"what Thaksin Had Done Wrong"

[Plus]

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras:

"My idea of sufficiency economy which means that we would like to add quality in to the development process...

It's the same objective that makes development more sustainable and add the better, stronger risk management and add more importance to things like governance and quality of life..."

Please wait a little longer for encyclopedia definition.

[ColPyat]

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras:

"My idea of sufficiency economy which means that we would like to add quality in to the development process...

It's the same objective that makes development more sustainable and add the better, stronger risk management and add more importance to things like governance and quality of life..."

Please wait a little longer for encyclopedia definition.

Interesting how everybody has their own ideas what "sufficiency economy" might contain, and state what their own ideas on this policy are. Maybe that is so, because, what i have repeated here already countless times ad nauseam, there is no single definition, no directive, no research, nil - only Buddhist blather that leaves everything wide open for interpretition.

I am still waiting for your substantiation on your claim that this non-existent policy is recommended to China by the rest of the world...

Edited November 30, 2006 by ColPyat

[marshbags]

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras:

"My idea of sufficiency economy which means that we would like to add quality in to the development process...

It's the same objective that makes development more sustainable and add the better, stronger risk management and add more importance to things like governance and quality of life..."

Please wait a little longer for encyclopedia definition.

Interesting how everybody has their own ideas what "sufficiency economy" might contain, and state what their own ideas on this policy are. Maybe that is so, because, what i have repeated here already countless times ad nauseam, there is no single definition, no directive, no research, nil - only Buddhist blather that leaves everything wide open for interpretition.

I am still waiting for your substantiation on your claim that this non-existent policy is recommended to China by the rest of the world...

It,s also interesting how certain influencial people from the TRT are consistant when it comes to ideas of policy and are prone to being hyprocrite when it suits them.

quote :-

Pongthep, who heads Thai Rak Thai's defence team, said the party trusted the nine Constitution Tribunal judges and hoped it would receive justice.

However, it had changed the facts for its defence as legal and institutional circumstances had changed following the military coup on September 19. It would tell the court the investigation by the Election Commission sub-committee led by Nam Yimyaem was unfair, as it found Thai Rak Thai guilty without giving it the chance to explain itself.

Unquote.

Receive justice.

Unfair.

Being found guilty without being given a chance to explain itself..................................WHATTTTTTTTTTT

How sad the relevance of this statement is in their quest for making the country drug free for one mega example.

' If only " they had followed these requisits in their cases instead of murdering them

marshbags

Edited December 1, 2006 by marshbags

[hammered]

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras:

"My idea of sufficiency economy which means that we would like to add quality in to the development process...

It's the same objective that makes development more sustainable and add the better, stronger risk management and add more importance to things like governance and quality of life..."

Please wait a little longer for encyclopedia definition.

Interesting how everybody has their own ideas what "sufficiency economy" might contain, and state what their own ideas on this policy are. Maybe that is so, because, what i have repeated here already countless times ad nauseam, there is no single definition, no directive, no research, nil - only Buddhist blather that leaves everything wide open for interpretition.

I am still waiting for your substantiation on your claim that this non-existent policy is recommended to China by the rest of the world...

It,s also interesting how certain influencial people from the TRT are consistant when it comes to ideas of policy and are prone to being hyprocrite when it suits them.

quote :-

Pongthep, who heads Thai Rak Thai's defence team, said the party trusted the nine Constitution Tribunal judges and hoped it would receive justice.

However, it had changed the facts for its defence as legal and institutional circumstances had changed following the military coup on September 19. It would tell the court the investigation by the Election Commission sub-committee led by Nam Yimyaem was unfair, as it found Thai Rak Thai guilty without giving it the chance to explain itself.

Unquote.

Receive justice.

Unfair.

Being found guilty without being given a chance to explain itself..................................WHATTTTTTTTTTT

How sad the relevance of this statement is in their quest for making the country drug free for one mega example.

' If only " they had followed these requisits in their cases instead of murdering them

marshbags

When thinking of the drug war and what happened in the south there is a certain hypocrisy in TRT. But then again maybe it is just because the people the Thaksin government killed were poor people, who dont count. It would be ironic and some would say poetic justice if the TRT got disbanded and some of its leaders imprisoned in a legally questionable way although personally I dont see this happening.

