Is A Coup Due In Thailand ?

[kensington]

Within these two weeks, as the military brasses are positioning themselves but as with other coups before, this could be just a routine to them, same old, same old...

Feb 26th is D-Day for Thaksin on whether he gets to keep his fortune or not and those judges has been given pep talks by the old King Bhumi," who recently called upon judges - the first time to those at the Administrative Court, and the second time to those at the Supreme Court - to perform their duty with bravery and justice. The judges have to defend justice until the day they die, the King said. The judiciary is the only hope this country has of saving the system. But nobody knows whether the judges will rise to the occasion when delivering their verdict on the assets-seizure case."


Thaksin is forming his "people's army" and is getting ready to lead his people and his big moment is just around. Well, Bt76 billions sure as hell is a lot of money and a very big motivating factor and nobody is going to take that loss lying down.

So what will the outcome possibly be ? Potentially bloody as the Red Shirts are already protesting at military installations across the country.

To those who travel to Thailand during the CNY period, sio sim hoh...Do not go near where agitated crowds are forming and do not wear red or yellow lest you will be mistaken as one of them and be dealt with accordingly.


Btw,Thaksin twittered as well as putting a message on his Thaksinlive.com website saying: "Do not panic over news that there is going to be violence. I have told everyone who has come to see me that we will fight peacefully. [Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdipol] Seh Daeng's comment was just a warning for the government to not crackdown on the people.''

 

[kensington]

The government will mobilise all available resources to prevent any violence by the red-shirted supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting with military commanders and representatives of security agencies, Suthep said the authorities were taking pre-emptive measures to prevent members of the public from suffering should any untoward incidents occur.

“The government will closely monitor the situation and will mobilise all resources to prevent any undesirable incidents. Our goal is to ensure the public’s everyday life can continue without interruption. We won’t allow anyone to cause disruption,” he said.

The authorities will safeguard transport systems and public utilities, as well as the offices of state agencies, so that the public can be assured of uninterrupted services, he added.


The deputy premier said the government would not allow a repeat of the rioting in Bangkok last April, adding that the law would be applied in line with the degree of severity of any violent incident.

He was speaking to reporters at Government House after returning from the Army’s headquarters, where he chaired a meeting with security agencies that lasted about two hours.

Thaksin’s supporters have stepped up their moves ahead of the court ruling scheduled for February 26 in the Bt76-billion assets-seizure case against him.

In response to reports that the red shirts are planning a “people’s army”, Suthep said he regarded the move as a threat to national security.

General Panlop Pinmanee, a member of the opposition Pheu Thai Party and the person who broke the news about the red shirts’ “army”, said he expected the anti-government protest to attract at least 1 million people after February 14.

Panlop, who recently met the ex-PM in Dubai, said Thaksin did not want to see any clashes.

He also said he had used a wrong term in describing the role of General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who is Pheu Thai’s chief adviser. Panlop said Chavalit was not the “supreme commander” of the people’s army, but was in fact the “leader of the people”.

Meanwhile, another red-shirt leader, Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, said his movement would not resort to violence and insisted its members would fight through peaceful means.

The Nation

 

[kensington]

Rally control centre opens as Seh Daeng (Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol) trains 'troops'


Police are setting up a rally control centre to handle protests by the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.(UDD)

The opposition group is expected to stage demonstrations in the days and weeks leading up to the Feb 26 judgement in the asset seizure case concerning the Shinawatra family.

Police will draw up plans for action and units will rehearse security measures at the centre, said acting national police chief Pateep Tanprasert yesterday.

The role of the centre is to devise security measures to address the changing situation on the streets, he said.

The operation is in line with security preparations agreed to in a National Security Council meeting on Thursday, when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed the need to contain the rally-goers, said Pol Gen Pateep.

The move came after Khattiya Sawasdipol, widely known as Seh Daeng, unveiled yesterday his plan to set up "UDD troops" to guard the red shirt demonstrators.

About 200 former military rangers from Nakhon Ratchasima and other northeastern provinces had volunteered to protect the UDD demonstrations, Maj Gen Khattiya said.

"Usually our unit holds no weapons. But if the state clamps down on us, we have to defend ourselves and red shirt brothers and we may need to resort to weapons," said Maj Gen Khattiya.

He said he had recruited about 5,000 people to join the UDD protection force and planned to take in more by setting up an application desk near the Puea Thai Party headquarters.

The volunteers are practising basic disciplinary drills ranging from saluting, standing in rows, and turning left and right. "Our training was simple," Maj Gen Khattiya said.

The troops would be part of a "national people's army for democracy", an idea presented by Thaksin loyalist Panlop Pinmanee, the former deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command. Gen Panlop said the UDD troops are red shirts who are dissatisfied with injustice in society.

However, UDD co-leader Jatuporn Prompan has distanced himself from the idea, saying it reflected only the personal views of Gen Panlop and Maj Gen Khattiya.

Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has also rejected their call to form a people's army.

Democrat spokesman Buranat Samutharak said that some in the UDD were worried the scheme could violate the law.

BangkokPost

 

[kensington]

A prelude of more to come ?


