Comments on: Democracy in Thailand – response to comments http://www.globaldashboard.org/2008/12/12/democracy-in-thailand-response-to-comments/ Global risks and how to respond to them, edited by Alex Evans and David Steven Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:49:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: amberwaves http://www.globaldashboard.org/2008/12/12/democracy-in-thailand-response-to-comments/comment-page-1/#comment-7025 amberwaves Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:04:57 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=3302#comment-7025 I challange the factual accuracy of one of your statements. "The phone-in appearances at mass rallies in Bangkok and the bribing of deserting MPs (at the tune of THB 55 million per head) to join his new party are some examples of his brazenness." Can you support the statement about 55 million baht bribes? Citing the rabidly anti-Thaksin and often inaccurate newspaper The Nation giving the Democrat Party as the source surely doesn't qualify as credible. Conventional wisdom isn't the same as factually accurate. I challange the factual accuracy of one of your statements.

“The phone-in appearances at mass rallies in Bangkok and the bribing of deserting MPs (at the tune of THB 55 million per head) to join his new party are some examples of his brazenness.”

Can you support the statement about 55 million baht bribes? Citing the rabidly anti-Thaksin and often inaccurate newspaper The Nation giving the Democrat Party as the source surely doesn’t qualify as credible.

Conventional wisdom isn’t the same as factually accurate.

]]> By: Leo Horn http://www.globaldashboard.org/2008/12/12/democracy-in-thailand-response-to-comments/comment-page-1/#comment-6809 Leo Horn Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:33:27 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=3302#comment-6809 It should be clear from my post that I am no apologist of the PAD. I disagree strongly with their tactics and their rhetoric. But the reasons why many ordinary people are unhappy with Thaksin-backed governments - so much that they are willing to spend months in full-time protest - are not well explained in the press. My purpose was not to discuss the PAD, but to explain the reasons why there is a PAD. I invite you to point out the factual inaccuracies in my post (I am not aware of any), so these may be corrected. It should be clear from my post that I am no apologist of the PAD. I disagree strongly with their tactics and their rhetoric. But the reasons why many ordinary people are unhappy with Thaksin-backed governments – so much that they are willing to spend months in full-time protest – are not well explained in the press. My purpose was not to discuss the PAD, but to explain the reasons why there is a PAD.

I invite you to point out the factual inaccuracies in my post (I am not aware of any), so these may be corrected.

]]> By: Dudeist http://www.globaldashboard.org/2008/12/12/democracy-in-thailand-response-to-comments/comment-page-1/#comment-6799 Dudeist Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:45:27 +0000 http://www.globaldashboard.org/?p=3302#comment-6799 I am completely amazed by some of your comments here. Take this "The phone-in appearances at mass rallies in Bangkok and the bribing of deserting MPs (at the tune of THB 55 million per head) to join his new party are some examples of his brazenness." The PAD's allies in all this are the Democrat Party. They look like they are just about to form a government. Quite openly (it is actually common practice in Thailand to buy 'MPs') the Democrats have been also buying MPs - for 40million Baht a head. The PAD's complete hypocrisy is glaring and obvious. You then point out that "The PAD rightly points out that Mr. Thaksin’s continuous meddling in politics and state affairs is unlawful and unconstitutional." The PAD - who only managed to get away with their own completely 'unlawful and unconstitutional' activities because of high-placed backers have themselves been "continuous meddling in politics and state affairs." I'm afraid your post here is neither factual or correct. Thaksin needed to be brought to account by the courts - which he has been. He has been sentenced to prison and his popularly elected political parties have been dissolved. The PAD, according to the completely neutral and highly respected Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission have worrying "fascist leanings". Clearly, Thaksin had his many faults and needed to be held to account. But he could claim a mandate. The PAD can claim nothing except their fanaticism and apologists such as yourself. I am completely amazed by some of your comments here.

Take this “The phone-in appearances at mass rallies in Bangkok and the bribing of deserting MPs (at the tune of THB 55 million per head) to join his new party are some examples of his brazenness.”

The PAD’s allies in all this are the Democrat Party. They look like they are just about to form a government. Quite openly (it is actually common practice in Thailand to buy ‘MPs’) the Democrats have been also buying MPs – for 40million Baht a head. The PAD’s complete hypocrisy is glaring and obvious.

You then point out that “The PAD rightly points out that Mr. Thaksin’s continuous meddling in politics and state affairs is unlawful and unconstitutional.”
The PAD – who only managed to get away with their own completely ‘unlawful and unconstitutional’ activities because of high-placed backers have themselves been “continuous meddling in politics and state affairs.”

I’m afraid your post here is neither factual or correct.

Thaksin needed to be brought to account by the courts – which he has been. He has been sentenced to prison and his popularly elected political parties have been dissolved. The PAD, according to the completely neutral and highly respected Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission have worrying “fascist leanings”.

Clearly, Thaksin had his many faults and needed to be held to account. But he could claim a mandate. The PAD can claim nothing except their fanaticism and apologists such as yourself.

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