Yingluck invited on 'personal basis'

[webfact]

Yingluck invited on 'personal basis'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two members of the European Parliament who invited former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to exchange views on the Thai political situation did so on a personal basis, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said yesterday.

The Thai Embassy in Brussels and European Union (EU) representatives in Thailand also confirmed the invitation letter dated October 7 was genuine.

"Elmar Brok and Werner Langen, both members of the European Parliament, decided to extend a personal invitation, given that they did not identify their position in the letter," Sek explained.

Brok is chairman of the EU Committee on Foreign Affairs while Langen is chair of the panel for relations with Southeast Asia and Asean.

The invitation letter showed only their signatures, and there was no mention of their positions in the European Parliament. The invitation said the venue of the briefing could be either in Brussels or Strasbourg, France, on a date that Yingluck finds convenient.

Sek, meanwhile, explained that members of the European Parliament had the right to invite whomsoever they wished for a discussion.

He added that the Thai Embassy in Brussels and the Thai Mission to the European Union continually update European countries on the progress of Thailand's reform.

Separately, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva affirmed that the invitation had not come from the European Parliament but from two individuals, though he hoped the issue would be carefully examined as he believes there might be a conspiracy behind the letter.

Pheu Thai Party senior member Surapong Tovichakchaikul, meanwhile, criticised Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai for saying the letter was the result of lobbying efforts. "Instead of worrying about the invitation to Yingluck, Don should himself be lobbying for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to explain the Thai political situation to the European Parliament," he said.

With Yingluck facing a trial in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, she must seek permission from the court and National Council for Peace and Order if she wishes to travel abroad.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Yingluck-invited-on-personal-basis-30273745.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-26

[Thai at Heart]

Hahaha.

They sent it on headed paper and requested to meet with her.

They didn't ask her out for a coffee at their house did they.....

[thesetat2013]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

[Rocceao]

Sek, meanwhile, explained that members of the European Parliament had the right to invite whomsoever they wished for a discussion

I will be asking Elmar Brok and Werner Langen to invite me to discuss the political situation in Thailand, as I have been involved with Thailand since 1987 and have strong political views on the political situation in Thailand and I have not been charged of a political crime and I am not out on bail waiting trial for the political crime that I have been charged with.

Also I would like to visit Brussels or Strasbourg, as I hear that it is nice there at this time of the year with Christmas and the new year coming up, I could also get some Christmas shopping in, while discussing my political views on Thailand.

[davehowden]

So are Elmar Brok and Werner Langen personally paying her airfare, hotel and shopping expenses, or is it the EU tax payer who is funding this "jolly"

[Thai at Heart]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

[EnglishJohn]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

[Thai at Heart]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

No one said it's an invite from the EU parliament.

In their positions they can request who the hell they like to come and pass by. There is no obligation to go. It's not a court. This request isn't personal, it is in line with their responsibilities and jobs.

Are you claiming they didn't write it? Are you claiming they have no right to write such a thing? All they ask is that whenever it's convenient that she visit and discuss.

I don't see why everyone has their nickers in a twist. It's a committee member covering Asia asking to have a meeting when it's convenient. It's not a summons.

They will probably ask Abhisit next as a member of the opposition. Not sure they will ask Prayuth. This of course is also made all the harder since basically they can't meet her in Thailand because politics is frozen solid there.

Edited November 26, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[BuaBS]

If they wanted to meet a Thai woman , couldn't they just go to the local Thai restaurant ...or massage parlour . I'm sure they'll meet more interesting & intelligent people there.

[englishoak]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

Don't get your green pants in a twist, explain to your bosses it has never been an official invitation from the EU Parliament... You lot do know the difference between headed paper and stamped right ?

Apparently not.

[ratcatcher]

If they wanted to meet a Thai woman , couldn't they just go to the local Thai restaurant ...or massage parlour . I'm sure they'll meet more interesting & intelligent people there.

"I'm sure they'll meet more interesting & intelligent people there."

People, no doubt,as intelligent as you?

[englishoak]

meeoooww pfft pfft...

[Thai at Heart]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

Don't get your green pants in a twist, explain to your bosses it has never been an official invitation from the EU Parliament... You lot do know the difference between headed paper and stamped right ?

Apparently not.

