Yes, according to one election commissioner, people are legally free to campaign for a no vote. But the military-junta and its government of palace toadies are making sure that they “win” (however that it defined). Watching their tactics on this referendum is going to produce some interesting lessons for the general election. My guess is that the bureaucratic conservatives will ensure that they get the results they desire.
Another interesting bad news story today of the plan to fingerprint protesters at Sanam Luang in an effort to prevent foreigners from instigating violence. It is clear that the military wants to be able to control all opposition.
They didn’t get the joke because they are obviously being paid by Thaksin. Its the only answer. Why else are they not wearing yellow, blindly following anyone who says ‘the king told me to do it’ and pretending none of this is happening?
Note to Thai authorities: before announcing a new website, register the domain name you plan to use, or at least make sure that nobody else has!
I hope the Italian guy who’s had this website for over 6 years isn’t bullied by the Thai government to surrender his property, or, worse yet, accused of lèse majesté for making a high-ranking Thai person look like an idiot (through absolutely no fault of his own).
Interestingly, truethailand.net and truethailand.org were both registered in the past few days, both apparently by non-Thais.
When you are (Thaksin) about to embark on a mother of all Thai corruption spree, and a mother of all Thai tax evasion scam, and a mother of all coflicted Thai sale of the decade, you’d want to have a ‘landslide’ in your pocket for insurance.
Too bad for Thaksin his insurance expired when the rusty tanks and dumb soldiers got fed up with his divisive antics.
I will giggle along with Andrew Walker and Patiwat that www. truethailand.com has sense of humor!
But http://www.truethaksin.com was truly slapstick with its slogan “The truth shall set you free” right along side the huge honest looking Thaksin Shinawatra face.
I just wonder why Andrew Walker and Patiwat did not get the joke and did not make the usual giggling commentary?
It is also a bit of a myth. Thaksin probably needed a lot less vote buying, especially in the elections of 2005, because voters wanted to reward him for his performance as prime minister anyway. Just compare the elections statistics of 2001 and 2005.
Rumours about Sia Oh and his affliction have been around for quite a while. It used to be said he hid visits to a clinic in the USa with gambling trips to Vegas
He used to be a big strapping lad – look at how gaunt he is in the picture above and he looks a lot older than his years.
After the Chakri’s came to power upon the murder of Taksin a soothsayer said there would never be a Rama X – hmmmm
Highly educated colleagues of mine in Bangkok really beleived he was dead the rumours were that strong
2 month holiday away from wife and child?????
Well dodgy – maybe the old man will outlive his son after all!
Andrew, you insensitive clod, it’s Italian. Here’s what a pass through the Google Translator gives us:
They are also near of house, Valence and a Abbiategrasso the other, a lot that give that moment multiply the occasions in order to exchange impressions and experiences, because the Thailandia, they, have discovered it and lived in the more intense way. Various in all, personages from animated cardboard seem: the bear Yogi one, and Speedy Gonzalez the other, but for years are use to you for instradare, or quite to accompany, friends and knowing towards that Country that has a lot recorded in their mind of globetrotter gets passionate to you. And to not only prepare they a made route of places, dates, of events, but equipping them with a baggage with those slight knowledge that is not found sure in the tourist guides of mass. , Because the thailandese truth that they know is very other thing regarding the running stereotypes, and as well as more delicious how much the more it is dipped to us with the will of an adventure full immersion.
I, for one, have never seen a clearer description of the democratic and selfless motivations of the military junta, nor a more devastating critique of the extrajudicial murders and voodoo worship of the Thaksin regime.
Ha ha parlare italiano? Not too many Thais in Italy, they like to import more Cubanas or girls from Kenya. But wait: There is a connection. More and more Thais like pizza, maybe there is an underground movement here.
Bangkok Post: Surapong Suebwonglee, former Thai Rak Thai executive, confirmed news reports on Saturday that some party members have invited former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej to lead their political party.
Another stroke of genius?
from Truethaksin.com: In any civilized country, citizens need to obey laws or they have to be responsible for consequences.
Good news for the relatives of those extra-judicially killed during the drug war!
Google Translate: “They are also near of house, Valence and a Abbiategrasso the other, a lot that give that moment multiply the occasions in order to exchange impressions and experiences, because the Thailandia, they, have discovered it and lived in the more intense way. Various in all, personages from animated cardboard seem: the bear Yogi one, and Speedy Gonzalez the other, but for years are use to you for instradare, or quite to accompany, friends and knowing towards that Country that has a lot recorded in their mind of globetrotter gets passionate to you. And to not only prepare they a made route of places, dates, of events, but equipping them with a baggage with those slight knowledge that is not found sure in the tourist guides of mass. , Because a thailandese truth that they know is very other thing regarding the running stereotypes, and as well as more delicious how much the more it is dipped to us with the will of an adventure full immersion.”