[ColPyat]

It,s also interesting how certain influencial people from the TRT are consistant when it comes to ideas of policy and are prone to being hyprocrite when it suits them.

Yes, and this hypocracy is hardly just a TRT attribute. Just go back a few years and look at all the scandals all other governments were involved in.

If Thailand ever has a hope for improving it is not enough to shift the blame only on Thaksin and TRT. A bit more self-reflection of the rich and powerful from all fractions would be very welcome. Just look at the asset declarations of the present cabinet. They may be less than the assets of the TRT cabinet, but i fail to see how career soldiers with their meagre salaries have managed to amass such figures from their salaries alone.

Just look at our staunch defender for human rights, Kraisak Choonhavan. I don't see that he returned to the Thai people the massive wealth his father and grandfather have accumulated with less than honest means. Recently there was a very interesting article at Bangkok Pundit's website, that explained the Human Rights violations against the Vietnamese boat people during the 80s. Prem was PM during that time, Chatchai Choonhavan deputy PM, and Kraisak was his advisor.

Who of the high and mighty of Thailand please has no dirt hidden in their cellars?

[Plus]

I'm going to quote myself:

Colpyat, do you want me to dig up quotes from Surayud and Kosit explaining what they mean by self-sufficiency when applied to Thai economy? - Done

Do you want me to dig up thousands of quotes on what the world economists recommend to Chinese goverment and compare all those quotes with quotes from Surayud and Kosit? Then we can have ten pages dissecting nuances in meaning and the significance of difference in wording.

I'm not going to indulge you in meaningless, pointless, and endless arguments.

While searching for answers for you I came across this interesting definition:

Monomania (from Greek monos, one, and mania, mania) is a type of paranoia in which the patient has only one idea or type of ideas. Emotional monomania is that in which the patient is obsessed with only one emotion or several related to it; intellectual monomania is that which is related to only one kind of delirious idea or ideas.

I'm not flaming, but your fixation on one already clear point is worrying.

[ColPyat]

I'm not going to indulge you in meaningless, pointless, and endless arguments.

Than i advise you not to make statements you cannot substantiate.

But i believe i can attribute your failure to substantiate your claims by your complete lack of understanding what a properly researched economic policy is.

Therefore you are excused.

Edited December 1, 2006 by ColPyat

[Tony Clifton]

[Plus]

Therefore you are excused.

Thank you.

Edited for brevity

Edited December 1, 2006 by Plus

[sriracha john]

It truly would be an amazing feat for some here to substantiate what they have propagated to be the truth based on nothing more than various "sources" and assorted "connections"...

but alas... that will never happen...

so anyway... we are left with going back to the topic at hand:

Thaksin's model of governance was 'good for politicos'

FORMER Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's so-called company model of governance "meant good business for politicians'', an associate professor of Thailand's Chulalongkorn University said.

In a detailed critique of the government reforms of the now-deposed Thaksin at the recent Eropa Seminar held in Brunei on modernising civil service, Bidhya Bowornwathana traced the events that led to the Thai military coup against Thaksin.

Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon and leader of the Thai Rak Thai political party, was elected into office in 2001, and was forcibly stripped of his power in September of this year while he was out of the country.

"Thaksin had his own approach to governance the company model. It was very much business-driven,'' said Bidhya.

He explained that Thaksin's trademark CEO-style governance was authoritarian, which meant he held absolute power in making direct decisions anywhere within the government. This gave him complete control of supposedly key independent democratic institutions established for the purpose of monitoring government actions, the ombudsmen and the National Human Rights Commission.

Some media organisations were also transformed into channels for government propaganda, and loopholes within accountability laws were exploited to erode the clout of other bureaucrats and politicians, thereby bringing them under his control.

"It was the complete opposite of the democracy,'' said Bidhya. "(This shows that) authoritarian reforms can still take place even if governments are elected,'' he warned.

He explained how the former prime minister had introduced reforms across all the government ministries for the sole purpose of self-aggrandisement and dominating the entire Thai Cabinet.

Before the coup was launched in September, Bidhya had observed that he no longer heard

"ministers and permanent secretaries giving interviews and opinions about transfer decisions.''

A new submissive breed of bureaucracy was in the making, he added.

