HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy new year

Times On Line gives the finger to the thai government

23 November 2009
The “Times Online” has unofficially refused to comply with a request by the Thai government to hand over the controversial taped interview with former Prime Minister

Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand, which contained parts that are deemed lese majeste, according to the Minister to the PM’s Office Satit Wonghnongtaey. (PRD)

And even deeper into the Rabbit Hole :
The government will not stop requesting the tape of an interview by ousted Prime

Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from the Times Online although the latter has unofficially rejected the request, according to Minister to Prime Minister’s Office Satit Wonghnongtoey.

Mr Satit stated that the news agency had already denied Thailand’s request, claiming that it was the right and freedom of the press. However, the government

had assigned officials concerned to submit another letter to the Times Online demanding an official statement to clarify the matter, he said.

The minister affirmed that the government would not stop asking for Mr Thaksin’s interview tape since the issue has hurt the feelings of Thai people.

He added that if the Times Online was sincere and did not have any deals with the ex-prime minister, the news agency should give cooperation to the Thai government in the investigation process. (PRD)

Paranoid. And hysterical. Totally. Those are the proper words to qualify such behaviour.
To read this famous interview and my comments, click here.

So to summarize : an english media has given the finger to those thai maniacs who think that the world is besieging Thailand, that there is a universal conspiracy to “hurt the

feelings of Thai people“, that there is a global threat against “thai national security“, orchestrated by Thaksin and legions of devil foreign journalists who don’t understand Thailand (of course).

Oh dear… we do understand… too well. That’s their problem.
But the worst is : those clowns might indeed believe their own words and fantasies. That’s the scary part.

Because, beyond the obvious political manipulation (they push everything at their hand against Thaksin), there is a nefarious way of thinking gaining some momentum right now in Thailand.

It’s called Thoughtcrime. They arrest a doctor who wrote something on the web about the King’s health. They ask foreign medias to “comply” with their requests… etc. They accuse

foreign new editor of lese-majeste. Shall we see a pattern there ?
Something is seriously wrong in Thailand…

And meanwhile, we still wait for some bright comments coming from Abhisit, our young, dashing and Oxford-educated Prime Minister. You know the guy who loves to speak about “democracy” and “rule of law” on CNN (and here)…

What does he think about this stuff ? Afterall, this minister is close to him.
So do we have to conclude that Abhisit agrees ? That Abhisit doesn’t give a shit about the

freedom of the press ? That Abhisit has forgotten everything they (allegedly) taught him in Oxford ?

Kasit wants to use Husen's boold to clean his feet.

January 13, 2009
Kasit Piromya, Thai Foreign Minister, is a long- time foreign experienced high raking official of Thailand working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1968 to 2005 respectively asThai Ambassador to some countries in European Union, USA, Moscow, Tokyo, Jakarta.

He is also one of the core supporter and leader of the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which led demonstration again and again for years to oust the elected- government under Thaksin Sinawatra.

Recently, during the last campaign held by PAD which was called the “Nakasaki or Hiroshima War” in order to topple the pro-Thaksin government which led to siege Thai two main airports- Daunmoung and Suvannaphumi, Kasit played as one of the PAD core leaders. He actively participated in the demonstration and gave the speeches to the demonstrators.

His speeches were not only about attacking Thaksin and Thaksinists, but also about attacking Cambodian intregrity, regarding to our Preah Vihear Temple. Most importantly,his speech attacking against Hun Sen,which has been criticized and concerned by some realThai intellectuals and politicians as well as some ordinary Thai who love respect, morality and dignity, can jeopardize his role for the foreign mission or relation.

Regarding to his speech attacking Hun Sen, I tried to search for it , but I failed to get it. Fortunately, I found it in Bangkok post forum posted on 10-01-2009 at 06:27 PM24, Discussion 24, which one of the commentators with ID Charlotte translated and wrote :

“ Kasit announced loudly that he will use Hun Sen’s blood to wash his feet” during his speech given at the Suvannaphumi airport.

I think it is reliable. Personally, Kasit is one of the ultra-nationalists (PAD), the extremist group which has instigated the Preah Vihear invasion since July 2008.

Such a Nazi word is not new to the Thais because it is clearly written and taught in Thai history, describing how Thais treated Cambodians especially during the 16th century by King Naresaun who claimed to use King Setha´s blood to wash his feet, too, at school in order to motivate the nationalist sentiment among Thais to feel superior to Cambodia and not to be afraid of confronting the Cambodians at any cost.

And it is believed that Kasit speech aimed at reminding of this history for the same political purpose. Kasit´s speech is not published publicly in media or translated; instead he is criticized and warned for such an uneducated speech.

To my question, how can a man with high education with much national and internationalwork experience and held a high position in the Cabinet gave such a barbarian speech against a leader of another nation without respect? Is this called the educated Thai? Or Is this the real color of most Thai people towards its neighbors?

