Actions against Thaksin show junta firmly in control

[Lite Beer]

NATION ANALYSIS
Actions against Thaksin show junta firmly in control
ATTHAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE COUNTRY'S political temperature has been rising with the Prayut government hitting back hard against fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra after he dropped a bombshell last week in an interview in Seoul about last year's coup.

Thaksin claimed that privy councillors had worked behind the scenes in supporting the anti-government protests that led to the ousting of his sister Yingluck's government by the military coup.

The Foreign Ministry on May 26 revoked Thaksin's passports, which had been returned to him in 2011 by then foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

Not long after that, the Royal Thai Police confirmed it had forwarded to the national police chief a recommendation that Thaksin be stripped of his police lieutenant colonel rank.

The removal of his police rank raised many eyebrows because the Surayud Chulanont and Abhisit Vejjajiva governments had failed to get this task done. And the Prayut government had shown no inclination to strip Thaksin of his rank. In fact, reports stated that the government had tried to strike a compromise with the Thaksin camp to restore a peaceful atmosphere.

Critics blame Thaksin for starting this latest battle. He chose to tread on what was clearly a no-go zone for the National Council for Peace and Order.

The government's retaliation has been well coordinated with both the Foreign Ministry and the police swiftly taking action. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is also planning to take legal action against Yingluck and Surapong for returning Thaksin's passports.

The Prayut government could have stripped Thaksin of his rank and revoked his passports earlier if it wanted to because Thaksin has several arrest warrants against him - over Krungthai Bank's loan to the Krisada Mahanakorn group; the Export Import Bank case; the case over the conversion of telecom concession fees into excise; the Ratchadaphisek land deal; the two-three-digit lottery case; and a case of terrorism.

Although revoking Thaksin's passports and stripping his rank will not negatively affect him in any way except psychologically, it will have a strong political impact, as it shows the government has chosen to take on Thaksin. There will no longer be a compromise.

In the eyes of political observers, Prayut's remark last Saturday following Thaksin's interview confirmed the belief that the government has decided to take a stand against the Thaksin camp.

"I do not stop any one from liking or loving anyone. But anyone cannot criticise the way I have come into power as I will hit back,'' Prayut warned.

The Prayut government has also ensured that the latest coup will not be wasted by making sure that it continues to have its say by pushing for amendments to the charter draft on the make-up of two important reconciliation committees: the Independent Reform Promoting Committee and the National Reform Strategy Committee. The government has proposed combining the two committees into a single committee with 20 members, which will include the Supreme Commander and the chiefs of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the police force.

This new committee would have the responsibilities of mapping out reform and reconciliation strategies and proposing concerned legislation. It would be powerful and the NCPO is making sure it would have a say in this committee.

The NCPO's proactive strategy to cross swords with Thaksin and to ensure that its influence in the reform process continues may upset some influential political figures. But critics believe the junta has chosen this path because it believes it is fully in control.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Actions-against-Thaksin-show-junta-firmly-in-contr-30261310.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-31

[noitom]

On the contrary, the junta's comments on Thaksin and any repressive moves they make show they are totally "out" of control. This Thai writer Bootsripoom has it totally backwards.

[NongKhaiKid]

It may suggest the junta is nervous and insecure and that's dangerous.

[NeverSure]

"I do not stop any one from liking or loving anyone. But anyone cannot criticise the way I have come into power as I will hit back,'' Prayut warned."

Says it all.

[ezzra]

Interesting to know whey as of late, there's a lot of noises about Thaksin this and that,

his passports issues together with his sister issues trusted to the headlines..

there must be some kind of unrest going on and the PM is trying looking to flex muscles

here for all to see, otherwise, it all could be kept quiet and all dealing with Thaksin could

have been done quietly, we we're witnessing otherwise here... why?

[ChrisY1]

The paranoia of the junta is deafening.......TS and his family are really starting to cop a bit from the general and will need to be quite careful in the near future.

I'm just waiting for the dopey son, Oak, to open up in FB......

[Always18]

"...........he (Thaksin) dropped a bombshell..............."

Well, only if you are totally blind or completely stupid............

