Thaksin changes his tone, but not attitude

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Thaksin changes his tone, but not attitude
By The Nation

 

Ex-premier glosses over facts and remains adamant that a coup led to his exile 

 

BANGKOK: -- In what some described as his least aggressive public comments, exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra still altered the truth considerably. He said in his latest Facebook post that it was a military coup that sent him out of Thailand. The statement needs to be analysed thoroughly because the country has seen two coups that were related to the man.

 

The first coup, in 2006, overthrew him. It occurred when he was outside Thailand, attending a general assembly of the United Nations in New York. Thaksin remained abroad after the military takeover, and returned to Thailand in early 2008 only after his political party regained political power in a democratic election. The civil Thai government was then headed by the late Samak Sundaravej, who was generally regarded as Thaksin’s nominee.

 

In the second half of 2008, Thaksin fled Thailand after a court found him guilty in the Ratchadaphisek land case, in which he was accused of knowingly letting his wife buy a government-auctioned block of land in violation of the law while he served as prime minister. 

 

He escaped a jail sentence while Thailand was under civil rule, with government power belonging to his political party.

What happened after that is fresher in memory. Samak lost his job; he was replaced by Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law and also known to be another nominee.

 

A Thai court soon afterwards crippled Thaksin’s party for electoral irregularities and Democrat Abhisit Vejjajiva took over from Somchai as prime minister. Thaksin’s party rebounded in a 2011 general election, which installed his sister Yingluck as Thailand’s first female prime minister, but she was ousted in a coup in 2014 following vociferous street protests against her government’s alleged legislative efforts to “whitewash” the former PM in exile.

 

Thaksin has always decried “conspiracies” against his rule, direct or through Samak, Somchai and Yingluck. Due to many of the developments in the country over the years, it is easy to assume he was forced out of Thailand by a coup.

 

The undeniable truth is that he fled to escape a jail sentence handed down by the Supreme Court when Thailand was ruled by his political party. The jail sentence was issued under an ordinary law, not one specifically designed to bring him down. The law states in no uncertain terms that a political office-holder and his or her spouse shall never be engaged in a business transaction with the government.

 

“Courts must safeguard the Constitution.” That was what the Los Angeles Times wrote in a hard-hitting editorial against new US President Donald Trump, prescribing possible ways to prevent a democratically elected leader from going out of control. In Thailand, courts must safeguard the laws too. This leaves a tantalising question: Did a coup send Thaksin into exile or did 

 

he simply flee as a Thai court tried to do its job? The difference between Thailand and America is the courts over there are now being encouraged to protect the law. Trump, though, can amplify the deja vu when Thailand is concerned by describing fishy business deals dug up against him in court as a “conspiracy”. 

 

Many agree that Thaksin sounded more reconciliatory in his latest comment than at most other times. But from what he wrote, the crux of the matter seems unchanged: In his view, he was a victim who did nothing wrong. He was still outlining the cause of national divide, albeit in less provocative language.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/today_editorial/30312421

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-17

[kowpot]

Even the Los Angeles Times admit Trump was democratically elected.

 

"Courts must safeguard the Constitution.” That was what the Los Angeles Times wrote in a hard-hitting editorial against new US President Donald Trump, prescribing possible ways to prevent a democratically elected leader from going out of control"

[darksidedog]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In his view, he was a victim who did nothing wrong.

He appears to have little concept of the laws that cover corruption then.

[Bluespunk]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The first coup, in 2006, overthrew him.

Not true.

 

There was no govt at time of this coup due to flawed elections. 

Edited April 17, 2017 by Bluespunk

[debate101]

When and by what processes was that court set up and were those judges chosen? And what instructions were they given? There isn't much more that can be said directly. Talk about glossing over!

[ChrisY1]

It's a Thai trait to always deny.....even as he is in so called "self exile"....he's been convicted as the article explains, he ran away.

A typical Thai male coward...leaving the family to deal with issues that he fled from 10 years ago, which have obviously caused stress and worry his son and daughters....and still he doesn't have the courage to face the truth.

[ezzra]

What's the point pray tell, when you're a billioner few times over, a family man,

a person of vast influences and you live as a fugitive from justice, a pariah

in your own country like a common criminal with no clear future ahead of him...

 

[PatOngo]

24 minutes ago, debate101 said:

When and by what processes was that court set up and were those judges chosen? And what instructions were they given? There isn't much more that can be said directly. Talk about glossing over!

Don't expect any answers before they've had breakfast!

