I posted this thread in no of any bias or prejudiced point of view over the government ruling to that overlooking in common phenomena of society, in term of free minds and thoughts wherein we have being existed :) :) :) :)




Thai Rak Thai’s popularity at highest, says latest survey
BANGKOK, July 18 –(TNA) The ruling party, Thai Rak Thai’s popularity has surged to its highest ever level, according to the latest opinion poll.

This is despite public concern over a series of corruption scandals and the highest ever oil prices.

More than fifty per cent of Thai voters would vote for the Thai Rak Thai party led by prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the next elections, according to the political survey by ABAC University’s Poll Centre released on Sunday.This is the highest rating ever for the TRT since it won the last elections in January 2001.

Three out of four people interviewed said the government should remain in office until the end of its term in January next year. Only five percent said they wanted them out before then.

More that three quarters of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the government’s highly controversial war on drugs campaign. Almost eighty percent approved of the government’s One Tambon One Product programme,while two out of three people approved of the 30 baht healthcare scheme.

Half of the Thai voters interviewed were confident that the government would succeed in suppressing the illegal drugs trade. But only 42.1 % thought the government would be able to handle the country’s economic problems.

However three out of five people were not sure that Thai Rak Thai had the ability to resolve internal visions and conflicts within the governing coalition.

Some sixty percent of those interviewed expressed concern about the government’s campaign to combat corruption – a programme that is to be launched in October.

Corruption and scandal does seem to have weakened the party’s image and popularity. Over a third of Thai voters surveyed believed that corruption is a major concern, especially the recent incident involving the two government-own television networks, Channel 5 and Channel 11.

But 63% thought the government’s biggest problem was the surging oil prices.However, 54.7% said they were concerned about the high prices of food and necessities, and 40.4% the violence in the South.

The Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s personal popularity has almost double in the past year. It has surged to 61.6% compared to 39.9% in June last year.

His popularity is highest in the northern region, where 66.9% of those interviewed expressed their confidence in his leadership. This was followed by Bangkok with 65%, 61% in the north east, and 59.4 in the central region.

His lowest approval rating was 42% in the South, the stronghold of the main opposition party, the Democrats.

The Democrats though were in trouble, according to the poll. It’s popularity has dropped to 10.3%, compared to 19.6% last year.

The survey was conducted between 2-7 July, when 4,817 Thai voters in 25 provinces across the country were interviewed.(TNA)-E112




MCOT NEWS

The great Thai media muzzler

The PM's disdain for any criticism of his autocratic rule is bad for human rights and dangerous for Thailand, says SAM ZARIFI

By SAM ZARIFI
Monday, July 19, 2004 - Page A15


Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra, a media mogul turned Prime Minister who's brought a tough-guy stance and right-of-centre politics to government, has often been characterized as an Asian version of Italy's Silvio Berlusconi. But, increasingly, Thais are invoking the name of an earlier, more infamous, Italian political figure in comparison.

Mr. Thaksin is no Mussolini, but his disdain for any criticism of his increasingly autocratic rule has clearly reversed some of Thailand's recent advances in human rights. Freedom of expression has suffered; a brutal campaign of extrajudicial executions seems to be taking place under the guise of a war on drugs; and significant social policies, such as the responses to the bird-flu outbreak and the spread of AIDS, are accepted without debate and implemented without monitoring.

Partly in recognition of this state of affairs, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch have just conferred their annual global award to the Thai Drug Users' Network, which has worked to stem the spread of AIDS and protect the human rights of drug users undermined by Mr. Thaksin's lethal war on drugs.

Mr. Thaksin owns or has major stakes in many of Thailand's media outlets. But since his Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party swept to power in 2001, his administration and personal financial empire have stifled Thailand's media and tried to project an unchallenged image of a no-nonsense, can-do government firmly in charge of a tranquil country. Within this context, media coverage of Mr. Thaksin's picture-perfect Thailand has had to conceal many serious reports of state-sponsored human-rights abuses.

Mr. Thaksin once told the Thai press corps, "Serving the country is more important than sending your news dispatches daily to your editors. Think before you do anything that damages the country."

According to the Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcasters Association, more than 20 news editors have been dismissed, transferred or had their work tampered with to appease the government. In almost all the cases, managers of the media outlets chose to refrain from publicizing the government's pressure or criticizing its interference.

On taking office, for instance, Mr. Thaksin declared the suppression of methamphetamines to be at the top of his administration's agenda. To deliver on this promise, he launched, in February of 2003, a nationwide anti-drug campaign that quickly degenerated into a murderous war on drug dealers or users.

Within three months, nearly 2,500 people were killed; the government claimed that most died as a result of gang rivalry, but many were killed when they left police stations.

The Thai media have not vigorously investigated this outbreak of violence. Instead, the climate of fear and the practice of self-censorship have transformed the media into government cheerleaders. Amid widespread allegations that extrajudicial executions are officially approved in Thailand, a survey administered by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology last August showed that 78 per cent of Thais expressed extreme satisfaction with the government's war on drugs.

As a result of muzzling the press, Mr. Thaksin has stifled some very necessary social debate. The outbreak of bird flu earlier this year once again highlighted government interference in the media, both through direct ownership and through pressure and manipulation of media owners.

At one of Thailand's largest English-language newspapers, the Bangkok Post, Veera Prateepchaikul was reportedly removed from his post as editor to stifle the paper's criticisms of Mr. Thaksin and his government's mishandling of the bird-flu crisis. The news editor of iTV, which is 50 per cent owned by the Prime Minister's business empire, was also removed after the station broadcast a story critical of the government. The editor of Siamrath Weekly was pressed to resign after the newsmagazine's critical views on this issue.

Although the suppression of media coverage of the bird-flu outbreak revealed a systematic cover-up, the facts about the outbreak have never been fully disclosed. There has been no accountability from the government for the deaths of at least eight Thais, or for the near collapse of Thailand's poultry industry. The outbreak could have been more effectively contained if the media had been allowed to function independently and the public given better access to information.

The manipulation of the media also has undermined Thailand's fight against HIV/AIDS, one area where, until recently, the country could claim status as a model of successful social policy.

In the past, health experts praised Thailand's leadership against AIDS as a result of the country's successful "100-per-cent condom" campaign in the 1990s. That program prevented an estimated 200,000 HIV infections by providing condoms and HIV/AIDS information in brothels and health clinics. But Mr. Thaksin's war on drugs has reversed many of those gains.

In a 60-page report released before last week's International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Human Rights Watch documented that although dealers are the stated targets of the war on drugs, users not charged with dealing have been persecuted and driven into hiding; that, of course, prevents them from reaching needle-exchange programs and other HIV-prevention services. Many injection-drug users face the risk of HIV infection from the sharing of blood-contaminated syringes.

When Mr. Thaksin recently said that the Thai government no longer treats drug users as criminals but as patients, he was challenged by a protester holding a sign reading, "Thai Government's Drug Policy = Drop Dead."

It is a simple message, and maybe even simplistic. But Mr. Thaksin has limited the arena for public debate to the extent that key social policies can only be challenged by those holding placards. There are real problems associated with the Prime Minister's harsh tactics. Ignoring them is bad for human rights and dangerous for Thailand.

Sam Zarifi is deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division.



Web (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040719/COTHAILAND19/TPComment/TopStories)

Thaksin: a critical look



Published on Jul 19, 2004



Threat or saviour: first English-language book to examine the premier's life |and policies to be released worldwide

As Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" is screened across the world, a similar kind of expose about Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is coming out in the form of a new book to be launched in Bangkok in two weeks.

But "Thaksin: the Business of Politics in Thailand" is decidedly different from Moore's film in tone and methodology. The new book is a thorough, independent academic assessment of Thailand's leader. It is the first of its kind to target English-reading audiences both within the Kingdom and abroad.

The book's authors, economic professor Pasuk Pongpaichit and historian Chris Baker, said there have been numerous books about Thaksin written in Thai and they have sold well regardless of the quality and perspective of the writers.

"This [eagerness] is a phenomenon," Pasuk argued, largely because Thaksin is "a new breed of leader Thailand has never seen." And his efforts to elevate himself and Thailand onto the global stage has stimulated an unmet demand for a "comprehensive analysis" of Thaksin for English-language readers.

But it is the breadth of their research, not just the language it is printed in, that sets this book apart, asserted publisher Trasvin Jittidecharak, director of Chiang Mai-based Silkworm Books. From

Thaksin's rise to power to the Liverpool football fiasco, the authors take familiar "pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and show you how the same piece of information can appear differently when put into a new analytical framework," said Trasvin.

Most importantly, added Pasuk, "We've merely presented the facts, as it's not our intent to be judgmental. Our opinion may be there at the conclusion, but it's all up to the readers to decide."

Exposing the myths

Thaksin routinely describes his childhood hardships to portray himself as the man of the people who started from modest rural origins and rose through struggle. But there are a lot of myths in that story, Baker said. By the time of his birth in 1949, the Shinawatras were one of the most prominent families in Thailand's second largest city, Chiang Mai.

Thaksin also talks of working at McDonald's to put himself through graduate school while in the United States, but he bought a Mercedes which he brought back to Thailand, Pasuk added.

The economic findings of the book are equally revealing, said the authors. After Thaksin announced that he would make the Thai economy more self-reliant and independent from the global market, the ratio of foreign trade to GDP increased instead of decreased. "This indicates that Thailand has become more dependent on the outside economy," Pasuk said.

Indeed Thailand's economic growth still relies heavily on the export sector. Thaksin's economic stimulus package contributed to less than 1 per cent of GDP. Due to the economic boom in China, Thailand has been able to export construction materials. Thaksin may have helped open markets in South Asia but the rise in prices for agricultural products is a global trend, Pasuk said.

On social and political aspects, "the people" stand at the centre of Thaksin's rhetoric, but the people should be passive, as his government does not tolerate dissenting elements, Pasuk said. Thaksin has also made some achievements in taming the media and closing down non-formal political space.

"Thaksin's economic vision may be fixed on the future and the first world, but his social vision is medieval," states the book.

International intrigue

In addition to its portrayal of Thaksin as a dynamic modern leader, the book reveals how he indulges in the same nationalistic aspirations as Thai leaders of the past century, for example, King Rama V, Field Marshal Pibun and Field Marshal Sarit. Like them, Thaksin endeavours to propel Thailand toward the forefront of global politics.

This ambition renders this first English-language book about him quite compelling internationally, said economic and political analyst Walden Bello from the University of the Philippines. "Thaksin's rule is controversial," he said. "To some in Thailand, he is the country's saviour. To others, he is seen as a threat to civil rights and democracy. It is important for the world and Southeast Asia in particular to hear both sides of the story."

Outside Thailand, the book will be available through distributors in Singapore and Manila. In North America and Europe the book will be distributed by the University of Washington Press and the Nordic Institute of Asian and Southeast Asian Studies, which is also a co-publisher.

Western economists may be particularly interested, noted Kasian Tejapira, a Thammasat University political scientist. After the 1997 economic crisis, economists blamed crony capitalism as the root cause of the crisis. Greater participation in globalisation was understood to be the opposite of crony capitalism. The onset of one would replace the other.

"Thaksin has proven this thesis to be wrong," Kasian said. "The kind of policy being pursued by him could best be described as crony capitalist-oriented globalisation.

"A group of domestic oligarchic capitalists can well make use of their superior money power to control the electoral and governing process in a democracy and manipulate the process of economic globalisation to the benefit of themselves and their cronies.

"A revisionist globalised regime is in the making in Thailand, and this may be something the international community wants to pay attention to," said Kasian.

Nonetheless, some of the first to snatch up copies should be the diplomatic corps in Bankgok, said Chirmsak Pinthong, editor of the recent Thai-language best seller "Roo Than Thaksin" ("Stay One Step ahead of Thaksin").

"Judging from all the phone calls I received from diplomats, many of them from super-power nations, asking for an English translation of my book, I know there's a lot of demand for the book in English. I think they desperately want to know more about Thaksin because they don't trust him."

Nantiya Tangwisutijit

THE NATION

i guess i will have to that Engish version book then. sounds very interesting.

well it's not that i really like TRT party that much. there are so many bad things about them. but right now, i just can't see anyone else who is better them.
one thing i really like about Thaksin is that he seems to have confidence in himself and our country. and he is not afraid to say or do it. unlike other politicians, who sometimes say it, but don't really do it.
i think if Apisit becomes the leader of Democrats party, that would be cool.

yeah, thaksin is a great leader not afraid of anything, like chuan leekpai big corrupted covard

Published on Jul 28, 2004

Academic Thirayuth Boonmi foresees a revolt among the middle class, activists and media against the looming omnipresence of the ruling party. Here's his full social, political and economic analysis

1) First, there has been a failure to achieve political reform through 'genetically-modified politics' – a mixture of local and international bad political options.

The political reform of 1997 was aimed at building a new political system. But it brought about Thai Rak Thai-style politics, a monstrous, peculiar baby that killed its own parents by damaging the spirit of political reform. For example:

- Reformists aimed to stamp out corruption, but today corruption has increased, in terms of quantity and complexity.

- Reformists wanted to build a strong administration, but they have created a government that is so strong it is becoming a one-party dictatorship.

- Reformists called for monitoring organisations that serve the public, but all of these organisations have become dominated by political and special interest groups.

- And the reformists wanted to dissolve the old system of patron-client relationships of local interest groups and the government.

But Thai Rak Thai has managed to incorporate political factions like Wang Nam Yen, Wang Bua Ban, Wang Phya Nak, Suchart-Newin, Chon Buri and Chat Pattana. These groups were labelled genetically modified organisations – hence the birth of GMO politics.

It was a structural change for Thai politics, but it had nothing to do with political reform. In general, old politics involves local corrupt politicians while modern-day politics involves a hybrid of local and international corrupt politicians.

2) Old-school politicians and political parties were unaware that drastic changes in the structure of power, politics, society and social values had occurred, leading to a peculiar new political system.

At the same time, some political parties failed to realise that because of those changes, they would someday become extinct, or else be relegated to a supporting role in the political arena.

The era of "outdated old politics" happened when governments were mired in conflicts between powerful interest groups and had to respond to rural interests.

To ward off military intervention, government leaders were selected from former bureaucrats, technocrats, elite members of society and well-known figures. Among them were MR Seni Pramoj, MR Kukrit Pramoj, Pote Sarasin, General Prem Tinsulanonda, General Chatichai Choonhavan, and Chuan Leekpai.

They ran their governments in line with frameworks set up by bureaucrats and the National Economic and Social Development Board. It was an era of bureaucratic-led politics.

Judging from the resultant economic crisis and the country's weak competitiveness in the world market, that style of politics was untenable.

2.2 The trend of modern-day politics

The current trend in politics is for wealthy business groups to seize power. These groups in the past supported parties that were led by the military and politicians from the provinces, but when the system failed in the midst of violence, corruption and economic crisis, the wealthy business people took advantage of the Constitution to openly create “synergy” and “synmoney” ties among themselves.

These ties kept expanding, from the telecom business to media and entertainment, agri-commerce, the fuel and auto businesses and construction.

There was a benefit to the public: those who assumed power this way responded to society’s needs. But the wealthy business groups of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party are privileged.

They are state parasites that grow by monopolising state resources or benefiting from state policies rather than from fair competition.

They enjoy having direct control of state power, and as a result, aim to create a one-party system with little heed for the democratic checks-and-balances system. The more government leaders ignore issues like conflict of interest and the lack of transparency and good governance, the more satisfied these wealthy business groups become. They are, after all, familiar with conflicts of state and private interest.

The policies of Thai Rak Thai are more beneficial overall to wealthy business groups than to grass-roots people. In the past four years, the government emphasised helping the privileged parasites of the business world.

Thai Rak Thai invested Bt780 billion in the Assets Management Corporation to resolve non-performing loans, and initiated several mega-projects worth about Bt2 trillion, such as new mass transit projects.

The government used the Vayupak Fund to inject Bt100 billion into the stock market, then capped it with Bt700 billion from its public utilities.

But villagers get only Bt60 billion a year from the Bt30 universal healthcare programme, Bt70 billion from the original Village Fund and Bt15 billion from the farmers’ debt rehabilitation scheme, as well as Bt20 billion from the latest “village fund” programme.

Ultimately, people at the grassroots receive about 20 times less than what is allocated to business projects.

The essence of the government’s populist policies is marketing, which affects morality, promotes consumerism and drains public efficiency and quality of life.

Thaksin’s populist policies are short-term. The Village Fund, for example, gave people money, but to repay that amount, they must borrow elsewhere. Some of the 12 Ua Athorn (We Care) projects were cancelled after they failed, such as the cheap computers scheme.

Others were delayed because of inefficiency, such as plans for inexpensive housing, air-conditioners, TV sets and taxis.

Several marketing ideas launched amid much fanfare have disappeared, among them the Thailand Elite card for foreign businessmen, the One District-One School and One House-One Well proposals and the One District-One Boondock and One Tambon-One Farm projects.

Moreover, the “war on drugs” slowed after 2,500 suspected drug dealers were killed.

The government several times postponed its deadlines for solving the problems of corruption and violence in the South.

Several world-class dreams went up in smoke, such as the plans to buy a stake in Liverpool Football Club and make Thailand the “world’s kitchen” or an oil trade hub, or turn Bangkok into a fashion city and create a Thailand brand-name.

Some projects are still being evaluated, such as Thailand becoming the “Detroit of Asia” or ensuring government support for small and medium enterprises. Others have yielded little outcome, such as the One Tambon-One Product scheme.

As a result of all these dashed hopes, popular marketing has failed to establish a sustainable system of public welfare. It is not long-term investment in education, research or community development. It aims only to stimulate consumerism, such as by a special lottery prize of Bt30 million, a jackpot prize of Bt100 million in the two-and-three-digit lottery and the Bt1 billion prize in the suggested Liverpool lottery.

(B) The Thai Rak Thai party is using three strategies to create a one-party system: unite the upper class, isolate the middle and sponsor the grass-roots.

(1) Use “synergy”, “synmoney” and “synsavory” to strengthen business groups affiliated with the party.

(2) Make middle-class groups “headless and limbless” to destabilise their political power, as well as that of all voters, academics and social activists. The “headless” strategy used against local politicians involves pressuring their financiers to stop supporting them and pressure them to join Thai Rak Thai.

At the same time, Thai Rak Thai discredited the ideology of social activists and undercut academics by promoting CEO-style academics, urging them to seek rapid career advancement and use a false integration system instead of multi-dimensional research.

The party used direct sales to destroy local political groups and non-governmental organisations, and deprived media critics of opportunities to express opinions.

These strategies have effectively kept various local political groups, such as Social Action, Seritham, New Aspiration, Buri Ram, Chon Buri and Korat in check.

(3) Thai Rak Thai has focused on materialism to undermine grass-roots power, reasoning that Thais don’t vote for ideology, but to get something in return.

In effect, the rich anticipate profit, while the middle class care about practicalities, but the poor depend on hope, whether in the form of a lottery or a game of chance.

For the poor, the Village Fund, debt rehabilitation and money-injection programmes are like winning the lottery without having to buy a ticket. The government employs sponsorship policies to embrace them, investing the public’s money with the goal of gaining a vested interest. But poor villagers don’t understand that a billionaire only comes to dinner when someone else pays for the food – and then he’ll still take leftovers home with him.

(C) The one-party system will lead to dictatorship, a nepotistic political system or oligarchy. Populist policies in the past have laid solid foundations for one-party rule in other countries – the LDP in Japan (for 46 years), the Kuomintang in Taiwan (53), Amno in Malaysia (47), the PAP in Singapore (45) and Congress in India (45).

And a one-party system could befall Thailand in the next election and remain for a very long time. One-party rule is always dictatorial, whether by oligarchy, by family ties or by a blend of both.

A major political problem could arise over relatives or cronies inheriting power. Relatives of political leaders have al-ready expanded their business, bureaucratic, political and social influence. One need only recall the problems caused by political leaders’ kin in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and even Thailand during the Thanon-Prapass regime.

Economic trends

3.1 The Thaksinocrony economy aims to take over state concessions for fast returns without taking into account quality.

After the economic crises, the Asian economy became more interconnected. This means that despite Thailand having experienced a period of recovery for the last two years the future of the country’s economic health largely depends on the greater regional – and more specifically – Chinese economy. Moreover, worrying trends are cropping up such as the future of exports, which appear bleaker now than what was formerly expected. In addition to this, Thaksinomics, or economic sectors that are linked with Thaksin’s family and his band of cronies (since dubbed Thaksinocronyism) has set in motion trends destined only to retard economic growth.

The country risks losing further credibility due to a serious lack of discipline in regard to government spending. Meanwhile, conflicts of interest, a policy of “silence killings”, murders of community leaders, violence in the South, Sars and bird flu all continue to plague the country.

The most important point that Thai people must realise is that the economic philosophy of the Thai Rak Thai Party requires the public to extend its concession contract to rule the country from four to 30 years. Under this contract, the public would receive higher concession royalties and greater work-related bonuses every four years. The government would then sub-lease the country and sub-contract parts of it. In essence, this proposal would place the country on both domestic and foreign stock markets, after which the government would volunteer to serve as an investment banker to manage the country fiscal budgets and oversee taxpayers’ money. Alternatively, they would allow it to be managed by a mutual fund under the promise that the returns would be higher than the fixed interest rates that the public received under the Democrats’ rule.

The Thai people should realise that concessionaires do not have experience in production, research and development. They are only experienced in buying technology and armed with the know-how and marketing skills to sell services. Moreover, the economic stimulus under the current Thaksin government stresses consumption rather than quality or efficiency of production. The government takes little interest in good governance - in the process neglecting the construction of a strong knowledge base and research facilities that would help the public and business sector raise their competitiveness. As a result Thai products remain of low quality and cannot compete in international markets.

Thaksin’s managerial skill will benefit the country only if he gears it toward building a stronger national talent pool and improving people’s working efficiency.

3.2 Under the Thaksin government, Thai people must accept the five commandments of corruption.

Corruption, the social malaise that threatens to provoke the most serious conflict in the future, can be looked at from two angles in terms of its development: quantity and quality.

A) Corruption can be broken down into five corrupt qualities or precepts:

1) Corruption at a policy level.

2) Integrated corruption that utilises every level of cooperation. Imagine a political party that offers a digital local administration philosophy to the Cabinet. The Cabinet picks it up, subordinates provide aid, companies collude and government officials co-operate. For a good example refer to the case that the former permanent secretary of the health ministry is disclosing (about bribery allegations related to computer bidding).

3) Corruption tied to conflicts of interest is a complex manifestation of the scourge and one that is difficult for the law to suppress. One instance of this is the conflict of interest between the state and private sector, such as when the government visits foreign countries and ratifies trade deals that favour specific businesses. After Thailand recently signed a free-trade agreement with Australia, a giant agro-industry company flew out to sign a contract immediately. The Liverpool Football Club deal is another fine example of the conflict of interest between the public and the personal. In this scenario a high-ranking politician receives credit by abusing the state or the public’s money. Theoretically, he would also be able to exploit the law enforcement tools at his disposal for political gain, such as by issuing discriminatory arrests and taking legal action against political rivals.

4) Corruption that is facilitated by the gaps that separate Thai society from the rest of the world. Capitalists benefit from being able to access information about the direction of change because the state’s power is limited and does not extend to multinational businesses, multinational contracts, cases of tax evasion, money transfers or trade in futures and derivatives markets.

The more businessmen turn into politicians, the greater they can reap the rewards. Take the area of high technology and communications, for example, and the business of compressing and branching out frequencies that led to the launch of channels 11/1 to 11/8.

Legal loopholes have prevented Thai law from adapting to change because it is anchored to the protocol of observing what is legally correct. This is largely because the concept of extra-judicial control does not exist in Thai society.

The Thaksin government has abused such loopholes to a great extent. Legal technocrats are thus brought in to help the government solve all manner of problems.

5) Moral corruption destroys sound moral principles in the interest of commercial profit in areas such as gambling, for example by turning the lottery into a legal enterprise. The Thaksin government has managed to blur moral lines by promoting businesses that are morally unacceptable and subsequently donating some of the profits to merit-making activities such as granting more scholarships to students. Furthermore, the government creates future public debt by swallowing up money that should be reserved for future generations. If the public debt extends beyond what is morally acceptable, the only losers will be our children. Governments all over the world believe the practice is morally wrong and caution against such a lack of financial discipline, but the Thaksin government has been proud to create debts and make a virtue out of getting rich quick without attaching the complementary values of sustainability and balance.

In the past, Thai people have accepted five Buddhist moral precepts, but under this government they must accept five corrupt precepts.

B) The volume of corruption

The corruption of this age can be categorised as SML (small, medium, and large) and T, which represents how thick, or omnipresent, it is.

There is so much that it permeates all levels of society, from local leaders and canvassers (small), to politicians who siphon off commissions and advisory fees from big projects (medium), and finally extending to a government that maps out policy ingrained with conflicts of interest (large). I say “thick” because such corrupt practices are carried out openly without any form of recourse to what is morally right. It seems that corruption is acceptable if it is done within the parameters of the law and condoned by the authorities that be.

The Trends of Society and Political Parties

4.1 Trend of Political Parties: The Weakening Opposition

The Thai Rak Thai wants to establish itself as an all-reaching, overarching institution. It will be hegemonic, and it will try to exert control on society’s knowledge, legal mechanisms, the public sector and the watchdogs. Its domination of the grass-roots level will expand through memberships and networks.

However, the ruling party has erred by setting a goal of snatching 400 MP seats in the Parliament, effectively pre-empting any motions for a no-confidence debate. Such goal is likely to insult the middle-class and lovers of democracy, and will likely generate an opposition movement during the run-up to the upcoming general election.

Thaksin’s party should not be able to achieve its goals of having 320 constituency MPs and 80 party-list MPs in the upcoming election. On the contrary, the Thai Rak Thai will lose some MP seats in Bangkok and other constituencies where candidates from other folds are outstanding.

For the past four years the Democrats have been stuck in ideological conflicts and factional politics. The party has been unsuccessful in its election of a new party leader and its task of delivering fresh policies. Such failures have led to a decline in popularity and more internal conflicts.

The Democrats need to seriously reform their party, find a new leader and present fresh policies to retain their base of support in Bangkok and the southern provinces and attract the middle class and democracy’s faithful. If not, the party will plunge into further difficulties and see its influence shrink to between 80 and 85 MPs.

Banyat Bantadtan should give Abhisit Vejjajiva the green light to steer election campaigns so the younger politician gains more experience, grooms himself and wins more trust from the people.

Mahachon came into being thanks to Thai Rak Thai pressure on political groups, business groups, influence groups and local interests. Yet its founding members have refused to mix with the ruling party, contrary to what Chon Buri and Korat politicians have done. Given its structure and philosophy, Mahachon is clearly not a new alternative.

The party has managed to attract democracy fighters from the October 14 uprising and presents systematic policies that are on a par with the Thai Rak Thai’s. If the Democrats don’t change their style, it is possible Mahachon will win support from the middle class and democracy supporters unhappy with the ruling party.

But it is also necessary for Maj-General Sanan Kachornprasart and Vatana Asavahame to let new-generation politicians steer the party.

Chat Thai should be able to retain its support base and get between 15 and 20 MPs seats in the upcoming general election.

In general, opposition parties will be weakening in terms of ideas, personnel and resources. They will likely get 100-odd MP seats altogether. It will also be easy for the Thai Rak Thai to pressure Chat Thai and Mahachon to dissolve and merge with the ruling party in the next government, a strategy that had worked effectively in the past few years.

4.2 Conflicts with Social Principles:

Conflicts between the Thai Tak Thai and the People’s Sector

A. Professional capitalist groups and the elite who are unsatisfied with the Thaksin-led government will be growing in numbers due to different ideologies, values and interests. However, these groups will have little power to pressure the government.

B. In the next four years, Thaksin’s charisma is set to grow among giant business groups, politicians and villagers. On the flip side, his appeal will most likely plunge in the eyes of intellectuals, the middle class, most of the media and civil organisations, as well as the foreign media and international observers.

Mythologies about CEO-style management and skills wear away as more people realise that such expertise does not work in all cases – bird flu and southern violence being prime examples.

As a result, the distance between the Thai Rak Thai and the social sector will grow as the ruling party focuses on power, political mechanisms and grass-roots people and ignores the middle class and other sectors of society.

In the next four years, the social sector, media, academics and activists will play more active roles in opposing the Thai Rak Thai. It is possible they may even form an alliance, as intellectuals, media and the middle-class have a long-time tradition of fighting for democracy.

The reason behind their movement against the Thai Rak Thai may or may not stem from corruption and nepotism, matters expected to generate huge conflicts in society. The movement will then likely expand into authoritarian single-party rule and oligarchy.

In tangible form, there will likely be non-Thai Tak Thai voting campaigns in the next general election. The movement looks set to culminate in a campaign to amend the Constitution.

However, if the Thai Rak Thai is going to be viewed as a political institution in the future, it will be necessary for society to pressure the party to undergo internal reform so that it becomes more democracy-oriented, develops institutional policy-making procedures, and focuses more on bottom-to-top policies.

Opposition parties can deliver constructive contributions to Thai politics by seriously reforming themselves and forming an alliance that delivers ideologies independent of the Thai Rak Thai’s marketing schemes.

(Thirayuth Boonmi is a lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology. His report is titled ‘Four years of Thaksinocracy: The Thai Rak Thai’s path to one-party dictatorship and control of concessions for the country’.)

© Nation Multimedia Group

PM lauds Thirayuth for rarely lashing out

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra controlled his anger and responded gently to scathing criticisms of his Thai Rak Thai party by academic Thirayuth Boonmi.

Instead of heatedly lashing out as he usually does when criticised, Mr Thaksin, who earlier this week said he has ``learned to let go'', said the public will be the one to judge him.

He told Mr Thirayuth that he was ready to listen to criticism that was rational and praised him for criticising his government only once a year _ unlike others who frequently criticised him.

``He is cute for coming out once a year but is a bit merciless for not seeing any good in the government at all,'' Mr Thaksin said.

Mr Thirayuth said the Thai Rak Thai-led administration had killed off political reform and Mr Thaksin had ushered in ``Thaksinocrony'' _ meting out benefits to his business cronies.

The academic also called Thai Rak Thai a ``monstrous baby'' and denounced it for planning a dictatorship-like single-party administration, favouring its political partners rather than people at the grassroots.

Mr Thaksin did not answer the allegations but insisted his government was doing its best for the public interest and that he would like everyone to see how people would judge it in the next election.

``In a democratic society, we do not mind criticism but the people will decide how they like their government,'' he said.

Asked to comment on hearing his party criticised so soon after his birthday on Monday, Mr Thaksin said many birthday cards he received told him to stay calm and that at the age of 55 he should be old enough to stay calm.

Some academics might take some time to understand the good that his government was doing for the nation, he added.


Thursday 29 July 2004
Bangkok Post

Famed Thammasat academic Thirayuth Boonmi this week held a press conference to voice his annual analysis of the state of the nation. Below are key concepts of the analysis

Kamol Hengkietisak

Political reform fails due to GMO-style politics


The intention of the Constitution is to rid the country of corruption, but corruption has spread in frequency and scope.

The Constitution wants to see a strong executive branch govern the country effectively, but the present government is too strong and has become a one-party dictatorship.

The Constitution of 1997 aiming to reform Thailand's politics is failing miserably because of the emergence of a "monstrous baby" in the form of the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party, which is committing patricide by destroying all the Constitution's provisions for checks and balances.

The Constitution provides for checks and balances through various independent organisations, but they are all dominated by politically vested interest groups.

Political reform is meant to remove the client-patron political system and local influential mafias, but TRT has resorted to a high-tech stratagem in pulling various political factions into a new entity, the so-called "GMO (genetically modified organism) politics", mixing both international and local vested interest groups under the same umbrella.

Old and new style politics

The old-style politicians and parties have yet to realise that power, political and social structures and values have changed with the emergence of the new-style GMO political party. This non-awareness could lead to either the extinction or marginalisation of their parties. The old-style politics typified by the Chuan administration has proven to be a failure which could not stand intense globalisation, as witnessed by the economic meltdown in 1997.

The new-style politics is characterised by power-grabbing by big capitalist groups who in the past supported old-style political parties led by former military brass or local influential politicians. When there was political strife, corruption or economic failures which the old-style politicians could not cope with, these financiers saw the chance to step out of the shadow and seize the opportunity provided by the new Constitution to grab state powers through synergy and "synmoney", starting from the telecom groups and spreading to mass media and entertainment, energy, automobiles, etc., by offering business-led politics as an answer to the Thai electorate.