Six people were injured when a bomb exploded at the Klong Toey night market at 1:30 am Sunday, police said.

A security gauard told police that an assailant hurled a bomb at a noodle stall and fled the scene on a motorcycle.

Watcharakij Thamthirasri, the legal division manager of the Legal Professional Co Ltd, said a security camera captured four suspects coming into the market before the explosion occurred.


Metropolitan Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of one of four suspects sought for a bomb at Klong Toei market early yesterday which injured six people, two of them severely.After the explosion, police got video footage of a group of teenagers wearing black t-shirts who ran to get away on black motorcycles, Pol Lt-Gen Santhan Chayanont, commander of the Metropolitan Police, said.


"We have already collected all evidence and spoken to witnesses. Now we can issue a warrant to arrest a man suspected of being involving in the bomb?ing," he said after a two-hour meeting with police.


About 100 officers would be stationed at Klong Toei market to control the situation, Santhan added.


He said the bomb was part of a conflict between vendors who oppose the new concessionaire, Legal Professional Co, which won the right to run the market from the Port Authority of Thailand, and vendors who have deals with the firm.


Legal Professional chairman Thammanas Promphao said at a press conference yesterday the bomb may have been caused by rival vendors.


Witnesses said a grenade was thrown at a busy spot at the market about 1am yesterday.

The blast ripped through three stalls between Blocks3 and4 in the market.

Six people were wounded. The four seriously wounded were identified as Yang Sorndee, 32, a helper at a noodle stall; Kerjana Seemuang, 30, a seafood vendor; Kaew Konlak, 28, a shopper; and Rosinee Bunrak, 24, a shopper who is three months pregnant. They were taken to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

The other two injured were a woman named Niya, a chilli paste seller, and an unidentified man. They were treated at the nearby Theptarin Hospital.

Rerngchai Posri, head of the market guards employed by Legal Professional, said he heard a blast and saw a man in his twenties wearing a blue jacket run from the market. He was picked up by two teenagers on a motorcycle.

Watchasit Thammathirasri, manager of Legal Professional's legal section, said up to four people might be involved.

He said the company would pay the hospital bills of the injured and would provide assistance to the vendors whose property was damaged.

Metropolitan Police Division5 commander Anuchai Lekbamrung, said bomb experts were examining traces of the grenade used in the attack.

Security surveillance at the market has been beefed up, he said.


Stopping for a bowl of noodles are dangerous nowadays,food poisonings notwithstanding

 

[Queen Seok Duk]

I'm right at the heart of this coup, at Bangkok, and not that far away from the Handsome PM's residence.

Only this afternoon, helicopters were flying above my condo.

 

[Watchman]

Feb 8, 2010
20,000 Thai forces deployed

More than 13,300 security forces will be deployed in pro-Thaksin provinces across the country, while at least 6,500 will be in place in Bangkok and the surrounding area, with up to 200 checkpoints planned in the metropolitan area. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

BANGKOK - THE Thai government has begun to deploy at least 20,000 extra security forces across the country ahead of a court ruling on the fortune of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a spokesman said on Monday.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said protests would be allowed but violence was a concern, in the event of a populist backlash if the court seizes Thaksin's US$2.2 billion (S$1.6 billion) wealth when it rules on Feb 26.

Thaksin loyalists are stepping up anti-government demonstrations ahead of the court date. 'The security will intensify before and after the ruling because the government does not think it will be over,' Mr Panitan told reporters.

More than 13,300 security forces will be deployed in pro-Thaksin provinces across the country, while at least 6,500 will be in place in Bangkok and the surrounding area, with up to 200 checkpoints planned in the metropolitan area.

The total number of extra police and soldiers on the streets could be as high as 35,000, Mr Panitan said. 'Extra security laws will (also) be announced if needed to prevent any violence,' he added.

On Feb 26 the Supreme Court will decide whether the fortune of the telecoms tycoon - frozen in the months after he was deposed in a coup in 2006 - can be seized by authorities. -- AFP

 

[kensington]

Clamp down on UDD base provinces

Starting Feb 15, combined police, military and civilian forces will be despatched to 38 provinces where the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is expected to step up activities in the lead-up to Feb 26, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said on Monday.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Position is scheduled to deliver its verdict on whether to seize the 76 billion baht assets of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family on Feb 26.

The spokesman said 160-200 checkpoints would also be gradually set up in Bangkok and nearby provinces after Feb 15.

The government would keep the situation under watch and impose special laws, particularly the Internal Security Act, if necessary, Mr Panitan said.

He said stringent measures would continue even after Feb 26 because some UDD groups might still be active.



---------



More than one million red-shirts will certainly take part in a mass rally aimed at bringing down the government, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Promphan claimed on Tuesday.

Speaking after a UDD meeting, Mr Jatuporn said the exact date of the rally had yet to be fixed. It could be before or after the Feb 26 Supreme Court verdict on the seizure of 76 billion baht of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's fortune.

He said the anti-government group disagreed with Gen Panlop Pinmanee's idea of setting up a "people's army" because the government could take this as an excuse to again accuse the red shirts of preparing for violence.

The red-shirts would stay strictly within the law and adhere to the principle of non-violence, Mr Jatuporn said.

