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Thaksin allies 'lead Thai vote' [Update: THAKSIN RETURNS to Thailand]

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posted on Dec, 23 2007 @ 08:53 AM
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Thaksin allies 'lead Thai vote'


news.bbc.co.uk

Exit polls suggest that the party allied to Thailand's ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra has taken a strong lead in general elections.
But emerging partial results suggest the People Power Party (PPP) will fall short of an outright majority, and a coalition government is likely.

The pattern may change again, given that early results tend to come in from urban areas where the PPP is weaker.

It is the first election since the 2006 coup that overthrew Mr Thaksin.
(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 27/2/2008 by khunmoon]



posted on Dec, 23 2007 @ 08:53 AM
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It's election day in Thailand today.

The latest update I just saw leaves PPP ahead. Thaksinocraty is about to return, and the man himself has announced he'll be back in February.

Already The Nation have this People Power Party's leader Samak Sundaravej declares victory in the national election on Sunda...

Nothing will have change after 14 month of military rule. Except polarisation will have sharpened edges further.

Further unstability in economy and investments expected. And insecurity for expats.

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)



posted on Jan, 2 2008 @ 09:15 PM
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CHALLENGES 2007-2008: Thailand Heading Into a Political Storm



BANGKOK, Dec 30 (IPS) - Thailand’s transition from military rule to a democratically elected administration appears far from smooth. The results of the first general election since the September 2006 coup d’etat point to a nation heading into a political storm in the New Year.



More than 10 days have passed since the Thai elections, and on this 3rd day of the New Year, negotiations are as secret and ill rumoured as ever... there seems to be no deals in sight in the horse trading to satisfy any parts. They have 20 days left to form a coalition according to constitution. If they can't... well, the new constitution will never come into effect and the military will continue rule by decree.

The measure of September 2006 coup d'etat was to stop an ungoing polarization that threatened to rip apart the country. With this election it has been taken to hights, where only wide reforms had a change to level it out.

And that's most likely not going to happen, not in the Thailand, where the love of wealth itself surpasses most constitutional, religious or social regards.



Little wonder why Bangkok’s well-heeled, who reportedly voted in large numbers for the Democrats, and the junta, which has been exposed trying to undermine the PPP’s campaign, find it hard to accept the political reality unfolded at the recent poll. One senior member of the military-appointed cabinet has even told the state-run Thai News Agency that another coup cannot be ruled out.

Such views suggest that Thailand’s deep political divide be easily bridged in 2008. ‘’We are now a deeply polarised society and I cannot see the possibility of compromise in the New Year,’’ says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

‘’The real silent majority in the countryside have been awakened, and they will keep voting for policies that deal with their concerns,’’ he added during an interview. ‘’The only way to bridge this difference is if the people who have power, the wealthy, seriously address the concerns of the poor. But the establishment does not appear willing to do so.’’


SOURCE | ipsnews.net | Read more...


These concerns about the government of the country is not at all addressed by the general puplic of Thailand. Except for the 2 English papers, there is no debate, hardly any awareness of the turmoil the country is about to face, because they have to run this democracy system, like many places else, that the populace have no idea about the intentions of.

Only thing that's changed, the very poor has gained awareness, that they actually can elect someone to speak their matters. For the Thai society establishment, it's like letting Pandora out of the box.

The concerns of ordinary people on the streets are the 100 day mourning period just declared for the king's sister Galyani, who died a few days ago.

The real concern of Thailand is when the old monarch passes away, only God knows --and possibly a few culprits-- what will happen then.

All I know, it won't be nice.





[edit grammar&style]

[edit on 4/3/2008 by khunmoon]



posted on Feb, 26 2008 @ 08:11 PM
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Pictures from Thai Politic

More than a month has passed since the inauguration of the new civilian and 'democratic' government in Thailand.

Here's an update from the fuzzy disclosed, fogged by delusions' World of Thai Politics.


People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej, who is expected to become the next prime minister, appears angry during a photo session of party MPs at Parliament yesterday.

The winner was the "Thai Rak Thai" proxy People Power Party, and new PM to be Samak Sundaravej, a colourful Television personality for many years in political comments. He knows the show. His style is plumb, head on without a thought.


Banharn Silapa-archa was conspicuously absent from a group photo session of Chart Thai MPs when Parliament convened yesterday
_____________________________________________________________


What next for new Thai cabinet?


At first glance, the new cabinet appears to be a dispiriting relapse to the messy and inept coalition politics that led Thailand into the Asian financial meltdown of 1997.

Many of the faces in the new government are in fact very old faces, veterans of previous administrations with little to recommend them except an insatiable appetite for political office.

SOURCE | news.bbc.co.uk | news.bbc.co.uk...Read more...


Some of the Losers

One of the losers: Chart Thai Party deputy leader Chuwit Kamolvisit’s blown up image on a billboard attacking unnamed politicians yesterday. The message says: ‘This country doesn’t want people like you who don’t keep your word and are unclear about your moves.’
_____________________________________________________________

The Sad Ones

The Disqualifieded: Nanthana Songprapha, left, and her brother Monthien, both candidates in Chai Nat disqualified by the Election Commission, and supporters continue to protest outside the commission’s headquarters yesterday.
_____________________________________________________________

Daily Bussi of Govmnt

People Power leader Samak Sundaravej relaxes at a press conference at his party’s headquarters after the unofficial result showed the party had won the majority of seats in Parliament.


Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej meets Government House reporters yesterday.
_____________________________________________________________



It is always a busy time for the courts after an election.

