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UPDATE: Section 46"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cb\u003EUPDATE\u003C\/b\u003E: Thai Rath \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thairath.co.th\/content\/832714\"\u003Equotes\u003C\/a\u003E Deputy PM Wissanu as stating that at the joint meeting between the NCPO and the Cabinet that had not agreed upon the use of Section 44 to amend the interim Constitution, but instead had decided to use Section 46 of the interim Constitution.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.nationmultimedia.com\/news\/breakingnews\/30303828\"\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/a\u003E: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EPrayut revealed Tuesday that following the new King’s consideration, the draft would be returned for amendments to be carried out in few points. However, the premier did not elaborate which points would be amended.  \u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EThe Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary contacted the government that some legislation on the draft’s second section on the monarch would need to be discussed, Prayut said.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-thailand-king-idUSKBN14U0QW?il=0\"\u003EReuters\u003C\/a\u003E: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"The request said there are three to four issues that need fixing to ensure his royal powers,\" Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting.  \u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E…  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPrayuth said that the junta and the cabinet agreed to make the requested amendments.  The process will take up to three months because the government would first need to make changes to the current interim constitution before it can then change the draft constitution, he said.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECOMMENT\u003C\/b\u003E: How to amend the interim Constitution?  Section 46 of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lawdrafter.blogspot.be\/2014\/07\/translation-of-constitution-of-kingdom.html\"\u003Einterim Constitution\u003C\/a\u003E states: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EIn case of necessity and appropriateness, the \u003Cb\u003ECouncil of Ministers and the National Council for Peace and Order shall have joint resolution\u003C\/b\u003E to amend this Constitution and propose the draft Constitution Amendment to the National Legislative Assembly for approval.  \u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EThe National Legislative Assembly shall approve or disapprove the draft Constitution Amendment within fifteen days as from the date of receipt of the draft Constitution Amendment.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe National Legislative Assembly is unable to amend the draft Constitution Amendment, except where the Council of Ministers and the National Council for Peace and Order agree upon.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe approval shall be made by a majority of votes of the existing members of the National Legislative Assembly.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf the National Legislative Assembly approves the draft Constitution Amendment, the Prime Minister shall present the draft Constitution Amendment to the King for His signature within fifteen days as from the date the approval has been given. When His signature has been given, the draft Constitution Amendment shall come into force as the Constitution upon its publication in the Government Gazette. The Prime Minister shall countersign His Royal Command. In this case, section 37 paragraph eight shall apply mutatis mutandis.*1\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECOMMENT\u003C\/b\u003E: Per \u003Ci\u003EReuters\u003C\/i\u003E and others - such as \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tnamcot.com\/content\/632241\"\u003ETNA\u003C\/a\u003E - the Cabinet and the NCPO have agreed upon the amendment appears up to the NLA to proceed with the amendment. However, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tnamcot.com\/content\/632241\"\u003ETNA\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.khaosodenglish.com\/politics\/2017\/01\/10\/prayuth-change-constitution-kings-request\/\"\u003EKhaosod English\u003C\/a\u003E specifically refer to Section 44 of the interim Constitution (the all-encompassing power) being used to amend the interim Constitution. but many other publications, including \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.innnews.co.th\/shownews\/show?newscode=755926\"\u003EINN\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.prachachat.net\/news_detail.php?newsid=1484041865\"\u003EPrachachat\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-thailand-king-idUSKBN14U0QW?il=0\"\u003EReuters\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-thailand-king-idUSKBN14U0QW?il=0\"\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thaipost.net\/?q=%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%90%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%90%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%8D-%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87\"\u003EThai Post\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.manager.co.th\/Politics\/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9600000002986\"\u003EASTV Manager\u003C\/a\u003E make no mention of Section 44. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn addition, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.isranews.org\/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99-%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%82%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2\/item\/53203-reportooccc.html\"\u003EIsra News\u003C\/a\u003E have the proposed amendment to the draft Constitution and it does not correspond with what a Section 44 order looks like although it does match what a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/library2.parliament.go.th\/giventake\/content_nla2557\/d031059-06.pdf\"\u003Enormal amendment\u003C\/a\u003E (i.e under Section 46) to the interim Constitution would look like. PM Prayut was also quoted as saying in the press conference today that if the draft Constitution was returned, we will amend amend the interim Constitution which, if quick, will take 1 month (his \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thairath.co.th\/content\/832602\"\u003Equote\u003C\/a\u003E says \"ตอนนี้ถ้าส่งร่างรัฐธรรมนูญลงมาแล้ว เราจะแก้ไขรัฐธรรมนูญฉบับชั่วคราวฯ ถ้าจะให้เร็วก็ประมาณ 1 เดือน\"). Normally, using Section 44 does not take 1 month whereas for the Cabinet and NCPO to notify the NLA, NLA to amend, for royal endorsement, and publication in the Government Gazette then 1 month would sound about right. Even listening to the video (ASTV Manager link above), BP does not hear mention of Section 44. Has anyone seen clarification whether it will be Section 44 or Section 46 used to amend the interim Constitution?  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E*1 In case, you noticed paragraph 5 is not the same as per the website, it is because paragraph 5 was \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lawdrafter.blogspot.be\/2015\/07\/constitution-of-kingdom-of-thailand.html\"\u003Eamended\u003C\/a\u003E in 2015."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/5698261641172435263"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/5698261641172435263"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2017\/01\/how-will-interim-constitution-be-amended.html","title":"How will the interim Constitution be amended? UPDATE: Section 46"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-3256646664800129055"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-23T07:04:00.003+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-11T15:41:06.471+07:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Update Your RSS Feeds"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"UPDATE: Actually, don't update your RSS feed Use either http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/BangkokPundit or \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/BangkokPundit\"\u003Ethis link\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/3256646664800129055"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/3256646664800129055"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/update-your-rss-feeds.html","title":"Update Your RSS Feeds"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-6973405105469602770"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-22T13:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-09-26T00:12:54.278+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"foreign policy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"ASEAN Leaders Not Coming to ASEAN Opening Ceremony..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ci\u003EMatichon\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/matichon.co.th\/news_detail.php?newsid=1256183640\u0026amp;grpid=00\u0026amp;catid=\"\u003Ereports\u003C\/a\u003E than Hun Sen as well as the leaders of Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia will not attend the ASEAN opening ceremony tomorrow morning for a variety of reasons.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: It is a little unusual you would have so many leaders missing. This should not be seen as a snub to Thailand as such. From what BP understands attendees (well at least some of them) had been told that there would be no opening ceremony and then suddenly around 1-2 weeks this was changed and an opening ceremony was added. By this time, many had made other plans given the arrangements have been in the pipeline for months. More about bad planning from the Thai side than a snub."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6973405105469602770"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6973405105469602770"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/asean-leaders-not-coming-to-asean.html","title":"ASEAN Leaders Not Coming to ASEAN Opening Ceremony..."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-6303255307262875182"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-22T09:30:00.000+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T09:33:05.168+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Notices"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"New Home"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Later this evening this blog is scheduled to move to \u003Ci\u003EAsian Correspondent\u003C\/i\u003E and will be located \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnyone who visits the old site address, namely:\u003Cbr \/\u003Ehttp:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWill \u003Ci\u003Eautomatically\u003C\/i\u003E be forwarded to the new address, namely:\u003Cbr \/\u003Ehttp:\/\/asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo in theory if you don't change your bookmarks and you will still find the new site after a delay of a few seconds. Also, links to old posts should be redirected to the same post which will now be located at \u003Ci\u003EAsian Correspondent\u003C\/i\u003E. The new RSS feed is \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/rss-feeds\/?b=BangkokPundit\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBP thought long and hard about this change. Initially, actually said \"no\", but upon reconsideration and new information, decided to say \"yes\" at the last minute. For a write-up of the new site and the concept, see this blog post \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theasiafile.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/new-asian-citizen-journalism-website.