"what Thaksin Had Done Wrong"

[sriracha john]

New Airport cursed by corruption scandals

Suvarnabhumi suffering from plays to nab Thaksin and his cohorts for the 'web of illegal deals' during its construction

Since former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted, several teams of investigators have stormed into Suvarnabhumi Airport searching for irregularities, apparently in a series of moves to dig up proof of corruption with which to attack him.

On Monday, deputy permanent secretary for defence Bannavit Kengrien made an emotional statement in which he claimed that Suvarnabhumi, which Thaksin highlighted as one of his achievements over the past five years, would be Thaksin's graveyard.

It is an open secret that Bannavit was among the military men who were bullied by the Thaksin regime.

In the same vanguard there is a National Legislative Assembly committee, specifically set up to investigate all the Suvarnabhumi scandals. It includes both Winai Senniam and Praphan Khoonmee, former members of the Democrat Party and arch-rivals of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party.

They have found some proof of corruption. Only four months after its official opening, the airport's taxiways are cracked and need fixing in 25 places.

Winai and Praphan showed additional evidence yesterday, saying that more than 71,000 square metres of the passenger terminal, which covers about 500,000 square metres, have been damaged.

Obviously, they are pointing their fingers at the Thaksin administration, which handed out most of the airport development deals. Moreover, they are pushing for the closure of the airport, for renovations to ensure the safety of passengers.

Sonthi Limthongkul, a long-time leader of anti-Thaksin forces, points out that if the airport is closed, it will give a strong indication that Thaksin was guilty of several corruption cases.

But is the damage really that serious?

Some say that aircraft could pick up tiny rocks from the taxiway cracks and these could lead to explosions if they hit the fuel tanks.

Tortrakul Yommanak, a director of Airports of Thailand - the operator of the new airport - does not think so, although he counts himself among the anti-Thaksin people. He said the damage, including that on the taxiways, can be fixed without having to close Suvarnabhumi.

In this power play, all the bad news will unavoidably force local and foreign travellers, and all who use the airport, to lose confidence in Suvarnabhumi.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand's new governor Pornsiri Manoharn has voiced her grave concerns about the bad news. "It will be terribly worrying for foreigners who are travelling to Thailand. They could withdraw their travelling plans immediately if they fear for their safety."

Pornsiri and business people accept that closing the airport may be necessary if the safety issues are sufficiently serious and the danger can be substantiated.

However, many separate investigations and criticisms will not help to determine whether the problems are really that serious.

The government should step in quickly to clarify the issue, starting with the establishment of an independent investigation team who will not come up with biased opinions.

If possible, representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organisation should be invited to join the team, to decide whether the airport should be repaired or closed, and to give Thailand a chance to prove to the world that Suvarnabhumi is up to international standards.

In that way, we would be telling the world that we are dealing with a national issue in a professional way, and not being driven by political ill-will.

Such an investigation team should be established as soon as possible, given that many parts of the airport are running out of insurance coverage.

If anything is to be fixed, then it should be the responsibility of those construction firms that were awarded the construction contracts.

An investigation panel is necessary, given that AOT does not have the power to convince the public of the airport's safety because its board of directors is politically controlled. Its board is now chaired by General Saprang Kalayanamitr, assistant secretary of the Council of National Security.

Without the opinion from a very independent body, the airport will remain an open target for anyone who wants to hold it up as collateral damage in a political battle. If these issues are dragged on for political benefit, taxpayers will have to shoulder the eventual cost.

At present, airlines, logistics companies and tour operators are refraining from commenting on the impact of a possible closure. Operating from the airport, they are hopeful that Suvarnabhumi is just caught up in the ongoing power play and that it will be rescued once the culprit is caught.

It is so in Hollywood movies. But it will be interesting to see who will be the hero to save the airport, which has already swallowed more than Bt100 billion in development costs.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

ASC widens hunt for Thaksin graft

Poised to delve into Win Mark share deals

The Assets Scrutiny Committee looks set to delve into a series of share transactions involving the Shinawatra family and Win Mark Ltd _ a company that could have acted as a personal fund for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to stash his wealth. The ASC's interest was sparked by Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij who testified yesterday about share transfers involving Shin Corp and its affiliates.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Jan2007_news01.php

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

the arena of corruption just keeps expanding......