[worgeordie]

He did nothing wrong.....it was just another honest mistake,yeh.

regards worgeordie

[smileydude]

I truly believe TS has convinced himself that he is innocent and the victim.   In psychiatry they call it egosyntonic as opposed to egodystonic where one knows that one's behavior is wrong.  

Coupled with narcissistic behavioral disorder, TS is an unrepentant individual who will never change his stance, if only for survival.

 

[colinneil]

1 hour ago, smileydude said:

I truly believe TS has convinced himself that he is innocent and the victim.   In psychiatry they call it egosyntonic as opposed to egodystonic where one knows that one's behavior is wrong.  

Coupled with narcissistic behavioral disorder, TS is an unrepentant individual who will never change his stance, if only for survival.

 

 

smileydude i posted a like on your post, but your fancy words baffled me.  

[ddavidovsky]

You can get something on everyone. Thaksin was progressive at least. It was democracy, and the possibility of better democracy down the road.

[elgordo38]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

In Thailand, courts must safeguard the laws too.

Time for a vote on this hands up all who believe this is happening??

[ratcatcher]

56 minutes ago, colinneil said:

smileydude i posted a like on your post, but your fancy words baffled me.  

Never mind Colin, it was advanced bafflegab, bordering on balderdash but not quite gobbledegook.

[Baerboxer]

6 hours ago, debate101 said:

When and by what processes was that court set up and were those judges chosen? And what instructions were they given? There isn't much more that can be said directly. Talk about glossing over!

 

Did you read the bit about this being a long standing law that Thaksin knowing broke? Did you read about this case and how his lawyer tried to bribe the judges?

 

The facts of the case are that he did as was accused, got caught, convicted, fled, was sentenced and has remained on the run since. Oh yes, being on the run means he can avoid those 15 plus other serious charges, like the Krung Thai Bank fraud where co-defendants got 18 year sentences.

 

Thaksin has  PhD in Law, a former senior policeman and very experienced politician. He knew exactly what he was doing and gambled that with his party being in government he had enough political clout to be above the law, He didn't.

[Baerboxer]

52 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

You can get something on everyone. Thaksin was progressive at least. It was democracy, and the possibility of better democracy down the road.

 

It was democracy in that elections were held. But criticizing and free speech weren't tolerated.

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, smileydude said:

I truly believe TS has convinced himself that he is innocent and the victim.   In psychiatry they call it egosyntonic as opposed to egodystonic where one knows that one's behavior is wrong.  

Coupled with narcissistic behavioral disorder, TS is an unrepentant individual who will never change his stance, if only for survival.

 

 

Having watched his interview on KTV and CNN in which he said that he's never ever done anything wrong, I believe you're spot on with your analysis.

 

He now genuinely believes his own versions of things to be reality and also that he's "special" and therefore can do no wrong as he's entitled.

 

And that means he won't change until his last breath. 

 

My first wife suffered similar issues. She would slowly twist and twist events, adding and deleting parts over time, until she had a version that she was happy with. When we split up I was surprised just how many friends pointed this out. When your too close you don't see.

[Baerboxer]

Webfact - would be better called webalmostfact!

 

Guess the missed the part about Yingluck being removed from office by a court for an illegal abuse of power prior to the PTP caretaker administration being removed by the military.

[steven100]

Forget this fugative  .....    he's a convicted criminal in exile for god sake ...  !

 

Who cares what he says .....  he is finished ....  history ......  over .... gone ......

 

Move on ......   move on Thailand ..... no more Thaksin stories  ....   !!!!!  

[Ricardo]

1 hour ago, ratcatcher said:

Never mind Colin, it was advanced bafflegab, bordering on balderdash but not quite gobbledegook.

 

Cue an announcement that the government are mulling setting-up a working-party, to review whether there needs to be a Crack-Down, on this sort of thing ?

 

 

 

[marinediscoking]

It's funny how people call him a coward when he was elected twice by the people but the current lot are scared sh**less to hold an election.

[shunter]

7 hours ago, debate101 said:

When and by what processes was that court set up and were those judges chosen? And what instructions were they given? There isn't much more that can be said directly. Talk about glossing over!

If you were here at that time you would be well aware  the then government was under Thaksins control as it was comprised of members of the  Thai Rak Thai in a coalition government which  was no more than a Thaksin tame puppet show.

 

Note that the then government did not interfere in the judicial process concerning the verdict  and sentence passed on Thaksin either.

[ddavidovsky]

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

It was democracy in that elections were held. But criticizing and free speech weren't tolerated.