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. This is certainly not for everyone as Bangkok Dan explains \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/absolutelybangkok.com\/asian-correspondent-bloggers-coming-of-age\/\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe most important question will be, how will the move change new content? Simply put, BP doesn't see that there will be any change. BP will write and post as usual. There is no pre-editing and blog posts will go up in similar from to now. The new editor program to draft posts is rather new from the Blogger interface and the site is still in beta so things may not work smoothly for the first week or so, but hopefully the teething problems will be limited.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn fact, in a few months there will likely be more translations. The new blog is a paying gig, albeit not enough to give up the day job. However, money was not the motivation for the move, but the plan with some of the money is to hire a student\/intern for some translations so the new move will likely result in more content from the Thai language media. This is still in the planning stage now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EActually, enjoyed the independence of the old blog, but things had become somewhat static in the sense that there was nothing new. Had been thinking about ways to expand the blog, but is difficult to attract that kind of advertising money as a single blog and well don't have the time to go looking for advertisers. Well that and not having to deal with any technical problems and just being able to write.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENOTE: Don't post any new comments after around lunchtime Thailand time as have no idea what is happening regards comments.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe twitter account and e-mail remain the same."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6303255307262875182"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6303255307262875182"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/new-home.html","title":"New Home"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-2943335012005767141"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-22T06:00:00.000+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T06:00:00.595+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Chavalit"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Prem"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Just Friends, No Longer a Son"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Have previously blogged on the Chavalit-Prem relationship (Chavalit speaking out \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/where-r-u-prem-version.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/chavalit-and-prem.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E; Prem's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/prem-and-chavalit-prem-speaks.html\"\u003Eresponse\u003C\/a\u003E), but also thought that \u003Ci\u003EThai Rath\u003C\/i\u003E had some interesting points in their \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thairath.co.th\/content\/pol\/40203\"\u003Eanalysis\u003C\/a\u003E a few days on the Chavalit-Prem relationship entitled \"Just Friends, Not the Son of Uncle Prem\" (แค่เพื่อนไม่ใช่ 'ลูกป๋า'). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe analysis notes the joining of Class 7 [that is from the military academy and includes Manoon Roopkachorn and Gen. Panlop Pinmanee, Chamlong's classmates] and Class 10 [that is Pre-Cadet Class 10 which is Thaksin's class].\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENOTE: See \u003Ci\u003ESiam Report\u003C\/i\u003E's excellent post on Chavalit, Puea Thai and the military \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/militarization-of-puea-thai.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe analysis notes that when Prem responded to Chavalit the other day, he referred to him as a \"friend\" and not as his son [the Thai term ลูกรัก when is difficult to translate, but along the lines of teachers' pet]. This shows that the relationship between Prem and Chavalit is not like it was in the past.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: It seems clear now that this is the case, but there is no dislike between Chavalit and Prem like there was between Samak and Prem - actually Prem's sending of an aide to warn Chavalit still suggests there is a relationship there as he certainly wouldn't have done this for enemy. Also, Prem no longer is at the zenith of this powers as he was just after the coup - think of the powerful and mighty backer behind the police chief appointment. About this much, BP is sure of. Still not quite sure why Chavalit spoke as a way he did to draw Prem out like this and what happens now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EChavalit is always talking about reconciliation - he has even attacked the government once? - and according to PAD leader Suriyasai there will be a meeting between Chavalit, Chamlong, and Sondhi L next week (Chamlong and Chavalit go back a long way and both were prominent in the protests against Suchinda in 1992)."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/2943335012005767141"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/2943335012005767141"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/just-friends-no-longer-son.html","title":"Just Friends, No Longer a Son"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-646625639141182268"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-21T23:59:00.002+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T01:55:18.518+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"media"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Nation"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Will You Invest?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.nationmultimedia.com\/2009\/10\/21\/business\/business_30114914.php\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003ENation Broadcasting Corp yesterday set its initial public offering price at Bt2.90 per share, saying it was appropriate and not too high considering the firm's expansion plans for new media and cable TV in the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E...\u003Cbr \/\u003EA brokerage source said \u003Cb\u003ENBC's IPO price of Bt2.90 left plenty of room for an upside gain as it was set at a 50-per-cent discount. \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENBC's pro forma price-to-earnings ratio is 15-16 times while the media sector in the Market for Alternative Investment is now 18-20 times.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Will you invest?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/646625639141182268"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/646625639141182268"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/will-you-invest.html","title":"Will You Invest?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-310262919261160665"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-21T14:00:00.004+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:12:07.120+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"media"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Evil Foreign Media and Stock Market Fall UPDATE"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/evil-foreign-media-and-stock-market.html\";\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUPDATE:\u003C\/b\u003E Another opinion piece, this time from \u003Ci\u003EKao Hun\u003C\/i\u003E which \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kaohoon.com\/pg.newspaper\/article_detail.aspx?cid=32688\"\u003Estates\u003C\/a\u003E that Bloomberg is an influential news organization in the financial sector with many offices and a large number of staff around the world. Thai staffers at Bloomberg stated that the news story should not go ahead, but the foreigner, Richard Frost in Singapore was pushy and was able to get the story out. No need to look for anyone else, it was \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E that pushed down the stock prices.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: If you look through Richard Frost's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/search.bloomberg.com\/search?q=Richard+Frost\u0026amp;site=wnews\u0026amp;client=wnews\u0026amp;proxystylesheet=wnews\u0026amp;output=xml_no_dtd\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\u0026amp;oe=UTF-8\u0026amp;filter=p\u0026amp;getfields=wnnis\u0026amp;sort=date:D:S:d1\"\u003Earticles\u003C\/a\u003E you will see he is actually in Hong Kong not in Singapore. Makes you wonder how reliable their \"source\" is.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs we know last week the stock market \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/newspaper-that-investors-should-trust.html\"\u003Efell\u003C\/a\u003E upon rumors of a deterioration of HM the King's health. \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg \u003C\/i\u003Ewere the first to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/apps\/news?pid=newsarchive\u0026amp;sid=aWSLmdQccvyo\"\u003Ereport\u003C\/a\u003E on the news that the SET was falling on news that HM the King's health had deteriorated. Normally, being first to report on something - other news agencies quickly followed (well there was one \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/newspaper-that-investors-should-trust.html\"\u003Ebig exception\u003C\/a\u003E), but it has resulted in a barrage of attacks against \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EASTV Manager\u003C\/i\u003E had an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.manager.co.th\/StockMarket\/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9520000122562\"\u003Earticle\u003C\/a\u003E with a headline on October 15 paraphrasing the SET stating \"Evil Bloomberg, first to spread the hellish news (แฉบลูมเบิร์กสุดชั่ว ต้นตอปล่อยข่าวนรก). The article then states that SET executives quickly prepared the emergency situation of shutting down the SET if the market dropped below 10% upon news that hooded bandit had employed \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E to falsely speculate to destroy the institution by having a broker in Singapore to ignite the trouble (ไอ้โม่งจ้างสำนักข่าวบลูมเบิร์กวิเคราะห์มั่วทำลายสถาบัน โดยมีโบรกเกอร์ที่สิงคโปร์จุดชนวน) \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E:\u0026nbsp; That hooded bandit (ไอ้โม่ง) reference is hilarious.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ENaew Na\u003C\/i\u003E had an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.naewna.com\/news.asp?ID=183662\"\u003Eeditorial\u003C\/a\u003E on October 19 criticizing\u003Ci\u003E Bloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E for disseminating news about HM the King's health stating it was inappropriate. It also said that it caused the stock market to crash. This caused much damage and the government and authorities should not let this issue be.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt is believed the disseminating of the news is an evil plan of some movements in Thailand (จึงเป็นไปได้ที่จะเป็นแผนการอันชั่วร้ายของขบวนการคนไทยบางกลุ่มที่ใช้ชาว). Foreigners were used as a tool to destroy the high institution [ie the monarchy].This is a most important matter of danger to the high institution and to national security. It is certain the movement won't just stop at this.