I've got letters from MPs, Ambassadors, University Principals, and all sorts of VIPs

In Europe they don't have to place a stamp on things for they to be official.

What you are implying is that either these members of parliament have fraudulently produced these letters, someone else in Europe has fraudulently produced these letters or someone in Thailand has fraudulently done so.

Go and exercise your mind a little and Google "letters from Ronald Reagan". Note, the letters have a letter head and a signature. Very standard for letters in the EU. Company or organisation letter head and a signature. Nothing else. The lack of a stamp means nothing.

Not everything needs a stamp for it to be official.

It is on a letterhead from the EU parliament or whatever organisation they represent. If they don't have the right to use it, they have committed fraud. Are you accusing a member of the EU parliament of fraud?

Believe me, people don't need to stamp things in the developed world to make them official, anymore. That went out with the death of candles since not having one to hand meant it was a pain to use a light bulb.

Edited November 26, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[Eric Loh]

Poor Ahbisit who didn't get invited is shooting off his mouth claiming conspiracy. He should know a thing about conspiracy.

[kennw]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

No one said it's an invite from the EU parliament.

In their positions they can request who the hell they like to come and pass by. There is no obligation to go. It's not a court. This request isn't personal, it is in line with their responsibilities and jobs.

Are you claiming they didn't write it? Are you claiming they have no right to write such a thing? All they ask is that whenever it's convenient that she visit and discuss.

I don't see why everyone has their nickers in a twist. It's a committee member covering Asia asking to have a meeting when it's convenient. It's not a summons.

They will probably ask Abhisit next as a member of the opposition. Not sure they will ask Prayuth. This of course is also made all the harder since basically they can't meet her in Thailand because politics is frozen solid there.

Of course the two EU guys could have decided to come here to get their information, they could also have met both " sides" and thus be better informed. But the cynic in me see a different motivation in the background.

[DavidBonnie]

The EU members clearly hold her in high regard.

The rest of the world sees a democratically elected Prime Minister ousted by a dictator/general who has demonstrated his contempt for human rights and free speech as well as the democratic process several times since seizing power.

Analysts also see a ruling elite that having removed Takhsin himself set plans in motion to ensure no socialist government could ever take power again even when elected by the people of Thailand.

The rice scheme and all the other charges laid at Yinglucks door were orchestrated by the yellows long before they happened in order to oust her and the reds.

Corruption? Maybe, possibly? No area of politics either local or national is free of it as it is embedded in the civil structures whichever style of government has control.

Takhsin shook that system up a bit and they wanted rid of him. Same with his sister.

The same will happen with any red leader whom the people vote in.

The rich will always take care of themselves and their friends at the expense of the majority and that is true the world over but at least people are fooled into believing they have freedom because they are allowed to criticise.

Whatever it takes, no matter how many lies are needed; Yingluck will be banned from politics and have her assets seized.

Do I think that she and her brother are any different from the rest of the so called elites?

Not much, but they were democratically elected and most people in the north east saw a small improvement in their lives during the red reign.

Maybe the voting was rigged? If so, voting for all parties was rigged and thousands of people were paid by both sides but the people chose to vote red.

[SOTIRIOS]

...........typical distortion of facts.....

[bheard]

The EU members clearly hold her in high regard.

The rest of the world sees a democratically elected Prime Minister ousted by a dictator/general who has demonstrated his contempt for human rights and free speech as well as the democratic process several times since seizing power.

Analysts also see a ruling elite that having removed Takhsin himself set plans in motion to ensure no socialist government could ever take power again even when elected by the people of Thailand.

The rice scheme and all the other charges laid at Yinglucks door were orchestrated by the yellows long before they happened in order to oust her and the reds.

Corruption? Maybe, possibly? No area of politics either local or national is free of it as it is embedded in the civil structures whichever style of government has control.

Takhsin shook that system up a bit and they wanted rid of him. Same with his sister.

The same will happen with any red leader whom the people vote in.

The rich will always take care of themselves and their friends at the expense of the majority and that is true the world over but at least people are fooled into believing they have freedom because they are allowed to criticise.

Whatever it takes, no matter how many lies are needed; Yingluck will be banned from politics and have her assets seized.

Do I think that she and her brother are any different from the rest of the so called elites?

Not much, but they were democratically elected and most people in the north east saw a small improvement in their lives during the red reign.

