Abhisit warns of problems unless draft constitution is amended

[Lite Beer]

Abhisit warns of problems unless draft constitution is amended

BANGKOK: -- Any achievements by the post-coup government while in power will be lost without significant changes to the country's draft constitution, Democrat Party leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned.

The military toppled an elected government last May and is engineering wide-ranging reforms designed to heal the country's deep political divisions.

But both the Democrat Party and its rivals have called the draft charter undemocratic, saying it could herald more turmoil under a weak coalition government.

"If they don't come up with a constitution that is accepted, and cannot come up with one that can be sustained, they will have lost everything," said Abhisit, who was prime minister from 2008 to 2011.

"Whatever they have achieved will just come to nothing."

Charter drafters have worked on the false assumption that weakening political parties would prevent abuse of power and stem corruption, Abhisit said.

But a weakened party system would play into the hands of politicians such as exiled billionaire and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he added.

"He's got the resources to draw politicians away from political parties into groupings that could actually form a new coalition," he said.

Thailand has been divided for more than a decade between supporters of Thaksin and the Bangkok-based royalist-military establishment, which reviled Thaksin's popularity.

Abhisit said his party had "never had a problem" with Thaksin's Pheu Thai Party but that it should take the opportunity to move away from the "Thaksin agenda".

He added: "I've always maintained that the conflict has been between Thaksin and the Thai state. That should give a clue to the people in power, as well that the secret of reconciliation is to get beyond the Thaksin issue."

A year after then army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha launched the coup to restore order following months of protests, Abhisit said the current administration still had a long way to go to tackle Thailand's political problems.

"What I would warn the current regime is that I don’t think they have been able to get to grips with what was wrong with the country before May 22 ... They still have time to rectify that," he said.

Wide public debate was needed on the constitution and it would be better to delay elections set for early next year if necessary to get the charter right, Abhisit said.

"There is no way they can correct what I see as mistakes until they open a forum and open their minds," he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Abhisit-warns-of-problems-unless-draft-constitutio-30259243.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-03

[jamesjohnsonthird]

"Thailand has been divided for more than a decade between supporters of Thaksin and the Bangkok-based royalist-military establishment, which reviled Thaksin's popularity."

Exactly right.

Sore losers, can't win an election so the use mobs, the courts and Army to keep wrestle control from the voters.

[LuckyLew]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

[jamesjohnsonthird]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

The divide will continue until the elite allow an election to stand.

[greenchair]

Thaksin would have been voted out years ago, if the wheels of democracy had been allowed to turn fully. If the opposition had exposed the rice scheme , Put forward some of the policies that they are now implementing. They certainly would have had a good chance of toppling the yingluck government. Instead, they have created enemies for themselves and lost some of their support.

They could have an election,using the 1997 constitution. Then rewrite it over a 2 - 4 year period with representatives from all 74 parties. There could be poll study over each section , and a referendum at the end in conjunction with the new election. Is it absolutely necessary to have a new constitution before elections? They 1997 constitution, with one clause might be a better solution. It could state that during the 4 years of the elected government, a new constitution will be drafted by a coalition of all parties.

The current constitution is clearly not being accepted, even by the nrc and the drafters themselves.

[EnzoRippo]

To discuss about this constitution is useless when we know that as soon as something is not running exactly as the Establishment wishes "they" create the circumstances bringing another coup.

Please remember that the 2006 constitution was NOT a good one already. The only one which was respecting the population was the 1997 one.

Even with a written by Army constitution, like in 2006, another coup then a Junta with a strong fist is still possible.

The constitution has NOTHING to do with all of this. The only question is "Is establishment ready to share the power and the prosperity with the Thai population?"

[NeilSA1]

Thaksin would have been voted out years ago, if the wheels of democracy had been allowed to turn fully. If the opposition had exposed the rice scheme , Put forward some of the policies that they are now implementing. They certainly would have had a good chance of toppling the yingluck government. Instead, they have created enemies for themselves and lost some of their support.

They could have an election,using the 1997 constitution. Then rewrite it over a 2 - 4 year period with representatives from all 74 parties. There could be poll study over each section , and a referendum at the end in conjunction with the new election. Is it absolutely necessary to have a new constitution before elections? They 1997 constitution, with one clause might be a better solution. It could state that during the 4 years of the elected government, a new constitution will be drafted by a coalition of all parties.

