Yingluck Shinawatra steps back into Thailand's political arena

[coma]

About to come full circle again. Some people just never learn.

[kwonitoy]

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

Winston Churchill:

And all the other options offered currently in this country are not democracy

[Suradit69]

BBC World is showing footage of her visiting a school in the North East and being mobbed by schoolchildren too young to have any idea about politics so presumably doing exactly what family and teachers told them to do.

It was supposedly something to do with a competition posted on her Facebook account and due to the age of her ' supporters ' she can claim it wasn't political as the children are too young to vote, providing they could that is.

However she must be aware, as do so many others. that the law and legal niceties mean nothing to the junta when it suits.

The current situation with the monk is a prime example.

"... that the law and legal niceties mean nothing to the junta when it suits."

Not dissimilar from the selection process for political candidates in the US.

[MZurf]

She could come back tomorrow and there would not be much chance she would win. She held the majority in contempt for too long. Even her own innocent poor farmer supporters who protested towards the end of her brothers reign a couple of years ago were threatened by his militant supporter base if they continued.

Too bad the junta disagrees with you. Or else there would have been elections, right?

[JAG]

She could come back tomorrow and there would not be much chance she would win. She held the majority in contempt for too long. Even her own innocent poor farmer supporters who protested towards the end of her brothers reign a couple of years ago were threatened by his militant supporter base if they continued.

Well that rather remains to be seen.

The junta seem strangely reluctant to allow it to be seen though.

Why do you think that is then?

[Baerboxer]

She wants suggestions for a spot to visit? Klong Prem is nice this time of year.

Now if your junta leader had not given himself the mother of all amnesty's then that were he would be headed, and had his finances looked at by independent auditor's,

Well one could only guess how long the holiday could be???

Funny you and the few junta huggers are again quiet on the PM's statement regarding the temple stand off and a monk required to appear in court.

Now why is that pumpkin? Just to ridicules a statement to even try to back him up ehhh?

A typical Shinawatra sycophant response, though they usually have better grasp of English; if you don't like what others have to say, try to change the subject.

My post was clearly flippant - we all know she won't be attending anywhere south of Korat voluntarily.

OOp's my apologies for my poor English, diction, grammar, and sentence construction, ok popit, it happens some times, silly me doing other things while typing.

Now is this comment flippant or sarcastic???

BTW in your miniscule world do people with poor English or dyslexia etc, not have the right to comment without you trying to belittle them?

Funny yet AGIAN when faced with the question why you junta huggers go into hiding when O'l uncle Too flaps his cake hole and says really really stupid stuff?

But when there is an opportunity to have a crack at Yingluk Thaksin PTP reds or whatever your all over it like a fat kid on a cup cake.

Poor character i'd say.

You are right - dyslexia, and the ability to communicate in any language, should not deprive people of the right to express their opinions. There is something smug about those who wish to be grammar police or ridicule those who are communicating in a language that might not be their first, are dyslexic or not have great keyboard skills. Nor are those things indicators of the writers intelligence and grasp of the post on which he/she is commentating.

However, accusing everyone who isn't naive enough to be taken in by the overt lies and corruption of the Shins and their cronies is either ignorant or intended to protect the Shins from such criticisms. Similarly attempting to divert a topic about Yingluck to discuss the current government is an attempt at deflection.

Head's reporting always, as far as I can see, attempts to show the Shins in the best possible light. Never has he produced anything critical of them or investigative in anyway.

It's like reading The Daily Mail or The Guardian in the UK - you know their politics before you start and get what you expect. Only he works for the BBC and should be impartial. He isn't and it shows.

[jayboy]

She wants suggestions for a spot to visit? Klong Prem is nice this time of year.

Now if your junta leader had not given himself the mother of all amnesty's then that were he would be headed, and had his finances looked at by independent auditor's,

Well one could only guess how long the holiday could be???

Funny you and the few junta huggers are again quiet on the PM's statement regarding the temple stand off and a monk required to appear in court.

Now why is that pumpkin? Just to ridicules a statement to even try to back him up ehhh?

A typical Shinawatra sycophant response, though they usually have better grasp of English; if you don't like what others have to say, try to change the subject.

