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[sriracha john]

C.A.T. lines are jammed up...  

I can't call overseas....  

but that's ok....  SPREAD THE WORD EVERYBODY!!


I'll wait my turn.

[malcolminthemiddle]

A moratorium by any other name?

[p_brownstone]

Thaksin has clearly stated that he will not be Prime Minister in the next Parliament; as others have pointed out however he will still definitely be pulling the strings from the shadows.

Or maybe not from the shadows – he has only said he will not accept the Post of Prime Minister. The Speaker of the House is a very powerful position, in many respects equal to that of the Prime Minister; I can easily envisage a scenario where Thaksin gets himself elected as Speaker, and at the same time controls whoever is PM.

Patrick

[hammered]

My guess is, and I may be wrong, that the opposition will now run in the by-elections. Parliament will be filled. Somkid will become PM. The 60 th celebration will go ahead. Electoral reform will be the priority probably thriough a neutralish body. There will be  a new election in 12-15 months. The usual suspects will realign within parties. We may even end up back with the old style coalition government although some of the old influential faces will be gone. And all the megaprojects, privatisations and free trade agreements will be delayed until a government elected under an ammended constitution is formed.
Finally, all ex pats will remain utterly paranoid.

[asd]

bino, on 2006-04-04 21:23:03, said:

It seems the only way to stop Thaksin is for the Thai people to stop the TRT.

I can not agree with you anymore.

 P4110387_8.gif   15.75K   2 downloads




Thaksin Shinawatra to take "political break"    P4207807_36.gif   7.19K   2 downloads

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Edited by asd, 2006-04-04 21:52:17.

[lung]

sriracha john, on 2006-04-04 21:34:40, said:

C.A.T. lines are jammed up...  

I can't call overseas....  

but that's ok....  SPREAD THE WORD EVERYBODY!!

thanks for info

C.A.T.

6times again... and i pay per connection (60baht in 2h)

----

ok..     but only today...

[Plus]

"The premier will ask recommendations and suggestions from HM the King," - Prommin  said just a few hours ago. He also said that "the premier's audience was a routine visit every six weeks." Another spokesman said it was a routine monthly visit.

Also earlier today PAD said they'd accept offer of not taking PMship in the next parliament.

Also earlier today EC announce the dates for by-elections - April 23.

I guess they can put that out of their minds for now and worry what to do if TRT still doesn't get 20% and 30-day election period expires in less than a week.

Administrative court might still annule the elections and EC will call another round. That would be the best scenario for everyone.

[bulmercke]

p_brownstone, on 2006-04-04 21:41:05, said:

Thaksin has clearly stated that he will not be Prime Minister in the next Parliament; as others have pointed out however he will still definitely be pulling the strings from the shadows.

Or maybe not from the shadows – he has only said he will not accept the Post of Prime Minister. The Speaker of the House is a very powerful position, in many respects equal to that of the Prime Minister; I can easily envisage a scenario where Thaksin gets himself elected as Speaker, and at the same time controls whoever is PM.

Patrick

Speaker of the House? I don't think so. Too much of a step-down. In the past he has made abrupt changes in his career and business interests. He's gone and gone completely from politics soon.    

[cdnvic]

Plus, on 2006-04-04 20:58:54, said:

CNN had analysts discussing the situation and simultaneiously exposing their ignorance.

They were quoting the Thai news agencies then?  

cv

[massein]

britmaveric, on 2006-04-04 13:46:06, said:

Prob a temp measure - could this be a shrewd ploy to get the protests to stop then changes his mind at a later date?

Don't worry, Thaskins will still be in parlement and will run a shadow behind the scenes, his replacement will only be a puppet, since Thaksin will still be head of the party as well

[Orion76]

Thaksin says he will remain a member of parliament and the TRT party leader, so if another TRT member becomes the next PM then technically Thaksin will be the next PM's leader. The vote count makes it quite clear that TRT will easily win any 4 party race so Thaksin haters shouldn't cheer too early.

It seems more of a face saving move for all parties to reconcile without appearing to have been defeated before the all important aniversary coming up in 2 months.

Not quite sure that the PAD will roll over this easy though.....

