Khun Thaskin spoke today to his supporters by Telephone from London. He greeted the supporters as "the people who love democracy".
In his statement he said the country of Thailand had been deprived of a workaholic prime minster and he could not return to them for at least 10 years unless the King pardoned him or by people power.
He said the 2006 coup was staged only to take action against him.
He said his opponents used the judicial system to persecute him although he was the prime minister who had got the highest votes in Thailand's history.

His Thailand based spokesperson later said Khun Thaskin had no plans to appeal to the King in the near future.


What do readers think, has Thaskin attempted to set up a dispute between the PPP party supporters and the King to gain his pardon or has he attempted to start a civil war between his supporters and the army?

I saw this on the news. Huge gathering in an open air stadium, people screaming and crying when he appeared on the screen. Some folks wearing Thaksin masks (who would want to look like that?!?). All very strange.

quote:

Originally posted by DavidJohn:
His Thailand based spokesperson later said Khun Thaskin had no plans to appeal to the King in the near future.

He doesn't need to, he's just done it, and very thinly veiled too.

The man is all ego taken to the extreme.

(I know that discussion of the monarchy is not allowed on most forums, but I just want to say one thing)

For the vast majority of the Thai population, the adoration of the King is undisputed (and quite rightly so IMO) for a good percentage of the population the idolisation of Taky is also not in question, this makes a serious problem, as that is what he is playing on.

Do we think he is attempting to start a riot (people power)

quote:

Do we think he is attempting to start a riot (people power)

In my very humble opinion, in this debate, I would suggest that he is trying to put the King in a position of deciding is it safe not to pardon him therefore risking erosion of people support and respect or a civil war.
I also think, if this supposition is correct, that he has underestimated the inteligence of the King and the Kings advisors, and of the Thai people, it is a big gamble but one he can afford to take. If he loses he remains the same and may even strengthen his claim to asylum in Britain. He will not win with this argument in Thailand, but could sow discontent and as suggested a riot in the streets. I am hoping the people of Thailand will be given guidance and they will see through this pretence.

I thought the discontent was already there? Fostered by the power brokers that are/or support PAD/Democrats.

And seemingly supported by the establishment - I guess they are one and the same? And continued irrespective of who the supposed elected party is.

I really wish the people of Thailand will see through the pretence of the status quo and that it enables them. And that includes he who shall not be named. And if it takes a corrupt Thaksin to do it, so be it. The key word in all Thai politics/establishment, is 'corrupt'.

Power to the people - they deserve it.

Thaskins speech was one of self pitying and of a victim of the courts, he pre-recorded it and then it was sent to Hong Kong for broadcasting to the Thai supporters gathered in Rajamangala National Stadium.
His call for people power is to be investigated as in his statement Quote: "No one can bring me home apart from royal kindness or the power of the people."
The statement is also to be investigated to see if he has embarrassed the King with this same statement, as I wrote in my previous writing.
Thaskin's business dealings whilst in the office of prime minister, in my thinking are much more offensive do the public office he once held than the case of cooking on a TV programme by his successor.
The speech in question here is so naive in its content of help me and respect me my people for I have been wronged (and my criminal acts which made my family more money even though I have so much I cannot spend it in this life time)should have not landed me a prison sentence handed to me by people who wish to discredit me.

Caller your hope of a Thai people who can see through the pretence of the status quo will be realised but not quite yet democracy is still new to them and a few still think that demonstrations and violence and occupation will gain the upperhand over good people who just want to choose between honest candidates and place their betsvotes.

quote:

Originally posted by DavidJohn:
Caller your hope of a Thai people who can see through the pretence of the status quo will be realised

I think that they already have, they just don't have the clout to change it. Thats why you have a country that is so divided and unless change is forced, future elections will return the Thaksin supporters again and again.

I thought that's what the PAD demonstrations, with the tacit support of the establishment were all about - to secure change that will allow the establishment to elect 'parliament' (to all intents and purposes) to the detriment of the electorate?

Caller, I am not trying to be difficult but I do not fully understand your meaning.
The people of Thailand, in the majority seem to revere their King and follow his example but the country folk also vote for Thaskin and his parties in the main. The establishment , as you refer to it are looking to create a part elected and part appointed, as you rightly point out, parliament where the elite do the appointing.

So what I do not understand is what are you saying the people do not have the clout to change, what people are you referring to? You are stating force is needed to ensure change to ensure the people who vote Thaskin , the majority of the country folk, cannot elect Thaskin again. Are you therefore advocating violence and force in replacement of the one person one vote system?

David, I don't care for Thaksin any more than any other Thai politician, but he was elected and then his party, in whatever form it took, was elected after the coup designed to get rid of him - which the army admit to. That stuck a proverbial two fingers up to those that must be obeyed.

By 'change is forced' I was referring to the establishment and the introduction of a PAD style Govt. that will take away forever the aspirations of the majority (those that elected Thaksin, even if they are the minority as in UK/USA elections).

The only people advocating the removal of one person-one vote are PAD and their associates.

I don't buy into the dumb Issan farmers thing at all. They are the ones that have suffered - but not exclusively - as much as others over the years from the elite. I can't see them being able to do anything other than keep voting the way they are.

The point I was trying to make however badly, is that their only hope is via the ballot box. And that amounts to no hope, as far as I can tell?

By the by, I would question whether many Thais can actually follow the Kings example?