Maybe the voting was rigged? If so, voting for all parties was rigged and thousands of people were paid by both sides but the people chose to vote red.

Spot on. It is a conspiracy - to maintain the position of the ruling elite - ie the people 'born to rule'. Keep following how it's panning out currently - which faction of the ruling elite will take power after (an event I can't mention) ? It's got nothing to do with the Taksin side of politics either.

[Jai Dee]

One flame post and subsequent reply have been removed from this thread.

[LannaGuy]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

For a 'professional engineer' you sure lack any cognitive skills. Go sit down and take your pills ok?

the two blokes "working there" are MEP's get it? and what's this "they were put up to it"? any EVIDENCE? or are you making it all up again John?

Edited November 26, 2015 by LannaGuy

[sanukjim]

Miss Yingluck, do not forget your invitation for tea and biscuits.,You say that you your government wont let you travel here,but I thought that you were The head of State.Oh,that was last year? Oh dear oh dear,Thailand seems to change more often the the Australians do.

[Eric Loh]

Miss Yingluck, do not forget your invitation for tea and biscuits.,You say that you your government wont let you travel here,but I thought that you were The head of State.Oh,that was last year? Oh dear oh dear,Thailand seems to change more often the the Australians do.

Don't get too much ahead of yourself mate. She has yet to ask her lawyer to apply for court travel permission. No doubt she playing her card well. Better to have leadership change Aussie style than change from staring down the barrel of a gun.

[GerdT]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

Your reply is really mind-boggling. Why should the EU president have to sign an invitation that has been issued by the heads of two committees, one the EU Committee on Foreign Affairs and the other one the committee for relations with Southeast Asia and Asean? Parliament committees in western countries have the right to invite people to get their opinion on political situations, without having to ask the head of state, parliament or government for permission. Since the suggested venues are in Brussels or Strasbourg, the two places the EU parliament holds sessions and the committees are not only contain members from one party but from a broad spectrum of European political parties the invitation seems genuine.

One of the reasons that give the current government a headache is expressed in the sentence by Khun Sek Wannamethee: “…that the Thai Embassy in Brussels and the Thai Mission to the European Union continually update European countries on the progress of Thailand's reform.” As we all know embassies always represent the view of their current governments and maybe the EU is interested in some different views too. If Yingluck is the right person for it is debatable since she is the figurehead of the current ‘political opposition’. Probably some academics from different universities or some of the commentators here on the forum (which in my view would be pretty one-sided too) might provide a broader spectrum of what is happening in Thailand, but that is a point to be considered by the EU committees.

That Abhisit Vejjajiva waded into that controversy doesn’t surprise me and only shows that he has nothing learned about politics when studying in Oxford. The committee members are elected by the EU parliament to act on there behalf with the right to invite people for discussions and that the heads of these committees are the people that extend these invitations; not as individuals but on behalf of the EU parliament.

[ddavidovsky]

The invitation has got the junta miffed. Job done.

[Baerboxer]

Hahaha.

They sent it on headed paper and requested to meet with her.

They didn't ask her out for a coffee at their house did they.....

I have letters from my UK MP, written on HoP headed paper.

But he speaks for himself in them, not on behalf of HM Government.

The two who signed to letter should clarify if this is a personal invitation, if it on behalf of their respective committees, or it is ob behalf of the EU Parliament.

If the former, they should declare if there has been any involvement of lobbyists.

[Baerboxer]

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

Your reply is really mind-boggling. Why should the EU president have to sign an invitation that has been issued by the heads of two committees, one the EU Committee on Foreign Affairs and the other one the committee for relations with Southeast Asia and Asean? Parliament committees in western countries have the right to invite people to get their opinion on political situations, without having to ask the head of state, parliament or government for permission. Since the suggested venues are in Brussels or Strasbourg, the two places the EU parliament holds sessions and the committees are not only contain members from one party but from a broad spectrum of European political parties the invitation seems genuine.

One of the reasons that give the current government a headache is expressed in the sentence by Khun Sek Wannamethee: “…that the Thai Embassy in Brussels and the Thai Mission to the European Union continually update European countries on the progress of Thailand's reform.” As we all know embassies always represent the view of their current governments and maybe the EU is interested in some different views too. If Yingluck is the right person for it is debatable since she is the figurehead of the current ‘political opposition’. Probably some academics from different universities or some of the commentators here on the forum (which in my view would be pretty one-sided too) might provide a broader spectrum of what is happening in Thailand, but that is a point to be considered by the EU committees.

