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#351
20-09-2006, 16:40
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Don't want to pick a fight here because this thread is far too important. The point I was making is that Thailand has been held up as a model for the whole SEA region, this makes them look as tin-pot as Burma. Show me a government anywhere in the world, including ours, who have not had allegations of sleaze/corruption/nepotism levelled at them; it goes with the territory. If the army are going to choose the government then what is the point of going to the trouble of having an election? Military coup's are a dangerous relic of the past and, in my humble opinion, have absolutely no part to play in a modern democracy. This will set Thailand back years in the eyes of the world, it's crazy opportunism. They may have disagreed with the way he was doing things, but seizing power with tanks on the streets of Bangkok was not the way to make the changes they wanted. What happens if the generals don't like the next guy? Same again?
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Last edited by steve@thaib : 20-09-2006 at 16:58. Reason: typo 
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#352
20-09-2006, 16:43
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In regards to the "holiday" in Thailand today, guess that's just in BKK or other major city's.
Banks, Schools & Shops are all open in Surin. In a little village near the Cambodian border life is continueing just as before yesterday. The kids are all at school and my GF just bought a bed in preparation of my next visit. (Sleeping on the floor was fun, but it breaks your back on long term;-) Makes me thinking, would it be nice to live there, relaxed and cut of from what's going on in the world. Or is it better to live here, where we all got brainwashed & too excited surfing the (very often) overly dramatisized coverage-wave of the media (CNN, Fox and the likes).
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Don't worry about nothing ...
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#354
20-09-2006, 17:17
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All seems calm here, not seen any tanks/army or ANYTHING that would suggest it was an extraordinary day. Almost everyone i have spoken to today (farang and thai) views this as a positive move as long as it all goes without violence.
As SteveTB pointed out it will set Thailand back somewhat in the way it is viewed overseas but it seems enough was enough and the generals claim to have the backing of the King will hopefully provide a smooth exit for the PM. We shall see.
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#355
20-09-2006, 17:24
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Don't want to pick a fight here because this thread is far too important.
Sure, it is fun to discus, I’m not seeking a fight – and you may very well convince me of your perspective over mine! The point I was making is that Thailand has been held up as a model for the whole SEA region, Well god have mercy on the SE Asia region! (sure better than other SE Asian countries, but it is hardly a model of efficient government/burocracy) this makes them look as tin-pot as Burma. How? The military here as stated they don’t want to hold on to power and that they intend democratic elections to be held ASAP. How is that like the situation in Burma? Show me a government anywhere in the world, including ours, who have not had allegations of sleaze/corruption/nepotism levelled at them; it goes with the territory. Surely you are not meaning to excuse/accept corruption in Thailand on account of there being corruption in other countries? Sure there is corruption all over the world, but there are degree/levels of corruption and accountability – you cannot lump every government in the world together. Military coup's are a dangerous relic of the past and, in my humble opinion, have absolutely no part to play in a modern democracy. Are you saying Thailand under Thaksin was modern democracy in which the PM served the electorate above serveing himself and his cronies? They may have disagreed with the way he was doing things, but seizing power with tanks on the streets of Bangkok was not the way to make that changes they wanted. Agreed there may be better ways of going about things, but I think new elections will soon be held, a new government will take the reigns, and before we know it Thai politics will have moved on from last night events. How will it set Thailand back by years? What happens if the generals don't like the next guy? Same again? Let us hope so, if he is as much a blight on the country as Thaksin. Why was Thakisn still PM anyhow? He got a red card early in they year and then came back on as a substitute. Crazy! As least the military acted as a referee even if the crowed didn’t. Democracy is only as effective as the electorate’s political awareness. If the electorate is not politically aware then they are open to abuse. Should you allow that abuse in the name of democracy, or should you step in? As you said, Thaksins supporters are in the rural areas? Why do you suppose that is?
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#356
20-09-2006, 17:32
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Been thinking in Australia we had our elected goverment removed (by the english queen)and a caretaker PM installed.
the diposed PM and the caretaker PM were allowed to contest the election. Type of think this is democracy allowing the people to decide who governs.
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MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS
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#357
20-09-2006, 17:35
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latest on radio
Thai PM on a flight to arrive in Britian. so he is not here yet.
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Coffee for one sir ? The joys of sponsorship 
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#358
20-09-2006, 18:25
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Darb´s maby ??  
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CS//  
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#359
20-09-2006, 18:26
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LONDON (AP)--Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will arrive in the U.K. later Wednesday on a private visit, the Foreign Office said.
Thaksin was deposed in a bloodless, army-led coup Tuesday while he was attending a session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "He is not in the U.K. yet but we are aware that he is coming to London later today," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said. She wouldn't release details of his flight or where he was arriving. The Thai Embassy in London said it had no immediate information on Thaksin's whereabouts. A reporter for Thai television station Channel 9 who was traveling with Thaksin said he had boarded a chartered Thai Airways flight for London at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. A spokeswoman for London's Gatwick Airport said a chartered Thai Airways jet was due to land there at about 1600 GMT. A U.K. government spokesman said Thaksin's visit was private and he had no meetings scheduled with Prime Minister Tony Blair or other officials. "Any citizen of the world is free to visit the United Kingdom providing their paperwork is in order," he said. "He can come spend his money at Harrods if he wants to," the spokesman said. Thaksin would have to follow normal channels if he wanted to apply for residency in the U.K., the government spokesman said. His daughter Pinthongta is studying in London, and Thaksin is reported to own property in the city. Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said Thaksin hadn't requested a meeting with Blair. He said the U.K. government was concerned about events in Thailand. "Our general approach would be that we wish to see a return to democracy as quickly as possible," he said. "There are elections scheduled for October and November and we are actively trying to find out whether those elections will go ahead or not. Obviously, we believe they should."