[waitforusalso]

Thaksin had plenty of time to consider what he was going to say. If it wasn't politically advantageous he wouldn't have said it. He also knew there would be some consequences, but let's face it, does he really care about the passports & ranks. He has now given the party line for Jatuporn & Nattawut to preach to the masses & turn them even more against the out of touch army & elite backers.

[PREM-R]

Interesting to know whey as of late, there's a lot of noises about Thaksin this and that,

his passports issues together with his sister issues trusted to the headlines..

there must be some kind of unrest going on and the PM is trying looking to flex muscles

here for all to see, otherwise, it all could be kept quiet and all dealing with Thaksin could

have been done quietly, we we're witnessing otherwise here... why?

I have been told, on two separate occasions, by well informed Thais, that the Amart have a problem with the coup leader. It seems that they had decided to use the same tactics as in 2006 to take power, but this time ‘the genie refused to go back into the bottle’. The coup leader has decided to keep the power and now ‘those who own Thailand’ are struggling to find a way to move things on. I suspect we may be very close to the type of conflict that the coup leader repeatedly said he staged to coup to prevent occurring. The current attacks on the Shin family are merely a side show, a smoke screen.

[Yunla]

The current regime inherited a very failed situation, things were clearly breaking down under the democratic model, there was a lot of factional killing, and normal working people lived in fear of what would happen tomorrow. I applaud the current regime for restoring stability and peace. I also am encouraged by their first steps on tackling corruption and trying to get the nation back on track, after decades of carnage. Much of the corruption and chaos was being orchestrated by Thaksin, and so it is only right that he is one of many targets in the clean-up drive.

I do not envy their task one bit, the problems they faced when they took power were both acute and immense. I think they've done a lot of good things, especially on restoring stability and peace in normal working people's lives.

[Fat Haggis]

The current regime inherited a very failed situation, things were clearly breaking down under the democratic model, there was a lot of factional killing, and normal working people lived in fear of what would happen tomorrow. I applaud the current regime for restoring stability and peace. I also am encouraged by their first steps on tackling corruption and trying to get the nation back on track, after decades of carnage. Much of the corruption and chaos was being orchestrated by Thaksin, and so it is only right that he is one of many targets in the clean-up drive.

I do not envy their task one bit, the problems they faced when they took power were both acute and immense. I think they've done a lot of good things, especially on restoring stability and peace in normal working people's lives.

How's that peace and stability working out for the good people of Yala?

So much the corruption was down to Thaksin, by Golly, who would have thought that? And not a single Dem would do such a thing?

[longway]

On the contrary, the junta's comments on Thaksin and any repressive moves they make show they are totally "out" of control. This Thai writer Bootsripoom has it totally backwards.

Unlike you even a broken clock is right twice a day.

No reaction to a deliberately provocative interview would show weakness, they have to respond.

[WitawatWatawit]

@ezzra - #6

Nothing connected to Thaksin can be handled quietly. Naive to think otherwise. No, the sudden flurry of Thaksin-related news stems from the situation re Yingluck - also, the junta has become much more savvy about Thaksin's sophisticated PR machine (especially his pathetic "woe is poor cuddly little me" efforts to gain the sympathy vote), so they are going on the attack now instead of letting him make the running.

Prem-R, I'm hearing the same things. But also that he is pushing the envelope too far over corruption. Amazing, huh?

[longway]

Interesting to know whey as of late, there's a lot of noises about Thaksin this and that,

his passports issues together with his sister issues trusted to the headlines..

there must be some kind of unrest going on and the PM is trying looking to flex muscles

here for all to see, otherwise, it all could be kept quiet and all dealing with Thaksin could

have been done quietly, we we're witnessing otherwise here... why?

I have been told, on two separate occasions, by well informed Thais, that the Amart have a problem with the coup leader. It seems that they had decided to use the same tactics as in 2006 to take power, but this time ‘the genie refused to go back into the bottle’. The coup leader has decided to keep the power and now ‘those who own Thailand’ are struggling to find a way to move things on. I suspect we may be very close to the type of conflict that the coup leader repeatedly said he staged to coup to prevent occurring. The current attacks on the Shin family are merely a side show, a smoke screen.