I am just wondering what Hun Sen think about Kasit´ evil speech and how his reaction responses towards Kasit if he knows about it when they meet in the future talk during Kasit´s visit to Cambodia in coming late January, 2009.

Politically, “Kasit´s speech doesn´t only show his hatred towards and the look-down on Hun Sen alone, but also the Cambodians in general as a NATION.”

Personally, I never like Hun Sen but as a Cambodian or as a man who lives in this century of the civilized world, Kasit´s behavior is considered as the barbarian, the uncivilized, the ignorant, the stupid, the beast, the Nazi which is unacceptable and unforgivable.

And he doesn’t deserve to put his feet on Cambodia no matter what position and mission he is responsible for Thailand in cooperation with Cambodia.
Khmerization

Thailand's rivals show their colours

April 13, 2009
Thailand's rivals show their colours
Thailand’s political crisis has become more alarming every year but, until the past two days,
it fell short of being frightening. Last year’s vast demonstrations,

the mobs of yellow-shirterprotesters taking over the prime minister’s office - they were aggressive and disruptive, but there was no sense in which they threatened the state as a whole.

The occupation of Bangkok’s international airport last year was a surprise - but even then it seemed that the police and the army had allowed it to happen, and that the security apparatus retained the capacity,at a least, for exerting control

The events of the weekend make it difficult to maintain such confidence. The ease with which a different mob - dressed in red, this time - chased away the leaders of Asia’s most
powerful countries yesterday, virtually unimpeded by the police and army, suggests a new and truly dangerous possibility: that Thailand is becoming a country without law

enforcement, in which any rabble with large enough numbers and bright enough T-shirts, can impose its will by means of physical menace.

The tumult in Thailand has always been complicated and unpredictable but, it used to be at least comprehensible.

It was a story of two sides, conveniently colour-coded, and of a military which clearly favoured one over the other.

On one hand were the Red Shirts, supporters of the exiled former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.

The Reds drew their support from the rural and urban poor; even after Thaksin’s overthrow, they continued to win at the polls; and it was only last year

that the pro-Thaksin government was driven out by a prolonged and dramatic show of force by their opponents - the Yellow Shirts.

Thailand imposes new restrictions on media

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last week assured journalists in the country that his government respected freedom of the press and would facilitate their work.

Speaking at the Pattaya campus of Thammasart University, Abhisit said, “The government wants to see media freedom and will facilitate the operations of members of the media to achieve freedom of expression.”

The speech, titled, “Media Lessons: The Power of the State, the Power of Capital, and the Power of the People,” was part of a seminar held jointly by the Thai Journalists Association,

the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, the Press Council of Thailand and other organizations.

Touted as a forum for media professionals to “expand their networks and cooperation,” the real purpose of the event seemed to be to ensure that Thailand’s media toed the line in its reporting.

Although the Thai government is supposedly democratic, the Democrat-led government has done no more than murmur when police have raided human rights offices, and demurred

comment when innocent citizens and foreigners have been arrested for suspected insults to the monarchy – these considered not only offensive but also a “threat to national security.”

Each succeeding Thai government, whether professing to be democratic or nationalistic, “concerned for its citizens” or dealing with “difficult circumstances,” has seen fit to close

down newspapers, shut down radio and television broadcasts and arrest journalists and others who were creating “inaccurate” images of what was happening in the kingdom.

To help ensure that such actions are reduced and newspapers and other media are not forcibly closed, they are now being given strict guidelines and informed how they can

cooperate with the government to ensure national security, so the kingdom can achieve reconciliation and harmony.

In other words, news reports of government activities, personalities, corruption and the undermining of democratic institutions are likely to diminish, as the new rules will clearly

prescribe just how far inquiry can proceed and what scope it will be permitted to encompass.
The new rules have already been sharply defined and are being reinforced with criminal law provisions.

The kingdom’s computer crime law, for example, has already been used to stamp a 10-year prison sentence on Suwicha Thakor, an Internet user who allegedly spread defamatory remarks about the monarchy online.

More recently the Thai government amazed human rights and democracy watchers worldwide by announcing last week that it would demand the power to approve all programming before it is broadcast.

The announcement by Sathit Wongnongtoey, the minister in charge of the prime minister’s office, indicated that new regulations would permit “authorities” to act against broadcasters airing content “deemed” to undermine democracy.

Sathit said, “Once the regulations take effect, any broadcast station airing content deemed to be politically incendiary will not be allowed to operate.”

It’s very difficult to differentiate between what’s politically incendiary and what is not. Obviously the Thai government feels there is no need to define such differences, because it has taken it upon itself to deem and define.

In this ability to act almost without restraint in the name of national security, the government now parallels its Chinese, Burmese, Lao, Cambodian and Burmese counterparts in quashing almost anything it deems needs quashing.

These worrisome developments in Thailand, part of a general trend toward limiting, inch by inch, the power of the people in the name of national security, seem to have gone unnoticed by Thailand’s friends and neighbors.

