Analysis: Nine months after coup, democracy faces uncertain future in Thailand :AP

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Despite a pledge by the military-led government to return Thailand to democracy by December, it is increasingly clear that the country's political direction will likely be determined not by voters but by lawyers, guns and money. Nine months after the bloodless ouster of elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the military remains
firmly in the driver's seat.



Blog master said... This country is not belong to me anymore.

Politicians of every party have been all but sidelined. Making common cause with a Thai elite that was greatly discomfited by Thaksin's brand of populist politics, the army looks to be stacking the deck for polls due in December by keeping all political parties weak.

«It will be like a directed democracy, in which aristocrats and bureaucrats become more powerful,» predicts Pasuk Phongpaichit, a political economist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

«The new government will be weak, and it has to compromise with and be subjected to the influence of the elite.Not that Thaksin didn't give the elite an excuse. The telecommunications billionaire-turned-politician was widely accused of using the prime minister's office to enrich himself and his family.

Blog master said... She hated Thaksin and ThairakThai party , She had ever againsted Thaksin before 19 Coup. She's not apologise to Thai people for her fool in the past when she supported the 19 coup.

The charges sparked confrontational anti-Thaksin protests and eventually a political logjam that led to the coup last September.A series of moves in recent weeks has underscored the military-led government's determination to get Thaksin, who has been living overseas since the coup. An anti-graft panel ordered the freezing of more than 60 billion baht (US$1.86 billion; ¤1.39 billion) in assets belonging to Thaksin and his family.

This week, the former leader was ordered to return to Thailand to face charges that he concealed his ownership of a company from the stock exchange. And in a dramatic ruling last month, a Thai court ordered Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party dissolved and its 111 top executives barred from public office for five years for electoral law violations.

But Thaksin, who came to office in 2001, remains popular among rural voters who delivered him his two landslide election victories. His populist policies brought financial and social welfare benefits to the long-ignored countryside. The dissolution of his party means that the country's rural majority is likely to be denied a real choice at the ballot box.

In the Thai capital of Bangkok, though, the Sept. 19, 2006, coup had been welcomed by many who had wearied of Thaksin's autocratic style and his alleged abuse of power. An interim government, led by a respected former army commander, was appointed, as was an interim legislature and a committee to draft a new constitution. Military sympathizers and Bangkok bureaucrats heavily dominate all bodies and made known their intention to enshrine responsible rule at the expense of popular democracy.

The new government imposed martial law, which remains in effect in 35 of the country's 76 provinces, and banned all organized political party activities _ a measure lifted only earlier this month.But in recent months, the popularity of the military-installed government of interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont had begun to decline. A series of missteps on the economic front, including a bungled attempt to impose capital controls, appalled the business community.

Blog master said... It's nonsense, they can't manage this country , they didn't have capability but they have just desire. They are thinking that it's honour of their life for this special accident.

Despite good intentions, the government failed to resolve a bloody Muslim insurgency in the country's southernmost provinces.And until recently, attempts to bring Thaksin to justice for his alleged crimes had proceeded at a snail's pace. Criticism grew that the military had failed to prove wrongdoing that had been a major justification for the coup.The sense of drift was shattered by the court-ordered dismantlement of the former prime minister's party.

Blog master said... I'm not sure that the military junta sincerely solves this problem.

Ousted Thai PM Faces New Penalties

By AMBIKA AHUJA 06.18.07, 10:27 AM ET From This

Efforts to punish ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for alleged corruption gained momentum Monday, as state prosecutors said they would seek to have him and his wife tried for a suspicious land deal, and an anti-graft panel ordered more of his assets frozen.....

Blog master said... It's cheap trick of Thai Junta , they should have to press to Thaksin to negotiate with them, and they have want to counterattack to him for the speech to the muster at Sanam luang.

The new actions came just three days after Thaksin issued a bitter public complaint that efforts to dismantle his party and seize his fortune were unfair and unjust, and he would fight them.

Attorney General Phatchara Yutithamdamrong announced Monday that his office would submit to court a criminal case concerning the 2003 purchase by Thaksin's wife, Pojamarn, of some prime Bangkok real estate from the Financial Institutions Development Fund, which is directed by the central bank. The fund was established to handle assets of insolvent companies after the 1997 financial crisis.

Blog master said... Mr.Phatchara have ever met with Gen.Prem who behind the scene before 19 coup, This is Thailand, It's clean and clear.

Last month, the anti-graft Assets Examination Committee - established by the coup leaders - decided to recommend to prosecutors that Thaksin and his wife face charges of conflict of interest and malfeasance in connection with the deal.

An anti-corruption law bars prime ministers or their spouses from doing business with a government agency, and the committee said Thaksin as prime minister ultimately oversaw the FIDF.

Phatchara said at a news conference that he will submit a lawsuit Thursday to the branch of the Supreme Court that handles cases of political office holders. His office also recommended that the plot of land, valued at 772 million baht ($23.7 million), be seized.