Since the TRT founders benefit from monopoly concessions from the state or from state policies, rather than fair competition in the market place, they are hell-bent to continue their power-holding through a single-party dictatorship which has no concern for the Constitution's check and balance mechanisms. The more the TRT leader ignores the issues of conflicts of interests, transparency and good governance, the more he is lauded by his business allies.

Thirayuth noted that TRT policies in general are vastly more beneficial to vested business interests than the so-called populist policies are beneficial to the common people. The government put up over 780 billion baht to reduce the banking system's massive non-performing loans (NPLs), by transferring the junk assets to be managed by Thai Assets Management Corp.

The government proposed over 2 trillion baht for mega-projects, including infrastructure construction and a new satellite city. The government created the Vayuphak Fund worth 100 billion baht to invest in the stock market.

Meanwhile, the government allocates 60 billion baht yearly to support the 30-baht universal health scheme, 70 billion baht for village revolving funds, 15 billion baht for a 3-year debt moratorium for farmers and most recently 20 billion baht to the so-called SML policy.

The government's populist policies are driven by marketing strategies, generating the adverse effects of a decline in morality, a rise of consumerism and a lack of financial discipline.

The government believes in trumpeting policies and selling dreams such as Bangkok's Fashion City, Thailand's Kitchen to the World, Detroit of Asia and acquiring the Liverpool Football team. Most are still dreams while some have already failed spectacularly.

The strategy of TRT in achieving a single-party rule is to unite top capitalist groups through synergy, and synmoney, with the prospect of "synsavoury" power-grabbing, while isolating the middle groups of career politicians, academics and NGOs by providing largess to the common people.

TRT put pressure on local backers of career politicians to co-opt them into the party. To cut off the NGO's influence, the government discredits the activists, alleging that they are agents of foreign vested interests. To marginalise academics, Thai Rak Thai chooses to promote various silver bullet schemes like the so-called CEO management style, in contrast with the academics' traditional in-depth analysis and policy options.

Furthermore, the government monopolises the state's media outlets to broadcast its policies directly to the masses while restricting or outright preventing the middle group's access to state-owned media.

The success of the GMO-style politics can be seen from the disappearance of several political parties which merged into Thai Rak Thai. Thirayuth sees the emergence of one-party rule in Thailand as leading to complete political control by Thaksin and certain of his associates, which the academic dubbed as "Thaksinocrony".

The practice of trumpeting government benefits to the grass-roots sector has been the cornerstone of one-party rule in several countries, including Japan's LDP for 46 years, Taiwan's Kokminton for 53 years, Malaysian Umno for 47 years and Singapore's PAP for 45 years. So it is possible that the one-party rule of TRT can become a reality in the next general election and can last for quite a while.

Thirayuth characterised "Thaksinocrony" as having an aim of seizing the country's resources for a quick return without much care about the quality of life in the country for the long run. He credited TRT with reviving the country's economy for the past two years but said the future trend is bleak, as many adverse factors are rearing their ugly heads. Exports may not be as robust as hoped for and those business sectors that may still have a bright future are under control of Thaksin and his allies.

Meanwhile, the government's spending is woefully lacking fiscal discipline, which may jeopardise the country's international credit standing. The conflicts of interests are many, community leaders/activists are murdered, there is recurring Sars and avian flu and continuing unrest in the deep South.

Thai people must realise that TRT's philosophy is "transforming the four-year governing term to a 30-year governing concession" in return for handsome rent and a bonus to the people every four years, opined Thirayuth.

Thai people must realise that these concession holders have no production experience and are not engaged in R&D to improve quality, relying instead on buying technology and know-how and marketing it to sell services only.

For this reason, Thaksinomics stresses only consumption, not production, quality, efficiency, nor good governance. The present system lacks a knowledge base, which will ultimately adversely affect the country's competitiveness.

Pentacorruption

Thirayuth acknowledged Thaksin's management expertise, but said he would like to see it be turned toward managing the country, producing quality public servants and raising efficiency.

The gravest social problemis the problem of corruption. Thaksin's reign is characterised by "pentacorruption": corruption in policy, integration, conflicts of interests, access, and morality.

Policy corruption means implementing government policies that are beneficial to the TRT's financiers

Integration corruption is the total cooperation from politicians to the bureaucrats to siphon the government's budget to benefit themselves and cronies.

Corruption involving conflicts of interest includes concluding trade agreements that benefit businesses owned by core party leaders or their relatives.

Access corruption is unequal access to government data and state mechanisms, which are used to benefit TRT's cronies.

Morality corruption is destroying people's morality with the promise of economic benefits, such as promoting lotteries and legalising the underground economy for taxation purposes. Thirayuth also accused Thaksin of moral bankruptcy in promoting get-rich schemes which lead to debt.

Social and political trends

Thirayuth saw the weakening of the opposition parties under the onslaught of Thai Rak Thai's goal of controlling all aspects of political and social life of the country.

He saw as TRT's setting a target of 400 MPs in the next election as the party's only strategic mistake.

Depriving the opposition parties of even submitting a censure debate against individual ministers is akin to belittling the middle class and democracy activists, who may join forces to campaign for "Anyone but TRT" candidates.

Thirayuth predicted that the TRT would not get 320 constituent MPs and 80 listed MPs in the next election, as the party would lose some Bangkok seats to other outstanding candidates from other parties.

As for the main opposition party Democrats, Thirayuth did not see any bright future, and predicted that they would become a

medium-size party, with a strong base in the South and Bangkok, amounting to around 80-85 seats.



Thirayuth: `TRT policies are mostly beneficial to vested business interests.'
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Last Updated: Saturday, 31 July, 2004, 14:00 GMT 15:00 UK

Thailand's prime minister has conceded soldiers may have used excessive force when they stormed a mosque in April, killing 32 young Muslims.

The raid marked the bloodiest day of an uprising that began in January.

Thaksin Shinawatra said troops had felt under pressure to quell violence by militants in the Muslim-majority south.

A report critical of the use of force is due to be made public soon. Mr Thaksin said lessons should be learnt from the mosque raid.

Security forces armed with heavy weapons went into the historic Krue Se mosque on 28 April and killed militants who were armed only with machetes and a single gun.

'Our lesson'

A wave of violence began in the south of the country on 4 January 2004 when armed men attacked an army camp, killing four soldiers.

They walked away with hundreds of weapons, including assault rifles.

In his weekly radio address, Mr Thaksin said they would learn from what happened at the mosque.


Who was behind the violence?

"Let this be our lesson; we must be more patient and more training is needed to correct and improve on such an incident in the future," he said.

"The security officials at the scene were acting under pressure because the militants robbed guns and ammunition so security officials used heavy weapons in retaliation," Mr Thaksin said.

An independent committee last week handed a report to the government criticising it for its overwhelming use of force.

But the report cleared the military of any wrong-doing.

The report is expected to be made public over the coming days.

Thailand's Muslim majority south has long felt aggrieved by its slower pace of development, and a separatist movement thrived there in the 70s and 80s.

Many analysts believe the violence was stoked by the same sentiments.

However, there has also been criticism of the government and accusations that with its strong-arm tactics, it has only served to inflame the sense of grievance.


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Militant violence reported in three provinces on 29 April: Yala, Songkhla and Pattani
Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist with Muslims making up 3.8%
Separatist rebellions have occurred periodically for centuries



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Thai security forces have been accused of being heavy-handed

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Thaksin has raised the people's expectations of the benefits to be gained from the process _ but is it just paternalism all over again?

PASUK PHONGPAICHIT CHRIS BAKER

Last week, in the second of three excerpts from `Thaksin: The Business of Politics in Thailand', the authors examined the fundamental goals and potential risks of Thaksinomics. Today's excerpt looks at how Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is remaking Thai politics.Once Thaksin Shinawatra and Thai Rak Thai understood the extent of their power created by the 1997 constitution, the 2001 election landslide, and Mr Thaksin's personal popularity, they set out to overhaul Thailand's political system.

In speeches in 1998-99, Mr Thaksin identified three main problems. First, too many politicians treat politics as a career, as a way to make money. They invest money in gaining election, and then look for ways to profit through corruption. Second, the Thai bureaucracy is too powerful, too torpid and too ignorant of the business world. Third, both politicians and bureaucrats are simply ``not modern''. They fail to keep up with the pace of change in the world, and with globalisation. The crisis of 1997, he argued, resulted from this simple and wholesale failure to understand the world.

The 1997 constitution aimed to overcome the same problems, but with a certain strategy _ strengthening the executive, increasing transparency, adding checks and balances, decentralising power, and empowering the citizenry.

But Mr Thaksin and the new big business politicians see a different way ahead. They want a powerful central state to mobilise national resources and manage the society. They welcomed the constitution's provisions for strengthening the executive, but they have sabotaged the checks and balances, empowerment, decentralisation, and scrutiny in the constitution. Mr Thaksin has begun to build a new political structure in which power is centralised in a political party financed by big business.

In the old system, power was shared between the senior bureaucracy and the local political bosses. Mr Thaksin has attacked this old arrangement from both ends. He has intimidated and politicised the senior bureaucracy while denigrating bureaucratic practice as inferior to the CEO culture of business. He has rehabilitated the military after its post-1992 decline, and tied it to himself by kinship, connection, and patronage as an instrument to control opposition and dissent. He has made the ``CEO governors'' into extensions of executive authority into the provinces.

At the same time, he has tried to pull up the local roots of Thai politics by attacking the ``influence'' of local bosses, and by switching the source of political goods. While people once looked to their local godfather to get them paved roads, electricity hookups, and water supply, he wants them now to turn to the Thai Rak Thai government for village funds, debt relief, cheap health care, land deeds, and a route out of poverty.

This is potentially a massive change in the political culture. It aims to replace the old personal bonds, the local clique or phuak, with a direct, universalised relationship between citizen and state. All qualify for a loan from the village fund, for a 30-baht hospital visit, for a cheap TV, for a chance to turn their assets into capital. All are Thais Loving Thais.

Of course, things are not quite so clear-cut, not least because the old political bosses are still a major part of the Thai Rak Thai Party and are resisting this attack on their bases of power. The ``war on influence'' never got much beyond the first skirmish. Mr Thaksin believes more electors will choose TRT at future elections because of its policies, but in practice, the party will still have to negotiate with local influence. Mr Thaksin may want electors to choose his party because of its policies, but his local candidates may still put their faith in older methods of getting votes.

In practice, this remaking of the political system depends heavily on money. The corporations grouped around the government possibly provide funding of around a billion baht a year. Mr Thaksin is replacing ``money politics'' with ``big money politics''. Big money is now power. And so gaining power, and holding onto it, are inseparable from the generation of big business profits.

But perhaps, the biggest unknown of Thai politics now is the impact of Mr Thaksin's new role for ``the people'' in Thai politics. In the electoral campaign of 2000-01, and the popularity campaign of 2001, Mr Thaksin and TRT deliberately set out to raise people's expectations of the benefits available through the political process. Indeed, Mr Thaksin's rhetoric (``every breath we think of the people''), the party's universal policies, the intimacy of Mr Thaksin's weekly radio chats, the ambition of the party's promises (``everybody will have land to make a living and every home will have electricity and tap water''), and its new slogan (``TRT's heart is the people'') have constructed ``the people'' as a factor in Thai politics in a new way.

In Mr Thaksin's version of the social contract, this ``people'' exists only to surrender its rights and wait for government to deliver the political goods. In its logic and inspiration, this formula is the old paternalist state in new clothing. It assumes the forces that broadened political space in the 1990s can be controlled permanently. But what now will ``the people'' really tolerate, really want, and really do?

Pasuk Phongpaichit is a professor of economics at Chulalongkorn University. Chris Baker is an independent writer. Excerpted and adapted from Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker, ``Thaksin: The Business of Politics in Thailand'' by Silkworm Books. Available at Kinokuniya, CU Book Center, Odean Store, Asia Books, Bookazine, Suriwong Book Center, price 595 baht.

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Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra shot back at stinging accusations by a human rights commission that Thailand's civil liberties had deteriorated and a "culture of authoritarianism" had emerged under his tenure.

Thailand's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in its first report since it was set up three years ago, said the government had committed gross rights violations, particularly through a deadly war on drugs, in its quest to promote state power.

"Thailand is worryingly regressing towards a culture of authoritarianism, instead of progressing to a culture of human rights," said the commission report Thursday.

Thaksin responded by urging the commission, made up mainly of academics, lawyers and human rights advocates, to exercise its independence and creativity but "not to act in opposition".

"You can introduce but do not criticise," Thaksin said. "When you criticise, it goes around the world and damages the country."

In its 230-page report, the commission warned that freedom of expression and criticism of government were viewed as undermining stability, prosperity and economic development.

"The worst case is the extra-judicial killings in the war on drugs," the report said. "More than 2,500 people were killed without fair trials under the principles of democracy and rule of law."

The government's drugs campaign, which began in February 2003 and ended in December of that year, logged at least 2,275 extrajudicial killings in the first three months, according to the US-based group Human Rights Watch.

Thaksin, who is expected to seek re-election early next year, has largely blamed the deaths on inter-gang violence and on Thursday stood by police and other security agencies that had been accused of extrajudicial killings.

"There is no government support of killing innocent people," Thaksin said.

"Sometimes authorities have to undertake self-defence measures, but the extra-judicial killings were done by others. The government does everything based on the constitution."

Thaksin's administration also came under fire for blurring the lines between state and private economic business.

"Major business groups in and outside the country are throwing their weight behind key government policies while state officials are giving less acknowledgement to human rights," the report said.

"The media have also been restrained by business interests while so-called independent constitutional bodies have been interfered with (by politicians)."

The government was also criticised for its handling of a separatist movement in the restive south, where more than 250 people have been killed this year, including 32 Muslim militants massacred at a mosque on April 28, the bloodiest day of the insurgency.

Commissioner Pradit Charoenthaithawee stood by the NHRC report, telling AFP: "It was quite a good one, and we are satisfied."

Hundreds of people including Thai senators, academics, law society officials and lay people converged Thursday for a second day of panel discussions about the report, with the commission due to incorporate public opinion before issuing final conclusions next month, Pradit said.

"The US State Department is also going along with our findings," he added.

Somchai Homla-or of the Law Society of Thailand praised the blunt report and lamented the kingdom's poor showing on the rights front.

"Our situation is regressing," he said in The Nation newspaper. "Thailand used to be a champion of human rights in the region but we have lost that lead."

The criticism of the premier was due to be broadened Thursday with the launch of fiery critiques of Thaksin by 16 writers in a book that follows up a best-selling volume of Thaksin broadsides earlier this year.

Thursday August 5, 4:12 PM

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By Kylie Morris
BBC, Bangkok


Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been angered by warnings that the nation is in danger of becoming an authoritarian state.

A hard-hitting report by the country's Human Rights Commission criticised the government for putting its own interests above those of its people.

But its main condemnation was reserved for Thailand's notorious war on drugs.

Mr Thaksin has hit back at the commission, saying it should not act as a de facto opposition.

The report was the first produced by Thailand's Human Rights Commission, and it certainly pulled no punches.

It said the country was headed towards a culture of authoritarianism, rather than one which respected human rights.

It referred to what the commission regarded as a blurring of the lines between state and private business, suggesting that companies were dabbling in government policy and interfering with the media, while politicians were dabbling in the work of bodies which should be independent.

The war on drugs was particularly singled out.

The notorious campaign, which was run by the police and sanctioned by the Thai government, resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 people last year.

The report said these people were killed without being fairly tried according to the principles of democracy and rule of law.

The prime minister has repeated the government's response that violence between drug gangs led to the high death toll.

He also reiterated that the government did not support the killing of innocent people.

Mr Thaksin suggested that the Human Rights Commission had misunderstood its role, saying that while it was acceptable to raise issues, it should not criticise.

Otherwise, he warned, the criticism would go around the world and damage the country.

Meanwhile, the international group Human Rights Watch has called on the government to prosecute those responsible for what it describes as the illegal, lethal force used by the military in violence in the south of the country in April.

A report by the government into the deaths of 32 men inside a mosque concluded that the level of force used by the authorities was disproportionate to the threat they posed.

It said resolving the stand-off through peaceful means would have been more appropriate.

The army commander who ordered the assault, General Pallop Pinmanee, has resigned from his post, Mr Thaksin said on Thursday.

By Nirmal Ghosh

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said that the opposition in Parliament did not have to be strong in order for the country to build a strong economy.

Citing Singapore as an example, he said the island state has only a few opposition MPs but it has managed to achieve economic prosperity.
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Mr Thaksin, who is building his Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) into a huge and overwhelmingly dominant political force, also hit out at critics, saying if academics, politicians and monks who criticised the government thought they could do a better job, they were welcome to try.

And countering critics alarmed by a wave of defections to the TRT, as well as the Chart Pattana party's merger with the TRT, Mr Thaksin rejected allegations that his party bought over opposition MPs.

'People join us because they want to and we welcome them,' he said.

'Who wants to be with the loser? That is human nature.'

A victory for TRT in the general election early next year looks virtually assured.

Mr Thaksin has repeatedly said his target was for his party to win 400 seats in the 500-seat House.

The TRT has 296 MPs, plus one Democrat Party MP who defected over the weekend.

The number grows to 332 with the party's merger with Chart Pattana, which has 35 MPs. As many as 20 Democrat MPs are said to be defecting to TRT, further swelling its ranks.

Worryingly for the opposition party, four to six Democrats from the south - a party stronghold - are reportedly among the imminent defectors.

Mr Thaksin had earlier this year targeted an additional 15 seats from the south for his party in the next election.

The Democrat Party's deputy leader Abhisit Vejjajiva complained on Monday that the TRT was jeopardising democracy, but acknowledged that something had to be done to restore Democrats' confidence in their party's future in order to remain an effective opposition.

But Mr Thaksin also has his work cut out managing internal divisions in the TRT as it grows.

'Factionalism has always been a part of Thai politics, and now the factions are coming under one umbrella, there will be problems,' said Mr Panitan Wattanayagorn, a professor of international relations at Chulalongkorn University.

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BANGKOK - He may have failed in his bid for the job of Bangkok governor, but Thailand's massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit has become a hot target of political parties because of his popularity among constituents.
Mr Chuwit is now a political star after his third place in race for Bangkok governor.

Political parties wanting to win more support in the capital in January's general election are now courting Mr Chuwit, 43, and his First Thai Nation Party.

Mr Chuwit finished third in the gubernatorial election completed at the weekend, but he is regarded as the other winner for grabbing 334,168 votes, or 13.52 per cent of the total, only three months after entering politics.

Bangkok voters liked him for his lack of a political background, a fact which helped him to beat other candidates including veteran politician Charlem Yoobamrung and former governor Bichit Rattakul.

After that impressive showing in his political debut, Thailand's Mahachon party founder Sanan Kachornprasart and leader Anek Laothammathat met Mr Chuwit and asked him to join the party for the general election, The Nation newspaper quoted Mr Anek as saying yesterday.

'Chuwit didn't refuse our offer. He only asked for more time to think it over,' Mr Anek said.

Mr Chuwit himself told reporters that other parties were also courting him.

He was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying that Chart Thai's acting secretary-general Prapat Pothasuthon had brought him a bouquet on Wednesday and invited him to join his party, and that Democrat secretary-general Pradit Pattaraprasit had asked for a meeting to discuss his political future.

However, he said he feared that bigger parties could ruin his political prospects and disappoint his supporters.

Mr Chuwit grabbed the spotlight early last year when he was suspected of ordering the demolition of a crowded night market in Bangkok. He also accused high-ranking police officials of taking bribes to protect his massage parlour business, which provides sexual services. -- Xinhua

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Thaksin is the best prime minister Thailand ever had.

IMHO ,If he and his cabinet can struggle 20 years as he said, The country will records the highest loss in history by ผลประโยชน์ซ้อนทับ and corruption by policy.

I think Thaksin cabinet is less corrupted than other government, finally we build this and that and many plans are taken care of like the 30 baht hospital fee , slums will be vanished from Bangkok within 5 years, He also took away the worst threat for Thailand....the drugs, which almost brought Thailand down, many people were taking drugs and selling drugs before Thaksin, now it is much less and the rate is going down.

There are many things he did good, if chuan leekpai would still be in the power or any other government , Thailand would still be standing still like it did 3-4 years ago. The drug situation would have gotten worse, all buildings around the city would still be in a skeletton shape, and the people would get poorer and poorer.... Now Thai people is getting much better... We also have a building boom in the city...the economi is great!

IMHO its nothing more than smoke of illusion, when it comes to a disperse,the clearer the eyes can see,
the former government was nothing better , we are just like lost people in the high seas , I understand why a wooden board in a grasp is worth more than a bar of gold , Faith is not a mistake but worthwhile to beware, as the time comes and that faith is too heavy for you ,its the time to recall the things you never regain.

nice poem

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that Ekkayuth guy is a big threat to Thailand, hope he get what he deserves.

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ZzZzZz The nation and its hate towards Thaksin

they are on Ekkayuth side, what a joke newspaper

Do you think Ekkayuth travels back to Thailand just to help the nation?? haha what a joke.

The worst prime minister Thailand ever had?? why is Thailand having very good economi now and many things have improved since Thaksin came to power.

Ekkayuth is a bad ass hope they lock him up for good, hope they lock up all the nation workers as well :D , I saw an interview on thai TV (newsline, the nation newsprograme)
and while they were interviewing about the issue Ekkayuth, the nation newshost started to bring up why Thaksin have private plane, he thinks that is wrong why he can fly plane , why not all other thai people can fly plane or whatever, the other guy laughed at him and said it was for security matters and he only use it for his work, not for traveling to phuket and go to the beach. Anyway the nation host still kept on talking about Thaksin and his private plane :sleepy: and why this and that. Also brought up the failure of the 30 baht hospital fee etc etc :sleepy: what does that have to do with Ekkayuth?? the other politician who works for president Bush just laughed at him and thought he made stupid questions.

I am not into politics but I am strongly on Thaksins side because he has made Thailand a lot better, why take him out to replace with chuan leekpai or whatever who made Thailand a dissaster with the drug issue, bad economi, bad infrastructure, slow development etc etc

So much hate going around in thailand! What has thaksin done wrong? I mean he might disagree with the thai academics, but lets not forget that he himself is an academic and so are the people around him. Even other countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore are enacting some of his policies. So it prove that his policies have some merit. And thailand's debt ratings are up and corruption index are down aren't they?

I think that the democrats are destroying thailand. Its ashame to see so many people suporting them. If we keep on regressing like this, we'll be overtaken by vietnam.

โจรเท่านั้นที่รู้ทันโจร

I wanna see thailand as a developed country in 2020 and to read about thaksin and what he did right or wrong. I don't want to read about whether he is right or wrong right now because no one knows. We may never be a devolop country if things like this keeps going on.

I wanna see thailand as a developed country in 2020 and to read about thaksin and what he did right or wrong. I don't want to read about whether he is right or wrong right now because no one knows. We may never be a devolop country if things like this keeps going on.
correct, Thaksin have all the potentials as a leader to make Thailand progress, he knows how to do and he is not afraid of anyone. The democrats just sit and trying to destroy this government because thaksin government made Thailand so good , took away the drugs, made the economi really good. Big jeliousy from the democrats side , the democrats are all way corrupted. Thailand will make a big step backwards if they let the democrats come into power again.

funny, I wrote something good about Thaksin on THE NATION WEBBOARD, like he is the best prime minister Thailand ever had etc etc, and he did many good things for Thailand but the nation never post it on the webboard haha how bad they are, dont wanna hear good words about Thaksin :D

A television station has abruptly canceled a planned talk show featuring a sex tycoon-turned-politician famous for his anti-establishment views, raising fresh charges of unfair government influence over the media.

The weekly program to be hosted by Chuwit Kamolvisit was to have begun airing Saturday on TV Channel 7, which is owned by the Thai army. The station held a news conference Monday to promote the show, "Kui Pao Khon" or "Speaking Bluntly."

But Chuwit told reporters Thursday that he had received a call from a station executive telling him the show has been canceled.

Chuwit, who came third in the Bangkok governor elections last month, said the executive didn't give a reason but implied the station was pressured by the government.

Chuwit owns a string of massage parlors, which are thinly disguised fronts for prostitution. He captured the public's imagination last year when he revealed details of alleged police corruption, citing large bribes he reportedly paid to keep operating.

"The ban clearly shows that there are questions about media and press freedom in this country," Chuwit said Thursday.

"The politician who is in power put pressure on the television station to ban me from the air because he fears that my popularity will rise and be a danger for his political career," he said.

Chuwit didn't name anyone, but the reference apparently was to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a former policeman whose government has frequently been accused of trying to intimidate the media or influence it with money.

Thaksin made his fortune in telecommunications before becoming prime minister in 2000, and his family is one of the richest in Thailand. Several Cabinet members are also business moguls.

Chuwit said he will now tour the country and speak out at public rallies to garner support for his First Thai Nation Party.

Channel 7 confirmed that Chuwit's program had been canceled, but declined further comment. Sayam Sungvoributh, manager of Dara Video, the production house that does Channel 7's programming, said the team was not ready to produce the show with Chuwit.

Separately, he said his company is planning a miniseries about Thaksin's rise to power, based on a flattering biography. The show will air in December, just a month or two ahead of an expected general election.

Thursday September 16, 6:29 PM

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's prime minister said he had chosen a handsome film star to play him in a television series likely to be shown before elections early next year.

An army-owned network hopes next month to start filming a television version of "Eyes on the stars, feet on the ground", a sympathetic biography of premier Thaksin Shinawatra released before his landslide election victory in 2001.

Thaksin confirmed that Charkrit Yam-narm -- a popular movie star and game show host -- would play him in the story of his life that could include his 2001 triumph.

"I do not know many movie stars but I chose him as his character is similar to mine," he told reporters.

Executives at Thailand's Channel 7 asked his permission to make the movie and allowed him to pick the actor to play him, but Thaksin denied he had read the as-yet incomplete script.

"I have not yet seen the synopsis but they have came to ask for my endorsement and I have no fear from criticism. I am getting used to it," he said.

Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party is tipped to win national elections expected early next year and has earmarked winning at least 350 of 500 lower house seats.

But the party has suffered several setbacks including a convincing win for the opposition Democrats in the Bangkok governor election, although the TRT did not have an official candidate standing.

Channel 7 is particularly popular in rural areas, Thaksin's powerbase that he will depend upon to win national elections.

Thaksin, 56, a billionaire tycoon and former police officer, made his fortune through a business empire selling computers, mobile phones and cable television.

He founded the TRT party in 1998 and swept to power three years later on a populist platform.

Thaksin's popularity lowest ever at 48.1%

The ruling Thai Rak Thai party is falling out of favour, not only with the educated elite in Bangkok but also with the less educated, poorer people in the provinces, the latest Abac Poll has found.

Overall Thai Rak Thai's popularity dropped to 46.3%, from 55.6% in July, while the Democrat party rose from 10.3% in July to 27.9%.

The popularity of the core coalition government party also fell and that of the main opposition party increased in every region. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's popularity dropped to 48.1% from 61.6% in July, the lowest it has been at any time in the last year.

The pollsters suggested the decrease in popularity could have been triggered by rising oil and retail prices, corruption scandals and southern violence, which emerged as top three problems that most affected the government's credibility

But Somjai Phagaphasvivat, Thammasat University political scientist, attributed the decline in popularity to four factors _ policy, corruption and conflict of interest, the government's plan to lay off state officials and the prime minister's treatment of his allies _ Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang in particular.

Just over half the respondents (51.4%) wanted the government to complete its term, but that was a big drop from the previous survey in July when 75% throught it should stay in the job until the scheduled general election early next year.

About 30% of the respondents were quite confident the government would be able to solve economic problems in the next six months, but 36.6% were not quite sure. And 39.2% were not sure the government could stamp out corruption, but 20% were confident. Similarly, 32.5% were not sure the government could put an end to drug abuse, but 30.4% said they were pretty sure.

The survey had 5,284 respondents in 25 provinces, and was carried out from Sept 10-22.

The selected provinces were Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Chiang Mai, Nan, Uttaradit, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Rai, Sakon Nakhon, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Si Sa Ket, Nong Khai, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong and Surat Thani.

Of the respondents, 53.2% were female, 30.5% were aged 20-29, 25.3% in the 30-39 bracket, 24.9% aged 40-49, 13.7% were 50 and over, and 5.6% aged below 20.

As for education, 77.4% of the respondents did not have a degree while 22.6% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

About 38.5% of the poll participants were farmers or labourers, 26.9% vendors, 11.4% state officials or state enterprise workers, 15.2% company workers, 3.7% students, 4.3% housewives or retirees.

Mr Somjai said the findings were alarming for Thai Rak Thai, given that 77% of the respondents had not completed a degree.

''Thai Rak Thai's key supporters are farmers or grassroots people. And when most of them feel like this, then Thai Rak Thai is in for a hard time,'' he said.

He said that Thai Rak Thai's policies tended to benefit the rich rather than the poor and the rich were the same group of people who were in government.

''People start to believe more about policy-oriented corruption and conflicts of interest. And they are dazed to find that it happens in a government with wealthy cabinet ministers,'' he said.

The government's lay-off scheme had upset a large number of state officials who showed their resentment by voting for Apirak Kosayodhin, a Democrat, for Bangkok governor.

Mr Somjai said that Mr Thaksin had turned away from his political allies. The latest incident involved Maj-Gen Chamlong and land owned by his foundation.

''Mr Thaskin earlier turned away from Dr Prawase Wasi. We can't deny that these figures are well-respected,'' he said.

Sukhum Chaleoysap, director of Suan Dusit Poll, said he analysed the votes Mr Apirak received and found that his support came from word-of-mouth.

Mr Somjai agreed with Mr Sukhum's conclusions, saying he knew a large number of people _ the silent voters _ who voted for Mr Apirak because they were persuaded to back him.

The academic said Thai Rak Thai would suffer in the next general election.

''Their image has gone bad and it's hard to make it as good as it was before. People were fed up with the Democrat party in the previous polls,'' he said.

However, Mr Thaksin had ''charisma'' and other fine qualities he could use to lure some supporters back.

Suranand Vejjajiva, Thai Rak Thai spokesman, played down the findings, saying the party has not yet started its election campaign and its popularity would rise once its new policies are unveiled.

Published on Sep 26, 2004

Big protest at Sanam Luang against rampant corruption and abuse of power

In a sign of waning government popularity, an anti-Thaksin rally sprang up yesterday at Bangkok's Sanam Luang, with more than a thousand protesters vowing to see the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted.

The protesters included workers from state enterprises, Thai Petrochemical Industries (TPI) and taxi drivers, among others. Calls ranged from an end to privatisation of key state enter-|prises and cancellation of 11 |pieces of legislation enacted in |the wake of the 1997 financial crisis, to more effective corruption busting and restoration of media freedoms.

Businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr and industrial tycoon Prachai Leophairatana helped organise the rally.

Ekkayuth, who earlier accused key members of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party of manipulating the stock market, said the rally would send a message to those currently in power that the people are now unhappy with excessive use of power by the state.

"We want those in power to know that the people have freedom of expression, so the government should not abuse its power by hurting those who disagree with it," he said.

TPI's Prachai said he would spare no expense in overthrowing Thaksin Shinawatra, whom he blames for the execution of an unfair restructuring plan for his company.

"I will spare the government only if Thaksin stops helping foreigners steal the Thai public's assets," he said.

Some 500 TPI workers also joined the rally.

Saying they had been victimised, the protesters outlined a total of 88 grievances allegedly caused by the Thaksin government.

They took turns detailing the wrongs inflicted on them since the government came to power three and a half years ago.

Fiery speeches were delivered from a podium placed under a huge banner that read, "Thai Lak Thai," a pun meant to rhyme with Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) and which means "Thais Steal Thais". Other banners included one with a picture of Thaksin depicted as Hitler. The rally is expected to end today.

Many government critics, including Sulak Sivaraksa, were scheduled to address the crowd.

Pian Yongnu, a labour leader with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, said government opponents want to get across to Thaksin that he is getting carried away with power.

"No past prime minister was ever as rude as Thaksin. He recently characterised his critics as buffaloes," said Pian, noting that this is considered extremely offensive in Thai culture.