Perhaps this is because they are mostly either trading partners or brothers-in-crime, involved in exploiting natural resources or other deals.

The prognosis for the future of democracy in Thailand is not good. Despite the promises of press freedom, there are rumors of leaders meeting in secret sessions in Parliament and the Cabinet to deliberate how to retain power while keeping the media quiet.

For the time being Thailand’s relations with the West will likely remain relatively cordial, but as time goes on, the attitude of the internal state security apparatus may eventually work its way outward to identify once close allies as enemies of the state.

The Thai people themselves, however, have already become the first victims of this new regime.
(Frank G. Anderson is the Thailand representative of American Citizens Abroad. He was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer to Thailand from 1965-67,

working in community development. A freelance writer and founder of northeast Thailand's first local English language newspaper, the Korat Post – www.thekoratpost.com – he has

spent over eight years in Thailand "embedded" with the local media. He has an MBA in information management and an associate degree in construction technology. ©Copyright Frank G. Anderson.)
See

Economic Pain Spurs Thai Opposition

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- While the political crisis here is in a relative lull, the shrinking of the Thai economy is exacerbating the discontent that has spurred rival camps of protesters in recent weeks.

In Chiang Mai, the hometown of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a hotbed of support for his so-called "red-shirt" followers who rioted in Bangkok earlier this month, the impact of the economic slowdown is pronounced.

Around 35% of the city's economy depends on tourism, according to the local chamber of commerce, and another large chunk comes from migrant workers who toil in the export-focused factories in and around Bangkok and then send money back home.

With the global recession and political tensions eating into both of those revenue streams, some local businesspeople are joining the antigovernment protesters to vent their frustration.

Lay Luangcharoen, 44 years old, until recently ran a business making wooden-doll key-rings in the outskirts of Chiang Mai. He started the business 17 years ago after raising seed money driving a taxi in Bangkok.

Business began to dry up last year, as the global economic meltdown kicked in. Then, yellow-garbed anti-Thaksin protesters invaded and occupied Bangkok's airports for a week in

November, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers and badly damaging the country's reputation as a safe and reliable tourist destination -- as well as forcing the collapse of the pro-Thaksin coalition government.

Now 12 million baht ($340,000) in debt, Mr. Lay has reinvented himself as DJ Lay, and stars on an antigovernment radio station in Chiang Mai, where he exhorts listeners to rally against the government of new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"Only a democratic government can produce the leadership we need to get out of this economic mess," says Mr. Lay, brushing some crumbs from his thick mustache before going back on the air to fumble his way into an a capella rendition of "My Way."

Mr. Abhisit says Thailand is now "back to normal" after the worst political violence the country has seen in 16 years. Earlier this month the protesters -- many of whom want to bring back Mr. Thaksin, who was deposed in a 2006 coup -- hijacked buses and set them on fire and threatened to blow up cylinders of liquid petroleum gas.

The government lifted a state of emergency Friday and antigovernment protests resumed peacefully in Bangkok Saturday, with around 5,000 people venturing out to a park near the historic Grand Palace.

Three leaders of the previous round of rallies have been granted bail, after being charged with illegal assembly and inciting people to break the law, but didn't attend Saturday's demonstration.

Another is a member of parliament and as such claims immunity from prosecution, while another, Jakrapob Penkair, fled before he could be arrested and is in hiding.

A new tier of leaders has since emerged, one of whom, Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, on Saturday said the red-shirt movement hopes to lead several more antigovernment rallies around the country before returning to Bangkok for more demonstrations in Bangkok by mid-May.

Mr. Abhisit, 44 years old, says he is willing to listen to some of the protesters' demands. He is pressing for changes in Thailand's constitution to reduce judicial powers which Mr.

Thaksin's backers say have been unfairly used to dissolve political parties sympathetic to the former premier, who is in exile, and now traveling in Africa and the Middle East, to avoid extradition and imprisonment for corruption.
Read More

100 Stories on Thailand 014

Explainer: Thailand's ongoing political crisis

(CNN) -- The declaration of a state of emergency in Thailand following violent clashes between anti-government and security forces marks the latest escalation in a long-running

political crisis which has plunged the southeast Asian country into frequent bouts of disorder and instability.

This weekend's protests, which included forcing the postponement of a summit of Asian leaders in the southern coastal city of Pattaya and demonstrations on the streets of Bangkok,

were orchestrated by red-shirted supporters of the controversial and corruption-tainted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin -- a multibillionaire media tycoon elected in 2001 on a populist platform that promised universal healthcare and cash handouts to poor villagers -- was ousted from power

in a bloodless army coup in 2006 and has been in exile abroad since being sentenced last October to two years in prison after being convicted of a corruption charge by Thailand's Supreme Court.

But Thaksin remains a polarizing figure in Thailand, commanding substantial support in the countryside.