Thanks to gloom and doom nitwits like you I made alot of money on the Thai stockmarket last year. The ' its not about Thaksin' scenarios get ever more convoluted and sillier year by year. Just accept it, Thaksin is at the centre of conflict.

And this is entirely separate from Thailand's actual problems, which will never be addressed until the Thaksin issue is put to bed or controlled one way or the other.

[Fat Haggis]

Interesting to know whey as of late, there's a lot of noises about Thaksin this and that,

his passports issues together with his sister issues trusted to the headlines..

there must be some kind of unrest going on and the PM is trying looking to flex muscles

here for all to see, otherwise, it all could be kept quiet and all dealing with Thaksin could

have been done quietly, we we're witnessing otherwise here... why?

I have been told, on two separate occasions, by well informed Thais, that the Amart have a problem with the coup leader. It seems that they had decided to use the same tactics as in 2006 to take power, but this time ‘the genie refused to go back into the bottle’. The coup leader has decided to keep the power and now ‘those who own Thailand’ are struggling to find a way to move things on. I suspect we may be very close to the type of conflict that the coup leader repeatedly said he staged to coup to prevent occurring. The current attacks on the Shin family are merely a side show, a smoke screen.

Thanks to gloom and doom nitwits like you I made alot of money on the Thai stockmarket last year. The ' its not about Thaksin' scenarios get ever more convoluted and sillier year by year. Just accept it, Thaksin is at the centre of conflict.

And this is entirely separate from Thailand's actual problems, which will never be addressed until the Thaksin issue is put to bed or controlled one way or the other.

Yeah okay Mr.Prime Minister

pass on your stocks and shares tips please I'm needing a few Million, as I seem to be losing a lot of mine

Best regards

TS

[robblok]

Thaksin should be hunted down and eliminated or returned to Thailand for jail time. The PM could engage the services of a bounty hunter to do the job.

you are acting like a child,a bit of growing up is needed in your case.

No not acting like a child, just academically challenged. Just like his General friend and his cronies buffoons who are returning the country to the Elitist thieving system. Lets face it you need no brains to steal, or very little, but you do if you want to run a country and improve it economically. Sadly something the General has no comprehension of but Thaksin ddi very well.

Sure mate.. just put a graph of the world economic and super impose it over the Thai economy. Thaksin was just lucky when he was in office just like so many other political office holders. But hey follow the red line and show off your red intelligence.

[Nickymaster]

On the contrary, the junta's comments on Thaksin and any repressive moves they make show they are totally "out" of control. This Thai writer Bootsripoom has it totally backwards.

No, not at all. Thaksin was testing the waters to see if he could steer up things again and get his followers excited. The army came out and shut him down publicly. They showed the world they are in control. There is no room for games anymore here in LOS.

[chainarong]

Of course the Junta is in control, for every person in Thailand and that includes Expats, all at the point of a gun , now who is going to argue with that, Prayut - O knows that , but does Prayut - O - cha know or understand that according to his promise, Thailand is back to normal Elections by 2016 ( I doubt it) however regardless all these attacks on the Shinawatra clan could be counter productive in the long term, put it this way, going by the norm, The PTP (or its cousin) will win the next election , the people will see to that , so if I had any dealings with the Junta I'd be watching my back, remember this is Thailand, where the motor bike pillion passenger some times isn't only there for the ride.

[geriatrickid]

The current regime inherited a very failed situation, things were clearly breaking down under the democratic model, there was a lot of factional killing, and normal working people lived in fear of what would happen tomorrow. I applaud the current regime for restoring stability and peace. I also am encouraged by their first steps on tackling corruption and trying to get the nation back on track, after decades of carnage. Much of the corruption and chaos was being orchestrated by Thaksin, and so it is only right that he is one of many targets in the clean-up drive.

I do not envy their task one bit, the problems they faced when they took power were both acute and immense. I think they've done a lot of good things, especially on restoring stability and peace in normal working people's lives.