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Umm, there is a difference between reporting a rumor and reporting an analyst's opinion that rumors are making the SET fall - most people don't even dispute the fact that the rumors were making the SET fall, but simply reporting this as opposed to the rumour is \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/verboten\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003Everboten\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. By their logic they should also not criticize \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E because by doing so they are also reporting on the rumor which they think should not be disseminated. Argh, but they are happy to do that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you want to have a idea on how uninformed some are \u003Ci\u003ENaew Na\u003C\/i\u003E had a similar rant in their editorial on October 16 \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.naewna.com\/news.asp?ID=183348\"\u003Ecalling\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E a \"European news agency\" (สำนักข่าวด้านเศรษฐกิจและการเงินฉบับหนึ่งของยุโรปที่ชื่อ บลูมเบิร์). A google search would have alerted them to a Michael Bloomberg and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bloomberg_L.P.#Television\"\u003EBloomberg LP\u003C\/a\u003E, but well who cares about facts!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThai Post \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thaipost.net\/news\/151009\/12270\"\u003Estates\u003C\/a\u003E that one factor which lead to the SET fall was Bloomberg's report \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Surely, if \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E and the other areas of the foreign media are somehow responsible for the stock market fall we need to know when the SET started falling and when \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E's first article was released to the public.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA reliable source with access to a Bloomberg terminal points out that \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E's first \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/apps\/news?pid=newsarchive\u0026amp;sid=aWSLmdQccvyo\"\u003Earticle\u003C\/a\u003E on the issue was timestamped 3:38pm on October 14 (note the current time stamp of the web article is the time stamp for the last update).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo for October 14, the SET was as follows: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E752.22 10:00 a.m. (opening price)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E723.82 3:38 p.m. (\u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E's story hits the wires) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E714.64 4:10 p.m.\u0026nbsp; (lowest point of day) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E731.37 4:45 p.m. (closing price)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: So actually the SET went up after \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E's story hit the wires.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor October 15, have a screenshot from the SET website below:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"kl\" dir=\"ltr\" id=\":1ls\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/60433209@N00\/4014213743\/\" title=\"Economy SET oct 15 p2 by bangkokpundit, on Flickr\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Economy SET oct 15 p2\" height=\"117\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2625\/4014213743_4347dea839_o.jpg\" width=\"416\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: You will see this drop of 5.3% was after everyone else reported the story and AFTER the Royal Household Bureau released a statement saying that the HM the King's condition was good.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EForeigners were not even the major sellers, it was local institutions as this screenshot from the SET shows:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/60433209@N00\/4014208343\/\" title=\"Economy SET oct 15 by bangkokpundit, on Flickr\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Economy SET oct 15\" height=\"126\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2624\/4014208343_d1315af935_o.jpg\" width=\"485\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: BP's view is that the lack of information was concerning to foreigners who were confused as to what was happening. They put a lot of money into the SET this year (as of now 63 Billion Baht) and also during October - see \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/marketdata.set.or.th\/mkt\/investortype.do?language=en\u0026amp;country=US\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E - whereas locals and local institutions have been the sellers. Now, after the news foreigners are back buying again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe SET was falling before the \u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E report so there is no evidence they were the cause of the SET decline."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/310262919261160665"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/310262919261160665"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/evil-foreign-media-and-stock-market.html","title":"Evil Foreign Media and Stock Market Fall UPDATE"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-4741895689150471785"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-21T08:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:12:30.555+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"freedom of speech"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Press Freedom : Thailand Drops to 130th in the World"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/press-freedom-thailand-drops-to-130th.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EBP has \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2007\/10\/press-freedom-declines-further.html\"\u003Eblogged\u003C\/a\u003E on Reporters Without Borders previous report on media freedom in 2007 (it was then 135th in the world). This improved to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.rsf.org\/en-classement794-2008.html\"\u003E124th in 2008,\u003C\/a\u003E but has now dropped back to 130th in the world. The reason for the decline is lese majeste and associated laws as RSF \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.rsf.org\/en-ennemi26149-Thailand.html\"\u003Eexplains\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EAs the end of King Bumibol Adulyadej’s reign approaches, the monarchy has become an ever more sensitive issue. At the start of January 2009, the information and communications minister announced that the government was going to invest 500 million baht (1.1 million euros) to put in place a national filtering system to block websites hosted abroad that could damage the monarchy. Since December 2008, the ministry has decided to step up the fight against the crime of lese majeste online. More than 4,000 websites have been blocked since the start of 2009. However, official sources say that only 4,800 pages have been blocked for this reason since March 2008.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: It seems that RSF does not believe in the \"Abhisit effect\". To be honest, BP is a little skeptical that things have got worse compared with last year. Yes, while there are more \"threats\", but there is significantly more reporting on \"sensitive\" issues now which is on the edges of the law. Now, we live by code words. There is a greater threat to journalists per se, but to BP the actual \u003Ci\u003Elevel\u003C\/i\u003E of press freedom has not got worse.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E7 years ago, Thailand was \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.rsf.org\/en-classement298-2002.html\"\u003E66th\u003C\/a\u003E, but if reporters were to hypothetically report that a certain person was not so happy with the PM because of a business relationship with their son then those reporters would still have found themselves in trouble. Enforcement was still the same back then (a special report of \u003Ci\u003EThe Economist\u003C\/i\u003E was also banned back then too), but nowdays the laws are being challenged more \u003Ci\u003Efrequently\u003C\/i\u003E. To BP, this doesn't mean that press freedom has got worse."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4741895689150471785"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4741895689150471785"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/press-freedom-thailand-drops-to-130th.html","title":"Press Freedom : Thailand Drops to 130th in the World"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-7090512866258361891"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-21T06:00:00.003+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:12:52.110+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"npp"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"PAD"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The NPP Party Meeting and NPP Chances"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/npp-party-meeting-and-npp-chances.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EAs we already know, a few weeks ago the New Politics Party choose a new leader. Sondhi L won. At the time, noted the dramatic shift in colors from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/from-yellow-to-green.html\"\u003Eyellow to green\u003C\/a\u003E. While NPP had announced a few months ago a move to green and yellow color, this was the first time that BP noticed had dramatic a shift as it is really green with a few touches of yellow here and there.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMichael Nelson has another guest \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/rspas.anu.edu.au\/rmap\/newmandala\/2009\/10\/19\/sondhi-limthongkul-takes-the-helm-of-the-new-politics-party\/\"\u003Epost\u003C\/a\u003E at \u003Ci\u003ENew Mandala\u003C\/i\u003E with photographs and commentary from the day that Sondhi L was elected as leader. The post is worth reading and the photographs show just how professional it was. The key excerpt for BP is:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAccording to this booklet, as of 30 September 2009, the NPP had 8,922 members....\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe number of party members still seems to be small. However, the party’s action plan envisages reaching 500,000 members and establishing 40 branches within the year 2010. At the end of 2011, every province should have one branch, and there should be 200 district as well as 1,000 tambon centers, serving one million party members. One year later, there should be 600 district centers and 4,000 tambon centers with five million members. Thaksin Shinawatra does not seem to be convinced that this will work. In an interview with the Economist (online, 15 October 2009), he said, “\u003Cb\u003EI don’t think there are too many hard-core yellow shirts,\u003C\/b\u003E if not being supported by Democrats and by military, and the reason they were supported by military is because the so-called elite instructed them.”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe NPP plans many activities to train leaders, change agents, and party functionaries. Obviously, this is an ambitious plan. It will also not come cheap. \u003Cb\u003EThe budget for 2010 is set at 117.9 million baht,\u003C\/b\u003E while fund raising activities are supposed to generate 214 million baht, \u003Cb\u003E120 million of which should come from membership fees\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Actually, there are a number of yellow shirts, but most of them are Democrat voters. As Thaksin states, the hard core is rather small - well now at least. NPP's problem is turning yellow shirts, particularly those who watch ASTV and read the \u003Ci\u003EManager\u003C\/i\u003E into NPP voters. It seems it will be difficult to move beyond this target group and well the focus will likely be on yellow shirts who follow the ASTV media group.