[britmaveric]

cdnvic, on 2006-04-04 21:51:23, said:

Plus, on 2006-04-04 20:58:54, said:

CNN had analysts discussing the situation and simultaneiously exposing their ignorance.

They were quoting the Thai news agencies then?  

cv

Cdnvic - Spot on

[Plus]

Quote

They were quoting the Thai news agencies then?

No, they had an Indian guy answering studio questions on the phone, and praising Thaksin's CEO style leadership.

Watching him here for the past five years conviced many people that he's  more like a Chinese family business leader than CEO, as it's known in the West.

[lopburi3]

Nation update

Quote

I will not accept post of premier in the next government : Thaksin

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced on Tuesday that he will not take the premiership in the next government.



He said his decision is aimed at restoring unity in the country and that the country is celebrating HM the King's 60th anniversary on the throne.

His abrupt announcement came after he was granted an audience with HM the King at Hua Hin palace in the afternoon.

On television Monday night, Thaksin said he saw no reason to resign since results showed that his party had won 16 million votes - enough for a victory but down from the sweeping mandate of 19 million votes his party received last year.

He apologised to the 16 million people who voted for him and his Thai Rak Thai Party in last Sunday's election.

"My main reason for not accepting the post of prime minister is because this year is an auspicious year for the king, whose 60th anniversary on the throne is just 60 days away," Thaksin said in a nationally televised press conference.

"I want all Thais to reunite," he said,"we have no time to quarrel. I want to see Thai people unite and forget what has happened, he said.

However he said he would remain in the position of caretaker prime minister until Parliament selects the new prime minister.

"I will remain a member of parliament and the Thai Rak Thai party leader."

Thaksin and his family who were at the Government House were all in tears after he made the announcement.

Weeping Khunying Pojaman, Thaksin's wife, had to try to comfort tearful Thaksin.

Some cabinet members, including caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juengrungruengkit, former PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva and former Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee, were seen heavily crying.

The Shinawatra family left the Government House in a car driven by Thaksin himself.

The Nation

[konangrit]

hammered, on 2006-04-04 21:43:08, said:

My guess is, and I may be wrong, that the opposition will now run in the by-elections. Parliament will be filled. Somkid will become PM. The 60 th celebration will go ahead. Electoral reform will be the priority probably thriough a neutralish body. There will be  a new election in 12-15 months. The usual suspects will realign within parties. We may even end up back with the old style coalition government although some of the old influential faces will be gone. And all the megaprojects, privatisations and free trade agreements will be delayed until a government elected under an ammended constitution is formed.
Finally, all ex pats will remain utterly paranoid.

The Nation:

"Second round of elections be held on April 23

The second round of election for 38 constituencies will be held on April 23 and the Election Commission will allow new candidates to apply.

EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp and EC commissioner Prinya Nakchudtree said new candidates could apply for the 38 constituencies which saw no winners in the Sunday election.

The 38 constituencies were contested by one-horse Thai Rak Thai candidates who failed to earn 20 per cent of votes from eligible voters in their constituency.

The election laws require a candidate with no competitors to earn at least 20 per cent votes in the constituency she or he is contesting.

Prinya said the laws' intention was aimed to have new faces proposed to voters so new applications would be allowed.

The 38 repeated elections would be held on the same day with the first round of election in Nonthaburi's Constituency 3 where a Thai Rak Thai candidate has been disqualified."

This seems to contradict what was earlier said:

"The Election Commission will have to hold sub-sequent elections for constituencies where the one-horse candidates fail to earn votes up to 20 per cent of votes from eligible voters but the same candidates would have to run and no new candidates can apply.[/color]

Not sure if the law allows for new parties to apply, but sure I read somewhere about that so shall see if I can find that.

I think the easiest solution now would be if the constitutional court uphold the PAD's complaint that the elections were unconstitutional as they did not allow for secrecy of voting, and ordered new elections, this time with all parties participating. They have the backing of the National Human Rights  Commission, PollWatch, and The Asian Network for Free Elections.

"PollWatch calls for investigation against EC

A civic group Tuesday petitioned two independent organisations to litigate against the Election Commission (EC) accused of violating the charter provisions relating to the Sunday's election.