[Old Man River]

ASC widens hunt for Thaksin graft

Poised to delve into Win Mark share deals

The Assets Scrutiny Committee looks set to delve into a series of share transactions involving the Shinawatra family and Win Mark Ltd _ a company that could have acted as a personal fund for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to stash his wealth. The ASC's interest was sparked by Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij who testified yesterday about share transfers involving Shin Corp and its affiliates.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Jan2007_news01.php

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

the arena of corruption just keeps expanding......

This is what will ultimately get the former PM. Thaksin's attorneys can argue interpretations of tax laws etc., but following the money on the equity transactions will lead to answers, not interpretations. And who best to lead the ASC to these answers, but Korn Chatikavanij, who I believe will one day be as good a PM as Anand Panyarachun was. You don't have to read between the lines on Korn's article in the Nation. The SEC better quickly figure out which way the wind is blowing and have much better answers to the same questions than they had last year.

[sriracha john]

Rubber Sapling Complaint Lodged

In the latest development of graft proceedings against the Thaksin Shinawatra regime, authorities have filed a formal complaint charging the ousted Cabinet for being involved in irregularities stemming from rubber-sapling procurement.

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) yesterday acknowledged the complaint from the injured party, the Rubber Plantation Fund, which was responsible for the scheme to distribute 90 million rubber saplings to farmers in the Northeast.

The fund has accused the Thaksin Cabinet and 70 accomplices, divided into seven groups, of conspiracy to fix the bidding process. The saplings were found to be substandard and could not be tapped for rubber.

The fund's complaint will be the basis for the AEC to open a hearing on indictments.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

RUBBER PLANT GRAFT CASE

State agencies told to abide by government's guidelines

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has given the green light to ministry permanent secretaries to take appropriate disciplinary action against state agencies or bureaucrats who are still in ''neutral gear'' and unresponsive to government policies. Gen Surayud yesterday held a meeting with the permanent secretaries of all ministries. He instructed them to use the merit system in human resource management and asked them to take appropriate punitive action against agencies or officials who are still in neutral gear. The prime minister urged all state agencies to give their full cooperation to the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC).

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Jan2007_news09.php

[John K]

SJ, looks like you will need an Excel spread sheet soon for this thread.

[Tolley]

There is no doubt that there were serious issues of corruption with the Thaksin administration.

But does anyone really think that this corruption was unique to Thaksin and will suddenly disappear with a new government?

Count me as one of the sceptics. Corruption is deeply entrentched in Thai society and unfortunately the cycle will continue unless there are concerted efforts to make cultural and institutional changes.

On balance I don't think Thaksin was so bad given that we could expect all the governments in Thailand to be corrupt. He did after all bring many positives things to Thailand.

[Mid]

SJ, looks like you will need an Excel spread sheet soon for this thread.

Cliff Notes please .......................

[sriracha john]

He did after all bring many positives things to Thailand.

Indeed, the Elite Card and the new airport are but two proud and positive accomplishments of his.

===================================

For John K and Mid:

the ever-reliable whiteboard of Plus seems to work exceptionally well.

Edited January 27, 2007 by sriracha john

[wintermute]

There is no doubt that there were serious issues of corruption with the Thaksin administration.

But does anyone really think that this corruption was unique to Thaksin and will suddenly disappear with a new government?

Count me as one of the sceptics. Corruption is deeply entrentched in Thai society and unfortunately the cycle will continue unless there are concerted efforts to make cultural and institutional changes.

On balance I don't think Thaksin was so bad given that we could expect all the governments in Thailand to be corrupt. He did after all bring many positives things to Thailand.

I believe that we will get "same same" I for one do not believe any regime that chose to replace Thaksin is somehow more morally righteous or committed to democratic principles. It was just one of those big player plays that you often see in developing world banana republic type countries like Thailand. It's basically the military, police, and the 20 or so elite controlling families engaging in Machiavellian subterfuge to usurp each other's grip on the country. I'm sure there's a LOT more corruption and conspiracy in Thailand that could be uncovered but it'd have to be researched from outside the country because once you start writing books questioning too much you get blacklisted, censored, killed, or thrown in jail. Thailand isn't Burma yet but it's a constant struggle..

[hammered]

There is no doubt that there were serious issues of corruption with the Thaksin administration.

But does anyone really think that this corruption was unique to Thaksin and will suddenly disappear with a new government?

Count me as one of the sceptics. Corruption is deeply entrentched in Thai society and unfortunately the cycle will continue unless there are concerted efforts to make cultural and institutional changes.