His paper mentioned that "there was a fear that the Thaksin government's idea for all Thais to use their smartcards or IDs in all political and economic activities would result in absolutism. If everytime one votes one has to use one's smartcard, then the power-holders will know whom one voted for.''

"His system of governance was intended to consolidate power in the hands of these government officials,'' he said. "The company model meant good business for politicians.''

- The Brunei Times

[sriracha john]

Thai coup puts Temasek stake on hold

In the five years Thaksin Shinawatra was in power, the Thai government made numerous decisions that affected Shin Corp, the telecoms empire he founded then passed to his children before taking office.

The government slashed licence fees for iTV, a Shin Corp-owned television channel. It gave quick approvals to Shin Corp to launch a low-cost airline – and granted it a 50 per cent reduction in docking fees, and various tax breaks. It gave an eight-year tax holiday to Shin Satellite for its IPStar telecom satellite.

Most significantly, the state-owned Telephone Organisation of Thailand in 2001 reduced the revenue-sharing requirements for mobile phone operator Advance Info Service, the jewel in the Shin Corp crown, a decision that has saved the company an estimated Bt10bn ($280m).

Such favourable policy decisions explain why Temasek Holdings, the Singapore government’s investment arm, paid a historic high price of Bt49.2 per share when it bought a 49 per cent stake in Shin Corp from Mr Thaksin’s relatives in January.

Most other Shin investors also accepted Temasek’s mandatory tender offer, at the same price offered to the Shinawatras, a deal that left Temasek, and affiliated holding companies, with around 96 per cent of Shin Corp at an estimated total cost of $3.8bn. “It was clearly an opportunity to get out at the top,” said Richard Moe, a Macquarie Securities telecoms analyst.

But ever since a military coup on September 19 that drove Mr Thaksin from power, Temasek has been stuck in an uncomfortable holding pattern in Thailand, watching one of its most significant investments of 2006 turn into an embarrassing, and potentially costly fiasco, with no resolution in sight.

Even before the coup – as Mr Thaksin’s political powers waned – his administration’s decisions relating to Shin had begun to come under close scrutiny, and are now threatened with potential reversal. At the same time, Temasek stands accused of violating Thai restrictions on foreign participation in the telecom sector, an infraction that may only be rectified by a substantial stake reduction.

Together, these factors appear to leave Temasek poised to realise a substantial loss on its acquisition of Shin Corp. The Thai company’s shares have dropped below Bt30, leaving Temasek and its affiliated companies sitting on a paper loss of almost 40 per cent, or about $1.7bn as of Friday’s market close. It appears the only question remaining is the extent of the immediate financial damage it will be forced to absorb, and the time frame for a possible sell-down.

“If you enter into a fire sale, you obviously affect the share price,” says one senior Temasek official, who asked not to be identified. “So what you hope to achieve is an orderly transfer. The question is how much to sell, under what time frame, and who are the buyers.”

The coup followed a year-long public furore over the foreign takeover of Shin Corp whipped up by the premier’s political enemies, and fuelled by resentment that his family paid no taxes on their windfall profits. However, the new military-installed government has so far shied away from commenting on the legality of the Temasek deal, recognising that any precedent set in the case would have repercussions for other multinationals in Thailand.

Instead, the administration has begun a process to review and “clarify” the ambiguous Foreign Business Act, pledging that investors will be given a grace period to bring their holdings into compliance with the revised laws, if they exceed legal foreign equity limits.

Temasek is already required to sell an 11 per cent stake in Shin to the public to keep the stock on the Thai exchange, and says it is prepared to sell down further to comply with the new rules, once they are finalised. But analysts question whether Temasek would be given the same grace period as other foreign companies – since its case is inextricably linked with the military government’s campaign against Mr Thaksin.

Thai police are already sitting on a commerce ministry probe, which concluded Temasek had violated Thai law, though formal charges have yet to be filed. The probe could be used as leverage to push the Singaporean company to sell.

The climate for a sale is hardly favourable. In June, a Thai court ruled the 2004 licence fee reduction for iTV illegal, and demanded the company pay Bt1.9bn ($53m) in back fees and penalties, a case still in dispute. Shin reported this month that third-quarter profit plunged 54 per cent to a four-year low, due mainly to a drop in profits at AIS.