The current constitution is clearly not being accepted, even by the nrc and the drafters themselves.

The opposition did try and expose the rice scheme as far back as 2011.

• Thai Opposition Party Calls New Rice Buying Scheme ...

  www.oryza.com/.../thai-opposition-party-calls-new-rice-buying-scheme-i...

  Aug 25, 2011 - Thailand's opposition party is criticizing the new government's rice ...expose the state to possible huge losses, would allow Viet rice more ...

Another article -

qz.com/.../as-protests-rage-thailand-admits-its-rice-subsidy-scheme-was-p...

o

o

Nov 12, 2013 - Thailand's ruinous rice subsidy program, which buys rice from farmers at ... from supporters of the opposition party, who are furious about Prime ...

The program was designed to curry favor among the country’s rural voters, but it has taken a heavy toll on rice exports and incurred massive public costs—a whopping $21 billion since 2011. Now government officials have “acknowledged the [iMF] staff’s concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of the scheme,

[JAG]

To discuss about this constitution is useless when we know that as soon as something is not running exactly as the Establishment wishes "they" create the circumstances bringing another coup.

Please remember that the 2006 constitution was NOT a good one already. The only one which was respecting the population was the 1997 one.

Even with a written by Army constitution, like in 2006, another coup then a Junta with a strong fist is still possible.

The constitution has NOTHING to do with all of this. The only question is "Is establishment ready to share the power and the prosperity with the Thai population?"

And the answer is a resounding no.

They will continue with this cycle: electoral rejection, oust elected government, force own regime upon the country, attempt to rewrite rules to guarantee winning, electoral rejection and so on, until the Thai people finally lose patience and give them a bloody nose.

Edited May 3, 2015 by JAG

[kimamey]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

The divide will continue until the elite allow an election to stand.

This seems to ignore the facts. The election win by PTP was accepted and they were in power for over 2 years. The fact that they installed Yingluck instead of one of the many experienced politicians in the party as party leader and PM was always going to raise suspicions of Thaksin's influence. Since he was a convicted criminal on the run and not elected that was going to be a problem. If he could have stopped his meddling and obsession for amnesty at all costs they may have remained in power. The PTP were democratically elected but didn't stick to those principals.

The coup did bring peace but whether it brings proper reform is another matter. Sometimes it looks like it might but often it doesn't. I don't think the coup will help the Democrats and let's be honest if the were just after power they would probably be better off just offering more than PTP. Why didn't they? Maybe they knew the offers made weren't sustainable financially. The PTP tried to lower the price of rice but backed down after threats of protests by farmers who obviously didn't agree with the democratically elected government.

I think if Thaksin's influence could be removed then the PTP could get on with being a proper political party and work for the country. I don't believe there aren't some, in fact many in the PTP who want to do what's best for the people given the chance. It's possible they could even work with people like Abhisit. Yingluck was never going to be a proper politician or PM as she didn't have the experience and her party and brother couldn't trust her to appear in parliament. The only time she showed her real ability was during the floods when she and Abhisit worked together and during the protests in 2013 when he put forward his plans. Regardless of their merit she said they should at least be considered. They weren't and things got worse but it showed she knew the value of compromise. Informatory it seems this with power weren't interested.

Edited May 3, 2015 by kimamey

[GringoJoe]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

You could not be more wrong.

The so called Thaksin divide will go on long after Thaksin is dead, the elites will just create another bogeyman to justify their oppression of the poor.

[halloween]

"Thailand has been divided for more than a decade between supporters of Thaksin and the Bangkok-based royalist-military establishment, which reviled Thaksin's popularity."

Exactly right.

Sore losers, can't win an election so the use mobs, the courts and Army to keep wrestle control from the voters.

You don't seem to see the problem. Corrupt politicians who buy their way into power with hugely expensive populist policies and then proceed to line their own pockets have to be stopped for the future benefit of the nation.

Yingluk's government is the perfect example, over THB700 billion wasted in the rice scam alone, just to get elected, and then policy after policy to benefit herself, family and cronies. And what is there is to show for it?

Representative government SHOULD provide what the nation needs, not necessarily what it wants, using sound judgement to weigh priorities and costs. Pure democracy, where everybody votes on every decision, will never work because too many will vote for a pay rise and tax cut without weighing the consequences.

"Elect me and everybody will be rich in 6 months!" is obvious tripe, but it's what Thaksin offers in one version or another, and quite a few think it's delicious with baht sauce.