I remember the Spittin' Image-type puppet show that used to lampoon politicians. No chance of that sort of thing now.

You ignored the point about the possibility of better democracy down the road. To that extent it was progressive.

 

I've been visiting Thailand since before Thaksin came to power and noted a marked opening-up and westernisation during those years - not to mention impressive economic growth. It's no good trying to peddle the myth he was a dictator.

 

And to all those still spluttering the 'convicted criminal' line - there was only one alternative to Thaksin and you've now got it. As corruption seems to be your main concern - you call it progress to sweep away democracy entirely in order to grab power?

[smileydude]

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

smileydude i posted a like on your post, but your fancy words baffled me.  

Ahhh pardon my bafflegab but it was a wee bit of psychology jargon, but the point being TS truly believes of his innocence.

Convincing oneself is a powerful tool indeed.

Edited April 17, 2017 by smileydude

[WhizBang]

Who cares?  Thaksin is old news.  Stick a fork in him, he's done.

[plachon]

39 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

I remember the Spittin' Image-type puppet show that used to lampoon politicians. No chance of that sort of thing now.

You ignored the point about the possibility of better democracy down the road. To that extent it was progressive.

 

I've been visiting Thailand since before Thaksin came to power and noted a marked opening-up and westernisation during those years - not to mention impressive economic growth. It's no good trying to peddle the myth he was a dictator.

 

And to all those still spluttering the 'convicted criminal' line - there was only one alternative to Thaksin and you've now got it. As corruption seems to be your main concern - you call it progress to sweep away democracy entirely in order to grab power?

I was living in Thailand in the decade before Thaksin came to power, and for various periods during and after the Thaksin years. The only time I felt more insecure and threatened was during the military coup and Suchinda era of 1991. Thaksin turned back democracy with his populist dictator style of governance, that  was not unlike the Field Marshall Sarit and Thanom era in terms of authoritarianism, where he centralised power upwards to himself (CEO of nation), while giving the appearance of decentralisation to villages (1 million baht village fund, etc). But he generated the most fear from his anti-drugs policy, where he gave the police carte blanche to send death squads into the countryside and take out drugs dealers. Trouble was, they extended their black list way beyond drugs dealers to exterminate a whole number of people they, Thaksin, his cronies, etc took a dislike too, as well as a significant number of innocent people killed accidentally (mistaken identity or being caught in the cross-fire), put down as "collateral damage". 

The economic growth you mention came at a terrible cost and left Thailand bloodied and bruised, as well as heavily in debt at the both state and private levels, through his opening up of easy credit to all policies, even when people clearly had few means of repayment. While this phenomenon is not unique to Thailand and the US and other states were just as guilty of handing out credit to uncreditworthy people, Thaksin turned it to his advantage through his telecom and other monopolies to personally profit from his own policies, thus partaking in policy corruption on a breathtaking scale - hence the eventual freezing of his family assets over the Ample Rich shell company scandal. He hated all instruments of conventional democracy, beyond the populist vote element, especially the rule of law and respect for human rights (remember "the UN is not my father"?).

[Denim]

11 hours ago, darksidedog said:

He appears to have little concept of the laws that cover corruption then.

Well, he"s not the only one in Thailand guilty of that  .

 

Even the current incumbents whilst talking reform and tackling corruption are very quick to criticize politicians whilst being just as bad themselves.

 

Talk about monkey see monkey do. 

 

[wakeupplease]

There are a lot worse now and before Mr T in this neck of woods, But Mr T showed there could be a future but needed change to achieve it, Now not a chance with the set up as it is, all of your rights have been taken away by the few who use his name and the word corruption to fill uneducated minds full of propaganda while filling their pockets with your money. You made your bed LIE in it as Freedom will never come your way again with this lot standing over you

[scorecard]

36 minutes ago, WhizBang said:

Who cares?  Thaksin is old news.  Stick a fork in him, he's done.

 

Wise words, however there's another version, that he's biding his time and will continue to do so until death. As said he believes he's done no wrong and that he's a political victim.

 

In reality already one conviction for abuse of power and sentenced to 2 years jail, and 15 more big corruption charges waiting in the wings.

 

The slightest chance, an amnesty sneaked through at 3am in the morning and he be in Thailand in a minute and he'll have two objectives, intimidate as needed to gain a full whitewash and revenge.

 

 

[daboyz1]

11 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Not true.

 

There was no govt at time of this coup due to flawed elections. 

Exactly.  Not sure why this is overlooked so often.