Sirisuk Jaemdaeng, a taxi driver, said the government is implementing "wrong-headed" policies for taxi services.

"The Ua Athorn taxi will result in ruin for every taxi driver," he said, attacking the low-cost scheme for new taxi drivers.

Sirisuk said the industry is facing an oversupply of drivers, and the government should find ways to help them survive instead of inducing newcomers to enter the industry.

Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Pimuk Simaroj said his party is willing to tackle grievances if the protesters make genuine demands.

"From what I've heard, the rally appears to be well organised, and there may be [legitimate] grudges against the government," Pimuk said.

Chana Songkhram police were responsible for security at the rally site.

Police superintendent Colonel Wichan Borirakkul said he was under orders to keep the peace and prevent the rally from turning unruly.

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Democrats' timely call

The opposition Democrat Party yesterday unveiled its campaign slogan, "Time to Restore Thailand", meant as a rallying cry to dethrone the ruling Thai Rak Thai party in the next general election.

"Voters have at least seven reasons to halt the government ransacking of the country under Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra," said Democrat leader Banyat Bantadtan.

Ranking Democrats turned out in force to join Banyat at a party seminar organised as part of preparations for the election campaign.

Banyat said the ruling party had abused its mandate, pillaging the people instead of governing them.

Thanks to populist policies, the people have had to sacrifice their liberty, forfeit their property, see their power curtailed, witness government domination of independent organisations, hand over our natural resources to a privileged few, sell state enterprises and live with a restive South, he said.

He said the government was expecting its latest publicity stunt - dubbed the "war on corruption" - to shore up its popularity.

"If Thaksin is sincere about rooting out corruption, then he should start with people close to him," he added.

Democrat secretary-general Pradit Pataraprasith said his party would release a list of 246 electoral candidates today. The complete list of 400 candidates is expected in November.

In the lead-up to the general election, the Democrats will hold a series of campaign rallies, starting with 11 provinces in the South and Northeast next month, Pradit said.

The government, meanwhile, released an opinion survey on the approval rating of its performance.

The survey, conducted by the National Statistical Office, showed that 80.9 per cent of respondents gave a thumbs up for the Cabinet.

Almost 81 per cent said they were satisfied with healthcare services, followed by 78 per cent with education, 76 per cent with government information, 74 per cent with sport and 55 per cent with security affairs.

The government's war on drugs received the highest approval rating for a specific programme - 70.8 per cent - followed in descending order by the Bt30 healthcare scheme, Village Fund, One Tambon One Product scheme and the fight against influential figures.

For the remainder of the government's current term, respondents saw the war on poverty as the top priority.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/photo_lead/photo.jpg

havent they seen how much Thailand has improved?? stupid!!

“แม้ว”ใจถึุง-เตรียมจัดงาน"รวมพลคนด่ารัฐบาล"

โดย ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ 26 กันยายน 2547 11:42 น.


"นายกรัฐมนตรี" ใจถึงเตรียมจัดงาน “รวมพลคนด่ารัฐบาล” ระบุให้มาระบายที่ "ท้องสนามหลวง" กลางเดือนหน้า เผยจะให้ "คณะรัฐมนตรี-ส.ส." มาร่วมฟัง ยืนยันหากมีอะไรที่เป็นประโยชน์จะรับมาแก้ไข เผยเตรียมตัว "นอนเต็นท์" ที่ "สนามบินหนองงูเห่า" ก่อนประชุม ครม. ลั่นกินอาหารร่วมกับคนงานก่อสร้าง-หวังรับฟังปัญหา

พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ชินวัตร นายกรัฐมนตรี เปิดเผยว่า รัฐบาลเตรียมจัดงาน “มหกรรมรวมพลคนด่ารัฐบาล” ที่บริเวณท้องสนามหลวง ประมาณกลางเดือนตุลาคมนี้ โดยจะเดินทางไปเป็นประธานในพิธีเปิดงานด้วยตนเอง และจะให้รัฐมนตรี และ ส.ส.ของพรรคอยู่ฟังการอภิปราย เพื่อดูว่ามีเรื่องใดบ้างที่มีประโยชน์ ก็รับฟัง และนำมาแก้ไข แต่เรื่องใดที่ไม่มีประโยชน์จะปล่อยให้พูดไป สำหรับรูปแบบการจัดงานนั้น จะแบ่งออกเป็นกลุ่ม ๆ ใครไม่พอใจรัฐบาลเรื่องใด ก็เปิดโอกาสให้พูดได้อย่างเต็มที่ โดยจะมีอาหาร และเครื่องดื่มไว้บริการอย่างพร้อมเพรียง

ส่วนสาเหตุการจัดงานครั้งนี้นั้น พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ กล่าวว่า เพื่อต้องการเปิดโอกาสให้ฝ่ายที่ไม่เห็นด้วยกับรัฐบาล ได้แสดงออกบนเวที เพราะไม่ต้องการให้ไปเคลื่อนไหว หรือใช้วิธีการชุมนุมต่าง ๆ

นายกรัฐมนตรี ยังกล่าวถึงการเดินทางไปประชุมคณะรัฐมนตรีที่สนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ ในวันที่ 28 กันยายนนี้ว่า จะไปพักค้างคืนในวันที่ 27 กันยายนก่อน โดยจะเดินทางไปถึงในช่วงเย็น และจะทำอาหารกินร่วมกับคนงานก่อสร้าง เพื่อพูดคุยถึงปัญหาอุปสรรคต่าง ๆ ในการทำงาน สำหรับที่พักนั้น ได้ให้ทางเจ้าหน้าที่เตรียมเต็นท์ขนาดใหญ่ไว้ พร้อมตั้งเก้าอี้นอนเรียงเป็นแถวไว้ให้กับตัวเอง และสื่อมวลชน

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I like this idea.
For me, TRT is the best party for Thailand now.

What choice do we have? - Bangkok Post, September 29, 2004
A candid and insightful editorial from the Post that even takes a swipe at The Nation: ...Some newspapers, drawing courage from others, are manufacturing "opposition to Thaksin growing'' articles.
My favourite is about a "major'' rally at Sanam Luang recently, which turned out to be organised by one disgruntled and very bankrupt tycoon, who is about to lose control of his empire because the government has done the right thing and forced through a restructuring programme that the country's banking system desperately needed, and one very failed pyramid financing engineer who recently returned to Thailand after the statute of limitations had expired. These two gentlemen and their rent-a-crowd do not in any way reflect public opinion or a growing opposition to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In fact, their anger is more a measure of Mr Thaksin's effectiveness, if anything...
Tired of being kept away from the feeding trough--I mean, out of power--and convinced that Mr Thaksin will serve another four years as prime minister, Maj-Gen Sanan, the archetypal old guard politician, decided to break away from his long-time Democrat friends to stitch together a new "coalition party-in-waiting''...

haksin 'helping his personal ambitions'

ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT

Foreign policy has served Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's own ambitions for regional leadership and for his business empire, academics at a Chulalongkorn University seminar said yesterday.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science lecturer, said the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, the Economic Cooperation Strategy and the Bangkok Process, along with bilateral trade strategies were intended to enhance Thailand's international role.

They were also formulated to further Mr Thaksin's own wishes to influence the region, mirroring the late Gen Chatchai Choonhavan's ambitions for Indochina when he was premier in the early 1990s.

The objectives and conduct of these policies were beset with conflicts of interest involving corporate concerns of the Shinawatra conglomerate and the business interests of his associates, Mr Thitinan charged.

The stalled Bangkok Process to find solutions for Burma has proven the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military junta, is most effectively dealt with from a position of strength, not concessions and accommodation, he said.

''It would be a win-win solution if we took a hard-line stance as we might not be condemned by the international community. It the SPDC did not comply we would have nothing to lose.

''But the PM has to relinquish some of his business expansion [ideas] and sacrifice his own family interests,'' he said.

On Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai's bid for the UN secretary-general post, Mr Thitinan said the chances of him winning did not look good.

Mr Thitinan said if Mr Surakiart did not succeed it will only be embarrassing for him in the short term, but in the long term the country would lose face.

''We need to demonstrate our distinction, like Indonesia did in being moderate, democratic and the largest Muslim country in the world when it bid for the Security Council [seat]. Thailand's approach is unclear,'' he said.

Former ambassador to the UN, Asda Jayanama, said the Thaksin government's unconventional diplomacy was to use bargaining chips with other countries rather than getting any tangible benefits.

''With the policy U-turn to the US, the Thaksin government became associated with the anti-terror agenda rather than balancing it with multilateralism under the UN auspices,'' Mr Asda said.

Instead of playing the major powers off against each other and maintaining distance from them, the premier had chosen a trade-off policy by exchanging anti-terror for non-Nato major ally status. He had also curbed the Falungong movement in Thailand for closer economic ties with China, he said.

''Our foreign policy has been formulated with a total lack of preparation and turned out to be simplistic,'' Mr Asda said.

Mr Thitinan agreed Thai-US free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations are not purely driven by economic considerations, but the overall Thai-US relationship.

Similar political and strategic considerations were also at work in the Thai-China FTA, he said.

PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

Government failure to stop being dictatorial and end cronyism and corruption could lead to people demanding a change in less than four years, deputy Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Speaking at the Bangkok Post/Reed Tradex Economic Forum, Mr Abhisit said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's long-term vision of a one-party government was not in tune with a changing world which values human rights, public participation, limited government power and a greater role for the private sector.

Instead, the current political system tended to concentrate power in the hands of the prime minister and his friends, Mr Abhisit said.

Democratic checks and balances were being undercut by a weak opposition in the lower house, a more partisan Senate and the questionable neutrality of independent organisations including the Constitution Court, the Election Commission and the National Commission to Counter Corruption, he said.

The civil service, which has witnessed the loss of many independent-minded technocrats, now blindly serves politicians while the media no longer enjoys powerful watchdog status, Mr Abhisit said.

He said conflicts of interest were damaging the country's economic competitiveness, citing excise taxes on the telecommunications sector and free trade agreements as examples of measures that benefit the few at the expense of the majority.

Mr Abhisit called for more attention to be paid to the quality of growth as a way to cope with challenges in the next four years. Growth must be well-balanced rather than ``steroid-injected by populist policies'', he said. Such growth could lead to a new phase of instability.

The next government should make people stronger and more independent.

``Government should limit its role and provide support to the private sector and ordinary people as well as ensure fair competition for everyone regardless of their political leanings,'' he said.

Investment should upgrade human and technological development, he said.

``There is no getting away from the basic truth that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'' Government leaders must be made to undergo checks and balances regularly, he said.

Mr Abhisit also expressed concern over the government's war on corruption. The state's weapons against graft may not be aimed at the right people, he said.

Thursday September 30, 4:16 PM
Ruling party spokesman claims coup plan against Thai government
A spokesman of Thailand's ruling party created a stir Thursday by claiming that a group of people opposed to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government are planning a military coup.

Suthin Klangsaeng, a member of Parliament and deputy spokesman of the Thai Rak Thai party, did not name anyone but hinted that the group consists of military officers close to a London-based businessman who recently made corruption allegations against the government.

"The group of people who have long been opposed to this government are planning to stage a military coup," Suthin told reporters.

Speaking separately, Thaksin refused to confirm or deny the allegation.

"Let it be the internal matter of my party," Thaksin replied cryptically when asked by reporters to comment on Suthin's remarks.

When Thaksin was in Europe on an official trip, rumors were swirling in political circles last week about an alleged coup attempt, linking it with the London-based tycoon, Ekkayuth Anchanbutr. He was not immediately available for comment.

Ekkayuth claimed earlier this month that 30 members of the government influenced the stock prices of a bank to make money, but never made public any evidence. Regulatory authorities said they conducted an investigation and found the allegation baseless.

Ekkayuth was suspected by Thai authorities of defrauding hundreds of investors in 1984 and taking part in a failed coup in Thailand in 1985. He was never tried or convicted.

His allegations have incensed Thaksin, who has publicly threatened to have him prosecuted for his past financial offenses.

Thailand was led by a succession of military regimes and endured 17 army-led coups after the country changed from an absolute monarchy to a parliamentary system in 1932. The army continues to maintain an influential position in the society including ownership of one television, many radio stations and a bank.

However, observers discount the possibility of the military mounting a coup and jeopardizing Thailand's reputation in the international financial and business community as a stable investment base.
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if this happens Thailand will get a big economic crisis and everything in the country that already starts to get better will fall down into pieces, stupid military coup, they will really destroy Thailand totally

Sidelining bureaucrats leads to big mistakes

PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

A strong and centralised government, which pays little heed to the bureaucracy in planning and initiating policies and strategies is more likely to make mistakes, a respected academic said yesterday.

The warning came from the president of Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Chalongpob Sussangkarn.

The present cabinet tended to send a strong signal to the public that they knew everything, which in turn reduced the importance of the bureaucracy, he said. The state sector had been reduced to playing only the role of implementer, rather than joint policy initiator as in the past.

He warned that a government which bypassed bureaucrats' ideas and opinions could easily end up making mistakes, as happened in the tackling of the bird flu epidemic.

Mr Chalongpob said the state sector had been anxious to tackle bird flu urgently because it feared the disease could hurt both exports and the target GDP of the government.

But since the government did not put bird flu on its priority list, bureaucrats could not make a big deal of tackling it, which led to the lack of ability to control and prevent the spread of the disease.

He urged the government to adjust its way of running the country and to consult and work more with the bureaucracy.

Mr Chalongpob said the experience of the bureaucratic system, which had long served the country alongside most governments, had been ignored or diminished by the current government _ particularly the role of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) in evaluating mega-projects.

In the past, the NESDB had an important role in assessing and evaluating several mega-projects of each ministry and state enterprise.

Its role had been weakened when the authority to approve state enterprise mega-projects was transferred to the Finance Ministry and ministerial projects required only the direct approval of the cabinet.

Mr Chalongpob suggested the government allow the NESDB to maintain its former role, particularly in evaluating mega-projects, so it could assist the government on policy direction as well being the initial filter of big projects.

If there was no agency acting as a project filter, there would be several flawed projects with overly expensive implementation costs in the near future.

He said the NESDB could be the best buffer the prime minister has, since it would help reduce direct pressure on him, particularly political pressure, if projects proposed by politicians were disapproved.

By Yuwadee Tunyasiri

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday slammed the Bangkok Post for damaging international confidence in Thailand's democratic system with its report that southern Muslim religious and community leaders will ask for a royally-appointed government from His Majesty the King to replace his administration.

``The Oct 29 edition of the Bangkok Post was awful. It quoted the words of just one person and what he said was dangerous to the democratic system. That caused considerable damage. That was unprofessional,'' Mr Thaksin said.

In an interview, Dato Nideh Waba, chairman of private Islamic schools in the southernmost provinces, said the death of protesters in the Oct 25 riot in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district left Muslim people with no choice but to petition the King for a royal government.

He said the Thaksin government had to go because of its failure in handling the southern situation.

Mr Thaksin said the report that was seen around the world could cause concern in the international community about how the democratic system in Thailand could abruptly change.

He would not mind if his government had to leave but the replacement must come through an election only, Mr Thaksin said.

Feted as a "very solid and very competent leader" by the US president a year ago, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has seen his star dramatically dim with a barrage of crises since, peaking with the deaths of 78 Muslims in the south last week.

Their suffocation on October 25 in army trucks in the southern province of Narathiwat, where they were piled up like bricks, rounded off an "annus horribilis" for the premier.

In October 2003, Thaksin was basking in the glory of a successful economic summit of regional leaders, in which he unrolled the red carpet for the presidents of the United States, China and Russia.

The billionaire tycoon, who has overhauled Thailand's political landscape with his brazen CEO-style management, was then hailed as Southeast Asia's emerging leader after the retirement of Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad.

US President George W. Bush bolstered his ego by calling him a "very interesting leader, very dynamic" while his Singaporean counterpart hailed him as a potential "driving force" for Southeast Asia.

But last Friday, it was a sombre and drawn head of government who appeared before the television cameras to make an address to the nation.

For the first time in his three-and-a-half year mandate, Thaksin appeared shaken as he expressed his "regrets" after the Narathiwat incident. But he provided no excuse and yielded nothing on his tough policy toward the south.

"In the last two years or so he had emerged among a new generation of regional leaders, but the south and other domestic issues, especially this year, has made his image more and more negative," said Prapat Thepchatree, an associate professor of political science at Bangkok's Thammasat University.

The prime minister made a lightning visit to Narathiwat on the day of the incident, which occurred in the middle of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"This is disastrous. It is clear that the affair was managed by the prime minister personally," said one diplomat. "There has been a malfunction in the government itself, plus a political problem of competence."

Thaksin is facing withering and widespread criticism: Senators have demanded his resignation while the United Nations, the United States, Indonesia and Malaysia have all expressed their "concern".

Demonstrators in Kuala Lumpur called for his hanging. Iran and Pakistan condemned the tragedy. Human rights activists unanimously decried him publicly.

And on Sunday, Thailand's highly-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who intervenes only in times of crisis, told Thaksin to take a less heavy-handed approach in the south.

Thaksin's government may be "good at marketing, but its soft spot has been its lack of skill in crisis management," wrote Thanong Khantong, a commentator with the English-language Nation newspaper.

"When unexpected things turn up, we have clearly seen an absence of leadership."

Thaksin, who presides over one of the most dynamic economies in the region, must also reassure skittish investors.

"The events in the south are causing some to rethink their view of Thailand as a stable country", one broker told a daily newspaper here.

Before Narathiwat, the brutality of the south's security forces had already provoked a bloodbath: 108 rebels were killed earlier this year after an attack on police stations, including 32 who were gunned down in a historic mosque.

Thaksin had already come under heavy criticism in 2003 for a high-profile anti-drugs campaign that left more than 2,000 dead and sullied Thailand's reputation as a tolerant and calm kingdom.

Earlier this year, the avian influenza crisis undermined his administration's credibility as it admitted it "screwed up" by failing to act quickly and admit outbreaks of the lethal virus had occurred here.

Still, Thaksin appears assured of an easy win in elections early next year.

"It won't be critical in the sense that maybe he won't reach his objective of 400 seats (in the 500-seat parliament), but he will get around 300. That will be enough for another four years," noted Prapat.

The opposition Democrats, who made some ineffectual noise amid the outcry after Narathiwat, are not considered a threat.

144 lecturers say PM must admit mistakes

PRADIT RUANGDIT ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

Scores of lecturers from 18 universities nationwide have demanded Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra admit to miscalculating the extent of the Tak Bai tragedy and publicly apologise.

An open letter signed by 144 academics said an apology to Muslims and especially to the families of those who perished in the unrest is the least Mr Thaksin can do given that he, as chief administrator, was largely responsible.

Seven people were killed in a demonstration outside Tak Bai district police station on Oct 25 and 78 protesters later died from suffocation in crowded army trucks while being taken to detention.

Most of the dead were reported to be Muslims. The letter noted there is now heightened tension between Buddhists and Muslims who previously coexisted harmoniously in the deep South.

The letter said only an apology from the prime minister could salvage the country's image internationally.

The lecturers advised the government to overhaul its approach to separatism by negotiating rather than using force, to ease tensions.

Forceful suppression will only be met with retribution, the lecturers said. The government itself had witnessed the utter failure of force to bring about peace on many occasions, including the Krue Se mosque siege on April 28 and the Tak Bai tragedy in Narathiwat.

The letter said long-lasting peace would only come when local people were allowed to participate in planning security strategies.

The lecturers, mostly from leading state-run universities, said the separatist problem was clearly policy related.

They also said the standard of crowd control measures was questionable and untrained troops had been dispatched to contain rioters.

The death of 78 protesters could have been prevented, the letter said. Their hands tied, they were piled on top of one another in trucks and died with soldiers on watch. The lecturers said there were dead people in the first few trucks to arrive at the Ingkayutthaboriharn army camp in Pattani and yet no efforts were made to address the emergency.

The lecturers said the deaths were not an accident and state officials responsible for transporting the protesters must be brought to account.

The prime minister may have offered his regrets but did not identify the parties to face punishment although he was expected to do so in a timely fashion.

Banjerd Singkaneti, of Thammasat University, said the Tak Bai bloodshed could touch off secular hostility, which Thailand has never known.

The lecturers said they felt obligated to warn the government of the danger ahead.

Surichai Wankaew, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said the protest was not beyond the government's control and now Thailand was viewed elsewhere as a country that did not respect human dignity.

Somkiat Pongpaiboon, of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, said it was ironic that a government which claimed to have its finger on the pulse of the security problem in the South had allowed such carnage to take place.

Pibhop Dhongchai, a member of the non-governmental organisation committee following up on the Tak Bai tragedy, urged the government-appointed fact-finding panel to launch a straightforward inquiry.

He said the investigation must focus on the cause of death and look into ``suspicious undertakings'' such as hosing blood off the street after the Tak Bai demonstration which might be seen as destroying evidence.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/081104_new01.jpg
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at a temple in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district to preside over a royal "tod krathin" robe-giving ceremony. —JETJARAS NA RANONG

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday lashed out at human rights advocates for accusing his government of committing serious breaches of human rights.

Mr Thaksin said those accusing Thailand of human rights violations should look at all facets of the problems, and not consider just one.

He said those who harmed others must respect the rights of their victims. It was nonsense if those who never respected people's rights wanted others to respect theirs, the prime minister said, citing examples of those who have beheaded others or killed innocent people.

He was responding to criticism by rights advocates over the weekend who blasted his government for its tendency to resort to violence and for committing serious human rights violations.

Activists said since the Thai Rak Thai-led government took office four years ago, it has insisted on supporting the use of violence.

They cited the government's war on drugs last year that claimed about 2,500 lives and its harsh treatment of juvenile delinquents.

Mr Thaksin said people had to think carefully if they were told they had to respect those involved in drug trafficking, whose activities killed hundreds of thousands of young people a year.

The prime minister said they must consider both sides of a story and be aware that they were living in a real world, not a dream one.

He said in the real world people had to play by the rules of not violating each other's rights.

Published on December 16, 2004

As elite amass stock fortunes, household debts increase and real incomes decline. Prime Minister Thak-sin Shinawatra’s Midas touch may have helped sweeten his family’s stock investments by 147 per cent over the past four years, but this golden age of Thaksinomics has also driven the poor deeper in debt and shrunk their slice of the income pie.

A survey by Money & Banking magazine has fed big headlines over the past few days with its finding that the stock holdings alone of the Shinawatra family have jumped 70 per cent in one year from Bt18.54 billion to Bt31.54 billion, as of September. Pinthongta, Thaksin’s oldest daughter, has become the country’s richest stockholder with shares worth Bt18 billion, up from Bt10 billion last year.

Overall, the Shinawatra family’s stock market position soared 147 per cent from Bt12.76 billion in 2001 to Bt31.54 billion this year. The Damaphong family, led by Banaphot, the elder brother of Khunying Pojaman Shina-watra, had a 136-per-cent in-crease in stock holdings from Bt6.47 billion in 2001 to Bt15.26 billion this year.

The clan’s fortunes have risen in lockstep with the stock market. The SET index has gained more than 140 per cent from 269 in January 3, 2001 to 657 yesterday.

However, the not-so-bright spot in Thaksinomics is the surge in household debt and deterioration in income distribution.

Easy money minted by the government’s populist policies and easy credit from state-controlled banks on a lending spree have piled more debt on the poor while their incomes have not gone up enough to cope with the load.

The minimum wage in greater Bangkok over the past four years has crept up from Bt165 to Bt170 a day. Taking into account inflation of 6.86 per cent over the period, in real terms workers are taking home less pay.

This year, average household income has reached Bt14,617 a month, up almost 20 per cent from Bt12,185 in 2001.

But this has been more than offset by household debt shooting up an alarming 52.23 per cent over the period. In 2001, household debt stood at Bt68,279 before rising steadily to Bt103,940 in the first half of this year.

According to the World Bank’s latest Thailand Report, one-third of household debt is for mortgages, a third for business loans and consumer loans account for the rest.

“Compared to other countries, Thailand’s household debt to disposable income ratio remains low though it is on an up trend,” the report said. “As a share of GDP, Thailand’s household debt is 33 per cent in 2003, which is half those of Korea and Malaysia. This level, though not alarming, is not insignificant given that Thailand’s per capita income is only one-half that of Malaysia and one-fifth that of Korea.”

Income distribution among the middle-class may have improved somewhat. Bank deposits of less than Bt1 million per account have increased by 20 per cent over the past four years from Bt1.29 trillion to Bt1.56 trillion. At the same time, bank deposits of more than Bt1 million per account have grown 11.32 per cent from Bt3.71 trillion to Bt4.13 trillion.

But the lower income group and the middle class have gone on a consumption binge during the Thaksinomics era. From 2.5 million credit cards with outstanding debt of Bt41 billion in 2001, the number of cards has soared to 8.2 million with Bt108 billion in outstanding debt this year.

Advanced Info Service has enjoyed a big leap in its business with 15 million mobile phone subscribers this year, compared with five million in 2001.

The economy during the four years of Thaksinomics has regained its feet. Gross domestic product has stretched from Bt5.13 trillion to Bt6.29 trillion. Unemployment has fallen from 3.2 per cent to 2.6 per cent. Foreign debt has dropped from US$67.5 billion (Bt2.7 trillion) to $50 billion. And international reserves have climbed from $33 billion to $48.7 billion.

As a percentage of GDP, total public debt has declined. Yet the actual figure has gone up from Bt2.93 trillion in 2001 to Bt3.1 trillion in the first nine months of this year, due largely to government deficit spending and borrowing by state enterprises.

Government critics see the statistics as damning proof that the four years of Thaksin’s reign have enriched his corporate empire the most while basic economic problems have remained largely untouched.

“It’s not a surprise that the winners in a capitalist society can get very rich,” political activist Supinya Klangnarong said. “But it’s really strange if the ones who get very rich are the same ones who administer the country. Whatever excuse they use, the simple truth is that when they are people who eat too much, there will be others who starve as a result.”

Supinya is facing a staggering defamation damages lawsuit by the prime minister’s telecom empire after she charged that it profited from state policies.

“It’s true that many people seem to be living a more comfortable life and cell phones are being used everywhere. But that comes with heavier debts, and from what things look like at the moment the gap between the rich and the poor will continue to widen.” she said.

Economist Medhi Krongkaew of the National Institute for Development Administration said the steep rise in household debt was “worrisome” though not necessarily a bad sign.

“The economy seems to be on the way up and people will benefit from this. But the gap is threatening to expand as a minority is getting rich very fast while the majority has only seen their lives improved just a little,” he said.

Mahachon Party leader Anek Laothammathat said the data confirmed that Thaksin’s empire is threatening to control Thailand not just politically but also economically.

where is rayman and his colourful interpretations of the news?

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's main opposition Democrat Party has called on voters to bring down the "dictatorship" of powerful premier Thaksin Shinawatra by ousting him in February elections.

Party leader Banyat Bantadtan, stumping with several of his top MPs Sunday in Bangkok, voiced his harshest criticism yet of the Thai Rak Thai party leader and incumbent Thaksin, who is expected to win a second four-year term despite charges of authoritarianism by activists and opponents.

"Thai Rak Thai is a dictatorship government," a Democrat spokesman quoted Banyat as telling a party convention.

"If we win the election, we will not be a dictatorship government," he said.

Critics argue that since the tycoon-turned-premier Thaksin, 53, unseated the ruling Democrats and swept to power in 2001, Thailand has suffered an erosion of media freedom and civic participation, and a deterioration in human rights.

He has been criticised by the opposition for his rugged leadership style and his hardline tactics to counter a year of Islamic separatist-inspired violence in southern Thailand, where more than 560 people have died this year.

Media reports also emerged last week detailing the swelling wealth of the Shinawatra clan, which has mirrored the gains in the stock market in which they are the top investors.

"There is no single period in our history in which the government leader has abused state authority to benefit his clan and has turned a blind eye to the violation of human rights as has been the case with this government," the Nation newspaper quoted Banyat as saying on its front page.

A coalition of activists warned last week that a second Thaksin term would represent a major blow to human rights in the kingdom, citing his handling of an insurgency in the Muslim south and a brutal "war on drugs" last year in which some 2,500 people were killed.

Yet his populist policies are expected to see Thaksin re-elected due to his bedrock support from rural voters, who have benefited from village subsidies and the promotion of rural crafts.

Banyat's criticism came as Thaksin himself reportedly hinted that he could stay on as leader beyond two terms, as a capable political heir had yet to be found.

"Until that job is fulfilled, I can't quit," the Bangkok Post quoted him as saying.

The premier in the past had vowed to stay in power a maximum two terms.

Thaksin, if he ends his first period of office as expected on January 5, will campaign as the first democratically-elected premier in Thai history to have served a full four-year term.

Thailand has been dominated by military rule since 1932 when the first constitution was signed ending absolute monarchy. There has been an often fraught and bloody transition to democracy since the 1970s.

http://sg.yimg.com/xp/afp/20041220/134444920.jpg

Thailand has never been better during these 4 last years since thaksin took over, I wonder how Thailand would be today if Chuan leekpai still was in power, GOSh

Agree with raymand-
Lets not forget that Thaksin was worth more a couple years prior to when he took office than he is now. It is not unusual for his wealth to increase in line with the stockmarket since his family is well diversified. And if anyone has taken finance, an increase in household debt is not necessarily a bad thing because it indicates a strong economy. Consumers have more money to spend. What do you expect when the economy is doing well-cellular service subscription should fall? The article even admits that household debt in Thailand is not as high as other countries. Even income distribution among the middle-class may have improved.

I wonder what the economy would be like if the oppositions took power? They want a self adecquate Thailand, an idea which will prove harmful rather than beneficial in the future. As Vietnam and other countries in the region rises in economic stature Thai people would find it increasingly hard to pay rent or even have money for food. The opposition proposes free education which will not be sustainable-who's the populist? And the dictatorship as they label Thaksin is his demand for the privatization of power plants, which is what foreign investors want to see and which will be beneficial to Thai consumers in the future.

The opposition leader whoever that guy is supports showing video of Tak bye protest saying that people need to know the truth. Yeh it wouldnt cause any resentment and confusion, yeh right. Plz, wasn't the purpose of the independent council to find what really happened? Those fuckers are fucking crap.

PM alleges media of distorting his comment on cross-border militancy from Malaysia
BANGKOK, Dec. 20 (TNA) - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday lashed out at both local and foreign media, alleging them of reporting incompletely his comment about cross-border militant activities from Malaysia to Thailand's violence-plagued deep South.

Mr. Thaksin said the media's incomplete reports have caused the country's immediate neighbor to misunderstand him.

The Malaysian government was reportedly upset by Mr. Thaksin's remark that jungle hideouts across the border in Malaysia have been the training ground for Muslim militants in southern Thailand. More than 400 people have died since unrest related violence erupted in the region early this year.

Mr. Thaksin said he only had both local and foreign media to blame for they only reported part of what he said during his last Saturday's radio talk show.

''Our media and some foreign media like to cause people to quarrel and if you listened to my radio program I mentioned clearly that Thailand had received good cooperation from Malaysia, and that because of the nature of the land border we shared, people could go back and forth or stay. I also said it was a jungle on Malaysian side which made it impossible to locate them, and that was why we asked for cooperation from Malaysia,'' he said.

He said the Malaysian government felt like it was accused when asked for its reaction to his remark by an AFP reporter.

''A country is vast and who would know where criminals are hiding out. In our country, we still cannot get to a lot of fugitives who are facing arrest warrants. It is normal but the media just hyped it up to cause disputes,'' he said.

''If I said something and the media reported completely on it without distorting what I said, I would not complain,'' said Mr. Thaksin.

A TNA reporter said during the interview, Mr. Thaksin was obviously angry which was strongly sensed in his speaking tone.

''I want to ask those people who don't like me personally to realize that I am doing my duty to serve all of you. You can attack me as you wish once I am not doing this duty. However, I am still working for you today; so you (the media) must safeguard the sake of the country first,'' he said.

''Today, the media carried on and put this report as a headline which only caused a rife. It is just a careless style of work that aims at having more dispute to report about the next day. Don't be so careless like that, particularly those who sit in the editorial desks,'' said the Thai leader.

Responding to a question, Mr. Thaksin said there have been contacts between Thai and Malaysian officials all the time about the matter. He said his remark was based on the information gained through investigation.