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo far the NPP is only \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/praphan-to-npp.html\"\u003Epicking up\u003C\/a\u003E Democrats who were clear PADites and even then this is only happening slowly. As already noted, NPP will need an issue. They have been using Preah Vihear to attack the Democrats, but the violence at the Srisaket protest \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/09\/pad-protest-at-srisaket.html\"\u003Ebackfired\u003C\/a\u003E on the PAD. The proposed amendments to the constitution is the next issue that NPP will try to use to create a wedge between the yellow shirts and the Democrats - there is of course Newin and other issues - but the tensions in the Democrats seem ripe for the NPP to make it an issue.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor now, BP still predicts an election in the 3rd quarter next year and now NPP are very unprepared to contest any kind of election and well their projected numbers should be considered as \"projections\". Actual member numbers is more relevant. There is a by-election tentatively \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/breakingnews\/157636\/songkhla-by-election-set-for-nov-29\"\u003Escheduled\u003C\/a\u003E to be held in Songkhla at the end of November (after the death of a Democrat MP). This may be a little early to test the NPP's electoral chances next year, but it will at least show where they are (if they contest of course). For now, they are a small party, but they do have a massive media arm and can very easily get their message across to potential NPP voters. BP sees them as relevant because they are \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/08\/who-will-win-next-election.html\"\u003Elikely to be key\u003C\/a\u003E on whether the Democrats can win the next election."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/7090512866258361891"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/7090512866258361891"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/npp-party-meeting-and-npp-chances.html","title":"The NPP Party Meeting and NPP Chances"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-764025376876280257"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-21T00:49:00.010+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:13:07.922+07:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Militarization of Puea Thai"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/militarization-of-puea-thai.html\";\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/siamreport.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/militarization-of-puea-thai.html\"\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESiam Report\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh’s (a.k.a. Big Jiew-บิ๊กจิ๋ว) recent decision to join Puea Thai brought a public response; call it a rebuke, from Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda (a.k.a. Pa-ป๋า). Speaking at the Army officer club, with six commanders from the military branches behind him, Prem said he had sent someone to tell Chavalit to think carefully about his decision to join Puea Thai; otherwise it could be a betrayal of the country (see BP post \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/prem-and-chavalit-prem-speaks.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E). Prem insists that he and Chavalit are still friends, but the statement makes it quite clear that relations between these two old “friends” are not as solid as they used to be.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMatichon\u003C\/em\u003E has published an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.matichon.co.th\/matichon\/view_news.php?newsid=01pol03171052\u0026amp;sectionid=0133\u0026amp;day=2009-10-17\"\u003Earticle \u003C\/a\u003Ecovering the “Pa-Jiew” saga, as well as other important political developments.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn the “Pa-Jiew” drama, \u003Cem\u003EMatichon\u003C\/em\u003E says news from “Friends of Chavalit—FOC” camp is that the “owner of Si Sao Thewet—Prem” did not allow “Pau Yai—Chavalit” to meet him in order to bring flowers and cloth, asking forgiveness before ordaining as a monk on the 20th of May 2009, in Chiang Mai. The response from the Prem camp is that he had no idea that Chavalit had decided to ordain as a monk. However, there is news (likely from FOC) that Chavalit did contact Prem through Gen. Pachun Thamprateep, chief of the Office of Privy Council President. \u003Cem\u003EMatichon\u003C\/em\u003E notes that Prem might still be irritated that Chavalit chose to return and help Thaksin during the Somachai Wongsuwat government.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003Eโดยเฉพาะการปล่อยข่าวผ่านเครือข่าย \"เอฟโอซี\" (เฟรนด์ ออฟ ชวลิต) ว่า \"เจ้าของบ้านสี่เสาเทเวศร์\" ไม่ยอมให้ \"พ่อใหญ่ลา\" เข้าพบเพื่อนำพานพุ่มดอกไม้แพรไป ขออโหสิกรรม ก่อนเข้าอุปสมบทที่วัดพระธาตุศรีจอมทองวรวิหาร อ.จอมทอง จ.เชียงใหม่ เมื่อวันที่ 20 พฤศจิกายน 2551 ด้วยเพราะยังเคืองที่ \"บิ๊กจิ๋ว\" วกกลับไปช่วยงาน \"นายใหญ่\" ในยุครัฐบาล \"สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์\"ตรงนี้ทำให้ \"บุรุษผมขาว\" ถูกมองว่าไม่เป็นผู้ใหญ่ร้อนถึงผู้ถูกวิจารณ์ต้องตั้งโพเดียมแก้ต่างเมื่อวันที่ 15 ตุลาคมที่ผ่านมา โดยระบุว่าไม่ เคยทราบว่า \"บิ๊กจิ๋ว\" จะไปบวชที่ไหน เมื่อไร โดยมี \"นายทหารลูกป๋า\" 6 คนคอยยืนให้ กำลังใจอยู่เบื้องหลัง อย่างไรก็ตาม มีข่าวว่า \"พ่อใหญ่ลา\" ได้ติดต่อขอขมา \"ป๋า\" จริง โดยประสานงานผ่าน \"พล.ร.อ.พะจุณณ์ ตามประทีป\" หัวหน้าสำนักงานประธาน องคมนตรีและรัฐบุรุษ\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESR:\u003C\/em\u003E It is easy to see how Prem would still be upset about Chavalit helping Thaksin—it is Thaksin’s red shirts after all that protested at Prem’s residence accusing him of masterminding the 2006 coup, and demanding he resign as Privy Council president. Chavalit is also a former Prem loyalist. Prem, indeed, has every right to call anyone out he wants, including Chavalit—as it’s clearly written into the-ir 2007 Constitution. However, in doing so, some outsiders say Prem has done a disservice to himself and “others” by directly participating in the dirty sport of political mud wrestling. The Council, according to this group, is a reflection of the institution, which doesn’t involve itself in politics.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo, Chavalit has ignored the warning and joined a legally registered political party, which perhaps ironically is called Puea Thai (for Thai). What possible conclusions are we to draw about this move and his decision to travel to Cambodia at the time of Prem’s statements—Chavalit went to Cambodia with close friend, Gen. Wichit Yathip, in order to meet with PM Hun Sen (certainly a lot of time was spent “plotting”). These are certainly not things a good Thai would do, right?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlso in the \u003Cem\u003EMatichon\u003C\/em\u003E piece was coverage of retired Gen. Jiradet Kocharat’s decision to hop aboard the Puea Thai express. Here is a summarized translation of that portion.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFinally, “Big Jauk—บิ๊กจ๊อก” Gen. Jiradet Kotcharat (class 9), former deputy Army commander-in-chief, who just retired on the 30th of September, 2009—was living as a normal citizen, but not for long.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHe has chosen an auspicious moment to start down the “political road”—fully affiliating with Puea Thai party, which has “Pau Yai Jiew” (Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyut), former PM.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPreviously, Gen. Jiradet remained up in the air on which party to join or whether to establish a new political party with a “group of friends”, especially those closely related to Somsak Thepsuthin, a former Thai Rak Thai executive.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut in the end, “Big Jauk” chose to join Puea Thai, which is the political party considered “enemy number one” by the military—always.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhat prompted the high-ranking soldier, who was deputy commander-in-chief, and one part of the “military coup” on September 19, 2006—during which he held the position of deputy commander of army area 3—before rising to area 3 commander—replacing Saprang Kalayanamitr (Class 7—Saprang ended up as deputy secretary in the defense ministry).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne possibility is that Jiradet has close relations with “Pau Yai Jiew”, which has looked after all of Class 9 for a long time—especially leaders like “Big Bae-บิ๊กแป๊ะ”, Gen. Wichit Yathip—former deputy commander-in-chief and big brother in Class 9. [note above that Chavalit traveled to Cambodia with Wichit]\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt also means that Gen. Jitadet is a close Class 9 mate of Wichit, making this decision “click”—not so difficult.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince Wichit and Chavalit were invited to work with Puea Thai—it’s therefore not strange that Jiradet accepted—because he is linked with political circles in the north—“Thaksin era”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne reason is Jiradet looks at the political future—if he chooses “Pakmaetaranibeeppom” [code word for Democrats?], it could make it difficult to be big in politics. And a “close person” has mentioned that he doesn’t know what the Democrats are doing—even with the military [see comments] they cannot win an election, and in governing the country they don’t have anything good to offer the people.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThese are probably the reasons that led Jiradet to stand on the side opposite of the military (“Pauk Era—ยุคน้องป๊อก”—Gen. Anupong Paochinda, commander-in-chief), going the path of politics indeed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003Eในที่สุด \"บิ๊กจ๊อก\" พล.อ.จิรเดช คชรัตน์ อดีตรองผู้บัญชาการทหารบก ที่เพิ่งเกษียณอายุราชการไปหมาดๆ เมื่อวันที่ 30 กันยายน 2552 ผ่านการใช้ชีวิตแบบ \"ประชาชนเต็มขั้น\" ไปได้ไม่นานได้ฤกษ์เปิดตัวเข้าสู่ \"ถนนสายการเมือง\" แบบเต็มตัวด้วยการเข้าสังกัดพรรคเพื่อไทยที่มี \"พ่อใหญ่จิ๋ว\" พล.อ.ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ อดีตนายกรัฐมนตรี เป็นหัวเรือกู้วิกฤตแม้ว่าเดิม พล.อ.จิรเดชจะยัง \"ชั่งใจ\" อยู่ว่าจะเข้าพรรคการเมืองใดดี หรือจะตั้ง พรรคการเมืองใหม่กับ \"กลุ่มพ้องเพื่อน\" โดยเฉพาะความสนิทชิดเชื้อ กับนายสมศักดิ์ เทพสุทิน อดีตกรรรมการบริหารพรรคไทยรักไทย ไม่น้อย แต่สุดท้าย \"บิ๊กจ๊อก\" ก็ตัดสินใจเลือกเข้าพรรคเพื่อไทย ซึ่งเป็นพรรคการเมืองที่ถือว่าเป็น \"ศัตรูหมายเลขหนึ่ง\" ของกองทัพมาตลอดด้วยเหตุผลใดที่ทำให้นายทหารระดับสูงที่เคยเป็นถึงรอง ผบ.ทบ. และเคยเป็นส่วนหนึ่ง ในการ \"รัฐประหาร\" เมื่อครั้ง 19 กันยายน 2549 ซึ่งสมัยเจ้าตัวเป็นรองแม่ทัพภาคที่ 3 ก่อนขึ้นเป็นแม่ทัพภาคที่ 3 ต่อจาก พล.อ.สพรั่ง กัลยาณมิตร อดีตรองปลัดกลาโหมทั้งนี้ คงเป็นด้วยส่วนหนึ่งที่ พล.อ.จิรเดชมีความสนิทใกล้ชิดกับ \"พ่อใหญ่จิ๋ว\" ที่ถือเป็น พ่อใหญ่ที่คอยดูแลบรรดานายทหารเตรียมรุ่น 9 (ตท.9) มานาน โดยเฉพาะแกนนำ ตท.9 อย่าง \"บิ๊กแป๊ะ\" พล.อ.วิชิต ยาทิพย์ อดีตรอง ผบ.ทบ. ที่ถือเป็นพี่ใหญ่ในพ้องเพื่อน ตท.9ด้วยความที่ พล.อ.จิรเดชก็เป็น ตท.9 เพื่อนสนิทของ พล.อ.วิชิตเช่นกัน ทำให้การตัดสินใจ ครั้งนี้ \"มันคลิกกัน\" ได้ไม่ยากนักเมื่อ \"เพื่อนแป๊ะ\" และ \"พ่อใหญ่จิ๋ว\" ชักชวนมารวมกันทำพรรคเพื่อไทย ดังนั้น ไม่แปลกที่ พล.อ.จิรเดชจะตอบรับ เพราะเจ้าตัวคลุกคลีอยู่ในวงการเมืองในภาคเหนือ \"ยุคทักษิณ\" ไม่น้อยเช่นกันเหตุผลหนึ่ง คือ พล.อ.