My post was clearly flippant - we all know she won't be attending anywhere south of Korat voluntarily.

The problem is that any politician who can secure the affections and loyalty of the electorate north of Korat in a free election is going to be the victor.Bear in mind also the very substantial minority in Bangkok (45%?) that will also vote that way.

[candide]

Ooh my oh my - stand by for a "Jonathan Head hatefest"...

Edited to add: Drat - baboon got in first!

Usual attempt to spike any comments before they're made.

To be fair, please find an article by Mr. Head in which he is ever critical of Thaksin, Yingluck or the Shins. An article in which he does not try to gloss over their, shall we say indiscretions as he normally does.

A Stephen Sakur he is not. An unashamed Shin fan boy whose glowing reports ignore any of the lying cheating and corruption that has been hallmarks of their various regimes.

A serious journalist would have taken Yingluck to task when he had the chance, on the rice scheme, the incessant lies, the cheating in parliamentary procedures, the never in parliament or answering questions, and the role of her brother in running the government with ministers and senior police openly meeting him overseas. And certainly have followed up and the Four Seasons incident.

If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion.

As far as I can see, he so biased it's embarrassing.

"If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion."

Here it is my dear! I googled "Jonahtan Head rice scheme" and that's the first reference on top of the list, so I did not have to search for a long time

"Thailand' rice price scheme: a policy too far?"

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23875084

The vid is around 3mn long and critics start at around 1:00, so be a little patient. And don't miss the concluding remarks.

[simon43]

Let me just finish your sentence

Besides which, a lot of people who previously voted for her brother's political party have wised up to the constant lying, cheating and ineptness of the current government

[thai3]

Love her or hate her if an election was held tomorrow she would win in a landslide.

Not that she's got much to beat!

Yeah well they are about to fix that, it's called the 20th constitution

[Baerboxer]

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

Winston Churchill:

And all the other options offered currently in this country are not democracy

Depends on how you define democracy. Certain posters like to proclaim holding elections is democracy. Well, North Korea, China, Zimbabwe and Viet Nam all hold elections. Does that make them democracies? Not on your life.

The EU is now facing serious challenges to democracy. Several months ago one of Merkel's ministers was reported to say that elections should not be allowed to change things. Today the BBC reported the appointed by politicians not elected Juncke has warned the ARD party that the EU commission will not have dialogue with them or any other party he deems 'far right". Of course, he doesn't mention the far left. So we have a bureaucrat appointed by politicians stating that he will block parties he doesn't approve of - regardless if the electorate vote for them. Conflict of interest, non democratic - of course, but it demonstrates the way the EU is going to a one party super state controlled by appointed bureaucrats who block any real opposition for them.

Churchill had the Kaiser, Hitler and Stalin to contend with when he formed his ideas on democracy and freedom. He must be spinning in his grave when he sees Merkel and Juncke's ideas.

Understandable why many Americans are interested in someone from outside the box, despite some of his ideas and policies. Breaks the mold.

And these are held as role model democracies for developing countries. Laughable.

[hansnl]

Love her or hate her if an election was held tomorrow she would win in a landslide.

Not that she's got much to beat!

May I wonder?

[Baerboxer]

Ooh my oh my - stand by for a "Jonathan Head hatefest"...

Edited to add: Drat - baboon got in first!

Usual attempt to spike any comments before they're made.

To be fair, please find an article by Mr. Head in which he is ever critical of Thaksin, Yingluck or the Shins. An article in which he does not try to gloss over their, shall we say indiscretions as he normally does.

A Stephen Sakur he is not. An unashamed Shin fan boy whose glowing reports ignore any of the lying cheating and corruption that has been hallmarks of their various regimes.

A serious journalist would have taken Yingluck to task when he had the chance, on the rice scheme, the incessant lies, the cheating in parliamentary procedures, the never in parliament or answering questions, and the role of her brother in running the government with ministers and senior police openly meeting him overseas. And certainly have followed up and the Four Seasons incident.

If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion.

As far as I can see, he so biased it's embarrassing.

"If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion."

Here it is my dear! I googled "Jonahtan Head rice scheme" and that's the first reference on top of the list, so I did not have to search for a long time

"Thailand' rice price scheme: a policy too far?"