All this hardly makes it an ideal time for Temasek to look for a buyer and explains why it has adopted a wait-and-see attitude. “If we are going to sell, what is the framework for new investors who come in?” says one Temasek official. “How do you know what you are buying will be viable? We are in a Catch-22.”

- The Financial Times

[Tony Clifton]

Temasek bought x-ray specs through mail order only to receive them and realize they've been duped.

They're in a neighbouring country, should have long been aware of the political tensions, at least know it was risky business in the first place to deal with Thaksin, a controversial politician to start with. How could they even imagine doing business with the man?

Som nam na

[sriracha john]

Thaksin government failed to examine legality of special lottery

The ousted government had omitted to examine the legality of the two and three-digit lottery before authorising its sale by the Government Lottery Office (GLO) in 2003, former deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Tuesday.

"No one in the Cabinet had the intuition to check pertinent legal issues," he said. hahahahahaha.. classic TRT Party statement....

Wissanu was speaking just before giving his statement to the Udom Fuangfung panel in charge of investigating the illegal lottery sale.

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) established the Udom panel after the Council of State ruled that the Thaksin Shinawatra regime had overstepped its mandate to push for the illegal sale because the GLO was not empowered to deal with two and three-digit lottery.

In defending his involvement, Wissanu said the Cabinet resolution on the lottery in question was passed without going through the screening process under his charge.

Wissanu was the chairman of the Cabinet screening committee.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

[sriracha john]

ASC to probe Thaksin govt's telecoms policy

The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) yesterday agreed to investigate a policy initiated by the deposed Thaksin Shinawatra government which critics say deprived two state telecoms agencies of huge revenues and weakened their competitiveness. ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said the ASC agreed to probe a Feb 11, 2003 cabinet resolution which approved the imposition of excise tax on telecoms businesses causing damage to TOT Plc and CAT Telecom Plc.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Dec2006_news11.php

[redbicycle]

"What Thaksin had done wrong"

Summary of Council for National Security's "White Paper" detailing Thaksin's alleged wrongdoings

Why did Council for National Security overthrow the Thaksin administration?

Corruption/conflict of interests

- Changed concessions on mobile phone business as excise tax

- Created satellite business to gain promotion from Board of Investment

- Corruption at Suvarnabhumi Airport and the purchase of CTX bomb detection scanners

- Corruption in the construction of railway Airport Link

- Lack of transparency in privatisation of state enterprises

- Media interference

Abuse of power

- Appointed family, relatives, close aides to highranking positions of the state

- Used state budget without seeking approval from the House in projects to promote government popularity

- Abuse of power by negotiating with foreign countries for the interest of themselves (Exim bank loans)

- Abuse of power by instructing state agencies to investigate assets of government opponents

Infringe on ethics and moral integrity of country leader

- Sold satellite concession and television station to a foreign country

- Evaded taxes from share sale

Interference in political check system

- Interfered with the Senate which appointed independent agencies that checked the government

- Interfered with the appointment of Election Commission, Constitution Court judge and National Counter Corruption Commission and AuditorGeneral

Policy flaws that led to human rights violation

- Extrajudicial killing of drug suspects

- Policy mismanagement and abuse of power in solving violence in the south

Created rift and destroyed unity of the public and instigating confrontation

- Blocked information that checked the government and the prime minister

- Created confrontation between anti and pro government supporters.

--The Nation 2006-11-21

Maybe he dun follow rules ..........

[sriracha john]

Thaksin trained his puppet clowns well... they use the same coined phrase he made infamous in his asset concealment case....

Lotteries were an honest mistake: Suchart

The Thaksin Shinawatra government made an honest mistake in authorising the sale of illegal lotteries in 2003, former Finance Minister Suchart Jaovisidha said Thursday.

"If you ask me about culpability, then I think the entire Cabinet must be responsible though no one questioned the legality of the two and three-digit lotteries at that time," he said.

Suchart spoke to reporters before giving a statement to the Udom Fuangfung panel, which is investigating the illegal state lotteries for the Assets Examination Committee.

Suchart confirmed an earlier statement by former deputy prime minister Wissanu Kreangam that the Cabinet had sanctioned the state lotteries without checking first with its screening committee.

The Nation

[ColPyat]

And now in our new corruption free and democratic Thailand of virtous leadership...