''We have asked the Malaysian government to help and we both know that it is not an easy task to find and arrest the militants. Some people might felt that once cooperation was asked, then why I should accuse Malaysia. That is a misunderstanding,'' he said.

Mr. Thaksin said he expected that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must have clarified the matter with its Malaysian counterpart to prevent further misunderstanding between the two countries.

He said the matter would not affect bilateral relations between the two close neighbouring countries.

its pathetic to see the reason why we should vote for the democrats...the reason is

"If we win the election, we will not be a dictatorship government," he said.

haha those democrats really are desperate to take over the power and make Thailand become a slow developing country. Chuan leekpai and his democrats were a big corrupted government when they were in power

Yep ... Democrat even attempt to lend Muslim hand to perform ASSASINATION so as to create power vacuum period!

The LIST of Criminal Acts committed by Democrat party:

ปชป. ชอบสร้างความแตกแยก แล้วฉวยโอกาสที่คนไทยแตกกัน เข้ามาเป็นรัฐบาลจริงหรือครับ
เห็นหลายคนบอกว่าปชป. เกลียดช่วงที่ประชาชนทั้งชาติ รวมใจกันได้ ที่สุด ผมชักจะเชื่อแล้วสิ
เขาต้องการความแตกแยก เพื่อหาช่องเข้าไปสวมรอยเป็นรัฐบาล เพื่อหาประโยชน์ใส่พวกพ้อง
เปลี่ยนวิกฤติของชาติ เป็นโอกาสของตัวเอง

(Democrat Party is the party who live DISUNITY whcih is a good change for them to exploit the Disunity of the Nationa for theri own Gains)

มีคนบอกว่าเขาใส่ร้ายปรีดี(ว่าปลงพระชนม์ ร.8) คนที่กู้ชาติไทย เป็นเสรีไทย ในช่วง
สงครามโลก เพียงเพื่อจะสวมรอยเข้ามาปกครองประเทศ

(Democrat Party had Accused Ajarn Pridi as the mastermind of King Anandamahidol Assasination)

เขาวางตัวเป็นกลางดูลู่ทางลม ในเหตุการณ์14ตุลา เพราะไม่รู้ใครจะชนะ แต่เมื่อรู้แน่ว่า
ประชาชนชนะ เขาก็โดดเข้าข้างฝ่ายเรียกร้องประชาธิปไตย ฝ่ายประชาชนทันทีผ่านไปอีก3ปี
เกิดเหตุการณ์6ตุลา เขามองว่าฝ่ายเผด็จการต้องกลับมาแน่ เขาจึงโดดเข้าร่วมรัฐบาลเผด็จการ
ต่อต้านฝ่ายประชาธิปไตย

(Democrat PRETENDED to be on the same side as the Student Activists,
but when the Right Wing Muerdered the Students, Democrat just went
to the same side as the Ultraconservative!)

ผ่านไปอีกหลายปี ช่วงพค. ทมิฬ เขาเห็นว่า พลเอกสุจินดา ไปไม่ไหวแน่ เขาจึงร่วมกับมวลชน
และพรรคพลังธรรม ขับไล่สุจินดา แต่เมื่อสุจินดาตกไป เขาพยายามสร้างความแตกแยกให้คนไทยแบ่งเป็น
2ฝ่าย คือฝ่ายพาคนไปตาย และฝ่ายพาคนมายิง ซึ่งเขาบอกว่ารุนแรงด้วยกันทั้งคู่ เขาเท่านั้นที่รักสันติ
เขาบอกคนไทยทั้งชาติว่า "no more tear" โดยการยกเอาสุนทรพจน์ของท่านปรีดี (คนที่เขาทำลายมาแล้ว)ว่า "ประชาธิปไตย ต้องเป็นไปด้วยเหตุผล ไม่ใช่ความรุนแรง" เพื่อสวมรอยเข้าเป็นรัฐบาล โดยการอ้างว่า
จำลองพาคนไปตาย แล้วก็สำเร็จ

(During the FIght Against Suchinda, Democrat PRETENDED to side with Chamlong and the Stabbed the Back of Chamlong by accusing him that he is the one who pushed people to Death by quoting the word of Ajarn Pridi, the one who they have Stabbed his back!)

เมื่อ ปชป. ต้องตกไป เพราะยุบสภา เรื่อง โกงที่ดินชาวบ้าน สปก.4-01 ทำให้นายบรรหารมาเป็น
รัฐบาลต่อจากเขา เขาสร้างหลักฐานเท็จว่า นายบรรหารเป็นคนสัณชาติจีน ไม่สมควรเป็นนายกฯของไทย
แล้วก็สำเร็จ เกิดความสับสน ขาดความเชื่อมั่นต่อผู้นำอย่างหนัก แล้วก็ยุบสภา

(Furthermore, Democrat has come up with FAKE documents to Accuse
Banharn as "Chinese PM" so as to disqualify Banharn from Runnign the country)

ปีนี้ จะสร้างความแตกแยกให้ชาวใต้สามจังหวัดชายแดนบานปลายออกไปทุกจังหวัดภาคใต้
เพียงเพื่อให้คนไทยทุกภาค แตกแยกกับคนไทยภาคใต้ทั้งหมด เมื่อปีที่แล้วประมาณเดือน กันยายน
ปี 2546 ผมได้ดูข่าวทาง UBC ว่า พรรค ปชป ได้แปลกฎหมายการก่อการร้าย เป้น ภาษา ยาวี โดย
เนื้อหา เบี่ยงแบนไปมาก ถือเป็นการปลุกปั่นคนไทยมุสลิมใน 3 จังหวัดภาคไต้

แล้วพอทางรายการโทรติต่อไปทางพรรค ปชป ไป ส.ส. ไอ้จ้อน ก็โทรมาว่าได้ทางพรรค
ได้แปลจริง เพื่อ ให้ ชาวบ้านใน3จังหวัดภาคใต้ได้รุ้กฎหมาย แต่พอพิธีกร ถามว่า แล้วกฎหมายอื่นล่ะ
ทำไมไม่แปลด้วย ทำไมแต่กฎหมายการก่อการร้าย อย่างนี้มันเหมือนมีนัยยะอบแฝงหรือเปล่า พอ
ส.ส. ไอ้จ้อนเจอคำถามนี้ ก็ถึงกับ ใบ้รับประทาน พูดแก้ตัวไปเรื่อย

(Now, The Domocrat has shown their TRUE Nature, by makign a DISTORTED
Bahasa Translation of Couterterrorist Act of BE 2546 so as to fuel the conflagation
in the 3 Deep Southern Provinces ... to support the secession of these 3 Provinces
from Thailand!)

นี่ล่ะครับสันดาน ของคนพรรคนี้ เห็นแก่ตัวสร้างความวุ่นวายให้กับคนในชาติ เพื่อผมประโยชน์
ของพรรคตัวเอง เลวมากๆ ถ้าเป็นจริงอย่างที่หลายคนบอก ผมอยากบอกว่า เราคนไทย จะยอมอีกหรือ??????
มันซ้ำซากพอแล้วนะ ปชป. ควรหานโยบายดีๆ ที่ทำได้จริงมาสู้รัฐบาลทรท. คัดค้านรัฐในเรื่อง ทุจริตคอรัปชั่น
แต่ไม่ใช่สร้างความแตกแยกให้คนไทยทั้ง ชาติ แบบทุกครั้งในประวัติศาสตร์ที่คุณทำมา
ทำมามากพอแล้วนะ!!!!!!!!! ชาติไทยไม่เหลืออะไรให้คุณทำได้แล้ว!!!!!!

(ENOUGH! Deomocrat, Why Don't you come up with ANY good policies to
fight AGAINST Premeir Thaksin instead of causing the DISUNITY of the country for your own personal GAINS ... )


พรรคกบฎ ก่อการร้าย อยู่เบื้องหลังโจรแบ่งแยกดินแดน ขายชาติ พวกเปิดประตูเมืองกรุงศรีอยุทธยา ให้พม่าปล้นเมือง กลับชาติมาเกิด

(Democrat - The Party of Traitors who act AGAINST Motherland!, SHAME ON YOU! ...
You're the ALLIANCE of PULO; You have SOLD out the Nationa to American Imperialist,
You are the theincarnation of thsoe who Open the Gate of Ayutthaya to let Burmese Troops LOOTING the CITY!!!!!!)

I wouldnt be surprised if the democrats came into power, they will give phuket and all the south away so they dont have to deal with the problems

Agree with raymand-
Lets not forget that Thaksin was worth more a couple years prior to when he took office than he is now.
rubbish. read the news from last week. his assets in the SET alone have increased by 73% in the past year alone

And if anyone has taken finance, an increase in household debt is not necessarily a bad thing because it indicates a strong economy.
that is the stupidest thing i have ever heard.
if you are indebted via heavy investment in productive assets its good, people in Thailand are in debt because they have to buy the latest mobile phone or the newest car.

I wonder what the economy would be like if the oppositions took power? They want a self adecquate Thailand, an idea which will prove harmful rather than beneficial in the future.
This idea of a self sufficient economy was and still is encouraged by HM our King of Thailand. By criticising it I have no choice but to call you an idiot.

The opposition proposes free education which will not be sustainable-who's the populist?
free education is not sustainable? elaborate on this matter. I am very curious to what you have to say.
And the dictatorship as they label Thaksin is his demand for the privatization of power plants, which is what foreign investors want to see and which will be beneficial to Thai consumers in the future.
you think having an abundance of foreign investment in the economy is beneficial? We had a lot of foreign investment prior to 1997 but when the baht was floated everyone took their money out and we became a country of beggers. Your closed minded idiotic ramblings mirror the same train of thoguht of the government and the majority of uneducated Thais in North East Thailand which makes me feel sad to know our country is destined for economic difficulties again.

those fuckers are fucking crap.
theres no need for language like that.

Well, Kun Hitesh, have you have seen what I have written down abotu Democrat Yet?

I would like to mae another set of Criticism toward Democrat that THEY are OUT of toucvh with the people form Isan region since the very first days of Democrat in 1946-47 ... Furthermore, Democrat were the one who FORCED our Army to walk barefoot all the way from Kentung (Chaing Tung) to Phitsanulok or so .... right after the WWII in 1946 ... This kind of action has sowed the seeds of discontent to Armed Forces as well as those People from Isan ....

rubbish. read the news from last week. his assets in the SET alone have increased by 73% in the past year alone

Quote:"The clan’s fortunes have risen in lockstep with the stock market."
Quote:"Media reports also emerged last week detailing the swelling wealth of the Shinawatra clan, which has mirrored the gains in the stock market in which they are the top investors."
He was worth around $2 billion before the baht devaluation. Let's also not forget that the Thai stock market has been the best performer in asia, considering the past four years.

that is the stupidest thing i have ever heard.
if you are indebted via heavy investment in productive assets its good, people in Thailand are in debt because they have to buy the latest mobile phone or the newest car.

Quote:"one-third of household debt is for mortgages, a third for business loans and consumer loans account for the rest." Read this statement carefully. It says that of the total household debt two-thirds is for mortgages and businesses while one-third is consumer loans. Boy did they make it sound bad didn't they? Also, Qoute: “As a share of GDP, Thailand’s household debt is 33 per cent in 2003, which is half those of Korea and Malaysia.”
** Don't worry. I bet mobile phone debt accounts for a very small part of GDP. It seems that's the only thing that article was focusing on.

free education is not sustainable? elaborate on this matter. I am very curious to what you have to say.

Actually, I don't know much about this one because I don't think the opposition/media elaborated on this subject matter very well. I'm assuming they meant free college education? Primary education in Thailand is free isn't it (Not taking taxes into consideration)?

you think having an abundance of foreign investment in the economy is beneficial? We had a lot of foreign investment prior to 1997 but when the baht was floated everyone took their money out and we became a country of beggers. Your closed minded idiotic ramblings mirror the same train of thoguht of the government and the majority of uneducated Thais in North East Thailand which makes me feel sad to know our country is destined for economic difficulties again.

Are you saying no FDI is good? FDI is beneficial in some aspects but in the case of 1997 it wasn't because of lax controls. And as I recall, TRT wasn't administering the country back then.

theres no need for language like that.

I don't really care

you're comparing Thaksin's assets today to his assets prior to 1997. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. No one in this forum has as much money in US Dollar terms as they did prior to July 1997 why the hell should Thaksin?

As for yoru statement that the SET has been the best performer in Asia for the past 4 years, this 5 year graph should speak for itself.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/hitesh_g/SET5Y.gif
The SET was amongst the best performers in the world until last year, but for the year 2004 it is amongst the worst. Thats right, its even been performing worse than countries like Pakistan.

Your quoted article about household debt in Thailand has come from a state owned media agency, something like TNA. If you went to a good school you would know that good research involves looking at both sides of the argument in order to eliminate any bias that exists in your sources. I dont think you did.

You backtracked on your claim that free education was unsustainable. Perhaps you have realised that was a foolish statement. Education is the most important investment one can make, not constructing buildings and trains so certain people who claim to know a lot about Thailand but live in Europe can get hard ons while sitting in front of their computer.

I didn't say no FDI is good. I said you shouldn't sell your state assets to foreigners because when times get tough they will sell their stakes and leave. Important infrastructure needs to belong to Thai companies. Do you see American companies providing electricity or water in Singapore? What about Chinese companies providing gas in Britain? Exactly, I didn't think so.

As for your remark about not caring about using filthy language on this forum, you should understand there are impressionable young people reading this so you have a responsibility to show that filth like that is not condoned.

Khun Bonshita Khun Hitesh, Ya 2 betta Calm down, man!

Khun Wisarut,
I understand the majority of the Thai people do not feel connected ot thei Democrats. I am not a staunch supporter of them either. It is simply a choice of the lesser of the three evils.
I am sure you know that is Thaksin is in power for another 4 years our country will be in a mess. Yes we will have nice infrastructure in Bangkok and in certain other provinces, but at what social cost? Corruption is very bad already today, it will only get worse. The rich people keep getting richer and the poor people are stuck where they are. No one in Klong Toey or Buri Ram benefits if the SET Index rises. Only a few million Thais own shares in the SET, More than 50 Million Thais do not.
You know all of This.

It is fairly obvious I do not like Thaksin. Yes I supported him in the 2000 election but in the past four years he has shown his true colours. He cannot admit when he has made a mistake. He favours big business over the welfare of the people - when the Bird Flu virus was found he lied to the public which resulted in the deaths of people. If he had ordered an immediete crackdown and perhaps culling of poultry in the area, people's lives could have been saved. He has made this situation in the South of Thailand only worse. There was no need to bomb that mosque nor was there a need to kill so many people at Tak Bai. No one in Thailand supports the seccession of the southern provinces, but by resorting to violence we have only provoked them further. The government has a duty to protect its people and like it or not, those people are Thai citizens and thus Thaksin has a duty to listen to them. He cannot and should not let them have their own country but letting them elect their own leaders is not such a bad idea is it (they have never been allowed to elect their own leaders, they have been appointed by the Central Government).

Chart Thai is not much better either. Sure they have the flambouyant Chuwit, but that is about all. Banharn is a leftover of the days of crony capitalism that ruled the land prior to 1997. Anyone that lived through the financial crisis should remember he played a big hand in starting it all.

But offcourse this is Thailand where empty promises and money rule the day.
Thaksin will win and when the country is in a bad situation in 2009 I will say 'I told you so'.

Khun Bonshita Khun Hitesh, Ya 2 betta Calm down, man!
Sure. I'm not trying to offend anyone, I just feel that this election is extremely important and it upsets me to know people are so easilly fooled by what is spoon fed to them by the government.

Sure. I'm not trying to offend anyone, I just feel that this election is extremely important and it upsets me to know people are so easilly fooled by what is spoon fed to them by the government.

arent you the fool who thinks that the democrats are a better choice?? Yeah this is very important election so Thaksin is the best choice if you want Thailand to develop faster and have a good economi. The nation and all media always critizise Thaksin all the time eventhough he done a great work so only fools listen to what the nation has to say about thaksin.

Thailands economi has never been better since the economic boom in the late 80s and early 90s. So what is the problem?? I dont get it.

The democrats are very VERY corrupt.

พรรค ปชป. คือ พรรคการเมืองที่ ถ่วงความเจริญของชาติ
(Democrat is the Traitors of the Motherland!)

สงสารเมืองไทยจริงๆ จะกลับไปสู่กลียุคก็เพราะพวกจังไรเล่นนอกกติกาพวกนี้ อย่างว่าพวกนี้ไม่เคยทำบุญคุณอะไรให้ประเทศชาติเลย อยู่ๆก็มาอ้างประชาชน อ้างประเทศชาติ และลามปามไปอ้างถึงพระราชบัลลังก์ พวกนี้แหละเป็นบุคคลหนักแผ่นดิน ประเทศเพิ่งหลุดพ้นจากการเป็นหนี้ รัฐปราบผู้มีอิทธิพล ปราบยาเสพติด และสร้างความเชื่อมั่นให้กับสังคมโลก จนได้รับยกย่องไปทั่ว แต่มารร้ายพวกนี้ก็คอยมากัดกร่อนความมั่นคงของประเทศ แล้วยังมีหน้ามาอ้างความชอบธรรม อ้างบุญคุณ ซึ่งไม่เคยมีให้ประเทศเลย ฝ่ายค้านก็ดี นายอัมรินทร์ก็ดี นายเอกยุทธก็ดี แม้แต่นายประสงค์ก็ดี พวกคุณกำลังจะยุยงให้สังคมไทยแตกแยก แบ่งเป็นก๊ก เป็นเหล่า ซึ่งจะต้องประหัดประหารกันไม่สิ้นสุด เพียงเพื่อสนองตัณหาความพอใจอยากใหญ่ อยากดังเท่านั้นเองa
ถ้าพูดกันตามเนื้อผ้า ไม่เคยเห็นมีนายกคนไหนสร้างผลงานมากเท่านายกคนนี้ แม้ว่าจะมีส่วนเสียบ้างในบางเรื่อง ก็ยังดีกว่าพวกที่ดีแต่พูด ดีแต่ใส่ร้ายป้ายสี เพราะพวกนั้น ถ้ากลุ่มของตนเองเสวยผลประโยชน์ก็ปกป้องกันหน้าด้านๆ อ้างว่าเป็นไปตามกติกาบ้าง ชอบด้วยหลักการบ้าง
แต่ถ้าพวกตนไม่ได้ประโยชน์ก็กลายเป็นผิดหลักการไปหมด รัฐบาลนี้ได้สร้างคุณประโยชน์ให้ประเทศหลายอย่าง จะมีใครรวยบ้างก็ไม่เห็นเป็นอะไร เพราะเป็นการแข่งขันตามกติกา ไม่ใช่ขี้โกงอย่างที่กล่าวหากันอย่างเลื่อนลอย ไอ้รัฐบาลที่แล้วต่างหาก โกง สปก.ชัดๆ โกงโครงการรั้วกินได้ โกงเรื่องบ้าน 3 หลังบุกรุกที่อุทยาน ภาคใต้ก็เผาโรงเรียนทีเดียว 30-40 แห่ง ราคายางก็ไม่เคยเกิน 20 บาท ราคาข้าวก็ไม่เคยลืมหน้าอ้าปาก และอะไรที่ล้มเหลวสารพัด แต่คนของรัฐก็รวยเอาๆ เช่นพลตรี สนั่น นายสุเทพ นายบัญญัติ นายพิเชษฐ์ ฯลฯ ทำไมไม่เอามาประจานกัน โดยเฉพาะนายธารินทร์ ปกป้องธุรกิจธนาคารของตน แล้วใช้นโยบายทำให้ผู้ประกอบการคนไทยเจ๊งกันทั่วหน้า โดนต่างชาติยึดครองหมด ทีพีไอนั่นแหละตัวอย่างที่ดี ตอนนั้นนายประชัยก็ออกมาด่าปาวๆ แต่ไหงกลับมากลับลำเข้ากับนายเอกยุทธซึ่งเป็นคนโกงชาติ โกงประชาชน หรือนายประชัยเองก็เป็นนักธุรกิจที่โกงลูกจ้าง โกงประชาชนเช่นกัน

ประเทศไทยเป็นอะไรไปแล้ว วันนี้คนที่เคยหลอกลงคนอื่น คนที่เคย
อยู่เบื้องหลังการปฏิวัติ เพียงเพื่อตัวเองได้เป็นใหญ่ กับเป็นคนที่ดี
หรือว่า จะครองเมืองไทยได้ ต้องประท้วง คนที่จัดประท้วงเป็นคน
ที่น่านับถือ หรือไม่ ไม่แน่ใจเหมือนกัน ว่าคนที่ทำให้ประเทศไทย
แย่ลง และไม่ค่อยพัฒนานั้น เป็นพวกที่ชอบอ้างประชาธิปไตย
หรือปล่าว เห็นแต่หน้าเดิม ๆ เอาเป็นว่าถ้าท่านคิดว่าคนที่เคยหลอกลวงเป็นคนดี งวดหน้าเขาลงสมัคร สส แน่ เลือกเขาเถอะ
ถ้าคุณแน่ใจ อย่าเอาแต่มันส์ อย่างเดียว ส่วนผม ๆ ขอเลือกคน
ที่ทำงาน และไม่ขอเลือกคนที่วัน ๆ เอาแต่สร้างคลื่นใต้น้ำ สร้าง
กระแส เพื่อที่จะล้มล้างรัฐ เพื่อตัวเอง ประชาธิปไตของผมไม่ใช่
แบบนี้ คิดว่าแบบนี้มันจะทำให้ประเทศก้าวหน้าเหรอ บางครั้งก็
คิดว่า ทำไมประเทศเราถึงไม่ก้าวไปข้างหน้าซะที เพราะ รัฐ หรือ
เพราะนักวิชาการ เอ็นจี่โอแอบอ้าง หรือพวกบ้าประท้วง ถ้าวันนี้
รัฐต้องทำตามที่พวกเขาชี้นำตลอดเวลา บอกได้เลย ว่านโยบายของรัฐจะไม่ได้ถูกทำสักชิ้นเพราะแต่ละอันจะต้องมีคนออกมาบอก
ว่าไม่ดีทุกเรื่องไป ไม่มีอะไรได้ถูกกระทำแน่ ๆ เพราะคนที่คอย
เอาแต่ติคนอื่นและคิดว่าตัวเองเยี่ยมมีอยู่มากมายดาษดื่น ทำไม
ไม่รู้จักหน้าที่ของตัวเอง กันบ้าง เป็นนักวิชาการก็ควรจะพัฒนา
เพื่อให้การศึกษาก้าวหน้า แต่การศึกษาบ้านเรากลับแย่ลง ๆ ทั้ง
ๆ ที่พวกเขาอยู่ตรงนั้นยังไม่มีอะไรดีขึ้นเลย แต่กลับมาวุ่นวายกับ
หน้าที่ของคนอื่น สำหรับผมนักวิชาการที่ดี อยู่ในห้องแล็บครับ
ไม่ใช่พวกชอบเสนอหน้าและคิดว่าตัวเองถูกแล้วคนอื่นต้องทำตาม
วันนี้อ่านบทความของ ส.ศิวรักษ์ ในโพสต์ทูเดย์ อ่านแล้วละเหื่ย
ใจ ไม่อยากเชื่อว่านี่จะออกมาจากแนวคิดของผู้ทรงคุณวุฒิมีแต่
เพ้อฝันและอุดมาการณ์ อัตตา ที่มากมายถูกนำเสนอออกมาอะไร
จะพังไม่สนใจ ขอให้ได้ทำลายบางอย่างก็พอ ทั้ง ๆ ที่เขาผ่าน
กาลเวลา และประสพการณ์ที่เขาได้สะสมบอกว่า สิ่งที่ผ่านมามัน
เป็นสิ่งที่ไม่ดี แต่เขาเหมือนกับพยายามสร้างกระแส ให้เกิดเหตุ
การณ์ประท้วงที่ดูจะทำให้เก็บเป็นประวัติศาสตร์ นี่คือคนที่จะทำ
ให้ประชาธิปไตยก้าวหน้าหรือทำเพื่อสนองอัตตาตัวเอง กันแน่
หรือแก้แค้นแทนเพื่อน สำหรับผม ๆ มองแล้วหดหู่ กับความเลอะ
เลือน นึกคิดสิ่งที่เขานำเสนอ เขาทำได้หรือปล่าว อย่างกับเมือง
ไทยยิ่งใหญ่ ไม่ต้อง รู้จักกับโลกภายนอกก็ได้ สิ่งที่คิดและนำเสนอ
แค่สนองความคิดของตัวเอง โดยลืมไปว่าเราเป็นส่วนนึงของโลก
เราไม่ได้ยิ่งใหญ่ และใครต่อใครต้องมาแคร์เรา แต่เราต้องแคร์
ระบบของโลกอีกมากมาย ผมเชื่อถือคนที่การกระทำ ไม่ใช่เชื่อถือ
คนที่certificate
*** ปล. ตกลงว่า ใครเป็นเจ้าของประเทศที่แท้จริง ฯ
- ประชาชน
- นักวิชาการ เอ็นจีโอ
- หรือ ฯลฯ
ประชาชน ถึงเวลาก็เลือกตั้งตามกฏหมายที่บังคับไว้ ไม่ทำไม่ได้
บางครั้งก็เป็นเหยื่อ หรือเครื่องมือ ให้กับกลุ่มคน กลุ่มนึง
นักวิชาการ เอ็นจีโอ หรือผู้มีหน้ามีตาในสังคม ผู้ที่พยายามจะชี้นำ เมื่อไม่พอใจก็สร้างกระแสคลื่นใต้น้ำ โดยอ้างรัฐธรรมนูญเป็น
เครื่องมือ ถ้าสำเร็จประชาชน ก็จะเหนื่อยอีกรอบ เหนื่อยแล้ว
เหนื่อยอีก สรุปประชาชนก็เป็นได้แค่เครื่องมือ เท่านั้น แล้วใคร
หละคือผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ที่แท้จริง ! ผู้ที่ไม่พอใจก็จะทำทุกอย่างเพื่อให้
ตัวเองสำเร็จกิจ การล้มล้างคือประชาธิปไตยที่แท้จริงหรือไม่!

คุณสามารถที่จะเป็นเจ้าของประเทศที่แท้จริงได้ นะ
เพียงแค่ไม่สนับสนุนคนที่คิดแต่ชี้นำ แต่สนับสนุนคนที่ชี้แนะ
ไม่สนับสนุนคนที่เอาแต่สร้างกระแส เพื่อสนองอัตตาตัวเอง
เพื่อสิ่งที่เหมือนกับเพ้อฝัน ไม่สนับสนุนคนที่คิดแต่การล้มล้าง
แล้วเขาจะรู้เองว่า ประชาชนไม่ต้องการแบบนี้แล้ว เมื่อนั้น
เขาจะปรับตัว แล้วสปิริต มันก็จะเกิด ทำให้การเมืองมีสปิริต
และมาตรฐาน แล้วเมื่อนั้นคุณก็จะเป็นเจ้าของประเทศที่แท้จริง
ไม่ใช่เหยื่อหรือเครื่องมือ ทางการเมือง สร้างสปิริตให้เกิดขึ้นกัน
เถอะ ใครทำงาน เอาคะแนนของผมไป ใครคิดแต่จะล้มล้างเพื่อ
ประโยชน์ของตัวเอง ผมจะประนาม ใครที่ชอบเอาครอบครัวคน
อื่นมาด่ากลางสภาผมจะประนาม (เหมือนกับตอนที่คุณบรรหารโดน) ผมไม่เลือกคนแบบนี้ ทุกวันนี้ยังมีอยู่ ไม่ยอมเลิกซะที
คิดว่าสักวันก็น่าจะคิดได้
ด้วยความเคารพทุกท่าน
*** ทุกวันนี้ เราเหมือนถูกล้างสมอง แค่ก้าวแรกของการจัดตั้งรัฐ
บาล ใครที่อยู่ตรงนั้น ก็ถูกมองว่าเลวแล้ว ***
*** ไม่ค่อยมีใครอยากเชื่อรัฐ แต่เชื่อคนที่ออกมาด่ารัฐ ทั้งๆ ที่ไม่
รู้ว่าคนเหล่านั้นอ้างอิงข้อมูลอะไรมาและน่าเชื่อถือหรือปล่าว****
*** อย่าลืมรัฐก็เป็นส่วนนึงของรัฐธรรมนูญ ไม่ใช่ศัตรูที่ใหนเขามีหน้าที่จัดการนโยบายของประเทศ ให้เขาได้ตัดสินใจในหน้าที่ของ
เขาบ้างเถอะไม่ใช่ให้พวกนักวิชาการมาชี้นำและต้องทำตามตลอดเวลา เมื่อไม่พอใจก็สร้างกระแสโน่นกระแสนี่เหมือนกับว่าต้องการ
เอาชนะ โดยลืมหน้าที่ตัวเอง เหมือนกับคุณนั่นแหละเวลาทำอะไร
ใครมาวุ่นวายมาก ๆ คุณก็ไม่พอใจเหมือนกัน ***
อีกอย่างคนที่คอยเอาแต่ชี้นำ ก็ไม่มีอะไรจะเสีย ถ้ารัฐทำตาม พอพังก็โทษรัฐ ทั้งๆ เขาเป็นคนนำเสนอ รัฐเมืองไทย ซวยอย่างเดียว
ไม่เคยเห็นดีเลยสักสมัย ไม่มีใครดี มีแต่นักวิชาการ เอ็นจีโอ และผู้มีหน้ามีตาในสังคมที่ดี เก่งจริงก็น่าจะลงมาทำกันนะ ไม่ใช่คอย
แต่ เลีย ๆ อยู่รอบนอก ในต่างประเทศ เอ็นจีโอร่วมมือกับหน่วย
งานของรัฐ เพื่อพัฒนาประเทศ แต่คุณจะไม่เห็นสิ่งนี้ในเมืองไทย
จงสนับสนุนการตรวจสอบ และอย่าสนับสนุนการจับผิด เพราะอะไรลองพิจารณาดูเอาเถิด ท่านผู้มีวิจาณญาณทุกท่าน สำหรับ
ผมแค่ผู้ที่รักเมืองไทย รักประเทศที่ผมเกิด และก็ไม่อยากให้ใคร
เอาประเทศไปเป็นเครื่องมือ หรือประจานโดยการเอาไปฟ้องศาล
โลกหรอกนะ ถ้ามันทำเพื่อผลประโยชน์ของตัวเองก็ขอสาปแช่ง
ให้จมสนามหลวง ด้วยความสัจจริง ผมรำคาญพวกที่ยึดสนาม
หลวงเพื่อประท้วงสร้างกระแสให้คนหลงเชื่อและเป็นเครื่องมือของ
ตัวเองมาก

ปชป. คงได้ใจ เคยทำได้ สมัย พล.อ. ชวลิต
มาสมัยนี้ก็เลยใช้ไม้เดิม ระวัง คนต่างจังหวัดเขาเดินขบวนเข้ามากรุงเทพบ้าง จะได้ชนกันให้ประเทศไทยเละไปเลย
สังเกตุดูได้ว่า สมัย ปชป. เป็นรัฐบาล พรรคอื่น ๆ เขาก็เล่นการเมืองกันตามกติกา อย่างกรณีพวกผรั่งต่างชาติมาซื้อทรัพย์สินในราคาถูก ๆ แล้วเอามาขายให้คนไทยแพง ๆ พรรค ปชป.เป็นรัฐบาลขณะนั้น รู้เห็นเป็นใจหรือเปล่า ? ตอบประชาชนให้กระจ่างหน่อยเป็นไร
หรือ กรณีแจกที่ดิน สปก.4-01 จน พล.ต.จำลอง ทนไม่ได้นำพรรคพลังธรรม ถอนตัวจากการเป็นรัฐบาล จะมีการทุจริตหรือเปล่า เพราะตามข่าวว่ามีเศรษฐี ภูเก็ต ได้ที่ดินด้วย จะว่าไม่มีการทุจริต ใจรัฐบาล ปชป.ได้หรือ ?

นาย โสภณ เพรชสว่าง พูดถูกแล้ว

ประเทศชาติจะเสียหายขนาดไหน ถ้าปล่อยให้พวกรู้ทันปลุกระดมอยู่ทุกวันอย่างนี้

ขอให้พี่น้องไทย จับตาดูให้ดี

ขอถามว่า ถ้า ปชป. + มหาชน เป็นแกนนำรัฐบาลแล้ว จะไม่มีการทุจริตหรือ ? จะให้ประชาชนเชื่อมั่นได้อย่างไร ?