"If we were to toe the line of Gen Panlop Pinmanee and Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, the red-shirts would face disaster.

"Therefore, we are against that line. To us, Seh Daeng [Maj-Gen Khattiya] is only a united front member, not the leader of the UDD," he said.

UDD chairman Veera Musikhapong reaffirmed that the red-shirts would adhere to a peaceful struggle to topple the amartayathipatai, the rule of the aristocrats and elite, and return state power to the people.

Deposed premier Thaksin called on UDD key leaders to end their conflict with Gen Panlop, a key member of the opposition Puea Thai Party, and Seh Daeng.

“There must be unity in the red-shirt people group as a big mission awaits them," Thaksin said in a posting on his Twitter page about 11.20am on Tuesday.

He thanked red-shirts who were worried about the rift within the group and had phoned to ask him to help settle the dispute.

The group's three core figures, Veera, Jatuporn and Natthawut Saikua, were not happy with the Gen Panlop's announcement of a "people’s army", which was supported by Seh Daeng.

Mr Jatuporn strongly criticised Gen Panlop and Seh Daeng, saying they had created problems for the UDD and were outsiders, not members of the red-clad group.



Bangkok Post

 

[kensington]

New Year revellers
will be​

pretty in pink
​

:p:p:p:p:p:p:p​

Partygoers urged to not wear red shirts

A campaign to urge people in Yaowarat to wear pink clothes to celebrate Chinese New Year is receiving a mixed response from locals.

A shopper in Chinatown selects a pink T-shirt to wear for Chinese New Year celebrations. To avoid political associations, people are being urged to switch to pink from the usual red colour used for the Chinese holiday. APICHIT JINAKUL


Red is the auspicious colour traditionally worn to usher in Chinese New Year. The campaign to switch to pink has spread confusion among garment sellers and other people planning to join the festivities in Chinatown.

The campaign was launched after Amorn Apithanakul, chairman of the Chinese Thais Association, urged people to don pink instead of red to pay tribute to His Majesty the King during the celebrations.

Mr Amorn's call was backed by two leaders from the local Chinese community, Prapan Santhanati and Charoen Sritrakulkitja.

Red has become a symbol of social division in the country, they said.

Supporters of the anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship wear red.

But the campaign has caused confusion among retailers in Yaowarat, the epicentre of Bangkok's Chinese New Year festival.

Thiti Sakulthip, 50, who sells Chinese offerings, said the campaign was a hot topic of conversation. Many locals said they would wear pink T-shirts during the celebrations.

"Pink is the auspicious colour of His Majesty the King," she said. "We love the King and we are concerned about his health."

The fact that red was the UDD's colour, a group many blamed for the chaos in Thai society, was another reason to wear pink, Mrs Thiti said.

One garment seller, who declined to be named, said she was initially shocked by the number of customers who came to her shop asking to buy pink clothes.

But she said she understood their motivations after seeing the matter discussed on TV.

Other shop owners, however, said they would continue selling red clothes.

Puttharin Mongkhananankul and Pilaiporn Wiratchaneekorntham said they would mainly sell red T-shirts at their shops.

It was already too late to order more goods as the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations was only a few days away and many symbolic products had to be imported from China, they said.

Pinit Kanjanachusak, city councillor for the Samphanthawong district, strongly criticised the campaign to wear pink. Most people in Yaowarat would wear red as it was a tradition, he said.

 

[saratogas]

This long weekend better don't go Bangkok, wait cannot come back...

 

[kensington]

A prelude of more to come ?

Six people were injured when a bomb exploded at the Klong Toey night market at 1:30 am Sunday, police said.

A security gauard told police that an assailant hurled a bomb at a noodle stall and fled the scene on a motorcycle.


Stopping for a bowl of noodles are dangerous nowadays,food poisonings notwithstanding

Police have arrested a man suspected of a grenade attack at Klong Toey market last Sunday that injured six people.

Sorayut Chuenban, 36, a tattoo artist, admitted at the Klong Toey port police station he saw the incident, but denied he was involved. However, police charged him with colluding with others in the attack and attempting to kill people.

Mr Sorayut was taken by officers to the scene of the blast yesterday, where vendors' group leader Suradet Nisparom berated police for lax security. The situation escalated into a brawl after Pichet Kanburon took offence at the remarks. Mr Pichet is a security guard for Legal Professional Co, the market concessionaire, which vendors oppose.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/32677/suspect-held-for-klong-toey-grenade-attack

 

[kensington]

The country is again abuzz with coup rumours, three years after the armed forces removed Thaksin Shinawatra from power. Many people have dismissed the rumours as groundless, but anything can happen in the current volatile political situation.

The 2006 coup has left a lot of scars on the country. The coup-appointed Surayud government failed to get its job done. Several democratic countries let Thailand know that they could not condone the coup. Worse still, the coup tore the country apart. People have since been divided into pro- and anti-Thaksin groups.