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Its My Life ..........!
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#360
20-09-2006, 18:33
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What an unnecessary comment. In case of Taxin I guess it's more the political status & his bloody money. I tend to believe that purly judged at his "paperwork" it would be easier to bring any hardcore BKK/BG into the UK.
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Don't worry about nothing ...
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#361
20-09-2006, 18:34
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Nakhon Sawan soldiers and tanks are moving down to BKK now, its close to Pichit so thats why Ead told me that.
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#362
20-09-2006, 18:34
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just heard on news here..he's due here later this afternoon and will be staying in "knightsbridge" prob with daughter as already mentioned. apparently he not seeking to meet with blair!
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#363
20-09-2006, 19:16
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I don't see where the argument is here, Thailand has recovered economically and politacally from the problems of 1997 and stands (or stood up until yesterday) head and shoulders above all of her neigbours. Where was the Laos, Burmese, Cambodian PMs scheduled to speak to the UN? Thailand had worked itself onto the world stage politically, and now they put tanks on the streets. I don't compare the situation in Thailand to Burma, only the perception of it. Quote:
I accept it as a fact of politics, I don't know enough about the allegations against Thaksin and they are utterly irrelevant to my mind. You either have a democratically elected government or you don't. If any serving politicians break the laws of the land they should be brought lawfully before the courts. Quote:
No, I'm saying that Thailand was a fledgling democracy which was beginning to get itself heard on the world stage. This has put paid to any notions of them being regarded as a modern democracy and set them back alongside Burma, Laos, Cambodia et al as another SEA basket case. Quote:
In the perception of the country, in the eyes of those who have never been. Can you imagine any leader of Thailand now being invited to speak at the UN any time soon? Quote:
This is what I don't get, and the same argument I hear from the missus. Thaksin took over a complete mess in 1997, the baht was crippled and the country was all but bankrupt. His vision of running the country like a business may well have had it's flaws, but the country has seen an unprecedented of stability and economical growth. Can you honestly look back at the last ten years of Thailand's history and call it failure? I just honestly can't see it. Quote:
That was possibly the big mistake, he should have resigned then and left with some dignity. The military is not tasked to be a referee. Quote:
Phewee, where to start? And more importantly, where to stop? Given recent history elsewhere, the political ignorance of the masses has to be the very worst of reasons for military intervention surely? Just because you disagree with the majority of the people does not make you right; you are either running a constitutional democracy, warts and all, or you are not. If the opposition feel so strongly why not express it democratically? If this general has been dismissed and believes that others would run the country more successfully why would he not become a politician? He would have had the time on his hands would he not? Democracy at the end of a gun barrel is no democracy at all. The right to vote, and the right of the ignorant masses to an opinion, is a fundamental building block in any modern society. If the farmers want Thaksin because he has helped them buy a new pickup and has put rice on the table, then he wins. Are we living in a world where the 'intellectual elite' tell the masses what is good for them?
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#364
20-09-2006, 19:24
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Visa Runs
From todays Gazette.
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Phuket Gazette - online English newspaper for Phuket, Thailand, with daily news, classified ads, yellow pages, business listings, upcoming events, event calendar, phuket events
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Member of Phuket Hash House Harriers
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#365
20-09-2006, 19:54
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Military Coup In Progress?
Jee this thread is growing fast so I had not read it all.
So apologies if it is here already: From the Phuket Gazette: Bank of Thailand Governor reportedly accepted to become the Prime Minister BANGKOK (Nation): Bank of Thailand Governor MR Pridayadhorn Devakula has cut short his trip to attend the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meeting in Singapore and he will arrive Bangkok at midday. He has said that he has agreed to become Prime Minister. Regardless, it is expected there would be a press conference at the Armed Forces auditorium today. Brought to you by: The Phuket Gazette 11:52 local time (GMT +7) Will the heat be cooling soon? I have a flight booked and paid for Oct.19 to Phuket!!! Hope I will be able to go! I will try anyway! Cheers, Wolf
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Wolf 
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#366
20-09-2006, 19:57
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555555555.........Brilliant.......think he'd rather be back in Thailand actually.
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 HHplc Rose Tinted Glasses 6999 Baht each....Order NOW via PM....A Must for First Time Visitors to Phuket 
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#367
20-09-2006, 19:59
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The idea is to die young.........as late as possible.
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#368
20-09-2006, 20:01
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Yet another bl00dy asylum seeker. 
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Member of Phuket Hash House Harriers
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#370
20-09-2006, 20:06
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what should they show? that is what happened im not going after you, but it amazes me the blinders that half this board wears just because there are girls and good times to be had in this country the just had a military coup. they just reverted back to a 3rd world country and from perspective i have over here, people now think that is all they will ever be, and i dont disagree i guarantee you, if the girls werent there, half the people on this board would be cancelling their trips |
