Poll: Kasit A Terrorist?

He thought it’s all over and justice is done and the fight for the truth will always honor the respectable. Now the Royal Thai Police, themselves a body not beyond reproach, put a spoke in the wheel of Kasit Piromya, foreign minister of Thailand.

The outspoken critic of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been charged together with 35 leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, the socio-political movement that promised to clean up corrupt and abused Thailand.

Among the charges in connection with the seizure of Bangkok’s two airports: terrorism. “Outraged” Kasit vows to fight until the end, even though months ago he was quoted as saying to resign if charges were laid against him. Now he says he would resign if the charge of terrorism were dropped.

He who took his “mouth, pen and brain” to the rallies of the PAD seems to be living proof again of the archetype of Thai politician whose words always speak louder than his actions.

But then again, our prime minister has an adviser by the name of Newin Chidchob who is officially banned from politics, the PAD makes the occupation of Bangkok’s airports look like a completely normal thing – and a police said to be paid by Thaksin lays down the charges.

It’s impossible to relay to Thai politics without implying double standards. Even if the police present a perfectly coherent and convincing case against the accused, the complete politicization and indoctrination of society make a fair case impossible.

Whatever ruling, the martyrs will become even more glorified martyrs and the traitors more fiercely denounced traitors.

If ever the charges should make it to court and verdicts, we have seen other amazing cases, haven’t we, just to mention the toppling of a prime minister because he loves to cook and this on TV.

Say you were a judge, how would you rule?





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July 7, 2009 | Filed Under Politics, Survey / Poll 

Comments

17 Responses to “Poll: Kasit A Terrorist?”

  1. MongerSEA on July 9th, 2009 9.29 am

    “[P]olice said to be paid by Thaksin lays down the charges…” Aren’t we forgetting that the RTP was complicit in the airport takeovers in the first place? They knew the Yellow Mob was coming and, at least at Suvarnabhumi, their only response was to send a few dozen woefully under-equipped policemen. I was there that morning and it was quite clear that they planned to offer only token resistance.

    It’s no secret that if you own a bar here you need to pay the local cops a few thousand baht every month so you can have an upstairs room where your girls can lay their customers. I wonder how much the media-whoring PAD had to pay the RTP for the chance to screw an entire country …?

  2. BangkokDan on July 9th, 2009 10.18 am

    Complicity? Maybe rather not.

    I think it was a simple case of institutionalized Thai indecision and the typical collective fear of the phu yai.

    Everyone was scared. What if …

    And if you don’t behave within the food chain anything can happen to your future, reputation and family.

    Everyone was scared shitless.

    Even the phu yai.

    Because there seemed to be a clear directive from the top. But nobody was able to speak out, not to mention to follow the law.

    BangkokDan

  3. Andy on July 9th, 2009 8.13 pm

    “Kasit now your dead meat,” you’re tweetting?

    Dan serious, how low are you going now? Join the red camp on Thaksin’s birthday and follow those low-class rhetorics? No matter what Kasit said or did, I don’t think your making some welcome advertising for yourself here, with such talks, or what’s the point of such talk?

  4. BangkokDan on July 9th, 2009 8.22 pm

    Your point being Andy? This is not about yellow and red, this is about blatant breaches of the trust placed in him.

    To be dead meat is a polite way of saying your time is probably over.

    He, as the highest diplomat of the kingdom, should resign demands the Bangkok Post:

    http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/19786/the-backlash-of-airport-seizures

    And The Nation:

    http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/07/08/opinion/opinion_30106850.php

    And possibly now the EC:

    http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30106995/Kasits-wife-hold-Bangkok-Expressways-shares-EC

    And what about Kasit and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation:

    http://thailandjumpedtheshark.blogspot.com/2009/07/kasit-piromya-and-protocol-for.html

    And public opinion demanding his resignation:

    http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/148339/more-than-60-want-kasit-to-quit-poll

    Even if innocent as an angel, the man has become an unbearable burden and distraction for Abhisit. Let him prove his innocence, and I become his most fervent supporter.

    BangkokDan

  5. Andy on July 11th, 2009 12.08 am

    My point is, Abhsit and a view others have just been nearly killed a view weeks ago! Remember my friend? So tuning in, with those rather disturbing Thai Red Shirts style rhetorics online, on a supposed to be politically neutral website, is rather maybe disturbing for many others. Do you understand now my point? Hope so. Cheerful weekend …

  6. BangkokDan on July 11th, 2009 1.23 pm

    Again, for the final time and ultimately: to demand that Kasit has to accept responsibility has nothing to do with being pro-Thaksin.

    A man representing the kingdom who has publicly stated that the airport blockade was fun while hundreds of thousands of people were terrorized by this fun and by now millions especially in the tourism industry still lose money is beyond comprehension in any mildly sane society.

    The man’s behavior back then during the protests was understandable, but his behavior now is nothing short of repeating what he accuses Thaksin of: thinking he’s above the law.

    Kasit’s presumptuous ignoring of the rule of law is a disgrace reflecting badly on the kingdom.