Seventy-eight years after parliamentary democracy was established, the country's power struggle is still nowhere from being resolved. The anti-democratic groups have not learned a lesson from the past. When Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda stepped down in 1988 after leading Thailand through a long period of quasi-democracy, people hoped that full democracy would be restored. But blood ran through Bangkok's streets again in May 1992, when troops fired on demonstrators calling for the removal of unelected prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon.

I would not be surprised if another coup occurs. This time, you'd have to blame the perpetrators of the 2006 coup for leaving their job half-done.

From Khao Sod Newspaper's columnist, Nai Lek(The Sting)

 

[kensington]

Coalition government on even shakier ground


Although this latest conflict between the Democrats and the Bhumjaithai appears to have eased, the government’s stability remains at stake. It is only a matter of when, not if, the government will crumble.


The Bhumjaithai Party has backed off at the last minute in its hard-ball political game with the Democrats, after briefly courting the support of the opposition Puea Thai Party in the charter amendments match.

An uneasy truce appears to be back in place between the Democrats and their biggest partner after the whips of the six coalition parties agreed to indefinitely delay a joint debate in the parliament on two proposed constitutional amendments, which had been suddenly and unexpectedly scheduled to start today.

The government whips agreed it was not the right time to debate the two amendment motions – one proposed by Weng Tochirakarn, a strong supporter of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and another motion endorsed by the five junior coalition partners. The whips agreed a debate right now could unnecessarily fire up political emotions.

But the truce is only temporary and will last only until another bitter schism again divides the prime minister's party and its smaller partners.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob, of the Bhumjaithai Party, made a shocking move on Wednesday when he decided to schedule the two motions for proposed charter changes for debate at the joint session of the Senate and House today.
His move was quickly interpreted as Bhumjaithai’s most daring challenge yet to the Democrats, and was reportedly in response to the Democrat's own backstabbing of the junior party.

Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri of the Democrat Party, who is in charge of economic affairs, announced this week that he would review the Bhumjaithai Party’s dust-free road projects under the Thai Khem Khaeng ecnomic stimulus programme.
Not surprisingly, this provoked an uproar as Bhumjaithai leader Chavarat Charnveerakul, also the interior minister, immediately raised strong objections.

The relationship between the prime minister and his five junior partners has been strained almost to the limit since the Democrats rejected their proposals to amend the constitution, especially the proposed move from a multi-MP to a single-seat constituency electoral system. The five parties decided to go ahead on their own and submitted an amendment motion to the parliament.

Informed political sources said that not all the junior parties agreed with Bhumjaithai’s latest gamble, to court support from the Puea Thai Party by having Mr Chai put the two charter amendment motions – one by Mr Weng and the other by the coalition parties – on the agenda for debate at the same time.

Mr Weng’s amendment motion is a carbon copy of the old 1997 constitution with minor changes, the most controversial being the provisions relating to the Privy Council.

Meanwhile, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has threatened to petition for the removal of the House speaker, accusing him of breaching Article 270 of the existing constitution. The PAD leaders say Mr Weng’s proposed charter, which was endorsed by about 70,000 signatories, is illegal because there is no organic law yet pertaining to public participation in charter amendments.


-


Meanwhile, The Army's Vultures are circling above, jostling for career advancing movements, all the regimental commanders are singing the chorus " I wanna be a General."


The more pressure the red shirts are piling on ahead of the Feb 26 court verdict on Thaksin Shinawatra's assets seizure case, the more prepared the military has to be in coping with any kind of "situation".

Gen Thanasak Patimapakorn: in line to become Supreme Commander.


Even though the "people's army" idea floated by Puea Thai Party member General Panlop Pinmanee and army specialist Maj Gen Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol resulted in a verbal spat with Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), that "conflict" seems to have been cleared by ousted premier Thaksin.

The man in Dubai has made it clear that all fronts of the red movement must be united for the coming "big battle".

This development has prompted the army to go into "ready" mode.

Army Commander-in-Chief General Anupong Paojinda has ordered the military to stand by, to fulfil its duty if the government decides to invoke the Internal Security Act.

After all, the government had previously approved a budget of 177 million baht for the procurement of anti-riot equipment.

The seemingly tense situation is touching on people's raw nerves.

The government appears increasingly cornered with "no-exit" problems, such as conflicts with coalition parties and the issue of constitutional amendments. A dissolution of the House is an almost everyday question.

With fear of uncontrolled riots or clashes between protesters lurking in the background, many people speculate that the army might have to resort to staging another coup to bring back order, even though the army chief has repeatedly denied such a possibility.

Internally, speculation is rife within the barracks that, considering the political uncertainties, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the deputy army commander, could be promoted to become the next army chief in a mid-year reshuffle to be announced in March and become effective in April.

The rush is to prevent an unexpected change in political leadership which could affect the choice of the new army chief.

This, of course, is assuming that the Abhisit government will not be able to last until the normal annual reshuffle season during August-September.

Coming in the same package is another rumour that under such a scenario, Gen Anupong could resign and take up the position of deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs or replace Gen Prawit Wongsuwon as defence minister, while Gen Prawit moves up to the deputy PM slot - or washes his hands of politics altogether.

"Gen Prawit does not want to be defence minister any more. He is bored with it but has to stay on to maintain the good relations between the army and the government," a source close to Gen Prawit revealed.

