(Friday, April 16, 2010)On this edition of 101East 

Question : what it will take for political stability to return to Thailand.?.

I found this reporter to be quite biased. All those interviewed in this piece are either Red or pro-Red except for Kraisak.

She repeatedly tries to cut off Kraisak and talk over his attempts to answer, which is unprofessional and frankly rude. She paints him as an elitist, when he's spent most of his career fighting for the oppressed and the marginalized.

On the other hand, she never challenges people such as Nattakorn Devakula when they say ridiculous things, such as the judiciary should have no say in politics. In any developed democracy the judiciary is one of the checks on government power. But the position of Nattakorn and the Reds is that parliament and the PM are supreme and should have no checks because they are chosen by the people. So if the people vote you in, then you have the right to break the law and the courts can't say anything about it? That is not real democracy.

Also, Nattakorn is the perfect example of privilege and double standards. He wouldn't be where he is today with his meager talent and intelligence if he wasn't from a rich and privileged family. He's a hypocrite.

And Dr. Weng. In every interview he says things that are outright lies and half insane mixed in with some reasonable points. She didn't show any of his other side at all.

And why didn't she interview Arisman and ask him about his threats to burn down Bangkok and hunt down and kill the PM?

Very slanted.

A little bit slanted, but it's easy to see why. The reds are painted as the poor underdogs fighting against the corrupt rich.

The comment that the elite have run this country for the 'past four years' is laughable. So before 2006 there was no elite interference?

I think she made a good point - Thai people do not know what true democracy is and are not ready for it. Whenever one side loses, its supporters come out and protest until they get their own way. Much the same as every day life.

Seemed pretty reasonable to me, there was an introductory segment showing what's going on with some brief soundbites from the protestors, then a longer chat with one representative from each side. The interview was pretty softball for both sides, but then again it was for an audience not familiar with thai politics.

I also can't think of a developed country where the courts have played such an active and partisan role in deciding the government.

The idea that Thai people don't know what democracy is, or aren't ready for it, is just elitist poppycock. India which is vastly larger, and poorer than Thailand has sustained a multiparty democracy for 60 years, with many peaceful transitions of power. Whoever you believe the reds represent, they represent the side that has repeated won elections, and has been shafted out of the chance to govern.

Actually I think the protests are a healthy part of development of democracy in Thailand. Both sides have demonstrated that they can make the country ungovernable if pushed too far, and hopefully both sides will learn to be more respectful of the other side when they are in power.

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IMHO, both sides had their opportunities to express their views.

And both views were convincing.

Whilst I have my own view, I believe it is ultimately up to thais to decide what kind of future they want through peaceful elections.

Loburt : you are correct about those interviewed in this piece are either Red (Thai red shirts By 101East ) that the real vdo name but i created journal topic "Media from both side" that not correct becoz i should write " Red shirt By farang media" hehe because i follow my last journal before this journal but 101East show both side..have red side and also have goverment side too but in thai media i only saw from goverment side..and i am sure 101East do professional job ka

I agree with you about Kraisak ....not profressnal indeed...but she did not in another one side just my opion

I like Nattakorn Devakula..he is my idol and i love the way he is thinking & talking i been readding his aticle about "Fomenting the seeds of change"

he is said thailand needs a formal transition towards a truer more 'popular' form of democracy based on the needs and desires of the majority. A double standard judiciary appointed and acting in the name of a supreme leader and tacitly, yet not infrequently, intervened by particular members privy council as shown in a string of events over the past 3 years have to become a thing of the past. An armed forces bent on discriminating against its own population based of differing political ideology and out of the fear of 'connected' individuals having influence over them cannot in anyway be accepted in a modern day democracy. The tasks of revolutionarily altering Thailand will involve a lot work over the next several years to foment the seeds of final change. An oligarchic style of managed governance where compassionate and kindness are given only to those wearing the royalists' color is a slap to the face to the majority of the Thai nation who are for the most part already living subordinated lives. This movement for democratic change must begin to sow its preliminary sinews today, while the culmination of its goals will be seen several years down the road. Victory was theirs this time but make no mistake the definitive battlelines of the future have been drawn and the real war is yet to have experienced its days. The reds' defeat on April 14, 2009 from now on serves as a point of origination for what will ultimately become a transitional period out of the Thai oligarchic existence.

ÔÕwhat the real democracy by your view?? i am the one don't like double standdard and i like the last person answer very clear about UDD..and why i cannot see interview like this in thai media??

Cosmo : i think so

I can't agree with you about Nattakorn, Jan.

I think he is a shallow and mean spirited person who would not be on television if he were not a Devakula - a member of the elite. Talk about double standards.