พลพรรคคนขี้อิจฉาก็น่าจะเป็นพวกทำธุรกิจ และนักวิชาการ คือเห็นเขาสำเร็จกว่า ดีกว่า เก่งกว่าแล้วไม่สบายใจ อ่ะน่า คนเหมือนกันแต่ไม่เหมือนกัน จบดอกเตอร์มา ก็ยังมีดอกเตอร์แถวหน้า แถวหลัง
พลพรรคพวกเสียประโยชน์หลักๆก็คือพวกนักการเมืองที่เคยเป็นรัฐบาลมาก่อน พวกนี้เมื่อก่อนอาจไม่มีอาชีพ หรือเป็นคนกินเงินเดือน แต่พอมาสู่การเมือง ได้เป็นรัฐบาล โอ้โฮเฮะ มันอบอุ่น หอมหวาน อิ่มเอม powerful แถมยังได้ทุนรอนมาสร้างธุรกิจใหม่อีก แต่ด้วยความที่ไม่ใช่มืออาชีพในเชิงธุรกิจ พอมาเป็นฝ่ายค้าน อืมยิ่งนานยิ่งแย่ ชักขาดแคลน ก็เลยตั้งเป้าว่า I shall return แล้วต้องทำทุกอย่างเพื่อให้บรรลุเป้าหมาย ไม่ว่าจะเลวร้ายแค่ไหน ยกตัวอย่างคนพวกที่กล้าเดินตามหลังนายเอกยุทธ ซึ่งเป็นคนชั่วของแผ่นดิน และยกตัวอย่างว่าทำไม พลตรี มนูญกฤต ถึงต้องปฏิวัติ ถึงสองครั้ง ตั้งแต่เป็นพันเอก ก็เพราะว่ามันเป็นทางลัดขึ้นสู่อำนาจ จากผู้การกรม อาจขึ้นเป็น ผบ.ทบ. หรือนายกได้ แล้วทำไมพันโทสนั่น ขอยศนายพลให้ตัวเอง ยศ ตำแหน่ง ดึงดูดใจได้เสมอมา พวกเสียประโยชน์อีกกลุ่มคือพวกกระบวนการค้ายาเสพติด พวกธุรกิจใต้ดิน และพวกทุจริตคอรัปชั่นที่ถูกจับได้ไล่ทัน หรือพวกข้าราชการหรือพนักงานรัฐวิสาหกิจที่เกรงว่าจะเสียประโยชน์ หรือจะถูกแบ่งอภิสิทธิ์ ไปเผื่อแผ่ ชาวบ้านส่วนใหญ่ที่ด้อยโอกาส ไปละ ก่อนที่จะโดนตื้บ

ล้มรัฐบาลต้องล้มทักษิณ
1. ทักษิณบ้าอำนาจ เพราะว่าผมอยากได้อำนาจ
2. ทักษิณเป็นฮิตเลอร์ เพราะว่าเป็นรัฐบาล 8 ปี พวกผมก็ต้องเป็นฝ่ายแค้น 8 ปีเช่นกัน สมบัติผลัดกันชม เล่นชมไป 8 ปีไม่เรียกนาซี จะให้เรียกอะไร
3. ประเทศไทยเป็นประเทศประชาธิปไตย แต่เมื่อเล่นตามกติกาไม่ได้ ก็ใช้วิชามาร เล่นใต้ดิน บนดิน บนสภา นอกสภา เล่นตามสื่อ เล่นตามกระแส เล่นตามน้ำ เล่นตามวิกฤตปัญหา เพื่อหวังว่าส้มจะหล่น เล่นตามกติกาไม่ได้ก็เล่นมันแบบนี้แหละ ใครจะทำไม สู้ไม่ได้นิหว๊า
4. ทำงานไม่ได้เรื่อง แต่เรื่องด่าเนี้ยถนัด ทำการเมืองแบบสร้างความเสียหายให้ประเทศมากเท่าไหร่ ทำให้ภาพรัฐเสียหาย คะแนนเสียงก็จะเทมาอีกฝั่ง เป็นเรื่องที่ช่วยไม่ได้ ก็เพราะความเสียหายของชาติเป็นสะพานเดินสู่อำนาจที่ใครก็อยากได้ และต้องการทวงอำนาจคืน
ประชาที่ชอบปัด(แข้งปัดขา)

ในกลุ่มหัวโจก คนรู้ทันทักษิณ ,คนเกลียดทักษิณ ,และคนต้องการล้มทักษิณ แต่ละคนล้วนมีที่มาที่ไปกันทั้งนั้นเช่น.......
-นายสื่อเสี่ย ถูกเขี่ยออกจาก ช่อง 11,ทำให้เสียรายได้ไปมหาศาล แค้นนักจึงต้องหาทาง ล้มทักษิณให้ได้.

- นายกระสือคาบไปร์ คนนี้แค้นส่วนตัวที่ถูกแย่งตำแหน่ง รมต.ต่างประเทศไป.

- เครือ nation โดนย่ายออก itv ก็มีแต่ความลำเอียงจะเอาคืน
- นาย "พระอินทร์ (อมรินทร์) " ลูกหลานแขกศรีลังกา คนเดียวเท่านั้น ที่ไม่มีใครรู้ว่าเป็นเดือดเป็นแค้น ทักษิณเพราะอะไร....... "แต่ความรับไม่มีในโลก "....

ประเทศไทยเสียค่าใช้จ่ายในการขนส่งสินค้าออกไปขายต่างประเทศ ปีละ หลัก 100,000 ล้านบาท , ต้นทุนการผลิตสินค้าไทยสู้กับสินค้าประเทศอื่นๆได้ แต่สินค้าไทยขายแข่งขันกับประเทศอื่นๆไม่ได้ เพราะค่าขนส่งสินค้าทางเรืองของไทยแพงกว่าประเทศอื่นๆ , สินค้าไทยจะส่งไปขายในตลาดต่างประเทศได้ ต้องขนส่ง สองทอด คือ ขนจากประเทศไทยไปท่าเรือสิงคโปร์ ด้วยเรือ Feeder(เรือเล็ก)แล้วไปขนถ่ายขึ้นเรือใหญ่ที่ท่าเรือสิงค์โปร์ ด้วยระบบการขนส่งแบบนี้พวกFeederจึงเป็นเสือนอนกินกับผู้ส่งออกอยู่ในประเทศไทย

เป็นบริษัทเรือของคนยิว ,ในประเทศไทย มี "พระอินทร์ เชื้อสายแขกศรีลังกา เป็น เอเย็นท์, ดังนั้น พระอินทร์ คนนี้ จึงเป็น Tiger Sleep eat ตัวหนึ่งที่กอดกินก้อนเนื้อหยาดเหงื่อของผู้ส่งออกสินค้าไทย มูลค่าปีละ 100,000 ล้านบาทดังที่บอกเอาใว้......

แล้ววันหนึ่ง คนชื่อทักษิณ เดินทางไปเมืองจีนและได้เข้าพบ "จูหลงจี " ,ในฐานะมิตรประเทศ ทักษิณขอให้จูหลงจี ช่วยลดต้นทุนสินค้าไทย ด้วยการ ส่งเรือ ขนาดใหญ่[Container Ocean Goer ] ช่วยแวะรับสินค้าไทย ที่ท่าเรือแหลมฉบังให้ที , จูหลงจีก็ดีใจหาย สั่งให้เรือสินค้าจีนแวะเข้ามารับสินค้าไทยที่ท่าเรือแหลมฉบัง เดือนละ 11เที่ยว ทำให้สินค้าไทยไม่มีการตกค้าง และส่งถึงยุโรปและอเมริกา ได้ตามเวลาแถมค่าใช้จ่ายก็ถูกลง , ผู้ส่งออกไม่มีของเสียหาย และไม่ต้องคอยพินอบพิเทาเซ่นไหว้ เหมือนใช้บริการของพวกเสือนอนกินก่อนๆ

ปชป. คงอกแตกตายแน่ ๆ ถ้า ทรท. ได้เป็นรัฐบาลอีก 4 ปี ข้างหน้า นี่ขนาดออกมาให้ยุบสภา ไล่ และสารพัดวิธีที่จะให้ท่าน นายก ยุบสภา ไม่ยุบ ก็จะให้ยุบ ท่านนายก ทำอะไรก็ขัดไปหมด แม้แต่เรื่องของประเทศชาติ สงสัยทางภาคใต้ที่ไม่สงบรายวันก็คงจะเป็นฝีมือของ ปชป. ตอนนี้เริ่มมีใบปลิวออกมาหาว่ารัฐบาลไม่สนใจบ้างแล้ว พอท่านนายกจะลงใต้อีก ก็หาว่าสร้างภาพ สารพัดวิธีที่จะกล่าวหา ชาวบ้านเข้าทุเรจกับพฤติกรรมนี้มาก ๆ จะทนไม่ไหวแล้ว..โว้ย
ปชป. คงอกแตกตายแน่ๆ

พวกคุณรู้ไหมว่าทำไมประเทศไทยที่ว่ากันจริงๆ แล้วคิดที่จะเอาระบบรถไฟใต้ดินมาใช้ก่อนฮ่องกง สิงค์โปร์เสียอีก
แต่ทำไมเรากลับได้ใช้หลังประเทศที่คิดหลังเราอีก เรื่องเงินเหรอครับ ผมว่าไม่น่าใช่นะ ตอนนั้นจะสร้างรถไฟลอยฟ้ามีคนท้วงว่าน่าจะสร้างใต้ดิน รัฐบาลสมัยนั้นเขาบอกว่าไงครับ แพง พูดยังกะปัจุบันถูกกว่ายังงั้นแหละ
การที่ประเทศเราไม่พัฒนาเท่าที่ควรจะเป็นก็เพราะ
เรามีนักการเมืองเลวๆ อยู่เต็มสภาเพราะระบบการเมืองเราเอื้อต่อคนเลวๆ อย่างนี้ และคนไทยก็หูเบา ไร้แก่นสาร โหนกระแสเก่ง แถมความจำสั้นอีกต่างหาก เอาแค่ที่กรุงเทพฯ ที่คนมีการศึกษามากที่สุดในประเทศ ทำเป็นอย่างเดียวครับล้มรัฐบาล วัดจากการเลือกผู้ว่า กทม. ที่ผ่านๆ แล้ว หึ หึ ต้องบอกไหมว่าเลือกผิดหรือถูก กี่คนแล้ว ปัจจุบัน คนกรุงฯ ก็ยังคงตกเป็นเครื่องมือการเมืองโคตรง่ายเหมือนเดิม เอา ปชป มาเป็นรัฐบาลเหอะ ลูกหลานคุณจะได้เห็นไทยตามหลัง เวียดนาม แน่ๆ

ถ้าหนองงูเห่าเสร็จ ไทยได้คนที่เสียคือ สิงคโปร์ครับ มันคงไม่อยากให้เกิด แต่เข้าใจว่าคงมีคนไทยขายชาติบางตัวพยายามหาเรื่องเตะถ่วงโครงการนี้ออกไป อย่างออกมาพูดทำนองตรงโน้นมีปัญหาต้องหยุดไว้ก่อน ดูไปเรื่อยๆ ครับมีออกมาเรื่อยๆ แน่ ถ้าล้มทักษิณได้ผมว่าหนองงูเห่าเลื่อนออกไปแน่ๆ เรื่องนี้ทักษิณดีเลวไม่เกี่ยวแต่ในเมื่อเขาตั้งใจจะสร้างให้เสร็จ เราคนไทยที่รักชาติควรจะหนุนให้เกิดขึ้นเร็วที่สุดแล้วถึงตอนนั้นคุณก็คอยดูละกันว่าสิงค์โปร์จะเป็นยังไง

ความเชื่อของผม เมื่อตอนที่ ปชป เป็นรัฐบานครั้งที่แล้ว
-รถไฟฟ้า ในกทม ไม่มีวันขยายเส้นทางมากไปกว่าปัจจุบัน
-ไม่เคยคิดว่าสุวรรณภูมิ จามีจริง---
-อนาคตตอนเกิดวิกิด เศรษฐกิจ จะมีวันฟื้นได้
-ชาวนาจะมีรายได้ที่ดีขึ้น ข้าวราคา 3000-4000 ก็เป็นเรื่องปกติ
-ราคายาง ยังไงก็ต้องให้ สิงโปรมาดูแล (คนใต้กันเองนะเนี่ย)
-ฯลฯ

ผมคิดว่า ปชป.ไม่รู้หลักการบริหารการจัดการ โครงการทุกโครงการจะต้องมีเป้าหมายกำหนดเสร็จ ถ้าไม่เสร็จตามเป้าหมายจะต้องมีเหตุผลมารองรับเพราะอะไร ไม่ใช่ปล่อยให้ทำไปเรื่อยๆกว่า 40 ปีแล้ว ก็ยังไม่เสร็จสักทีปล่อยให้พรรคการเมืองกินไม่รู้จักจบลองถามคุณสุเทพฯคุณสมศักดิ์นดูรวยไปเท่าไรแล้ว ถูกต้องแล้วที่รัฐบาลจะต้องกำหนดแล้วเสร็จไม่ใช่ปล่อยให้นักการเมืองคอรัปชั่นไปเรื่อยๆ ไม่มีโครงการไหนที่ไม่กำหนดให้แล้วเสร็จ ถ้าไม่เป็นไปตามกำหนดก็ต้องมาพิจารณาเพราะสาเหตุใดและใครจะต้องรับผิดชอบ คนไทยต้องมองภาพรวมครับอย่าไปมองเป็นการเมืองหมด ไม่เช่นนั้นประเทศไทยก็เสียโอกาส อย่าให้ประเทศข้างเคียงเขาหัวเราะเยาะคนไทยเลยครับ ความจริงประเทศไทยเราดีจริงๆ เสียแต่คนไทยที่ไม่ค่อยเอาไหน สิ่งที่เป็นประโยชน์ต่อประเทศก็มาขัดแย้งกันเสียอีก ประเทศสิงคโปร์เล็กนิดเดียวแต่ร่ำรวยกว่าประเทศไทยมาก ถ้าไม่ใช่เพราะคนของประเทศที่มีเหตุมีผลมีประสิทธิภาพใช่ไหม คนไทยควรจะร่วมใจแข่งกับต่างประเทศไม่ใช่มาแตกแยกเพราะการเมือง แล้วเมื่อไหร่จะเจริญดูตัวอย่างรถไฟฟ้าใต้ดินทะเลาะกัน30-40 ปีตายไปหลายรุ่นเพิ่งเสร็จ ถ้าไม่ทะเลาะขัดแย้งกันป่านนี้กรุงเทพฯมีรถไฟใต้ดินรอบกรุงแล้ว เรื่องแบบนี้ไม่ใช่มาขัดแย้งทะเลาะกันควรให้กำลังใจกันให้แล้วเสร็จเพื่อจะได้แข่งขันกับต่างชาติได้

ปชป.ทำคนชั้นกลาง, คนกรุงเทพฯ,นักธุรกิจ พ่อค้าแม่ขาย, ชาวสถาบันการเงิน, ชาวแบงค์ ซึ่งเป็นชนชั้นสำคัญผลักดันประเทศให้ก้าวหน้าเติบโตทันอารยประเทศ ต้องเป็น NPL กันไปกว่าครึ่งในสมัยที่บริหารประเทศปี 2540-43 จากการที่ปชป.ไปปิดแบงค์ ปิดสถาบันการเงินสายเลือดใหญ่ของธุรกิจ โดยเชื่อฝรั่ง ให้ฝรั่งต้ม จัดตั้งปรส. เป็นหน่วยงานของรัฐ ยึดทรัพย์สินของปชช.คนชั้นกลางของประเทศเข้าเป็นของรัฐ ทำให้เอกชนที่ทำธุรกิจอยู่ดีๆ กลายเป็น NPL กว่า 50% เศรษฐกิจประเทศไทย กลายเป็นอัมพาต เกิดภาวะเงินตึงตัวเศรษฐกิจหดตัวอย่างหนัก ไปหลงเชื่อฝรั่ง ถ้ายึดทรัพย์สินเอกชน เข้าเป็นของรัฐโดยให้ปรส.หน่วยรัฐ ถือครองและบริหารทรัพย์สินฝรั่งจะเชื่อมั่นและขายได้ราคา ปรส.ถือทรัยพ์สินของเอกชนไปดองไว้ 3 ปี เพราะไม่มีความรู้ด้านการจัดการทรัพย์สินเสียเลย อ่อนด้อยกว่าภาคเอกชนหลายสิบเท่า ยึดจากไฟแนนซ์บริหารไม่เป็นปล่อยให้เน่า แฟ้มสินเชื่อปล่อยไว้ 3 ปี ยังอยู่ในกล่อง ไม่เคยเปิดแฟ้ม เวลาล่วงเลยมา 3 ปี เอาทรัพย์สินออกประมูลขาย ขายเหมายกเข่งไม่มีการจัดการ ฝรั่งไม่ต้องใช้เงินซื้อ อาศัยสัญญากระดาษ ชื่อเสียงเครดิตของตัวเองประมูลซื้อไปในราคา 15-20 บาท จากราคาเดิม 100 บาท ทรัพย์สินประเทศไทยลงเหวทันที ลดค่ากันไปเป็นแถบ ประเทศไทยเสียหายจากการจัดการไม่เป็นของ ปชป.ไปกว่า 2.88 ล้านล้านบาท ประเทศไทยถอยหลังทันทีไป 20 ปี จากการบริหารแบบล้มเหลวของ ปชป. ไม่มีความรู้เท่าทันโลก เท่าทันฝรั่ง ตกเป็นเหยื่อโลกาภิวัฒน์ตลอด หรือปชป.แกล้งโง่เพราะรับผลประโยชน์เข้าไปเยอะ จนลืมนึกประเทศชาติ การบริหารจัดการแต่ละอย่างเสียหายทั้งนั้น กองทุนมิยาซาว่า กว่า 3 หมื่นล้าน ละลายหายไปกับสายน้ำกลายเป็นศูนย์ จากการบริหารจัดการไม่เป็นมัวไปแจกเงินชาวบ้าน ขาดการให้ความรู้พัฒนาด้านการค้าการขายให้เป็น กลายเป็นการนำเงินไปกินไปใช้ไปบริโภค แทนที่จะนำเงินไปต่อเงิน ไปทำให้กลายเป็นธุรกิจ ได้ผลกำไรแล้วจึงนำไปใช้จ่าย ไปบริโภค เหมือนกับ ที่ ทรท.ทำกองทุนหมู่บ้าน, OTOP จัดการจนกลายเป็นธุรกิจมีเงินหมุนเวียน มีรายได้มากกว่ารายจ่าย เกิดกำไร มีเงินทุนลงทุนต่อเงินหมุนเวียน ชาวบ้านมีเงินรายได้มากขึ้น กองทุนยังเติบโต ทุนไม่หาย กองทุนโตขึ้น ทรัพย์สินกองทุนโต งอกเงยขึ้น เลือกตั้งครั้งใหม่ ปชป.ใช้ทุกวิถีทางเพื่อให้ได้รับเลือก จะใช้งบประมาณเพื่อการศึกษาฟรี, ให้การรักษาฟรี, ยกหนี้ให้แก่เกษตรกร แสดงความโง่ชัดเจนของการจัดการเงินไม่เป็น การให้ฟรีแบบนี้มีงบประมาณเท่าไหร่ก็ไม่พอ สุดท้ายทำให้เศรษฐกิจพังไปในที่สุด การจัดการแบบทรท.เป็นการบริหารแบบสมดุล ให้ครบวงจร การเก็บเงิน 30 บาท จากคนส่วนใหญ่มารักษาคนที่มีปัญหาป่วยเจ็บ เป็นการบริหารจัดการที่ถูกหลักสากลเป็นการประกันสุขภาพหมู่ของคนทั้งประเทศ เก็บเงินจากกลุ่มคนส่วนใหญ่ มาให้กับคนที่มีปัญหาโดยอยู่บนพื้นฐานว่าประชากรของประเทศไทยส่วนใหญ่แข็งแรงกว่า 70 % เป็นผู้แข็งแรง สุขภาพดี รวบรวมเงินจากคนกลุ่มนี้มาใช้แก้ปัญหากับผู้มีปัญหาสุขภาพ หรือเกิดอุบัติเหตุ บาดเจ็บ ทำให้มีเงินหมุนเวียนเพียงพอเกิดความสมดุล ให้สังคมอยู่ได้เนื่องจากผู้เจ็บป่วยก็ได้รักษาจากการจัดการประกันสุขภาพให้ โดยรัฐบาลเพียงแต่อุดหนุนงบประมาณเท่าที่จำเป็นเท่านั้น กรณีที่มีผู้ป่วยในเดือนใดมีการป่วยมากกว่า 30 % เกินกว่าค่าเฉลี่ย เป็นการจัดการบนพื้นฐานที่ถูกต้องมีหลักการ ปชป.ส่งขุนพลระดับท็อปเท็นของพรรค ส่งพวกที่มีปัญหาเรื่องคอรัปชั่นมาลงแข่งในกรุงเทพฯ อย่างเทพเทือก ยังไงก็ไม่ได้รับเลือกแน่นอน เพราะคนชั้นกลาง, นักธุรกิจ พ่อค้า กลุ่มคนชั้นมันสมองของประเทศจะต้องลงโทษ ปชป.แน่นอน การที่อภิรักษ์ฯได้เป็นผู้ว่า เนื่องจากจังหวะดีเท่านั้น ในระหว่างที่ ทรท.เกิดภาวะขาลง จากสื่อมวลชนที่ตีข่าวว่า มหาจำลอง ขัดแย้งแนวคิดกับท่านนายกทักษิณฯ เลยส่งผลให้ข่าวลือสะพัดไม่หยุด ทั้งๆที่มหาจำลองออกมาแก้ข่าวให้นายกแล้วแต่ไม่ทันการณ์ เหตุการณ์มันสุกงอมไปแล้ว แต่ภายหลังมหาจำลองได้พยายามพูดต่อเนื่องว่ายังสนับสนุนท่านนายก ทำให้ภาวะความเป็นหนึ่งเดียวของแนวทางพรรคเหนียวแน่นขึ้น การที่ ปชป.พูดว่า ทรท.เป็นช่วงขาลงย้ำๆจนเกิดกระแสสอดรับจากสื่อมวลชน แต่เมื่อถึงเลือกตั้งจริง กระแสจะกลับมาทาง ทรท. เพราะคนชั้นกลางตั้งสติ นึกขึ้นได้ว่าขืนเลือก ปชป. ซึ่งเป็นพรรคขาเลว มันเลวร้ายกว่าพรรคขาลงหลายสิบเท่า บริหารจัดการทางธุรกิจไม่เป็น ไม่ทันฝรั่ง ถูกฝรั่งต้มไม่ทันโลก ขืนไปเลือกปชป.ประเทศชาติไทยจะลงเหวอีกครั้ง ตอนนี้ปชป.พยายามหนีตายเอาคนหล่อๆ มาหลอกล่อสร้างภาพเยอะมาก คนหล่อแต่โง่จะนำพาประเทศชาติเสียหาย คนหล่อที่ความประพฤติส่วนตัวเหลวแหลก ผิดลูกผิดเมียชาวบ้านจะทำให้ ปชป.พังพินาศชดใช้กรรม กลายเป็นพรรคต่ำสิบไปในที่สุด

ปชป.เป็นพรรคการที่ไม่เคยสร้างประโยชน์ไห้แก่ประชาชน ไม่มีนโยบายอะไรก็ไม่มีอะไรผูกมัดว่าปชป.จะทำอะไร

ด่า ประณาม กล่าวหา ป้ายสี ก่อความวุ่นวายในสังคม ทำลายความสงบสุข ...แล้วอ้่างว่าตรวจสอบ ..พอเจอสวนกลับ ..อ้างกลับว่าฝ่ายตรงข้ามกลัวการตรวจสอบ..

คุณอยากจะเลือกเด็กสร้างบ้านอย่างปชป. ไห้มาสร้างบ้านไห้คุณอยู่ไม๊ คุณเลือกคนทำงานไห้คุณ หรือกบเลือกนายหรือเทพเจ้าป้ายสี

๖๐ปี ปชป.นักสร้าง ใช้เส้นสายสร้างพรรคพวกตัวเองในวงข้าราชการ ไห้สูงระดับปกครอง และมีอำนาจชี้เป็นชี้ตายเอาไว้พิพากษาศัตรูการเมือง และในขณะเดียวกันก็ช่วยหนังสือพิมพ์อย่างน้อย๓ฉบับไห้เกิดมารับใช้ปชป. ในลักษณะเดียวกันกับนายเจิมฟัก โดยการสร้างกระเเสก่อน ส่งต่อไห้ศาลพวกเดียวตัดสินเชือด ดูตัวอย่างปปช. การตีความกฎหมายเอาผิดมันง่ายถ้าพรรคพวกปชป.ตัดสินเอง
เด็กสร้างบ้าน

สังคมกำลังเดินไปบนเส้นทางแห่งการพัฒนา เป็นการพัมนาทั้งระบบ ทั้งคน และบริบท

บนเส้นทางการพัฒนานั้น คนในสังคมเมืองหลวงส่วนน้อย แต่มีอำนาจทางการเงินมาก ได้แก่พวกที่กำลังก่อการอยู่ในขณะนี้ แล้วเหมารวมว่า"ประชาชน" คืนอำนาจให้ประชาชน ระยะเวลาอีกประมาณ 100 วัน อำนาจนั้นก็จะได้รับการตรวจสอบอีกครั้ง และสามารถพิสูจน์ได้ว่าใครของจริง ใครของเก๊

ออกจากหรืบมาเถอะ อย่ามัวหลบซ่อนใบบังอยู่เลย แน่จริงไปขึ้นเวทีที่รัฐเขาจะจัดให้ แบ่งให้ประชาชนที่พวกคุณชอบอ้างถึงได้รู้ให้ชัดไปเลยว่า"ไผเป็นไผ"

ก็รายชื่อมันฟ้อง พฤติกรรมทั้งในอดีตและปัจจุบันมันฟ้อง และยังสามารถบ่งบอกได้ว่าอนาคตมันก็จะฟ้อง
ประสงค์ + เอกยุทธ + มนูญกฤต + อัมรินทร์ + ปชป และน่าจะรวมนักวิชาการจอมปลอมเข้ามาด้วย ซึ่งตอนนี้กำลังซุ่มอยู่ รอคอยจังหวะ

ขออนุญาตใช้วลีของคุณยอดะงทีเถอะ

กลุ่มพวกป่วนเมืองนี้
"ชุ่ย เพียบพูนด้วยเล่ห์ โง่และแสนทราม"

1. พค.35 ปขป.หนี ลงใต้ประชุมพรรค
2. พอ พล.ต. จำลองชนะศึก พค.35 ปชป.ก็กลับ กทม. แล้วเอา"วลี"ของคุณสมัคร มาใช้ '' จำลองพาคนไปตาย" เอามาใช้หาประโยชน์ จนคุณ ชวน ได้เป็น นายกฯ
3. ผมเคยรัก ปชป. มาตั้งแต่2512 แต่2519ผมหมดสัทธาปชป ตั้งแต่นั้นมา
4. ปชป. มีแต่กะล่อนทั้งนั้น ชอบแย้งคนอื่นในทุกๆเรื่อง เพราะว่ามีพื้นฐานจากการเรียนเป็นทนายมาเกือบทุกคน (คุณบุญเท่ง ผู้ก่อตั้ง ปชป. ท่านพูดเอง ครับ)
5. ที่วุ่นๆเรื่องต่างๆไม่ว่าข้าราชการหรืออื่นๆก็มาจากยุค ปชป. ครองเมืองทั้งนั้น i.e., คุณอภิสิทธิ์ + คุณ ทิพวดี ปรับปรุงระบบราชการจนวุ่นไปหมด

อ่านแล้วอารมณ์เสียนะครับ
ประชาชนฉลาดครับ รู้อยู่แล้วครับว่านักการเมืองเข้ามาเพื่อหาผลประโยชน์ เข้ามาโกงกิน แต่รับไม่ได้จริงๆ กับพรรค ปชป. ที่ตังหน้าตั้งตาโกงกินอย่างเดียว ไม่เคยห่วงใยประชาชน
ผมก็รู้ว่ารัฐบาลปัจจุบันโกงกิน แต่ก็ยังแบ่งให้ประชาชนกิน ก็ยังห่วงใยประชาชน และก็ฉลาดรู้ทันโลก
ง่ายๆ นะครับ เงินกู้ที่ ปชป. เอามาจากญี่ปุ่น ละลายหายไปกับอากาศ จ้างตัดหญ้าข้างถนน หมู่บ้านละ 2 แสน ตลกมาก เพราะรัฐบาลสมัยนั้นใช้เงินไม่เป็น ประเทศล่มจม
ส่วนตอนนี้กองทุนหมู่บ้าน และ สินค้าโอทอป ถึงสำเร็จไม่ร้อยเปอร์เซ็น แต่คิดดูว่าที่สำเร็จก็มีเยอะมาก อย่างรุ่นพี่ผมตอนนี้ลาออกจากงาน(เงินเดือน 16,000 บาท) ไปช่วยพี่ที่บ้านขายสินค้า โอทอป และรัฐบาลยังติดต่อตลาดต่างประเทศให้อีกด้วย ได้ยินว่ารุ่นพี่ผมจะส่งไปขายญี่ปุ่น รึไม่ก็แถวๆ สิงค์โปร์ มาเลย์ นี่หล่ะครับ เป็นไงครับ รัฐบาลรู้จักใช้เงินครับ
ผมว่า ปชป. ไม่น่าเป็นกระทั่งฝ่ายค้านด้วยซ้ำไป เพราะไม่เคยสนใจจะพัฒนาตัวเองให้มีประสิทธิภาพ และศักยภาพให้ดีขึ้น มีแต่เกมที่คอยดิสเครดิตคนอื่นให้ต่ำลงมาใกล้ตัวเอง เป็นเหมือนบริษัทที่ไม่รู้จักพัฒนา ฮ่วยแตกตลอดกาล...
ผมว่า ผู้ว่า กทม. คนปัจจุบันน่าลองออกมาตั้งพรรคการเมืองดูนะครับ ดูๆ ไปจะดีกว่าพรรคมหาชนอีกนะครับ

40 ปีก่อน ไทยเป็นผู้นำในอาเซียน (IBM / CityBank etc เข้ามากันใหญ่)

25 ปีก่อน ไทยโดน สิงคโปร์ แซงทิ้งห่าง

15 ปีก่อน ไทยโดน มาเลเซีย แซงทิ้งห่าง (บ.computer ย้ายจากไทยไปมาเล เยอะมาก)

เร็วๆนี้ ไทยจะโดน เวียตนาม แซงทิ้งห่าง (เขาผลิตรถยนต์เองได้แล้วนะ เครื่องยนต์หนะ / ไม่ใช่รับจ้างประกอบแบบไทยนะ)

ต้องเลือกผู้นำ เก่งๆหน่อยนะ ชาติจึงจะรอด

ว่างๆเอาเวลาไปทำมาหากินเถอะครับพวกที่ตามด่ารัฐบาล
*****
-ลองถามใจคนที่ไม่ต้องแบกเงินกู้จากนายทุนหน้าเลือด
ร้อยละ20มาเป็น ร้อยละ1บาทกองทุนหมู่บ้าน
เป็นล้านๆคน กลัวว่าจะมีการล้มกองทุนจากประชาธิปัตย์
-ถามใจคนที่เริ่มเงยหน้าอ้าปากจากOTOPดูสิว่าเขาคิดยังไงกับประชาธิปัตย์
-ลองถามชาวนาที่ไม่ออกมาประท้วงอีกเลยกับการมีความสุขตามอัตภาพจากราคาข้าวที่พอมีตังเหลือบวชลูก
-ลองถามชาวสวนยางแล้วมีความสุขมากขึ้นไม่ต้องทนเจ็บปวดเหมือนที่ผ่านมาเอาเงินไปประกัน
-ให้หัวคะแนนขนยางมาเวียนเทียนเอาเงินไปกินแล้วอ้างว่าไม่ซ้อเสียง
-เมื่อกินพอแล้วก็เผาโรงยางทิ้ง หาพวกมาประมูลทำให่อีก
กินกันหลายต่อ
เฮ้อคิดได้ไงว่าจะกลับมาทำเลวอีก