But then, countering the rumour is the fact that Gen Anupong has publicly announced that he would never enter politics, set up a political party or take on any political appointment, no matter who proffers the invitation.

Besides, according to a source in the army, the mid-year reshuffle traditionally does not involve a change in the existing commander or the appointment of a new commander.

"It is absolutely sure that Gen Anupong will serve as the army commander until retirement [in September]. Gen Prayuth will have to take the helm after that.

"It is possible, however, that the annual reshuffle list could be finished earlier than usual, such as within August, to put an end to uncertainties over the future of Gen Prayuth," the source said.

It does seem that all the preparatory work has been done to support Gen Prayuth's rise to the top.

His fellow Class 12 friends have been put into position. For example, Lt Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan, who is now deputy chief-of-staff, is slotted to become chief-of-staff to help Gen Prayuth when the latter succeeds Gen Anupong.

Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakhon, who is currently commanding-general of the 2nd Army Corps, looks set to become overall chief of the 2nd Army Area Command during this year's reshuffle. He will be in charge of the forces in the Northeast.

Likewise, the commander of the 3rd Army Corps, Lt Gen Wannathip Wongwai, is in line to be promoted to the 3rd Army Area Command, whose area of operation is in the North.

It's true that most of these commanders of the forces are considered Gen Anupong's men. But then again, since Gen Anupong and Gen Prayuth have grown from the same military units, their power base is generally the same.

The military has also prepared a successor to Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jaggabatara, who is due to retire in 2011. The choice is Gen Thanasak Patimapakorn, chairman of the advisory board of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Command.

If the power of Class 12 behind the leadership of class chairman Gen Prayuth is strong enough, Gen Thanasak could replace Gen Songkitti next year.

Otherwise, Gen Sathian Permthong-in, commanding general of the Armed Forces Development Command and chairman of Class 11, could warm the seat for one year before he retires in 2012.

Like Gen Prayuth, Gen Thanasak is known as Her Majesty the Queen's Guard. He commanded the formidable Taskforce 90 under the special warfare unit. He was also director of the anti-international terrorism centre.

At present, Gen Songkitti has assigned Gen Thanasak to supervise royal initiative projects and those in honour of the Royal Family, especially construction of an exhibition room to honour Their Majesties the King and Queen at the army headquarters on Chaeng Wattana Road.

It would be no exaggeration to state that, if everything goes as planned, Gen Prayuth and Gen Thanasak are set to become the army commander and supreme commander, respectively, whose main task will be to protect the monarchy against the increasingly volatile political developments.

Both Gen Prayuth and Gen Thanasak will be in service until 2013.

The only difference now is that one might reach the top position before the other.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/32684/the-military-change-of-guard

 

[kensington]

Barred party executive Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan on Friday voiced concern about political uncertainty triggered by the looming verdict on the Bt76 billion impounded assets of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I am very concerned what would happen after the verdict," she said in reference to the judicial decision scheduled for February 26.


Sudarat faded from the political scene after she became one of 111 Thai Rak Thai Party executives penalised for electoral fraud in 2007.


She stepped into the limelight again after attending a meeting with former MPs from Bangkok, seen as her political stronghold.


Commenting on the outburst of Pheu Thai MP Chalerm Yoobamrung accusing her of trying to stabbing his back last month, she said she had no involvement in blocking Chalerm's aspiration to become a prime minister.


For the planned motion of no confidence, Chalerm reportedly wants his main opposition party to name him for the position of prime minister, replacing incumbent Abhisit Vejjajiva. The opposition would finalise its decision on the censure debate by February 15.


Sudarat said Chalerm had mistakenly perceived her as an opponent since she had no influence over his party.


"In fact I think Chalerm should not try to link me to his party since this might be ground for Pheu Thai dissolution," she said.


Under the election law, a barred party executive is prohibited to hold an executive position in another party for five years. And the party harbouring the offender might be punished by dissolution.


---------



Senior Sgt-Major Suwichai Rodwimut, a much decorated police officer was murdered in cold blood by Chalerm Yoobamrung's youngest son, Duangchalerm following a brawl at the Twenty Club in September 2001. His son got away with the murder charge because, well, he is the son of Chalerm Yoobamrung.

Now this man wants to be the PM and maybe somebody could murder him back for poetic justice.

 

[Queen Seok Duk]

The problem with Thailand is that it has 3 governments - King, Army and Democrats.

 

[kensington]

Two of Thaksin Shinawatra's adult children are insisting they held company shares in their own right, and their holdings should be spared if the court rules that their father's fortune should be confiscated by the state.

Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra say they were not nominees holding assets on behalf of their father, so the state should release their 40 billion baht share of the 76 billion baht which it seized from Thaksin. The court will hand down its ruling on Feb 26.

Kittiporn Arunrat, lawyer for Mr Panthongtae and Ms Pinthongta, yesterday filed closing statements on behalf of his clients with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

The court has wrapped up its hearing into a complaint filed by prosecutors that Thaksin accumulated a fortune illegally by abusing his authority when he was prime minister, issuing policies that benefited his family business which held shares in Shin Corp.