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

NLA members not proving great value for money

High salaries, high absenteeism and aborted sessions raise doubts about credibility

Seven weeks after the 242 members of the National Legislative Assembly settled into their new jobs, their performance evaluation produces two conclusions, which the coup leaders and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont should take into serious consideration.

The monthly salary of the legislators is too high. And they are showing no respect for taxpayers' hard-earned money.

Early last month, the Cabinet approved Bt104,330 in remuneration for each NLA member - the same pay as for elected Upper- and Lower House members - while the NLA speaker gets about Bt11,000 more than other members.

However, the NLA members are different from elected parliamentarians because they take the post as a "part-time" job and do not need to quit their full-time employment. They are also free from shouldering "necessary" expenses to secure their popularity such as attending local functions or ceremonies.

The coup leaders appointed them along with the Surayud government in a proclaimed bid to "re-build" the image of Thailand's democracy.

In other words, many of them, including senior government officials, state enterprise executives and academics are getting double pay for taking two positions at the same time. This does not count their benefits and perks, such as healthcare, free land and air tickets and allowances for attending meetings of NLA committees.

They had turned a deaf ear to criticism that they should show their spirit by taking taxpayer's money only from one position. They claimed they could see a great mission ahead to repair the country after former premier Thaksin Shinawatra wreaked huge damage during his five-year reign.

Despite the NLA members' oath to deliver on their mission, the NLA session on Wednesday, which lasted 75 minutes, saw only 129 of 242 members attending. As one can expect when there is no heated exchange between government and opposition parties, only two of the 129 legislators proposed two motions to the floor.

NLA member Borwornsak Uwanno clearly understands what is going on in the NLA these days. He told the session that he proposed 13 amendments and bills for the NLA to pass on to the government because, if the government approves them, the NLA would have to deliberate on this legislation before they become law.

Then the NLA "will have something to do", he said.

Yesterday's session was cancelled as no agenda was pending for consideration. The NLA is scheduled to meet every Wednesday and Thursday.

The NLA first convened on October 24 to hold an election for its speaker, which Meechai Ruchuphan won by a landslide. But not until Wednesday, November 15 did the NLA start its "real" work by accepting a bill on illegal acts committed via computers in a "quick and smooth" session of less than two hours, which saw 174 members present and less than 15 members debating the bill.

The Thursday session was cancelled as no issues were left on the agenda.

The sessions of November 22-23 were skipped with the same excuse as the previous Thursday, but with the added reason that the assignment of committee seats to NLA members was proceeding during the break.

Although the debate over lottery and government budget bills two weeks later heated up when some outspoken members questioned the government over its bad planning, only the "same old faces" of about 20 members addressed the chamber. Again, less than 150 members joined the sessions.

As the coup leaders have promised to usher in a new era of transparency and responsibility, they are now required to sort out their own creation - the NLA - before telling other agencies to follow their agenda.

Just keep in mind that taxpayers' money is worth more than anything.

Weerayut Chokchaimadon

The Nation

[Grover]

It looks like a thankless task

[ColPyat]

It looks like a thankless task

If you read the above article, you find that the "thankless task" is renumerated with 100K Baht a month for a part time job where you don't even need to appear, or do much at all.

I wouldn't mind such a "thankless task" at all...

[hammered]

It looks like a thankless task

If you read the above article, you find that the "thankless task" is renumerated with 100K Baht a month for a part time job where you don't even need to appear, or do much at all.

I wouldn't mind such a "thankless task" at all...

Colpyat. PM Surayud is not a member of the NLA which the article refers to, and I think even his critics would not accuse him of not doing much. He seems to be working quite hard actually.

[ColPyat]

Colpyat. PM Surayud is not a member of the NLA which the article refers to, and I think even his critics would not accuse him of not doing much. He seems to be working quite hard actually.

True.

But then it must be a similar thing as during the may massaker, only reversed. Then he, according to him, did not give the troops under his command the order to shoot demonstrators, which they did, while now, his his hand picked troops in parliament don't appearantly follow his order wo work hard and, selfless and virtuous for the benefit of the country.

[Siripon]

Colpyat. PM Surayud is not a member of the NLA which the article refers to, and I think even his critics would not accuse him of not doing much. He seems to be working quite hard actually.