[Alwyn]

Thaksin would have been voted out years ago, if the wheels of democracy had been allowed to turn fully. If the opposition had exposed the rice scheme , Put forward some of the policies that they are now implementing. They certainly would have had a good chance of toppling the yingluck government. Instead, they have created enemies for themselves and lost some of their support.

They could have an election,using the 1997 constitution. Then rewrite it over a 2 - 4 year period with representatives from all 74 parties. There could be poll study over each section , and a referendum at the end in conjunction with the new election. Is it absolutely necessary to have a new constitution before elections? They 1997 constitution, with one clause might be a better solution. It could state that during the 4 years of the elected government, a new constitution will be drafted by a coalition of all parties.

The current constitution is clearly not being accepted, even by the nrc and the drafters themselves.

The opposition did try and expose the rice scheme as far back as 2011.

• Thai Opposition Party Calls New Rice Buying Scheme ...

  www.oryza.com/.../thai-opposition-party-calls-new-rice-buying-scheme-i...

  Aug 25, 2011 - Thailand's opposition party is criticizing the new government's rice ...expose the state to possible huge losses, would allow Viet rice more ...

Another article -

qz.com/.../as-protests-rage-thailand-admits-its-rice-subsidy-scheme-was-p...

o

o

Nov 12, 2013 - Thailand's ruinous rice subsidy program, which buys rice from farmers at ... from supporters of the opposition party, who are furious about Prime ...

The program was designed to curry favor among the country’s rural voters, but it has taken a heavy toll on rice exports and incurred massive public costs—a whopping $21 billion since 2011. Now government officials have “acknowledged the [iMF] staff’s concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of the scheme,

I think you're missing the point somewhat. IF - with all of this knowledge they had let democracy run it's course then there would have been a good chance of YL not winning the next election and the country would not be in the crapper right now with uneducated army people running it, this surely would have been a better scenario for Thailand - not for most of the posters here of course but such is life.

[halloween]

"Thailand has been divided for more than a decade between supporters of Thaksin and the Bangkok-based royalist-military establishment, which reviled Thaksin's popularity."

Exactly right.

Sore losers, can't win an election so the use mobs, the courts and Army to keep wrestle control from the voters.

You don't seem to see the problem. Corrupt politicians who buy their way into power with hugely expensive populist policies and then proceed to line their own pockets have to be stopped for the future benefit of the nation.

Yingluk's government is the perfect example, over THB700 billion wasted in the rice scam alone, just to get elected, and then policy after policy to benefit herself, family and cronies. And what is there is to show for it?

Representative government SHOULD provide what the nation needs, not necessarily what it wants, using sound judgement to weigh priorities and costs. Pure democracy, where everybody votes on every decision, will never work because too many will vote for a pay rise and tax cut without weighing the consequences.

"Elect me and everybody will be rich in 6 months!" is obvious tripe, but it's what Thaksin offers in one version or another, and quite a few think it's delicious with baht sauce.

Oh Halloween, you can't see the forrest for the trees...........politicians aren't evil despots hell bent on lining their pockets and destroying the nation, take off the prejudicial blinders, this crap is just Junta propaganda.

From Bloomberg:

The solution isn’t to disempower politicians, as if they were some malign species. Only voters can give government legitimacy. And the only true, sustainable check on any future Thai government is the threat of being voted out of power. The way for opposition parties to defeat Thaksin’s popular electoral machine is to do the hard work of developing a national agenda and appeal. Any constitution that tries to get around basic democracy will only ensure that another one needs to be written in a few years.

Could you supply a list of altruistic Thai politicians to support your view? I could supply a list of venal corrupt scum, or to save time google "PTP party list".

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Thaksin would have been voted out years ago, if the wheels of democracy had been allowed to turn fully. If the opposition had exposed the rice scheme , Put forward some of the policies that they are now implementing. They certainly would have had a good chance of toppling the yingluck government. Instead, they have created enemies for themselves and lost some of their support.
They could have an election,using the 1997 constitution. Then rewrite it over a 2 - 4 year period with representatives from all 74 parties. There could be poll study over each section , and a referendum at the end in conjunction with the new election. Is it absolutely necessary to have a new constitution before elections? They 1997 constitution, with one clause might be a better solution. It could state that during the 4 years of the elected government, a new constitution will be drafted by a coalition of all parties.
The current constitution is clearly not being accepted, even by the nrc and the drafters themselves.