จิรเดชมองอนาคตการเมือง หากเลือก \"พรรคแม่ธรณีบีบมวยผม\" คงยากที่จะเป็นใหญ่ทางการเมืองและเจ้าตัวเคยปรารภกับ \"คนใกล้ชิด\" ว่า \"ไม่รู้ว่าพรรคประชาธิปัตย์เขาเป็นอย่างไร ขนาดทหารบีบคอให้ยังไม่ชนะเลือกตั้ง แล้วพอมาบริหาร ประเทศก็ไม่เห็นจะมีอะไร เข้าตาประชาชน\"คงด้วยเหตุผลเหล่านี้ ทำให้ พล.อ.จิรเดชตัดสินใจขอยืนฝั่งตรงข้ามกองทัพ \"ยุคน้องป๊อก\" พล.อ.อนุพงษ์ เผ่าจินดา ผู้บัญชาการทหารบก มาเดินเส้นทางสายการเมืองอย่างแท้จริง\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESR:\u003C\/em\u003E In addition to two top former military commanders [Chavalit and Jiradet] joining Puea Thai, the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/news\/politics\/157624\/puea-thai-welcomes-new-members\"\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/em\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Ereports that 20 former Class 10 classmates of Thaksin have decided to join Puea Thai, including ACM Sumeth Phomanee, former chief of staff officers at the defense ministry, Lt-Gen Jirasit Kesakomol, former commander of the First Army Corp, and Lt-Gen Manas Paorik, former deputy commander of the Third Army Area. The report also notes Puea Thai party leader Yongyuth as saying that 49 other retired military and police have joined the party. At the time of Jiradet’s induction, former deputy army commander, Wichien Rattanapirapong, a former deputy permanent interior secretary , and Pol Maj-Gen Thawat Boonfueng, a former deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 8—both Class 10—signed on with Puea Thai, according to the\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/breakingnews\/157240\/puea-thai-introduces-3-new-members\"\u003E \u003Cem\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn a different piece from the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/opinion\/opinion\/25892\/in-puea-thai-the-generals-are-simply-foot-soldiers\"\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Veera indicates that \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Manoonkrit_Roopkachorn\"\u003EGen. Manoon Roopkachorn\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pallop_Pinmanee\"\u003EGen. Panlop Pinmanee\u003C\/a\u003E, former deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command, are scheduled to join Puea Thai as well. Manoonkrit is from the “Young Turks” clique, Class 7, and participated in two failed coup attempts against Prem in 1981 and 1985, while Panlop, also Class 7, is similarly well-versed in coups, crackdowns, and other “black-ops”—reported Thaksin assassination plot included.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EVeera, unsurprisingly, is cynical of the move by Chavalit and the other generals to join Puea Thai. Cynicism aside, the decision of these generals to side with Puea Thai represents a threat to the present power holders, otherwise why would they go out of their way to vociferously speak against it. These generals may not hold “real power” (i.e. top command positions—control of the tanks and guns) but the moves they make are highly symbolic and one shouldn’t underestimate what influence they can bring to bear even though they are retired. It also confirms, once again, that the 2006 coup leaders have still not succeeded in accomplishing their goal of destroying Thaksin and his networks—Thaksin and Puea Thai now not only have strong support from the rural electorate but also from segments of the military past and present. Certainly not everyone is content with the current power configuration. A key feature of the Thai military, historically, is class factionalism, and it would come as no surprise if we are witnessing some of this at the moment—with some of it even occurring within one class, Class 10.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHow this all plays out is obviously uncertain, but one has to consider what would happen if Puea Thai wins the next election and controls government. It seems possible that this could set the stage for a direct confrontation between the military cliques aligned with Puea Thai and those aligned with the current government. With Puea Thai at the helm, would they dare contemplate purging the top military leadership and moving their own men in (this is the usual process and one of the many reasons there is a cycle of political instability), and if they did, what would the counter-reaction be? Does the Anupong Era have staying power? What makes everything more intriguing is that the political landscape could have altered greatly by the time another election is held, which could change the way high-level power plays are conducted. Looking back at some history, in May 1986, Gen. Prem, serving as PM, ousted army commander-in-chief, Gen. Arthit Kamlang-ek (a.k.a. Big Sun) and replaced him with none other than Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh!"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/764025376876280257"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/764025376876280257"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/militarization-of-puea-thai.html","title":"Militarization of Puea Thai"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-3884420319882194636"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-20T13:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:13:47.794+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"abhisit 1"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"constitution"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Democrat Party"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Continued Tensions in the Democrats"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/continued-tensions-in-democrats.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EFirst, we had Banyat \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/suthep-vs-banyat-and-amendments.html\"\u003Espeak out\u003C\/a\u003E against amendments to the constitution, but that wasn't as serious as the threat by a Democrat MP as the \u003Ci\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/news\/politics\/157246\/charter-change-hits-another-obstacle\"\u003Ereported\u003C\/a\u003E on Friday:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EDemocrat MP for Nakhon Nayok Chanchai Issarasenarak has threatened that he and\u003Cb\u003E 30 other party MPs will try to topple the coalition government if the prime minister presses ahead on charter change\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E“We will also seek to impeach party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban\u003C\/b\u003E. The government has no duty to please its coalition partners,” Mr Chanchai said, adding that he was not worried about negative consequence from his movement.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMatichon\u003C\/i\u003E quotes Chanchai as \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.matichon.co.th\/news_detail.php?newsid=1255960336\u0026amp;grpid=00\u0026amp;catid=%20\"\u003Estating\u003C\/a\u003E that he will hold a press conference today at lunchtime today with documentary evidence showing that the party agreed with the military and the drafters of the 2007 constitution to put some provisions in the 2007 Constitution and why these provisions were good\/necessary and Abhisit and Suthep and he signed off on this. He said he would disclose this. Previously, the party had assigned Banyat [former party leader] and Suthat (list MP), and himself to be clearly [responsible for this issue], but now there has been a change of position. So he posed a question to Suthep \"where should I stand because I am confused over everything?\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHe also said that in relation to his announcement that there were 30 MPs who agreed with him that in reality the numbers were much higher than that based on his discussions with colleagues. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMatichon\u003C\/i\u003E also \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.matichon.co.th\/news_detail.php?newsid=1255868234\u0026amp;grpid=04\u0026amp;catid=\"\u003Ereports\u003C\/a\u003E that Chumpol Kanchana, the Chairman of Democrat MPs, said that in relation to concern expressed by Chat Thai Pattana and Bhum Jai Thai that the Democrats will break their agreement about amending the constitution that there is no cause for concern that the Democrats MPs will have a \"free vote\" on this issue and vote how they want because at the end the Democrats will probably vote the same on this issue as most agree with the referendum.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA source close to Suthep states that Suthep is uneasy about the news that around 100 MPs oppose the amendment as Suthep had previously told the party that in negotiations with the now coalition partners before the Democrats lead the new government that they would support the amendment and this was one reason he was able to get them to switch sides. The source conceded that there were many in the party who oppose the return to single constituencies and that the amendments were not for the benefit of the people, but that it was incorrect to say it was 100 MP because some of them agree with some amendments and there has been no count on who supports or opposes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: There are rumours of some Democrat MPs plotting to ous Suthep from his role as Secretary-General of the party, but that still seems quite far away now given his key role in negotiating with the coalition partners (although that position is really a symbolic position and as Suthep showed by his willingness to forego the Interior Minister position so Bhum Jai Thai could have it, he may give up the \"title\" to satisfy some if push comes to shove while still retaining all the power).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Democrats will have a a party meeting today so will Chanchai and others be satisfied. More importantly will they continue to have these public disagreements which doesn't look good. Chanchai almost seems to be a one-man suicide position so can they offer something to shut him up?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/3884420319882194636"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/3884420319882194636"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/continued-tensions-in-democrats.html","title":"Continued Tensions in the Democrats"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-4463124689221948223"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-20T06:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:14:32.372+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"abhisit 1"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"constitution"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Chuan Now Thinks That Amending Section 237 May Be a Good Idea"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/chuan-now-thinks-that-amending-section.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EIt has been understood that Chuan and Banyat were aligned and didn't support amending the constitution. Banyat was quite clear and had been \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/suthep-vs-banyat-and-amendments.html\"\u003Evocal\u003C\/a\u003E in his opposition, but Chuan now seems to be taking a different tack as \u003Ci\u003EMatichon\u003C\/i\u003E quotes Chuan as \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.matichon.co.th\/news_detail.php?newsid=1255949467\u0026amp;grpid=\u0026amp;catid=01\"\u003Estating\u003C\/a\u003E that the persons who drafted the 2007 Constitution were trying to prevent vote buying and so drafted Section 237.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHowever, this creates problems for those who were not involved in the fraud. For example, the dissolution of a political part resulted from a coincidence where a political party executive had a problem as only paid a small amount of 200 Baht to a voter who had a conscience and reported it (การยุบพรรคการเมืองบางพรรคเกิดจากเรื่องบังเอิญที่กรรมการบริหารพรรคมีปัญหาเพราะไปจ่ายเงินเล็กน้อย200บาท). It is a small breach, but it becomes a big problem.