PollWatch said in its two separate petitions that the EC had failed to ensure voter privacy when casting votes, hence violating Article 104 of the Constitution as well as human rights.

It also claimed that the EC had violated Article 47 for displaying the information of selected candidates from Thai Rak Thai Party prominently at balloting stations which can be construed as favouritism.

Its petitions asked the National Human Rights Commission and the Office of Ombudsman to initiate the judicial review of the Constitution Court.

If found guilty, the EC will have to cancel the election outcome.

The Asian Network for Free Elections, a regional advocacy group for election monitor and human rights, co-signed the petitions."



"Human rights commission denounces voting method as unconstitutional

The National Human Rights Commission on Monday said the polling method in which voters could be seen casting ballots violated the intention of the Constitution.

The commission issued a statement saying the way the Election Commission organised voting booths violated the Constitution which required voting to be made with secrecy.

However, the booths made it possible for people standing outside to see how voters cast their votes."

Edited by konangrit, 2006-04-04 22:07:40.

[Bryan in Isaan]

bulmercke, on 2006-04-04 21:21:33, said:

The call to go to Hua Hin came just a few hours after his very belligerent and defiant national broadcast last night.

He was told to go in no other terms.

This is final. He will respect His Majesty's wishes and I suspect Thaksin will retire from politics in the not too distant future.
...

That is a strong statement you made.  Do you have any sources?

I would not presume to speak on behalf of the King unless I was real sure of what he said.

[sriracha john]

britmaveric, on 2006-04-04 21:55:48, said:

cdnvic, on 2006-04-04 21:51:23, said:

Plus, on 2006-04-04 20:58:54, said:

CNN had analysts discussing the situation and simultaneiously exposing their ignorance.

They were quoting the Thai news agencies then?  

cv

Cdnvic - Spot on

Channel News Asia is providing honest, accurate, and educated analysis ... as they often do.

507 User(s) are reading this topic  


too bad the thread rating system only goes up to 5... this is a 100 star thread for Thailand.

Edited by sriracha john, 2006-04-04 22:11:11.

[Considered Opinion]

Unforunately, as ever rumour, innuendo and guesswork and little regard to the facts of the matter.

What is the constitutions' position on the facts re the actual election?
Did he garner 20% of the actual voting population?
How many votes were cast in percentage terms?

[h90]

Mod maybe you can rename this topic in: "Pm Thaksin Resigns maybe, a little bit, or not or take a brake or so?"

[tettyan]

bulmercke, on 2006-04-04 23:21:33, said:

The call to go to Hua Hin came just a few hours after his very belligerent and defiant national broadcast last night.

He was told to go in no other terms.

On what basis do you make these claims?  I don't like Thaksin either, but I try to be very cautious at any attempts to divine the Palace's intentions when it comes to political matters.

[boppia]

Thaksin looked like he had seen a ghost to me. He was nothing like the person he was the night before.

Don't forget this is about corruption in office. This is the key to the protestors staying silent.

With Thaksins hand removed from the Thai media's microphone who knows what may come out over the airwaves. Don't think that the country people know all that was being said against Thaksin by the protestors. Some people will defend Thaksin as they defend their football teams.  But many others will want to know why he had to step down. The truth must be heard.

For the first time in years Superman, Batman, and Spiderman aren't killed at the end of the movie. Justice has a chance.

Edited by boppia, 2006-04-04 22:21:14.

[Dario]

h90, on 2006-04-04 22:14:32, said:

Mod maybe you can rename this topic in: "Pm Thaksin Resigns maybe, a little bit, or not or take a brake or so?"

To h90:

Thanks for the fun! Haven't laughed so much in a long time!

[Plus]

No new faces in by-elections, that's what has been mentioned in The Nation yesterday as well.

The Election Law doesn't stipulate that, though

Section 74

" In the case where one remaining candidate, standing for an election under paragraph one, receives votes of less than twenty percent of the total number of electors in that constituency, the Election Commission shall hold a new election in such costituency."

http://www.ect.go.th...ection.html#1-1

Even if new candidates can apply - do they have any? I mean those small parites who fielded hundreds of unqualified candidates in the first round?

[skippybangkok]

on CNN and BBC...so I guess there must be credit to the report.

[bulmercke]

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