True.

But then it must be a similar thing as during the may massaker, only reversed. Then he, according to him, did not give the troops under his command the order to shoot demonstrators, which they did, while now, his his hand picked troops in parliament don't appearantly follow his order wo work hard and, selfless and virtuous for the benefit of the country.

Are you drunk or under the influence of drugs?

What on earth is a massaker, and then 'only reversed'?

I see you're trying to blame Khun Sarayud for Black May, please show the evidence, as you like to say, apart from a quick search of a sketchy google site.

[sriracha john]

It looks like a thankless task

I agree and it's not made any easier by trolls on various internet forums trying to make it harder.

[ColPyat]

I see you're trying to blame Khun Sarayud for Black May, please show the evidence, as you like to say, apart from a quick search of a sketchy google site.

For the benefit of the debate i try to ignore your flame.

It is common knowledge that in 1992 General Surayud commanded the Special Warfare Command. It's troops were involved in the brutalities. Surayud said that he did not give the order to shoot. Who then did?

And until the investigations into the the incident are not made public the lingering doubts will stay, as so far we only have the word of Surayud.

That may be enough for you, but please accept that not everybody blindly trusts people.

[Plus]

That incindent aside, what has Surayud got to do with NLA attendance???? They don't report to the PM.

[ColPyat]

Interesting news about the new democratic Thailand.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/16...cs_30021703.php

Former Thai Rak Thai MP says Army man leant on him

A former Thai Rak Thai MP yesterday claimed he had been intimidated by a senior military officer who gave him an ultimatum to stop undermining the new government by backing "subversive groups".

Chalong Riewrang, an ex-MP for Nonthaburi, said around 10 middle-ranked military officers working for Lt-Gen Woradej Bhumichit had come to his house on Thursday and escorted him to see their boss at the Army's Air Defence Command headquarters.

The politician said Woradej, the unit's chief, had along with other officers told him not to back any movements against the military leaders.

He denied he was involved in such attempts.

Woradej yesterday dismissed Chalong's allegation. He said he had only "invited" the Thai Rak Thai man to his office and asked for his cooperation to rebuild the country.

"It's a misunderstanding," Woradej said, adding that none of his officers had been to Chalong's house.

[Grover]

I agree and it's not made any easier by trolls on various internet forums trying to make it harder.

Ahhh... the trolls dressed up in suits vigorously playing the broken records? Yes. they are a pesky bunch but they don't fool me.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin, his cabinet are accused

About 70 implicated in rubber saplings deal

The Assets Scrutiny Committee yesterday accused deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, former cabinet ministers and agriculture ministry officials of dishonesty in the procurement of rubber saplings for distribution to farmers. About 70 politicians and officials, including former deputy agriculture minister Newin Chidchob and other members of the Thaksin cabinet in 2003, are implicated in the 1.44-billion-baht purchase, a source in the ASC said. Mr Thaksin and his cabinet are accused of dishonest performance of duty at the policy level because in 2003 they issued a cabinet resolution to take the 1.44 billion baht out of the rubber export fee budget of the Office of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund, which was against the law, said ASC spokesman Mr Sak. The fee is only allowed to be used for replanting rubber plants, he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Jan2007_news01.php

Edited January 16, 2007 by sriracha john

[chuchok]

Interesting news about the new democratic Thailand.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/16...cs_30021703.php

Former Thai Rak Thai MP says Army man leant on him

A former Thai Rak Thai MP yesterday claimed he had been intimidated by a senior military officer who gave him an ultimatum to stop undermining the new government by backing "subversive groups".

Chalong Riewrang, an ex-MP for Nonthaburi, said around 10 middle-ranked military officers working for Lt-Gen Woradej Bhumichit had come to his house on Thursday and escorted him to see their boss at the Army's Air Defence Command headquarters.

The politician said Woradej, the unit's chief, had along with other officers told him not to back any movements against the military leaders.

He denied he was involved in such attempts.

Woradej yesterday dismissed Chalong's allegation. He said he had only "invited" the Thai Rak Thai man to his office and asked for his cooperation to rebuild the country.

"It's a misunderstanding," Woradej said, adding that none of his officers had been to Chalong's house.

I bet there are a few more of these "misunderstandings" in the future as well....