    BangkokDan

  7. bosunj on July 11th, 2009 9.19 pm

    Terroriam Dan? Gotta stop watching FOX news Dan! That stuff will addle your brain! Terrorism is the extra judicial killing of 2,600 suspected drug criminals, terrorism is what America’s CIA does to those it doesn’t like, terrorism is tasering 14 year old girls and 80 year old grandmothers. Terrorism is NOT several thousand people sitting down in an airport. Get real.

  8. BangkokDan on July 12th, 2009 10.39 am

    Now you’re putting words into my mouth bosunj, but judging from your posting history I’d say you’re the first to cry terrorism if some U.S. mob occupies some U.S. airport.

    BangkokDan

  9. Andy on July 12th, 2009 2.22 pm

    Agree totally with bosunj …

    Dear Dan, try not to take Thai politics too serious.

    Join the club and have fun in the land of smiles, instead of reading all this political “war of words” rubbish. You are still looking for those political stories and it really seams to bother your mind and time. The more people like you also push for a fall down of the current government, the more we will get the biggest robber of them all back. Get real, and do what most others do here. Enjoy Thailand more and let us see it here! Good luck mate.

  10. JJ on July 12th, 2009 3.26 pm

    I keep on being amazed that people keep on reading sites they cannot digest.

    Why you guys don’t read fashion sites or ilovethailand.org – if you can’t stand the heat, flee the kitchen, it’s as simple as that.

    If current Thailand is as good for you as it gets then hail the delusion you’re living in.

    I personally like the highly stimulating takes on this site. Doesn’t mean I have to have the same opinion all the time.

    But being able to simply ignore what’s going on in current Thailand … that’s what allowed Hitler in the end to become what he became.

  11. eman on July 13th, 2009 1.31 am

    JJ, you are not a very good actor in your last post! But I do sympathize!

  12. bosunj on July 13th, 2009 7.17 am

    Dan,

    You obviously have not read my website if you think I am one to cry terrorism. I have said, written and blogged that were several thousand Americans were to sit down in all three NYC airports that the gov’t terrorists would have killed many of them and damaged the facilities to an extent they’d have been unusable for many months.

  13. bosunj on July 13th, 2009 7.25 am

    JJ,

    I’m not ignoring what’s going on. I have accepted things that I cannot change (and should not stick my big nose into). I’d rather live here than any of the 60+ countries I have been to and I’d damn sure rather live here than that Duhmerican’t cesspool I was born in! Duhmerican’ts have no business telling the rest of the world how they should do things after showing the planet how badly their way has screwed it up. Perhaps this will bring some clarity. Chok dee.

  14. BangkokDan on July 13th, 2009 7.35 am

    @bosunj: Wouldn’t have minded a commando operation inflicting some damage. Would have been what they were asking for. It may have set a precedent that you can fool around with state property, domestic and international law, the reputation of the kingdom etc. only to a certain degree. The declared mission of some of the protest leaders as being sent by god was hard to stomach for many. Thailand’s standing would be better today if there had been a coherent, strong response. All the hesitation only legitimized acts of anarchy. Thailand keeps on footing the bill for this. And points the finger in whatever direction. Even the most innocent people are by now considered as guilty, while guilt has become something that depends on circumstances rather than facts.

    It is interesting to see that this unimportant little blog reflects the division of Thai society.

    As some postings have become rather personal for whatever reason – the “immunity” of cyberspace seems to embolden – I’ll delete any further comment that doesn’t deal with the issue per se.

    And understand, what’s brought up here is only a foretaste of the divisions within Thai society.

    The post’s highly scientific poll speaks clearly, even though I would have thought answer no. 2 will garner most hits.

    BangkokDan

  15. Hobby on July 13th, 2009 8.22 am

    Kasit is a godsend to the opposition – if he stays they will always be able to get in free kicks, and if he goes they will still be able to have the free kicks as it will be seen as a victory.

    Even though the terrorism charges are over the top (where was the resistance???), Kasit should have been cut loose a long time ago – actually he should never have been appointed in the first place as his involvement with the PAD was too close (he enjoyed the festivities too much).

    The Democrats have dug there own grave on this matter, and it serves them right all the ridicule they are suffering because of it.

  16. Dudeist on July 15th, 2009 5.07 pm

    Thing about Kasit is that he puts his foot in his mouth too often to be considered a reliable diplomat. He comes across as a bit of a liability and that’s the last thing any country needs in the shop window.

    Recently, in reality, Abhisit has been doing his job for him.

    That alone makes him unfit to be the foreign minister of even the most backward, feudal, tinpot country.

    But there again, this is Thailand.

    I believe he’s been kept in position to succour the PAD element in Dems and to also isolate that element.

    I’m actually longing for the next election when the PAD and their dodgy Nazi symbols are put to the test – we will see them reduced to nothing and Kasit et al kicked far into the long grass.

  17. bosunj on July 18th, 2009 5.22 am

    Terrorism. Here is a glaring example of terrorism! Paulson threatened another great depression and food riots to get bailout bill passed then used the money for purposes not outlined in the Bill. Acts punishable under the Patriot Act.

    http://bosunjbkk.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!ACE2B8799856255D!734.entry?&_c02_vws=1

    http://www.prisonplanet.com/paulson-threatened-great-depression-food-riots-to-get-bailout-bill-passed.html

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