What miind-altering substance was this Italian tourist imbibing, or is it just a problem with the translation software?
The Crown Prince has been in Sweden for two months, it’s been called a holiday, and he’s been staying at Villa Pauli (a posh members-only club outside Stockholm) together with his entourage.
I doubt his health is very poor though because he’s been out and about during his stay, apparently he’s visited the Skansen Open Air Museum in Stockholm and before he left to go home he hosted a dinner for people whom have assisted him and his closest during the stay.
The actual article itself sounds a lot like they are going to engage with the country:
“its programme must include complementary **in-country** and cross-border approaches to ensure even coverage of the most vulnerable people across the country.”
So there is going to be an in-country portion. That’s great. I don’t think that exists now. The last in-country Magsaysay Prize winner was Luce’s wife in the 1950s. There certainly have been hardworking people in-country who deserve a Magsaysay but they just can’t be seen because there hasn’t been engagement.
“Thirdly, it should begin appropriate funding for exile groups, such as trade unions and women’s organisations, to support them in raising awareness, giving assistance to IDPs and building capacity to prepare for transition to democracy.”
Famous exiles: Aquino, Kim Dae Jung, both ran rear guard actions from outside of the country, probably a lot more effective effective than waiting it out in a closed country with sanctions over its head, the least economically open country in the world at exports 0.01 of GDP, Brazil next at 0.07, the average about 0.22. If you can’t build a civil society inside the country build one outside of it.
Besides the obligatory acknowledgement that the leadership and the country has been very messed up for a long time, the editorial seems a lot more positive than the quoted paragraph.
Because the referendum will require the Thais to VOTE, and, because the TRT (or ex-TRT) party had honed vote-buying to state-of-the-art, perhaps Thaksin as Thailand’s premier ATM cash machine will be active again.
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Thailand’s crown prince
People interested in royal trash might like to view the debate at Wikipedia on the wife. There is dispute over the pic used at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Srirasmi&oldid=146902759
This picture appears to be from the racy pictures circulated in Thailand some time ago. The debate is at: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Srirasmi&action=history
A free debate?
Yes, according to one election commissioner, people are legally free to campaign for a no vote. But the military-junta and its government of palace toadies are making sure that they “win” (however that it defined). Watching their tactics on this referendum is going to produce some interesting lessons for the general election. My guess is that the bureaucratic conservatives will ensure that they get the results they desire.
Another interesting bad news story today of the plan to fingerprint protesters at Sanam Luang in an effort to prevent foreigners from instigating violence. It is clear that the military wants to be able to control all opposition.
True Thailand?
They didn’t get the joke because they are obviously being paid by Thaksin. Its the only answer. Why else are they not wearing yellow, blindly following anyone who says ‘the king told me to do it’ and pretending none of this is happening?
True Thailand?
Note to Thai authorities: before announcing a new website, register the domain name you plan to use, or at least make sure that nobody else has!
I hope the Italian guy who’s had this website for over 6 years isn’t bullied by the Thai government to surrender his property, or, worse yet, accused of lèse majesté for making a high-ranking Thai person look like an idiot (through absolutely no fault of his own).
Interestingly, truethailand.net and truethailand.org were both registered in the past few days, both apparently by non-Thais.
All in all, seems like about par for the course.
Referendum in the gloom
That’s easily explainable Srithanonchai.
When you are (Thaksin) about to embark on a mother of all Thai corruption spree, and a mother of all Thai tax evasion scam, and a mother of all coflicted Thai sale of the decade, you’d want to have a ‘landslide’ in your pocket for insurance.
Too bad for Thaksin his insurance expired when the rusty tanks and dumb soldiers got fed up with his divisive antics.
True Thailand?
I will giggle along with Andrew Walker and Patiwat that www. truethailand.com has sense of humor!
But http://www.truethaksin.com was truly slapstick with its slogan “The truth shall set you free” right along side the huge honest looking Thaksin Shinawatra face.
I just wonder why Andrew Walker and Patiwat did not get the joke and did not make the usual giggling commentary?
Thailand’s crown prince
so what ?
Thailand’s crown prince
i hate him cos’he love to be relationship with many girls in thailand also thai stars.
Referendum in the gloom
It is also a bit of a myth. Thaksin probably needed a lot less vote buying, especially in the elections of 2005, because voters wanted to reward him for his performance as prime minister anyway. Just compare the elections statistics of 2001 and 2005.
True Thailand?
Buon giorno
sawaddi khrap, verso uomo [ .wav ]
sawaddi kha, verso donna [ .wav ]
Now we know…
Thailand’s crown prince
Rumours about Sia Oh and his affliction have been around for quite a while. It used to be said he hid visits to a clinic in the USa with gambling trips to Vegas
He used to be a big strapping lad – look at how gaunt he is in the picture above and he looks a lot older than his years.