ถ้า ทรท ขาลง ปชปหนะขาเลว
คิดให้ถูก

ไหนๆก็จะ เป็นนายกแล้วประกาศนโยบายและรายชื่อคณะรัฐมนตรีล่วงหน้าเลย ( ปชป 200 + มหาชน 100 )
พรรคประชาวิบัติ
นโยบาย - ปกดำ 20 ที่สุดทักษิณ ,อี แต๋นพลีชีพ ,ทวงคืนประเทศไทย (วิสัยทัศน์กว้างไกลมาก นโยบายเป็นรูปธรรมชัดเจน )
คติประจำพรรค - NATO ( No Action Talk Only )
พรรคมหาโจร
นโยบาย - ประชานิยมเหรอเราต้องเกทับด้วยสวัสดิการนิยม ( แต่เงินไม่รู้เอาที่ไหนเป็นก่อนค่อยคิดทีหลัง )
คติประจำพรรค - ฝนตกขี้หมูไหล คนอะไรมารวมกัน

โฉมหน้าครม.ใหม่และในวงเล็บ ( นโยบายเร่งด่วน - Those Traitor of the Nation!)
1.บันหยาด ลุงหนวด นายก – เป็นผู้นำที่วิสัยทัศน์เยี่ยม เป็นที่ยอมรับของนานาชาติ (นโยบายเร่งด่วน ขอเรียน ภาษาอังกฤษก่อน)
2.ชวนป๋วย หลบภัย ประธานที่ปรึกษารัฐบาล - ไม่ต้องปรึกษาก็รู้ว่าเป็น ไปตามหลักการ ขั้นตอน ( นโยบายเร่ง ด่วนไม่มี ค่อยเป็นค่อยไปประเทศไทยไม่มีอะไรต้องเร่ง )
3.อภิสิทธิ์ อาชีวะ รองนายก - (นโยบายเร่งด่วนเหมือนลูกพี่ชวนป๋วยเหมือนถอดพิมพ์ )
4.อเนก หนุ่มซินตึ้ง รองนายก – ( แล้วแต่เสธ.สั่ง ผมทำตาม ได้ครับผม เหมาะสมครับท่าน )
5.เสธ หูกาง รองนายกที่ใหญ่กว่านายก - ทำงานด้านสตรีและสื่อสารมวลชน ( เฉพาะนักข่าวสาวเท่านั้น )
6.สุเทพ เทือกเขา รมว.เกษตร – ดูแลที่ดินป่าสงวน ( แจก สปก.ให้คนจน)
7.จุลินทรี ลักษณะนิสัย รมว.พานิชย์ - ดูแลราคา สินค้า (นโยบายเร่งด่วน ดูราคายางพาราก่อนเลย มันแพงกว่าสมัยกรูได้ไง ขนาดกรูทำให้แพงแล้วนะ )
8.ฉลอง ยังมีแรง รมช.พานิชย์ - ดูแลการละเมิดลิขสิทธิ์ ( ลุยซีดีเถื่อนก่อนเลย )
9.วัดนา คลองปากน้ำ รมว.มหาดไทย - ดูแลบ่อนตามแนวชายแดน การลักลอบค้าน้ำมันเถื่อน ( ไทยจะต้องอยู่ ในสายตาชาวโลกตลอดเวลา โดยเฉพาะอเมริกา )
10.องอาจ ค้านทุกเรื่อง มท.2 - ดูแลด้านยาเสพติด ( รณรงค์ให้เลิกเสพยาบ้า )
11. สมยศ พระราม 99 มท.3 - จัดระเบียบสังคม (ควบคุมการเปิด - ปิดสถานบริการ)
12.เอกยุด ชาร์เตอร์แชร์ รมว.คลัง - ควบคุมสถานภาพการเงินของประเทศ ( ตั้งวงแชร์แล้วนำเข้าตลาดหลักทรัพย์)
13.นพดล สะพานดอนเมือง รมว.ยุติธรรม - ทุกคนต้องอยู่ในกฎหมาย ( ลุยจัดการคดีมรดก )
14.เจิมสาก ณ.สว. ลาออกมาเป็น โฆษกรัฐบาล - ต่อไปไม่มีใครห้ามออกทีวีแล้ว ( ตอบโต้พวกนักวิจารณ์ขาประจำทั้งหลาย ที่ดีแต่พูด )
15.มนูญกิด รูปขจาย ลาออกเหมือนกัน รมว.กลาโหม - ควบคุมกองทัพไทย ( ดูการปฏิวัติ )
16.ไกรสาก ไม้ไกลต้น ลาออกเช่นกัน รมว.ต่างประเทศ - ไทยจะเป็นไรไม่สน ขอต่างชาติอย่าว่าให้เป็นพอ
17.ประดิด นายทุนใหญ่ รมว.คมนาคม – ดูแลการสร้างสนามบินหนองงูเห่า ( เรียกผู้รับเหมามาตกลงราคาใหม่ ที่เคยตกลงกันไว้ )
18.นิพิด ณ.พัดลุง รมช.คมนาคม –ดูแลการขนส่งน้ำมันตามชายแดนใต้ ชะลอการสร้างสนามบิน ( เอาตำแหน่งเป็นเดิมพัน)
คนบ้านนอก

-The SET has been the best performer in the fours years aggregrate.
-As for my quotes it was from the articles posted previously by Isan, which I am assuming are articles from Nation.
-"I said you shouldn't sell your state assets to foreigners because when times get tough they will sell their stakes and leave." Let us not have that view. Britain and Singapore have already liberalized their electricity markets. Right now, electricty demand is increasing faster than GNP. So, in the future electricity cost will rise and continue to rise unless something is done about it.
-Infrastructure investment by definition is not limited to roads, trains, airports, whatever, but it also includes education. It is one of the best investments a country can make.

Published on December 20, 2004

But 85% of media is ‘good’ and only 5% ‘bad’, PM adds

Who is Mr “W”? Government House reporters were asking this question among themselves after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that a journalist whose name begins with “W” is his most frequent attacker.

Thaksin held a special get-together with Government House reporters to speak his mind yesterday. During the meeting Mr W was the only journalist mentioned by Thaksin as someone who deliberately attacks him.

The prime minister did not specify whether Mr W was a columnist or a reporter.

Thaksin cited Mr W after he said that five per cent of the Thai media were “bad” for setting out to criticise him in their reports. Ignoring the slight discrepancy in the figures, the prime minister said that 85 per cent of the country’s media were “good” and that 15 per cent were “not bad”.

He said: “About five per cent of journalists attack me. I remember their names. One whose name starts with W is the big time. He deliberately attacks me, but I am an easygoing man, so I will not harass anyone.”

The prime minister said he would like to see the media carry out its duty in a straightforward manner.

“News is news, no problem. But it’s not good to put opinions on Page 1, and some of them deliberately use sources [to attack me].

“I try to be optimistic and think that these journalists do not have enough information or cannot catch up with changing events. But some of them do it with intention, without caring to check facts. It’s not good that way,” Thaksin said.

He said he did not want to file complaints with the Press Council because he did not want to make enemies.

“I am not fed up with the media. I would like to have reporters accompany me on trips and work with them,” the prime minister added.

“But I feel badly toward only particular organisations, which deliberately set out [to attack me]”.

Thaksin said he had tried his best to patch things up with such organisations by inviting them to personal meetings.

The premier said that his attempts to mend fences were meant simply to encourage the organisations to keep their reports fair.

“I’ve never asked anyone to write anything to praise me. I just want them to have mutual respect,” Thaksin said.

what about the remaining 10% of the media

BANGKOK - THAI Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra marked the end of his term in office yesterday with a speech focusing on a string of setbacks to the country and his war on drugs.

'We've had many problems in the past four years beyond government control,' said Mr Thaksin, who now oversees a caretaker administration in the lead-up to a national election on Feb 6.

'The 9/11 attacks, Iraq war and Afghanistan war affected our economy, as well as Sars, two bird-flu outbreaks, high oil prices and violence in three provinces...which we can control,' he said.

He added: 'The latest incident was the tsunami, which we are handling well.'

Thai officials said yesterday that more than 5,000 people are now confirmed dead after the waves hit six provinces on Dec 26.

Bird-flu outbreaks have left 12 people dead and violence in the mainly Muslim south claimed more than 550 lives last year.

The government said in November that Thailand's poultry export industry had lost up to 80 billion baht (S$3.4 billion) in revenue since the avian-flu outbreak started in late 2003, a 1.2-per-cent loss in national earnings.

But Mr Thaksin, 53, praised government policies which he said had led to paying off World Bank debt two years ahead of schedule, strong economic growth and a dramatic drop in the illegal drug trade.

The first democratically elected Thai prime minister to complete a full term in office, he said the end of his Thai Rak Thai party's official term was a 'historic day' for the development of democracy in the kingdom. -- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

yeah 2004 was a tough year for Thailand and the problems that we had present real challenges for the current government.

ahh I didn't know that this actor Sam (Yuranan) is running for Din Daeng District seat for Thai Rak Thai?!! Another actor turned politician.

http://www.2bangkok.com/gift01.jpg
source:www.2bangkok.com

TUL PINKAEW

Thai Rak Thai (TRT) failed to show for a debate on economic policies with three other parties yesterday, earning its rivals' condemnation.

Varakorn Samakoses, rector of Dhurakijpundit University which organised the event, said the party called him at the last minute to say it could not send anybody.

Suchart Thada-thamrongvech was expected to head the Thai Rak Thai team for the debate, which also featured the Democrat party, Mahachon party and Chart Thai party.

``Thai Rak Thai always put off debates. I do not see anyone else having any opinions except Prime Minister Thaksin himself,'' the rector said.

Mr Varakorn, adviser to the Chuan Leekpai government, said this was the second time the TRT failed to show up for a debate. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra himself refused to attend a forum in early December saying the timing was was too early.

The other parties introduced some of their own policies but mostly stuck to attacking Mr Thaksin's policy. Kiet Sithiarmorn of the Democrats introduced a tax reform policy, where the personal income tax rate is cut from 30% to 25%. Mr Kiet also suggested a special tariff free zone for particular regions. Mahachon's Sangsit Piriyarangsan said the role of non-governmental organisations and principles such as freedom of the press should be encouraged, not restricted. Chart Thai party's Wichit Yaemboonruen condemned the government's gross domestic product (GDP) approach to measuring growth, saying quality of life _ what he called gross domestic happiness_ mattered more.

`People need to stop waiting for handouts'

TUL PINKAEW

Our consumer-crazy, violence-loving society has fuelled Thai Rak Thai's dominant ``reign of terror'' and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's abundance of power, said academics at a forum yesterday.

Thammasat University lecturer, Prajak Kongkirati, told ``Post Today Forum: A Country Living in Fear'', that although people said they want a fair and balanced society, greed and violence was in their blood.

``Mr Thaksin knew that weakness and used it to his full potential, leaving the public asking for more,'' Mr Prajak said.

At the beginning of Mr Thaksin's four-year term, he was up against charges being deliberated in the Constitutional Court, that he concealed assets as a deputy prime minister in 1997, allegations which nearly put an end to his political dreams.

But the public, on the other hand, was willing to look the other way, as Mr Thaksin was believed to be the man capable of bringing the country's economy back on track. ``The premier has got the public enjoying more wealth and technology from all the quick-cash schemes like the village fund and all the so-called social welfare projects. By the look of things, people are not willing to give it up,'' he said.

``Companies, businesses and state agencies are even trying to get on the good side of the premier by keeping their own staff quiet when it comes to publicly criticising Mr Thaksin's decisions,'' Mr Prajak said.

The launch of the crusade to rid Thailand of drugs, the killing of protesters against state projects and how the Thai Rak Thai government handled the violence in the South in the past year _ were all very bloody and inhumane, said Mr Prajak, but received much praise from the public.

``Mr Thaksin made us believe that these people were society's rejects, a nuisance and violence was the only way out... I got letters saying more needed to be killed, that this was not enough,'' he said.

Former ambassador to the United Nations, Asda Jayanama said, ``Every state gets the kind of government it deserves.

``We talk about people participation or the lack of it, but the truth is people need to stop waiting for donations from the government and wake up.''

Sunee Chaiyarose of the Office of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, said Mr Thaksin will not be able to keep his high-paying schemes running if he is re-elected as he has used up all the state's assets.

``All his handouts during the past four years was allocated from future budgets, budgets not even realistically available, so it will be interesting to see how he is going to keep funding his high-profile projects without finally bringing the country to ruin,'' she said.

Bangkok Post

Several surprises amid Thai Rak Thai landslide

Published on February 08, 2005

From a bird’s eye view, it was a sweep. But on the ground, many dark horses and first-time runners made their day while strong incumbents lost out.

Winners

Jermmard Junglerdsiri (Democrat, Bangkok 1)

Jermmard, a former two-time Democrat city councillor of the Pom Prab (Sattru Phai) district, won her first race in national politics by toppling the incumbent, first-time Thai Rak Thai MP Siri Wangbunkerd.

Her experience in local politics and her connections in this commercial area obviously empowered her to launch an effective door-to-door campaign over the past few years while Siri was busy with national politics.

ML Aphimongkol Sonakul (Democrat, Bangkok 6)

The 26-year-old, blue-blooded, Oxford-educated Aphimongkol put an unfortunate end to Thai Rak Thai candidate Orathai Thanajaro’s second re-election bid.

Just one year above than the minimum age for MP candidates, the son of former Bank of Thailand governor MR Chatumongkol enjoyed a double benefit. He had the support of Democrat incumbent MR Sukhumbhand Paribhatra, who has been immensely popular in the area, and the party’s strategy placed him at the centre of its Bangkok campaign.

Korn Chatikavanij (Democrat, Bangkok 7)

Korn’s win in the Yannawa and Sathorn districts gave the Democrats their only contiguous area of control in Bangkok, across the Chao Phya River from Ong-art Klampaiboon’s Bangkok Noi district. The financial-wizard-turned-politician made his first run for political office at the urging of his fellow Oxford alumnus and the Democrat deputy leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva.

With a strong political base inherited from his Democrat predecessor Charoen Kantawong, Korn, 40, dashed the Punnakan family’s hopes by beating Thai Rak Thai candidate and former television star Danuporn Punnakan after hours of vote-counting deadlock.

Yuranan Pamornmontree (Thai Rak Thai, Bangkok 11)

The deputy government spokesman, widely known as “Sam”, wielded his popularity as a former television and movie star to win the Din Daeng district that had been dominated by the Democrats, whose incumbent MP, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, competed on the party-list this time.

Using gimmicks such as hosting a national government-lottery draw in the district last year, he managed a victory margin of 9,000 votes over the Democrats’ Colonel Fuengwit Anirutthewa.

Ekkapoj Wongaraya (Thai Rak Thai, Bangkok 21)

Ekkapoj, 38, made his political debut in a suburban area held by well-known Thai Rak Thai MP Thawatchai Sajjakul but, with extensive field work and campaigning, he garnered 10,000 votes more than his predecessor.

A son of Deputy Education Minister Aree, who is in charge of sorting out the troubles of Muslim education in the South, Ekkapoj managed a win over Democrat candidate and former Muslim actress Nattaya Benjasiriwan.

Anuwath Wongwan (Thai Rak Thai, Phrae 2)

It was sweet revenge for one of Phrae’s most controversial political dynasties. Anuwath, the 52-year-old political heir to his father Narong – considered a PM candidate in the early 1990s – beat Siriwan Prassajaksattru, a Democrat MP who had earlier dethroned his father.

Anuwath worked as an adviser to the minister of agriculture and to the deputy minister of interior in the previous Thaksin government. He said the victory over Siriwan was the reward of his life.

Krit Srifah (Thai Rak Thai, Phang Nga 2)

If the killer tsunami brought life to anything at all, it would be Krit’s long-time struggle for an MP seat in the worst-hit, predominantly Democrat Phang Nga constituency. Against all odds, it made him Thai Rak Thai’s only MP in the entire South.

Riding the crest of the government’s tsunami-relief aid, Krit, 43, toppled the Democrat’s incumbent MP Jurin Laksanavisit by a margin of about 2,000 votes. He has been a well-known face in the province’s tourism industry.

Julaphan Amornwiwat (Thai Rak Thai, Chiang Mai 9)

Julaphan, 30, delivered the final piece in Thai Rak Thai’s plan to win all the Chiang Mai constituencies. He achieved this by dethroning the Democrats’ only Chiang Mai MP, Yongyutt Suvapap.

He inherited political assets from his father Somphong, a veteran politician in the city, and earned support from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in appealing to undecided voters to choose Thai Rak Thai.

Nawin Boonsert (Thai Rak Thai, Phichit 3)

His victory is symbolic as the loss of Mahachon Party’s stronghold in Phichit that belonged to the son of the party’s key man.

With support from his father Adul, 37-year-old Nawin relied on his party’s popularity and extensive and persistent campaigning to take the MP seat away from Siriwat Kachornprasart.

Klanarong Pongjaroen (Thai Rak Thai, Chanthaburi 1)

Klanarong, 47, is Thai Rak Thai’s latest advance in its race with Chat Thai for Chanthaburi, taking a seat from Chat Thai incumbent Thawatchai Anampong.

After spending more than a decade in public service in Chanthaburi, he resigned last year as chief of Muang district.

Losers

Phuthiphong Punnakan (Democrat, Bangkok 4)

Phuthiphong was the Democrats’ rising star in Parliament shortly after he won a run-off election in the Ratchathewi-Phya Thai constituency, replacing the Thai Rak Thai initial winner Kannikar Thammakesorn.

However, despite his frequent campaigns in the area over the years, Phuthipong lost by a small margin to the Thai Rak Thai’s first-time candidate Rachata Phisitwannakorn.

Issara Sunthornwat (Democrat, Bangkok 10)

The son of the late popular columnist and administrator Saengchai, Issara was one of nine Democrat MPs to withstand the first wave of Thai Rak Thai popularity in Bangkok four years ago.

But this time Issara, 34, who continued to host his English-lesson programme on Channel 9 over the past four years, lost the battle in the Huay Kwang-Wattana constituency to Thai Rak Thai’s Nahathai Thiewpaingarm, whom he had defeated by just 102 votes four years ago.

Siriwan Prassajaksattru (Democrat, Phrae 2)

After three successive victories, Siriwan, 48, emerged the loser this time in a political battle between the two major rival parties that was underlined by the rivalry between Phrae’s two most influential families. She entered the province’s political arena in 1995 with a victory over its political fixture, Narong Wongwan.

After a series of scandals weeks before the election, the three-time MP was totally defeated by Narong’s son from Thai Rak Thai.

Yuttapong Charas-sathien (Democrat, Maha Sarakham 3)

Yuttapong, 33, was said to have been approached by Thai Rak Thai last year. Yet he stood by the party that gave him his political career four years ago, although the decision seems to have cost him his MP seat.

He was unable to withstand Thai Rak Thai’s popularity in the Northeast and was finally defeated by its candidate Suchat Chokechaiwattanakorn, who lost four years ago.

Police Lt-General Wiroj Paoin (Chat Thai, Angthong 1)

His massive web of family connections throughout the province failed to shore up the support for Wiroj in his fourth time running for an MP seat in his hometown.

Wiroj, 71, a former deputy prime minister and Metropolitan Police commissioner, lost his home constituency to Thai Rak Thai’s Penchisa Honguppathamchai, 36, who comes from a well-known family in local politics and had strong support from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s mother-in-law.

Khomkhai Polabut (Chat Thai, Chanthaburi 2)

A veteran MP of Chanthaburi’s often bloody politics, Khomkhai, 37, failed to make a political future with her new party after crossing over from the Democrat Party.

She lost to an all-out campaign by Thai Thai Rak, whose candidate Police Maj-General Payung Trongsawat emerged the winner.

tn

Thaksin’s new thinking starts with cabinet line-up

Robin Richards

TRIUMPHANT Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra signalled that he is planning to do some important new thinking in reorganising his cabinet and promoting Somkid Jatusripitak to be economic supremo as well as deputy prime minister.

If it happens, it will be a move away from the pre-election line up where being a deputy prime minister was something of a sinecure post with little power. But yesterday, the prime minister said he was considering two candidates as finance minister with Somkid in the role of economic chief. On the same day, defeated Democrat party chief Banyat Bantadtan announced his decision to resign as party leader to take responsibility for the Democrats’ crushing defeat.

With most of the votes counted last night, the margin of the Thai Rak Thai victory was massive but not quite as overwhelming as the exit polls had predicted. It looked as if Thaksin’s party would have just short of 380 seats, with the Democrats falling to 94 seats. The only sour note was the claim from some Democrats that there had been cheating, with the failure of the Election Commission to make sure that ballot boxes were properly sealed.

Tributes and congratulations kept coming in for Thaksin’s victory. Gulu Lalvani, millionaire businessman and entrepreneur of the Royal Phuket Marina complex, telephoned Business Day from London to declare that: “The next four years are likely to prove the best that Thailand has ever seen under Thaksin Shinawatra’s imaginative leadership. He will be in a position to attract a lot of foreign investment.”

The rating agencies sounded a note of caution. In an interview with Dow Jones, Brian Coulton, the Hong Kong-based head of Asian sovereign ratings for Fitch, said that his agency was still rating Thailand at BBB, a notch below the BBB+ of Standard & Poor’s or Baa1 of Moody’s. “With Thaksin, we’ve seen a lot of pump priming of the economy, but not much improvement on the balance sheet, Coulton said, though he acknowledged that a strong government that was not hamstrung by the need to build a coalition gave Thaksin an advantage that most other governments in Asia did not have.

S&P also expressed a concern about the concentration of power in Thaksin’s hands and said that if it led to increased corruption and populist policies, Thailand’s credit worthiness could suffer.

The decision to promote Somkid to deputy prime minister rather than to demote him to the post could prove interesting. If the prime minister’s other musings on who might take over as finance minister are correct, Somkid would enjoy having a minister whom he had worked with. Thaksin named Olarn Chaipravat and Chaiyawat Wibulswasdi, both of whom have been Somkid’s advisors, as possible ministers. The system of having an economic supremo has worked in Indonesia, with finance, commerce and industry ministers coming under the chief. But Indonesia never had a leader like Thaksin with strong economic views of his own or liable to intervene in the minutiae of policy.

Bob Broadfoot, managing director of Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, also warned Thaksin that the troubles in Thailand’s Muslim south were the new prime minister’s “biggest challenge. I think it will probably get worse and I worry about it in the longer term,” said Broadfoot. “Thaksin will rely heavily on the military. It will largely be a military approach as opposed to building bridges.”
http://www.bday.net/all/new_logo.jpg

Well, we have mr T with unlimited power for 4 years. OK. I have my doubts, but now is your chance. Show us what you can do.

ตอนที่ 168 “จดหมายจากวาทตะวัน ถึงนิตยสาร TIME กรณีวิพากษ์ทักษิณ !

โดย วาทตะวัน สุพรรณเภษัช 8 กุมภาพันธ์ 2548 10:05 น.





เช้าวันนี้....จิบกาแฟขมแล้ว มีช๊อคโกแลตเค๊กรูปหัวใจเล็กๆ จากลูกสาวของเพื่อนเขาทำมาให้ชิม เพราะเธอจะทำออกแจกจ่ายในวันวาเลนไทน์ที่จะมาถึงหลังตรุษจีน ถามเธอว่า ทำไมถึงใช้ชอคโกแลตมาทำรูปหัวใจเพราะมันดำปื๋อออกอย่างนั้น ? ได้รับคำตอบว่า เธอบอกว่าเอาไว้แจกคนใจดำ เป็นงั้นไป

น่าจะเยอะๆ ให้พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ เอาไปแจกคนกรุงเทพ !

การเลือกตั้งสิ้นสุดลงแล้ว ผมไม่ค่อยตื่นเต้นกันมากเท่าไหร่ เพราะรู้อยู่แล้วว่าพรรคไทยรักไทยต้องชนะแบเบอร์ ตั้งแต่ทราบผลการสำรวจของตำรวจ เพราะโพลโปลิสนั้นผิดยาก โดยเฉพาะในส่วนต่างจังหวัด

มีอยู่ครั้งหนึ่งในการเลือกตั้งใหญ่ประมาณยี่สิบกว่าปีมาแล้ว ตำรวจสันติบาลทำนายว่าใครจะได้ ส.ส. ถูกทุกที่นั่งด้วย และการประเมินของตำรวจสำหรับการเลือกตั้งครั้งนี้ มีความใกล้เคียงเทียบเท่า หรือเหนือกว่าของพวกมหาวิทยาลัยทำด้วยซ้ำไป ทั้งๆที่ไม่ได้ทำตามหลักวิชาการอะไรนักหนา หากแต่เป็นความชำนาญของการปฏิบัติการในพื้นที่มายาวนาน รู้จักคน รู้จักสถานที่ และมีทักษะในการประเมินแบบตำรวจ ที่สืบเนื่องมายาวนาน จึงผิดยากหรือมีค่าความคลาดเคลื่อนที่น้อยมาก

ไม่อยากซ้ำเติมพรรคใหญ่ฝ่ายค้าน แต่เพียงอยากบอกว่า การที่พรรคมีนโยบายไม่ชัดเจน โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งเรื่องเศรษฐกิจ ลงท้ายด้วยการเลียนนโยบายไทยรักไทย แต่เฉไฉไปเรียกชื่ออื่น อีกทั้งนโยบายการรักษาพยาบาล การแปรรูปรัฐวิสาหกิจ ซึ่งนโยบายของฝ่ายค้านดูมัวซัว มั่วซั่วเต็มที

ผลงานในอดีต ก็ไม่ได้ส่งผลดีต่อพรรคใหญ่ฝ่ายค้าน รวมทั้งเรื่องออกมาดับเครื่องชนว่า จะยกเลิกหวยบนดิน ที่จะส่งผลการกลับมาเกิดแบบซอมบี้ของหวยใต้ดิน ก่อกำเนิดผู้มีอิทธิพลและวงจรอุบาทว์เก่าขึ้นมาอีก

แถมก่อนการเลือกตั้งมีเรื่องไม่เป็นมงคล อย่างสติ๊กเกอร์ อาจเอื้อม-แสนอัปยศ ซึ่งทำให้ประชาชนคลางแคลงใจ ในความจงรักภักดีของฝ่ายค้าน รวมทั้งเรื่องทุจริตของสมาชิกใน
รัฐบาลสมัยชุดที่มีฝ่ายค้านเป็นแกนนำ โผล่ออกมาหลายเรื่อง จนอดีตรัฐมนตรีร่วมคณะเสวยกรรมไปในตะรางเรียบร้อยแล้ว และที่จ่อคิวอยู่ตรงปากประตูเรือนจำก็อีกหลายราย จึงไม่เป็นเรื่องที่น่าแปลกใจ ว่าทำไมฝ่ายค้านใหญ่ ต้องถึงกาลพ่ายแพ้ย่อยยับอับปราในการเลือกตั้งหนนี้

ที่ไม่น่าเชื่อเลยว่า คนขนาดเคยเป็นครูบาอาจารย์มาก่อน ได้รับเกียรติสูง มีคำนำหน้านามที่สุภาพสตรีจำนวนมาก ใฝ่ฝันที่จะได้มาประดับเป็นเกียรติวงศ์ตระกูล กลับไร้ความคิด ต้องการเพียงเพื่อเอาชนะการเมือกตั้ง ถือสติ๊กเกอร์ใส่ถุง หิ้วเอง ที่มีพยานจำได้ แม้กระทั่งเครื่องแต่งกายของเธออย่างแม่นยำ ซึ่งไม่น่าทำเลย นี่ตำรวจเขาก็เรียกไปสอบสวนแล้ว คราวหลังอย่าได้คิดทำอย่างนี้อีก เพราะเสื่อมเสียชื่อเสียงคุณงามความดี ที่ตนสู้อุตส่าห์สะสมมา
ยาวนาน ต้องมาถึงคราพินาศสิ้นในครั้งนี้

น่าเสียดายเหลือเกินครับ !

ต้องขอบอกตรงไปตรงมาว่า ชื่อ นายอภิสิทธิ์ นั้น ขายไม่ออกในกรุงเทพแล้ว พรรคฝ่ายค้านใหญ่ ต้องเตรียมหาผู้นำคนใหม่ อาจไปมองดู ส.ส.ใหม่ที่ตีแหวกเข้ามาได้ด้วยวัยเพียง ๒๖ ปี เพราะสายเลือดดีเหลือเกิน บ่มเพาะไว้สัก ๒๔ ปี หรือ ๖ สมัยการเลือกตั้ง พอถึงอายุ ๕๐ ก็ขึ้นมาวัดกับคนชื่อทักษิณทีอายุ ๘๐ ปี ในตอนนั้นก็เป็นไปได้

อย่าเป็นของชำรุดเร็ว อย่างอีตา หมากหรือมาร์ก ก็แล้วกัน !

สำหรับพรรคการเมืองที่เปิดฉากใหญ่โตโก้หรู ที่ผู้ก่อตั้งพรรค เพิ่งออกมาแถลงเมื่อทราบว่าผลการเลือกตั้งนั้น จะได้จำนวน ส.ส.มาเม็ดเดียวกระเทียมลีบ ไม่รู้ว่าพูดเพราะน้อยเนื้อต่ำใจ อาการมึนไวน์ แต่เสียงของแกเสียงสั่นเครืออย่างน่าสงสาร เหมือนนกกระจอกเทศครางฮือใกล้ตาย

คนรักนกอาฟริกาคนนี้ ได้แถลงว่า คงจะต้องยุบพรรค ก็เป็นไปอย่างที่ผมบอกเอาไว้ใน กาแฟขม…ขนมหวานตอนที่ ๑๖๒ “รักเขาข้างเดียว ข้าวเหนียวนึ่ง น้ำขึ้นไม่ถึง แห้งแหงแก๋ (หมอดู…ดันมาบอกว่า...‘เราคู่กัน’ !)”

…คนที่เพ้อเจ้อนี่ มีมากในบ้านนี้เมืองนี้ บางคนเป็นหัวหน้าพรรคเพิ่งตั้งขึ้นมาใหม่ๆ ดันทะลึ่งฝันว่าจะได้เป็นนายก ทีแรกตัวแกเองก็คงไม่ได้ฝัน จนออกมาพูดอย่างนั้น แต่พอได้น้ำเลี้ยงเข้ามาหน่อย มีลูกพรรคประเภทเคยสอบตก ยกชั้นมาสมัครเป็นสมาชิก และได้คำยกยอปอปั้นเข้าไปในทำนอง

“ท่านครับ/ท่านขา ดูโหงวเฮ้งท่านแล้ววาสนาชะตาถึง จะได้เป็นนายกรัฐมนตรีเชียวนะขอรับ/เจ้าคะ เจ้าขา !”

ชักจะบ้า เริ่มเพ้อว่า จะเป็นนายกรัฐมนตรีกับเขาขึ้นมากันเชียว...
คงเหมือนขอทานฝันว่าจะเป็นเจ้าบ่าวของ คุณพาทองทิณ จะได้ตกทะเลข้าวสาร ที่มีเกือบสี่หมื่นล้านนั่นเลยทีเดียว

พอผลเลือกตั้งออกมา นั่นแหละครับ... ถึงจะหายบ้ากันซะที !

ครับตอนนี้คงจะหายบ้า หรือไม่ก็ ‘บ้าหนัก’ ขึ้นไปเลย !