That Abhisit Vejjajiva waded into that controversy doesn’t surprise me and only shows that he has nothing learned about politics when studying in Oxford. The committee members are elected by the EU parliament to act on there behalf with the right to invite people for discussions and that the heads of these committees are the people that extend these invitations; not as individuals but on behalf of the EU parliament.

Don't disagree with you. But it would be unusual for committee chairs to omit their titles which is part of confirming in what capacity they invitation is being made. I also find some of the letter wording to be unusual as politicians, and these are veteran politicians, are normally a little more careful when putting things into writing.

They make no mention of the fact that she was removed by a court for an illegal abuse of power prior to the coup taking place. Surely, they would be better inviting the last actual PM, albeit he was only a caretaker; or the official head of PTP, which YL never was?

I agree, if they really wanted to research the current situation, a broader more representative cross section would be better. But, why do they feel the need to do this? No individual member country has made a similar invitation. All seem to rely on their ambassadors and their embassies for information. Is the EU Office in BK not up to this?

[bangrak]

The EU members clearly hold her in high regard.

The rest of the world sees a democratically elected Prime Minister ousted by a dictator/general who has demonstrated his contempt for human rights and free speech as well as the democratic process several times since seizing power.

Analysts also see a ruling elite that having removed Takhsin himself set plans in motion to ensure no socialist government could ever take power again even when elected by the people of Thailand.

The rice scheme and all the other charges laid at Yinglucks door were orchestrated by the yellows long before they happened in order to oust her and the reds.

Corruption? Maybe, possibly? No area of politics either local or national is free of it as it is embedded in the civil structures whichever style of government has control.

Takhsin shook that system up a bit and they wanted rid of him. Same with his sister.

The same will happen with any red leader whom the people vote in.

The rich will always take care of themselves and their friends at the expense of the majority and that is true the world over but at least people are fooled into believing they have freedom because they are allowed to criticise.

Whatever it takes, no matter how many lies are needed; Yingluck will be banned from politics and have her assets seized.

Do I think that she and her brother are any different from the rest of the so called elites?

Not much, but they were democratically elected and most people in the north east saw a small improvement in their lives during the red reign.

Maybe the voting was rigged? If so, voting for all parties was rigged and thousands of people were paid by both sides but the people chose to vote red.

Wow, most 'clichés' of the Shins' red propaganda together in one single post, you did your homework well!

Sadly, you probably don't understand that as long as there will be people with that kind of ideologically biased, and, worse, not even a bit true, stuff in their head, having the military keeping things together, though, very far from good, will, alas, remain the 'least bad' solution for this country to live with, as, outside of the Reverred Institution, there is not one power or group truly defending a national cohesion, seaking a consensus, prepared to compromise in order to acheive reconciliation, it's all a bunch of selfish organisations and leaders 'riding' only for themselves...!

The dramatic part IMO for what the future of Thailand is concerned, is that there is no present alternative, none in the make, none expectable, to escape that vicious, polarized, circle of reds, yellows, blues, whites, ...greens, browns.

[thaimat]

So are Elmar Brok and Werner Langen personally paying her airfare, hotel and shopping expenses, or is it the EU tax payer who is funding this "jolly"

Maybe the EU should check EB and WL's bank accounts for a recent hefty gift from a friend in Dubai?

[smotherb]

Hahaha.

They sent it on headed paper and requested to meet with her.

They didn't ask her out for a coffee at their house did they.....

Are you implying she was ordered--or otherwise pressured--to attend?

[Thai at Heart]

Hahaha.

They sent it on headed paper and requested to meet with her.

They didn't ask her out for a coffee at their house did they.....

Are you implying she was ordered--or otherwise pressured--to attend?

Not at all. 2 members of various committees asked her to attend to discuss issues pertaining to these responsibilities to places where these two people carry out their professional responsibilities. They send a letter using official note paper, signed, dated, containing a reference.

And the interpretation is, "she was asked privately".

It's like getting a letter from your doctor asking you to come to the practice to discuss your recent health issues.

And someone claims the request to attend is private.

Or a business calls to offer the boss another training course to follow up on one they attended one year before.

Obviously a private request???