The failed situation as you describe it appears to have been engineered by a rather bitter group who had been plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of Thailand ever since Yingluck was elected PM. I appreciate that there are many who will disagree. However, the aforementioned comment is my understanding of the prevailing opinion of the countries who had condemned the suspension of democracy in Thailand. Now that the Nation has quoted Thaksin's comment, this perception is finally out in the open. It is the view that colours outside opinions.

How has the current administration restored stability and peace? Are you aware that there is an uptick in violence in the south? Are you aware that many parts of the northeast are still subject to draconian freedom of movement restrictions such as curfews? Would you like to be restricted to your home after 9 pm? My friend's village is subject to such a rule. Remember the big explosions on koh Samui and all the allegations made and how we were promised big names would be named quickly? What happened? What first steps on tackling corruption? NOTHING has really been done. The easiest mess to have cleaned up would have been Phuket and the diabolical jetskis. NOTHING has been done. In fact it can be argued that the situation is worse than before. All those promises of a clean up of the taxi/tuk tuk mafia, and an end to forest and beach encroachment, and still NOTHING.

You talk of decades of corruption. In what era? The short period of Thaksin's time in office saw the most robust economic growth in the past 25 years. It was accompanied by the largest gains in foreign investment, and improvement in social benefit indices. You blame Thaksin for all of Thailand's corruption. Well, considering that the most corrupt region in Thailand is the Surat Thani-Phuket- Nahkon Si Thammarat region, which is also the most anti Thaksin region, and also known as Suthep's playground, who do you think is responsible for corruption in that region then? What's your position on the new multi billion baht palm oil fund intended to support palm oil extraction factories? If you are against corruption and in favour of transparency, how can you support the "fund".

When you refer to "normal "working people, do you even know any? I mean really know them? As most of the population is outside of Bangkok and is found in places like the deep south and Issan, where the instability and fears are unchanged, your generalization is off the mark. People in Pattani still live in fear of being blown up, and people in Ubon still live in fear of being detained without charge or access to legal counsel or a fair trial.

[Nickymaster]

It may suggest the junta is nervous and insecure and that's dangerous.

Coming out and showing the world who is in control is NOT a sign of being nervous and insecure.

Strange thinking some posters have here on TV.

[h90]

Before it was clear that the government and the Shinawatras have a deal. It seems Mr. T just blow the deal.

Deal was most probable:

Thaksin shut his mouth, keep silent and let Thailand return to peace.

Prayut protects the Shinawatras against the cases at court

While it is ugly it would be total better for Thailand.

Now Thaksin showed that he only tries to get his benefit from it but not following the deal.

[Fat Haggis]

It may suggest the junta is nervous and insecure and that's dangerous.

Coming out and showing the world who is in control is NOT a sign of being nervous and insecure.

Strange thinking some posters have here on TV.

How much control have they got over the South?

Strange thinking some posters have here on TV

[Fat Haggis]

Before it was clear that the government and the Shinawatras have a deal. It seems Mr. T just blow the deal.

Deal was most probable:

Thaksin shut his mouth, keep silent and let Thailand return to peace.

Prayut protects the Shinawatras against the cases at court

While it is ugly it would be total better for Thailand.

Now Thaksin showed that he only tries to get his benefit from it but not following the deal.

Clear was it? And you know this because you're in the inner circle of the Gentlemans club in BKK, where you all drink Pimms and lemonade, discussing how the country progress?

or are you simply speculating, like most people on here?

[Nickymaster]

It may suggest the junta is nervous and insecure and that's dangerous.

Coming out and showing the world who is in control is NOT a sign of being nervous and insecure.

Strange thinking some posters have here on TV.

How much control have they got over the South?

Strange thinking some posters have here on TV

What does the south have to do with: Actions against Thaksin show junta firmly in control.

Wait..... Are trying to imply that Thaksin is connected with the terrorists in the South?

[55Jay]

Did someone say they weren't in control? The paranoid delusions are intensifying.

Edited May 31, 2015 by 55Jay

[Fat Haggis]

It may suggest the junta is nervous and insecure and that's dangerous.

Coming out and showing the world who is in control is NOT a sign of being nervous and insecure.

Strange thinking some posters have here on TV.

How much control have they got over the South?