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23875084

The vid is around 3mn long and critics start at around 1:00, so be a little patient. And don't miss the concluding remarks.

What a kind man you are! All the way from August 2013. Several references to a subsidy scheme but no reference to it being self financing off budget. No reference to the lack of transparency or financial accounts (made public). My word, he said corruption. In one sentence without elaborating. Where is the follow up, the G2G fraud exposures etc? He also did a nice on on the tablets for school children. He was looking at it from the inadequacies of the Thai education system and whether giving out 9 million tablets was the right answer. A golden opportunity to look at education reforms, or lack of them pursued by Shin family governments as they have been in office for the vast majority of this century. And a follow up on how many tablets were actually delivered, where they sourced them from and the problems they had? Or perhaps a follow up on the numerous Minister's of Education appointed and shuffled and the achievements of these handpicked high performing people?

There are some things that can't be ignored. But as investigative journalist go he must be as terrifying as being savaged by a dead sheep. So many things came to light since 2013 that could have made good copy. But hey ho, that's not the way to get invited on disguised political tours up north.

Thank you all the same.

[Baerboxer]

Let me just finish your sentence

Besides which, a lot of people who previously voted for her brother's political party have wised up to the constant lying, cheating and ineptness of the current government

Oh Simon, do you really believe the PTP government or previous two Shin regimes were any different? Maybe worse?

[Eric Loh]

She could come back tomorrow and there would not be much chance she would win. She held the majority in contempt for too long. Even her own innocent poor farmer supporters who protested towards the end of her brothers reign a couple of years ago were threatened by his militant supporter base if they continued.

Don't think she or her party worry too much as those farmers are from provinces of Ang Thong and Singburi and not party strongholds. They even could be paid protestors. Easy money during hard times.

[phoenixdoglover]

Ooh my oh my - stand by for a "Jonathan Head hatefest"...

Edited to add: Drat - baboon got in first!

Usual attempt to spike any comments before they're made.

To be fair, please find an article by Mr. Head in which he is ever critical of Thaksin, Yingluck or the Shins. An article in which he does not try to gloss over their, shall we say indiscretions as he normally does.

A Stephen Sakur he is not. An unashamed Shin fan boy whose glowing reports ignore any of the lying cheating and corruption that has been hallmarks of their various regimes.

A serious journalist would have taken Yingluck to task when he had the chance, on the rice scheme, the incessant lies, the cheating in parliamentary procedures, the never in parliament or answering questions, and the role of her brother in running the government with ministers and senior police openly meeting him overseas. And certainly have followed up and the Four Seasons incident.

If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion.

As far as I can see, he so biased it's embarrassing.

"If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion."

Here it is my dear! I googled "Jonahtan Head rice scheme" and that's the first reference on top of the list, so I did not have to search for a long time

"Thailand' rice price scheme: a policy too far?"

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23875084

The vid is around 3mn long and critics start at around 1:00, so be a little patient. And don't miss the concluding remarks.

What a kind man you are! All the way from August 2013. Several references to a subsidy scheme but no reference to it being self financing off budget. No reference to the lack of transparency or financial accounts (made public). My word, he said corruption. In one sentence without elaborating. Where is the follow up, the G2G fraud exposures etc? He also did a nice on on the tablets for school children. He was looking at it from the inadequacies of the Thai education system and whether giving out 9 million tablets was the right answer. A golden opportunity to look at education reforms, or lack of them pursued by Shin family governments as they have been in office for the vast majority of this century. And a follow up on how many tablets were actually delivered, where they sourced them from and the problems they had? Or perhaps a follow up on the numerous Minister's of Education appointed and shuffled and the achievements of these handpicked high performing people?

There are some things that can't be ignored. But as investigative journalist go he must be as terrifying as being savaged by a dead sheep. So many things came to light since 2013 that could have made good copy. But hey ho, that's not the way to get invited on disguised political tours up north.

Thank you all the same.

The BBC published an article on the suspect G2G deal in Feb 2014.

[jayboy]

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

Winston Churchill:

And all the other options offered currently in this country are not democracy

Depends on how you define democracy. Certain posters like to proclaim holding elections is democracy. Well, North Korea, China, Zimbabwe and Viet Nam all hold elections. Does that make them democracies? Not on your life.