In the closing statements filed by their lawyer, Mr Panthongtae and Ms Pinthongta said their wealth, earned from the sale of 1.06 billion Shin Corp shares to Temasek Holdings, was their own, and not part of the family fortune. Neither Thaksin nor their mother, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, had a stake in the assets, they said.

Mr Panthongtae said he bought 30.92 million shares in Shin Corp from his father and 42.47 million shares from his mother on Sept 1, 2000, for 10 baht each and paid for them.

On Aug 29, 2001, Shin Corp diluted the par value of its shares from 10 baht to one baht. Mr Panthongtae's holding increased to 733.95 million shares.

He sold 367 million shares on Sept 9, 2002, and 73 million shares on June 3, 2003, to Ms Pinthongta for one baht a share.

On Jan 20, 2006, Mr Panthongtae bought 164.60 million shares from Ample Rich Co for one baht each.

Thaksin had set up Ample Rich on the British Virgin Islands in a plan to list Shin Corp on the Nasdaq in the US. The company held 32.92 million Shin Corp shares.

At the time, Thaksin was not involved in Ample Rich as he had sold his sole share to Mr Panthongtae for US$5 on Dec 1, 2000, as a birthday gift,

Mr Panthongtae said he decided to follow his uncle Bannapot Damapong's decision to sell his Shin Corp shares to Temasek Holdings for 49.25 baht each on Jan 23, 2006. His uncle wanted the cash to pursue other business interests.

Mr Panthongtae and Ms Pinthongta made 17.15 billion baht and 23.59 billion baht respectively from the share sales.

The son said he used the money to invest in other businesses, including buying land in Nakhon Ratchasima. His father and mother were not involved in his decision.

Ms Pinthongta's closing statement said she held 604.6 million Shin Corp shares for five years without any authority raising a complaint, until the Asset Scrutiny Committee was set up in 2007.

She said Mr Panthongtae sold her his Shin Corp shares of his own free will. She asked her mother's secretary, Kanchanapa Honghern, to manage the shares, but she received all dividends herself.


----------

Remember
Thaksin
came to power
with all the money he had
and not what he had accumulated
when he was disposed.​

The problem with Thai judiciary is that they are extremely vindictive and will go all out just to score a brownie point.

For comparison, the powers-that-be just demolished the 2006 coup-appointed Prime Minister Surayod Chulanont's holiday home because of encroachment into Khao Yai National Park's land eventhough he paid for that piece of land in a fair and square manner but since he is not the flavour of the month anymore, he is expendable...This is Thai 101...Blunt and succinct.

 

[kensington]

Reds are a force to reckon with


Fri, 12/02/2010 - 16:43
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Bangkok Post


By the admission of the acting government spokesman, the anti-government red shirts under the banner of United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are now prevalent in no fewer than 38 of Thailand's 76 provinces, predominantly in the populous Northeast and North.



But the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, its backers in the army and elsewhere, and the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) still do not acknowledge the claims and grievances of the red shirts.

On the one hand, they are portrayed by the current officialdom as mere financial lackeys of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. On the other, they are sometimes depicted as ignorant and gullible peasants, who cannot see beyond Thaksin's manipulative populism.

The catalyst for the latest round of Thailand 's brinkmanship between the reds and their opponents centres on the upcoming verdict on Thaksin's assets trial involving 76 billion baht.

Thaksin is mobilising all resources within his power to whip up red-shirted sentiment. The ringleaders of the reds have visited him time and again near and far, in Dubai and Cambodia, to receive instructions. His media offensive through Twitter and phone-ins are on full throttle.

His opponents, who hold the levers of power in Bangkok, are equally in full swing. Hardly a day goes by without official demonisation and intimidation of Thaksin and the red shirts. That the rhetoric and ominous posturing have been ratcheted up by both sides is not surprising. The reds see the verdict as the culmination of a long offensive of injustice since the Sept 19, 2006 coup. Thaksin merely symbolises their quest for social justice and their struggle for democratic rights. The opposing yellows and their allied army, government and swathes of intelligentsia see it as the final act of political decapitation short of physical demise for a usurper and a crook. But the many who believe the reds will simply sputter out and disappear when Thaksin's money supply runs dry, are gravely mistaken at the expense of all. The reds have become much more organic and spontaneous than Thaksin himself could ever have imagined when he was ousted from power.

Even a short visit to the reds' Northeast heartland, such as Ubon Ratchathani province, can provide glimpses of a full-blooded social movement with attendant small-scale fund-raising, symbols, assorted paraphernalia like caps and T-shirts, and pent-up anger and frustration. The reds of Ubon are split into seven groups, all with different approaches and methods but with the same arguments and objectives. Their verbiage entwines Thaksin, democracy and justice.

For some reds in that province, it is all about Thaksin, his populist policies, attention to the poor and downtrodden, and leadership that took Thailand competitively into the 21st century. For others, the top priority is not Thaksin but "democracy," which was subverted when post-election winning parties that should have governed were dissolved repeatedly while losing parties and turncoat factions were given the green light to rule by the men in green. For all the reds in Ubon, injustice and "double standards" are ubiquitous in officialdom. When all parties have bought votes, dissolving fewer than all for vote fraud reeks of unfairness. To them, Thaksin was corrupt just like those who came before him and who will come hereafter. They see his pro-poor policy legacy and Thailand 's modernisation for the 21st century as the difference.