The conflict of interest charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison while the malfeasance charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, said Phatchara. The Thaksins would not have to appear in court when the charge is submitted, he said. They will be summoned to hear the charges only if the court accepts the case.

The Assets Examination Committee Monday ordered 8 billion baht ($245.7 million) in assets belonging to Thaksin's family frozen, following up a similar action it took last week.

It had already frozen 52.88 billion baht ($1.63 billion) believed to be proceeds from the Shinawatra family's 73.3 billion baht ($1.9 billion at January 2006 rates of exchange) sale last year of telecommunications company Shin Corp. to Temasek Holdings Pte. Ltd., a Singapore state investment company. It alleged there was reason to believe the deal involved corruption.

A spokesman for the committee, Sak Korsaengruang, said it determined that the 8 billion baht had been shifted out of the earlier frozen bank accounts shortly before the order was issued covering them.

Blog master said... Mr.Sak , It's dirty job of your life, your knowledge about the Law used for destroyed the justice system of this country.

Complaining that he was persecuted, Thaksin said Friday in a video shown an a public rally of his supporters that the committee's allegations were "libelous, unfair and unethical."

"I already said that I'm retiring from politics but I am just asking that my family and I live with dignity," he said. "It doesn't mean that I'm not going to fight. I will fight for my honor to prove my innocence."

But he also said he supported political reconciliation, and was open to talks with the military-appointed government that succeeded him.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said at a press conference Monday that he was willing to negotiate with Thaksin, as long as it did not interfere with the judicial process.

"Any negotiation with (Thaksin) must not interfere with the legal cases against him ... the government will not intervene with the court process," Surayud said. "I will do what can be done lawfully but more than that, I am not willing to negotiate."

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Blog master said... Yes , feudal tyrant in Thailand still have influenced for all system in this country, will they win in this war ? So, Thai people is slave forever.

Student activists deny link to Thaksin camp

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN From Bangkok Post

A group of student activists at Chulalongkorn who are against dictatorship say they have nothing to do with pro-Thaksin Shinawatra supporters. The student activists said they work individually, but merely share the anti-dictatorship idea.

Around 10 members of the group attracted media attention by performing a five-minute play against the coup in front of the university's Sala Phra Kieo.

A senior student from the faculty of engineering said he regarded the group's move as an over-reaction.

The student, who asked not to be named, also said people should wait for a general election at the end of this year.

Yesterday, the group urged people not to vote for the new constitution, saying that people should accept only the constitution written by an elected government.

The activists also handed out condoms to passers-by to deliver the message that the constitution now being drafted should be stopped in its tracks.

Nattasit Rakkiatwong, spokesman for the group, said corruption alone did not provide justification for a coup.

He says the Thai Rak Thai party had the right to reject the May 30 verdict that dissolved the party and imposed a five-year ban on political activity by its executives.

Theeranai Jaruwatra, a leader of the group, said he was more concerned about abuse of power in a democratic system than Mr Thaksin's corruption charges.

''Just leave the issue to the judicial system. I can't say whether he is right or wrong at the moment. The court will let us know. We don't care whether he is right or wrong. But the coup is unacceptable,'' he said.

Mr Theeranai insisted that the group would not join the PTV protesters. Some members, however, could choose to attend their rallies individually.

He said people tended to link coup opponents with Mr Thaksin's supporters.

Meanwhile, political science lecturer Chaiyan Chaiyaporn threw his support behind the students' move, saying they were exercising their right to express themselves politically.

A recent ABAC poll found that more than 70% of respondents were ready to ''accept'' a corrupt government if it would improve their own well-being.

Blog master Said.... That's right thing for all Thai people to against this coup. Why they were accused that they have a hidden agenda. Before the 19 coup, their lecturer in this university did rally with People allies democracy to against Thaksin, after the 19 coup , they have been support to Junta and the coup maker to destroy Thaksin and his allies. It's really shame...

Pro-Thaksin rally hopes 60,000 will join

Sanamgluang : 08/06/2007

BangkokPost.com - Leaders of Supporters of Thaksin Against Dictatorship group expect to draw some 60,000 protesters to rally against Council for National Security.

Group organiser Theerachai Saenkaew said he believed more and more people throughout the country will travel to Bangkok to join the rally that is held everyday at Sanam Luang.

"I've received responses from people in the North and the Northeastern," he said. "Although some of them say they cannot come, they ask their relatives in Bangkok to join the protest."

The group, officially established on Wednesday, was founded by some 60 former MPs of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party as key leaders. They have staged a daily protest at the venue since then.

"Public view us as an NGO campaigning for democracy and against dictatorship," he said.

Mr Theerachai also dismissed reports that the key members paid people to rally. People can't be hired to rally, he claimed.