Until last year, Thaksin's allies had remained in power with the government headed by the exiled prime minister's brother-in law, Somchai Wongsawat, despite disruptive protests by the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), whose supporters dressed in yellow and represented Thailand's traditional ruling class, suspicious of Thaksin's populist model of democracy.

But the PAD achieved its goal of ousting Somchai in December after a week-long occupation of the prime ministerial Government House offices and blockading Bangkok's main airports, stranding thousands of tourists.

Thailand's Constitutional Court subsequently disbanded Somchai's People Power Party for electoral fraud and barred Somchai from office for five years, paving the way for Thai

lawmakers to elect opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister. iReport.com: "Red shirts" take to streets

But Thaksin's supporters insist that Abhisit was not democratically elected and have vowed to protest until fresh elections are held.

On Sunday, Thaksin told protesters via a video link from an unknown location that he would return home to lead them in a march on the capital if necessary.

"Now that they have tanks on the street and the soldiers are coming out, so it is time for the people to come out for a revolution," Thaksin said.

Writing in a blog, CNN's Bangkok Correspondent Dan Rivers said he saw five possible scenarios emerging from the current crisis.

Firstly, Abhisit could call a snap election, which he would be unlikely to win because Thaksin's allies continue to lead polls.

Secondly, he could resign, resulting in the creation of another coalition which would struggle to unify the rival factions, leaving open the likelihood of further protests from one side or the other.

Thirdly, Thaksin could return from exile to lead a red-shirted uprising; a scenario which Rivers describes as "messy and bloody." iReport.com: "Numerous buses set ablaze"

Fourthly, the army could again intervene, as it has done in the past, although Rivers says that would do little to heal the deep divisions between both sides.

Finally, Rivers said, Abhisit could choose to ride out the protests or "get tough." But both strategies would likely damage his standing.

"Trying to ignore the protests will leave him looking even weaker; ordering a violent crack-down may simply harden the resolve of the red shirts and provide fodder to their questionable claims that Abhisit has dictatorial tendencies," Rivers said. See

Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year 2010

Merry Chirstmas

Seven reasons why Thailand is a mess

BANGKOK — Since the end of absolute royal rule in 1932, Thailand has tottered between military rule and democracy, often landing at points in between.

A faction of self-described have-nots — the Red Shirts — staged an uprising last week under the banner of restoring “real democracy” to the kingdom.

The still-simmering revolt threatens to replace postcard images of sugar-sand beaches and neon-drenched party spots with scenes of charred buses and club-wielding mobs.

As uncertainty looms over Thailand, this much is clear: The anti-establishment movement appears to be growing more hardline — and the promise of reconciliation appears dim.

1) WHERE DOES THE RAGE COME FROM?
In a phrase, class resentment. The revolt largely draws from Thailand’s upcountry, rice-farming region and less affluent city dwellers.

Many feel detached from Bangkok’s powerful triumvirate — the aristocracy, military and bureaucracy — and demand a stronger voice.

Anger erupted after a 2006 military coup and only grew after politicized trials essentially banned the Red Shirts’ favored politicians.

“They’re a government of bandits,” said protester Thanapol Nichakul, who joined last week’s uprising. “This isn’t over.”

2) DID A MOB REALLY ALMOST ABDUCT THE PRIME MINISTER?
Yes. The government recently admitted that a luxury sedan with tinted windows, surrounded by protesters at the Ministry of the Interior last week, contained Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

They’ve now revealed it also carried his deputy — who fulfills a role comparable to chief of staff. The car, its paneling dented and windshield fractured, narrowly escaped.

The two were “nearly lynched,” according to Buranaj Smutharaks, the government spokesman. “There was a clear possibility that Prime Minister Abhisit and the deputy prime minister may have either been abducted or harmed.”

3) WHY DO SOLDIERS/POLICE LET THIS HAPPEN?
There’s little incentive to fire on a political mob — especially if you or your commander has mixed loyalties. Even using tear gas carries a deep stigma after Bangkok police fired cheap, Chinese-made tear gas into a sea of protesters last fall.

The high-propulsion canister killed a young woman and wounded many others. The police were vilified as “murderers.” “Since then, they’ve been head over heels reluctant to react,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University. “They’re afraid they’ll just further inflame the Red Shirts.”

This is partly why a blockade of soldiers and cops was so easily overrun by Red Shirts at a recent Asian world leaders summit in Pattaya, a Thai resort town. Thousands of protesters simply brushed past walls of soldiers, shouting “Excuse me, sir!” in Thai.

Prime ministers, including China’s, were evacuated by helicopters, private jets and speedboats.
Red Shirts also claim to have many sympathizers within the Thai police force.

Even Buranaj, the government spokesman, admits that “there was at least one instance (at the summit) where the police actually allowed for the Red Shirts to go up to the hill … and actually ordered the military to open the way.”

4) IF POLICE/SOLDIERS WON’T FIGHT, HOW DO AUTHORITIES PLAN TO STOP PROTESTERS?
To sidestep the unpopular image of soldiers or cops quelling protesters, authorities assembled their own plainclothes mob to do the dirty work, according to many experts.