Alarmingly, the reds in Ubon have set up UDD schools for education about justice. Some are militant and intransigent. But most still want a just and fair Thailand to be able to move forward in the world. As long as the reds are dismissed and denied, the fear-mongering of a "people's army" will find resonance and germination that are dangerous for Thailand's medium-term horizon. Similar stories can be recounted from Udon Thani, Si Sa Ket and a host of other rural provinces in the Northeast and North. They do not include the silent fence-sitters in the other 38 provinces who know that something does not add up about justice in Thailand but are not prepared to act.

The pro-Abhisit coalition has been effective at dissembling and marginalising opposing views. The PAD, in particular, are expert assassins of character, cowing and intimidating those who want to activate and broaden the middle ground for a way forward, into silence. If they cannot see the reds beyond Thaksin and his assets, Thailand will see much more pain and grief in store. What the government spokesman should be telling his bosses and backers is not how to suppress the reds in a three-pronged strategy from local authorities to the draconian Internal Security Act and military-run Emergency Decree, but how to listen to these reds and wean them off Thaksin.

The challenge for the government now, as it has been for Thailand's powers-that-be since coup days, is to eliminate Thaksin for his corruption and abuses of power while accommodating his red columns for their grievances, demands and expectations.

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Thitinan Pongsudhirak is Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University.

 

[kensington]

PM's aide: Red-shirts to intensify rallies


The red-shirted supporters of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will intensify their rally ahead of the upcoming court verdict in the Shinawatra assets seizure case, Democrat leader’s personal spokesman Thepthai Senpong said.

“The red-shirts will make more movements before Feb 26, the date the court sets to give its ruling on whether to seize the 76 billion baht in assets of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family”, Mr Thepthai said.

The spokesman called on the people not to panic as the government is capable of keeping the situation under control.

Asked about the rumour that the red-shirt’s hard-core leaders were preparing to use violent means in the forthcoming mass anti-government rallies, Mr Thepthai said state security units are keeping a close watch to prevent unrest protests from occurring.

He claimed that core leaders of the UDD had threatened to stage violent rallies against the government in order to prevent Thaksin’s wealth from being seized.

Army specialist Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol’s remarks that the cabinet ministers and the judges of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions are at risk of attacking were made for the same purpose, he added.

 

[kensington]

Thaksin gives Chinese NY blessing



The fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday posted in his Twitter page “Xin Zheng Ruyi Xin Nian Facai”, expressing a happy new year to all Thai-Chinese people on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.

“I ask for a permission (from Thai people) to travel to earn my living. I will visit Africa for 4-5 days and then will return to Dubai to wait to see whether I will receive justice there”, Thaksin said.

“If someone exposes a rumour that I will be in Cambodia, please don’t believe it”.

Thaksin was referring to the case that the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions will on Feb 26 rule on whether 76 billion baht of assets said to belong to him and his family should be seized.

The ex-premier complained that he was unjustly treated by the now defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee and that the power holders are trying to seize his assets.

There was an earlier rumour that Thaksin would be in Cambodia during the week that the court is to give its ruling in asset seizure case to control the red-shirts in the final battle against the government and the bureaucrats.


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Meanwhile, Police have increased number of police to maintain law and order at Yaowarat’s Chinese New Year celebration on Feb 13 and 14 by two folds, Pol Col Thiraping Khlaikaew, chief of Plubplachai police said on Saturday.

Pol Col Thirapong said higher number of police is also aimed at providing security for VIPs who will attend the celebration, particularly Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajijva.

He was confident that police are capable of overseeing the situation.

 

[kensington]

Threats turn real - but who's behind them?

By Jintana Panyaarvudh
February 15, 2010



As the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions is scheduled to rule on February 26 whether or not to seize the Bt76-billion assets of convicted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the violence anticipated ahead of the upcoming court verdict has arrived already.



- Mid-last month, an M-79 was fired into Army Chief Anupong Paochinda's office in the Army headquarters, causing a hole, damaging walls and shattering window glass. No one was injured.

- Security was beefed up for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva after bags filled with excrement and fermented fish (pla ra) were thrown into the PM's residence early this month. The attack prompted authorities to beef up security, from guards with dogs to CCTV and a protective net on the PM's home.

- Last Saturday, two cars tried to interrupt the PM's motorcade in two separate incidents.

First, a white Honda with two men tried to cut into Abhisit's caravan travelling on the expressway towards the Yommaraj exit, near Government House, at 1pm. Police sped up their van to intercept the car, cracking the hubcap on the right rear wheel in the process. The car finally stopped without anyone being hurt.

The second incident happened at 5pm when a taxi, with "Red who wants no dictatorship" and "Red who wants no amart"(Royal advisers) stickers on it, tried to cut into the PM's motorcade while it was heading to the PM's home. The same security team in the van that had stopped the first car in the afternoon forced the taxi to slow down.

