much more reliance on Thaksin personally than reality justifies (perhaps reflecting his godfather mentality).In my view Thaksin has no further personal role in Thai politics other than his current indirect one.So in short one can dismiss Chalerm's meanderings.

But there is a case that Thaksin has "won" or rather that the old order has lost - even against the background of current events which might seem to demonstrate the opposite.What's happening in Thailand is hardly unique - a shift of power from established elites to a wider grouping.In UK this happened in the mid nineteenth century and thereafter.There was a historic compromise in which the old order was allowed to retain wealth and influence.The British upper classes showed intelligence and enlightened self interest in the way that their Thai equivalents generally have not.In fact the latter have generally shown extreme stupidity.The real objective of the Junta and its backers is to root out "Thaksinism".I don't really understand how this will be done.One can exile the man in established Thai tradition and ban his family/friends/associates from office - but to repress the forces he stood for is impossible, like King Canute commanding the sea to retreat.For many including me it's irritating that such a man as Thaksin - vain, overbearing and corrupt - holds this role.But hold it he does and he has changed the course of Thai politics forever.But ultimately his role is just that of a catalyst.

nice to hear hes happy to spend the rest of his wasted life in the desert.

we should harass chalerm at every op about ai burd, now that he is no longer chief of police