And who did a re-write on the constitution I think year 2002 so that a totalitarian government would rule , and who were the academics that prevented most but nearly all amendments and put their lives on the line to have amendments done and who stopped the re-write amendments and public scrutiny because it was becoming to hot in the kitchen , which then placed the constitution in the mess it ended up being , give you a clue, it wasn't the Democrats.

[Toscano]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

My guess , even beyond his death .

[halloween]

Could you supply a list of altruistic Thai politicians to support your view? I could supply a list of venal corrupt scum, or to save time google "PTP party list".

Thaksin and Yingluck.

Now you name me a couple of decent generals.

Washington and Eisenhower. Jokes aside, anybody that claims your pair suffer from altruism is either joking or doesn't understand the word.

[Nick167]

Why should the underachiever and the rest of the Democrats be allowed to make statements like these and threaten the NCPO, Army and current Prime Minister Gen Prayuth. This underachiever should be arrested and executed along with the rest of the underachievers at the Democrat Party. Along with the Pheu Thai party, majority of thais (except some Thai Chinese Businesses who love the Democrats)are sick of the Pheuthai and the Democrats and prefer them dead. They have done nothing good for the country. Let the army rule while these underachievers and their rival political party simply all die. We love the Army and General Prayuth. Please remain in power for as long.

[djjamie]

"Abhisit warns of problems unless draft constitution is amended"

That The Right Honorable Abhisit is saying this is significant. More significant than the criminal fringe dwellers that populate the shadows of rebellion. He portrays a measured calm narrative for the benefit of the people. Abhisit is very smart, and being a Thai patriot I am convinced that he puts Thailand first before himself and the DEMS.

The Thai Democrat Party also will not cripple Thailand as the Pheu Thai Party was doing. The Democrats were making Thailand stronger. PTP was wrecking the country. They were crippling the poor in false promises, debt and threats if they dared rise up and demand from the PTP what they were promised.

They are still breaking the law, ignoring authority and disrespecting any attempt at reconciliation while the DEM's are quietly working with the farmers to improve their standing in a sustainable measure that ensures they never have to rely on hand outs again thus making them self sufficient.

When this man speaks he is not mentioning blood, death, division, hatred, abuse or violence. This is someone that respects that law whether he agrees with it or not and is to be commended for his composure and articulate nature that has one aim to unify and benefit the majority.

So when The RIght Honorable Abhisit speaks we don't need to cringe waiting to hear words of death, violence and division. We hear words of unification, respect for the majority and reconciliation through articulate dialect.

I don't disrespect the PTP for why they have done for the majority. I disrespect them for what they have not done for them For using them and for abusing them.

Well done Abhisit and it is always refreshing to hear your words that don't offend anyone, lead to court cases or offer degrading abuse to opposition factions.

That is what separates you from the animals.

Edited May 3, 2015 by djjamie

[JAG]

Why should the underachiever and the rest of the Democrats be allowed to make statements like these and threaten the NCPO, Army and current Prime Minister Gen Prayuth. This underachiever should be arrested and executed along with the rest of the underachievers at the Democrat Party. Along with the Pheu Thai party, majority of thais (except some Thai Chinese Businesses who love the Democrats)are sick of the Pheuthai and the Democrats and prefer them dead. They have done nothing good for the country. Let the army rule while these underachievers and their rival political party simply all die. We love the Army and General Prayuth. Please remain in power for as long.

Wow!

This post raises a few questions!

Who are "we"?

Will your lust for killing be sated by executing Abhisit and a few token democrats, or would you prefer the slaughter to be extended to anyone who does not share your rather off the wall political ideals?

Or have you just had a few too many Changs, and have let rip before falling off your bar stool?

[jesimps]

"Abhisit warns of problems unless draft constitution is amended"

That The Right Honorable Abhisit is saying this is significant. More significant than the criminal fringe dwellers that populate the shadows of rebellion. He portrays a measured calm narrative for the benefit of the people. Abhisit is very smart, and being a Thai patriot I am convinced that he puts Thailand first before himself and the DEMS.

The Thai Democrat Party also will not cripple Thailand as the Pheu Thai Party was doing. The Democrats were making Thailand stronger. PTP was wrecking the country. They were crippling the poor in false promises, debt and threats if they dared rise up and demand from the PTP what they were promised.