Blog master said.... God bless us. Thai people would have to show to the world again that Democracy is not simply.

More evidence needed for land purchase deal of Thaksin's wife

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) asked the Assets Examination Committee Thursday for more evidence on the Ratchadapisek land purchase to make the case against ousted premier and his wife more solid.

Auditor General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka and public prosecutors met Udom Fuangfung, chairman of AEC's subcommittee probing the land deal, to discuss the case.

Udom said prosecutors wanted documents about the issuing of bonds by the FIDF (Financial Institutions Development Fund), which they believe will make the case stronger.

He said he would ask the FIDF for the documents and submit them to prosecutors next week.

The AEC has filed a suit accusing Thaksin and his wife for corruption over the land sale.

Deputy Attorney General Somsak Boonthong, who chairs the OAG panel examฌining the land deal, expressed confidence that prosecutors would decide on whether to accept the suit within the deadline.

Somsak said his panel would reach an opinion on a complaint from Thaksin about the landpurchase probe when they decide whether to indict him.

He said Thaksin's complaint requested prosecutors to summon evidence on the FIDF's land deal with Erawan Trust Finance and Securities Co. Thaksin claimed Udom's panel refused to include this evidence in its probe.

The FIDF sold the land plot on Rama IX Road to Pojaman in 2003 for Bt772 million, which was over an appraisal price of about Bt700 million.

The AEC claims the fund lost money on the deal because it bought the land from Erawan Trust Finance and Securities for Bt2 billion in 1995.

Blog master said...Elite Group are thinking that this case should be sure to get rid of Thaksin but its not simply , if the evidence of the Assets Examination Committee have a strong why the prosecutor have to ask for more evidence , the Assets Examination Committee always claim that could be prosecute. All the time , Thai media released to the public about this case like a court was sentence its already and Thaksin corrupted absolutely.

Meanwhile, former deputy interior minister Pramuan Ruchanaseree reported to the AEC on Thursday to hear and defend himself against corruption charges related to a government scheme to purchase rubber saplings.

Pramuan said it was unfair of the AEC to accuse Thaksin's entire cabinet because the then agriculture minister Newin Chidchob was solely responsible for the scheme.

"The corruption took place not during cabinet consideration but by people who implemented the project," he alleged.

He raised objections to the scheme in the cabinet meeting but there were no records, he said.

"The Thaksin cabinet meetings were a joke. There was no transparency. There were no signatures of those who attended the meeting, there were no meeting records," he said.

Blog master said.... Thaksin scratched him away from his cabinet because he didn't work , he worked like a bureaucrat , after that his role was changed to be the ultra royalist to against Thaksin. He lied again , the cabinet meeting of Thailand have never been record for description or anything so far.

Pramuan is among 90 people, including ministers, permanent officials, and company executives, the AEC has accused of involvement in corruption in the rubber sapling purchase scheme. Six other former ministers are scheduled to hear the charges against them.

The Nation

Final Countdown for The Coup maker

Military Government Outlaws the Opposition

June 3, 2007: In the south, nearly a thousand young Moslems demonstrated against the presence of so many soldiers in the south. The security forces have imposed a lot of movement restrictions, and are often rough if they encounter any resistance. The military government is apparently planning to impose even harsher measures in the south.

Blog master said.... These picture : Thais are protesting at Sanamluang Bangkok, I didn't know that how many , the coup maker are trying to bar many people which want to come from many part of Bangkok by used all media hype to the public that third group may be disturb , to accuse this mob , spam sms to mobile phone , don't permit the mass transportation to go the inner of Bangkok. It's really bad thing.

June 2, 2007: The military government has ordered the former prime ministers party disbanded, and banned former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from participating in politics. In response, over 5,000 people demonstrated against the coup in the capital. Thaksin was very popular, and would probably still win an election. But he offended many urban groups and government employees, who conspired to oust him. Now the military government has to try and run new elections that will not bring to power politicians who will feel obliged to punish the coup organizers. May 31, 2007: In the south, a roadside bomb killed twelve soldiers, and Islamic militants killed five Moslems near a mosque that opposed terrorism. Another four people were killed in attacks on non-Moslems in the south.

May 28, 2007: Six small bombs that went off in southern tourist areas yesterday were considered set by political, not Islamic militant, groups. Thirteen people were injured, and the bombs were similar to those set off in the capital last December. Australia, Canada, France and Japan have reacted by warning their citizens to think twice about going to Thailand.

Blog master said.... For the verdict of constitutional court tribunal , It's real suicide verdict. So, They think that when dissolved Thai rak Thai party then it's game over. They wake up people from fear and ignore to the politics.

The situation of southern region , the politics in Bangkok are involve about that , if the Bangkok chaos is calm then southern chaos would be calm too. The commentator in underground radio told that the eunuch is the mastermind who wanted to discredit to Thaksin 's government , but it was escalated so far.