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Section 237 is a provision of the Constitution which enables the dissolution of political parties and the banning of all executives if one of the party's executives was involved in some serious election irregularity or knew of such, but did nothing. PPP and Chat Thai were dissolved because of this (TRT is slightly different as it was by a junta order retroactively applied, but similar wording).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt is one the more controversial provisions to amend and now Chuan is seemingly supportive of the amendment...."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4463124689221948223"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4463124689221948223"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/chuan-now-thinks-that-amending-section.html","title":"Chuan Now Thinks That Amending Section 237 May Be a Good Idea"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-4083340623652707297"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-20T00:00:00.004+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2011-01-28T16:31:06.134+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Prem"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UDD"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UDD Plan to Sue Prem"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/asiancorrespondent.com\/author\/bangkokpundit\/\"; \u003C\/script\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/news\/local\/157519\/udd-takes-legal-action-against-prem\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EGen Prem earlier warned Gen Chavalit, whom he referred to as a friend, to think carefully before joining the opposition party as some people could see it as a betrayal of the country.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERed-shirt lawyer Karom Talaklang said the UDD planned legal action against Gen Prem for defaming the Puea Thai Party and senior member Gen Chavalit under sections 326 and 328 of the Penal Code.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGen Prem also violated the Article 14 of the 2007 constitution by not being impartial towards political parties, Mr Karom alleged\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Well aside from the merits of what Prem is up to and well regardless of the facts, this case is going nowhere. That aside, how can UDD sue on behalf of Prem and Puea Thai? Surely, this is a question of standing. Then again this was more about publicity than the legal merits."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4083340623652707297"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4083340623652707297"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/udd-plan-to-sue-prem.html","title":"UDD Plan to Sue Prem"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-9181297849195786952"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-19T17:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:14:47.611+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Thaksin"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Thaksin in PNG?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/thaksin-in-png.html\";\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.theaustralian.news.com.au\/story\/0,25197,26227153-2703,00.html\"\u003EThe Australian\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EFUGITIVE former Thai prime minister \u003Cb\u003EThaksin Shinawatra was believed to be in Wewak, Papua New Guinea,\u003C\/b\u003E during the weekend as a guest of Prime Minister Michael Somare in his home province, East Sepik.\u003Cbr \/\u003E...\u003Cbr \/\u003ETheir campaign has been thwarted, however -- most recently because King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 81, is in hospital for lung inflammation.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThaksin did not announce where he was calling from, but protest organisers claimed he was in PNG. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Interesting, if true."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/9181297849195786952"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/9181297849195786952"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/thaksin-in-png.html","title":"Thaksin in PNG?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-1607672013985883708"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-19T13:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:15:01.206+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"law"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Thaksin"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Connors on the War on Drugs"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/connors-on-war-on-drugs.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EMichael  Connors has a new (draft) paper entitled \"Ambivalent About Rights: “Accidental” Killing Machines, Democracy and Coups D’etat\". He has \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/sovereignmyth.blogspot.com\/2009\/09\/ambivalent-about-rights.html\"\u003Eblogged \u003C\/a\u003Eexcerpts of it at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/sovereignmyth.blogspot.com\/\"\u003Ehis blog\u003C\/a\u003E. Key excerpt below:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EThe war on drugs and its devastating consequences brings into relief in a general way the failure of legal institutions to regulate the exercise of power. From a marginal space it is possible to indentify emergent rule of law discourses that incrementally challenged and eroded arbitrary power during the WOD but the dominant theme is one of unresponsive complicity. \u003Cb\u003EThe failure of law has historic roots in the formation of the Thai bureaucratic state with royalist and military trappings, and its penetration by capital and the symbiotic relationship that has ensued in the context of a political economy of vast inequality, hierarchy and resource competition\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt is not that the war on drugs was determined by this general fact, but that in the absence of a relatively stable political and social settlement, hybrid forms of order prevail, the genealogy of which traces multiple origins. No one particular cause lies behind the accidental killing machine unleashed in 2003 and which threatens further appearances: rather a mixing of factors – proclivity to social order, bureaucratic laxity and ineptitude, ruthless determination for Killing Performance Indicators, sycophancy to monarchy and a desire to win approval, social attitudes of distance to “others” among others allowed that the particular (populist justice) triumphed over the general law (citizenship) and was made, for a time, the general rule.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAt times of social panic or mobilized missions of social solidarity such as the war on drugs, the possibility for abuse intensifies precisely because the seeds for hybrid and temporary orders are already sprouting, a pathology that inheres in any unjust social order.\u003Cb\u003E To that unjust order we now turn, and its origins “naturally” predate Thaksin.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E:\u0026nbsp;Since the junta committee \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2008\/01\/war-on-drugs-no-evidence-against.html\"\u003Efound\u003C\/a\u003E there was no evidence against Thaksin, the issue of the war on drugs the question of whether anyone would be charged with a crime has largely disappeared from public discourse, but there is also \"how did it happen?\". Michael takes a different look at war on drugs of of law and order in the Thai context. Hopefully, Michael will blog or link to the full paper when it is finished."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/1607672013985883708"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/1607672013985883708"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/connors-on-war-on-drugs.html","title":"Connors on the War on Drugs"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-9140011833113392407"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-19T12:30:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:15:22.130+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"foreign policy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Living With the Natives"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/living-with-natives.html\";\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Times\u003C\/i\u003E (UK) \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.timesonline.co.uk\/tol\/news\/politics\/article6879550.ece\"\u003Ehas\u003C\/a\u003E details of Sir Anthony Rumbold's valedictory dispatch* at the ending of his posting as Ambassador in Bangkok from 1965-67. The details: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E“They have no literature, no painting and only a very odd kind of music; their sculpture, ceramics and dancing are borrowed from others, and their architecture is monotonous and interior decoration hideous,” he recalled.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E“Nobody can deny that gambling and golf are the chief pleasures of the rich, and that licentiousness is the main pleasure of them all.\u003C\/b\u003E”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E:\u0026nbsp; He was the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rumbold_Baronets\"\u003Etenth Baronet\u003C\/a\u003E of Rumbold Baronetcy so definitely of \"good British stock\". Actually, have read the dispatch from the BBC website - available as PDF from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/downloads.bbc.co.uk\/radio4\/transcripts\/Sir-Anthony-Rumbold.pdf\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E - it is slightly misleading. He prefaces the above by saying \"[i]t is true that....\" and then talks about the things he does like in Thailand. He also says in a preceding sentence \"[o]ne would have to be very insensitive or puritanical to take the view that the Thais had nothing to offer\". Nevertheless, he does across as a bit patronizing. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EActually, the 10 page dispatch is rather interesting. We have talk of the Royal Family, the elite members of the government, the Chinese in Thai society, promoting British education to influence Thailand etc. He certainly speaks his mind and it is worth reading in its entirety.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E*No online copy available, but the basic details of the document can be found \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/catalogue\/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=7207641\u0026amp;CATLN=6\u0026amp;accessmethod=5\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/9140011833113392407"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/9140011833113392407"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/living-with-natives.html","title":"Living With the Natives"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-6985500525301078660"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-19T10:00:00.005+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:15:35.323+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"PAD"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sondhi L and Symbolism"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/sondhi-l-and-symbolism.