On balance I don't think Thaksin was so bad given that we could expect all the governments in Thailand to be corrupt. He did after all bring many positives things to Thailand.

Personally I couldnt bring myself to say I didnt think someone was so bad who had a good few thousand extra-judicial deaths on his watch. More than Pinochet or the Argentinian generals in fact. Mind you it doesnt really seem like anyone wants to seriously investigate this and get it into court.

[ColPyat]

Personally I couldnt bring myself to say I didnt think someone was so bad who had a good few thousand extra-judicial deaths on his watch. More than Pinochet or the Argentinian generals in fact. Mind you it doesnt really seem like anyone wants to seriously investigate this and get it into court.

The dilema here is that regardless/despite/whatever, through him/during his tenure/whatever many very important reforms have been initiated, such as the first national health program that did enable to supply tenthousands and soon hundred thousands with life saving drugs that otherwise would have been very difficult. And the biggest change that came was that the previously apathetic classes have been through his populism drawn into the political process.

The almost complete lack of meaningful reforms of the present government, many members very willful participants in the drugwar killings, and/or supporters thereof, and the lack of significant investigations into the drugwar killings does not really bode well for the future.

As much as the drugwar killings go against the grain of us westerers, and a few Thais, it still does not appear to be much of an issue with the majority of the Thai population, and the present government does not much more than paying lipservice.

What did Thaksin do wrong in the eyes of the present powers should be asked, and not what he did wrong in our eyes.

And then, we may come to some very uncomfortable answers.

[Grover]

Nah. We should be asking "what did he do right?"

But then again, there would be probably be nothing to discuss, except perhaps for a few half-cooked posts.

[hammered]

Personally I couldnt bring myself to say I didnt think someone was so bad who had a good few thousand extra-judicial deaths on his watch. More than Pinochet or the Argentinian generals in fact. Mind you it doesnt really seem like anyone wants to seriously investigate this and get it into court.

The dilema here is that regardless/despite/whatever, through him/during his tenure/whatever many very important reforms have been initiated, such as the first national health program that did enable to supply tenthousands and soon hundred thousands with life saving drugs that otherwise would have been very difficult. And the biggest change that came was that the previously apathetic classes have been through his populism drawn into the political process.

The almost complete lack of meaningful reforms of the present government, many members very willful participants in the drugwar killings, and/or supporters thereof, and the lack of significant investigations into the drugwar killings does not really bode well for the future.

As much as the drugwar killings go against the grain of us westerers, and a few Thais, it still does not appear to be much of an issue with the majority of the Thai population, and the present government does not much more than paying lipservice.

What did Thaksin do wrong in the eyes of the present powers should be asked, and not what he did wrong in our eyes.

And then, we may come to some very uncomfortable answers.

Hi Colpyat

I dont disagree with that. However, it is still necessary for those that care to raise the inconvenient truths of the killings even if this does not fit well with the current or previous government or anyone individual from either. Even many westerners on here seem to be ambivalent towards the extra-judicial stuff. I wouldnt include you in that by the way having discussed this several times with you before. One day a Thai leader or member of the ruling class will have to pay for misdeeds. That time may not be now, but at least there are some Thai people still pushing the issue however few. That number can only grow if abuses are not dealt with and as more occur. As you point out Mr. Thaksin is not unique in being involved in these events (although at the moment he is a stand out character in them), and they have happened in the past and will probably happen again in the future. One can only hope that someone or some people of note are charegd over matters like this sooner rather than later although I concur that it is unlikely. Even the news media dont seem interested, and without a body like this that can influence opinion little will probably change.

[ColPyat]

Hi Colpyat

I dont disagree with that. However, it is still necessary for those that care to raise the inconvenient truths of the killings even if this does not fit well with the current or previous government or anyone individual from either. Even many westerners on here seem to be ambivalent towards the extra-judicial stuff. I wouldnt include you in that by the way having discussed this several times with you before. One day a Thai leader or member of the ruling class will have to pay for misdeeds. That time may not be now, but at least there are some Thai people still pushing the issue however few. That number can only grow if abuses are not dealt with and as more occur. As you point out Mr. Thaksin is not unique in being involved in these events (although at the moment he is a stand out character in them), and they have happened in the past and will probably happen again in the future. One can only hope that someone or some people of note are charegd over matters like this sooner rather than later although I concur that it is unlikely. Even the news media dont seem interested, and without a body like this that can influence opinion little will probably change.

