Is it different this time?

[manarak]

Furthermore, I do not really want to see Thailand turn into one of those "democratic capitalistic systems" with too much people working for salaries and paying off mortgages, with big companies running the country and workers under the schlage of modern project management and powerpoint warriors.

Please, Thais, do not allow that to happen.

[BlueBallz]

Have a plan?? Dont make me laugh. They all ahd better hope the King survives at least a few more years as if he buys the farm all bets are off. He himslef gets physically weaker by the month. The Queen is the real power now. She showed herself by throwing her considerable weight supporting the "anarchists?" ooops I mean the PAD. As far as the Monarchy getting more power, well before all this shit hit the fan many Thais suggested that it all end after the current King passes. Lets face it, they dont like the Crown Prince very much-lets put it that way.........

stay tuned....

[bickers]

interesting perspective from the Asian Human Rights Commission

http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mai...atements/1779/

[paultain]

Latest news CNN
Thai court orders ruling party dissolved and bans Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics for five years. Details soon.

[Guest]

(manarak @ Dec. 02 2008,00:34) Thaksin's real mistake was probably his intent to undermine the palace's power and to grow hmself into a position powerful enough to take over the power from the palace when the inevitable would happen.

His second mistake is that he probably still believes he can make it.

Manarak hit the nail on the head here.  Thaksin is the key to this whole mess.  If he thinks he could get back into power by starting a civil war, he wouldn't hesitate to do so.  

In fact, that may be exactly what he is trying to do.  

[BlueBallz]

The Thai Supreme Court whata fucking joke. Why bother having an election?? Who is next in line for the PMs job??

[manarak]

It was a mistake to hold free(-for-all) elections in Thailand.

The poor will vote for whoever promises then gives them money.

It was an invitation to people like Thaksin to seize power, especially in the context of the aging King.

A democratic process cannot take place when parties are forced to overbid each other with welfare and subsidy promises.


Also, I do believe Thaksin's economic policies would have been toxic for Thailand on the long term.
Of course, Thailand would have experienced years of development, but this would probably progressively transform Thai society in a society of "salarymen".

Today, most farmers own their land, the can feed their family and produce for a small surplus.

Look at what happened in India because of the IMF's agricultural policies. Corporations bought the land from farmers, industrialized and mechanized production, so that the require less people to work on the fields, and the revenues are concentrated with the corporation, so that a lot of poor and jobless farmers now live in slums.

[TTChang]

(BlueBallz @ Dec. 03 2008,02:09) ... Why bother having an election??  Who is next in line for the PMs job??

Rumour is that there's a very attractive female road sweeper, works near Nana BTS Station, who is in line for the job.  She is the only one they can find who hasn't been in a political party or banned from public office.  Never wears yellow or red shirts, and isn't a token for the criminal Watra.   Probably as talented as the last 3 Prime Ministers though ..

Or something  

[bigmick22]

Can she cook?

[Guest]

This from the WSJ might offer some insight:
=WSJ: Thailand Political Parties Reorganizing, Plan Coalition


By Patrick Barta
Of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL


BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--With anti-government protesters streaming out of Thailand's main airports after a week-long siege, attention turned to the next potential flashpoint in the country's unresolved political crisis: Choosing a new prime minister.

The decision could come as early as next week, as members of three political parties dissolved by a Constitutional Court for election violations Tuesday maneuver to build a new ruling coalition much like the one the court just dismantled.

(This story and related background material will be available on The Wall Street Journal Web site, WSJ.com.)

The court also banned former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and some of his allies from politics for five years, forcing the premier to step down. The newly disbanded political parties were accused of engaging in electoral fraud in a parliamentary election last December that brought to power the coalition government that has ruled Thailand since then.

Many elected representatives who backed Somchai's ruling coalition weren't disqualified and remain members of parliament. They are now reorganizing in newly minted political parties and plan to form a new ruling coalition similar to the one that previously controlled Thailand's legislature.

Those involved in the makeover said they hoped to call a parliament vote to select the next prime minister as early as next Monday. Thai Health Minister Chalerm Yubamrung and former Deputy Prime Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan are early favorites for the job, according to two people familiar with the succession discussion. Both men were members of a pro-Somchai party disbanded by the Constitutional Court's decision Tuesday.

That could plunge Thailand back into another paralyzing cycle of protests by thousands of anti-government demonstrators who occupied Bangkok's two main airports for a week, demanding the resignation of Somchai and his allies. Other protesters had also occupied Government House, Thailand's administrative headquarters in Bangkok, since August.

The protesters accused Somchai's government of being a corrupt proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecommunications tycoon-turned- populist-politician who was deposed in a military coup in 2006. Although he is now in self-imposed exile avoiding jail on a corruption conviction earlier this year, he is widely believed to control the parties that now dominate Thai politics, and Somchai is his brother-in-law. The pro-Thaksin parties have a strong power base in parts of rural Thailand and have been able to command a majority in parliament in every election since 2001.

After Tuesday's court ruling, the anti-Thaksin protesters agreed to lift their airport sieges, which have severely damaged Thailand's image as a premier tourist destination and cost exporters at least several hundred million dollars in disrupted trade. Protest leaders, who are believed to have the backing of Bangkok's social and business establishment, have threatened to resume their demonstrations if the same coalition of Thaksin-backed political parties returns to power in a new guise.

Indeed, that is widely expected to be the outcome. Two of the men tipped as a possible new premier - Chalerm and Mingkwan - are both viewed as Thaksin allies. Whatever happens, asserted one politician involved in discussions to form the new government, Thaksin "will be the one who decides who is the next prime minister."

[eltel]

Is this in the right thread?

[manarak]

are you?

but mebbe the whole thread should be pushed to the fish box

[donnnnnny]

same old thailand, the king is an untouchable, but to be quite honest he could do a lot more. the ruling elite including mr taksin, are still squabling for power, and the people are the silly pawns in the middle.
Thailand will always be the same, there education system is based on rote learning with little or no creative thought. This is how the ruling elite keep the masses in toe, which inturn makes it good for us.

[manarak]

full ack, donny

[donnnnnny]

what is the full ack???