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EChang Noi looks at the symbolism of Sondhi L's hat and his use of the term \"jek\" in their latest \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/nationmultimedia.com\/2009\/10\/19\/opinion\/opinion_30114736.php\"\u003Eop-ed piece\u003C\/a\u003E in \u003Ci\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/i\u003E. Key excerpt:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EBut this phase ended when Thaksin began to fade away as a serious threat, and when the army withdrew to the heights and pushed the politicians back onto the political stage. The political value of the colour yellow has now been drawn down to almost zero. Sondhi can no longer rely on links to the generals who used him as a yappy dog and then tossed him away. The political capital left over to Sondhi from his exploits of the past four years are his public championing of the \"middle class\" and his highly public politicisation of Thai-Chinese origins. Perhaps the hat is a visual appeal to the communal memory, an attempt to communicate fellow-feeling through visual symbols now that words are too cheap and actions too dangerous, a harking back to some kind of \"good old days.\" And perhaps, however subtle its symbolism and however casually it is worn, the hat is another step in the politics of division.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: So why does he wear that hat?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6985500525301078660"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6985500525301078660"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/sondhi-l-and-symbolism.html","title":"Sondhi L and Symbolism"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-8401316415988326477"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-19T07:00:00.002+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:15:46.899+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"PAD"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sondhi L Will Fight For the Monarch... Well Most Monarchs"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/sondhi-l-will-fight-for-monarch-well.html\";\u003C\/script\u003ESondhi L's mouth can get himself into trouble and his recent interview with \u003Ci\u003EThai Post\u003C\/i\u003E is another example of this. \u003Ci\u003EASTV Manager\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.manager.co.th\/Politics\/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9520000120885\"\u003Ehas\u003C\/a\u003E the transcript and the key quote is: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"วันนี้สู้มาคือสู้เพื่อให้เมืองไทยมีสถาบันพระมหากษัตริย์ ส่วนกษัตริย์จะเป็นพระองค์ใดผมยินดี ตราบเท่าที่องค์นั้นมีทศพิธราชธรรม เน้นตรงนี้นะ ตราบเท่าที่องค์นั้นมีทศพิธราชธรรม ผมยังเห็นว่าเมืองไทยต้องมีสถาบันพระมหากษัตริย์\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E[BP's own translation: \"Today, we fight so Thailand can have the monarchical institution. No matter who is the monarch, I'm happy [to fight for them] \u003Cb\u003Eas long as that person has the [10] virtues of a king.\u003C\/b\u003E [I] want to reiterate this. As long as that person has the [10] virtues of a king then Thailand must have the institution of the monarchy] \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: As long as? So if there is a monarch who in the eyes of Sondhi L does not have the 10 virtues then what? Well the implication seems fairly clear from what Sondhi L states...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe more pertinent question is, who decides whether the monarch has all the 10 virtues? A referendum? Parliament? Or Sondhi L as the sole arbitrator? \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBP can think of one scenario in particular in which Sondhi L may test the theory and then thinking back to an incident a few months ago well....\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003Ebtw, the 10 virtues can be found \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.beyondthenet.net\/misc\/ten_royal_qualities.htm\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.*\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003Eh\/t to tumbler on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/tumbler_p\/status\/4969914026\"\u003ETwitter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E*correct link added"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/8401316415988326477"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/8401316415988326477"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/sondhi-l-will-fight-for-monarch-well.html","title":"Sondhi L Will Fight For the Monarch... Well Most Monarchs"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-6557588399523902844"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-19T05:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:16:12.597+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"southern Thailand"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Radicalization and Shariah law in Southeast Asia"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/radicalization-and-shariah-law-in.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EAFP \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/Breaking%2BNews\/SE%2BAsia\/Story\/STIStory_443046.html\"\u003Equotes\u003C\/a\u003E Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E'Every time we can get a list of Southeast Asians in schools in Pakistan \u003Cb\u003Eit's the Thais that outnumber the Malaysians or Indonesians,' \u003C\/b\u003Eshe told the Foreign Correspondents Association in Singapore.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E...Pakistan schools where the Thai students study belong to the Salafi group associated with ultra-conservative Wahabi scholars in Saudi Arabia.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe more radical leaders of the rebellion in southern Thailand are known to be anti-Wahabi, she said. 'If we have more and more people coming back from the Salafi schools in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or elsewhere,\u003Cb\u003E I don't know how that will change (the Thai insurgency) but that's something we need to watch\u003C\/b\u003E,' Ms Jones said. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Dr Srisompob Jitpiromsri talked about the increased radicalisation of Muslims in the Deep South and the increasing number of students going to study abroad in a a paper.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBloomberg\u003C\/i\u003E recently had an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/apps\/news?pid=20601101\u0026amp;sid=ai_.RJJEIhZo\"\u003Earticle\u003C\/a\u003E about the radicalization of Muslims (and increased introduction of Shariah laws) throughout Southeast Asia. The most relevant part is about Kelantan, one of the states in the north of Malaysia and which is culturally very similar to the Deep South: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EIn Malaysia’s northern state of Kelantan, where the Pan- Malaysian Islamic Party has held power for the past 19 years, \u003Cb\u003Ethe capital city of Kota Bharu has no movie theater.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EShariah for All\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EChief Minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who has governed the state since 1990, \u003Cb\u003Esaid everyone should follow Shariah laws, no matter what their religion\u003C\/b\u003E. In Malaysia, 40 percent of the nation’s 27 million people are non-Muslim.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E“People say it is violent to allow for stoning as a form of punishment, but who says adultery is not violent?” said Nik Aziz, also the party’s national spiritual adviser.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Is this one of the reasons for the lack of autonomy given in the Deep South? Obviously, there are many different forms of autonomy, but with the spread of limited forms of Shariah throughout Southeast Asia, would the insurgents be willing to give up if there was no Shariah on the table in any deal?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6557588399523902844"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/6557588399523902844"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/radicalization-and-shariah-law-in.html","title":"Radicalization and Shariah law in Southeast Asia"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-8239904262127710597"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-18T15:17:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:16:26.708+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"burma"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"New Capital"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/new-capital.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EThe \u003Ci\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/i\u003E has an interesting \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/news\/investigation\/25872\/living-in-a-ghost-town\"\u003Ereport\u003C\/a\u003E on the ghost town newish capital of Burma:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EThousands of civil servants had to move from Rangoon to Naypyidaw when General Than Shwe announced the transfer of the capital in 2005. Almost four years later, this soulless city still lacks the amenities that one would expect to find in a capital. And this is unlikely to change soon\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: An interesting read\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003Eh\/t to a reader."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/8239904262127710597"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/8239904262127710597"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/new-capital.html","title":"New Capital"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-8899650273574355851"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-16T23:41:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:18:14.899+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Royal Family"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Princess: HM the King is Not in Danger"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/princess-hm-king-is-not-in-danger.html\";\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/newsMaps\/idUSTRE59F2TG20091016\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EReuters\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"Physical therapy is needed to help him stand up and walk which would need a little time. That is why he needs to continue staying in hospital, \u003Cb\u003Ebut doctors say there is no danger\u003C\/b\u003E,\" the princess told Thai nationals in Germany in comments broadcast on Thai television.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"He now can eat normally and quite a lot, compared with initially, when he had to be fed intravenously.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: It is difficult to comment on how the entire situation has been handled, but this is much more effective than the Bureau of Royal Household statements.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Princess' words in Thai can be seen at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.matichon.co.th\/mtc-flv-window.php?newsid=1255701861\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMatichon.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E The key excerpt of course \"ตอนนี้พระอาการแพทย์บอกว่าไม่มีอะไรที่เป็นอันตรายแล้ว\".\u0026nbsp; The Princess also stated that Sirindhorn, another Princess, and the HM the Queen are watching closely over HM the King at the hospital - from BP's following of the royal news there is not much coverage of any hospital visits - and that they have not visited anywhere (อย่างสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าพระบรมราชินีนาถ ทรงเฝ้าไข้อยู่ตลอด ไม่ได้เสด็จฯที่ไหนเลย และก็มีสมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา สยามบรมราชกุมารี ทรงประทับค้างแรมที่โรงพยาบาลตลอด).