- On Saturday night, at about 11pm, an unidentified attacker fired an M79 grenade at Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, about 50 metres from Government House. The attack damaged four parked cars, a university roof and a pavilion, police said. No one was injured.

- Yesterday three pounds of C-4 explosives were found in a Supreme Court compound. Police said the bomb was powerful enough to destroy the whole building. The bomb seemingly related to an earlier warning by Thaksin's main supporter Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, known as Seh Daeng, of possible death threats against Supreme Court judges, members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and former members of the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee.

Obviously, all incidents were related to the judgement day of Thaksin in his asset seizure case. Although it's difficult to conclude who were behind those incidents, there are three groups, who may have been involved:

First, supporters of the current government - wanting to create trouble in order to discredit the red shirts. They could then blame the red shirts as being behind the violence because they (the red shirts) wanted to protect Thaksin's assets.

Second, supporters of Thaksin - wanting to create a disturbance in order to threaten the government and force it to open negotiations with Thaksin. The bomb might be aimed at threatening the judges in order to give a positive verdict in Thaksin's case. Or they might want to make conditions as bad as possible so that the military has to step in to use force or even stage a coup to control the situation. A coup would be seen as a benefit for Thaksin's camp who would use it as an argument to undermine any Thaksin verdict.

Third, a third party. The motive behind this group might be a change in the current situation. It may be military, who want to take control or even stage a coup, believing the government could not control the situation.

With 11 days to go before judgement day, the worst may yet to come. Let's keep our fingers crossed.


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More likely the works of PAD, who are smart enough to hide their hands and blames everybody but declared that 70% of Thais are so DUMB-DUMB as to ineligible to vote in the General Election.

As long as society leeches the like of PAD are not eliminated Thailand will have an uphill task in restoring what they had achieved during Thaksin's years.

Thaksin Rules !!!​

 

[kensington]

Tanks, Thaksin and $2 billion
The Military's Past, Present and Future Roles in Thailand's Ongoing Political Crisis

A Panel Discussion with Panitan Wattanayagorn, Suranand Vejjajiva & Federico Ferrara
8pm Thurs, February 18, 2010
​

A political storm is gathering over the upcoming court decision on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's frozen wealth, raising widespread concerns over how events will unfold and how the military will react.

Thailand's armed forces have intervened in politics many times before, most recently with Thaksin's ouster in 2006. Many Thais welcomed that putsch as a circuit-breaker in a time of dangerously rising tension, arguing that the constitution had already been undermined by Thaksin, who now lives in self-exile and as he tries to claw his way back to power.

On the other side, coup opponents say Thailand's current political turmoil can be traced back to that rainy night of September 19, 2006, when the military seized power and abolished the 1997 Constitution.

Now a new wave of political tension is building, with the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) holding near-daily demonstrations to call for a return to the 1997 Constitution and to warn the military to stay out of politics.

Recent polls generally show the public discounts another coup d'etat, and many analysts similarly see one as far-fetched. The army s top leadership has also dismissed the reports as rumors. Still, the very fact that it's seen as possible is indicative of the long-term structural political problems that have plagued the country since the last coup.

Please join us as we welcome three distinguished panelists to discuss role of the military in Thai politics and culture, as well as the public perception of coups d'etat in contemporary Thailand.


Speakers

- Panitan Wattanayagorn PhD, Acting Government Spokesman, is currently on leave from his associate professorship in the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University. Dr. Panitan has advised a series of governments on military and defence affairs, reform, and conflict management. In 2005, he served as foreign affairs advisor to then-Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Abhisit Vejjajiva, and advisor to the Southern Border Provinces Peace-Building Command. In 2004, he helped draft reform legislation for the Ministry of Defence. In 2002-2003, he was a member of the National Human Rights Commission's Subcommittee on Terrorism Law. He concurrently developed Key Performance Indicators on Thailand s security for the National Economic and Social Development Advisory Council.

- Suranand Vejjajiva, formerly a Cabinet Minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, served as Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office (2005-2006), Member of Parliament (2001-2005), and Spokesman for the Thai Rak Thai Party (2001-2005). He is now a popular cable TV and radio show host and respected columnist for the Bangkok Post. Mr Suranand is a cousin of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

- Federico Ferrara PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, where he writes on elections, political parties, and democratization in non-Western societies. He is the author of the newly-released, provocative book Thailand Unhinged: Unraveling the Myth of a Thai-Style Democracy.



Members: No cover charge, buffet dinner is 350 baht
Non-members: 300 baht cover charge without buffet dinner or 650 baht for buffet dinner including cover charge

Reservations: To ensure sufficient food for the buffet, we would greatly appreciate your making a buffet reservation at least one day before the program if you plan to join us for the dinner. (No penalty for cancellation if last minute conflicts arise.) Please also note that tables/seats will be reserved only for those with advance buffet bookings. To reserve, please call 02-652-0580-1 or click here to send an e-mail to [email protected] .


Bangkok Pundit says:

Panitan will probably provide the government perspective on things whereas Suranand and Federico are likely to be more critical. The best thing about Suranand is that he has been in government before so knows what it is like - the best about his columns is to learn how parts of the executive function. It should be a good night.