Can you show me one instance where anybody has argued that holding elections is in itself democracy? I'm afraid you just made it up.Don't you get tired of regurgitating these tired old dishonesties?

Anyway so there can be no doubt on the matter elections do not in themselves produce democracy.It requires an independent judiciary and other checks and balances.It must respect and encourage discussion.It must provide rights for all citizens.It must encourage civil society.Thailand's democracy has always been fragile and we must assume when democracy is restored it will continue to be work in process.And on to elections.Elections in short do not produce demoocracy but without them - free, fair and without intimidation - democracy cannot exist at all.Elections are a pre-condition and need to be held in the context of a constitution that has genuine national support at all levels.

[SOTIRIOS]

......1).............yuck.....

......2).............when will she finally be charged......it's not every day that a country loses close to a trillion baht....

.....3)..............shall we conclude that the author is a supporter......or was put up to it.........

[sujoop]

BBC World is showing footage of her visiting a school in the North East and being mobbed by schoolchildren too young to have any idea about politics so presumably doing exactly what family and teachers told them to do.

It was supposedly something to do with a competition posted on her Facebook account and due to the age of her ' supporters ' she can claim it wasn't political as the children are too young to vote, providing they could that is.

However she must be aware, as do so many others. that the law and legal niceties mean nothing to the junta when it suits.

The current situation with the monk is a prime example.

Children being manipulated? Monks? Shinawatra's? All 3 are discussed in this article from a monk who resigned from that temple:

The Thai Rak Thai-Phra Dhammakaya Temple relationship proved mutually beneficial. It allowed the Thai Rak Thai Party to promote itself with greater efficiency. Phra Dhammakaya Temple also began broadcasts on Dow Tham. Using a massive budget and having recruited qualified personnel - all inspired by the Doctrine of Dhammakaya - the satellite television channel produced a series of programmes, enriched with computerised images and attractive animations, thus capturing the eyes of the younger generation.

Never before in its history was the temple able to expand its powers so quickly. The temple was able to significantly build up its local, national and international networks after Thai Rak Thai came to power.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/27/opinion/opinion_30014752.php

But hey, another hard journalistic piece/ongoing pro-Shin advertorial via Jonathan Head...

(also pied-piper / head of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, influence is key;)

[candide]

Ooh my oh my - stand by for a "Jonathan Head hatefest"...

Edited to add: Drat - baboon got in first!

Usual attempt to spike any comments before they're made.

To be fair, please find an article by Mr. Head in which he is ever critical of Thaksin, Yingluck or the Shins. An article in which he does not try to gloss over their, shall we say indiscretions as he normally does.

A Stephen Sakur he is not. An unashamed Shin fan boy whose glowing reports ignore any of the lying cheating and corruption that has been hallmarks of their various regimes.

A serious journalist would have taken Yingluck to task when he had the chance, on the rice scheme, the incessant lies, the cheating in parliamentary procedures, the never in parliament or answering questions, and the role of her brother in running the government with ministers and senior police openly meeting him overseas. And certainly have followed up and the Four Seasons incident.

If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion.

As far as I can see, he so biased it's embarrassing.

"If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion."

Here it is my dear! I googled "Jonahtan Head rice scheme" and that's the first reference on top of the list, so I did not have to search for a long time

"Thailand' rice price scheme: a policy too far?"

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23875084

The vid is around 3mn long and critics start at around 1:00, so be a little patient. And don't miss the concluding remarks.

What a kind man you are! All the way from August 2013. Several references to a subsidy scheme but no reference to it being self financing off budget. No reference to the lack of transparency or financial accounts (made public). My word, he said corruption. In one sentence without elaborating. Where is the follow up, the G2G fraud exposures etc? He also did a nice on on the tablets for school children. He was looking at it from the inadequacies of the Thai education system and whether giving out 9 million tablets was the right answer. A golden opportunity to look at education reforms, or lack of them pursued by Shin family governments as they have been in office for the vast majority of this century. And a follow up on how many tablets were actually delivered, where they sourced them from and the problems they had? Or perhaps a follow up on the numerous Minister's of Education appointed and shuffled and the achievements of these handpicked high performing people?