อยากจะให้กำลังใจ กับบรรดานักการเมืองหน้าใหม่ทั้งหลาย ที่โดดเข้าสู่วงการเมืองเพราะใจรัก ใจสมัคร หรือจำใจ อะไรก็แล้วแต่ อย่าเพิ่งละทิ้งความพยายามไปเสีย โดยเฉพาะคนหนึ่งสาวทั้งหลาย ที่หาญกล้าลงสู่สังเวียนการเมือง แม้จะพ่ายแพ้ในครั้งนี้ ก็ขอให้เพียรทำกันต่อไป แม้จะไม่มีโอกาสกลับมาลงสนามการเมืองอีกก็ตาม ผมอยากให้ท่านเหล่านั้น นำประสบการณ์และการต่อสู้ ตามวิถีทางแห่งประชาธิปไตย ที่คนส่วนใหญ่ในชาตินี้ต้องการ ไปเผยแพร่ให้ผู้อื่นได้มีความรู้ เป็นการปลุกจิตสำนึกในทางการเมือง ให้กับคนรุ่นหลังต่อไป

อย่าเพิ่งเอือมระอาไปเสียก่อน ขอให้ดำเนินการตามความเชื่อของตน และพรรคการเมืองที่ตนศรัทธาต่อไป

ขอแสดงความยินดีกับบรรดา ส.ส.เก่าและส.ส.ใหม่ ที่ฝ่าดงกระทกรกเข้าไปถึงในสภา หวังว่า

ท่านทั้งหลาย คงขยันกว่าชุดที่แล้ว ซึ่งสภาล่มบ่อยครั้งจนผู้คนเขาสาปแช่งว่าสันหลังยาวเหลือเกิน ขอให้ใช้สติปัญญาช่วยกันออกกฏหมาย ตั้งกระทู้ถามให้ฟังแล้วเข้าท่าเข้าทาง อภิปรายในสภาก็ขอให้มีเหตุมีผล อย่าให้ประชาชนเขาเบื่อ สื่อมวลชนด่าเอาเสียๆหายๆ ว่าเป็นควาย ดันหลงเข้ามาในสภาได้ยังไงกัน ? เพราะพูดจาแล้วไม่ได้เรื่องได้ราว อย่างที่ปรากฏให้เห็นกันแล้ว ต้องหมั่นหาความรู้ใส่ตัว เปิดตาดูโลกให้กว้างขวาง ประชาชนจะได้ภูมิใจว่า บ้านเมืองเรานี้ ก็มีคนดีพออวดกับเขาได้เหมือนกัน

ก่อนการเลือกตั้งไม่กี่วัน หนังสือพิมพ์มติชน ฉบับพฤหัสที่ ๓ ก.พ.๔๘ พาดหัวข่าว ว่า

“แม้ว อ้างไทม์ แมกกาซีน ตามสื่อไทย”

และเขียนข่าวนโยบาย “กาเฟอีน” ดังนี้

…หนังสือพิมพ์ไทม์เอเซีย ได้นำภาพนายกทักษิณลงปก วันที่ ๑ ได้ลงเนื้อหาวิพากษ์วิจารณ์ตัวนายกไทยในเรื่องต่างๆ ลงท้ายว่าจะกลับมาบริหารอีก ขณะเดียวกันก็ได้วิพากษ์วิจารณ์ว่า นโยบายทักษิโณนิค เป็นเพียงเครื่องกาเฟอีน ที่ทำให้ตาสว่างเพียงชั่วคราว แต่ประชาชนจะมีหนี้สินเพิ่มพูน…

นายกรัฐมนตรีก็เป็นประเภทสิงห์ปืนไว ก็ยิงกระสุนปากตอบไปทันทีว่า

สื่อต่างประเทศไม่รู้อะไร เขียนตามสื่อไทย คนที่ไม่เคยทำมาหากินมันไม่รู้หรอกว่า คนที่ทำมาหากินมันทำอะไรไม่ได้ และพวกนี้มันก็ไม่เข้าใจคนจน กำลังปล่อยคนจนไปดิ้นรน ไปกระเสือกกระสนชีวิตด้วยหนี้นอกระบบ นายกรัฐมนตรีได้กล่าวว่า

“สื่อภาษาต่างประเทศ ๒ ฉบับ คือบางกอกโพสต์กับเนชั่น ที่ไม่ค่อยชอบหน้าผมเขียนออกไป สื่อต่างประเทศก็เอาไปเขียนตาม”

ตรงนี้ผมก็ขอเรียนว่า เห็นด้วยกับคุณทักษิณอยู่หน่อยๆเหมือนกัน เพราะทั้งสองฉบับก็รุมอัดนายก ตั้งแต่หัวค่ำจนอุษาสาง ทักษิณทำอะไรดูจะไม่ถูกใจไปเสียหมด ต่อให้คุณทักษิณหลุดออกจากตำแหนงก็ไม่แน่ว่าจะหยุดด่า แต่นั่นไม่สำคัญ เพราะสื่อมวลชนไทยตั้งแต่หนังสือพิมพ์ วิทยุสถานีจราจรแท้ๆก็ด่าคุณทักษิณ ไม่รู้ว่าโกรธมาแต่ชาติปางไหน ?

รายการเกี่ยวกับพระศาสนาบางรายการ เจ้ากูหลายรูปก็รุมอัดนายก กลิ้งไปกลิ้งมา ทั้งๆที่เหลือเวลาไม่กี่วันก่อนการเลือกตั้ง เรียกว่าเป็นมหกรรมเลยก็ว่าได้ หากนายกเป็นคนธรรมดาผมว่า คงจะได้ชกปากกันไปแล้ว แต่การเป็นผู้บริหารสูงสุดของประเทศ จะใช้วิธีการของคนข้างถนนอย่างนั้นไม่ได้

เรื่องการรุมด่าผู้นำนั้น มีนายกรัฐมนตรีประเทศอะไรจำไม่ได้ ขึ้นดำรงตำแหน่งเป็นนายกเมื่อสามสิบกว่ากว่าปีมาแล้วกระมัง ต้องหวานอมขมกลืนกับสื่อสารมวลชน ที่รวมหัวกันอัดท่านแบบเป็น “แกงมะรุม” คือรุมโขก รุมสับ พูดจาดูถูกเหยียดหยาม ด่าทอท่านอย่างหยาบคาย เปรียบเป็นหมูหมา เป็นสัตว์เลื้อยคลานอะไรไปโน่น ไม่ได้เกรงใจ หรือให้ความเคารพแม้สักนิด

จนวันหนึ่งคนใกล้ชิดประมาณ ๕-๖ คน ไปถามความท่านเป็นการส่วนตัวว่า รู้สึกอย่างไรที่ถูกรุมแบบนี้

ท่านก็พูดจาให้คนที่ถาม เบาๆคล้ายกับพูดลอยๆอย่างปลงตกว่า

“ผมคงทำกรรมเอาไว้มาก เพราะคงไป สังวาส แม่ของพวกมันตั้งแต่ชาติที่แล้ว มาชาตินี้มันก็เลยตามมารุมด่าผมไม่เลิก ! ”

เท่านั้นแหละครับ คนถามแลพะคนฟังก็ฮากันตึง
ใครอยากรู้ว่า นายกรัฐมนตรีท่านนี้ชื่ออะไร ลองไปถามคนเก่าแก่ในโรงพิมพ์แถวถนนราชดำเนินดูก็แล้วกัน แล้วจะรู้ว่าผมไม่ได้เอาเรื่องเท็จมาเล่าให้ท่านฟัง

ผมเห็นว่าการด่ากลับแบบสวนหมัดนั้น หากเร็วไปบางทีก็พลาดพลั้ง โดนสวนกลับเอาง่ายๆ จึงต้องคิดกันให้ดี เพราะคนไม่ชอบหน้ากันนั้น ต่อให้ทำอย่างไรมันก็ไม่หยุดด่า

การด่ากลับนั้นผมเห็นว่า หากมีอารมณ์ขันอยู่บ้าง บางทีก็ทำให้คนถูกด่าหน้าม้านไปได้ แต่หากบารมีไม่ถึงลองไปพูดอย่าง อาจารย์สอนหมาวิทยาลัยตอนเที่ยงคืนครึ่ง ออกมาพูดภาษาหมาว่าเป็นเรื่อง “ยุทธศาสตร์หมากัดหมา” ผมบอกได้เลยว่า

ฟังแล้วไม่เห็นมันจะคมคายเข้าท่าเข้าทางอะไรสักนิด หนังสือพิมพ์ทีมของแกพากันสรรเสริญว่าเฉียบคมเสียเหลือเกิน มาถึงวันนี้ ผมเองยังไม่แน่ใจว่า เจ้าตัวคนพูดเข้าใจคำว่า ยุทธศาสตร์กับยุทธวิธี เหมือนหรือแตกต่างกันตรงไหน ?

แถมลงท้ายดันแบไต๋พูดออกมาเอง ว่า จะไปเลือกหมาพวกเดียวกับตัว นั่นแหละ !

เท่านั้นแหละครับ

เจ้าตัวคนพูดกลายเป็นคนอกตัญญู ต่อผู้บุบพการีตนเอง เพราะพ่อแม่ปู่ย่าตายของผู้พูด ถูกขุดมามาด่าเช็ดกันแบบฟังไม่ได้ เพราะคนที่พ่นคำพูดไม่น่าฟังนี้ลืมไปว่า พรรคการเมืองนั้น มีสมาชิกพรรค ที่เป็นศาสนิกในศาสนาอื่น ที่เห็นว่าหมาเป็นสัตว์ชั้นต่ำ

การด่าทอแบบขุดโคตรเง่าสักกะหลาด มาเล่นงานคนปากปีจอ ปรากฏทั้งตามเวปไซด์รายการวิทยุต่างๆ ชนิดที่ตัวคนพูดฟังแล้วก็ต้องหุบปาก ที่อมหมาเน่าเอาไว้แน่น ไม่กล้าออกมาแอะต่ออีก

ดูไปก็น่าสมเพช
แม้คนพูดจะมีอัตตาสุนัขสูง…แต่ก็เสียหมาไปในที่สุด อย่างไม่เข้าท่าจนได้ !

ที่ร้ายก็คือ
ผู้คนจำนวนมาก สูญเสียความที่เคารพนับถือแกว่า เป็นครูบาอาจารย์ไปแทบจะในทันทีทันใด !!

กรณีหนังสือพิมพ์ต่างประเทศที่ทรงอิทธิพลอย่างนิตยสารไทม์ ออกมาว่ากล่าวกระทบนายกทักษิณ ผมเชื่อโดยปราศจากข้อสงสัยเลยว่า ได้รับข้อมูล และแนวคิดจากหนังสือพิมพ์ภาษาฝรั่งในเมืองไทย

หากผมเป็นกุนซือให้คณทักษิณ จะไม่ยอมให้นายกโต้ตอบแบบรวดเร็ว กับสื่อยักษ์ใหญ่ต่างประเทศอย่างไทม์ แต่จะให้ถอยมาหยุดคิด แล้วให้ที่ปรึกษาโต้ตอบแทน

จึงขอเอาจดหมายที่ส่งให้ ผู้เขียนคอลัมน์นี้ จวกกลับไทม์แมกกาซีน ซึ่งชอบวิจารณ์แบบ “กดกบาลคนไทย” ที่ผมได้ส่งไปให้เจ้าตัวคนเขียนและไทม์แมกกาซีนแล้ว นำมาลงให้ดูเป็นตัวอย่าง หากมีกรณีอย่างนี้ขอให้ช่วยกันตอกกลับ ไม่งั้นมันก็ชอบดูถูกคนไทยอยู่ร่ำไปราวกับพวกมันวิเศษวิเสโสเสียเหลือเกิน

จดหมายของผมมีข้อความดังนี้

Referring to your feature story on Thailand's Prime Minister Taksin:

Perhaps we Thais needed caffeine.
Ex-PM Chuan Leekpai from the Democrat Party was like Prozac. During his time Thailand was practically sedated. He and his gang avoided making decisions, lest it would shake the security of their government chairs. Even the then-new young bloods, some Oxford-educated, like Apisit Vejjajiva, proved lackluster; worse, another Chuan.

We just might give Taksin another four years … caffeine and all. Then we'll see whether we’re wide awake, full of energy to keep Thailand going; or if we're simply caffeine-poisoned.

But do tell me … if Taksin is caffeine, then what is Bush? Cyanide?

The Americans must bear Bush; the Thais will probably have to tolerate Taksin. It seems that neither have any choice.

Vattavan Supunpaysaj

Columnist MANAGER ON LINE, Thailand
Vattavan@yahoo.com

ไม่อยากแปลเอง กลัวไม่ถูกใจท่านผู้อ่าน…ขอยกให้เป็นหน้าที่ของศิษย์เก่าอ๊อกฟอร์ด ของพรรคใหญ่ฝ่ายค้าน…
แปลกันเอาเอง…จะดีกว่าไหม !?

ซินเจียยู่อี่…ซิงนี้ฮวดไช้ ครับ !!

วาทตะวัน สุพรรณเภษัช

……………………………………….

Thais Reject Thaksin’s Colour-Coded System

(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) – Many adults in Thailand are opposed to a proposal to implement a colour-coded system to typify violence in some areas of the country, according to a poll by ABAC. 63 per cent of respondents disagree with the idea.

Religious conflict has affected Thailand in the past few years. The southern provinces are home to a Muslim minority, while the rest of the country is primarily Buddhist. A series of attacks initiated in early 2004 led to the imposition of martial law in the south.

On Feb. 16, prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra introduced a policy aimed at classifying certain villages in the Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces into three into three zones—red, yellow and green—in accordance with unrest.

The classification would also determine the amount of financial aid each area would receive from the government. A "red zone" village could conceivably be stripped of any provincial development funds. On Feb. 19, Thaksin defended the policy as a way to "separate bad people from good."

Thai voters renewed the House of Representatives on Feb. 6. Thaksin’s Thai Love Thais Party - Phak Thai Rak Thai (TRT) elected 376 lawmakers to the 500-seat legislative branch. The prime minister is set to form the first elected single-party government in Thailand’s history.

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with the government’s idea of dividing areas in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand into three colours based on the degree of violence?

Agree


28%

Disagree


63%

Source: ABAC
Methodology: Interviews to 1,778 Thai adults in Bangkok, conducted in from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19, 2005. No margin of error was provided.

Thai PM defends cabinet choices amid criticism
Sunday March 13, 4:07 PM

http://sg.yimg.com/xp/afp/20050313/1448779301.jpg

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra spoke up for his new cabinet amid a barrage of media criticism that it is staffed with political cronies who are not up to the job.

Critics have suggested Thaksin's selection of his cabinet, which is due to be sworn in on Monday, was motivated more by political payback than making adroit appointments.

"I am confident this cabinet can work despite many obstacles," Thaksin told reporters here Sunday as he led an orientation session for the 35 new cabinet members.

"We will work hard. We will not shrink from problems or criticism," he said ahead of the swearing-in ceremony late Monday with King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the royal palace in Hua Hin, southwest of Bangkok.

Thaksin was speaking after senior opposition figures and critics slammed his appointment of long-time allies to key positions.

"The cabinet members include some ex-bureaucrats who have received plum positions after abandoning their political neutrality during the election campaign," former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, now the opposition Democrat Party's chief advisor, said in the Nation newspaper.

Opinion pieces in the English and Thai language media offered further criticism, with one calling the cabinet a "hodgepodge of misfits" and another blasting the "eleven PhDs" now in the body.

Thaksin's line-up includes a dozen new faces and a handful of previous cabinet members returning to key posts, including General Thammarak Issarangkura Na Ayutthaya as defence minister.

Thaksin removed Thammarak from the post one year ago over his inability to rein in separatist violence in Muslim-majority southern provinces which erupted in January 2004.

More than 630 people have since been killed in the unrest, and Thaksin has declared ending the violence one of his second term's top priorities.

Thammarak's post was seen as a reward for organizing Thai Rak Thai's victory in northeastern Thailand, where Thaksin's party won almost every seat.

Thaksin also named his long-time friend, police General Chidchai Vanasathidya, as the new interior minister and also deputy prime minister for security issues.

AIRPORT SCANDAL: Demand for PM to give clear answers
Published on May 02, 2005


Opposition lists 8 key points that need to be clarified as Thaksin insists no corruption was involved in deal

The Democrats yesterday asked the prime minister to answer key questions plaguing the controversial contract to purchase explosives-detection machines for the new international airport, saying his “ambiguous” response to bribery allegations was fuelling public suspicions.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reiterated his stand that no corruption had taken place and dismissed speculation that Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit was facing the axe. He also indicated that the US call for a direct sale between the American supplier and the Airports of Thailand (AOT) might not be that easy in legal terms.

The opposition party’s list of queries revolves around what were described as the strange reactions of parties involved – namely Government House and the Transport Ministry – to allegations of irregularities when they first arose. The questions are:

l The prime minister said he was aware of the allegations late last year and asked top adviser Pansak Vinyaratn to launch a secret investigation. What reason did he have for not informing Transport Minister Suriya?

l Suriya also claimed he was aware of the potential scandal late last year. But why didn’t he react by ordering a probe? Why did he wait until newspapers broke the news?

l What role exactly has Suriya’s adviser, Thirawat Srichatrapimuk, played in the procurement. Why was he involved?

l Why did the Anti-Money Laundering Office react by accusing newspapers of “fantasising” instead of taking the allegations seriously as it should have?

l Why does the government maintain that it still wants to buy from a firm which according to US official documents confessed to bribing or attempting to bribe Thai officials and politicians?

l What exactly did Pansak’s investigation find? Why didn’t the prime minister reveal it?

l What made the prime minister so confident that there was no corruption?

l Why didn’t the Thai government seek information from the US authorities earlier, despite the magnitude of the allegations?

“These are the questions that the Democrat Party and the general public want the prime minister to answer unequivocally because the information found by the US Justice Ministry has fuelled long-standing allegations that the airport project has been infested with corruption,” said Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon.

But Thaksin insisted yesterday that the public would be informed of “everything” once an investigation supervised by Deputy Prime Minister Vishanu Krua-ngam is completed.

“And when the investigation confirms that there’s nothing wrong on this side, the United States will also have to make that clear,” he said.

Asked about the speculation regarding Suriya’s removal, he said: “No, no, no, not yet. The Cabinet is just a few weeks old but you want to see a reshuffle now?”

About the US suggestion that Thailand side-step brokers and agents and buy the CTX explosives-detection machines from supplier GE InVision, Thaksin said legal experts had to be consulted first.

The controversial deal is between ITO Joint Venture, which is the AOT’s contractor for the airport construction, and GE InVision, with Patriot Business Consultants brokering the lucrative contract.

Thaksin also said that the media was over-estimating the price difference between direct purchase and buying through a middleman. “The difference is not that big,” he said.

Govt wrong to block websites

The government's decision to take a sledgehammer to the niggling problem of internet websites run by two well-known dissidents was a bad idea. It put the entire regime of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bad light, and confirmed the view of the government's harshest critics that the premier would rather knock out political opposition than spar and negotiate.

In the public's mind, only the harshest dictatorial regimes ban the opposition's voice. Last week, like Iran and China, Thailand banned and blocked the websites of two of its most prominent public critics.

Not that the website proprietors are proponents of soft, reasonable debate, of course. Ekkayuth Anchanbutr and Anchalee Paireerak were combative and more often presented the face of firebrands rather than reasonable voices of opposition.

Mr Ekkayuth, whose own life has been spotted with occasional scandals, burst back into prominence last year with strong, some say scurrilous, accusations of big-time corruption against the Thaksin regime.

Ms Anchalee was in the midst of a not always civilised discussion over whether her community radio station and network violated antenna height and transmission strength regulations.

But neither were Thai-insider.com or FM9225.com peddling pornography, racial or religious hatred, sedition or treason like the other thousands of blocked websites.

If the prime minister, his cabinet members or government officials had disputes over factual material, as seems likely, the blunt instrument of censorship will not prove who is right. The government controls most media and had many ways to argue. The government spokesman regularly holds news conferences which are broadcast and reported by all major media. Mr Thaksin holds regular Saturday morning confabs with the nation via radio, and there are numerous talk shows on TV. Web-based facilities for debate are virtually unlimited. Instead, the government blocked the two ``people's channels'' _ community radio and the internet.

Then there are the courts. The government has the means to launch civil or criminal charges. If Mr Ekkayuth and Ms Anchalee were charged and found guilty by a court, the public might even support punitive action such as censorship.

It is neither right nor encouraging that the government chose to employ a blunt instrument for a problem that required only some adjustment.

As a result of the website closings, many now believe Mr Thaksin and his government wish to intimidate would-be critics and the loyal opposition alike.

Today's Premier Thaksin is more thoughtful, generally more tolerant of dissent than the prime minister of a few years ago. But his attempt to cultivate an image of a thoughtful and patient leader came up against the reality of harsh censorship. When his Information and Communications Technology Ministry ordered the closure of the two high-profile websites, the only visible image was an impatient government ready to ride roughshod over any citizens unfortunate enough to ask questions or raise objections.

The government's claims that the two websites were somehow seditious or even were against the nation's institutions were not credible. Some people neither accept or believe some of Mr Ekkayuth's corruption allegations. Similarly, Ms Anchalee hardly seemed credible in maintaining her radio antenna was of a legal height when it was placed atop a 38-storey building.

Now Mr Ekkayuth has opened a cat-and-mouse game with authorities with a new website. Ms Anchalee has announced she is leaving Thailand. Neither of these is a happy result.

The intent of the constitution and laws are clear: Every Thai has freedom of speech, and is innocent in the eyes of the authorities until he or she is proven guilty. Criticism of the government, even obsessed and combative criticism, is no justification for curtailing free speech.

Bangkok Post

Bangkok people back emergency decree

Most people in Bangkok and in the insurgent hotbeds of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat support passage of the executive decree to combat unrest in the South, according to an Abac Poll.

The poll showed 72.6% of Bangkokians and 86.3% of people in the three southern border provinces surveyed backed the decree which gives the prime minister sweeping emergency powers, including press censorship, to deal with the situation in the South.

Those who disagreed with the decree accounted for 21.3% of people in Bangkok and 10.4% in the three provinces

Seventy-seven per cent rated the southern security mayhem as intense to very intense while 15.2% viewed the situation as moderately violent.

The opinion survey found 57.3% blamed the violence on discord between officials and local residents, 54.9% on the conflict over underground interests between police and influential figures, 53.2% on the drugs, 50.6% on the weapons trade, 48.7% on misunderstandings from news reports, 46.6% on separatism and 42.9% on criminal activities. More than 70% insisted the need for security outweighed the issue of human rights while 22.1% thought otherwise. Altogether 1,463 people including 428 residents in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat responded to the survey held on July 15-16.

Thaksin's Troubles
An economic slump and deadly bombings in the South have put Thailand's Prime Minister on the defensive
BY ROBERT HORN


Monday, Jul. 18, 2005
Six months ago, thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra seemed indestructible. His approval rating soared to nearly 80% and his party clinched a landslide victory in February's parliamentary election. But in the past few weeks, Thaksin has started to look more vulnerable. Violence by Muslim separatists in the country's south has continued to escalate, and the economy has been bruised by December's tsunami as well as surging oil prices: GDP is now expected to grow 4.5% in 2005—down sharply from last year's 6.1%. A corruption scandal involving his Transport Minister has also hurt. A poll by Assumption University released last week reported that Thaksin's popularity has slumped to 46%.

But Thaksin is nothing if not a fighter, and last week he came out swinging on both the security and economic fronts. Following a series of bombings Thursday in the southern town of Yala that killed two people, Thaksin issued an executive decree giving himself the power to order arrests without warrants, ban arms possession, declare curfews and censor news reports. "We have to be decisive now," he said. Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister showered various sectors with pecuniary perks, including a 5% civil-service pay hike, a tax cut for businesses, $500 million in loans for rural villages, and a promise to increase the minimum wage. Critics contend that these policies will make little difference. "When you have drought, bird flu, stagnating tourism, decelerating growth in exports and a ballooning oil-import bill," says Chris Baker, co-author of Thaksin: The Business of Politics in Thailand, "I can't see how a small income stimulus is going to do anything." Thaksin's political rivals saw defensiveness in his actions. "He certainly seems to have lost the impression that he is invincible," says Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition Democrat Party. Still, Abhisit concedes, "It would be premature to say that the PM could not recover."

From the Jul. 25, 2005 issue of TIME Asia Magazine

if only people had voted for the democrats in february instead of being fooled by thaksin's marketing team.

since the change of the opposition leader...
the democrat is becoming a more appealing alternative to the declining TRT...

i know that neither the democrat or the TRT is perfect....
but at least, those at the helm at the democrat party seems less 'nam nao' than Suriya along with a zoo of other sucky cabinet ministers.

the only key member of the TRT which i would consider 'respectable' is probably mr. somkhit chatusiphithak

no offence... just a personal opinion...

you're not offending anybody. You're allowed to say what you want about whoever you want.

Even Somkit is not that good. He's a marketing person, not an economist. Question is, what has Thaksin's administration really done for the economy besides pumping in money?

I don't see any long term political/social/economic groundwork being laid. Nothing's being done with corruption. No-one is becoming more politically aware. We don't have more efficient government. Our economy is dependent on something as unstable as oil prices. Our leader is immature. The political system is as corrupt as ever (where're all those people who said Thaksin has to use people like Nevin to establish his power, then afterwards, he'll get rid of them?). Its only a few more years until "poverty is eradicated." Where're the improvements to the educational system?

I can't see anything more than superficial, hasty, short-term, political, and otherwise useless change.

Got me all wound up........tell me if I'm missing something.

i agree with you Khun Kuanteen

pumping money into the ecnomy in a form of fiscal policy has almost no effect in strengthening our economy.
so what this ogvt has done so far is to waste a lot of tax payers' money on non-socially benefiting populist projects

on the other hand, the thai economy is driven mainly by consumption, investment and sometimes monetary policy (interest rate --> property market / bond market / direct investment)

what the govt have got to do now is:

1) make the economy strong and stable... maintaining some growth (positive GDP) but do not be overly obsessed with GDP figures... stability more important than high growth. Banking system / property market / stock market / currency exchange market / bond market must move on with good fundamentals (no reckless speculations, no over-heating, no bubbles, no 'hot money')

2) encourage direct investments or create a conducive evironment to invest. good infrastructure / political stability / creation of skilled workforce / attractive interest rates / allow more funding for small and medium enterprises so that banks will not favour only large corporations. carrot and stick method will do the magic... by means of special direct tax rate / tax break or tax exemption for companies engaging in extensive R&D and for pioneering enterprises in a budding home-grown industry.

3) for long term benefit, apply supply-side policy (train workers so they become more skilled / improve education system and make it more accessable to all / encourage entrepreneurial spirit and teaches new business ventures on how they can take calculated risks)... encourage company restructuring, boost efficieny / productivity, focusing more on value adding. improve the civil service / bureaucratic system and gear state enterprises toward financial self-dependency and minimum wastage / duplicated works.

easy to say... but these take a lot of courage for the govt to apply them to our economy...

please... no more handing out large fundings by the PM in a hyped-up populist caravan...

Infrastructure should mean more than just roads, rail, and waterways.

Infrastructure should be the social and political and physical instruments that can provide good foundation for a nation to grow and prosper.

Thai Prime Minister defends choice of new cabinet reshuffle
By Channel NewsAsia's Indo-China May Ying Welsh

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BANGKOK : Thailand's new cabinet has been sworn in before the King.

And even though 17 of the 35 posts have been changed, it's made up largely of the same faces.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has defended his latest reshuffle - the 11th since he took office in 2001.

He has moved controversial transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit over to the industry portfolio, saying Mr Suriya "does good work".

And he's given Commerce Minister Thanong Bidaya the finance job again because Thailand, he says, needs to be more "aggressive".

The Thai Prime Minister reshuffled his cabinet to tackle the problems besetting his second term.

Corruption scandals, a flagging economy and the intractable Southern violence have sent his popularity to an all-time low.

Just six months after re-election, the Prime Minister is forced to prove to the Thai public that he's still effective.

But Mr Thaksin hardly made a sea change - only three ministers were sacked and 12 others simply swapped places.

He even transferred controversial Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, embroiled in a corruption scandal over Bangkok's new airport, to the Industry Ministry.

That despite a public outcry for his removal.

And critics are calling it a game of musical chairs.

Said political analyst Asadang Panikabutr: "The Cabinet reshuffle shows that the Prime Minister doesn't have the best interests of the public at heart. Rather, he's concerned about the best interests of his people and their business affairs, both within and outside his party."

Mr Thaksin moved interior minister Chidchai Wanasathit over to Justice.

This is the third time he has changed the Interior post, as minister after minister failed to stamp out the insurgency in Southern Thailand.

Finance Minister Dr. Somkid swaps jobs with Commerce Minister Thanong Bidaya.

The finance position was not considered desirable since the economy isn't expected to recover any time soon.

"The economic slowdown, rising inflation and current account deficit will pressure on the current government. I can foresee there should be some political change if the economic problems persist," said Dr Anusorn Tamajai, an economist.

The Prime Minister may have wanted more substantive changes in the cabinet, but growing factionalism within the ruling Thai Rak Thai party is weakening his position as the founder and strongman of the party.

Analysts say Mr Thaksin has no choice but to keep certain ministers on, so as to keep his party together.

Despite the appearance of change in Mr. Thaksin's cabinet, the re-shuffle is not expected to have much impact on the three problems that inspired it in the first place - the sliding Thai economy, spiraling violence in the South, and the Prime Minister's sagging popularity.

- CNA /ls

Abhisit Vejjajiva (Mark) - Up and coming Thai Politician, member of Democrat Party.


http://www.abhisit.org/2004/cale/abhisit20June.jpg

Follow His Majesty's advice, public urged

Prem: Keep the nation out of cheats' hands

WASSANA NANUAM

Statesman Prem Tinsulanonda has once again hammered home his plea for the nation to follow His Majesty the King's call for Thais to help save their country from falling into the hands of bad people.

Presiding over the award-winning ceremony of an essay contest on ``I Love Good People. I Hate Cheats'' yesterday, Gen Prem asked all adult Thais to set good examples for youngsters by reining in rampant graft to the best of their ability.

Gen Prem, the Privy Council president and a former prime minister, has spoken out against corruption and a lack of good governance on several occasions.

He praised organisers for making people write on the given topic, saying they were serving their country.

``I hate cheats the most. I hate them as much as you do. People who cheat do not love this country. They slow down our progress. They cause us trouble.

``Let's show to them that we are now ready to fight corruption,'' he said.

Gen Prem said the people should also heed the King's advice not to tolerate dishonest acts and not give bad people a chance to rule the country.

In his speech as long ago as 1969, the King said: ``There are both good and bad people in our country. No one can make everyone a good person. Keeping the country in peace and order is not about making everyone good, but about making good people rule the country to prevent bad people from having power and causing trouble.''

Gen Prem also called on the people to instil in themselves morals and ethics, saying everyone could help build a good and decent society by starting to do good and by being honest.

``We need to increase the `white area' in our country,'' he said.

Gen Prem's anti-graft message followed Auditor-General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka's explanation of how politicians, traders and government officials had together robbed the nation.

Khunying Jaruvan said at a seminar on ``Corruption Problems and the Flaws in Constitutional Scrutiny Mechanisms'' at Thammasat University on Sunday that corrupt people made the state buy items at inflated prices, such as 5,000 baht for a bougainvillea tree for which the real cost was less than 100 baht.

In the case of a wastewater treatment project, politicians had bought the land set as the project site cheaply, then sold it to the state at a much higher price.

``Then when the project was about to be built, they told the state that the land was completely landlocked, forcing taxpayers to pay to buy all the surrounding plots,'' Khunying Jaruvan said.

She said bidding for state projects was also plagued by price collusion and the setting of certain specifications to suit certain bidders.

Khunying Jaruvan said corrupt officials were rarely punished as their supervisors often claimed their own inquiries found they had made only small mistakes and had already been given a reprimand.

``This is a completely blind spot in our monitoring system,'' she said.

Khunying Jaruvan did not believe e-auctions would help prevent corruption, as the government insists they will, particularly in mega-projects, because Thai people's public conscience was too low.

``Corruption is on the rise, but people's morals are on the slide.

``The word `idealism'' has already been deleted from the dictionary,'' she said.

Too many naive uneducated people falling pray to politicians. No offense previous posters. :bash:

Too many naive uneducated people falling pray to politicians. No offense previous posters. :bash:

What's your suggestion?

Thais urged to heed King's advice on graft

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

Thais were yesterday urged to adopt His Majesty the King's advice in dealing with corruption and put it into practice.

Sumeth Tantivejjakul, chairman of the Foundation for a Clean and Transparent Thailand (FaCT), said corruption has been a long-standing problem for the country. The government, he said, has been very concerned about it, placing it as one of the top three priorities on the national agenda along with drugs and poverty.

But he said dealing with corruption was not only the government's duty, but also that of all Thais. Even though it was difficult to rid the country of the problem, the people needed to help combat it in order to reduce it to a minimum.

''I believe that the most effective way is to put into practice His Majesty the King's advice on how best to deal with corruption,'' he said.