When he first appeared in the media, he presented himself as an expert on US politics because he had spent ten years. I'm from the US, and I can tell you that just about everything he wrote about the US was completely wrong. He's just not very smart. But he thinks he is brilliant. I find his manner quite arrogant.

He also wrote several articles in the Bangkok Post calling Sen. Rosana a "communist." Senator Rosana has done a lot of work for poor people and for justice and against corruption. You have to be a real a**hole to call her a communist.

As for the judiciary, for the most I think it has been fair so far in judging political cases. The evidence of electoral fraud both times was very strong and clear. The penalty was mandated, not the discretion of the judges.

And as far as their decisions regarding Thaksin, even though he claims the courts are rigged against him, he has won several cases. And if the courts are rigged against him, why does he keep filing cases in Thai court? He filed one just this week for defamation. He is a hypocrite, and so is Nattakorn.

The justice system here has many problems, I do agree. Reform is definitely needed. But it's not always wrong.

I'm not impressed at all with what Nattakorn wrote. It's full of big fancy words, and while it has elements of truth, it is not the true picture, in my opinion. We would have to discuss this at length, too long for this journal comment.

What is real democracy? It has a lot of elements to it, not just elections. There is rule of law, checks and balances on the power of the authorities - with the judiciary being one of those checks - protection of minority rights.

All democratic societies have groups or individuals who are unelected who nonetheless have an influence over politics. Right or wrong it's true. In the US and Europe, corporations and lobbyists have influence, and many common people are unhappy about it.

All societies have double standards to some degree. I'm not saying it's right, just that it is common. It is not something to support, but to try and change. However, whenever Reds talk about double standards, the first thing they raise is that the Yellows did not go to jail over the airport takeover.

I tell them, I agree, that's wrong. I think they should be in jail. But what about what the Reds did last Songkran, with the riots? Why don't they belong in jail too?

Their answer is always: Reds did not do those things. Those were fake Reds. All Reds are peaceful.

I was there. I saw it. They were real Reds who did those things.

It seems Reds do want double standards. They want their opponents to go to jail, but the should be allowed to do anything they want.

I can't support that.

Both sides have to open their eyes and admit their wrongs before the country can really move forward. So far, I don't see that happening.

Jan, I think someone who is much smarter than Nattakorn is Voranai Vanijaka. He doesn't need to use big words to make you see what the truth is, and he see things far more clearly. I"m much more impressed with him. You can read his columns in the Bangkok Post on Sundays.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/36233/ladies-and-gents-place-your-bets

i liked that old fella... but that other smug c**t just ooozes arrogance

agree si6, old fella was good. that smug c**t was trained by thaksin and taking in to account english ain't his mother tongue i stiill wouldn't buy a used car from him.

so what will it take to return thailand to political stability or doesn't thailand want it? i have my own thoughts and i think a "silver bullet thru the heart" has to enter into the remedy. if no body in thailand wants to do it, i hear mossad will do it for the right price and they have had previous experience in dubai

Loburt :Thanks for Infor..i readding and saw conversation with a lady taxi driver By Voranai Vanijaka..very interesting question but only show one side of view clarify himself but not me eiei.. ..Haha..

and i don't think who smart than who..really..people have they own view..but i like Nattakorn Devakula not becoz he smart than another but i like the way he think (diffarent) that all and also hansum haha lol..(^^")

I think all thai P.M. not only Apisit try so hard for the development of the country..,i am sure goverment thinking about everyone in this country not only in BKK.., its depend what statigy they use..,If this project "one million bath village" helps alot people from country side have more self-reliant ability,why it is not interesting?..right ? nothing wrong with that..I know goverment set up term of the village they do partipatory action reseach and check the results too..included sharing the community past experience, SWOT analysis, future search andshared vision problem and social capital identification, establishment of a community council, synthesis of a mater plan and strategic solutions for communities. Thaksin government implemented the village fund policy to construct a statewide network, which can be divided into three stages.. mediation, establishing the economic system...

My friend's Grand Mum use that money for start her small business becoz goverment(in that time) gave her oppotunity..that 's good for her..,better than borrow from the person who want high interest 20 B a day naah have many positive way...and another friend invest money by set up her own bussiness export soup also...really sad coz she did not drive that Taxi hahhaha

If this project problems at the start why high educate person not come and talk about it..very hard to fix if it past and its wast the money ..what we should do now just find another new project and make the country better if only talk about the past and same thing how country develope..right?