About 200 men in navy blue shirts — freshly printed with the words “Protect the Institution” — confronted 2,000-plus Pattaya protesters in the street with clubs and smoke bombs.

“The army was afraid of overreacting by harming the Red Shirts,” Thitinan said. “Instead, they went with these blue shirts … and got the overreaction they were afraid of.”

After a brief melee, the men in blue shirts fled and the protesters stormed the hotel containing world leaders.

5) WILL THERE BE MORE VIOLENCE?
If you believe Red Shirts’ promises, it seems likely. Though most Red Shirt leaders are being held in prison, one of the faction’s more outspoken leaders, Jakrapob Penkair, has fled the country to rebuild the movement from abroad.

See

Latest Thai Military Jokes

Why is there as many Thai military generals as in the American military?
You need a lot of generals to protect the tiny group of ruling class Thais.

How good is the current Thai constitution, drawn up by the last military coup?

The current constitution guarantees the right of every Thai to live under military influences.

Why did the military promote Abhisit’s cousin to head a key coup staging military unit?

Probably because Abhisit is tired of being propped up by the current military chief and wants to be propped up by his cousin.

Who becomes Thai generals?

The more unstable and risk taking they are, the higher they move up the ranks.

Why so many rich kids wants to become Thai generals?

Because they like ordering people around and then having the same people kiss their butts.

Why does the Thai navy want submarines?

So it can hunt for the “Red” October, and December, and January and ……anything Red actually

How can the future Thai army boss dare says he is sick of the sight of any one of the millions of Red Shirt?

Because nobody dares tell him to see a psychologist to cure the mental sickness.

Are not the Red Shirt scared of the Thai military?

The Red Shirt are only scared that there will not be enough refugees boat to help the millions of Thais Exodus out of Thailand when the military stage another coup.

Why does the Thai military like to stage coup so much?

Because it is the only time they can show-off the power of their shiny useless tanks and sometimes the streets of Bangkok is too peaceful.

What is the best signal if the Thai generals plan to stage a coup?

When they get pissed off that politicians gets priority at golfing rounds.

Does not the Thai military see the millions of Red Shirt as Thais?

The Thai military sees the Red Shirt as targets for practicing their sharp shooting skill.

How many more Thais will have to sacrifice their life against the military coup?

Until the Thai military runs out of bullets.

Does not the Thai military love the Thai people at all?

The military only thinks Thais in military uniforms are people and the rest are just crazy animals.

Is there no one who can talk senses into the Thai generals?

Only cute chicks with big boobs can whisper into the Thai generals ears what to do when they just finished screwing.

So what are the Thai generals good for, really?

Protecting Thailand from clear and presence big danger from little countries like Cambodia.
Why did the Thai military sent F16 and F-5 to intercept Taksin’s private jet leaving Cambodia?
Because the Thai air force is afraid the private jet will release bombs on Bangkok.

Is the Thai military that bad for Thailand?

The Thai military is so bad for Thailand, the dictionary now says the word “Hopeless” refers to how the Thai military makes people feel.

Why are big Thai generals rich beyond belief?

Who knows, except the Thai military rank and files are poor beyond belief.

Will Thais support another coup?

It depends on how well can the military controlled media spin the coup into a good news and how fast the general’s wife can send their servants to greet the tanks with flowers.

When will the Thai military truly becomes professional?

They are cutting edge professional when it comes to staging coup.

What ever happened to that group of professional Thai soldiers who called themselves the Democratic soldiers?

They were promoted to in-active posts, and the so-called Dictatorship Soldiers were promoted to take over the Thai military.

But really, the Thai military must have a good solution to the problems of Thailand?

The term long-term strategic winning is referred to by the Thai military as too long for their attention span.

The Thai military must be good for protecting Thailand’s national security?

The Thai generals think their own wallet’s security is about national security.

When will coups stop occurring in Thailand?

Good question, probably when Thailand becomes so backward it can’t afford gasoline to bring out the tanks for coups.

What does the Thai generals love?

It is not love with the Thai generals, it is what they hate less. And they hate themselves the least, and hate the Red Shirt the most.

Why do arms dealers love Thai generals so much?

Because arms dealers get to go to Switzerland, Cayman Islands, and Bahamas a lot to open up secret bank accounts.

Does the annual Thai-American military exercise helps the Thai military to be more professional?

Actually, the Americans are only interested in getting the Thai general to help pimp Thai call girls and make American soldier better at kinky sex.

Clips Red Shirt's Thailand

ฺBBC World News

Catch me if you can

30 November 2008
Arabian Business
Last week Thailand descended into chaos as tens of thousands of protesters surrounded parliament in a bid to drive out the government it accuses of being puppets of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Since he was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, his UK visa has been revoked, his wife has divorced him and a controversial two-year jail sentence for corruption awaits him in his home country. In his first interview in 18 months, he speaks to Arabian Business.

