Thailand’s New Voice For Freedom
Robert Amsterdam, an international human rights lawyer acting on behalf of Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed Thai prime minister, speaks to Al Jazeera about the political standoff in Bangkok.
Amsterdam says international mediation is the way to resolve the conflict. On his blog Amsterdam promises a “temporary Thai-ification” of his work: “Given the serious political crisis unraveling in Thailand (…) we are planning to publish quite a lot of related content …”
The so far most famous client of Amsterdam was fallen Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. As you may know Khodorkovsky remains somewhere in Siberia in a labor camp. But every jail term ends one day. Not so every exile, or not? Here’s the Al Jazeera interview:
Robert Amsterdam on behalf of Thaksin Shinawatra, demanding an international tribunal to investigate the Thai government (yes, the interviewer is not only cute, she asks the right questions tearing him into pieces, especially love her “of course” mid-through):
That was a very entertaining interview … drew a few personal chuckles as this high-powered highly-paid lawyer squirmed through some penetrating questions from that beautiful Al Jazeera moderator.
Thanks for posting that. It seems as if Al Jazeera is the only news organization that doesn’t adhere to the narrative of “poor noble upcountry peasants fighting peacefully for democracy.” I’ll be paying more attention to them for sure.
It’s quite obvious that this guy didn’t do his homework before being interviewed. Very entertaining indeed!
Burn Bangkok Burn
By Vichai N
(dedicated to Hobby)
Beloved Leader said we’ve been cheated,
And his red followers agreed to be led,
To Bangkok the thousands demanded,
Election! Election! Or else!
And young leader Abhisit took heed,
The election this Novemeber to proceed,
And peace in the land to prevail
Sighs of relief and rejoicing BUT …
Beloved Leader said STOP
Don’t you all get it yet?
M79s and RPGs and Bangkok to burn,
Because what about my peace of mind?
Burn Bangkok burn burn
Burn Bangkok burn burn
What about my peace of mind?
Burn Bangkok burn burn
(I just posted this at Reuters. But on second thought, I want to dedicate this poem to Hobby becuz I sincerely like the guy.)
Yes indeed, BKK is burning. Bangkok Metropolitan Authority said they are having difficulty getting to the relevant buildings because there are gunmen shooting at the firecrews.
(BMA quoted in TAN News Network’s tweet.)
Good verse Vichai!
I just saw this on Twitter from Thaksin Voice.
Here is a man who cares so much about “his” people …
Tweet roughly says:
What a man of the people …
People should not go out as there’s a curfew. The thugs who have been burning buildings and causing chaos are still out there. In this current situation, it is best to be vigilant. Going out is not going to help the authorities as they want to seperate innocent civilians from troublemakers. Please keep track of the latest developments. Wish everyone in Thailand stays safe and sound.
Hmmm Amsterdam is a real wanker. Thaksin is exposed by using such a vile tosspot. Anyway everyone knows Thaksin paid for all the arson and terrorism vile fucker that he is.
And the saddest thing is that all the pro-poor stuff is wrecked by the interjection of neo-Nazi master of extra judicial death squads Thaksin and throw in Chavalit’s “taharn prahn” death squads that have been ruining the country for decades of death and ballot box stuffing. Good to see the government whatever you think of them putting the boot into vile rich elitist facist exploiters of the poor such as Thaksin, Chavalit, Sudarat and those monsters who run the buses out of Korat. Sooner such Nazis are wrecked the sooner the poor will see their lot improve. Now you won’t read that on the stupid New Mandala site where some professor idiot by the name of Jim who ponces around up north pretending he knows somethign about something (total moron but an academic moron) didn’t even know the difference between sae daeng and sae dan (fall over laughing) or on the Bangkok Pundit we don’t print what we don’t like site which content analysis shows means we are far more bias than The Nation could dream of.
I apologize for once writing the truth rather than being nice.
Robert Amsterdam did quite well in this interview – scored a few points, and ridiculed the standard Thaksin, Thaksin, Thaksin dog whistle.
Thanks for the poem Vichai, and in answer to your other question about “What says Hobby?,” I advise I’m still happy to wear a red shirt.
I’ve resumed blogging after giving the current junta a chance to prove their “reconciliation” credentials – you are welcome to comment over there Vichai (and Occasional Poster – I’m unlikely to be too politically correct for you.
That ABC interview reminded me of a recent line from 24:
“Pillar’s ignoring the key questions, and the questions that he is answering, no one’s asking.”