After the Chakri’s came to power upon the murder of Taksin a soothsayer said there would never be a Rama X – hmmmm
Highly educated colleagues of mine in Bangkok really beleived he was dead the rumours were that strong
2 month holiday away from wife and child?????
Well dodgy – maybe the old man will outlive his son after all!
True Thailand?
Andrew, you insensitive clod, it’s Italian. Here’s what a pass through the Google Translator gives us:
They are also near of house, Valence and a Abbiategrasso the other, a lot that give that moment multiply the occasions in order to exchange impressions and experiences, because the Thailandia, they, have discovered it and lived in the more intense way. Various in all, personages from animated cardboard seem: the bear Yogi one, and Speedy Gonzalez the other, but for years are use to you for instradare, or quite to accompany, friends and knowing towards that Country that has a lot recorded in their mind of globetrotter gets passionate to you. And to not only prepare they a made route of places, dates, of events, but equipping them with a baggage with those slight knowledge that is not found sure in the tourist guides of mass. , Because the thailandese truth that they know is very other thing regarding the running stereotypes, and as well as more delicious how much the more it is dipped to us with the will of an adventure full immersion.
I, for one, have never seen a clearer description of the democratic and selfless motivations of the military junta, nor a more devastating critique of the extrajudicial murders and voodoo worship of the Thaksin regime.
True Thailand?
Ha ha parlare italiano? Not too many Thais in Italy, they like to import more Cubanas or girls from Kenya. But wait: There is a connection. More and more Thais like pizza, maybe there is an underground movement here.
Thailand’s crown prince
Happy birthday today.
I like this photo:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/280707_front.jpg
True Thailand?
Bangkok Post: Surapong Suebwonglee, former Thai Rak Thai executive, confirmed news reports on Saturday that some party members have invited former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej to lead their political party.
Another stroke of genius?
from Truethaksin.com: In any civilized country, citizens need to obey laws or they have to be responsible for consequences.
Good news for the relatives of those extra-judicially killed during the drug war!
True Thailand?
Google Translate: “They are also near of house, Valence and a Abbiategrasso the other, a lot that give that moment multiply the occasions in order to exchange impressions and experiences, because the Thailandia, they, have discovered it and lived in the more intense way. Various in all, personages from animated cardboard seem: the bear Yogi one, and Speedy Gonzalez the other, but for years are use to you for instradare, or quite to accompany, friends and knowing towards that Country that has a lot recorded in their mind of globetrotter gets passionate to you. And to not only prepare they a made route of places, dates, of events, but equipping them with a baggage with those slight knowledge that is not found sure in the tourist guides of mass. , Because a thailandese truth that they know is very other thing regarding the running stereotypes, and as well as more delicious how much the more it is dipped to us with the will of an adventure full immersion.”
What miind-altering substance was this Italian tourist imbibing, or is it just a problem with the translation software?
Thailand’s crown prince
The Crown Prince has been in Sweden for two months, it’s been called a holiday, and he’s been staying at Villa Pauli (a posh members-only club outside Stockholm) together with his entourage.
I doubt his health is very poor though because he’s been out and about during his stay, apparently he’s visited the Skansen Open Air Museum in Stockholm and before he left to go home he hosted a dinner for people whom have assisted him and his closest during the stay.
A parliamentary perspective on Burma
The actual article itself sounds a lot like they are going to engage with the country:
“its programme must include complementary **in-country** and cross-border approaches to ensure even coverage of the most vulnerable people across the country.”
So there is going to be an in-country portion. That’s great. I don’t think that exists now. The last in-country Magsaysay Prize winner was Luce’s wife in the 1950s. There certainly have been hardworking people in-country who deserve a Magsaysay but they just can’t be seen because there hasn’t been engagement.
“Thirdly, it should begin appropriate funding for exile groups, such as trade unions and women’s organisations, to support them in raising awareness, giving assistance to IDPs and building capacity to prepare for transition to democracy.”
Famous exiles: Aquino, Kim Dae Jung, both ran rear guard actions from outside of the country, probably a lot more effective effective than waiting it out in a closed country with sanctions over its head, the least economically open country in the world at exports 0.01 of GDP, Brazil next at 0.07, the average about 0.22. If you can’t build a civil society inside the country build one outside of it.
Besides the obligatory acknowledgement that the leadership and the country has been very messed up for a long time, the editorial seems a lot more positive than the quoted paragraph.
Thailand’s crown prince
Y’all McCartney did the same!
Referendum in the gloom
Because the referendum will require the Thais to VOTE, and, because the TRT (or ex-TRT) party had honed vote-buying to state-of-the-art, perhaps Thaksin as Thailand’s premier ATM cash machine will be active again.
Grease money vs. dumb soldiers and rusty tanks.
That is not fair isn’t it?