Mr Sumeth made his remarks during a keynote address delivered yesterday at the opening ceremony of Her Majesty the Queen's work exhibitions to mark her birthday held jointly by FaCT and the Civil Service Commission's Office.

He said the King had repeatedly advised his people to distinguish good people from bad and not to associate with any bad ones who might have a negative influence on their lives.

Furthermore, the King wished to see Thai people join together and be united because it would empower them and enable them to succeed in dealing with the corruption problem.

Mr Sumeth, who is also secretary-general of the King's Chai Pattana Foundation, suggested that Thais observe the King's self-sufficiency economy theory which would help them find happiness rather than wealth which might later result in corruption problems.

He also said he wanted to see all educational and religious institutes join in the anti-corruption campaigns initiated by FaCT. The government has allocated a 20-million-baht budget to pay for the campaigns.

He said the campaigns placed a lot of emphasis on children, encouraging parents to teach them not to become obsessed with materialism and capitalism because these were the source of corruption.

King’s word of approval published

Published on August 30, 2005

The writer of “Royal Power” has added a new chapter to the book’s second edition that is reserved for His Majesty the King’s compliments about his work. Pramual Rujanaseri writes that he was delighted to hear His Majesty approved of the book. He wrote that Piya Malakul na Ayutthaya, an editor at Advance Publishing Company, had relayed the royal compliment to him on August 8.

“I’ve read your book. I’m impres-sed with it. It’s a good book with precise information,” Pramual quotes His Majesty as saying in the book. “Could you tell him [the writer] I like the book very much,” His Majesty - with his hand on his heart - reportedly asked Piya to relay to Pramual.

Pramual notes in the chapter that the nation is in trouble due to a plethora of problems, including continuing violence in the southernmost provinces, the oil-price crisis, rising household debt, drugs, social malaise, crime, corruption and a weak state sector. The problems are so great that the people cannot see their future, he writes.

Amid the darkness, the country can only hope for the royal power of His Majesty to bring about relief.

Scrapping transit lines will hurt TRT

Khao Sod Editorial, Sept 4 _ The government's decision to scrap the Purple and Orange subway lines and replace them with a cheaper passenger bus system will have severe repercussions not only on the ruling Thai Rak Thai party, but also commuters and business operators in Bangkok. The Transport Ministry said the 200-billion-baht budget for the subway lines would be used to develop new water resources. This may sound reasonable, but reactions from the public and members of the Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) are largely negative.

During its election campaign early this year, the TRT promised to implement extensive subway systems in Bangkok to ease traffic congestion and give commuters a more efficient and convenient mode of transportation. Now that the promise will not be fully honoured, TRT lawmakers are afraid that the party's popularity will suffer.

Critics said the grand project might have been floated merely as a vote-getting gimmick, with no real intention to fully implement it.

By scrapping the two main subway lines, the ruling party will lose its credibility in the eyes of the city voters. How could the party announce the project without making a detailed study into its cost and benefits, as well as its viability?

Not surprisingly, Bangkok commuters were furious when they heard that the promise would not be kept. The next time Thai Rak Thai utters some grand idea, everyone will have to think twice.

In fact, the 200 billion baht set for the Purple and Orange Lines had already been incorporated into the 1,700 billion baht mega-project programme of the ruling party. That budget will be spent. The government will not save a single baht by diverting the money to the water resource development project.

The Thai Rak Thai party has made a big mistake that will reflect badly on its own image. Bangkok commuters and related businesses will also suffer greatly by the cancellation of the two subway lines, which would have served a large number of Bangkok residents.

King’s word of approval published

Published on August 30, 2005


Royal powers become topic of open discussion
TUL PINKAEW

The monarchy has been a stabilising force for Thai society but the most delicate and significant power of His Majesty the King is being contested by politics, speakers at a forum said yesterday. Despite the absence of Privy Councillor Gen Surayud Chulanont who was advised by Privy Council chairman Gen Prem Tinsulanonda not to attend, the auditorium at Thammasat University's faculty of law was packed to the rafters as thousands crammed into the hall to attend an open forum on ``the Power of the Monarchy'', the first of its kind to be held.

``The unique element of Thai history is that the country has always had a king on the throne as the nation's leader. It is the safety net that keeps the country safe from harm when there's a dangerous shift in the balance of power,'' said rebellious Thai Rak Thai MP Pramual Rujanaseri.

Mr Pramual, whose book ``Royal Powers'' has become a best-seller, said this government has no respect for anything whatsoever as was evident when it decided on its own during the last parliament recess to enforce an emergency decree to solve the southern crisis.

``This country has two options. One is to continue to be the Kingdom of Thailand in which the prosperity of the country is measured not by economic prosperity alone but also by the improved quality of life as suggested by His Majesty the King, and the second option is to become the Thailand Co Ltd where money is everything and everything is money,'' said Mr Pramual.

``Can this country accept the fact that royal power was only a symbol of historical value and had no legislative significance? I for one can't,'' he said.

The forum comes at the height of political tensions caused by the controversy over Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka's status as auditor-general.

The Senate, following a ruling by the Constitution Court that Khunying Jaruvan's nomination was in violation of the rules, has voted in favour of a replacement for her.

Yet, the Palace has maintained a complete silence over her nominated successor.

Adding to the nomination's controversy, a controversial reshuffle of military chiefs, widely thought to have been strongly influenced by Supreme Commander Gen Chaisit Shinawatra, the prime minister's cousin, has been ``stranded'' at the Palace. The situation is unprecedented.

```We will reign with righteousness, for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people.' Those are the traditional words pronounced by each Thai king on the day of his ascension to the throne,'' said Senator Kaewsun Atibodhi.

Mr Kaewsun said the constitution does not say everything; there are unwritten rules, norms and morals which all Thais must uphold.

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POLITICAL DRAMA: Protesters clash at Thaksin’s house
Published on December 25, 2005

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Pro-democracy groups and Egat unions demand PM’s resignation. A crowd of 200 protesters marched to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s residence on Charan Sanitwong 69 Road in the early hours of yesterday morning to demand an end to the Egat privatisation plan.

Some of the demonstrators, mostly from pro-democracy groups and Egat Plc employees, also demanded the prime minister’s resignation, accusing him of mismanaging the country’s affairs.

The protesters had attended the talk show of media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul at Lumpini Park on Friday evening and afterwards travelled to the premier’s house on the other side of Bangkok, arriving after midnight.

However, they were blocked at the entrance to the soi by anti-riot police forces and could not reach the premier’s residence despite several attempts.

Thaksin, who had been inspecting the flood situation in the South, reached home not long before the protesters reached there.

“The march is a gesture of protest against the Thaksin government,” said protest organiser Anusorn Som-on.

Anusorn said many people were disappointed with Thaksin, particularly with his plan to privatise Egat, the state-run electricity company.

“We want Thaksin to explain the Egat privatisation,” he said. “We also demand that he return his power to the King in order for His Majesty to bestow it back to the people.”

The protesters camped on the sidewalk throughout the night and made several attempts to cross the police barricades. No casualties were reported.

Earlier on Friday, a group of about 200 anti-Sondhi Chiang Rai residents tried to disrupt his talk show, prompting an exchange of words with his supporters at Lumpini Park.

Members of the rival groups were seen engaging in fisticuffs, but no complaints were lodged with police.

Former Thai Rak Thai MP Pichet Chuamuangphan organised the Chiang Rai group’s trip to Bangkok.

Commenting on the incidents, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called for calm, saying opposing sides were entitled to air their opinions and should not allow the debate to degenerate into violence.

Prime Minister Thaksin hit back at the increasing criticism he faces in his weekly radio address yesterday, accusing his critics of having ulterior motives.

“Lately I have been bombarded with criticism and I don’t know what to do or say as my critics try to fault me,” he said. “But I am not disheartened because they have agendas against me,” he added.

“My critics are attacking out of frustration that I stand in the way of their cheating, or that I refused to grant television concessions, or that they lost their Cabinet positions,” he said.

Thaksin said he would not waver in his determination to serve the public, pointing out that he was elected by almost 20 million voters.

He said he would carry on his fight to protect the public interest and root out corruption, regardless of what critics said.

Reacting to Thaksin’s comments, Abhisit said the prime minister might have misrepresented his critics.

“It is true that some critics might have hidden agendas, but the majority of criticism has been made with good intentions,” he said.

Thaksin’s arrogance would attract even more opponents, the Democrat leader said.

He urged Thaksin to try to rebut allegations rather than discredit his critics.

“Many leading figures, non-governmental organisations and academics have been questioning the government on myriad issues. They are acting out of concern for the country and not because of grudges,” he said.

i know that neither the democrat or the TRT is perfect....
but at least, those at the helm at the democrat party seems less 'nam nao' than Suriya along with a zoo of other sucky cabinet ministers.

the only key member of the TRT which i would consider 'respectable' is probably mr. somkhit chatusiphithak

no offence... just a personal opinion...

How old are you????

:)

i'm 23

Thaksin plays down think-tank's warnings
YUWADEE TUNYASIRI

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday played down a leading think-tank's warnings on the government's invitation to foreign investors, and vowed to make the economy stronger next year with a ''dual track'' economic strategy.

His response came just a day after economists at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) gave a chorus of warnings on the state's megaprojects valued at 1.8 trillion baht. The government has invited foreign companies to bid for the projects.

''Those who work on the projects have not worried about them because they know there will be no problems after we've done all the figures,'' Mr Thaksin said without going into details.

The government briefed around 100 foreign ambassadors on the projects in the middle of this month. The projects include the construction of a web of subways and railways planned to lessen traffic problems on Bangkok streets.

Contracts, according to the government, would be given to foreign investors with favourable financial packages, including barter trade deals.

However, the TDRI warned the government that it should be careful in initiating new projects, and study their pros and cons.

Its advice is in line with His Majesty the King's concept of an economy of sufficiency, which emphasises moderation and careful consideration of ''untested theories''.

TDRI president Chalongphob Sussangkarn said bartering may not always lead to the country getting the best from an exchange, and it also involves additional costs in a form of commissions incurred by a facilitator company.

However, Mr Thaksin said if the government completely closes the door to bartering, it will cut an opportunity for Thailand to extend its markets abroad. The country has an advantage in producing farm produce which could be used in barter exchanges.

Mr Thaksin said the government is paying attention to the domestic economy, which is mainly based on the agriculture sector.

the TDRI seems to focus its economic strategy on exports, which is a so-called ''single-track'' perspective, he said. His government had a ''dual track'' strategy which concentrates on the local economy in addition to global trade.

The TDRI, in his view, focuses less on the domestic economy.

THAI RAK THAI: ‘This year we’ll listen to people’
Published on January 01, 2006

Ruling party pledges to turn over a new leaf. After seeing its popularity plunge last year, the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party is promising to listen to the public more this year and do a better job of explaining itself. “We are going to work harder,” Deputy Transport Minister Phum-tham Wechayachai told The Nation. “We’re going to respond to every significant accusation and clarify the government’s point of view so that people will better understand us,” the Thai Rak Thai deputy secretary-general said in an exclusive interview. Phumtham admitted that his party had either ignored or paid too little heed to its critics last year.

“We were sort of obsessed with working hard to achieve policy goals, but from now on we are going to listen to others and regularly evaluate our performance,” he said.

“Virtually, we’ll respond to every dissenting voice if the remarks are useful.” The party is planning a major ramp up of its public relations campaign.

“If we want to regain public trust, we have to dispel lingering doubts. This is our mission and the premier is behind the renewed efforts,” Phumtham said.

Asked about the perception that the government has failed to tackle corruption, especially in cases involving people closely tied to it, Phumtham said: “As you know, it is not easy to solve the corruption problem.”

“All sectors of society should join hands to do this. We’re committed to fighting corruption and bringing wrongdoers to justice,” he added.

The minister also said that many business people, regardless of party affiliation, had benefited from economic growth.

Phumtham believes Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s credibility remains intact in the eyes of most people, despite his declining popularity in opinion polls following a series of high-profile corruption scandals.

“Only time will prove if this [declining popularity] is true. An administration could be toppled if it failed to serve the people and explain the key issues which the people would like to be informed about,” he said.

“If we’re not arrogant, we can manage most of the problems.”

The government plans to commence several large-scale projects this year.

Bangkok’s new mass-transit scheme, for example, should be approved by the end of March and at least three new routes are likely to be built by the end of the premier’s second term, Phumtham said.

He expects the number of Thai Rak Thai Party members to rise from the current 15 million countrywide, as more sectors of society will be urged to play a role in the party.

It will also adjust its working style so that key government figures are able to meet MPs and party members more often, in order to exchange opinions and follow up action for specific constituencies.

Cabinet members, MPs and party members will participate regularly in seminars.

The party remains more popular than the opposition Democrat Party by a wide margin, he claimed.

“You may say that our popularity is declining, but the approval rating has never plunged below 40 per cent, while other parties have only about 20 per cent,” he said.

When asked to comment on infighting and the soured relationship between Thaksin and some party factions - specifically the Wang Nam Yen camp of Snoh Thienthong - Phumtham said Snoh was still widely respected but will have to decide soon what he plans to do next.

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

THAI RAK THAI: ‘This year we’ll listen to people’
Published on January 01, 2006

Ruling party pledges to turn over a new leaf. After seeing its popularity plunge last year, the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party is promising to listen to the public more this year and do a better job of explaining itself. “We are going to work harder,” Deputy Transport Minister Phum-tham Wechayachai told The Nation. “We’re going to respond to every significant accusation and clarify the government’s point of view so that people will better understand us,” the Thai Rak Thai deputy secretary-general said in an exclusive interview. Phumtham admitted that his party had either ignored or paid too little heed to its critics last year.

“We were sort of obsessed with working hard to achieve policy goals, but from now on we are going to listen to others and regularly evaluate our performance,” he said.

“Virtually, we’ll respond to every dissenting voice if the remarks are useful.” The party is planning a major ramp up of its public relations campaign.

“If we want to regain public trust, we have to dispel lingering doubts. This is our mission and the premier is behind the renewed efforts,” Phumtham said.

Asked about the perception that the government has failed to tackle corruption, especially in cases involving people closely tied to it, Phumtham said: “As you know, it is not easy to solve the corruption problem.”

“All sectors of society should join hands to do this. We’re committed to fighting corruption and bringing wrongdoers to justice,” he added.

The minister also said that many business people, regardless of party affiliation, had benefited from economic growth.

Phumtham believes Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s credibility remains intact in the eyes of most people, despite his declining popularity in opinion polls following a series of high-profile corruption scandals.

“Only time will prove if this [declining popularity] is true. An administration could be toppled if it failed to serve the people and explain the key issues which the people would like to be informed about,” he said.

“If we’re not arrogant, we can manage most of the problems.”

The government plans to commence several large-scale projects this year.

Bangkok’s new mass-transit scheme, for example, should be approved by the end of March and at least three new routes are likely to be built by the end of the premier’s second term, Phumtham said.

He expects the number of Thai Rak Thai Party members to rise from the current 15 million countrywide, as more sectors of society will be urged to play a role in the party.

It will also adjust its working style so that key government figures are able to meet MPs and party members more often, in order to exchange opinions and follow up action for specific constituencies.

Cabinet members, MPs and party members will participate regularly in seminars.

The party remains more popular than the opposition Democrat Party by a wide margin, he claimed.

“You may say that our popularity is declining, but the approval rating has never plunged below 40 per cent, while other parties have only about 20 per cent,” he said.

When asked to comment on infighting and the soured relationship between Thaksin and some party factions - specifically the Wang Nam Yen camp of Snoh Thienthong - Phumtham said Snoh was still widely respected but will have to decide soon what he plans to do next.

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

By Kate McGeown
BBC News, Bangkok

When protesters demanding his resignation broke into Government House on Friday, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may have wondered at how quickly public opinion can change.

Less than a year ago, Mr Thaksin was re-elected with a huge majority, feted as the man who could alleviate poverty while simultaneously improving the country's finances with his "Thaksinomic" agenda.

But since then he has faced a barrage of criticism over matters as diverse as corruption and misuse of power, free trade, and an ongoing Islamic insurgency in the country's south.

"The honeymoon period is obviously over," said Giles Ungpakorn, a political analyst at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

"The real problems in society are emerging, and there are many groups who are now coming out to oppose the prime minister."

Mr Thaksin's supporters say there is no cause for alarm. They point out that with no major election on the horizon, Mr Thaksin's rural popularity is still strong.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said the prime minister was unfazed by the recent protests.

"It is normal for any leader in any country for their popularity to go up and down," he said.


At the moment, there is no serious challenge to Thaksin on a national basis
Giles Ungpakorn

Corruption allegations

One of the chief thorns in Mr Thaksin's side is a business tycoon named Sondhi Limthongkul.

In the past few months, Mr Sondhi - an erstwhile friend of Mr Thaksin - has been on a single-handed mission to discredit the prime minister.

By fighting for freedom of the press and political reform, he has struck a chord with many middle-class, urban Thais.

Mr Sondhi has used various allegations of corruption to further his cause - including accusations of bribery in the purchase of equipment for Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi airport, and conflicts of interest involving business interests owned by Mr Thaksin's family.

When his current affairs show Thailand Weekly was taken off air last summer, Mr Sondhi launched a series of mobile talk shows in Bangkok's Lumpini Park, attracting huge crowds eager to hear his latest allegations of government mismanagement and abuse of power.

It was his latest show on Friday which led to the break-in at Government House, with Mr Sondhi leading his supporters there to demand Mr Thaksin's resignation.

But according to Giles Ungpakorn, although Mr Sondhi has been effective at galvanising opposition to Mr Thaksin, he is not a great threat to the prime minister.

"At the moment, there is no serious challenge to Thaksin on a national basis," Mr Ungpakorn said.

Part of the reason for this is that the various groups who have voiced grievances against the prime minister do not have a unified agenda.

Only some of the thousands who have protested against Mr Thaksin in recent weeks are supporters of Mr Sondhi. Some are farmers or teachers, angry at changes in legislation, while others oppose the prime minister's stance on free trade.

In fact, the most unifying factor among them may be anger at perceived government corruption, and even this is an issue which only galvanises a few people into action.

Pasuk Pongpaijitr, the co-author of a book called Thaksin: the Business of Politics in Thailand, said that while corruption did concern some sectors of Thai society, it was important not to overestimate its importance.

"What we hear in the newspapers often represents a minority view. For many people, especially in the countryside, it's not that important."

"But it could alter people's views more if it was coupled with an economic downturn," she added.

Southern violence

Another issue on which Mr Thaksin has often been criticised, especially in the international press, is his handling of the ongoing Islamic insurgency in the south.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the past two years in the continuing violence, and human rights groups accuse the authorities of exacerbating the situation with their heavy-handed approach.

But while the situation is obviously affecting Mr Thaksin's standing in the south - his Thai Rak Thai party currently has no MPs in the three worst-affected provinces - it is yet to become an issue which affects the way people living in other parts of the country cast their ballots.

In fact, according to Pasuk Pongpaijitr, the prime minister is actually gaining from the situation by taking advantage of people's sense of insecurity.

"He may have made things worse, but he's capitalising on it, in same way George Bush has been doing with Iraq," she said.

All that could change, Giles Ungpakorn warned, if the violence worsened.

"If the situation escalates or there are bombs in other places, like Bangkok, or if more police and army are killed, it could seriously affect Thaksin's popularity," he said.

TV opportunity

With all this criticism against him, Mr Thaksin has retreated to safer ground this week, concentrating on a topic which even the opposition finds hard to criticise - his policy of poverty alleviation.

He is spending five days in the north-eastern province of Roi Et, holding workshops to discuss his proposals and even living in a tent in the garden of a local villager.

"This is a good way of deflecting attention from other issues which the newspapers are pressing him on at the moment," said Pasuk Pongpaijitr.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said the main aim of the trip was to educate officials about the prime minister's plans.

But once again, the critics are refusing to let up. The Thai media has almost universally labelled his trip a publicity stunt, due to the astonishing 96 hours of TV coverage planned, in a special programme called Backstage show: The prime minister.

Even his trip up to Roi Et was disrupted by protesters. Hundreds of teachers staged a rally in the area on Monday morning, and Mr Sondhi has taken his talk show to the province.

It seems that even by sleeping in a tent in one of the most isolated parts of Thailand, Mr Thaksin cannot escape his critics.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41221000/jpg/_41221380_fta203.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41221000/jpg/_41221378_protesters_reuters203.jpg

That pic of Thaksin and G.Bush makes me laugh every time I look at.It's so funny.Sorry if I have no any comment about this thread.I'm just waiting for their (the goverment) time out and I gonna consider for other choices if we,Thai people might have,na. :)

I wonder why all of a sudden everyone hates Thaksin?? what did he do??

Khun Rayman,

The great leader want to Overthrow "the Heaven" so he can assume himsel into the 1st presidetn of Thailand -> Clear and Simple ... Even worse he nearly turn all parts of Thailand, Not just the South into "Red Zone"

I just wonder why people are stupid enough to believe the bullshit sondhi is talking about Thaksin.Thaksin is helping poor people and he has made Thailand a lot better.Can you go back in time and compare Thailand to the time when Chuan Leekpai had the power?? all buildings around Bangkok was in skeleton mode, noone wanted to complete those unfinished buildnings. Skytrain went bad, they almost had to close it.Drugs was a really really big problem before Thaksin took over and made it a lot better. Thaksin has made a LOT for Thailand and why are people against him?? because they are being brainwashed by sondhi?? common!!!!!

PM Thaksin is awesome. Some people just develop more slowly. Its very saddening.

There're a lot more to a country than a good skyline.

I just wonder why people are stupid enough to believe the bullshit sondhi is talking about Thaksin.Thaksin is helping poor people and he has made Thailand a lot better.Can you go back in time and compare Thailand to the time when Chuan Leekpai had the power?? all buildings around Bangkok was in skeleton mode, noone wanted to complete those unfinished buildnings. Skytrain went bad, they almost had to close it.Drugs was a really really big problem before Thaksin took over and made it a lot better. Thaksin has made a LOT for Thailand and why are people against him?? because they are being brainwashed by sondhi?? common!!!!!

many voters who dislike Thaksin don't support Sondhi either. these are also the very same people who don't think that Chuan would be a suitable PM in the future. subscribing to democracry means that i do respect your support for TRT and thaksin. everyone is entitled to an opinion and voice it at the ballot box. personally, i feel that thaksin and his govt could have done a lot better given the general economic climate, thaksin's influence and wealth as well as the new constitution.

for your info, the real estate sector didn't go boom or bust just becuase thaksin's in power. should PM thaksin came to power in 1998, i doubt we would see many projects revived any earlier. the sector itself needed a few years to recover and it did since 2001. you can't expect a PM to come in and revitalise an industry fresh from a crisis simply by waving his magic wand. things just don't improve overnight. the financial crisis that occured in 1997 was generally due to the lack of financial discipline in the private sector (not the public sector), hence, there are only limited ways in which the govt could do to speed up the recovery. i don't mean the govt shouldn't do anything, but i am implying that the bulk of the effort had to come from within the private sector itself and the govt could only assist and provided a condusive environment for trade and investment.

as for the skytrain, BTSC haven't been in a better or worse position financially over the years. if you say that it was "bad", then i'd probably say it isn't much better right now, and politics somehow makes things more difficult for them in recent months (stalled extension plans etc...). the company has never been able to service its loan or meet its passenger target ever since it came into operation, whether it's Chuan or Thaksin, the same old problem just never go away. although there are more passengers riding the skytrain each day compared to 5 years ago, i'd say that's simply because the population has grown, the city is expanding, the petrol price is rising. the extra income is simply inadequate to pay back the cash used for all initial investments.

i never get brainwashed by the media (including Sondhi as i dislike him too), neither do I believe everything the Democrats say. but a lot that's coming out from the TRT camp isn't glamorous either. there are still many things this govt could do to improve the country esp. in terms of fostering greater transparency and efficiency in the bureaucracy. how about empowering the poor with greater access to quality education as a mean to eradicate poverty? how about serious commitment to public infrastructure which provides long-term benefit? how about aiming for "green growth" backed by a solid environmental policy? how about improving standards of health establishment?

there are a lot more to a country than just a pretty skyline. trust me.

i do support certain things that this govt. is doing, like the 30-baht health scheme, the FTAs, those public transport projects etc... but i also demand greater transparency, consistency of policy and implementation, better govt-people feedback, consultation and communication.

but as i say, i respect others' opinions even if those crashes with mine because i am a beleiver of democracy.

There're a lot more to a country than a good skyline.


yeah... i certainly do agree with that...

I wonder why all of a sudden everyone hates Thaksin?? what did he do??


if you are wondering why... read the news...

if you are afraid that some of the thai press are bias, then i would suggest that you get your daily news from many sources, both the thai and foreign press.

if you're still in doubt, walk around bangkok and the remote parts of the country. don't simply go to Siam Paragon and try to get a "feel" of how the country's doing from there.

try visiting places like poor urban communities in central bangkok and those squatters along the rail road.

try assessing the efficiency of the police, the civil servants and ask yourself if things have seen any improvement.

try visiting some khlongs and national parks and do some research about pollution, forest encroachment, marine ecology and attempts at renewable / clean energy in Thailand.

try to examine the types, the frequency and the amount of crime across the country and see if they have dropped or changed over the years.

try visiting schools to interview the teachers and students while at the same time, also talk to those who are at their schooling age but never make it to school, or those who are smart and passionate enough for university but simply cannot pay for it.

try visiting Sungai Kolok, Betong, Ban Tanyong Limo and see if the security is imporving, livelihood is being restored, soldiers not getting killed, monks not getting slashed, muslims aren't hit by gunmen and telephone exchange don't go up in flame all in one night.

most importantly, try looking at the growth in wealth among thai families and compare that to the growth in their quality of life. and by this i don't just mean middle or upper class people of the city, but i also refer to the the poorer citizens and those of the ethnic minorities (afterall, they make up the majority of thai population).




from these, you might get a better understanding of why more people are getting disenchanted by the TRT govt. and if you still feel that it has scored a good mark, then no one would stop you from crossing for them at the next general election. but be sure you exercise that sacred right very carefully, very objectively, very reponsibly.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41221000/jpg/_41221380_fta203.jpg

the principles of FTA are sound, but the way the govt implements them needs transparency. also, there are some convincing works to do (by public education) because some will gain and some will lose out from it.

but all in all, i am for the FTAs with our strategic trading partners

if you are wondering why... read the news...

cannot read the nation news which is trashtalking thaksin all the time and showing pictures of him sleeping etc etc. The owner of the nation newspaper is a member of the democrats.

cannot read the nation news which is trashtalking thaksin all the time and showing pictures of him sleeping etc etc. The owner of the nation newspaper is a member of the democrats.

that's why i say that you can read Bangkok Post or other news sources in Thai

if you read The Nation daily, you would also notice that the paper also bashes Sondhi.

many voters who dislike Thaksin don't support Sondhi either. these are also the very same people who don't think that Chuan would be a suitable PM in the future. subscribing to democracry means that i do respect your support for TRT and thaksin. everyone is entitled to an opinion and voice it at the ballot box. personally, i feel that thaksin and his govt could have done a lot better given the general economic climate, thaksin's influence and wealth as well as the new constitution.

for your info, the real estate sector didn't go boom or bust just becuase thaksin's in power. should PM thaksin came to power in 1998, i doubt we would see many projects revived any earlier. the sector itself needed a few years to recover and it did since 2001. you can't expect a PM to come in and revitalise an industry fresh from a crisis simply by waving his magic wand. things just don't improve overnight. the financial crisis that occured in 1997 was generally due to the lack of financial discipline in the private sector (not the public sector), hence, there are only limited ways in which the govt could do to speed up the recovery. i don't mean the govt shouldn't do anything, but i am implying that the bulk of the effort had to come from within the private sector itself and the govt could only assist and provided a condusive environment for trade and investment.

as for the skytrain, BTSC haven't been in a better or worse position financially over the years. if you say that it was "bad", then i'd probably say it isn't much better right now, and politics somehow makes things more difficult for them in recent months (stalled extension plans etc...). the company has never been able to service its loan or meet its passenger target ever since it came into operation, whether it's Chuan or Thaksin, the same old problem just never go away. although there are more passengers riding the skytrain each day compared to 5 years ago, i'd say that's simply because the population has grown, the city is expanding, the petrol price is rising. the extra income is simply inadequate to pay back the cash used for all initial investments.

i never get brainwashed by the media (including Sondhi as i dislike him too), neither do I believe everything the Democrats say. but a lot that's coming out from the TRT camp isn't glamorous either. there are still many things this govt could do to improve the country esp. in terms of fostering greater transparency and efficiency in the bureaucracy. how about empowering the poor with greater access to quality education as a mean to eradicate poverty? how about serious commitment to public infrastructure which provides long-term benefit? how about aiming for "green growth" backed by a solid environmental policy? how about improving standards of health establishment?

there are a lot more to a country than just a pretty skyline. trust me.

i do support certain things that this govt. is doing, like the 30-baht health scheme, the FTAs, those public transport projects etc... but i also demand greater transparency, consistency of policy and implementation, better govt-people feedback, consultation and communication.

but as i say, i respect others' opinions even if those crashes with mine because i am a beleiver of democracy.



I agree in almost all parts of it.

I don't really like Thaksin but I do support things his government is doing.
And what this goverment lack of are "greater transparency, consistency of policy and implementation, better govt-people feedback, consultation and communication"

But I really loath Sonthi!!!!!! :tongue:
not because he เปิดโปงรัฐบาล but because he always ดึงสถาบันที่เคารพรักของคนไทย ทั้งสถาบันกษัตริย์และสถาบันศาสนา มาเป็นเครื่องมือในการสำเร็จความใคร่ของตัวเอง

I want to emphasize one of your sentences
i never get brainwashed by the media (including Sondhi as i dislike him too)
I really appreciate that.

สำหรับบทบาทของสนธิและผู้จัดการเนี่ย ผมไม่อยากเรียกว่าเป็นสื่อสารมวลชนหรอก ถ้าเอาจรรญาบรรณสื่อสารมวลชนมาไล่เรียงทีละข้อนะ ผู้จัดการขาดซัก 70% ได้ :bash:

และก็นะ พื้นฐานของพวกเราแต่ละคนก็ไม่เหมือนกัน
ในขณะที่คนกลุ่มหนึ่งกล่าวหาว่าคนอีกฝ่ายถูกปิดหูปิดตา ถูกล้างสมองโดยฝ่ายรัฐ เค้ากลับไม่ลองย้อนมองกลับมาที่ตัวเองบ้างว่า ถูกล้างสมองโดยคนที่ตู่เรียกตัวเองว่าสื่อมากน้อยขนาดไหน

ตัวอย่างนะ

The great leader want to Overthrow "the Heaven" so he can assume himsel into the 1st presidetn of Thailand -> Clear and Simple ... Even worse he nearly turn all parts of Thailand, Not just the South into "Red Zone"

โห แบบว่าอ่านแล้วรู้สึกยากที่จะตอบ
เคยตอบไปแล้วครั้งนึง ยาวมากๆ เด๋วคงต้องหาก่อน
แล้วเด๋วจะหาบทความเก่าที่เคยลงไว้ใน manager.co.th มาให้อ่านด้วย

Not that I try to discredit Sonthi to make Thaksin looks better, never be like that. แต่การกระทำของสนธิมันน่าเกลียดมากจริงๆ
ทักษิณกับสนธิเนี่ย ไม่ใช่ดำกับขาวหรอกนะ มันดำกับดำ ดำพอกันเนี่ยแหล่ะ บอกว่าใครดำกว่ายังยากเลย ถ้าเราคิดว่าเราขาว หรือแค่เทาอ่อนๆ เราจำเป็นต้องเอาตัวไปเกลือกกลั้วกับสีดำหรอ ไม่มีทางหรอก ผมไม่เอาตัวเองไปช่วยโจรคนนึงเอาชนะโจรอีกคนนึงหรอก ประมาณนั้น

วันนี้ cHemon ดูแปลกไปแต่เช้าเลยนะ
ขอโทษที ปี๊ดขึ้นหน่ะ
ด่าทักษินไปสิ ด่าไปกี่หน้าๆก็ไม่เคยมาแจมหรอก
แต่มาเจอเรื่องนี้มันทนไม่ค่อยได้ ดึงในหลวงมาเนื่ย "สู้เพื่อในหลวง"อย่างเงี้ย :down:
"ถวายคืนพระราชอำนาจ"อย่างเงี้ย:down: "ล้มล&