There are some things that can't be ignored. But as investigative journalist go he must be as terrifying as being savaged by a dead sheep. So many things came to light since 2013 that could have made good copy. But hey ho, that's not the way to get invited on disguised political tours up north.

Thank you all the same.

So you think this 3 mn video is unbalanced because some details are lacking? I don't think so and I invite other TVF members to check it.He first interviews a farmer on the benefits of the scheme, then highlights the difficulties in storing rice and financing, also interviewing 2 people who are critical of the scheme, then a government adviser, then concludes on citing corruption and mentioning that this scheme may lead to an end of the ptp government. He could have gone into more details (on both the pro and cons) but it is balanced, critical, and in no way biased towards the former government.

Same for the other vid you mention on the tablet scheme. He could have gone further, as you mentioned, but is quite critical on the relevance of this scheme, clearly showing that it doesn't meet the real problem, which is the poor quality of the Thai school system. Again nothing biased and with an overall critical tone.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23845345

He may not have covered extensively all topics you would have liked him to cover, thus committing "sin by omission", but it's far far from the demonization I often read in TVF.

As concerns the OP: YL still popular in the NE! It doesn't seem extravageant to me as it has always been a PTP stronghold. I would have been more surprised by YL being popular in the South.

[zyphodb]

Love her or hate her if an election was held tomorrow she would win in a landslide.

Not that she's got much to beat!

The most amusing (if I dare say so) is that the Junta may delay election for such a long time, that her 5 years ban may be over by then.

Not very amusing for the Thai people to have elections held up for that long is it? with the powers that be committing Buddha knows what acts on them in the meantime

[Mosha]

Ooh my oh my - stand by for a "Jonathan Head hatefest"...

Edited to add: Drat - baboon got in first!

Usual attempt to spike any comments before they're made.

To be fair, please find an article by Mr. Head in which he is ever critical of Thaksin, Yingluck or the Shins. An article in which he does not try to gloss over their, shall we say indiscretions as he normally does.

A Stephen Sakur he is not. An unashamed Shin fan boy whose glowing reports ignore any of the lying cheating and corruption that has been hallmarks of their various regimes.

A serious journalist would have taken Yingluck to task when he had the chance, on the rice scheme, the incessant lies, the cheating in parliamentary procedures, the never in parliament or answering questions, and the role of her brother in running the government with ministers and senior police openly meeting him overseas. And certainly have followed up and the Four Seasons incident.

If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion.

As far as I can see, he so biased it's embarrassing.

Best interview with her, was on All Jazeera, when the interviewer almost guffawed at one of Yingluck's answers.

Sent from my SMART_4G_Speedy_5inch using Tapatalk

[Mosha]

She could come back tomorrow and there would not be much chance she would win. She held the majority in contempt for too long. Even her own innocent poor farmer supporters who protested towards the end of her brothers reign a couple of years ago were threatened by his militant supporter base if they continued.

Well that rather remains to be seen.

The junta seem strangely reluctant to allow it to be seen though.

Why do you think that is then?

It's a forbidden subject.

Sent from my SMART_4G_Speedy_5inch using Tapatalk

[kennw]

Ooh my oh my - stand by for a "Jonathan Head hatefest"...

Edited to add: Drat - baboon got in first!

The greatest exponent of biased reporting is mr. Richard Head as he is locally known. Report the facts, Yinlak is facing charges of dereliction of duty, this has nothing to do with her case re the draft constitution . BBC get rid of this Taksin leftwing loving A/hole. Also report on the cosy relationship between Yinglak and the previous US ambassador. Report on the US lobbyist employed by the run away convicted criminal operating in Dubai. Shame on you BBC. Where are your professional and balanced ethics.? We expect better of you. Or should we change to CNN?

[Baerboxer]

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

Winston Churchill:

And all the other options offered currently in this country are not democracy

Depends on how you define democracy. Certain posters like to proclaim holding elections is democracy. Well, North Korea, China, Zimbabwe and Viet Nam all hold elections. Does that make them democracies? Not on your life.