They are still breaking the law, ignoring authority and disrespecting any attempt at reconciliation while the DEM's are quietly working with the farmers to improve their standing in a sustainable measure that ensures they never have to rely on hand outs again thus making them self sufficient.

When this man speaks he is not mentioning blood, death, division, hatred, abuse or violence. This is someone that respects that law whether he agrees with it or not and is to be commended for his composure and articulate nature that has one aim to unify and benefit the majority.

So when The RIght Honorable Abhisit speaks we don't need to cringe waiting to hear words of death, violence and division. We hear words of unification, respect for the majority and reconciliation through articulate dialect.

I don't disrespect the PTP for why they have done for the majority. I disrespect them for what they have not done for them For using them and for abusing them.

Well done Abhisit and it is always refreshing to hear your words that don't offend anyone, lead to court cases or offer degrading abuse to opposition factions.

That is what separates you from the animals.

Animals, like the 90-odd people he's accused of murdering?

[wowfactor10]

Abhisit seems to be the brightest one from that group...

[englishoak]

Too funny

[halloween]

Animals, like the 90-odd people he's accused of murdering?

Some us find it ironic that that accusation was made by those who incited, funded, instigated, and organised the protests and violence which led, inevitably, to those deaths, and profited handsomely from them. I assume the irony is lost on you.

[LannaGuy]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

You could not be more wrong.

The so called Thaksin divide will go on long after Thaksin is dead, the elites will just create another bogeyman to justify their oppression of the poor.

this

[mango66]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

so lets say it's time to call Putin for support !!

[mango66]

"Abhisit warns of problems unless draft constitution is amended"

That The Right Honorable Abhisit is saying this is significant. More significant than the criminal fringe dwellers that populate the shadows of rebellion. He portrays a measured calm narrative for the benefit of the people. Abhisit is very smart, and being a Thai patriot I am convinced that he puts Thailand first before himself and the DEMS.

The Thai Democrat Party also will not cripple Thailand as the Pheu Thai Party was doing. The Democrats were making Thailand stronger. PTP was wrecking the country. They were crippling the poor in false promises, debt and threats if they dared rise up and demand from the PTP what they were promised.

They are still breaking the law, ignoring authority and disrespecting any attempt at reconciliation while the DEM's are quietly working with the farmers to improve their standing in a sustainable measure that ensures they never have to rely on hand outs again thus making them self sufficient.

When this man speaks he is not mentioning blood, death, division, hatred, abuse or violence. This is someone that respects that law whether he agrees with it or not and is to be commended for his composure and articulate nature that has one aim to unify and benefit the majority.

So when The RIght Honorable Abhisit speaks we don't need to cringe waiting to hear words of death, violence and division. We hear words of unification, respect for the majority and reconciliation through articulate dialect.

I don't disrespect the PTP for why they have done for the majority. I disrespect them for what they have not done for them For using them and for abusing them.

Well done Abhisit and it is always refreshing to hear your words that don't offend anyone, lead to court cases or offer degrading abuse to opposition factions.

That is what separates you from the animals.

Animals, like the 90-odd people he's accused of murdering?

jesimps . Jes simps stays possible for " simple as possible "

[mango66]

The so called Thaksin divide will go on until he is dead and gone

Until then nothing will change

The divide will continue until the elite allow an election to stand.

This seems to ignore the facts. The election win by PTP was accepted and they were in power for over 2 years. The fact that they installed Yingluck instead of one of the many experienced politicians in the party as party leader and PM was always going to raise suspicions of Thaksin's influence. Since he was a convicted criminal on the run and not elected that was going to be a problem. If he could have stopped his meddling and obsession for amnesty at all costs they may have remained in power. The PTP were democratically elected but didn't stick to those principals.

The coup did bring peace but whether it brings proper reform is another matter. Sometimes it looks like it might but often it doesn't. I don't think the coup will help the Democrats and let's be honest if the were just after power they would probably be better off just offering more than PTP. Why didn't they? Maybe they knew the offers made weren't sustainable financially. The PTP tried to lower the price of rice but backed down after threats of protests by farmers who obviously didn't agree with the democratically elected government.

