I have been “involved,” mostly from a distance, in Thai politics for 38 years, with background reading on history to back it up.

I dont think you should “avoid” the papers, in fact I read them all the time, it’s just retain a heatlthy scepticism about any claimed facts, especially if repeated without any substantiation or against the evidence of our eyes … e.g. PAD protests are unarmed and peaceful … good phrase, but what does it mean?

Anyway, my aim in Thailand is to see a fully voted democratic governments in power … democratically elected governments are accountable to the people, nominated MPs are only accountable to the elite or whatever group puts them in power.

As soon as a group feels it’s in charge by nominating the MPs and government then they corrupt the system.

When MPs and governments are elected then the people are in charge.

Simple really … and to date Thaksin’s governments are the only ones that have been fully elected, and returned to the people to renew their mandate … even if Thaksin was still here he would still be at risk every time there is an election … and that’s how it should be … perform or you are out.

Now, who is Abhisit accountable to? Put into power by the military and the rich families … I suppose as long as he keeps them happy he will be in power?

Will this be good for the mass of the Thai people?

Are they likely to feel empowered to better their lives?

Is Abhisit likely to do things that will make poor people feel they are not dominated by the rich?

Thailand needs democracy and democratically elected governments.

And, by the way, Thaksin’s crime was to upset the established military and rich families … and, as far as I can see all these mythical court cases against him are built on greed and envy, not fault.

And the land case, no, we think the courts bent the law, he was and is innocent of the charge! And his wife paid over the market price for the land … have you seen the statement by a commercial land buyer who says he chose not to bid for the land because the price was too high … so, who benefitted?

Anyway, I advise keep reading and thinking and where possible reviewing all the information you can get hold of …

Personally I’d prefer Abhisit, but unfortunately he represents the greater of the two evils since we all know what happened these past weeks and months. Abhisit is no longer his own man.

That sounds dramatic, I know, but only his actions will prove us doubters wrong. And how I wish he proves us wrong!

BangkokDan

So the best solution? Free and fair, properly observed elections. The reds say that Abhisit is in office as a result of political trickery, and as a result until elections are held the feeling that the popular voice has been stifled just isn’t going to go away.

Got your point, but be assured I read my way through the papers (not only The Nation or TOC).

BangkokPundit, to my point of view, is in the same way suspiciously one-sided as The Nation (was?). He hardly writes anything bad about the red side. No?

However maybe you can admit that The Nation, since the PAD took over the government building & airports, has become also very critical of the PAD too.

They’re not that one-sided anymore.

I find The Nation actually quite accurate if I discuss/compare with my Thai Friends and compare with local media. They’re as well not that extremely one-sided.

Also the Bangkok Post was never a big fan of Thaksin since his law amendments and real priorities came to light.

So in your point of view, The Nation and Bangkok Post and other media have to be avoided and Thaksin is actually our real hero of democracy and not corrupt at all?

What is your possible best political solution for Thailand and Thaksin then?

Anyhow I reckon we have to give Abhisit a chance.

Or are we just moving in circles?

It doesn’t pay to believe anything you read in The Nation or worse anything from the PAD, etc. … unless you can independently verify it.

The U.K. asset freeze was a mistake by an Arabian business news writer. See this reference for his apology – the author’s reply is as a comment at the end:

http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/2008/12/did-uk-seize-thaksins-assets.html

Of course The Nation and all the PAD people have leapt onto the story like rabid hyaenas … Presumably they don’t want to discover it’s wrong …

I took the time earlier to go to your website. Nice job.

Thank you for your observations regards my posts herein.

Chok dee

So, inferring awful things about me, or anyone else, is sensible? That you were incensed that I suggested anyone leave if you don’t like it is futile is reason enough to slander someone?

Reasonable? Sensible?

Again, it is not our (farang) place to suggest or “it just means thinking, promoting and discussing these subjects” to Thais.

Respect and “face” are highly valued in Thailand. It is disrespectful to Thais to suggest the country they love is faulty. Imagine how you and/or your countrymen might feel if a foreigner came to your country and started slagging it even if you were to intellectually agree with their assessment!

You lose face by being rude enough to point out what you perceive to be their errors and thereby your ideas lose whatever marginal value they may have held.

No apologies for what you believe to be aggressive and arrogant attitudes about Westerners who come here and insist that Thailand be sucked into the cesspool the West has become.

Often many farang who come to Thailand to live are troubled by the lack of what they percieve to be ORDER here. Many have observed that most farang tend to hit a two to two and a half year wall they must get over or around to be able to remain here.

Remaining here and enjoying living here requires ACCEPTANCE that things are different and are done very differently here, that there is a different standard for everything here. Either you accept it and learn strategies to deal with it or you remain frustrated and angry and eventually leave.

I have observed many who hit the two year wall. I have also observed many who arrive here and immediately love it enough that the wall never appears. I have also observed many who have lived here for five or ten years that hit the wall sooner than two years and never learned how to go over or around it that are miserable but won’t go home.

Most farang who come here to live leave. In their wake they leave broken dreams, hearts, promises and bankrupt Western ideas no one wanted to hear.