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWill that stop the rumours? The SET \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.nationmultimedia.com\/2009\/10\/16\/business\/business_30114611.php\"\u003Erebounded\u003C\/a\u003E 3.5% today."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/8899650273574355851"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/8899650273574355851"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/princess-hm-king-is-not-in-danger.html","title":"Princess: HM the King is Not in Danger"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-5813043756036707996"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-16T16:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:16:44.750+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Thaksin"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Potjaman : The Answer to Our Prayers?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/potjaman-answer-to-our-prayers.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EThe \u003Ci\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/breakingnews\/157239\/sodsri-referendum-after-house-approval\"\u003Equotes\u003C\/a\u003E Election Commissioner Sodsri:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E“If we have a female prime minister, she might be able to settle the ongoing political conflict.”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: So would be the PAD be happy if it was only Potjaman and not Thaksin? What about Yingluck Shinwatra? Or Sudarat? Or perhaps the Commerce Minister from BJT (certainly not the most \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/members.bccthai.com\/bcct\/commonfiles\/images\/messages_porntiva_nakasai.jpg\"\u003Eunattractive\u003C\/a\u003E politician around)"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/5813043756036707996"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/5813043756036707996"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/potjaman-answer-to-our-prayers.html","title":"Potjaman : The Answer to Our Prayers?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-4882954841328680466"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-16T14:00:00.021+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:16:57.417+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Democrat Party"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"PAD"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Praphan to NPP :"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/praphan-to-npp.html\";\u003C\/script\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/news\/local\/157191\/praphan-resigns-as-democrat-member\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EPraphan Khoonmee, former spokesman of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), \u003Cb\u003Ehas resigned as a member of the Democrat Party and adviser to Science and Technology Minister Kalaya Sophonpanich.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E...\u003Cbr \/\u003EMr Praphan has joined the New Politics Party of the PAD as a member of the executive committee, she said.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Expect the PAD ideologues to switch, but actually what more is surprising than this switch is that not more have switched particularly Somkiart Pongpaiboon, who is a Democrat MP and PAD leader. Nevertheless, when you lose advisers or high-profile members it does make news. However, not so sure how important it really is until die-hard and those who were not clear PAD ideologues switch. That is the real test and so far don't see anyone prepared to switch. The \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/nationmultimedia.com\/breakingnews\/30114508\/Group-of-Democrat-MPs-to-announce-opposition-to-ch\"\u003Etensions within the Democrats\u003C\/a\u003E over the amendments to the Constitution will be a key thing to watch with PAD taking such a hard line."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4882954841328680466"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/4882954841328680466"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/praphan-to-npp.html","title":"Praphan to NPP :"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-5320325196715327488"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-16T11:59:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:17:18.052+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"media"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Thaksin"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Economist and Thaksin UPDATE: Transcript added"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/economist-and-thaksin.html\";\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUPDATE and bumped\u003C\/b\u003E: \u003Ci\u003EThe Economist\u003C\/i\u003E has added a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14676833\"\u003Etranscript\u003C\/a\u003E of the interview.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENo doubt \u003Ci\u003EThe Economist\u003C\/i\u003E's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/world\/asia\/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14646605\"\u003Einterview\u003C\/a\u003E of Thaksin will cause angst in the Foreign Ministry and at a certain media group over in Bangna-Trat way. The conclusion is on whether there will be a deal:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EAs the legal noose tightens around his assets, there have been persistent rumours in Bangkok of quiet talks with his opponents. Mr Thaksin skirts the topic but insists he is ready to make peace and return home. This “mess” can be fixed “overnight”, he says, snapping his fingers. Such a backdoor deal would presumably pull the plug on the rallies. But it would not stop the movement, says Jakrapob Penkair, a red-shirt leader who fled into exile in April and is digging in for a long war: “A lot of our allies out there are not dancing to his tune.”\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt is not clear with whom Mr Thaksin could do a deal\u003C\/b\u003E. Mr Abhisit says the law must prevail. Palace sources sniff at the idea of a settlement.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: More of a summary of recent events with some quotes from Thaksin as opposed to anything radically new. An interesting overview."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/5320325196715327488"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/5320325196715327488"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/economist-and-thaksin.html","title":"The Economist and Thaksin UPDATE: Transcript added"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-7506408483593114657"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-16T10:00:00.001+07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-22T20:17:34.614+07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Chavalit"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Prem"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Prem and Chavalit : Prem Speaks UPDATE"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003Ewindow.location=\"http:\/\/uk.asiancorrespondent.com\/BangkokPundit\/2009\/10\/prem-and-chavalit-prem-speaks.html\";\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUPDATE\u003C\/b\u003E: And bumped to 10am \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe \u003Ci\u003EBangkok Post\u003C\/i\u003E has a s\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/news\/local\/25687\/prem-admits-to-warning-chavalit-over-puea-thai\"\u003Elightly different take\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"A day before he applied to be a Puea Thai member I sent a man to tell him to think carefully,\" Gen Prem said.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"I used these words 'think carefully' before joining otherwise it could end up as an \u003Cb\u003Eact of betrayal against the country.\"\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E... \u003Cbr \/\u003EGen Prem was \u003Cb\u003Esurrounded by former and current military top brass,\u003C\/b\u003E including former prime minister Surayud Chulanont as he gave the interview yesterday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs he was leaving the premises, Gen Prem turned to Gen Surayud and asked: \"Was it okay?\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: Find Prem's argument over the construction of the sentence he used a little odd, he says thinks carefully otherwise it could end up as a betrayal of the country (ไม่อย่างนั้นจะกลายเป็นการกระทำที่เป็นการทรยศต่อชาติ). The ball is not in Chavalit's court on how to respond - no response from him yesterday as he was in Cambodia to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/matichon.co.th\/news_detail.php?newsid=1255598682\u0026amp;grpid=00\u0026amp;catid=\"\u003Espeak\u003C\/a\u003E to Hun Sen about Cambodian-Thai relations. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJust quickly, Chavalit has been brought in to actually reduce the Thaksin-centric focus. Chavalit has enough clout that the media will go to him and they will cover prominently what he says. He is less likely to be as verbose as Chalerm or Samak ans also has a following in the Northeast. Administrating though is a different matter and he carries a lot of baggage. Prem has largely been out of the public eye for around 3 weeks, but he has had to respond to what Chavalit said - ploy to draw Prem out like that?.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEarlier \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/where-r-u-prem-version.html\"\u003Eblogged\u003C\/a\u003E that Chavalit introduced the question of where was Prem and then also \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/chavalit-and-prem.html\"\u003Eblogged\u003C\/a\u003E about Chavalit saying Prem wouldn't see him, but now Prem denies this as \u003Ci\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/nationmultimedia.com\/2009\/10\/16\/politics\/politics_30114576.php\"\u003Ereports\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"Jiew and I have been close friends for several years and we have worked for one another. \u003Cb\u003ETherefore our friendship always remains intact,\" \u003C\/b\u003EPrem said, referring to Chavalit by his nickname.\u003Cbr \/\u003E...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"I read in the news that someone, maybe Jiew, was saying I refused to meet him to grant forgiveness ahead of his ordination - this is not how friends should treat one another. \u003Cb\u003EBut the fact is, I was never informed when or where Jiew entered the monkhood,\" \u003C\/b\u003Ehe said.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBP\u003C\/b\u003E: The plot thickens. Not quite sure that is a dig at Chavalit or Prem's staff saying he wasn't informed of Prem's request to see him. Then again, Prem spoke to the media as a media to Chavalit so the ball is in Chavalit's court now. Surely, we must have a meeting soon to discuss non-political matters of course as Prem doesn't get involved in politics..."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/7506408483593114657"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/10355625\/posts\/default\/7506408483593114657"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/bangkokpundit.blogspot.com\/2009\/10\/prem-and-chavalit-prem-speaks.html","title":"Prem and Chavalit : Prem Speaks UPDATE"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Bangkok Pundit"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/00120891606340974105"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}]}]}});