Yeps, i can nothing but agree with that.

Unfortunately the bogeyman Thaksin is just politicised, while the real issues are not really dealt with, and i doubt very much that there is much intent to deal with them in the first place.

People like Chaiwat, who runs around with the drugwar are neither really in a powerful position enough to do something substantial, and additionally, like with many salon activists here, he does have more than a few unsolved points in his past and family life that makes it difficult to believe in how serious he is with his quest.

It's not just farang who take the opportunity to completely reinvent themselves in Thailand on occasion, it appears to be endemic here ...

But yes, the drugwar killings have to be talked about, even though it's just a minority opinion.

[AlexLah]

Even if all of the cases get proved and solved and people are going to spend time in jail and have to pay penalty's, will it ever change the 'Thai way of doing bizz'?

In my experience of doing bizz here in Thailand 90% of possible customers are sort of asking for some kind of commission fee and their excuse is that it is part of their Thai culture. (mostly Sino Thai's).

Even my own staff thinks it is normal!

Even when explaining to them it is bribery you get the standard answer that you do not understand Thai culture.

What is needed to alter their mindset?

Same for the face concept. When I can clearly explain and prove the complaining customer did something wrong in the production process it is told that they cannot tell a customer he/she did something wrong as it will make the customer loose face.

When explaining people make mistakes and we just have to learn from it and try to find ways to prevent those errors occur in future so that our customer can reduce error rates.

No we cannot tell customer do something wrong is the answer.

How can we ever see a change for the better if this type of thinking is programmed in their system?

I am almost 100% sure that those corrupted people study the current cases and try to find out what went wrong and what they need to do next time to avoid being detected.

Just recently one of my (Thai) friends had to pay a 50.000 Bath under the table fee to get her papers for opening a shop stamped.....

Will it ever stop.....

[John K]

Thaksin fights for airport wriggle-room

Bangkok Post reporters, BangkokPost.com

With new problems surfacing every day at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the lawyer for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has begun an attempt to distance his client from the project to build and open the showcase airport.

Thaksin 'not aware of all airport snags'

Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser for Mr Thaksin, said on Friday that the former leader was "not aware of every detail about the trouble-plagued Suvarnabhumi airport".

Mr Thaksin, then prime minister, delegated responsibilities to the relevant parties and acted as a policy supervisor, said Mr Noppadon.

Most people remember Mr Thaksin was the leading advocate and strong force behind a final rush to finish construction and open the airport. Then, Mr Thaksin was taking credit for the airport.

Now, Mr Noppadon says Mr Thaksin didn't do that at all.

According to Mr Noppadon, the former prime minister made it clear he wanted the best for the new airport, but it was impossible for him to be aware of every detail.

The Thaksin government had planned to make the airport the region's aviation hub.

Mr Noppadon lashed out at graft investigators' recent comment that the corruption-rife Suvarnabhumi airport would be Mr Thaksin's grave.

[John K]

Thaksin’s lawyer is getting to be about as annoying as Thaksin himself. I hope he has the wisdom to see past his finite employment with Thaksin and quit while he is only a little behind.

This I did not know stuff is so laughable. I can remember threads when he was pushing to have the airport opened a year early. To say he did not know amounts to saying he did not know that he was PM at the time too.

[sriracha john]

Ex-premier's deeds must match words

Thai Rath editorial:

Should Thaksin Shinawatra come home? What would be the right time for him to do so? These questions are still the talk of the town as the Council for National Security (CNS) grapples with political undercurrents from the Sept 19 coup. Mr Thaksin must prove his words with deeds. Instead of talking through foreign media, Mr Thaksin should talk directly to the government and the CNS. At the same time, he must tell his supporters not to cause trouble. More importantly, he must stop giving press interviews that are negative about Thailand. If he can do the above, Mr Thaksin may have a better chance of returning to Thailand.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Jan2007_news21.php

[sriracha john]

More lies from Thaksin transmitted through Khun Noppadope.

He hired the American lobbying & PR company BEFORE the coup and for reasons OTHER than those that he stated publicly.

Thaksin's motives a tangled web

Why did the former prime minister need to buy influence in Washington while still serving in the top job in Thailand?