I think if Thaksin's influence could be removed then the PTP could get on with being a proper political party and work for the country. I don't believe there aren't some, in fact many in the PTP who want to do what's best for the people given the chance. It's possible they could even work with people like Abhisit. Yingluck was never going to be a proper politician or PM as she didn't have the experience and her party and brother couldn't trust her to appear in parliament. The only time she showed her real ability was during the floods when she and Abhisit worked together and during the protests in 2013 when he put forward his plans. Regardless of their merit she said they should at least be considered. They weren't and things got worse but it showed she knew the value of compromise. Informatory it seems this with power weren't interested.

Democratic elected means:

Democratic free elected by !! Democratic rules !!

The shins have changed the rules before election,

and election were not free and not democratic !

terror and plotting democratic parties are not fair and democratic,

or could go any politician to north to have an election campaign ??

so please learn before what means democratic and than write about !

[mango66]

"Abhisit warns of problems unless draft constitution is amended"

That The Right Honorable Abhisit is saying this is significant. More significant than the criminal fringe dwellers that populate the shadows of rebellion. He portrays a measured calm narrative for the benefit of the people. Abhisit is very smart, and being a Thai patriot I am convinced that he puts Thailand first before himself and the DEMS.

The Thai Democrat Party also will not cripple Thailand as the Pheu Thai Party was doing. The Democrats were making Thailand stronger. PTP was wrecking the country. They were crippling the poor in false promises, debt and threats if they dared rise up and demand from the PTP what they were promised.

They are still breaking the law, ignoring authority and disrespecting any attempt at reconciliation while the DEM's are quietly working with the farmers to improve their standing in a sustainable measure that ensures they never have to rely on hand outs again thus making them self sufficient.

When this man speaks he is not mentioning blood, death, division, hatred, abuse or violence. This is someone that respects that law whether he agrees with it or not and is to be commended for his composure and articulate nature that has one aim to unify and benefit the majority.

So when The RIght Honorable Abhisit speaks we don't need to cringe waiting to hear words of death, violence and division. We hear words of unification, respect for the majority and reconciliation through articulate dialect.

I don't disrespect the PTP for why they have done for the majority. I disrespect them for what they have not done for them For using them and for abusing them.

Well done Abhisit and it is always refreshing to hear your words that don't offend anyone, lead to court cases or offer degrading abuse to opposition factions.

That is what separates you from the animals.

Dear Jamie !

Thanks you epress our thinking with words,

but I fear many on this forum not able to understand your words,

and more I fear that uneducated thais which likely support this passes corrupts,

can ever understand what you writing;

Its said, but they were learned to know how much is 500,- on election,

or to receive rice subsidary for farming they never did !

Blind follow a leader - we have that experianced in Europe in the past already!

[Fat Haggis]

"Abhisit warns of problems unless draft constitution is amended"

That The Right Honorable Abhisit is saying this is significant. More significant than the criminal fringe dwellers that populate the shadows of rebellion. He portrays a measured calm narrative for the benefit of the people. Abhisit is very smart, and being a Thai patriot I am convinced that he puts Thailand first before himself and the DEMS.

The Thai Democrat Party also will not cripple Thailand as the Pheu Thai Party was doing. The Democrats were making Thailand stronger. PTP was wrecking the country. They were crippling the poor in false promises, debt and threats if they dared rise up and demand from the PTP what they were promised.

They are still breaking the law, ignoring authority and disrespecting any attempt at reconciliation while the DEM's are quietly working with the farmers to improve their standing in a sustainable measure that ensures they never have to rely on hand outs again thus making them self sufficient.

When this man speaks he is not mentioning blood, death, division, hatred, abuse or violence. This is someone that respects that law whether he agrees with it or not and is to be commended for his composure and articulate nature that has one aim to unify and benefit the majority.

So when The RIght Honorable Abhisit speaks we don't need to cringe waiting to hear words of death, violence and division. We hear words of unification, respect for the majority and reconciliation through articulate dialect.

I don't disrespect the PTP for why they have done for the majority. I disrespect them for what they have not done for them For using them and for abusing them.

Well done Abhisit and it is always refreshing to hear your words that don't offend anyone, lead to court cases or offer degrading abuse to opposition factions.

That is what separates you from the animals.

Dear Jamie !

Thanks you epress our thinking with words,

but I fear many on this forum not able to understand your words,

and more I fear that uneducated thais which likely support this passes corrupts,

can ever understand what you writing;

Its said, but they were learned to know how much is 500,- on election,

or to receive rice subsidary for farming they never did !

Blind follow a leader - we have that experianced in Europe in the past already!

Those uneducated Thais have more say in the running of their country than you do..