If Thaksin Shinawatra is feeling the heat, then he's not showing it. Thailand has an arrest warrant out for its former prime minister. The UK has just revoked his visa, and some Western countries are distancing themselves from the man they once championed as their greatest ally in Asia. And yet all Shinawatra can do is shrug.

Last week Thailand descended into chaos as tens of thousands of protesters surrounded parliament in a bid to drive out the government it accuses of being puppets of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Since he was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, his UK visa has been revoked, his wife has divorced him and a controversial two-year jail sentence for corruption awaits him in his home country. In his first interview in 18 months, he speaks to Arabian Business.

If Thaksin Shinawatra is feeling the heat, then he's not showing it. Thailand has an arrest warrant out for its former prime minister. The UK has just revoked his visa, and some Western countries are distancing themselves from the man they once championed as their greatest ally in Asia. And yet all Shinawatra can do is shrug.

Do you know how many countries there are in the world? There are 197. And only 17 have an extradition treaty with Thailand," he notes with a thin smile. "Better still, only 10 of those treaties are active. So, don't you worry about me, I still have many places to stay."

The poor have no choice
but to live in a capitalist economy,
but they have no capital.
They have no access to it.
If you give them that access,
it changes everything.

One such place is Dubai, where Shinawatra is resting comfortably in one of the emirate's top five-star hotels. He might feel entitled to a break, too, as it has been a busy 2008 for the man first nominated to Thailand's top office in a landslide election victory in 2001.

Two years ago he was overthrown in a bloodless coup while visiting the UN in New York. Exiled after months of massive anti-government protests, he ended up in the UK, where he bought Premier League football club Manchester City.

After the 2007 election, in which his new People Power Party won a healthy majority, and the forming of a new democratic government by his allies, Shinawatra returned in early 2008 to face his corruption charges in legal courts.

However, he and his wife skipped bail - they were convicted in absentia, and a lengthy stay in a Bangkok jail awaits them if they return.

The UK froze his reputed $4bn of assets, forcing him to sell Manchester City to Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour. To add to his troubles, his UK visa was revoked - oh, and his wife divorced him last week.

"It's been a busy few months," he says, laughing at his own predicament. And it's about to get even busier, as Shinawatra reveals he intends to make a comeback in politics, tackle global poverty, reorganise the Middle East's healthcare system - and while he's at it, establish a sizeable foundation to look after Asians hit by the financial crisis.

The really tricky one on the above ‘Shinawatra to-do list' is return to politics. On October 21, 2008, five members of a nine-member special bench of the Supreme Court found him guilty of a conflict of interest and sentenced him to two years in jail.

The judges found that Shinawatra had ultimate oversight over the Financial Institutions Development Fund, a government-run agency that bought up bank collateral and mortgages.

Shinawatra's wife won a competitive auction for a piece of land owned by the FIDF in 2003, and the judges found that his wife's purchase of the land was done on his behalf, thus constituting a conflict of interest.

Given the two-year jail term that awaits him upon his his return - not to mention a long list of political enemies who would like to see the back of him for good - a return to his homeland doesn't sound like the wisest move.

"I have no choice," he insists. "In the beginning after I was ousted, my wife asked me not to go back to politics. She didn't like politics, and the whole family went through a lot of hardship so I didn't go back.

"But now I have been cornered because the country is going down deeply," he continues. "The confidence is not there; the trust among the foreign community is not there; the poor people in rural areas are in difficulty.

With me at the helm I can bring confidence quickly back to Thailand, and that is why we have to find a mechanism under which I can go back into politics."

What does his wife think about this? "She has divorced me," he responds, bluntly - end of subject.

He admits that going back now would be too risky, but insists that "time is on my side". Last week tens of thousands of anti-government protesters marched on Thailand's parliament.

The protesters, from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) blocked all streets leading to parliament and besieged other state buildings, forcing MPs to cancel their business, in response to a grenade attack on the protester's camp that killed one of their supporters earlier this month.

Violence flared and as Arabian Business went to press, the head of Thailand's army had asked the government to dissolve parliament and call new elections - circumstances hardly conducive to a return for the former prime minister.

"I can stay here and do some business, enjoy life a bit. But I have to go back for my people and my supporters, most of whom are poor or middle class," he says.

"In the past the poor didn't see the future - they only saw the bitter past and short present," he continues. "After I became PM I gave them hope, I brought them freshness. They saw a future for their children to go to school and for their crops.

They were happy - even taxi drivers were happy - and I brought the economy back to normal."
But could he really be PM again? Shinawatra is adamant that it could happen.

"The coup is still there - it has been transformed from a military coup to a judicial coup," he explains. "I think a lot depends on the power of the people - if they feel they are in hardship and they need me to help them, I will go back.
LiberalThai Transtate

'I'm Like a Rat'

04/20/2009

Interview with Exiled Former Thai Leader Thaksin

'I'm Like a Rat'

In a SPIEGEL interview, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, 59, discusses the uprising of his supporters against the government in Bangkok and the role the king should play in resolving the lasting conflict in the tumultuous southeast Asian nation.