Strange thinking some posters have here on TV

What does the south have to do with: Actions against Thaksin show junta firmly in control.

Wait..... Are trying to imply that Thaksin is connected with the terrorists in the South?

About as relevant as you using the words " showing the world" .. really, the world? You think the people outside of Thailand really know or care about the internal politics that are STILL causing huges issues here?

You made a broad statement, about showing control, when that same control being exterted over Thaksin, is nowhere near the same level being shown down in the South.

Why is that Nicky? becuse the South doesn't fit into your equation/agenda ? It's always the same with you Kool aid drinkers, you only see Bangkok as Thailand, despite the killings going on weekly down in the South, you don't feel they're any of your concern because you can't vent your anti red hatred to that directions, your ilk harp on about about peace and stability in the country, but theres anything BUT PEACE and STABILITY down in the South, which last time I looked was still very much part of Thailand, which means peace and stability over the country has still to be reached.

Thaksin will always be in the shadows, you seem to forget that Prayuth himself advised the country and the press to stop focusing on Thaksin, when the whole time, it's been his main focus, no love was lost between the two, this goes all the way back to 2006, and these two fannies are playing one upmanship with a country that belongs to neither of them, and well they could do with remembering!!

The country would be better of without Prayuth or Thaksin, but we know that's never going to be the case, this is all part of a bigger picture.

[h90]

Before it was clear that the government and the Shinawatras have a deal. It seems Mr. T just blow the deal.

Deal was most probable:

Thaksin shut his mouth, keep silent and let Thailand return to peace.

Prayut protects the Shinawatras against the cases at court

While it is ugly it would be total better for Thailand.

Now Thaksin showed that he only tries to get his benefit from it but not following the deal.

Clear was it? And you know this because you're in the inner circle of the Gentlemans club in BKK, where you all drink Pimms and lemonade, discussing how the country progress?

or are you simply speculating, like most people on here?

You recall how Yingluck could leave the country and came back? How non of the other Shinawatras try to run?

If all their money inside Thailand is to be seized and they have to stay in jail for a long time, you think they would sit calm at home, while "their" businesses at the airports continue to work?

And because of this it would have been reasonable to arrest them direct after the coup.

Yes it is speculating but the chance that it is correct is extremely high.

[klauskunkel]

Actions against Thaksin show junta firmly in control

meanwhile the police has a different opinion:

FALLOUT OF THAKSIN'S PASSPORTS

Police issue alert amid unrest fears

[Fat Haggis]

Arrest them for what H90?

I don't recall any Prime Minister in any other country in the world being arrested for being "complete shit at their job" do you?

The people, as in the Thai elctorate had the chance to vote them out, the PDRC stopped that depsite the claims of Anti Shins being a majority.. you can fool some of the people some of the time, you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Seriously, you think that those participating in graft to such extremes decide to keep their ill gotten gains within their own accounts do you? Those that did are bit players, those who are out to make billions have multiple offshore accounts known only to them, so that their assets cannot be frozen.

I've yet to see any "major" arrests or the location of the money from the rice scam being found, if you cannot find that, what makes you think you can find hidden assets mate? Yingluck is on trial fro negligence, where are all those High profile names, that so many people said that the rice scam graft would tumble like a house of cards... looks like they were wrong, as no canaries seem to have been singing have they?

Seriously, if Yingluck wanted to flee, she could, as could anyone with money, small airstrip, small aircraft, in and out without anyone noticing, how do you think smugging works?

Sometimes doing shit low key and low profile is the way, and not the big fanfare, jesus, again, if Yingluck wanted to flee, all she would need to do is don a burhka, have a fake UAE passport, easily provided by her brother, and she could waltz right through Swampy without anyone paying any attention, how many Muslim women wearing burkhas do you ever see being asked to reveal their face? Then sit there on a plane bored out her tits for 6.5 hours, and as soon as she touched down in Dubai, throw the burkha off, and there isn't a single thing Thailand could do about it, other than whinge.

If Yingluck really wanted to leave, she has the funds to be able to make it happen, everyone can be bought for a price

Edited May 31, 2015 by Fat Haggis

[oneday]

NCPO vs. Thaksin