In the latest instalment of Thaksin Shinawatra's well-planned and well-calculated political drama to make a comeback into Thai politics, Mr Thaksin's legal counsel, Noppadon Pattama, held a press conference on Jan 20 publicly denying that Mr Thaksin had hired US-based lobbying firm Barbour, Griffith and Rogers (BGR) to counter statements made by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's government. Mr Noppadon further claimed that Mr Thaksin's motive for hiring one of America's most influential lobbying firms was simple: the ousted leader wanted the firm to assess news and information concerning the situation in Thailand after the Sept 19 coup. So the implication was, in fact, that Mr Thaksin had hired the firm after his fall from grace on Sept 19. I unearthed a lobbying registration form filed by BGR and the effective date of the registration document was in actual fact Sept 7, a full 12 days before the coup that brought Mr Thaksin down. More importantly, the document states BGR was hired by Mr Thaksin to ''provide guidance and counsel with regard to Thaksin's interest in Washington, DC and abroad''.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Jan2007_news22.php

Edited January 28, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thaksin fights for airport wriggle-room

Bangkok Post reporters, BangkokPost.com

With new problems surfacing every day at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the lawyer for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has begun an attempt to distance his client from the project to build and open the showcase airport.

Thaksin 'not aware of all airport snags'

Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser for Mr Thaksin, said on Friday that the former leader was "not aware of every detail about the trouble-plagued Suvarnabhumi airport".

Mr Thaksin, then prime minister, delegated responsibilities to the relevant parties and acted as a policy supervisor, said Mr Noppadon.

Most people remember Mr Thaksin was the leading advocate and strong force behind a final rush to finish construction and open the airport. Then, Mr Thaksin was taking credit for the airport.

Now, Mr Noppadon says Mr Thaksin didn't do that at all.

According to Mr Noppadon, the former prime minister made it clear he wanted the best for the new airport, but it was impossible for him to be aware of every detail.

The Thaksin government had planned to make the airport the region's aviation hub.

Mr Noppadon lashed out at graft investigators' recent comment that the corruption-rife Suvarnabhumi airport would be Mr Thaksin's grave.

The Nation

Edited January 29, 2007 by sriracha john

[hammered]

More lies from Thaksin transmitted through Khun Noppadope.

He hired the American lobbying & PR company BEFORE the coup and for reasons OTHER than those that he stated publicly.

Thaksin's motives a tangled web

Why did the former prime minister need to buy influence in Washington while still serving in the top job in Thailand?

In the latest instalment of Thaksin Shinawatra's well-planned and well-calculated political drama to make a comeback into Thai politics, Mr Thaksin's legal counsel, Noppadon Pattama, held a press conference on Jan 20 publicly denying that Mr Thaksin had hired US-based lobbying firm Barbour, Griffith and Rogers (BGR) to counter statements made by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's government. Mr Noppadon further claimed that Mr Thaksin's motive for hiring one of America's most influential lobbying firms was simple: the ousted leader wanted the firm to assess news and information concerning the situation in Thailand after the Sept 19 coup. So the implication was, in fact, that Mr Thaksin had hired the firm after his fall from grace on Sept 19. I unearthed a lobbying registration form filed by BGR and the effective date of the registration document was in actual fact Sept 7, a full 12 days before the coup that brought Mr Thaksin down. More importantly, the document states BGR was hired by Mr Thaksin to ''provide guidance and counsel with regard to Thaksin's interest in Washington, DC and abroad''.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Jan2007_news22.php

Well that clarifies the date of their commisioning but it suddenly opens up one hel_l of a lot of new questions including why misinformation was given on this.

[John K]

As I recall Thaksin left Thailand several days before the coup. I don’t know if that is significant but seeing what was on his mind and in the news then I seem to recall that was about the time Thaksin’s thugs were busy beating up on old men and young children at PAD protests. It may show direction of his thinking at that time. It may add or remove support to the theory of armed Thaksin supporters planning to decent on the huge PAD rally that was set for September 20 or there about. He may have been thinking international image knowing what he had in mind.

[Jai Dee]

Spindler company terminates affiliation with Edelman PR

Spindler & Associates Co, Ltd (S&A) has announced that it has terminated its affiliate relationship with Edelman PR Worldwide after discovering from media reports that Edelman PR had been retained by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The announcement came after the media criticised Kanjana Spindler, Deputy Secretary General to the prime minister of having conflict of interest as her husband, Julian, runs S&A, which has affiliate relationship with Edelman PR and is hired by Thaksin.