SPIEGEL: Dr. Thaksin, the news emerged from Bangkok on Friday that Sonhi Limthongkul, the leader of the government loyal Yellow Shirts, barely survived an assassination attempt. He has always been one of your most dogged opponents.

Thaksin Shinawatra: It was the government that declared a state of emergency. Even though there was an election, the government used its power in an even worse way than a putsch government. It controls every place, it can seize and search without any warrants,

and they don't care about human rights. It's a government that has been given the license to kill. And I have the impression that the phase of "cut-off killings" has begun -- in other words, they are eliminating anyone who knows too much about the conspiracy of those in power against me.

SPIEGEL: Officially, two people died in the latest riots and 123 were injured. Do you dispute these figures?

Thaksin: It is an absolute lie.

SPIEGEL: Do you have proof of that?
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Thaksin: After they said there were only two dead, we found two Red Shirts who had been tied with their hands behind their backs and were found in the Chao Praya River. We are still looking for others.

SPIEGEL: The world is very alarmed by the developments in your country. What is the reason for the lasting crisis?

Thaksin: The political elite are very worried because I and my associates have remained popular and powerful, as they were before. They would like to shift the power to the the other camp, the Democrats, but they cannot do it through democratic means. Now they are

using all kinds of other means. They unsuccessfully tried to assassinate me. They also sparked protests, which were not successful -- but it was still enough for them to use it as an excuse to conduct the coup d'etat. After the coup, they politicized the justice system and

convicted me and my family. Then they created an illegal constitution. Despite all that, the people still vote for my camp. This really upsets Bangkok. That's why the latest uprising happened.

SPIEGEL: How can Thailand pull itself out of this plight?

Thaksin: As long as the power struggle is not transparent and is not conducted by democratic means, everything will remain stuck. We will not be able to move. The justice

system has been used to shore up a double standard -- it is lenient to one side and brutal to the other. Reconciliation is the only solution.

SPIEGEL: You have urged King Bhumibol to intervene and stop the crisis. Why hasn't he done anything yet?

Thaksin: I don't know. I cannot say anything about the royal monarchy.

SPIEGEL: But the word of the king is clearly decisive.

Thaksin: I would say that he is the only person who can reconcile. I don't think other people can. I have been watching my country from the outside for three years already. Nothing has improved.

SPIEGEL: Is Thailand's crisis also a crisis of the monarchy?

Thaksin: His majesty is 81 years old. We wish him a long life. And we also wish that he will continue to enjoy the respect of all Thais. As a Thai, it is difficult for me to say more. Thais don't have much freedom of speech.
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Thailand braces for more economic woes

(CNN) -- As political protests ebb in Bangkok, business worries mount for Thailand and companies doing business there.

Once a "Tiger economy" that grew at a brisk 10 percent a year during much of the 1990s, the Southeast Asian nation's economy is expected to shrink nearly 3 percent this year -- the most

among developing East Asian nations -- according to a World Bank forecast released shortly before protests erupted last week.

It is the first time that Thailand's economy has been predicted to shrink since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.

Now economic predictions are expected to erode further as the Thai currency, the baht, continues to fall and credit rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's consider downgrading the nation's debt rating.

"The big issue is whether this will affect general investment in Thailand, especially in the automotive industry," said Matthew L. Hildebrandt, an economist for JPMorgan in Singapore.

For foreign companies "already operating there, they may think twice about expanding. ... For companies not there already, they may think twice."

Dubbed "the Detroit of the East," the Thai automotive industry already is taking a pounding because of the global slowdown in auto sales. The industry earns 12 percent of the nation's gross

domestic product. BMW, General Motors, Honda, Isuzu and Toyota all have assembly plants in Thailand, which is the second-largest maker of pickups, according to the Thailand Automotive Institute.

"One incident like this may not stop someone from investing here, but this thing has been dragging on for three years," Hildebrandt said.

Taku Kimoto, general manager of automotive market researcher JD Powers Asia Pacific, said the unrest could affect the domestic market for automobiles, but is less likely to affect exports. "That is wholly dependent on the situation in overseas markets, not the local market," he said.

The tourism industry, which employs 2 million people, has proved remarkably resilient to past disruptions such as the Asian SARS outbreak, the 2004 Asian tsunami and the 2006 political

coup in Thailand, said Ho Kwon Ping, chairman and chief executive officer of Banyan Tree Holdings, which owns a number of luxury hotels and spas in Thailand.

"So far, there have been no cancellations whatsoever" during the Easter and local Thai New Year holidays, Ho said of the popular vacation times that coincided with the violent protests.

"The real issue is whether there will be a decline in the pickup of business (after)," he said. "I expect business will pick up, assuming (the political situation) doesn't get worse and worse."