Project eduation from P.M Apisite very good naah but i remember education is free according to the 2007 constitution, part 8, section 49...some time thai ppl forget easy......lol..and also project give money to thai on the allocation of Bt2,000 allowance to Social Security Fund's members whose salary is below Bt14,000,just make sure there is no use if the recipients use the money to buy something like the lady Taxi driver..

Depends on the government's objective whether the budget is to stimulate the economy or buy votes...

i really don't know who is weaker government system..,hope thailand have peaceful elections soon..

Well Jan, I don't think Nattakorn is smart at all. And I don't think he's handsome at all either. In the US, we would call him a "doofus." But, to each his own. You are entitled to your opinion.

The Village Fund was a good idea. And it did help some people. But not everyone used it for good things. Some people bought mobile phones with the money. Others could not pay the money back and so had to borrow from loan sharks to pay it back. There have been many studies that have shown this. And it raised people's debts.

If it had been done properly and with care, it could have been great. But I think it was mainly to win popularity, so it was not done as well as could be, and so did not always work out the right way.

There was a LOT of criticism of the Village Fund at the start by educated people. But Thaksin was not interested in any criticism. And often punished those who did not agree with him.

Are the current govt's programs meant to stimulate the economy or buy votes? Well, you can ask the same questions about Thaksin's programs.

I think both have both purposes. To be honest, I would not say that either govt's programs were meant to buy votes in and of themselves. All governments know they have to have programs that do good things for people if they want the people to vote for them.

But, if you examine how the programs are run then you might have an idea whether or not the govt is actually trying to build a system that will last and benefit everyone, or just looking for short term popularity.

And anyway, the Abhisit govt's programs did stimulate the economy. The World Bank was predicting 6.2% GDP growth for Thailand this year - the best since maybe 2003 or 2004. Thanks to the Red Shirts, we won't have that high growth now. What a great thing they have done for the poor now - hurt the economy and helped keep them poor.

The constitutions, 97 and 07, mandate a lot of things, including free education but govts don't always do what is mandated in the constitution. The abhisit govt has done it as far as education goes, so it deserves credit. I asked Thaksin once why he wasn't giving free education. He said 'do you know how much money that would cost?'

I also hope Thailand will have peaceful elections. But so far we have not had peaceful elections in Thailand. For many years now, Democrat and other candidates running against the NAP, TRT, PPP, etc have faced violence in parts of the north and northeast. In 2000, a Democrat running against Newin in Buriram as shot. In 2006, Thaksin's people attacked Chuan and Abhsiit in Chiang Mai. As recently as last year a mob of Reds threw bottles and rocks at Chuan in Lampang. Abhsiti has received many death threats.

The Reds want an election now. But they don't want to change the way elections are run. Because they often use violence or the threat of violence and it has worked to their advantage.

Plus, they do hand out cash for votes. In 2004, I had a girlfriend from Korat whose father was a soldier and her mother was a village head. She told me TRT gave them suitcases full of money to hand out for votes.

So much for Thaksin's people not wanting the army involved in politics (only when the army is not on their side, if they are on Thaksin's side then it is perfectly okay).

And if the people really loved him so much and his programs did such great things for them, why did they need to hand out cash for votes?

Didn't he say he would be a reformer when he ran for office?

Robert : This is the Aticle you said Ml Nattakorn call Rosana "communist." right?

ANCHORMAN V ROSANA

Are you kidding me?

By ML Nattakorn Devakula

Senator Rosana Tositrakul can be expected to block pro-investment/pro-business laws, cause disturbances to the otherwise smooth process of much-needed constitutional amendments, and last but not least be a nagging noise to rational people who work for a living.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Rosana Tositrakul, are you kidding me?

I would normally like to think higher of my capital city, the place I've come to believe holds the highest ratio of educated/informed voters to politically indifferent individuals. That ratio may not necessarily be so high any more, judging from the recent senatorial election results.

Aside from being a place where there is believed to be a whole lot of "smart" politically-aware voters, maybe Bangkok's real values are similar to those of Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, Bolivia, and other leftist states out in the world.

Here's the fact of the case. Social activist and claimed representative of consumers Rosana Tositrakul won 743,397 votes, or 49.78% of the tally, in the first senatorial election under the new constitution. Being that only one person can represent the capital, the selection became more significant than ever because the elected Bangkok senator would effectively be the city's sole representative in the all-powerful Upper House.

This is exactly why the results that we received from the election are so sad. Anusorn Tammajai symbolically represented the investment class and values associated with free-market economics, while Nitipong Hornak symbolically represented the arts and entertainment community.