Can you show me one instance where anybody has argued that holding elections is in itself democracy? I'm afraid you just made it up.Don't you get tired of regurgitating these tired old dishonesties?

Anyway so there can be no doubt on the matter elections do not in themselves produce democracy.It requires an independent judiciary and other checks and balances.It must respect and encourage discussion.It must provide rights for all citizens.It must encourage civil society.Thailand's democracy has always been fragile and we must assume when democracy is restored it will continue to be work in process.And on to elections.Elections in short do not produce demoocracy but without them - free, fair and without intimidation - democracy cannot exist at all.Elections are a pre-condition and need to be held in the context of a constitution that has genuine national support at all levels.

Are you calling me dishonest? Pretty rich from someone who wouldn't know the truth if it bit them!

Do you own research. Plenty of examples if you open your eyes.

[beautifulthailand99]

Is it me or is it she has never looked better - whatever the politics sexiest PM ever .....

[Baerboxer]

"If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion."

Here it is my dear! I googled "Jonahtan Head rice scheme" and that's the first reference on top of the list, so I did not have to search for a long time

"Thailand' rice price scheme: a policy too far?"

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23875084

The vid is around 3mn long and critics start at around 1:00, so be a little patient. And don't miss the concluding remarks.

What a kind man you are! All the way from August 2013. Several references to a subsidy scheme but no reference to it being self financing off budget. No reference to the lack of transparency or financial accounts (made public). My word, he said corruption. In one sentence without elaborating. Where is the follow up, the G2G fraud exposures etc? He also did a nice on on the tablets for school children. He was looking at it from the inadequacies of the Thai education system and whether giving out 9 million tablets was the right answer. A golden opportunity to look at education reforms, or lack of them pursued by Shin family governments as they have been in office for the vast majority of this century. And a follow up on how many tablets were actually delivered, where they sourced them from and the problems they had? Or perhaps a follow up on the numerous Minister's of Education appointed and shuffled and the achievements of these handpicked high performing people?

There are some things that can't be ignored. But as investigative journalist go he must be as terrifying as being savaged by a dead sheep. So many things came to light since 2013 that could have made good copy. But hey ho, that's not the way to get invited on disguised political tours up north.

Thank you all the same.

So you think this 3 mn video is unbalanced because some details are lacking? I don't think so and I invite other TVF members to check it.He first interviews a farmer on the benefits of the scheme, then highlights the difficulties in storing rice and financing, also interviewing 2 people who are critical of the scheme, then a government adviser, then concludes on citing corruption and mentioning that this scheme may lead to an end of the ptp government. He could have gone into more details (on both the pro and cons) but it is balanced, critical, and in no way biased towards the former government.

Same for the other vid you mention on the tablet scheme. He could have gone further, as you mentioned, but is quite critical on the relevance of this scheme, clearly showing that it doesn't meet the real problem, which is the poor quality of the Thai school system. Again nothing biased and with an overall critical tone.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23845345

He may not have covered extensively all topics you would have liked him to cover, thus committing "sin by omission", but it's far far from the demonization I often read in TVF.

As concerns the OP: YL still popular in the NE! It doesn't seem extravageant to me as it has always been a PTP stronghold. I would have been more surprised by YL being popular in the South.

Nice short videos from Aug 2013. And where are all the follow ups on these subjects since then? Surely the failure to deliver anything like the quantity of promised tablets, the dubious quality and the strange sourcing decision warranted some comment? Or perhaps the interesting leadership and management techniques adopted by Yingluck on the rice scheme - total absence, might be worth a follow up? Plenty to go at, like where all the money actually went because not much apparently trickled down to the farmers, the poorest of whom were excluded.

To me, he's simply overtly pro Shin in the way he writes, and what he chooses to ignore or misreport.

We, you me and everyone else have no idea as to the level of her popularity. We know the PTP Shin organization is quite adept at organizing these 'spontaneous" little propaganda visits. How effective their grip is and how well the machinery is oiled remains to be seen.

[Baerboxer]

Is it me or is it she has never looked better - whatever the politics sexiest PM ever .....

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

[candide]

"If you can find articles or taped interviews where he does challenge them and reports the real full detail, both pros and cons, in an article that informs rather than attempts to persuade then I'll happily revise my opinion."