Yongyuth suspends duty as house speaker

Yongyuth's announcement came as the EC ruled in majority to disqualify him as MP after he was found guilty of violating election laws. The EC will forward the case to the Supreme Court within two weeks.


YONGYUTH CASE
Threat of dissolution 'could sink investment'
Businessmen fear PPP may go down


House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat confronts a mob of reporters yesterday ahead of his press briefing on the Election Commission’s disqualification of him as an MP.
_____________________________________________________________


All the while they are waiting the return of Thaksin rumoured to be any day now.

Thaksin yet to confirm flight plans
END OF EXILE
Thaksin 'on the brink of return'

PPP plans a rally on Thursday to welcome Thaksin
Samak says he not informed that Thaksin would return to Thailand soon


Thaksin to come home this week

Thaksin also reportedly got his red diplomatic passport back after his former legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, was named foreign minister.



[edit on 26/2/2008 by khunmoon]



posted on Feb, 27 2008 @ 05:32 AM
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THAKSIN RETURNS to Thailand]

Now it is official, tomorrow wil be the day.

THAKSIN'S RETURN

Thailand braces for ousted leader's homecoming tomorrow
Parties concerned are bracing for the return of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, scheduled for tomorrow by flight TG 603 from Hong Kong to Suvarnabhumi Airport at 9.40am.


Although the situation is expected to remain under control, the soldiers will strictly follow the direct order of the Army chief if disturbance erupts, First Army Region commander Lt General Prayuth Chanocha said.

"Thaksin's return should lead to the improved situation and not violent confrontation," he said.


Only problem, the man is by courtorder to stay out of politics for 5 yrs.



[edit on 27/2/2008 by khunmoon]



posted on Feb, 28 2008 @ 12:36 AM
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Thaksin is back in Thailand. Formalities like bail have been cleared and he should be holding press conference at this moment.

Former Thai PM Thaksin back home

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on bail shortly after his arrival in Thailand after spending 17 months in exile.
He said he would beat what he called politically motivated corruption charges from the years he was in power.

The 58-year-old billionaire businessman was briefly detained by police on his arrival at Bangkok airport.

He was removed from power in a military coup in September 2006 and has lived outside the country since then.


LIVE UPDATE:
Thaksin lands in Thailand



posted on Feb, 29 2008 @ 07:14 AM
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Thaksin continues his triumph tour of the return to his motherland. So much that the PM of the newly elected government feels overlooked and put in the shadow by the former PM.

He rightfully does so, after all his party PPP is nothing but an incarnation of Thaksin's now banned Thai rak Thai party. As the members of the present cabinet including Samsak himself are nothing but proxies and croonies of his well thought out net of social and business origine, outwards based in charity and paying respect to religious leaders and other Thai bigwigs.

On his flight home he thus brought with him two Manchester City players; yah, among the shoppings done in his exile, are the purchase of the legendary Manchester City football club.

Thai PM: 'I'm the real prime minister'


Visiting Thai PM Samak Sundaravej arrives at Vientiane Wattay airport in Laos on Friday

"I am no one's nominee," Samak snapped at reporters as he headed off on his first official visit to Laos, which was overshadowed by Thaksin's itinerary in Bangkok.

Thaksin arranged a public relations blitz Friday featuring free clinics with English soccer players and a visit to Thailand's most senior Buddhist monk.

When Thaksin flew home Thursday, he brought along two players from his Manchester City soccer team, saying they could help improve the skills of Thai children and the national team. Thaksin bought the Premier League team while living in exile in London.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and striker Kelvin Etuhu were scheduled to hold a clinic for children sponsored by Thaksin on Friday afternoon -- an event guaranteed to attract media attention in this soccer-mad nation.




[edit on 29/2/2008 by khunmoon]



posted on Mar, 4 2008 @ 03:21 AM
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A BBC feature on Thaksin. On his role behind the scenes, his funding of PPP, and the hand behind the new government.

A very good read.

Thaksin's return raises dilemmas



For those who campaigned against him in 2006, the prospect of Thaksin Shinawatra pulling the strings behind a government stacked with his allies is an alarming one.

For them his two administrations were characterised by abrasive, arrogant leadership, by a frightening accumulation of unaccountable power and by human rights violations on a scale not seen in decades.

Those who support him cannot wait to see him back in office.

For the most part they backed his hard-line policies towards drug dealers and the southern insurgency, which cost thousands of lives.

To them he was the first prime minister who seemed to care about the poor, the first whose policies made tangible improvements to their lives.

He is a deeply polarising figure, an unfamiliar phenomenon in a country whose politics has traditionally been messy, opaque but definitely unexciting.


SOURCE | news.bbc.co.uk | Read more...



posted on Mar, 12 2008 @ 07:41 AM
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The first court meeting in one of the two corruption cases against him was held today.

Thaksin Pleads Not Guilty in Thai Court


Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra pleaded not guilty Wednesday before the Supreme Court in one of two criminal corruption cases against him.

More than 200 policemen with bomb detectors and five sniffer dogs were deployed around the court where some 400 of Thaksin's supporters waited, many holding portraits of the former leader over their heads.

"The defendant pleaded not guilty of the charges," chief judge Thongloh Chom-ngam told the court, which set the next hearing for April 29. It also excused Thaksin from having to appear at every hearing, as requested by his lawyer.

"We can prove our innocence," said Thaksin, who was ousted in a September 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and abuse of power.

When he emerged after the hearing, some of his supporters burst into tears while others cheered him, shouting "Thaksin, fight, fight."

"Never mind, everything will be OK," Thaksin told one female supporter who cried as she hugged him.




[edit on 12/3/2008 by khunmoon]



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