"Chaiyan Setpaisan, Managing Director of S&A said that he and his long time partner, Jualian Spindler, would never work against the interests of Thailand or the Royal Thai Government and had immediately terminated their affiliate relationship with Edelman PR in protest against Edelman being retained by Thaksin," read the press release from S&A.

Chaiyan said Kanjana, a former Bangkok Post columnist, had absolutely no involvement whatsoever with S&A.

"In fact, since our company was found in 1991, Khun Kanjana has never even visited our office once. She always maintained the strictest journalistic standards while working for the Bangkok Post."

Source: The Nation - 29 January 2007

[Mid]

Spindler company terminates affiliation with Edelman PR

Spindler & Associates Co, Ltd (S&A) has announced that it has terminated its affiliate relationship with Edelman PR Worldwide after discovering from media reports that Edelman PR had been retained by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The announcement came after the media criticised Kanjana Spindler, Deputy Secretary General to the prime minister of having conflict of interest as her husband, Julian, runs S&A, which has affiliate relationship with Edelman PR and is hired by Thaksin.

"Chaiyan Setpaisan, Managing Director of S&A said that he and his long time partner, Jualian Spindler, would never work against the interests of Thailand or the Royal Thai Government and had immediately terminated their affiliate relationship with Edelman PR in protest against Edelman being retained by Thaksin," read the press release from S&A.

Chaiyan said Kanjana, a former Bangkok Post columnist, had absolutely no involvement whatsoever with S&A.

"In fact, since our company was found in 1991, Khun Kanjana has never even visited our office once. She always maintained the strictest journalistic standards while working for the Bangkok Post."

Source: The Nation - 29 January 2007

as i previously posted somewhere ,

the world is becoming smaller .....................................

[Tolley]

Since Thaksin departed the scene the incumbents have being busy making a mess of just about everything.

It seems a day doesn't go by without some major gaffe.

What does this tells us?

It tells me as bad or as corrupt as Thaksin was it still seems he is more competent than the alternatives.

It also should not be forgotten that he was the democratically elected leader of TRT.

Until i see something positive come out of Thaksin's overthrow i remain completely unconvinced of the benefits for Thailand.

[sriracha john]

Until i see something positive come out of Thaksin's overthrow i remain completely unconvinced of the benefits for Thailand.

An extra parking space at Siam Paragon has been freed up.

[John K]

Since Thaksin departed the scene the incumbents have being busy making a mess of just about everything.

It seems a day doesn't go by without some major gaffe.

What does this tells us?

It tells me as bad or as corrupt as Thaksin was it still seems he is more competent than the alternatives.

It also should not be forgotten that he was the democratically elected leader of TRT.

Until i see something positive come out of Thaksin's overthrow i remain completely unconvinced of the benefits for Thailand.

Thaksin has dug a bit of a hole here, and it takes a bit of doing before one can lift their head above ground level. The new government has been busy undoing what Thaksin did. Other smaller elements of the government are busy providing us with some material for interesting threads like the morality thread and a few others. Work in progress give them time.

[sriracha john]

Attorney of Shinawatra family objected against the selection of AEC subcommittee

The attorney of Shinawatra family opposed the selection of the Assets Examination Committee’s (AEC) subcommittee responsible for investigating the purchases of CTX 9000 explosive detection baggage scanning devices and the baggage-handling system for Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Mr. Amnuay Thantara, the chairperson of this subcommittee, said he was not aware that the Shinawatra’s attorney submitted a letter to protest against the selection of his subcommittee today (Feb 1). Mr. Amnuay said he did not know the details because AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem is considering the issue before discussing it at the AEC meeting on February 5th.

The subcommittee comprises of Mr. Amnuay as the chairman, Khunying Jaruwan Maintaka, ACM Arun Promthep, Pol. Col. (special) Chaithat Ratthanaphand, Mr. Paitoon Tippayarat, Mr. Suwit Iamsa-ad and Mrs.Nuntawan Kittiwatcharaphong.

- Thainews

===========================

Noppadope: "I vehemently object to the selection of the members to the AEC, your honor."

Judge: "What's the nature of your objection?"

Noppadope: "On the grounds that they refused our bribe money. I've never seen anything so preposterous! It's an outrage and a gross violation, your honor."

Judge: "Sit down, you clown.... and when the court recesses, I want you to go find a new tailor. I'm having too difficult a time controlling my laughter."

[Tony Clifton]

Yet another clownish tactic for delays and buying time.