Here it is my dear! I googled "Jonahtan Head rice scheme" and that's the first reference on top of the list, so I did not have to search for a long time

"Thailand' rice price scheme: a policy too far?"

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23875084

The vid is around 3mn long and critics start at around 1:00, so be a little patient. And don't miss the concluding remarks.

What a kind man you are! All the way from August 2013. Several references to a subsidy scheme but no reference to it being self financing off budget. No reference to the lack of transparency or financial accounts (made public). My word, he said corruption. In one sentence without elaborating. Where is the follow up, the G2G fraud exposures etc? He also did a nice on on the tablets for school children. He was looking at it from the inadequacies of the Thai education system and whether giving out 9 million tablets was the right answer. A golden opportunity to look at education reforms, or lack of them pursued by Shin family governments as they have been in office for the vast majority of this century. And a follow up on how many tablets were actually delivered, where they sourced them from and the problems they had? Or perhaps a follow up on the numerous Minister's of Education appointed and shuffled and the achievements of these handpicked high performing people?

There are some things that can't be ignored. But as investigative journalist go he must be as terrifying as being savaged by a dead sheep. So many things came to light since 2013 that could have made good copy. But hey ho, that's not the way to get invited on disguised political tours up north.

Thank you all the same.

So you think this 3 mn video is unbalanced because some details are lacking? I don't think so and I invite other TVF members to check it.He first interviews a farmer on the benefits of the scheme, then highlights the difficulties in storing rice and financing, also interviewing 2 people who are critical of the scheme, then a government adviser, then concludes on citing corruption and mentioning that this scheme may lead to an end of the ptp government. He could have gone into more details (on both the pro and cons) but it is balanced, critical, and in no way biased towards the former government.

Same for the other vid you mention on the tablet scheme. He could have gone further, as you mentioned, but is quite critical on the relevance of this scheme, clearly showing that it doesn't meet the real problem, which is the poor quality of the Thai school system. Again nothing biased and with an overall critical tone.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23845345

He may not have covered extensively all topics you would have liked him to cover, thus committing "sin by omission", but it's far far from the demonization I often read in TVF.

As concerns the OP: YL still popular in the NE! It doesn't seem extravageant to me as it has always been a PTP stronghold. I would have been more surprised by YL being popular in the South.

Nice short videos from Aug 2013. And where are all the follow ups on these subjects since then? Surely the failure to deliver anything like the quantity of promised tablets, the dubious quality and the strange sourcing decision warranted some comment? Or perhaps the interesting leadership and management techniques adopted by Yingluck on the rice scheme - total absence, might be worth a follow up? Plenty to go at, like where all the money actually went because not much apparently trickled down to the farmers, the poorest of whom were excluded.

To me, he's simply overtly pro Shin in the way he writes, and what he chooses to ignore or misreport.

We, you me and everyone else have no idea as to the level of her popularity. We know the PTP Shin organization is quite adept at organizing these 'spontaneous" little propaganda visits. How effective their grip is and how well the machinery is oiled remains to be seen.

"not much apparently trickled down to the farmers".

Any reliable source? And please don't mention the World Bank report. As objected to you before, it's not in the world Bank report.

[arrowsdawdle]

BBC World is showing footage of her visiting a school in the North East and being mobbed by schoolchildren too young to have any idea about politics so presumably doing exactly what family and teachers told them to do.

It was supposedly something to do with a competition posted on her Facebook account and due to the age of her ' supporters ' she can claim it wasn't political as the children are too young to vote, providing they could that is.

However she must be aware, as do so many others. that the law and legal niceties mean nothing to the junta when it suits.

The current situation with the monk is a prime example.

To be fair the footage linked to the OP shows her meeting with and talking with adults too.

I think she knows exactly what she is doing. In the words of a certain Irish "politician" "They haven't gone away you know". And no, I am not comparing Yingluck or the Pheu Thai to the Provisional I R A.!

It is a bit of a challenge to the junta though isn't it - I do rather wonder how they will react. I expect someones bowl of Wheatabix got thrown at the dog this morning!

It would have to be a vehicle or plane accident unless they can figure out how to aim a falling meteor.