At the same time, Manit Wittayatem - as a former judge - represented the class of experienced officials which, in this case, is from the legal sector. There were a whole host of others who stood out in terms of background and accomplishments. Instead, we now get someone who can be expected to block pro-investment/pro-business laws, cause disturbances to the otherwise smooth process of much-needed constitutional amendments, and last but not least, be a nagging noise to rational people who work for a living, to those who are part of the real economy trying to bring about economic growth to this country.

Rosana almost single-handedly brought the downfall of PTT Public Company Limited, one of Thailand's most successful business conglomerates ever, which has become the pride and joy of the country's investment community. Her role in the nullification of the planned stock market listing of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand clearly shows how she stands in the way of development and economics.

As unforgivable as these past two actions are, there is more where that came from. Implicitly, leading a crusade in the name of consumers - who are represented by organisations without even having the opportunity to play a role in the policy-making of these organisations - led to Rosana's very fame today.

It brought her name to the forefront of those who sacrificed personal time for the sake of the public - when, in fact, much of her popularity was earned on the back of investors and judges having to deal with petty burdensome cases relating to miscellaneous consumer claims, the very thing that paved the way for her political success. Nothing is sicker. Don't sue me; I know that's something you'd already planned to do.

Looking back at the senatorial elections prior to the coup, Rosana also won 118,332 votes which made her the 4th largest vote-getter in Bangkok. Believe it or not, she was behind only Nitipoom Naovarat, Samak Sundaravej and Klanarong Chantik. The more I think about all these results, the more I begin to contemplate the real potential of how "left" we are moving as a society.

Rosana should not represent a city that understands the values of the free market and capitalism. She should not represent a city that is attempting to become one of the thriving investment hubs of Asia. If there was a city she could represent, I was thinking Pyongyang or Caracas. Or maybe Havana, where she can join the new batch of Raulistas. Or even better, Sucre or La Paz, where she can wear similar native outfits to dance around with Evo Morales.

At the end of the day, however, I still hold higher hopes for Bangkok, for when the next election - whichever it is - comes around, the "smart" voters and the real silent-yet-informed majority will pick someone more in favour of growth and progression, rather than decline and stagnation.

Higher hopes translate into the selection of someone who understands that being a left-wing NGO seeking to redistribute income by bringing down the economic cornerstones of capitalism will never bring actual benefits to consumers. This past Sunday's results show that there is much room for improvement when it comes to the mindset of city voters.

..................................................................................................................................

M L Nattakorn Devakula is a news analyst.

Robert : Thank you alot..still respone reply the comment hehe ...don't worry about ML Nattakorn ..its just my opinion naah ^^

I am agree with you about The Village Fund was a good idea. And it did help some people. But not everyone used it for good things. that so true because everything in this world cannot be 100% even computer,right?

I am from Issan I understanding of the finance people from issan have problem all the time..Goverment try so hard to fix, its can show the government wants to help poor farmers, poor country people.from Mafia person who really want high interestrate more than 10 B a day (A day).,There are plenty of opportunities for thai contry side to investment in small bussiness..that is ok naah..how the business run if pay to high interestrate right??

You said "a LOT of criticism of the Village Fund at the start by educated people. But Thaksin was not interested in any criticism. And often punished those who did not agree with him." that his problem..up to him becoz he is reader..that why he have alot problem right now becoz not listen educated people..

I remember P M Abhisit He recently said that "Thailand welcomes foreign investments in farming and livestock that would introduce new technology which will help increase productivity. But he made clear that foreign investors would not be allowed to lease land or own land to implement such projects."

http://www.thailandfriends.com/index.php?name=Journal&view=journal&jid=66004&juid=31694

you can readding more in my last journal..and i am pretty sure..he have the same feelling like another P.M.like a mirrer.,rice farming is a politically sensitive issue because rice is not only a major export but also a national symbol of sorts but if the government wants to protect poor farmers, why have its policies principally served the middlemen and exporters while strengthening the grip of agro-business monopoly?..

To be honest like you said,all governments know they have to have programs that do good things for people if they want the people to vote for them...that correct..if some goverment only care short term popularity no need to follow voice people then ..

I am not sure if the people really loved Tuksin so much or his programs did such great things for them, why did they need to hand out cash for votes?

ummm let me rethinking what the past about cash vote.. TRT gave Money to thai ppl (not in cloud BKK) and you thinking another party not give right??? it is like when you going to buy product in Department store how the compititor of the product fightting??some product high price some low price ..diffarent but what it is the same? PRICE is the same but depend up or down..right?? how you karanntee another party not pay money to people hahah everybody want take advantage...i am also bored of cash sistem..

by the way, ......Emergency rule should "State of Emergenc"....LoL

Jan..(><")