More on that call, Thaskin's phone call is to be repeated.

People Power party MP Jatuporn Promphan said Mr Thaksin's phone-in will be broadcast again on the state-controlled NBT channel.

(BangkokPost.com) - Government spokesman Nattawut Saikua, a former host of Kwam Jing Wan Nee (The Truth Today programme)
insisted that Mr Thaksin's address to his supporters did not cause any conflicts in the nation, and that his criticism on judicial procedure can be done because Mr Thaksin did not criticise the court directly.

No, its true, he only said he was a victim of the system. Oh, didn't he help create and use that system himself against his rivals?

DJ, what's your point?

We know all of this and the guy has acted no differently than just about every Thai politician since the introduction of democracy in that blighted land - except for the fact the majority aren't ready for it according to most - not allowed more like.

Okay he's raising the stakes. His situation and the way it has been handled gives him that opportunity from afar.

The King is elderly and not well. So I suspect there's a lot of positioning going on, maybe some in public? I suspect whatever is happening in private is more relevant?

But who really knows what is going on?

Here's my simple take on it.

Firstly, the rural Thai folk were paid in some provinces a couple of hundred baht or so to elect TRT party.
In return Taksin brought in the 30 baht health care system for Thai's, and a clinic, in every/most villages.

He was democratically elected, and then ousted by a miltary coup. Now thats democracy

There is little wonder that the Thai people I know adore him for the above, and seem to overlook his personal greed.

That's what appears to be the objection of those in Bangers and elsewhere that didn't get the PM's favours - for once it went elsewhere. My wifes village has the clinic and a new school.

The personal greed appears to be a given.

DJ, what's your point?

There is a need, a great need, in Thailand for a constitution that outlaws corruption in politics, such as they have with regard to the Thaskin land deal, but it must be enforced without supporters resorting to underhand and devious means to circumvent the consequencies of corruption, just because the corrupt politician has 'done some good' at the same time. Deals with foreign governments, such as Cambodia deal, must be placed where
the people can see they are good deals, not just for the few or the politicians, but for the country as a whole. The military coup sadly missed this opportunity and it is left to politicians who, with loyalties lying elsewhere than to the people or who have only the strength to just hang on to what they've got are failing to provide the means to get this anti corruption legislation up and running. Much of the current thinking and action towards a constitutional change is tainted by suspicion of change to assist Thaskin either to beat the prison sentence or to enable him to return (or both).
I admire him (Thaskin)for his government's help to the poorer regions but deplore his helping himself more than. A corrupt politician who is caught should cease to hold sway over parties and individuals and this can only be realised by legislation itself.

Caller that is my point

quote:

Originally posted by caller:
That's what appears to be the objection of those in Bangers and elsewhere that didn't get the PM's favours - for once it went elsewhere. My wifes village has the clinic and a new school.

The personal greed appears to be a given.

Referencing Bryns post above this one too.

Takky was elected and re-elected because of his 'helping the poor' platform.

What did they get.

Hospitals that can't treat the basic ailments. (you'd think that they could at least set a broken bone properly, as that is what they see most of, but they can't)

Schools, who's primary aim is to teach the kids how to sing the national anthem, respect their parents and remember that Thailand is best at everything...... oh, and colouring-in.

A loan scheme that they thought they would never have to pay back, that they then protest about when someone suggests that they may have to.

Unfortunately, it's a damn site more than anyone else has ever given them, and that is why 'he' will remain popular.

With regards to the constitution re-write DJ.

No Thai constitution has ever been written for the benefit of the people, and for the foreseeable future, never will be.

quote:

Originally posted by DavidJohn:
A corrupt politician who is caught should cease to hold sway over parties and individuals and this can only be realised by legislation itself.

Well, you chose to quote only my first line. I went onto say: "We know all of this and the guy has acted no differently than just about every Thai politician since the introduction of democracy in that blighted land."

And again, IMHO, you are stating the obvious with the rest of your reply although I'm not sure I agree an armed coup is the best way of going about it?

As for the above comment of yours. I assume you didn't intend this to somehow read that a corrupt politician who is not caught, is somehow okay to continue? Because, despite all the rules the UK has in place, we don't appear to have overcome problems of corruption at both national and local level ourselves, have we?

And we have had hundreds of years to get it right.

Thank you Caller for your continued interest.

your quote
I assume you didn't intend this to somehow read that a corrupt politician who is not caught, is somehow okay to continue?
You assume correct due to the fact if he/she is not caught then he or she couldn't be penalised.

quote:

For the vast majority of the Thai population, the adoration of the King is undisputed (and quite rightly so IMO) for a good percentage of the population the idolisation of Taky is also not in question, this makes a serious problem, as that is what he is playing on.

...and is there any reason why either is any more or less logical than the other ? My wife reveres both. I cannot criticise the logic of revering one without criticising the other. Both are based on what the media spin is and what as individuals we wish to believe. As are all the political comments and views on this forum and everywhere else.

quote:

For the vast majority of the Thai population, the adoration of the King is undisputed (and quite rightly so IMO) for a good percentage of the population the idolisation of Taky is also not in question, this makes a serious problem, as that is what he is playing on.

Simon Parry ...and is there any reason why either is any more or less logical than the other ? My wife reveres both. I cannot criticise the logic of revering one without criticising the other.

I have not seen in this discussion any reference to logic in adoration, maybe we could but it would, in my opinion, be a very difficult session.