FACTBOX-Five political risks to watch in Thailand

Tue Dec 15, 2009
* POLITICAL INSTABILITY

Thailand remains bitterly polarised. A divisive political
conflict, between royalists, urban elites and the military on

one side, and mainly rural supporters of former Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra on the other, shows no sign of ending. Since
Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup, Thailand has gone through

six heads of government and faced several disruptive showdowns,
including a damaging siege of Bangkok's airports late last year
and the forced cancellation of an Asian summit. Tensions have

been raised further by the overt support shown to Thaksin by
Hun Sen, prime minister of neighbouring Cambodia.

 
Key issues to watch:

 -- Strength of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's coalition
government. Abhisit's coalition remains shaky and it is

uncertain whether it could win a second term when elections 
areheld. If Abhisit's popular support increases, this would be

broadly positive for Thai markets. But if pro-Thaksin parties
look like returning to power, this would be market-negative
because efforts by "yellow shirts" to topple it -- by any means
-- would resume.

 -- The next flashpoint will be January when the pro-Thaksin
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), or "red

shirts", are planning a big push to oust the government, vowing
to stage a prolonged rally in Bangkok at a critical juncture

for the exiled billionaire. The protest is due to take place at
the same time as a televised censure debate against the

embattled government, where the UDD's parliamentary arm, the
Puea Thai party, will pile on the pressure in a bid to force

house dissolution. The rally will also take place just a few
weeks ahead of a verdict on whether Thaksin should be allowed
to get his hands on some $2.2 billion of his frozen assets.

 
* THE KING'S HEALTH

 The 81-year-old King Bhumibol has been in hospital since
Sept. 19. His illness has focused attention on what will happen

when his reign comes to an end. A central issue in Thailand's
political conflict is what role the monarchy and unelected

elites should have in running the country. Many "red shirts"
blame officials close to the monarchy -- in particular Privy

Councillor Prem Tinsulanonda -- for undermining Thaksin and
backing the 2006 coup. Bhumibol is widely respected by all

sides in Thailand's political conflict, so his political
influence is accepted by Thais. But his son and presumed heir,

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, does not yet command the same
popular support as his father. Many Thais and political

analysts fear if the crown passes to Vajiralongkorn while
Thailand's political divisions remain unresolved this could

encourage opposing factions to intensify their struggle, with
highly destabilising consequences. [ID:nSP507497]

 Key issues to watch:

 -- Updates on the health of the king. If his health
worsens, this would be negative for markets. A troubled

succession could have a major negative impact on stocks .SETI
and the baht THB= and raise the risk of a sovereign
downgrade.

 -- Extent to which Prem remains a focus of protests.
Thailand's strict lese majeste laws mean any discussion of the

succession and the monarchy's role is heavily curtailed. Partly
for this reason, many "red shirts" have focused their protests

on Prem, the most senior royal adviser. If he continues to be a
flashpoint for protests, this is a sign the succession may be
less smooth and orderly than many hope.

  
MAP TA PHUT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

 On Dec. 2, a court ordered the suspension of 65 plants at
the huge Map Ta Phut industrial estate, home to the world's

eighth-biggest petrochemicals hub, after a campaign by locals
and environmentalists concerned about health problems in the

area. The situation has arisen in part because of the failure
of government to set up a body tasked by the 2007 constitution
with ensuring industrial plants respect health legislation.

 Key issues to watch:

 -- The episode has raised concern among investors about the
business climate and government competence. It could dent
profits at top conglomerate Siam Cement SCC.BK and leading

energy firm PTT PTT.BK. The central bank has said economic
growth could be cut by 0.5 percentage point in 2010 if the
problem drags on.

 * CORRUPTION AND GOVERNANCE

 Thailand is widely perceived to have become more corrupt
during the past five years of instability. Investors closely

watch corruption perception indices from the World Governance
Indicators project, Transparency International and others.

Signs of a further worsening will not have a short-term impact
on markets but will damage investment in the longer run.

 Key issues to watch:

 
-- Latest estimates of level of Thai corruption. In
Transparency International's 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index,

released last month, Thailand fell to 84th place among 180
countries, from 80th the previous year.

 
* THE SOUTHERN INSURGENCY

 The insurgency by separatist Muslims in Thailand's southern
provinces has become more bloody in recent years, but violence

has been almost wholly confined to the south and so has had
little impact on markets. That looks unlikely to change, but
the conflict has the potential to become more worrying for
investors.

 Key issues to watch:

 -- The danger of escalation. So far the insurgency remains
a local, ethno-nationalist conflict. There is no sign al Qaeda

sympathisers have been able to gain any influence over the
insurgency, or that militants have any intention of targeting

foreign businesses or the crucial tourism industry. If that
changes, Thai markets and the economy could be badly hit. 
(Compiled by Andrew Marshall, Martin Petty and Alan Raybould)
Reuters India